Looking back

When Christmas is nearing and the New Year is looming right behind it, people tend to look back on the year that has just gone by. For me, the year has been pretty good. No more debt, a job, a home (albeit rented), friends and family, good health. But I still wanted to have a little look back on the year myself, after all, there might be things I have forgotten! Clicking on the months will take you back to the post I wrote then...

January: A crashed computer; a dental scare and ice! I wrote in January's post about not remembering having a proper snowy winter since 1979! Well, the year isn't over yet and guess what: snow... We've had it for five days now and they are expecting a bit more to come yet. It's just funny how the snow started falling right at the time the Copenhagen summit started on global warming! As if to prove them wrong...

February: Snow; London in spring; a fishy dinner with my parents and a weighty matter! February saw me change the quite boring name of my blog (the life of Mara) to Weighty Matters. The name was referring to Wuppie, but since then he is a bit less weighty. I've put all the monsters on a bit of a diet: I only feed them once a day now. In the morning I put the food in their bowls and by evening the food is all gone. And they then have to wait until the next morning!

March: Sophie has cancer; a funeral; pre-posting and feeling down in the dumps. In March I had a spell of feeling very sorry for myself. Missing a significant other in my life was massive! I still haven't found one, would still like one, but I am not too bothered about it right now. Rather alone and content than with someone and unhappy! And the remote is still very firmly in my hand only...

April: Football (or soccer); London; more London and stupidity with a bike. I wrote about my bike in April. A typical Dutch mode of transport (and yes, I do know there are a lot of bikes in China as well) and my only way of transport apart from the coach I drive for a living. Whenever I tell people I don't own a car I just get an incredulous look from them? You're a driver and you don't own a car???? No, I don't! And most of the time I don't miss it either.

May: London with my family; laundry; the Provence; thunderstorms; excuse my French and gypsies. I went to the Provence in France in May and I encountered an old gypsy woman. I got cheated out of my money and got a palm reading about my future! So, what has come true about her predictions? I haven't met the love of my life and the numbers 3, 4 and 12 go by every month unnoticed. Good thing I didn't put much trust in it to start with...

June: Tube strike in London; Airforce Days; Army Days; no inspiration; starting to look old and conversations with my boss.  My boss is the man who hired me. He's a sweet man and very funny. He will show the walks from the 'Ministry of Funny Walks', he will bring the comics from the paper or he will put on a funny Scottish wig! He's the one I turn to if I have a problem (but personal and work) and I would be sad to see him leave the company.

July: Ireland; holiday; day out with my parents; sauna and the vet. Every July sees me going to the vet with four cats. Three baskets laden with feline furries and trying to find a mode of conveyance to get there! The results of the visit were that Wuppie was overweight, Mathilda had an eye-infection, Linette was in good health and even Sophie was doing fine! Well, it may not be a lot, but Wuppie has lost weight. And Mathilda's eye-infection cleared up as well. Linette is still in good health and Sophie hasn't shown any signs of the cancer returning either.

August: Heatwave in Italy; playing the tourist and great reads. I can read nearly everywhere and if a book is funny I will laugh out loud and when a book is sad I will cry. And it doesn't matter where I am at the time, be it home, bus or busy trainstation. Some people will look at me when I am reading and wonder about what is happening, some people can even get annoyed because they want to know what's so funny! I've tried to stop reading the sadder books in public though: it gives me puffy eyes!

September: Potatoes; autumn; awards and emigration. People who have been reading my blog for a while know I want to emigrate to Canada. It means gathering information about where and when to go and saving up money. It also means deciding when to tell the people around you and dealing with any questions. Like: are you still here? When are you going? Where are you going? Are you sure? Why? Why? Why?

October: Mara; eggs; bad mood; food; zombies and dreams. 'I'm dreaming of a White Christmas, just like the one I've never known...' But that dream doesn't look like it's going to happen this year: the snow is melting again! There's still about 8 centimeters left, but at the rate it's melting, I might be better off to keep dreaming of French firemen...

November: Give-away; rain; photos and smiles. A smile of encouragement, a smile of joy or a smile for a little joke. Smile people! It doesn't cost anyting, but the return is fantastic!

December: Pigs; snow; not quite London; reviews and presents. I love presents. And not having celebrated my birthday and not celebrating Christmas with presents means I don't get presents. But for some reason this year, presents (both expected and unexpected) were plentiful! Films, ornaments, cd's, cards and a chocolate letter. I've been spoiled!

This was my year. Hopefully next year will be as good. Trips abroad, new friends (both in blogland and in real life, perhaps even crossing over!), old friends. I'll keep you posted...