Rocking My World Friday Year...
It's fair to say that the latter part of our 2011 has been pretty damn horrible to say the least. So I thought for the last Rocking Friday of the year it would serve me well to look back at the whole year and remember the good points too.
So here goes :)
We won a fight. It was good against evil and the fight had been going on for over 10 years. I wont say more than that but it's changed the whole mood of our family unit, a load has been lifted. To one particular member of our family - they are a changed person. They are a happy and carefree, confident person. They have control over their own future. That in itself is pretty epic. It's easy to forget when amazing things happen at the beginning of the year.
So here goes :)
We won a fight. It was good against evil and the fight had been going on for over 10 years. I wont say more than that but it's changed the whole mood of our family unit, a load has been lifted. To one particular member of our family - they are a changed person. They are a happy and carefree, confident person. They have control over their own future. That in itself is pretty epic. It's easy to forget when amazing things happen at the beginning of the year.
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We moved house... our old one nearly ended up with a lorry parked in the living room but the end result was it prompting a move to a nicer area. The new house has a big workshop so it made sense to bring the business with us rather than keep on paying for separate unit fees. It's nice having Craig kind of at home during the day - out in the workshop but able to pop in for tea and lunch. Means I can be more of a help too as he can bring in any paperwork or packing he needs a hand with.
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I got a stu-stu-studio! Ok, I only had it a few months and, because of the move, am now back in the corner of our living room... but while I had it, I had the chance to play around, to realise what I want to do. I had the great feeling that Craig is fully supportive of me. I would love, in an ideal world to call myself an artist without turning it into a joke. Craig can't understand why I don't - I think I feel like I need to be earning an income from it to be able to call myself it... I don't know why. I think I am getting myself on that path. Having the stu-studio for that short while has been a helping shove in the right direction.
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Earlier in the year I reviewed a couple of books I'd read. Then I looked at my wishlist, sussed out most of the books were from the same few publishers and decided to email them. Nervously and with much grovelly cheek I asked them to consider my blog to be added to their reviewer database. Some didn't reply. Some said yes. The one I had all my fingers crossed for said yes. So I've been very lucky to be sent some gorgeous art & craft books and some really fabulous fiction books this year. Books I would otherwise never have been able to afford. And because of this I can pass my good luck and their generosity on in the form of giveaways. I really am grateful to them for trusting in my little blog, for giving me the chance to read all these great books (oh, but I love books so much!) and not only that but give my opinion on them too. I do like giving my opinion! Big, big positive of my year.
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Every other year we holiday in Scotland. This year was that 'other' year. I love it up there - I hide it well, I know. I love the drive, the area we go to, I love the purple mountains, the clean air, clean water, I love the locals. It's always sad coming home... but it's always fun looking forward to next time.
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My girls. Yes I know I'm biased. And yes, they could make bickering a champion sport. But they are my bickering monsters and when I look around at some of the "yoof" of today, I'm insanely proud of them. They're polite to others, they are creative, intelligent, thoughtful, they're all doing well at school. Yep - my girls rock my World.
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My Craig. It's only when I watch other couples or hear other parents down the school really saying awful, awful things about their partners that I realise how special and maybe these days, unusual, our relationship is. It's taken hard work and we've been through some rocky patches and had to overcome quite a lot. He really is my best friend. I can't imagine life without him. We know each other so well, each others foibles, bad habits.... it's like they say - we know the best of each other and the worst but love each other anyway. If there is such a thing as soul mates then I reckon he's mine.
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I won a £50 Amazon voucher! *Whoop, whoop!* Amazon is probably my favourite shop in the World!
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I've been fortunate to win a few book giveaways this year too.
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The day out tickets that last a year. They've made it possible to give the girls a lot more days out to places that usually are to expensive to justify the price for only one day. We are going to rotate and do a couple of different places a year. I think it's such a great idea and am so glad so many places seem to be adopting it.
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Friends both online and off. It's when you go through poopy patches in life you realise who your friends are. Mine are amazing and I feel privileged to know each and every one of you. I only hope I can return the friendship you've shown me.
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The Secret Santa swap - it was such a laugh and just when I needed it, I would get an email with one of you 'fessing up to having opened your pressie or telling me how sneaky your stalking tactics were. Such a great bunch of people took part. It really was a highlight of my year! You crazy fools!
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Mr (or Mrs) Silver Crow. I still see him flying about and he always seems to stay in this area. I'd never seen one before and still haven't managed to catch a good picture. He's definitely silver and not albino. Still think he was my good omen.
Having Craig's Mum and my Dad here for Christmas. It was a family Christmas, the girls harassing them to play, me murdering a roast dinner, board games and to much food. But it was lovely and am glad they are both coming again for the New Year.
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I'm sure there is so much more I've not put down here - but that's not a bad look back at all is it? It would have been so easy to write off the whole year because of the terrible things that happened at the end. Thanks to Rocking Friday I'm learning to think of the whole picture and not just focus all my attentions on the bad. It's to easy to feel yourself slipping into despair if you do that. So for this reason Virginia and her Rocking Friday's are a huge positive to me this year. I'm finding it an invaluable tool in not sinking but instead treading water and even walking in the sun. Thank you Virginia.
Why not join in next year and take part in Rocking Fridays yourself? If you do, make sure to link up so that we can all find you.
Thank you as always for stopping by.
Why not join in next year and take part in Rocking Fridays yourself? If you do, make sure to link up so that we can all find you.
Thank you as always for stopping by.
Stir, stir, blurry stir...
