As we approach the end of another incredible year, I look back on the highs and lows, the love and loss, the successes and failures and remind myself how blessed I am to be in this world with the people I love, taking one day at a time.
2024 was the year I was 50 years young.
It was the year…
1. I woke up in a city that never sleeps.
2. I introduced Reggie to a snail.
3. Frankie got her ears pierced.
4. Jen got several letters of commendation.
5. We grew a celery plant.
6. Was reunited in Denver with baby Lindsay after 28 years.
7. Removed Dennis’ testicles.
8. Invited my brother to live with us for a couple of months.
9. Wore a surgical stocking more regularly.
10. Celebrated Frankie’s 14th Birthday with friends and family under 3 gazebos.
11. Walked around Delamere Forest with a clown.
12. Floated through the Rocky Mountains in a rubber ring.
13. Spent my first £5 note with the King’s head on it.
14. Drank Eggnog for the first time and loved it.
15. Jen and I celebrated our 8 Year Anniversary.
16. I clipped a fence and scratched the van.
17. I listened to a live orchestra at the Town Hall.
18. Frankie started driving lessons.
19. Watched Reggie take his first steps.
20. Went for a curry with my nephew on his 18th Birthday.
21. Celebrated my bestie becoming an Inspector.
22. Pitched for an Innovative Grant but didn’t get one.
23. Binge watched Stranger Things.
24. Brought Lucia’s World to LIVE events after 5 years in development.
25. Watched lovely Hannah & Andy get married.
26. Invested thousands of pounds into state of the art tech equipment.
27. Sat in A&E with Frankie while she had her earrings removed.
28. Dressed up as a giant green apple.
29. Celebrated Reggie’s 1st Birthday in Anglesey.
30. Frankie performed in The Wizard Of Oz.
31. Initiated School Safe Guarding meetings.
32. Waved Frankie off at midnight on a coach to Paris.
33. Discovered I can wee when I sneeze now.
34. Learned not to sneeze as much.
35. Invited friends round for Thanksgiving.
36. Fell twice running up a sand dune.
37. Released more original songs onto Spotify.
38. I dressed up for Halloween as a Red Hot Chilli Pepper and Jen was a Black Eyed Pea.
39. Increased my night sweats.
40. Watched the Greenbay Packers v the Denver Broncos in a jam packed stadium.
41. Frankie rode downtown on the back of a Vespa.
42. Sailed on a giant swan.
43. Came back on the party circuit after 5 years away.
44. Went to my first Iftar.
45. Wrote a song about Sally Jam and played it on the ukulele.
46. Worked in a private day nursery.
47. Continued with my business studies.
48. Was a guest speaker at MMU.
49. Dyed Frankie’s hair purple.
50. Watched Frankie teach children of refugee and asylum seekers how to grow sunflowers.
I’m grateful for so many things and for over 200 messages on Facebook wishing me a Happy Birthday yesterday!
Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year, may 2025 bring you more joy than sorrow, more smiles than sulks and more adventures than you can imagine.