Just imagine in a few days ….

Well, there's still 364 days 'til Christmas and my neighbours have already got their tree and decorations up !

My husband died over three years ago so I lead a fairly solitary existence and admit that I do sometimes feel lonely. My daughter Beth, son-in-law Michael and their family of six offspring live nearby and I see them fairly frequently. However, they have busy lives and, while my grandchildren are very affectionate, they have active lives that naturally don't very often include their 75-year-old grandmother. Four of them are more or less adults and have working lives and their own circle of friends. The second youngest is a teenager (13), although he is very affectionate when we are together in the same place such as Christmas or, to be fair, my birthday. The ten-year-old and youngest is a sweet and loving boy and still spends lots of time with me after school and during school holidays. Nevertheless the days can feel long, especially as I am less active now. My little tabby cat, who is a constant chatterbox, is my greatest companion, although she does like to go out into the garden for a maraud now and then. I miss my larger family of cousins as I emigrated to be in New Zealand with my daughter and her family, but you can't expect to have everything.

2025 was a up and down year, at 68 I got diagnosed with a couple of medical conditions, which upset me a bit.
I thought my car was going to be unrepairable, but it was fixed. I worried about that as it gives me so much freedom and allows me to get to my daughters to watch my Grandson, 25 mins in the car. Public transport over 90 minutes no direct route.
I also coasted in 2025 so I know I must do something about it in 2026,I am looking into voluntary work and exercising. My mental health has been affected by inactivity and getting up late. So 2026 is a time for going forward and giving me some purpose. I count my blessings though. I am not lonely, and I have friends.

So looking forward to 2026 We’ve had two dreadful years, where it seems everything has been thrown at us.
We’ve lost two precious loved ones, DH and wider family illnesses, and operations, car crashes, divorce. You name it !
At least we’re still here to tell the tale, but oh my goodness it’s taken its toll We still have much healing to do. Please be kinder 2026 for everyone 🙏🤞

I am looking forward to a short break with 5 friends in February to Eastbourne and again in November to Isle of Wight. I also have another one in May with my sister. I prefer to be home in June July August as our outdoor pool is open and five minutes walk away. 😊 plus if its very hot I have fans indoors to keep me cool, and I live near woods therefore trees so plenty of shade on a hot sunny day.

Not a good year for my family, one problem after another, right up until the end of.
It seems we in a place at the moment where bad luck is with us in every given circumstance.
I really hope for better things in 2026, have to stay positive.
But we are all healthy at the moment, children are all happy, things can always be worse

For 2026, I hope for an ordinary year.

Susan56 You and I am sure many others too haven't had a reasonable never mind good 2025.
Do hope 2026 improves for all. By comparison I've had a good year.

2025 was so awful I daren’t think what 2026 might hold.

Looking for a better year after the death of my DH of 65 years.

Hoping for better health as losing my balance and having to use a rollator now. I appear to have aged 5 years in the last 6 months.

Plannning to put in the effort to downsize to a smaller home and garden in the same area as friends and some family are nearby.

Well hope is over-rated and not always accessible. I would love to think that my hope for world leaders to gel and protect the planet and all living beings would materialise, but I am sceptical that could ever happen. I'm looking forward to challenging myself to attain more mobility both physically and mentally. I would love to see people taking more responsibility for themselves.

This has been the first year in which I have felt that I'm going downhill. So next year I think I must make some decisions about my future.
I'm more concerned about what is going to happen to Ukraine. I hope there can be peace, but I don't trust Trump. He only has his own interests at heart.
Meanwhile, I need to get my hearing sorted out, and generally get back to doing some kind of exercises.
Good luck and good wishes to everyone on GN.

With family changes on the horizon the equivalent of a large rock in the family pond I’m afraid for 2026 but also hopeful the positives will outweigh the (many) negatives.

More light will be wonderful, new growth in the garden always lifts spirits. It’s a chance to re-set both expectations and the ‘how’ of life to encompass reduced energy and mobility issues in Mr C and increasing chronic pain lodging in me. It can be done! We’ll adapt and adjust, there will still be positives as we learn to navigate life differently. I’d just rather we didn’t need to do it and yes, if I think too far ahead I am fearful which needs acknowledging too.

I'm still enjoying Christmas... not ready to go into 2026 yet- even though this was (and is still) a difficult year.
🎄

A reasonable year for me, they go by so quickly! I returned to a small opera co I left over ten years ago and it’s been good to see old pals there. I’m enjoying drawing and painting and this year went to Greece and then to the Bahamas with my flying DD as a cling on as well as many trips in the U.K., I love travelling.

I too am still enjoying Christmas, I do the whole twelve days and can’t understand anyone taking their decs’ down before that. On the sad side, two close friends died, one ran a unique bookshop and it has been closed down (vandalised) and the other had played the piano for me for many years.

I have never liked New Year, it rather frightens me, a whole year rolling in..
If only peace could come to pass in the world 🙏🏻

We go into the New Year having finally moved house, the selling/moving process having taken nearly 2 years but with much of the unpacking incomplete, it only made it out of storage 2 weeks ago, and we managed Christmas by the skin of our teeth.

The central heating is working, if not complete and we hope by the end of the year that our house renovation will be close to complete and we will have built up a social life in our new location.

hollysteers opera is DH's greatest loss in our move. He has been singing/producing/musical directing/stage crew in 'real' opera groups for nearly 60 years. The nearest group to our new location is now 20 miles away and his health is just not up to making a round trip of 40 miles at night in all weathers.to weekly rehearsals. He had done a similar round trip for years where we used to live but that had become too much for him in our last year in our previous home and heart problems make singing very difficult.

M0nica I’m sorry your DH has lost that connection. My opera company is also around 20 miles away.
Before I returned to it, I joined a music club around the corner, a very informal group with performers playing and singing all kinds of music.
It would be good if you had something similar close to you.
Even if your DH is not up to singing, he could go along and enjoy the meet up.

My wishes are much the same as BlueBelle's and hope our health stays on an even keel for 2026.
One of our little dogs has cancer and only a few months left so hoping we can give her love and a peaceful end to her life.
Hope everyone on GN has improved health and peace in the New Year.

sodapop thank you.
All good wishes from me too.

I just wish for a better year than this! My husband had a major haemorrhagic stroke at the end of 2024. He is now much changed and all his right side is affected so he is mainly in a wheelchair with just one working hand and that’s not his dominant hand. He gets very depressed as he was so active before. Of course my life has totally changed now. I seldom get out, I spend my life caring now and driving to hospitals and GP appointments. I have needed an eye test since last June but literally there is no time for anything to do with me.

On top of that my son was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and after a very worrying time when they did not know whether it was even operable 8 hour surgery went ahead. This has been very successful and he feels really well but now starts 6 months of chemo in early January. This involves a 60 mile round trip every time and either taking my husband with us or leaving him at home alone for at least 6 hours.

Our horse had to be put to sleep a few months ago and, after 20+ years we miss her massively.

I am hoping for a bit of “me time” in 2026 and no more health issues. Happy New Year and good health to all.

Oh Primrose you SO deserve some ‘me time’ in 2026 dear lady. You’ve had more than your fair share of worries in 2025 and I admire your fortitude very much.

Wishing ‘all the best’ to you - and your family. xx

Primrose53 I am sending you an all encompassing enormous (((hug)))
I sincerely hope 2026 is kind and gentle to you and your 🙋‍♀️

Oh Primrose. I’m sending you a big hug and wishing you and your family all the luck in the world. Please let 2026 be much improved for you all 🤞🍀

Sending to both Primrose and FGT.

I follow your posts, and feel for both of you.

I have never liked the New Year, too many losses over the years.
Lots of problems last few years but also also good moments.
Wish everyone good health and happiness in 2026"