Page 366 - I certainly did this year long challenge in my own way, never having done anything like it before! I have learnt a lot about myself, other people, and made some fantastic friends! I have gained confidence in myself, and showing self portraits, and been made to think about a lot of things! And it's been so enlightening to read other's points of view!

A huge thankyou to Anna Bowkis for setting this challenge and guiding us through the past year, and another huge thankyou to all the people I have got to know and love!

Page 365 - I agree with laughter being a tonic, a good laugh was had today when we met up with my sister and her dh in Windsor!

Page 364 - how different the world looks according to my mood! If I am happy, all is bright, but if I am sad or angry, it can be a dark place. So I need to make sure I am in a good frame of mind all the time to see the workd at it's best!

Page 363 - rest does bit mean lying around doing nothing, a change of scene or activity is a good rest from normal routine. My rest today was a walk to the park with dgs1 on his new scooter, not much of a rest for him!

Page 362 - who are we to say what is beautiful? It is the way you look at them, and love them, that makes them beautiful!

page 361 - I have already wished for world peace in this journal, so today I wish for family peace! We are passed the family traumas of teenagers, growing up etc, and now everyone seems able to live in peace with each other, I hope it may last for the rest of their lives!

Page 360 - Christmas day, and one of my best presents, a new me, slimmer and fitter! Merry Christmas to all!

Page 359 - family are so important to me, especially at Christmas time! I am proud to have such a wonderful family, and wish we could all be together for this special time, but as they grow, children get their own lives and extended family, so I hope I can share them!

Page 358 - every day is a reason to celebrate, I am alive, healthy, have a home, enough food to eat, and my famiily! How lucky am I! I wish this Christmas it could be the same for everyone!

Page 357 - a Christmas gift isn't about the cost or size of the parcel, it is about the love, thought and care taken in the choosing! I would rather buy and receive gifts chosen in this manner! And I love to receive hand made gifts, these usually involve a lot of thought and effort. I also like to give hand made gifts.

Page 356 - Christmas has an effect on the world, but not for everyone! Some cannot escape their circumstances, be it povery, sickness or war! The one bright jewel is people, who could change all this, but we don't try hard enough! We should listen to the angels singing!

Page 355 - if only peace could exist in this world every day, not just at Christmas time! Maybe we all need to try harder!

Page 354 - candles give such a soft, beautiful light! Today we see them as a luxury item, not the neccessity they once were!

Page 353 - we always think of Christmas as a time for children, what a shame we lose that magical feeling for ourselves! Or do we?

Page 352 - Christmas does seem to have some magical effect on the world! Decorations appear, life get busier, and somehow people seem that little bit friendlier when you are out and about! I love the way the tree lights make the room glow with colours! What a shame the magic doesn't spread to everything in the world and bring peace and harmony!

Page 351 - so many of the traditions of our Christmas have changed since the children grew up and flew the nest, but some they have taken with them, and hopefully will pass on to their own children! Now, we are starting new traditions, but will they be the same, and will they last?

Page 350 - what am I dreaming of this Christmas, well, definitely not a white one! Snow is lovely to look out at, but not if I have to go out! I shall dream of a happy, relaxed time, spent with people I love, and reflect upon the true meaning of this time!

Page 349 - celebrate and party! Yes, we had a party today as it is dgs2's first birthday! Lovely to have all the family there! Of course he didn't understand what was going on, but his older brother certainly did!

Also a sad day, as ds and family move tomorrow, they will no longer be just 5 minutes away. OK, they aren't going to Australia, but I will miss just being able to pop in, and help out!

Page 348 - my decorations aren't up yet so no pictures of my halls decked with holly! And as I didn't fancy prickly holly leaves around my face, I've made do with some tinsel!

Page 347 - I love Christmas trees, all shapes and sizes, but my favourite has to be traditional with red, green and gold trimmings! I look at the pink trees, and other colours, think, they look pretty, but I wouldn't want one myself! The best part of the tree is definitely the lights, I love to sit and watch them twinkling, and love the way they light up the room!

Page 346 - the most wonderful time of the year! Unfortunately not so for everyone.

Lots of good cheer around, consumption of alcohol rises, with consequences. I've done my share of drinking alcohol in the past, but these days it really doesn't bother me not to have a drink, makes me popular as a driver!

Page 345 - look around during the run up to Christmas and the world changes, decorations spring up everywhere, not just shopping centres these days, but on private houses! Down some roads it looks as if the neighbours compete to outdo each other! But it does transform to make a magical world, not just for the children to enjoy! Just hope it doesn't take away from the true meaning of the season!

Page 344 - the Holly and the Ivy must be one of the most well known carols, all children learn it quite young. I love holly, such a rich green leaf with bright red berries, lots of berries is supposed to herald a hard winter! But ivy, looks ok in pots where it can be contained, otherwise it just takes over! Would love to have fresh greenery decorations up for Christmas but never seem to get round to it!

Page 343 - definitely the time of year to slow down! So busy for all in the run up to Christmas, so much to organise and do! Just taking five or ten minutes to myself certainly helps me to calm down!

Page 342 - for many years, as a wife and mother, I put myself at the bottom of the priority list! I believe that is what many women do! Now, although I have the time, I still tend to put others ahead of myself. Maybe my New Years resoloution should be to put myself at the top of the list! But that may come hard after all these years!

Page 341 - some say the retirement years are a magic time! Well, I've retired but dh hasn't yet so we have yet to find this out! But there are magic days, and so, magic moments! It is like magic reliving life through grandchildren, their innocence and utter belief is magic to see. Here I am with dgs1 watching a youth orchestra play Christmas carols in Winchester. He was absolutely entranced! The magic of Christmas through a child's eyes!

Page 340 - With today's hectic and fast paced lifestyle, do we pause often enough to notice what is really happening in our lives, and around us? I must make the effort to do so more often!

Page 339 - turquoise reminds me of a necklace and earring set my Mum had, which is now in the hands of my sister.

Only one December birthday in our family, that of the youngest member, who is nearly one year old now! I'm sure he will be successful in his life as he has had a very good start and is well loved!

Page 338 - A quote from Shakespeare today. And my first thoughts were how Michael is absent from so many of my days, so those we have together are doubly precious! Having been married and together for so long, I found this separation very hard. At least we can talk to each other on the phone!

LO48 - used the emotion Anger for this lo.

Page 337 - as I get older the time seems to go so much faster. I think I have plenty of time to do things, then it has crept up on me and I'm not ready! I always resolve to be organised but somehow I seem to have those last minute panics!

My daily life hasn't really changed much since June, but I did decide to lose weight with encouragement and inspiration from friends, and have now lost over 2 stone. I met some cyberfriends in real life in November at the 365 retreat, which was fantastic. But there are changes afoot over the coming months with family!

LO 47, based on the quote "Baby it's cold outside", and it certainly was that day!

Page 336 - embarrassment! Yes, I've been embarrassed in my life, but one of the advantages of growing older is that I am less likely to suffer this fate! It is a horrid feeling, so I know I am careful to think before I speak or act, playing safe!

Page 335 - love, so many different things to all people, it can't really be described. I've experienced the head over heels, heart pounding, butterflies in the stomach type of love, and even now my dh can make my heart flutter! Romantic love is just one type of love, there is love for family, friends and all mankind.

Page 333 - do I cry, well yes! But I don't like to do it in front of others, silly really as crying is a good release for emotions.What makes me cry? Silly things, like a soppy movie. Kind acts by others, thinking of me when I need friends, sometimes just because I am happy! But also when people are upset, ill or dying, but surely I would be hard hearted if these things didn't affect me? There have been times when I did a lot of crying, hopefully it all helped!