2014: Day Two.

So, here we are: day two of 2014. The sun WAS shining and the sky WAS blue when I headed out for a run at nine o’ clock this morning. Now it’s gone a bit grey. So it goes. It could be worse; the young friend I met in Manchester earlier this week is complaining about Madrid being foggy and wet. So, despite having lived away from the UK for a fair few years now, he’s obviously still very British if he’s complaining about the weather. 

I have consciously begun two sentences with “so,” because according to Vanessa Barford of BBC Newsmagazine this is one of 2013’s overused words, especially as a sentence starter. Am I bothered? I don’t think so. Here’s a link to her other overused words.

The newspapers don’t seem to have stopped giving us lists of things to find fault with, things to do, things to buy and so on. One of these was a suggestion that ladies should start the New Year with some new lingerie. One of the sets recommended was designed by Stella McCartney: bra £95 and knickers £55. Really? So much for some flimsy bits of fabric? I’m afraid I would expect a whole outfit for that. 

I say this as someone who ended 2013 eating gold dust. We went to a friend's to celebrate his birthday on New Year’s Eve and the dessert was sprinkled with gold dust!!!! I can’t say it made much difference to the taste but it certainly sparkled! 

Afterwards, as usual, we walked off the final excesses of the year by returning home on foot. It was a fine clear night (rain in the morning of the 31st and rain all day for New Year’s Day but we were lucky) and we set the world to rights as we walked. There’s nothing like a good walk to set you thinking. I am not the only person to believe this. According to Comment is Free in the Guardian online  many eminent thinkers, including Charles Darwin, swore by a bit of exercise to get the brain working. 

So (there it is again), what do we have to look forward to in 2014? According to scaremongers we should fear an “invasion” of Romanians and Bulgarians. Opinion is mixed, however. Other sources say that advance booking for fights to the UK from Romania and Bulgaria for the first three months of this year are substantially down on the same period in 2013. We shall have to wait and see. Maybe they have all heard about the floods which are still promised and have decided to stay at home. 

And then there’s the Tour de France, starting in Yorkshire this year. There are some bleak roads to cycle along over the Yorkshire moors. The Yorkshire Tourist Board is hoping that the publicity will entice people to go and see the more picturesque aspects of the county. 

Well worth a visit!