What a Year

I appreciate that this post won't be the first or the last to lament on how 2016 will be an unforgettable year. And unfortunately, not in a good way.

From the untimely deaths of so many talented, kind, generous artists - the musicians, the writers, the producers, the comedians, the actors, the thinkers - the list seems somewhat endless. As someone on Twitter said, "2016 has officially killed the 80s".

Perhaps the most shocking was the political turmoil that gripped both here and across the pond. Brexit was, in my mind, straight out of a Monty Python farce, just not funny; and Trump gaining power? Someone needs to take his phone off him. I could wax lyrical on the matter but a good friend of mine eloquently wrote: "...He hasn't even taken power yet but since the election he has publicly dismissed the CIA and the UN while happy to align himself to Putin's Russia and support Israeli encroachment on Palestinian land. He is a racist, misogynistic, egotistical, power mad man with far less intelligence than he credits himself with. He has always considered himself #1 & put himself first and I don't believe he will change when he takes office..."

Time will and can only tell what his presidency will be like. I'm also hoping for an impeachment. This is a man who loves money. And he as to give up all links to his company - can he do it? Will he?

With all of these surprises of death, political controversy, continuing war, an onslaught of fake news, and pain, it's been difficult to remember the good times. And I have had quite a few...

The little miss starting, and loving every minute, of pre-school, how much she has grown both physically and mentally, receiving useful, encouraging criticism from three literary agents on my novel, chats with my nephew (even if he is 2 and a bit) sister and brother in law, my brother spending Christmas with us, catching up with friends and family. So much love and support from Hubby.

I suppose there has to be a balance, the Yin and Yang. It doesn't have to be amazing and earth shattering all the time.

So I'll take this opportunity to thank you for reading my posts. For letting me know your thoughts. I'm looking to next year to travel a bit more and make more of a mark in the literary world, so watch this space. I sincerely wish and hope that 2017 is a year that brings everyone more love, laughter and lots of sparkle.

Happy New Year everyone!

What a Year...

...one that has been filled with happiness, optimism and yes sadness.

I was nearly three months pregnant in January and Hubby and I couldn't wait to let our parents, brothers, sister and heck just about anyone who listened, that we were expecting.

February and morning sickness had taken a gentle but strong enough hold to make me feel 'off' most evenings. My sister made a surprise (and very welcome) visit and I felt the first flutter of our little one - a movement that over the coming months would increase to turns and rolls and the start of 'Bump Watch' where I'd spend a few hours each evening just waiting to see movement.

March, April and May saw us celebrate birthday's, what seemed as never-ending visits to the OB and lots of planning. Oh boy the planning! Which crib to buy, stroller, car seat and what name. Choosing a name is the reason why it takes 9/10 months to bring a child into this world...and it took us practically the whole of my pregnancy to find a name.

June was a hot month and the hottest day of the year was when we had to move from our 4th floor apartment to the 1st floor (that's the ground floor in English). I held the illusion of being able to help Hubby. I insisted, he insisted we move the dining table and chairs where I would sit and take it easy. The fact that I had to stop half way up the stairs only carrying our little one wasn't a deterrent. Hubby was right...yes I've admitted I was wrong!

And then July. A devastating month, one which at times I still can't believe. I was nearing the end of my third trimester and whilst my thoughts flitted from names to strollers to wondering which Disney princess our girl would prefer; throughout I thought Mom would be there giving me advice, laughing at my worries and then calming them down. And even though I have an amazing set of people that I can speak with and friends have said talk to your Mom anyway, she'll hear you, there are times that I just need to hear what she has to say.

When we came back, August became a blur of activity - car seat arrived, crib chosen, confirmation of a pediatrician and the minor issue of finalizing a name for our little miss. D-Day arrived (that's delivery day) and my main concern was I had to have breakfast at 6.30 in the morning as there was a likelihood that I wouldn't be eating for a while. I could only have ice pops? Hardly filling eh... The anesthetist came in giving me advice on having an epidural. I was all, 'thanks, but I'll be okay.' His return look was 'a-ha sure I'll see you later.' After enduring nearly 4 hours of  waving pain (they don't do 'gas & air') boy did I need it. Oh and one other thing, I became a published author.

The following months have been emotional to say the least. Joy, fear, worry, laughter...and the pure bliss that I've felt has been (and is) bittersweet. There are very few moments when I don't think of Mom and whether she would think me a good mother and be proud of me. Whilst I wish she was still here, I remind myself that she is at peace, she's no longer tired or suffering. My little girl has a few things that remind me of Mom and that eases the pain to know there's a little part of her still (physically) around.

As the little miss grows and changes everyday, as Hubby continues to make me laugh, as my sister is on her journey to becoming a mother, I'm grateful for all that has happened...the good and the bad. Life is for experiencing what it has to offer. It doesn't mean it will be all rainbows and unicorns, but just taking each day as it comes.

So, I'll raise a glass on December 31st and share a hug and kiss with the two most important people in my life and look forward to 2014 and whatever it has in store for me, for us.

What a Year...

As the apocalyptic frenzy of 2012 ebbs and I sip my eggnog, sprinkled with freshly grated nutmeg writing my final post for the year, I'm not sure how to feel about what has happened over the last twelve months.

Filled with sad moments - a very much loved family member passing away, innocent children victims of gun crime and devastating storms leaving thousand of families homeless, I should be glad to see the back of it.  But then there's been some really great moments - silly conversations with my sister on Skype, my brother's fantastic work on Skyfall, my BFF's new addition to her family, meeting friends for lunch, chatting with the barista's at Starbucks and the countless hugs from Hubby. Shouldn't that be what I remember and take with me in to new year?

Lord only knows what the coming year will be like, but hopefully not such severe weather, less shootings, a kinder word said to our neighbors (both literal and not) and some genuine peace.

It seems every year I make the same promises - eat less, drink more..no hang on...eat more, drink less?...but in all seriousness I hope I do stick to a couple of resolutions - publish either my short stories or my novel, exercise more, refrain from making comments about the stupid things people do to annoy me...

....but whatever 2013 holds in store, I'm certainly hoping, not just for Hubby and I but you also, that it will be filled with all the good things in life - friends, family, an extra fiver in your back pocket, lots of giggles and if you have pain let it be champagne.

New Year Directions

It's been another stellar year in Boston. I love living here, especially in Cambridge. It's fun being surrounded by Harvard's leagues of preppy students (normally in Starbucks!) and professors who reside in the borough. During the winter months as flakes of snow settle layer after layer, the street is practically empty with only a few souls braving the minus temperatures. As spring and summer dawn, over the hum of air conditioners, I will hear someone playing a piano in the apartment block opposite or the lady that practices her scales again and again (will she ever learn the words I wonder?)

But not only did I enjoy my immediate surroundings, Hubby and I managed to explore further field. We visited the Fort on Georges Island where the Americans battled against the Brits (Hubby is often ribbed about owing the US a lighthouse?), Spectacle Island where we enjoyed not the beautiful scenery but the little girl who was very good with a hula hoop. I sampled peanut butter taffy on a pier in Salem and munched fried dough, covered in cinnamon sugar at a huge corn maze - I'm just about forgiving them for not letting us visit the farm animals because we didn't have a child with us!

We had a blast in Las Vegas  - Celine, slot machines, the gun range and the best waffle fries and chilli ever. Oh and I almost forgot "Britain's answer to Frank Sinatra" - Matt Goss - appearing weekends at Cleopatra's barge. The ropey cocktail waitresses and the spectacular views of the strip and the Nevada dessert from the Eiffel Tower. A few months later, we went to the nations capital and I'm amazed at how much we saw in four days. I'm still in awe at being able to stand at the feet of Abraham Lincoln's memorial, look down to see the National Monument and Capital building. Saw the Library of Congress (despite being shooed out a couple of times by security because of a private tour!), marveled at the Smithsonian Air & Space museum and stared through the railing at The White House dismayed that we had to make an application to see inside two months in advance.

I got caught up with the glitz and glamour of the Oscars, puzzled over the sports, got embroiled in new TV shows (Hart of Dixie, Falling Skies, Suits...) and desperately tried to understand the politics. Having read vol. 3, I'm about to start reading volumes 1 & 2 of William Bennett's America - The Last Best Hope, so I'm hoping I'll eventually get the difference between a democrat and a republican. I know I've left out so many memories (having my picture taken with Elvis (swoon)...OK, OK his wax model and filing taxes), but we've had another amazing year.

As the new year approaches, Hubby and I are looking forward to spending time with the great friends that we've made in the last 2 years. Hubby's wishes for the 2012 is to continue our stateside adventures as well as reach level 100 in GOW, get the Calendar Man achievement in Batman oh and for him to be a kept man. So, I'm thinking that I'll have to take serious steps to get published or open a really successful (illegal) cantina. Nevertheless, I've seen the future; Hubby donned with inch thick gold bracelets and shiny suit wowing at the Black Jack tables, me with a blue rinse, cigarette in one hand sitting at the 1c slot machine in Vegas. We'll make millions...

Whatever direction 2012 leads us in - the end of the world, visits to other states - I'm pretty sure that Hubby and I will make it a great year.