Monthly round-up posts are always some of my favourites to write, but they sometimes run the risk of getting a little samey. In an effort to stop myself (and my readers) getting bored, I do try and mix up the format of my monthly review posts each year.
Seeing as I really enjoyed writing my 2017 review in pictures, I thought I would stick with this style of post for my 2018 review. If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook, then you might have seen some of these photos before, or there is a chance they might be completely new. We’ll just have to wait and see.
January 2018
At the very start of the new year we couldn’t resist one last look around the Chatsworth House Christmas decorations and stopped for a little afternoon tea. I wouldn’t say it was the best I’ve ever had at Chatsworth, but it was still a nice treat.
Just before school started back up again, we managed to squeeze in a quick trip to the Panto at the Theatre Royal, Nottingham. This year’s offering was Beauty and the Beast, which I have always wanted to see as a pants. As usual with the bigger pantomimes it was a lot of style over substance, but we still had a very enjoyable family night out.
While we’re not a religious family and don’t attend church on a regular basis, Mr Mess and I are trying to intrude our children to some of the traditions that we enjoyed when we were growing up. This year for the first time we took them along for the Christingle service. I think they did find a lot of it quite boring, but they were very well behaved and enjoyed making the Christingles and lighting the candles. Miss Mess even knows one of the other children there, so she got to help out with the collection.
It was a very good month for Miss Mess and her performing repertoire. First up, she got to go to Sheffield Arena with some of her school friends and 5000 other school children to perform in the Young Voices concert. It was very moving to see all the children singing together and it must have been an incredible experience for the kids.
As if performing in front of an arena full of people wasn’t enough, Miss Mess then went on to clean up at her annual Dance Presentations. Not inly did she pick up her exam trophies for ballet, tap and freestyle but she also won the awards for Highest Ballet score, Highest tap score and Outstanding Beginner. Needless to say, I was exceptionally proud and had to fight to hold back the tears. (I don’t want to be that embarrassing Mum!)
Last but not least, January ended on a high note with a Disney themed pub quiz, where out team (The Quizney princesses) took third place overall! It was a great night, I love a quiz and I’d certainly go back again soon!
January may have seemed like the month that would never end, but we did still have a lot of fun. I’ll be back at the end of Feb with more Life through a Lens.
