2011 – A year of change

Well, with less than 7 hours of 2011 left to go, I thought I’d sign off the blog for this year.  To say that it’s been an eventful year would be a slight understatement! I think I have done all of the massive life changing things this year – got engaged, planned a wedding and got married, moved house (and country), and started a new job! I think that’s all of the things done for  a while (though this time next year we will be preparing to move house again… to an as yet unknown location due to Mr B’s placement finishing in Kinghorn) so I’ve still got a bit of change left to go that I can foresee!

Those close to me know that as we were preparing to leave London would have known (and witnessed the tears and sadness) that I really did not want to leave friends, my church and my life in Richmond – and was positively dreading the move northward. I even would go so far to say that prior to going out with Andrew getting married would have been a take it or leave it concept for me, I was quite comfortable being single and living the way I wanted to without any regard for anyone else, let alone a smelly boy 🙂

However, I really have taken like a duck to water to the change of pace of life, the reduction in trains per hour, to marriage, and to the change in climate (which is freezing, though probably not as freezing as Samara in Russia where my friends V, S and Z live). I do wonder on quite a regular basis what it would have been like had I not had Mr B with me and this makes me so glad that we’ve had to deal with new houses, ways of life and problems together as it would definitely be harder on my own, and also definitely makes me more aware of how naturally selfish I am and used to having my own way. Marriage is serious (but great) hard work!

Throughout this year I have also especially appreciated friendships with many people in London and afar in Naples, Chicago (now NY), Samara and no doubt others that I have forgotten about while I’m typing. I have witnessed and been involved in a good few weddings of very dear friends throughout the course of the year (and of course the Royal Wedding although I can’t claim any hold of deep friendship there). I have been able to celebrate the birth of new sons and daughters to very good friends and have also become a godmother. All of these things I am very thankful for to have been able to have the chance to share in.

I have enjoyed many games of Settlers and Agricola, lots of funny and though-provoking dinner conversations (mostly down to OT when BT hasn’t been around to rein him in :-)), many many ceilidh dances and the chance to learn a new language (‘guddle’ and ‘dreich’ are some of my new favourite Scottish words) as well as welcoming many friends who have already visited us in Scotland.

So what does 2012 hold? Well hopefully the opportunity to develop my love of photography as I bought this week a new Digital SLR camera, trips planned to visit friends in London and Nottingham in London and March, a summer holiday which will involve some Olympics watching of handball and hockey. It will also involve continuing my commute to work in Edinburgh (and attempts to spy the seals as the train journeys along the Fife coastline), an attempt to walk all 70+ miles of the Fife Coastal Path in Spring and Summer (not all at once!) and getting back on the swimming bandwagon, and possibly learning to drive (this is a maybe as I’m quite scared about this!). I’m sure 2012 will bring things that are unexpected, sad or worrying for me, but there’s point in worrying about that as each day has it’s own troubles to worry about.

I’ve really been able to enjoy articulating my feelings on life since moving to Scotland, as well as sharing fun and crafty baking links with you. I hope to continue blogging regularly in 2012, so thanks for reading so far and I hope that you will continue with me into 2012! We will unfortunately be having a quiet New Year due to me having a throat infection over Christmas, we were looking forward to going to my friend Donna’s and enjoying a massive fireworks display and DJ Donna’s playlist, but instead we will be tucked up and having our own Hogmanay celebrations which will be good too.

I hope that you have a very Happy New Year wherever you are, whatever you end up doing to celebrate!