Well, the start of 2014 in Carmarthenshire is accompanied by gales and very heavy rain, which seem to have become a regular weather feature in the past couple of weeks.
I have started the day in the usual way - feeding the cats, changing the litter tray, checking there is still food in the bird feeders. I poured myself a cup of Earl Grey, filling the tall stoneware milk jug, with its glazed interior the colour of a good bay horse. I remember buying it from a charity shop in Ringwood, which brings back a whole raft of memories rippling out.
I have just one resolution this year, and that is to try and fight my chest infection by improving my immune system, and have some expensive immune system pills, and am using a wide spectrum of vegetables to support it on the food front. I'm just off to make some chicken and watercress soup, using the frozen stock from the Christmas chicken, and shreds of meat thereof, and the superfood watercress added at the last minute so as not to kill too many of its benefits.
The summery photo of the Towy valley is to remind me that there WILL be a summer this year, hopefully with some sunshine, and I desperately needed an alternative to the monochrome winter hues outside.
I hope that 2014 brings all of us health and happiness.
