All over again for another year............

I shopped for, catered for and fed the 5,000 yesterday! or at least that 's what it feels like! Thankfully, I didn't have to do the washing up afterwards, courtesy of combined effort from MY mum and hubby. Each year for the last few years I've hinted at how welcome I would receive an invitation to one of my offsprings homes for a family Xmas dinner, but it has never really hit home - this year I did something different - I announced that next year we would be spending the festive season in a Hotel in North Cyprus. Then our eldest son issued the invitation I have so longed for, he and the wife had already discussed it and wanted to have everyone to their's next year. I quickly accepted the invitation, and have told hubby to book for the New Year in Cyprus instead of Xmas.
So, already now I'm beginning to look forward to next Xmas - so much for living in the present eh?
Today, the daughter and her boyfriend have hit the sales, they've gone to MK's Ikea! They are moving into a new apartment early in the new year so they are busy trying to organise furniture. I'm really happy for her, it is such an exciting time when you're just starting out in life. Truth be known though, I'm also very happy for me/us too because it means we get our home back, I never realised how important this was before she left home originally (last year). But since she returned home a few months ago I began to realise how precious the 14 months had been when I only had to clear up after myself and hubby. Things stayed where they were put, we could find all of the remote controls and they all had batteries in, my deoderant, perfume and make up were found where I'd left them, there were no clothes on the floor, no hair tongs and stillettos left to fall over, my laptop, the washing machine and dryer were not in constant use and my utility bills were so reasonable our direct debits were being reduced!!! It's very true to say that you don't miss a thing until it's gone and I don't think I ever really appreciated my freedom, but everything happens for a reason and once the daughter moves into her new place I'm going to make sure I appreciate my freedom - empty nest syndrome? - gimme, gimme, gimme....................