I had to say goodbye to my little girl Millie last week. She'd reached 15 years of age and was just the best, most adoring, quirky, cuddly companion. I took her for a sit on a blanket and a last sniff of sea air before she had to go. The hardest goodbye.

Like lots of people do at NY, I’ve reviewed the things that cause me joy, and stress. X does both, but as the world is a bin fire, exposure to the latter is too much in such a regular and casual nature. I’m taking the leap of limiting access by removing the app from my phone ✌️

All these streaming options, and nothing decent on the telly 🙄 Thank goodness for books. I don’t read as fast as I used to, but I’ve enjoyed these recent reads. Now making a selection from my TBR to see in 2024 with 🤔

I’ve put my bedding in the wash, so it’s going to be even more of a treat to climb into bed early with a book tonight 😍🤩

Are you on Insta? Please spare a sec: A friend’s daughter is shortlisted for a set at Bris-Tek on NYE. It’s down to votes, so if you have Instagram please click the link, type @ay_lish and press return/enter. https://t.co/HIY8rPhZFq Many thanks in advance 🥰

A club I’m pretty happy to be in, ngl 😏

To mark this ‘cost of living crisis of ‘23’ Christmas - *everyone* bought me food ☺️

So, the final episode of Fellow Travelers was good, wasn’t it 😢

If I went to a work meeting and was manhandled like this I’d be strolling up to HR. I guess they wanted to make sure the fasc rubbed off.

My glasses have been missing for four days. I’ve tried a combination of ‘oh, I’ll just check (x) place again’, and waiting for the ‘they’ll probably turn up’ magic to work. My brain is now lying to me about where I’m sure I last had them. It’s getting less funny.

After a day of sofa & TV while I have the lurgy, I’m so sad that we live in a world where there’s government money to fund weapons, war & misery, but support for the victims of suffering has to come from charitable donations, as Red Cross, UNICEF & Crisis ads sandwich the news.

I wonder what nurses are paid in the private sector. Are we deliberately starving the NHS of key staff to further strengthen the cause for private health care?

I know I didn’t go to Eton 😏 but from what I can see, this £38k minimum income and no family reunion scheme is among the most stupid of Tory ideas. Result = fewer Drs, nurses, hospitality workers, care staff, produce pickers, teachers - and we’re crying out for all of them.

From what I've read there is also scope to 'potentially' look at accounts of people *connected to* claimants: partners (whether they live together or not), ex-partners where they share a child, even Landlords of claimants. And they don't have to tell you they're doing it.

All the Tory noise about ‘benefit scroungers’ was so they could convince you we need a bill to get access to bank accounts. Not just those suspected of fraud, but YOU & MOST of the population. No warrant. State pensioner? It includes you. Parents getting child benefit? You too.

Sometimes I imagine my son’s Discord chat with his friends: “You’ll never guess what mum’s doing now…”

If any of my friends have a second to spare, please could you nominate @Seachangedevon via this link - only takes a sec! They’re an amazing not for profit proving support across the community, & my autistic teen is benefitting from a training scheme there.

Can’t we use some tech to scan and 3D print a copy, or like, a laser to carve a duplicate to put in its place at the museum - with a plaque saying ‘We returned the original to its rightful home’ and everyone will say ‘Super!’ and go and see the clever copy? 🤷🏼‍♀️

My teen came down from his room arms full of crockery, sauce bottles, empty drink bottles. I called out ‘crackerjack!’ - if you’re wondering how old I am 😏

Cameron. I give up. I'm going to have to up my meds... 🤦‍♀️