Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing

- Helen Keller
(now become The Grouts family motto!)

Bedtime really annoys me

I was sorting through some papers when I discovered this by The Ig and couldn't resist recording it here. Previously I wrote a little poem for Izzy really about her aversion to sleeping. Hmm....see what I mean:

Bedtime really annoys me and this is why
When you're having the bestest of fun
Down goes the sun
And crys an adult "Go to bed right now!"
Then they go all stern and say "Or else...!"
So off you stomp up the stairs
And clamber slowly into bed
I bet it's dark and lonely there in your room
"Yes it is! And grown ups get to sleep together!"
"How unfair!"
But this is another thing about bed times
Are you ready? For the grand finale?
So this is what the Dad's do...
"Snore snore" in unison they do
Honk and wheeze
Creating a breeze
Honk and wheeze
Ha! ha!

Roll on 2012!

No matter how hard I try and think of New Years as just another day, I can't. I can't ignore the feelings a new start. I don't declare resolutions out loud, in fact I deny making them but I lie...I do, in my head. And I know I'm not alone (you know who you are). They're there lurking at the back of my mind ready to attack when I haven't kept them. But it'll only be me kicking myself since I didn't officially make any resolutions...did I.

We have a tradition in the Grout household to go for a beach walk on New Years Day and after a quiet New Years celebration (me, hubby, sofa, glass of bubbly, Jools Holland), I was ready for a brisk bit of fresh air. I remember when we did this a few years ago, it was gloriously sunny and I was inspired by a series of shadow photos....oh those were the days.
These are our 1st January 2012 pics taken at Mudeford Beach on my camera phone. I tried taking one of the mad dinghy sailors but they disappeared in the grey...

No frisbee throwing, no shadow pictures and definitely no picnicking, this was more snuggling close to keep dry under the brolly. But tradition maintained and very satisfying it was too.
Now for a spot of lunch at The Captains Club...