Starting afresh/anew/over..... Making a fresh start ... Picking up the pieces/threads ....

This is my first post of 2014 and as usual after a break, it's sometimes difficult to choose what to write about.
This afternoon, I set off with my border collie pup Panda and my  daughter Victoria for a walk.  We're just coming out of the 'orange alert' for strong winds and strong tides here in Santander, and our walk had to be rerouted when we discovered that we couldn't walk down the walkway along the back of one of the nearby beaches as we'd planned. (In fact, we couldn't even get down to the beach because the whole walkway and steps had been swept away).

http://eltomavistasdesantander.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/pasarela-playa-peligros.jpg

A friend of mine was due to travel back to the UK on the ferry.  With the strong currents, waves and tides, the ferry didn't sail from the UK to Santander last weekend.  She has to wait a week now.

But I realise that all these inconveniences mean nothing against the suffering of people in places like Tacloban the Philippines.

The destruction I saw today made me think about how many times life involves restarting, picking up the pieces, or the threads of what we were working on.

Many teachers will have restarted their classes today or will do tomorrow no doubt (at least here in Spain that is the case).
Many individuals will have made a new year resolution to improve their English, get a qualification (as well as getting fitter, stopping smoking....)  Let's hope that many of them are successful and that we can help!!!

Just like those beautiful tiny crocuses that emerge among the snow - I hope that you sprout, grow and shine this year and that your students do too!

http://www.wallarc.com/wallpaper/view/584737