A year of change (and it's only January)

OK so January is almost over, but already it's had some drastic effects to say the least.   There have been dark moments (a couple of my friends have been unwell) and there are major changes afoot in my working environment in the coming weeks which will have a major impact.  2016 - I'm still having problems coming to terms with the fact that it's 2016! - has also brought some positive stuff too.  

For the first time in years I'm not solely focusing on "the dieting" as a new year begins - but I have kicked off the new year in a more productive way than I could have ever imagined, finally beginning to tackle those long overdue painting and decorating jobs - they have been a trial! - and revamping my home with the addition of new furniture over the next couple of weeks, followed by some new carpeting and the biggest decluttering exercise in years.  Yes, people, I have become something I never thought I'd become - a home-improvement bore :(

I'm spending my last night sitting on that very uncomfortable sofa which along with my two chairs (all being well) will be uplifted tomorrow, before the much more comfortable new sofa and chair are due to be delivered in a few days' time.  

The passport photo

Yesterday I submitted to the 10-yearly ritual of having my passport photo taken, with predictably depressing results.  The 2006 photo at least still had something remotely youthful about it, although in retrospect the impulsive black hair maybe wasn't such a good idea as I spent the subsequent 10 years on every shade of the hair colour spectrum with everything from bright orange to my current toned down mix of auburn/mid-brown hair.

Looking at my new photo which will represent me on my passport for the next 10 years, I can't help but feel more than a little bit depressed.  For I have puffy lines on my cheeks which weren't there before, and I just look....well, I just look old, and tired.  Now despite being fortunate enough to have inherited those fabulous genes from my mum and my gran which means that I can get away with looking, well, at least a few years younger than my real age, the passport photo completely overturns that theory.

As if that wasn't bad enough, I had to push up my trademark long fringe, as per passport photo guidelines, so that didn't please me either.  But rules are rules, so I'll just have to live with that.

On the positive side, the passport photo is a necessary evil of a new passport, which, fingers crossed, means travel opportunities ahead (health and finances permitting of course) and more holidays to write about over at http://europecrazy.blogspot.com.