Project 52 2025 week 53
The last few days of the 2025, before we change to Project 52 for 2026 instead. 2025 was a tough year with lots going on, and I’m hoping the next year is a little less challenging with less work hours. Here’s my final Project 52 week of 2025.
Sunday – chilled out day. Had a lie in, caught up on my books read for the year on my Goodreads Challenge. At the end of each month I’ve totted up my pages read, and saved that amount of money so I’ve got a decent amount of savings to put away from my reading. We finished off the turkey having it with roast veg and final leftover cabbage, sausagemeat and cauliflower cheese.
Monday – the men headed out for a friend’s shoot today. I picked up some Next sale purchases (so frustrating how they arrive in different bags/at different times). Then headed home for some reading. Headed out early afternoon to meet up with a friend. We went to the local ale brewery for lunch in their pub kitchen restaurant place. Neither of us had been before but it was lovely – good service, nice choice of meals, and a very delicious apple and rhubarb crumble. We were the last ones left in there chatting. It was great to catch up and hopefully it won’t be so long next time.
Tuesday – INR check this morning, it’s still nice and stable, and I’m now at 10 week checks. It used to be an 8 week maximum, so they’ve obviously extended with it having been stable for so long which is good. Quick nip into town to again drop off some returns. Then back to take down the Christmas tree and decorations, and do a vacuum round. The living room always looks so huge afterwards. I read, caught up on some tv, prepped tea while listening to country music and adding a bit of line dancing practice in.
Wednesday – day spent at home. A bit of a lie in. Made a pavlova meringue for tea. N had me outside with him and the dog because he’s trying to train her not to be gun shy (or so scared of loud bangs like fireworks). So he had out his air gun (which just pops quietly to us), with me stroking and talking to the dog. And at the same time trying to teach her to associate retrieving a ball with the pop of the gun. She loves getting the ball, but after a while was a bit bored of it, and could see her getting a bit nervous again. Hopefully if we can keep it up daily getting louder noises, we might be able to cure her.
In the afternoon I went out again while he was in the paddock with our dogs and the pup from next door, trying to teach her to retrieve a ball. And trying to teach the german shepherd that the puppy isn’t there to bat about with her huge paws. The puppy’s super fast so it’s quite funny to see the difference in size and speed.
I just about stayed up to see in the New year. Big difference compared to days of old – no notifications or messages from friends out on the town. Signs we’re all getting old!
*Ad – contains affiliate links
New posts this week:
Stats review for 2025:
Blogging – 140 posts written including quite a few I moved over from my lists blog which have definitely helped boost my traffic And helped me get upgraded to Mediavine standard for my ad network. So thanks to all my readers for being part of that.
Now I’ve sorted out my technical details with the blog, and google is happy with it again after last year’s traffic killing update, I’m back enjoying blogging. I just need to find more time to actually write more.
Reading – after being rubbish with continuing to exercise and eat healthily after probably month 2, instead I increased my reading. I read 225 books although the ratio of easy and fast to read romance/chick lit vs crime/thrillers jumped that total up massively.
In 2026 I’ll be mixing up my reading a bit more (says she having just stuffed her Kindle with freebie romance novels), and also reducing the number because I want to get back exercising and can’t do both.
Theatre and musicals – 10 shows/concerts. Having an ATG+ discount card helps, but I might have to curtail my theatre habit a bit this year and watch my bank balance a bit more.
Line dancing – 76 dances learnt, over 120 hours at lessons or social dancing. And a bit of practising at home. Long may dancing continue
So let’s see what 2026 brings.
If you have a blog and want to join in with Project 365, you can write your own post (weekly or daily photos), and link up to the blog hop. There’s also a Facebook group.
That’s interesting to hear how N is desensitising the dog to loud noises.
Happy new year. Hope that 2026 will be an easier year for you. I like the idea of linking pages read to saving money – what a good idea. I’m very impressed that you managed 225 books in 2025 – I can just about manage one a week! Glad your INR levels are staying stable and you’re able to go longer between checks. Hope N’s training with the dog helped her on NYE. #project365
Wow, that’s a lot of books.
My dog, a rottweiler, loved playing with balloons. They would pop, making a sound, but he was fine with it. We used to have a few balloons in our pockets for when we were out with him, a nice and easy way to have fun without carrying a big ball with us. It might be worth trying that with your dog. Maybe if she makes the noise by popping the balloon she will be more comfortable with the noise.
might be worth a try that tip with balloons
That’s great news about the INR check.
The New Year was quiet for us too; in fact, I was in bed by 11 pm, I couldn’t keep my eyes open to see the New Year in.
Interesting stats from last year, that is a huge amount of books to have read, some you can just fly through. Great news about the blog, too.
I hope 2026 is a great year for you and your family. Happy New Year!
Good job with the reading and the meal out at the brewery sounds great! It sounds like N has been busy with the dog training. x