We hosted family this year, and the last visitor left yesterday. That felt like the end of the holidays, really, especially now that the DCs are at school and we're back to work. I was tempted to clear Christmas away yesterday, but ended up taking DCs into town to spend some Christmas present vouchers and see a film. We'll wait till Saturday, have a nice meal, lots of candles, and it is all over for another year.
I had a pre-Christmas blitz on the house and got some niggles fixed, tidied and decluttered, which felt great. Christmas felt like the end point of that, but I spent yesterday evening trying to put the house in order after a succession of visitors over the holiday, and a lot of cooking. Cupboard contents checked, oven cleaned, sheets washed, Christmas presents put away etc. It makes me feel that the domestic sort-out in December wasn't all for one day, but for making the house more comfortable generally.
I want to get back out in the fresh air by cycling to work, I'd love to get the garden looking good this spring, there's a room that needs to be decorated, and I really want to stay 'on top' of family admin now that we're in a good starting place. I've joined a weight loss thread on these boards to motivate me into keeping on the pre-Christmas trajectory and not eating my weight in Christmas cake in the next week. I've got a couple of big projects at work to deal with, and thge focus and motivation there will help.
I feel a bit of January gloom, but it is nice to be back in some sort of routine and start to think about new things. I do like the sparkle though!