This is my final week of freedom before returning to school for the spring term. I won’t deny it, my stomach is churning just thinking about it. This is an attempt to take my mind off it!

Some of these photos are from before Christmas, when I went to visit my parents who live in the Norfolk Broads. It’s a big network of rivers and lakes – very nice there. These aren’t great photos, but I thought I’d post a few anyway.

This one is just a boat by the river. I’m more interested in finding out what that strange bird is. It had weird fluffy legs and a strange face… Never seen one of those before.

This next one was taken as I faced the other direction. On the right is The Swan Inn, where we later went to eat that day. Very enjoyable. It was all cosy inside and decorated for Christmas with lots of twinkly lights. It also had a fire going, and I loved the building (lots of wooden beams inside) – I just loved it. I’d go back there now if I could!

And for dessert, we had sticky toffee pudding. Now, if you haven’t had sticky toffee pudding before, you are missing out. Having said that, I’m pretty sure it’s not something that’s available in the US – perhaps it’s just a British thing. But OMG, it’s so good. Mike loves it. Here’s a pic of him about to eat his sticky toffee pudding. Argh. Now I want some.

Anyway, I took the Christmas decorations down yesterday. One other big improvement I’ve recently made is that I’ve cleared off all the crap on my desk. All of the little things which I think I need but really don’t need are now in a little box under my desk. That way, I can still get to everything quickly, and it doesn’t have to all just be laying out on my desk in the open, collecting dust. I just have my computer, keyboard, lamp, mouse, mousemat and a box of tissues on my desk and THAT’S IT. I love it. I can’t believe I’m posting about this, as if I’m letting you all in on some amazing tip: “Put stuff you don’t need in a box under your desk”. Yeah. Great tip. I really wasn’t trying to make it sound like that. I’m just genuinely surprised that it’s so awesome.

I’ve always struggled with keeping a tidy desk. But for some reason, I’m actually sticking to it this time, I’m keeping it tidy. Perhaps it’s just that this is one little thing I have complete control over, in a house where things are constantly getting messed up by other people. Y’know? Yeah, I need help… lol.

Anyway, happy new year to you all. Hope you have a good one!