Goodbye 2016, hello 2017. I am programmed to see the start of the year aligned with the academic one, so for me September brings the joy of new note books, plans and pens. The beginning of a new calendar year denotes a time to take things up, re consider, but never give anything up, its too hard, like saying that what I’ve been dong is wrong and of course I am never wrong so I couldn’t do that, just ask my ex husband.

I am back on a self imposed (read : the bank are making me) spending ban. I do not include Lucia in this, but its a big fat no to new clothes, make up, books (arghhh) and magazines for the next 3 months. Those uni fees won’t pay themselves.

And this coming year I am going to paint the house, pink, everywhere, I am very excited, as it Lucia. My Pinterest board has been crammed full of pink inspired pics for over a year and now I can start saving for pots of those gorgeous Farrow and Ball paints. I think I may paint the front door pink also. It is definitely my happy colour

I also desperately need new sofa, as the puppies have chewed a hole in the top on the cushion on the one that I have. I have been coveting a pink velvet one from sofa.com for a while but need to be sensible as a the puppy is still a puppy and it is expensive item of furniture. Worth every penny, but still in the scheme of things a luxury. Damn not being a dual income household anymore.

I’ve been trying to sneak pink into M’s colour scheme at his house but he is resisting. Though that is the beauty of us not living together, I can have all the pink, grey, flamingo, fairy lights I want at my house and he can watch rugby on his massive tv on his massive sofa at his house.

I will also be knitting that cardigan I thought about last year and on New Years Eve instead of donning my glad rags and hitting the town I shall be ordering seeds for the veg patch. This gives me greater pleasure than I ever thought it would.