Reflections on the past 13 months (just to be different!)

Hi all!

I've decided that I'm at a good time for reflecting on the past year. Since it is now actually February, it will actually be a reflection on the last 13 months; fitting for 2013!

Yet, how do you sum up a year; in terms of events, people, places, personal development, experiences or all of these? Reading back over my blog posts from the last year I am reminded of both highs & lows, ups & downs and all that comes inbetween. So let's talk about the good things first:

1. Whitby!

Seriously, my blog from that week away (pretty much exactly a year ago as of right now) was, in my humble opinion, one of my best. The reason that the blog was so good was that the week was so good in so many ways & the fact that I have great pictures, that conjure up great memories a year on is just fab! Holidays are such a great breath of fresh air (literally & metaphorically) & much needed chicken soup for the soul that they're often the highlights of my year.
Whitby especially was a time of relaxation; basking in the beauty of nature, spending quality time with good people, getting a lot of fresh air, browsing the shops & discovering the history of such an historic & renound town.

2. Disneyland Paris

When we booked our 4 day break to Disneyland Paris, I didn't know just how stressed, frazzled & downright incapable of functioning I would be with work, by the time we came to depart. I was close to emotional meltdown: snappy & useles, so a holiday was just what I needed.
Disney never fails to make me smile anyway: the weather was clear & bright, all the staff we met were pleasant & helpful & the parks just met all of our needs: emotionally, mentally, spiritually & physically. I returned after a mini break spent smiling, dancing, marvelling at fireworks, seeing beloved characters, being transported to faraway lands & riding my favourite rides.
The thrill of watching Dreams in front of the castle, riding Splash Mountain & Pirates of the Caribbean, watching the 20th Anniversary Celebration Train, pin trading with lots of different people & having a wonderful get-away-from-it-all change of scenery. No to mention stocking up on my favourite sweets (nom nom nom!)

3. Llandudno

The thought of going to the Royal British Legion Women's Section Annual Conference with my Mum, didn't really fill my heart with joy, that's without the 8hr drive there & back. However, the prospect of going to Wales: a place where, prior to this trip, I had never set foot, was too much to resist. I didn't actually blog about the trip I believe, which is a mistake on my part. I'll summarise here: we had 2 days at the Conference & 2 free days. So we were able to really spend some time appreciating the sights of the town & the bracing Irish Sea weather.
The total highlight of the visit for me was taking the trip to Llanberis to ride the Mountain Railway to the Summit of Snowdon & then being able to stand there at the top of the highest mountain in Wales & just look & look & look. We also found what is now my favourite restaurant in the entirity of Great Britain: Mamma Rosa which is near the seafront. No word of a lie, I would go back to Llandudno (yes all 330 miles) just to eat there again. Because we couldn't keep away, I ended up very poor, but the food was sooooo worth it. Yum :-)

So those were my holidays! I'm very pleased to say that I'm starting 2013 the way I hope to go on by heading to Italy at the beginning of nex tmonth. Eat, Pray, Love has a lot to answer for where my opinion of Rome is concerned!

Then there's Keswick! When you mention Keswick to me at the moment, I get rather sad: I'm not going this year :""(and so I can't really say much about it now. Suffice to say Keswick Town, the Keswick Convention & Keswick for Kids holds a very special place in my heart & I'll miss every minute that I'm not there this summer. The spiritual refreshment, the awe-inspiring scenery, the company of wonderful friends, the priviledge of teaching children about God & all the special moments in between!

So you can see there have been highlights amongst the day-to-day drudge of working 9-5! Of course 2012 was also special for another reason: (or 2 reasons if we're to precise) the eyes of the world were on us, the UK. The Queen's Golden Jubilee & the summer games of the 20th Olympiad meant the UK & London especially was on the map in 2012!
I didn't blog about the Olympics either(!) but I should've (tsk tsk). Basically I applied for tickets & applied to be a Games Maker because I wanted to say that I had been there & been a part of it. I got an interview to be a Games Maker: to be able to say I would've been one if I hadn't been at work, is enough for me. Then to able to go to the Olympic Park, to the Olympic Stadium and watch the likes of Usain Bolt compete, is a great memory that I'll always be able to carry with me
2012 was a fantastic, moving, proud year to be British & I'm so glad to be able to say I was a part of it!

Aside from those real gems of places & experiences, there have also been people. There are my closest friends; the ones who have always and, I hope, will always be there through everything. You know what they say: everlasting friends can go long periods of time without speaking or seeing each other & never question that friendship. These friends pick up like they just spoke yesterday regardless of how long it has been or how far away they live & they don't hold grudges. They understand that life is busy and love is there. I am always thankful for them & their support.
Recently someone else came in to my workplace & later on, my life. Currently we've been together for just over 3 weeks & we've just come back from a weekend away together in Dorset. I won't say much more here, but needless to say, in terms of relationships, I'm happy.
Long may it continue :-)

So, what did I hope for last year? What were my life aims & goals? Where did I want to be at this point, last year?

• I want to still have my job
• I want enough work and enough free time to be/feel free and happy
• I want to enjoy my youth
• I want to see new things and meet new faces
• I want to be the best I can be at all that I do

Well, I pretty much still have my job, although I'm not quite working at the mo. I'm still struggling with the work/life balance but this is due to insane job - the small fact that I love my job, means this is a vicious circle! I do feel as if I'm living, perhapsnot 100% to the full, but I'm appreciating my youth. I have seen new things & I have met new faces: tick! As for being the best I can...well I continue to try my best, to be the best I can be; it doesn't always work, but I'm trying and I will continue to with all that I have :-)

• I want to be able to commit to a church family
• I want to sort out my charity giving into regular and organised payments
• We need to sort out all of our stuff and generally be organised & have routines and motivation to do all sorts of things that I'd like to; go to the gym, not hoard stuff, be tidy to all hopefully contribute to a carefree life

 In these areas, perhaps I'm not doing as well as I could be. Church is not happening. Charity giving is optimal: I adopted a child through Compassion last year: 17 year old Karen from Bolivia, I enjoy being able to exchange letters with her & be a partof such an important ministry. As for my life & its personal admin: I am going to the gym, infact I'm a member of the gym with a membership card and a snazzy waterbottle! I had a really good sort out recently which helps me to achieve some semblance of order in my life. Hopefully this means that I am helping myself to be carefree.

This year I want to be more proactive in achieving my goals. My New Year's Resolutions this year was to be more disciplined and now that I'm a month in to the New Year, I can reflect on it.
So losing weight & being better with food was top on my list. So far I'm achieving mediocre success at cutting out inbetween meals snacking & I'm attending the gym dutifully.
Spiritual disciplines are not so great; Bible reading, prayer, Church - but believe me they're still right at the top of my list of priorities where they belong.
Getting up early/on time, being tidy, doing things the first time they are requested etc again is another goal of mine in the domain of discipline. I'll be playing the long game on this one!

Of course having a boyfriend means more joys & challenges in many areas including discipline - nevertheless, life is more fun when someone walks beside you. I'm looking forward to the journey this year.

So have a happy 2013 everybody; may you be able to look back on it with acceptance, joy & enlightenment. My hopes for this year are that I would be joyful, faithful & content.

⁹ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. ¹⁰ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. ¹¹ Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. ¹² Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12

² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4

So that's enough waffle from me! I like to take time each year to reflect upon and reaffirm my life, sharing it with the world is just my way of being open & allowing myself to confront the good & the bad in my life. Here's to the next 11 months...