Hello, 2013!

Usually, with the entering of a new year, I shrug my shoulders and don't really think about it too much. It's just another year, with another number. An excuse to polish off a bottle of bubbly but it's just another day, New Year's Day. Tomorrow is likely to be raining! lol! Actually Dad says the forecast is dry for a couple of weeks... we will see. We might be able to put those umbrellas away - 2012 has been miserable in weather reflecting my life aptly.

This time last year, I knew that I was going to make a life changing decision and I was going to have to raise it in 2012. I started the year with dread of what I was about to do, but hopeful for my new start.

Then it kind of dragged...

Therefore, I will be glad to see the back of 2012. It's been one emotional journey, and although I had to go through it to set me on the right path, it has not been easy. Plus I lost my Nan, and I've had other emotional ups and downs I never even considered. Hopefully it's toughened me up, it has certainly made me aware of who my good friends are.

However, with 2013, the year I turn 40, maybe it is my life beginning. So I am looking forward to 2013! (Please don't let me down.) I am already entering this new year a whole lot happier than I was this time last year, so that has to be something.

For me, next year will be about focussing on my new home, which will be my new start in life, and trying to get that damn book published. Maybe 2013 will be my year? I have rejoined the RNA NWS.

And so, with this blog post, I want to wish you all a prosperous and happy New Year. Happiness being the key. I have learnt life is too short to be unhappy and that there is happiness out there. There will be tough times, every year sends them our way, but try to focus on the happiness, the good times. And the writing...

I have failed this year to read as much as the year before, and I haven't blogged as often as I did in 2011 either. So 2013 is the year I get back on it. Goodbye, 2012!

Of course, I can't leave it there... It just wouldn't be my blog. You need something else to help ease you into 2013... as well as a bottle of bubbly. These guys will help pour your drink. :)

You Can't Choose Your Family

And mine is pretty mad...

Auntie Katie buys the boys Nerf Guns... and this is what happens...

(Posting here as I can't get Tumblr to open in Chrome, Firefox... anything! Argh!)

Getting Into The Spirit

Yesterday I started a blog post about how I didn't feel Christmassy. Good job I failed to post it. Sitting on the sofa with Kieran, giggling and wincing at Home Alone 2 has certainly got me into the spirit. Tonight I will chill in front of the telly, with a glass of wine.

So with this blog post, I just want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

I'm off to curl up on the sofa with my boys and watch A Christmas Carol (or it's called something along those lines) - a version I haven't seen before.

If you're out celebrating Christmas Eve, like I used to do before kids - I hope you find this bar -->

It looks like they serve amazing cocktails. :D

I'm Not Organised, Are You?

Trafalgar Square

Yes, I know, I've not done a blog post in over one week! Last Friday I posted. Last blinking Friday!

I have no idea where the time has gone, all I do know is that I am not writing or reading much. :-( I'm not even on Facebook or Twitter much either! But Christmas madness is upon us, and to be honest, I'm not even sure I'm organised or even if I care.

I certainly won't be sending out many Christmas cards, because I can't work out when to sit down and write them, and I can't afford the bloody stamps! So I send my apologies now to family and friends who would normally get one.

I did do something Christmassy over the weekend. Yesterday, I travelled with my dad and the two boys to London to see the lights. It's something that my dad did with me and my brother when we were kids, and I wanted to do with my two. Not overly sure if they were enamoured by it all but I liked it. Typically, as we came out of Selfridges, knowing it would be dark, the rain decided to fall, so we couldn't soak up the sparkly lights as much as we'd liked.

Here are some photos though I took with my phone.

Oxford Street - with a blurry picture of Dad and Ben in there somewhere.

Boots

I think you can see which store this is.

and this one!

Regent Street.

At least our tree is up in the house now. It's whether I put as many decorations up or not. With a house move eminent I'm not so sure whether to or not. Right, well, back to the Christmas present wrapping... Are you organised?

One Got Through The Net

I didn't want to do this but I'm going to have to moderate the comments posted on this blog. Don't panic, though. At first, I'm only going to do it on posts older than 7 days, so most of you shouldn't see any difference.

I've tried to make this blog user friendly, so that everyone can comment - because I like comments! I've wanted to make it easier for those with or without 'accounts'. However, I seem to be getting a lot of SPAM and Blogger has been dealing with those nicely. But today one got through the net.

I've read lots of advice about blogging, and one is not to use those dreadful Word Verifications. I must admit, I hate them. I can never see what the bloody letters and numbers are supposed to be. So I am refraining from turning that back on, too.

Therefore, I'm going to see how this goes. If this reduces my Spammers, or at least stops them actually going live on my blog, I will be happy. Hopefully, none of you will notice the difference, but if you do comment on a post that is over 7 days old, then your comments will be moderated first.

Okay - that's the boring stuff over... now here's something Christmassy as a means to thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I do like their hats.

Happy 8th birthday, Ben

On Saturday 4th December 2004, at 6.36am, after the 30 odd hours of the labour from hell, my gorgeous boy, Benjamin James Morgan was born.

There was a point in my life I feared I might not have children and so he was instantly precious to me.

He weighed a whopping 9lb 4oz and was so contented. I remember leaving him in the 'nursery' on the maternity ward, so I could have a bath and came back to find his cot empty. Fear waved over me briefly - someone had stolen MY baby - then I saw a midwife holding up a baby to another midwife saying, "look how handsome this baby is." First proud mummy moment ever when I realised it was my baby. And I thought I was just biased. (We all think our babies are handsome, lets face it).

But eight years on, where did my baby go?

Happy birthday, Ben. My sensible boy. You'll never be too big to cuddle... it's just if you'll let me.

(I've scheduled this blog post deliberately for 6.30am!)

This Time Last Year...

Gosh, it's the 2nd of December already! This time last year, I was doing an advent calendar type blog post. Blogging every day, and having a little pleasant surprise for you all. You can safely say this year my mind has not been on it. I have struggled with writing, and even reading at times.

At the beginning of the year when my aunt died and my nan was diagnosed with cancer, and I'd dropped my bombshell about my marriage, my mum said 2012 was going to be a hard year. I replied that it wasn't, it was going to be my year, and it was a new start.

I have definitely put my life onto a new direction, but I think I will be glad to see the back of 2012. There has been times when it has felt bleak, and I couldn't see that light at the end of the tunnel. I've had an emotional journey, in more ways than one, some of it I just haven't shared on here but close friends do know what I have been through.

It's another year of not making it as a writer, yet I did achieve sending The Wedding Favour out to five publishers, and receiving - although rejections - some positive feedback. I now need to restart the editing process for the resubmit request I got from one of the publishers. I MUST DO IT!

This year I've failed to make a Christmas cake. I think I've had to take one day as it comes, and haven't been prepared to do much planning. I can't even think of Christmas until my son's birthday is over on Tuesday (4th December).

On the positive side, from this year I have found really true friends. And I hope they know who they are. I've found support  from these wonderful people through the internet and real life. Without them I don't know if I'd be as strong as I have been.

So, as we set into December and Christmas rapidly approaches, I count down to 2013 which will be a new start in life for me, hopefully in a new home. I will be turning 40 in 2013. Maybe they're right, life does begin at 40...