2017 Review

It's round robin time.
Thank goodness ( I think) I have a sense of humour, so it shouldn't be that painful.
It's only a snatched post too as we are between relative visiting.
I'm " doing " The in laws so to speak!


Compared to most we've had a peaceful year.
No deaths, no trauma, no real angst.
Animal numbers have remained static and apart from Winnie piling on the weight post hysterectomy and William's eyesight failing so much he constantly walks into the ironing board the dogs have been lucky.
And so have we......
We've had them for another year.
The new kitchen arrived and I retired from a career which has served me well for three and a half decades.
I was ready to go. Clinical Nursing is a young person's game and now I still fart when I bend over. I have noticeably thinning grey hair and a bald spot the size of a fried egg!
I look like my dad.
Which is a blessing......my mother looked like the wreck of the Hesperus when she was older

2018 will offer new adventures and no antisocial shifts to muddy home waters, which is Grand.

2018 is the year we travel a little more. Bosoms will be resurrected and old friends will be connected with. 2017 has taught me the fragility of health ( a lesson I never really learnt in nursing) and loved ones are only loved ones when you've got them.
Make the most of people is the phrase du jour

So dearhearts, be brave, head up, tits out
2018 will be fine, and bright and new
Let's enjoy it together xxxxx


91 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you both,

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  2. Anonymous11:05 am

    My favourite New Year's Eve post..........so far. Happy 2018 to you and Chris.

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  3. Best wishes for a Happy New Year and a fantastic 2018!

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  4. Happy New year to you and yours 😊 have a fantastic 2018 🎉🍷😊

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  5. Happy New Year to you and The Prof. I look forward to your blog posts in The New Year. Bless you. X

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  6. Wishing you and yours all the best for a happy and healthy 2018. x

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  7. Happy New Year to you John! Hope you never stop blogging x

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  8. What good thoughts for the New Year. All best wishes to you and the Prof.
    Cheers Peter

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  9. HNY 2018 to you and your house and all in the little welsh village.

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  10. I hope your 2018 is as peaceful as this one....well, not too peaceful, we do like to read about the things that happen to you that make us splutter with laughter! Happy new year, John and Prof and all the animals.

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  11. "Loved ones are only loved ones when you've got them". So true. A very happy New Year to all at the cottage, and I look forward to reading your blog next year.

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  12. As I raise my cup of coffee...."Here Here...onwards and upwards!"

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  13. Anonymous12:06 pm

    All the best to you and yours!
    Debbie

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  14. Happy New Year - thanks for sharing 2017 with us and wishing you all good health for next year.

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  15. Happy New Year to you and the Prof and the gang. Thank you for writing this blog.

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  16. Thank you John for making me smile all year round.
    I wish 2018 to be a good year for you and your loved one in health and happiness! Best wishes.
    Greetings Maria xxx

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    1. Ps love the picture of the Poseidon Adventure, a favourite film of mine. x

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  17. Happy New Year, John.

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  18. I just saw the local rescue show a dog up for adoption that was blind and they had a special collar on him that had a ring that extended past his nose that made him feel more comfortable walking because it prevented him from striking his face and gave him a warning of something in his path. Might work for sweet William.

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  19. A very happy 2018 to you, Chris and all of your fur babies.

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  20. Let's hope for a brighter 2018, my friend. Personally, 2017 was far from all bad, but on the larger stage things do seem a tad woeful. But we soldier on, at least as long as there are dogs to be walked...

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  21. A very happy new year to you and yours, I have enjoyed reading along in 2017 so am looking forward to your escapades in 2018.

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  22. Did you mean 'shouldn't' be that painful?!

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  23. "2018 will be fine, and bright and new"
    I will depend on that , because You said so :)
    Happy New Year ~

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  24. I can be brave, my head is up, but tits out might be harder. Happy New Year, John.

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    1. I had the same thought myself.

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    2. Yes, at age 70 getting them somewhat horizontal is an accomplishment in itself. :)

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  25. Happy New Year, John and The Prof!

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  26. Happy New Year! May 2018 be a grand adventure.

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  27. I have a couple of inspirational/thoughtful quotes taped to the inside of the garage door that I see when I head out for the day. Thanks to you, I'll add "tits out." Says it all, and it makes me laugh. Happy New Year.

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  28. Wishing you both a very happy and healthy New Year .
    Here’s to a brilliant 2018 for all of us ! XXXX

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  29. Have a wonderful, healthy, happy and Scotch-egg filled New Year.
    Tits out? No problem but a tad chilly this time of year!

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  30. Wishing you a very happy new year xx

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  31. Thank you for reminding me daily how sweet life is (mostly). And a happy new year to you and all your loved ones!
    Sally

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  32. Nothing like the start of a brand new year....all the best John.

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  33. Happy new year and best wishes for a splendid 2018 x

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  34. How is it in Broadstairs this morning?

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  35. Happy New Year! I will try and follow the heads up tits out advice when I head for my hip replacement op though I think it's cheeks out in those hospital gowns!!

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  36. Congratulations on receiving the very first Lifetime Achievement Award for Services to Blogging (Laughing Horse) at last night's ceremony in the memorial hall. We had a great time in your absence. I hope that Albert was not too traumatised when our conga line burst unexpectedly into your cottage. If you discover that some of your underpants are missing, please don't blame me. I caught three of your sycophantic female fans rifling through your knicker drawer.

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    1. I am genuiningly moved by the accolade

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  37. Damp and a bit dismal describes where I live too !
    But ... forgive me ... the sun will come out .
    lol ... tomorrow.

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  38. You always, always cheer me up and make me smile you dear man.
    Happy new year to you both.

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  39. Happy New Year to you John, the Prof, all the animals and all your readers x

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  40. Here's to the New Year! May it be better than the shitstorm we've left behind!

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  41. Happy New Year to you and the Professor,John! Thank you for sharing your days and animals with us.

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  42. Happy New Year John and Chris. Wishing you a great 2018. Please keep writing John, you make my day.
    Mardy 🇨🇦

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  43. Wishing you, the Prof and all the littler ones bestest wishes for the New Year - and a problem-sparse or even -free 2018.
    See ya in the next one ('year' I mean, not 'world'!)

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  44. Happy New Year to your entire motley crew. I'm grateful for the time you take to include us on your journey through the serious and the fun. Your style, empathy, and sense of humor are what brings me back (plus having fallen in love with all of your human and animal characters) :)

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  45. Happy New Year John. You have kept me smiling right through 2017. Hopefully 2018 will see you doing the same. Sadly I lost a dear friend yesterday. She was very frail and ready to go. I am heartwarmed to think she had a wonderful Christmas with her family.

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  46. Happy New Year to You and Yours. Your plans for 2018 will bring you much pleasure, I'm sure.

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  47. I have been enjoying your blog for a while now(found through lovely grey day)& I would just like to wish yourself & your beloved darlings a happy & wonderful 2018 x

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  48. Happy New Year John to you and all your family fur feather or otherwise xx

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  49. Have a bright and exciting 2018, all the best to you John, the Prof and all your darling creatures.

    Health, Wealth and Happiness.

    Jean

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  50. Here's to You and Yours this Hogmanay. All the Best for 2018 (though you don't really need it, 2017 was brilliant for you, lucky barsteward!).x

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  51. Anonymous7:02 pm

    Best wishes for the coming year, John.
    May it be filled with good humour, numerous socially awkward farts, and the occasional dog turd.

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  52. Happy New Year ! I don’t comment often ,but I greatly enjoy your blog and read it every night x

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  53. Wishing you and The Prof and your lovely dogs and cat and very happy and healthy new year. Thank you for writing such a wonderful blog it really life affirming and as someone once said about something else but it can be applied to your blog "all life is here". Regards Sue H xx

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  54. Happy New Year from one who is wrapped in an electric blanket to stay warm on this frigid New Year's Eve on the east coast of Canada. Too cold to have my tits out but would have had to have donned a push-up bra to make that happen anyway. My best to you and your family in the new year.

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  55. Happy New Year, John, Chris and all the furbabies. x

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  56. Happy New Year, John, Chris, and the menagerie!

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  57. Happy New Year John, the Prof and the menagerie,

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  58. Happy New Year to you all, and an extra big hug for the fabulous Winnie !

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  59. Happy New Year to you and yours.

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  60. Happy New Year to you, the Prof and all the furrys. Hope 2018 is a wonderful year for you all. Xx

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  61. "Head up, tits out" is now my mantra for the new year! Thanks John! Lol!!

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  62. Stomachs in, smiles on, tits out, chins up...both of them!

    I enjoy you so,

    Happy New Year to You All
    🎆💋🎇🎉🍸🎈✨🎆

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    1. Howling with laughter over this comment! HNY Mistress Maddie!

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  63. I've been saying 'put your Big Girl Boots on' but "Head up, Tits out" is definitely the new mantra! Thanks for sharing your days with us. Your blog is a highlight of my morning.

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  64. Happy New year John, Prof and all your lovely animals. I hope 2018 is happy and healthy for you.

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  65. Happy New Year, John and your Prof and all the other warm bodies in your cottage and your village! I look forward to your 2018 posts :)

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  66. Bless you! Wishing you both peace and prosperity (and some naughty adventures) in the New Year!

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  67. Tits out indeed. :)
    May everyone have a lovely New Year and let's hope 2018 puts the human back in humanity. Hugs and kisses from New Jersey!

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  68. Anonymous11:10 pm

    A good year when the animal count stays the same.

    Resolution for next year? More photos of Albert please.

    Best to you, the prof and the animals that own you.

    Traveller

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  69. happy New Year to you and the gang!

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  70. Anonymous11:50 pm

    Twenty minutes to midnight in the UK so we've switched over to listening to British radio over the Interwebs so we can hear the chimes of Big Ben at midnight. That has the advantage that we don't need to stay awake until midnight US time.

    In the words of W.S.Gilbert:
    But in spite of all temptations
    To belong to other nations,
    He remains an Englishman!

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    1. Anonymous12:00 am

      Happy New Year, John, The Prof and all of the the cast, crew and merry readers of Going Gently!!

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  71. Anonymous12:30 am

    Been reading for years but never 2018 willbe great. I am retiring from 42 years of clinical nursing in July. Words cannot express how relieved I will be!You bring me joy and a smile daily. Happy New Year! Karen

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  72. Didn't you also have plans to move house? Maybe the good people of Trelawnyd convinced you to stay. Happy new year, Cro x

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  73. Kept the tits in last night John Gray (just as well, I was working!!) Happy New Year to you and The Prof xx

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  74. Happy New Year to you both x.

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  75. Happy new year xxxx

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  76. Happy New Year, John! It's started out "fine, and bright, and new" and long may it continue!

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  77. OK! Let's do this!!

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  78. I'm a quiet reader, but I wanted you to know how much I enjoy Going Gently. I'm looking forward to more of your great humor, wit and empathy in 2018, while I work on keeping my tits up. Happy New Year!

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  79. Have a bloody good one, you and the Prof, and all the animals. xx

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  80. Happy New Year to you and the Prof, to the dogs, and to Albert (who also seemed to have a good year). Oops, and the Bachelors--don't want to forget them. I rarely comment, but never miss your blog and enjoy it immensely. Mary

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  81. You are wonderful as is the prof. So glad everyone had a good year. I cheer youu on.

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