Tuesday 31 December 2013

Round up of the year

I have never gone in for New Year in the least. It is my mothers birthday today and, as a family, we always celebrated that rather than the date change. It is many years, I have to admit, since I have even stayed up until midnight, much more likely to be found tucked up in bed like a chaste old maid. So no doubt this year will be no different.
I also don't tend to go in for things like new resolutions. I have always believed that if you want to change something you just start immediately, there is no point in imbuing the date with a significance that it is going to help. Whatever works for you I suppose. I changed my life by simply making a decision and sticking to it, which had nothing to do with a new year.

Much more interesting to me is spending just a few moments reflecting on the year that has been, the highs and lows, the changes, the achievements. There have been changes in my attitude towards where I live. The first year I was here was about making my new house habitable. This year has been about making it my home. There have been disasters, a foot through my bath meant I was without a bath for over 6 months, but with a (hell of a lot of) effort, I have now a completed bathroom that I am proud of as well as new skills learnt in doing this myself. As I showed in my last post my garden has really come to something lovely this year too. That aside, I have not really done any more work on the house and I feel it is just about finished (or as finished as it can be on my budget). So I have used the time to fully settle in here and put down roots. Long, permanent roots.

Of course putting down roots has meant that there have been struggles in other ways. Leaving for months at a time for work has become a strain this year and I realised something very important: that although I had changed my life and moved to the other side of the country I had not committed fully to the change and had left my working life in the South. Well, of course it was slightly more complicated than that but I found the drag of packing a suitcase for 8 weeks at a time away from home in a place I didn't want to be, hours of driving and a whole summer away from home, is not the way I want to be so this year has brought a massive attitude change with all of that. Now I have fully committed to a life here I have no regrets, no doubts, nothing negative. Well that has to be worth plenty.

There have been ups and downs, new friends made, others lost. I have blogged (all be it sporadically at times) and lots of you have followed the journey. Some of you have gone beyond that and made the effort to check that I am alright at times of silence (you know who you are) and every one of my followers is appreciated.

Oh, and I turned 40 :-)

I think it is worth spending a few minutes reflecting on the year and looking forward to what the next will bring and I wish you all joy and luck over the next 12 months.

22 comments:

  1. Well, happy 40 ! :-)
    Best wishes to you, may the path you've chosen bring you lots of happiness and satisfaction.
    Happy Birthday to your Mom and read you next year ! Looking forward to watch the evolution of your lovely garden.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ditto to what Carole said! I hope your new life turns out to be just right for you in spite of any ups and downs along the way.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I don't say much usually but I hope everything works out for you-well done for making the decision and getting off the hamster wheel and a HNY

    ReplyDelete
  4. Happy New Year Dan!

    It's been interesting reading your blog this past year and I hope that the changes you have in mind work out really well for you

    xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. I saw auntie glad today
    She said the right thing
    " have a healthy new year" she said" happiness...... That will come"
    And it will
    Happy new year dan

    ReplyDelete
  6. Best wishes to you and yours for the coming year.
    Love from Mum
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Well done Dan. 2014 roll on. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Enjoy the new challenges of a new year to come. It`s been lovely to follow your journal and I`m sure I`ll continue to read your blog.
    Best wishes from the other end of the country.
    xxx Sarina xxx

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yes, I like to reflect at this time. A look back, a look forward, anything to change, or is it ok as it is. I am happy with my lot. I look forward to reading about your new adventures. Happy New Year to you Dan.

    ReplyDelete
  10. May 2014 bring you joy and prosperity.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Dan, I only discovered your blog around September and have tried several times to let you know how much I enjoyed it but Ms Technophobe here always managed to shoot her comments into cyberspace. Hopefully this time it will work. I think making the move you have is very brave but will be so, so rewarding and something that you will never regret (I know, I moved to Switzerland when I was 21 and terrified - but have never looked back). You only have one life and it is not a dress rehearsal. So I wish you all the best for 2014 and will continue to follow your journey with pleasure. Anna

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy new year and happy birthday. No doubt a wonderful year awaits you!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy New Year! All the best in your new adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Dan, I often drop by to see what you're up to. I think it was very brave of you to change your path. I changed my path and took a wrong turn but I wouldn't have done it any differently because I'm so much happier than I was. All the very best with your plans for 2014 Hope it's happy and healthy.
    Happy Birthday to your mum.
    Carolx

    ReplyDelete
  15. I sure that now you have committed, your new life will now really begin.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy belated birthday to you and your mother! Wishing you both a great year :-) and I like the habit of review too. Helps me to have at least one time of the year where I look at my life and the direction it is going :-) I do sort of set up things I would like to accomplish, but they aren't set in stone. Just gives my life a bit of structure, I guess. :-) anyway here is hoping this next year is full of adventures, friendship & prosperity in your newest venture!!

    ReplyDelete