2011 – the best bits

All in all this has been a pretty good year, and I will be kind of sad to say cheerio to 2011.  But what were the best bits.

Study

Well for me the fact that I am still a Mature Student Hanging in There has got to be up there.  Fitting study in with everything else remains a struggle and I can’t say I’m getting better at the juggle, but it would be fair to say that study has become such an important part of my life that I know I would be lost without it.  This year I secured a level 2 pass and forge ahead with my Level 3 course – the highest level I need to study for my degree. So far I’m hanging in there with that too.

Feel the fear and do it anyway....

My Blog

This year saw the start of my wee blog in April.  Since my first post I have gone on to keep the postings coming and my wee blog has an important place in my heart.  The best bit of course is that in my travels in blogland I have come into contact with some pretty amazing bloggers, all sharing their stories.

Home Life

Now this has been an area where there is much change.  For one 2011 has been the year when my husband and I won our epic battle with the local Authority to secure planning permission to extend our home.  It was a journey and a half and bits of it were, how can I put it bloody terrible rather challenging, but we did it and I’m proud that through sheer hard work and determination we got there in the end.

Me with our happy band of builders

Caring

We’ve now been carers for 2 years (or is it 3 – life passes so quickly).  We’ve fought the system and kind of won in this area too.  However 2012, I have no doubt, will present us all with new challenges and as carers we need to be ready to step up to the mark.  I don’t know that we’ve really managed the juggle here, being carers is such a huge responsibility, but we’ve done our best, and remain grateful for support from family.

Actually having a Holiday

This was a big highlight.  Peter and I have been married for 3 years and this was our first proper holiday away together.  I said at the time, and I’ll say it again, it was the best holiday I’ve ever had.

Being a Mum

Well despite not having ‘the manual’ I seem to have made it through another year of being a mum.  Not just a mum, but I think a good mum – certainly not an easy thing to do.  Sure I’ve made mistakes and there are things I could do better, but hey I’m human – we’re all still standing.

My boy and his girlfriend, Saffron going to the school dance 2011

Not taking yourself too seriously….. Well this year I’ve embarked on my grey period and having stepped away from the hair dye for almost 4 months now I’m surprised to discover that there isn’t quite as much grey as I’d imagined. 2011 also allowed for opportunities to do a bit of raising money for charity and The Race for Life, in support of breast cancer was definitely a highlight (just not at the time as I came wheezing over the finish line and collapsing into my mother in law’s wheelchair).

Work

Well I never did get that job I went after this year, but the process of applying for another job caused me to reflect on opportunities in my current job – things as they say are looking up (but I’m still on the look out for that new job – so come on 2012, lets see what you can do eh!

As I’m a glass half full kind of gal I’ve decided to focus on the highs, but of course we all have lows.  I don’t always get this life stuff right, but I’m nothing if not a trier.

I think the final word for 2011 and as we march into 2012 should go to Dr Seuss….

So what were your best bits of 2011 – and what will you take with you into 2012?