Geocaching 365 Grid - January 2026

On Boxing Day 2025 whilst pondering what cache to get for the end of year souvenir I happened to look at our statistics page and noticed a couple of days we hadn't got a cache on at the end of December - ever!

So we went out on the 27th December and then I got to thinking wouldn't it be good to fill in the whole grid, so we did the 28th as well whilst we were at it.

(on the way to Wisley)

So the Challenge was set for 2026 and about time too as we have been geocaching since 9th March 2009 so nearly 17 years! 

(Mill Lane Ewell)

Although now we are both retired it does make it a little easier.

(Oaks Park Corner on a very cold day)

Our only full month at the start of this challenge was August which was the result of a month long challenge back in 2013.

(A DNF from last July which has eluded many a cacher as hidden in a stick!)

Anyway we are going to take it a month at a time and see how it goes, we were 15 days short  for January...

This urban cache was hanging on by a thread in Carshalton

We visited railway stations in the sidetracked series namely Dorking.

We've discovered local gems like the Seears Park Nursery in Sutton.

Those found whilst out cycling for Chris.

Local history like the the original well for Epsom Salts. This was sadly a DNF (Did Not Find) so we had to go to another one that day.

Soggy logbooks - all part of the fun but we will replace if required.

Nature reserves between railway lines. I'd been here previously with our son a few years ago but the first time for Chris.

Woodlands in built up urban areas we never knew existed especially as google maps don't show the area as a "green" space.

Caches which have eluded even the most seasoned cachers. In this case I messaged the previous DNFer as I knew him and offered extra help which was gratefully received.

A DNF from nearly 2 years ago! YAY!

And finally a Church Micro in the the ever expanding series of caches related to churches.

So that's January all done, now we need 15 for February, can we.....?

WOYWW #869-Scrapping

Quick my desk and bedroom whilst scrapping...

Felt "safe" enough with my hand to get my Cuttlebug out this week so scrapping resumed.

There are still some things I go to do and "ouch" it hurts. Driving is getting easier though.

My desk has the last 2 pages for July 2025, 2 Geocaching days out one an urban wander and the other out in the countryside - more next week.

I did the beginning of July earlier in the week.

My hubby's 69th Birthday trip to Wisley.

Various other things in July last year.

The weather seems to have taken front stage with the wind and rain and sun and full Buck moon.

I dyed my hair on Saturday. Hand didn't go numb but prolonged holding of the mirror has made my hand somewhat sore this week.

It was the first time I have done it myself since April last year, as the Carpal Tunnel had made it near impossible before.

My son did it the last couple of times for me, in June and September.

The other thing I have got back to this past week is badminton. I celebrated by changing my racket grip to pink! Son got me the new grips for Christmas, he plays too.

Dancing next week and I've not done that for nearly a year!

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #868 - Yellow!

Here's my desk last Saturday (nice to see it in action once in a while don't you think?)

A huge thank you to Susan Renshaw for inspiring me last week with her Sunshine and Lollipops page.

I finished off my Advent Journal with it, adding a sewn pocket on the inside cover for my tag and spare wise man.

The lollipops became flowers for me. I used old clean up acrylic papers and added posca pen details. The cut off sun pieces became leaves.

Then made my friend a birthday card on the same lines...

The backing for both of those was using yellow tissue party hats I had stashed.

I then did a spread in my other journal using most of the pieces I had left. The backing this time was yellow acrylic paint with some probably too subtle stenciling.

I have one sun/flower remaining.

The penultimate page in my Advent Journal was another Hope scripture page.

I just went with the flow with this one and am really pleased how it turned out.

I can now report that I'm at last driving again. I worked it out that I hadn't driven for 2 months! My hand is still a bit sore inside but manageable. Whoop Whoop.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #867 - Photos/Scrapping

Got the reprints of the not so good photos from Photobox this week using their voucher. 

I added the ensuing months as well so 256 photos covering July 2025 - Mid January 2026. 

They were slightly better but only marginally who knows....

I did the annual page in the little 8x8 album - easier to hold/carry than my 12x12's. 

Hand still recovering its strength.

Had son here over night on Monday as we were closer to his works day away venue. 

We could have a bit more fun now my hand is a lot better.

Added some pegs to my hand exercise box as my fingers aren't able to get my car into reverse nor release the hand break yet. 

Not driven for over 6 weeks - oh my...

Here's the hand - scar still very sensitive to touch despite the deep massage. 

It can cope with higher temperatures now though.

Not really wearing the little gloves anymore either, unless it's cold at my desk!

Did make some cushion inners from old pillows. 

I tried to cover with son's cut off curtain fabric but the blackout backing made it impracticable. 

Made an inner for my cherry stone hotty and a new cover for it and my wheat bag. 

Crocheted an angel for my friend - did the dress too wide initially so had to undo it and redo it.

Made my fingers ache a lot.

I did the January Challenge over on JOTW.  My 5 blessings are in capitals.

Three colours - Blue 💙 White 🤍 Grey 🩶

I had a shell from my diecuts - PROVISION

I used some of my stretch bandage for the gauze HEALING

My Scripture is Hebrews 6:19 on my word of the year HOPE, plus SECURE, PERMISSION TO ENTER.

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #866 - Brrr It's Freezing!

Oh my word it's been cold of late, even I'm feeling it.

My desk each morning is based on scar massage and gentle exercises at the moment. Most needing repeating 4 more time in the day too!

I finished off my Artistic Advent Course...

The penultimate session was on the wise men which took me a couple of days to complete, lots of drying time required...

I have a spare wise man to find a home for too. 

The presenter had folded a piece of paper into 4 concertina wise to make the shape for all the men and cut one off!

I painted him whilst I was at it - well you never know when you might need a wise man!

Whilst watching the process video for the wise me I made a collage of some of the bits and pieces left over from the course in my usual journal.

The little tag I made found a home there as well.

The final session was rather epic. I started collage in my pjs before getting dressed in the morning and ended up finishing way after dinner time.... 

What a super inspiring course, and they'll be doing another one this year too - can't wait LOL

This all left me with 1 single and 3 double pages in my Advent journal - what to add there??? 

As if I hadn't had enough on 2nd I did a page for my word of the year HOPE.

Monday we went to RHS Wisley to collect our members seeds, we got 4 sets of 5 packs.

Rather amazed by all the ice in the water features too. 

Here's a frozen parrot!

Happy WOYWW Everyone.

WOYWW #865 - Happy New Year

Actually remembered to take a photo of my desk(s) this week - horrah.

Certainly a better week with my hand recovery this week. Wound is healing over nicely but still quite sore and I get major random pains. Wrist and fingers still stiff and I get cramp if I try to move them too much. Planning to start the exercises tomorrow on 1st January.

I managed the last Bible watercolour on Christmas Eve in the afternoon.

I was given a metal bookmark with a cross on a chain attached which I love.

As the boys were watching a show on TV I wasn't interested in I did the next Artistic Advent page on Christmas Eve in the evening too.

If you zoom in to the bottom the word STABLE is visible and I didn't even know it was on the papers I used.

My most crafty and certainly extremely appropriate Christmas present was a Book Binding "Cradle".

It's made of bamboo and came with 2 awls - a step up from the home made cardboard one I have been using.

On Sunday I did the next Artistic Advent installment based on the Shepherd's visitation from the angels. 

I was rather challenged by the personal testimony part of this one and the technique of cutting away the face of a picture of myself, so I just did the process (although couldn't open my inks as my hand is still too weak after the surgery). 

I used an old Christmas card, doodled and flowers, I just wanted to add flowers - go figure!!

We made a tag at the same time too. It was supposedly to give someone for Christmas but I was a bit late for that.

I made my friend an anniversary card. Struggled a bit with sticking and aligning things (obviously don't need to be so precise with the journal pages!!).

Anyway it was a bit lobsided and I forgot to take a photo but as it happens she posted a photo for me. Had to laugh as she took a photo without the top right portion which would have explained the lopsidedness - LOL.

I used bits and bobs I already had about as not wishing to get the heavy Cuttlebug out just yet.

Happy WOYWW New Year to you all.