For me, January meant four birthday parties within my circle of friends and family. It also meant going back to work after the Christmas/New Year break. Weather-wise, it meant mostly grey and often wet days with some storms thrown in for good measure, but no snow.
Last but not least, it meant my first proper red-nose cold in a long time - I even stayed home from work for two days, something that happens only every few years.
For one glorious sunny Sunday, O.K. and I were out on a long walk (or hike) in the Black Forest. That is worth its own post.
The pictures here were taken throughout the month, all with my phone.
January 9th, my second day back at work. By the time I left the office, that brilliant blue sky was long gone:
Marbach, my place of work on the 17th of January. The view across the Neckar valley may not be exactly spectacular, but I like it. It was VERY windy that day:
Morning sky as seen from my kitchen window on the 30th:
What was January like for you?
For me January has mostly been about getting ill with a very long lived bug. Not just me but family members and friends. So it has been about anxiety too. However it has also been about relaxing at home and not feeling guilty about it, and the chance to read many interesting books. We have also had house guests who were very considerate to us and it was lovely to see them. January is my birth month but I no longer celebrate my birthday on that day, I have moved it to later in the year - both my parents died within days of my birthday in different years.
ReplyDeleteIt seems illness in some form or other has featured for many of us in January, from what I have read on other blogs and here in the comments. I can understand your reason for moving your birthday celebration. It won't change you thinking of your parents around the anniversaries of their deaths, I imagine.
DeleteAs you say, Meike, where did January go? After all there are now only 326 days to Christmas. I regard January very much as I regard every other month and, like people, they all have their own personalities. Actually now that I'm back in Scotland for the winters, for me January is a sort of indoor month in that I can't usually work in the garden or do outside jobs. So this year I spent a lot of time indoors (and for two weeks I, too, had a horrible cold which prevented me from seeing my new grandchild or socialising) and got lots of letter writing and computer things done.
ReplyDeleteHopefully, you have been seeing your new grandchild since you got rid of your cold, Graham!
DeleteI miss going out on long walks, and I miss running. If it is wet and cold, I just don't feel like it, but still miss it. Well, there will be other days again!
January was extremely cold for me and so much of my time was spent indoors where even that was not exactly warm. I am glad the extreme cold is gone. I read three books which is unusual for me and tried to catch up on my rest. I'm looking forward to February.
ReplyDeleteIt is getting colder here now, as predicted by the weather folks, but still nowhere near the temperatures we have experienced in some winters, well below freezing point.
DeleteI read a few books, the last of which I have not even reviewed yet.
The holiday season was a bit prolonged for me, with my brother coming to stay a couple of days around his birthday (11th). All in all, the weather also wasn't "too" bad for January, and I managed to stay free of colds. Still very much an indoors month for me too, though, and I also spent quite a lot of time reading.
ReplyDeleteGood to know someone has escaped the colds and flus of this winter - I hope it stays that way, Monica :-)
DeleteI still have some unread books on the small pile I have brought home from England last summer, and am really looking forward to reading them.
There were some unusually lovely bright days in January and for me the highlight was probably walking up to Darwen Tower in Lancashire on January 7th. Another highlight was seeing our son Ian on a TV programme called "Sunday Brunch". The end of the month was spoilt by illness that I am still shaking off.
ReplyDeleteTo see your son and his friend on TV and cutting such a fine figure there was of course your highlight. You have also been out for some good hikes/walks in beautiful countryside and showed us great pictures. I hope you, like myself, soon manage to shake off the illness completely.
DeleteSo the big buildings house your office, but that rural view is out the window? I love all the pictures. Sorry about your cold. I'm a big fan of January. One of my favorite months.
ReplyDeleteThe first picture of this post is from my office window where I usually work Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The last picture is from my kitchen window at home. The ones in between are Marbach, taken from the place where I work about once a month. My clients are in different places and I often work at two, three or four different offices in one week.
DeleteThose skies look quite cold and wintery....My January has been illness, not mine, but my son, my oldest daughter, and two of my grandchildren. My birthday was on the 26th, and my younger daughter had a lovely raclette party for me, all my children and grandchildren were there. I keep telling myself spring is coming.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear so many of your family were ill! Hopefully, you have escaped completely.
DeleteWe had raclette on New Year's Eve, lovely! Yes, spring is coming, but we are definitely in for a cold spell here first.
Yes, was just talking about the speed of January's passing - flew by much too quickly.
ReplyDeleteSorry you've been down with a bad cold, thankfully not 'flu though which seems to be hitting hard in some areas over here.
Great photos of moody winter skies etc. We do have lovely sunshine here even in winter, but this one is turning out to be very cold. Brilliant outside this morning but some rain later and very cold so may have a little snow tomorrow!
Stay warm and well - hugs, Mary
Thanks, Mary! I am much better already, I'd say at about 80% of my normal state of health. A walk in the fresher air of the countryside helped, too. I hope your unusually cold temperatures will soon give way to beautiful spring.
DeleteI'm glad you are on the road to recovery Meike, January seems the month for illness. I often think after the pr-Christmas rush once we all stop to catch our breath the stresses of it all come out. I was poorly over Christmas but the bug has circled the entire family for a month.
ReplyDeleteOn the rare cold but sunny days in January, of which there were a few, it was hiking boots on and off for some lovely walks in and around The Cotswolds where I live.
February will probably be colder for us but the days are getting a little longer before sunset which is most welcome!
Hiking in the cotswolds sounds wonderful! I know that part of England only from pictures, but I think my sister was there on holiday years ago with a friend and they loved it.
DeleteYou are probably right about the catching our breath theory, our bodies do work that way, don't they.
It is beautiful and sunny here today, so we will definitely go for a walk later.