So long 2006

And it was 'so long'!

2006 has for me seemed to drag on forever. It hasn't in many ways been my best year, in fact to say it has been one of the hardest of my life to date, would probably not be an overstatement. It's seen me go through the break up of a relationship, lose my home as a consequence, move 500 miles to my parents, almost lose Tilly (situation still pending) and be declared personally bankrupt. Yup...I think in many respects I recall having had better years!

But it has not all been bad. 2006 has also seen me face some of my greatest demons...and beat them or at least stare them in the face, it has been the year I learned to take some big risks, to jump blindfold off the precipice of life and trust that somehow I would land in a place that was bearable, if completely unknown. Often I still feel in 'freefall', often I still feel scared half to death but even that I suppose is part of the learning curve and part of what life has become about for me.

This year has seen some of my greatest emotional extremes, almost daily at times, as circumstances and emotional issues have created in me some desperate lows but also some amazing highs and one way and another I have got through it all....often not too elegantly but I made it this far none the less.

My year has seen me do things and go places I never imagined I would or could and contrarily it has given me one of the best days of my life and some memories that will stay with me forever. None of this would have been possible without the immense support and care I have been privileged to be on the receiving end of from so many people.

So thank you to you all who stood by me, and yes, that includes you lot here in the blogosphere who were rooting for me throughout and who left me comments and mails of encouragement, help and advice, even when at times this blog was probably about the most depressing thing you read in an average day!

Among those who helped me get through this year there are a few who deserve special thanks, my parents of course for putting up with me day in and day out, 'JW' for always being there when I need him, Lisa who as ever is a friend in a million and of course the individual who said to me (and I quote) "You make it happen, not me, all I can do is open the doors, you have to find the strength to walk through them, and that's the tough bit (and opening doors is easy unless they are on one of those really stiff door closer things)!", to that person: without your understanding and patience, your intellect and care I would never have made it this far and I reckon the 'door closer thing' must have been pretty tough from time to time....so a special thank you to you.... you are an absolute star and you have helped me more than you will ever admit.

And so onward into 2007, I have learned a fair amount of stuff over this last year I hope, about life and about myself and good or bad I wouldn't have missed it. My enduring memories will be very mixed but the good outweigh the bad and whilst I can live without a repeat performance this year has given me a whole new outlook and hopefully a bit more backbone.

All that remains then, in case I don't make it back here before the onset of 2007, is to wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year, here's hoping it's gonna be a good one for us all! :o)