SocialMediaDDS Hey Claudia, Thank you so much for your lovely comment, is it not funny that when we have something in our hands, we do not value it as much as when we are looking at it from afar? I take much for granted, thank you for reminding me to appreciate what is in our reach.

Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you (still hope you can make it today!)

hugs, Barbara

JSJ2020 HI, Muriel, I can assure you it IS colder. -19° C in the mornings for three days in a row and London? I checked and it is a heavenly +1° C - envious.

Speaking of creepy: did you ever get to see the dungeons? My daughter insisted on going there and had a hell of a time, me too! And afterwards, we walked through a graveyard (just next to the Thames) and a fox walked by, a mere 2 m away, spooky.

Late_Bloomers we had a similar experience. No foxes, but lots of raven...a bit creepy, if you ask me! Basel seems like a safer option...

JSJ2020 ... our garden was once visited by a peacock and his two female companions and within 5 minutes they destroyed all the flowers, stupid creatures!

Late_Bloomers We haven't had a peacock in the garden yet...I am not sure that I would have reacted well to it...

jpage.manuel Hi, Joy, I love your positive attitude towards Social Media, this is how it should be: fun and me-time. Thank you for this thought.

Yes, I find peace in real life activities and I am grateful for spending more time with taking pictures, it adds a new dimension to my awareness of my surroundings.

I can relate 100 % to your present life, it is like being on a ferris wheel and that darned thing never stops. But it will get better and then we will look back longingly ...

sweepyjean Amen, Adrienne! But why is it so darned difficult and this feeling of inadequacy still lingers? Overachiever syndrome? I know why I keep dreaming of living a life close to nature ... Social media seems like the dog chasing its tail!

Rachelala Hi Rachel,

Thank you so much for your lovely compliment, it comes at the right moment ... You know, I have felt comfortable with chaos and being unbalanced but not so much any longer. Maybe this is a turning point and I will become a reformed character? With a proper schedule and to be ticked off lists? Sounds horrible.

bdorman264 Hi Bill, so you enjoyed playing golf whilst I had to get a ton of snow off my car. And can somebody tell me why I managed to get half of it on me, my coat and boots? Definitely more challenged to build sand castles ...

I am well, this morning's temperature really made me wide awake: -19° C but it is gorgeous outside, crystal blue skies and sunshine on all that snow and ice.

Happy for you for having had a crazy but good week, you are busy and productive I've noticed.

Have a great weekend and see you around ....

TheJackB Hi Jack! I'd end up with frost bites but would definitely prefer wearing t-shirt and shorts. You know I think I will emulate you and do whatever feels right and to hell with the rest. I admire your writing skills and ever so often I find myself without words worthy enough but I do read your posts. ;-)

laliavoce Hey Lalia, Happy to see you here and I hope everything is fine with you! Thanks, I hope I was able to catch the special atmosphere of that evening in my pictures. Wish I had a recipe for the fun coming out on top, too :-)

BetsyKCross Hi Betsy, Thank you so much for your lovely comment, I am happy to have met you and gotten to know you better. You know I have put too much importance and spent too much time on social media these last months but always with a sense of unease. I'd rather be creative and take more picture and write more and cook more ... and have less of a shiny vehicle to transport my creations, what do you think?

Hajra Hey, Hajra!

January was your socialising month, I have noticed and stalked you! But you got a lot done in creative writing as well, I hope you are proud of it and celebrate it! Would you like to have weaker competition?

60° F - I agree with you, this is near cold and I would have worn some Cashmere sweater, 90° F + is my favourite temperature range, I know other people would call us nuts!

You have me very curious as to your new job, is this beside the writing job? .... ? .... ?

Late_Bloomers Yup... I am a part time trainer .. though the job is all right ; it is not much of a learning experience; I still am looking for something better. The perfect job eludes me!

Hajra It does not elude you, it will find you! If I sound like your mother, I am forgiven, my daughter is 24! Trainer in what?

Late_Bloomers You do sound like my mother. Trainer in communication skills, stress management, time management ... you get the flow... thought they aren't letting me do much at the moment. That's why I feel good as unemployed and frantically keep searching for something better!

Hajra Hehehe! Cool, I need one, can you come over to Switzerland?

Lori Hi Lori,

Wow, you make my day with your compliment - thank you so much!

In the end I am only talking about work/life balance, I find it very hard to get everything done, being left at the end of the day asking myself what I have achieved. Probably this is due to some feeling of inadequacy, would you believe it I am still managing my twitter account manually instead of dedicating a few hours to Hootsuite to master it.

You are so incredibly busy and yet you say "we haven't done a lot in January". And you got me with the computer on the table, I read it when I was in the tram and had to laugh out loud with people staring at the loony woman! Lovely to stay close to your children, even if it is only iChat.

Glad for you that the snow is finally falling in your place in Canada, enjoy it and I will send you all the snow from here as well!

Have a great snow walk!

Lucylastica2 Hi Lucy,

You make me sound like a very courageous person, but you are right - I am, there was a moment when I wanted to turn back and head home, snuggle up on the sofa with a book ...

We are all very courageous, you above all with your austerity challenge. I still need your address, I will add some food to the housewarming gift! xo