At the end of March I was made redundant from a job I absolutely loved, to say I was gutted is an understatement. A 3 week holiday to Florida in April definitely perked me up, although I continued to sulk about my job on my return for a few more months.
I then began suffering from a few health problems, turns out I was slap bang in the middle of the menopause and have a slightly under active Thyroid.
I was then lucky enough to have another 3 week holiday in Florida in September, that really is my happy place.
In October I started my Open University Degree in Criminology and Psychology, my first challenge was learning how to learn again.
Also in October my husband bought me a Maine Coon kitten, I have wanted a Maine Coon for years. His name is Dexter and he is beautiful, he is 5 months old and already larger than our dog!
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December has been an emotional month. For the past 10 years I have travelled to New York every December around my birthday, I make a start on my Christmas shopping, visit the tree at The Rockerfeller Centre and usually take in a Broadway show. Well with me being unemployed and already having had two trips to Florida, New York was a no go. However, on my birthday my oldest daughter brought New York to me. She got me an Empire State Building Pandora charm, a New York Taxi Christmas decoration, a bag and make up from Sephora, a Bone China Tiffany mug, Nail Polish called Times Square and a few other bits and pieces, my husband then took me to London for the weekend where he bought me an iPad and took me to see Wicked, it was the best birthday I have had for years. Yesterday my oldest daughter moved out to live with her boyfriend. I couldn't bear to be here when she left so I took the youngest daughter to the cinema. She's only moved a couple of miles down the road but I miss her terribly. It's so tough being a parent sometimes, letting go is the hardest thing in the world.
I realise that in the grand scheme of things 2012 has been very kind to me and for that I am eternally grateful.
So 2013 is nearly upon us and I have spent today deciding what changes I would like to make in my life. I intend to start looking for part time work, I have enjoyed spending time with my youngest daughter and could not go back to working 60 hours a week again. I aim to become more active on my blog, after a 4 month break I now feel revitalised and ready for the challenge. I am going to continue with my healthy eating plan, I have lost a stone and plan to lose a couple more before the summer, I'm also going to make friends with the treadmill!
Thank you to all my readers for sticking with me and I'd like to wish you all a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2013
