Nearly the end of another year...

Well, the half stone hasn't disappeared. Talk about wishful thinking! Probably not a very reasonable goal to lose weight in the run up to Christmas, to be honest...

Sitting here this evening having finished work for the year is always a good feeling. This year has been a challenge, as they all are, but we have achieved what we set out to do. Three projects have received their planning approval, one of which has been tendered and it looks like we have a contract sum we can live with. Four more tenders going out in January or February, for starts on site in the first half of next year. Going to be a busy year again, but the culmination of 6 years work. It will be great to get the boots dirty again - it's been a long time.

The maintenance went as usual this time. Three quarters of the way though now. I have been going there regularly for two years in February and it will be odd not to need to do so come the summer - visits there have been an important part of my life. I don't want to have to keep going and I know I will return in the not too distant future, but I will miss that part of the routine next autumn.

Looking forward to having everyone home for Christmas and to the trip to Scotland next week. I think we'd go there for a day or two this time of year even if we didn't have to take Rebecca back. It's a nice break between Christmas and New Year. Also thinking about taking a cottage in Scotland again this summer, although I did come none to find Cornish cottages on the iPad this afternoon... I quite fancy Harris or Lewis, but it is a very long way to get there. Would need to make it a two day journey, at least on the way up. Ullapool is a possibility too. Will need to decide in January as these places get let very quickly. So long as there's some scenery to shoot, I don't really mind.