I have never understood the whole New Year Resolution thing; why wait for the start of another year to change something about ourselves? Surely if you have decided that something needs to change why would you delay it? I have only ever made one New Year Resolution. It was made following persistent nagging by Dad to make some form of public declaration on the stroke of midnight. In desperation I blurted out that I would abstain from chocolate for the entire year. However, I think he was actually looking for an explanation of my whereabouts on the infamous Mr BMX date. Having a bit of a stubborn streak, that New Year Resolution actually became two fold; give up the chocolate for a year and to never divulge my whereabouts on the Mr BMX date.
In the lead up to the New Year I prefer to take time to reflect on the closing year, celebrating achievements and happy times and putting the darker days behind me.
Simple things brought me great delight during 2007; my first successful crop of tomatoes since moving to the UK and the most glorious display of daffodils nodding in our front lawn. Husband and Both Sons celebrated the discovery of a ready made Spaghetti Sauce that put an end to my inedible homemade recipe. We soaked up the carnival atmosphere of the Tour de France as it passed by our doorstep and our Aussie flags hung with pride after reclaiming The Ashes.
There were moments of drama such as Eldest Son sustaining two broken arms during a daring five brick high bike jump and £8,000 fraudulently charged to my MasterCard. Some days were spent in fits of laughter; our family day out with FOF wading through six inches of mud at the height of summer, CF and wife of CF spending hours trying to decode his secret identity in this blog, Little Acorn reading out passages of Captain Underpants to the Mothers Day diners at our local Thai, and the much talked about nocturnal noise incident with the neighbours. Both Sons managed to keep themselves and others amused with snow and ice themed activities. They rolled a giant snowball down our street and dragged me out to assist when it became stranded in the middle of the road. An ice making experiment caused CF much angst when he realised that Husband would unknowingly drive into the carport and skid uncontrollably into the garage when he hit the brakes. And I could only laugh when, boys being boys, they accidentally set off the fire extinguisher in my office leaving computer, printer, fax, laminator and black carpet in a beautiful frosting of white powder.
Some incidents unleashed the green eyed monster within me and left some people shaken, others stirred and a few stunned. Audi felt the force of a tornado when someone neglected to tighten the oil pump in my car, leaving me stranded 10 miles from home late on a bitterly cold February day. British Airways ducked for cover when my Golf Boys found themselves in Portugal without their golf clubs. But the best was saved for last when in early December the car park attendant at House of Fraser copped the angry walk, the wide eyes and a mouthful of loud Aussie abuse when he held me and other motorists in a 45 minute Car Park Gridlock caused by a faulty gate. (Thank you to all my friends who kept me calm with amusing text messages during my detainment.)
But unfortunately these minor scraps are put into perspective when I reflect on the darker days of the year. My heart was ripped out when my niece was born into this world and was denied a single breath before passing into the heavens. I was deeply saddened by the sudden passing away of WP friend and was angry with the cruelty of this world when my gorgeous friend had to endure a nasty course of Chemotherapy. These dark days remind me of the importance of family and friends and the strength we draw from them and they draw from us.
In 2007 I have laughed and cried with friends and family. Met family in far off places, made new friendships and re-established old friendships. I am entering 2008 with a New Year Resolution to only buy Free Range Chicken (Jamie Oliver asked me to do so) but more importantly I want to send a New Year Message.
Please laugh often and love with all of your heart.
