The start of 2026 has been particularly rough in our family, we have spent far longer in hospitals than I expected, and I’m still reeling from it all, though things are gradually getting back to normal, and we are still enjoying cosy, Winter moments.

My dad fractured his ankle on New Year’s Eve and required surgery to pin it back together. He stayed with us for a fortnight afterwards to recover, which meant we got lots of extra time with him, but also meant we never really got back into our routines after the Christmas holidays.

Unfortunately, less than three months after adopting Pixie, we are without a cat once again. I don’t feel up to writing about it here, and I hope one day we will welcome another cat into our family but for now we will just focus on our little core of four – though my husband and I have had some amusing debates about whether goldfish or hamsters were better childhood pets.

The light is gradually returning to our evenings and mornings, and shoots from bulbs are peeking above the soil in the garden, promising the return of Spring after another cold, dark, Scottish Winter. I have already sown some chilli seeds on a windowsill, and the cabbage, chard and bok choi I planted last winter appear to have survived winter in the greenhouse. We’ve also planted a winter-flowering Viburnum Bodnantense and a tiny Hazel whip.

Despite the bumpy start to 2026, there’s still so much to be grateful for and so much to look forward to. Have a lovely week. X