Friday, December 28, 2007

Looking Back, looking forward...


Well, Christmas day was a quiet affair. I went to my parents for dinner and we all ate big dinners and imbibed some nice wine, crackers were pulled, gifts were opened and afternoon naps were taken by my parents while I regressed and watched Finding Nemo. I had some great gifts:
  • A wonderful calendar of garden photos all the way from the Hollywood Hills, taken by Naomi herself of 'Here in the Hills'.
  • A macro lens for my dSLR (does the Snoopy dance).
  • A monopod for my camera :)
  • Perfume
  • The usual choccies
  • Socks (thanks mum!)
  • Aromatherapy paraphernalia (thanks CQ and D)
It is perhaps no surprise that two of my closest friends bought me aromatherapy and 'pampering' style gifts for Christmas. As you might know I have been feeling rather stressed the past few weeks, due to work, study and a family situation and lately I have not been feeling myself at all and I have not been well. I am feeling a little less stressed now which is good news.

January is named after the god 'Janus' who had two faces and could look forward to the new year and back on the old one. Quite frankly I will be glad to see the back of this year. It has pretty much been my Annus
Horribles. For most of the year I have been dealing with my divorce which is now settled, though at times it has been very hard. It was the right thing to do but after 14 years of being together it was difficult to deal with. My mother became ill in April and was in and out of hospital many times which was worrying, but is thankfully doing much better now. I changed jobs in April due to my post in the organisation being cut. Luckily they found me another one but lately I have had to fend off sabotage of my projects from another team leader whilst also facing the potential cut of my post in further downsizing in the organisation (I am still waiting to hear the outcome). In the summer my family were affected by the flooding in the UK and then in September my niece was killed in an accident with a car. Since then my younger brother has launched a personal and abusive attack on me and I can't even imagine what I have done. It has been most upsetting and I have been very down at times with too many tears shed.

Of course it wasn't all awful. I did get to visit Vienna which was lovely and I did pass my last round of MBA exams which meant that I could proceed to the final project
and I will hopefully graduate next May. I am sincerely optimistic that 2008 will be a kinder year. I have much healing to do still and will have difficulties to face on the work front and my studies to finish. I do not make New Year resolutions but, like Janus I do face the coming year with hope and the resolve to put 2007 behind me where it belongs. I wish all of you a prosperous New Year, filled with health, wealth and happiness, especially for those of you whom I know have also had difficlut times. I wish it for myself too.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I know it doesn't sound like much, but I'll say it anyway:

Thoughts and prayers for you and yours in 2008.

craziequeen said...

Happy New Year, BK :-)

Now, make sure you use that aromatherapy paraphernalia and get some quality time :-)

Love you, babes :-)

cq

craziequeen said...

oops...Michele sent me this time.....
:-)

OldLady Of The Hills said...

I so wish all this for you too, dear Bob-Kat....May ALL of the stresses and strains be behind you in this New Year! And I hope the "job stress" is resolved quickly, too!
Have a lovely safe and fun New Years Eve, my dear!
So glad you like the calendar...! It was a joy to put it together and great fun to share it, too!

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Dang! Michele sent me, my dear....! I am sorry I forgot to say that!

Andi said...

I appreciated this post....very thoughtful. I hope that 2008 is a kinder year for you.

Michele sent me. :-)

kenju said...

Bob-kat, I hope that 2008 will be kinder to all of us than the past year was. we could all use some down time, couldn't we?

Melody said...

Best wishes to you too B-K! I have enjoyed your blog over the past year and look forward to reading more in the new year.

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Here's to a brighter New Year!

Michele sent me here.

Preeti Shenoy said...

I have been following your blog and I know what a hrd time you went through.
Here's hoping 2008 more than compensates for it.
Happy new year.

Ramona said...

BobKat, from the bottom of my heart I wish you an exceptionally wonderful and happy New Year.

OldLady Of The Hills said...

Come on by and see the "SPECIAL" Video I've posted....I think you will enjoy it, very much! (*smile*)

OldLady Of The Hills said...

LOL, LOL...You must have been watching it JUST as I was commenting to you to watch it!!!
Great Minds!
Isn't he cute??
I have another one which I will post maybe on Wednesday...It is quite amazing because he has a Rainbow on his head in that one....!
Would love to see some Video of Bob...(hint hint....lol)
Have a lovely New Years Eve, my dear. I'm gettinmg ready for my little party....I am so very tired!
But...looking Forward....!

Janet said...

you made out like a bandit! While I didn't get the macro lens I wanted, I DID get an extension tube, which basically does the same thing :-)

How do you like your monopod? I've thought of getting one...

Hi, Michele sent me!

Fizzy said...

What a tough year you have had, but what a positive post you have written for the approaching new year.

Happy New Year Bobkat

BreadBox said...

Happy new year, BK! (And this time, I'm not here from Michele's:-))

N.

Anonymous said...

Hello again Bob-Kat! A tough year with a new one approaching. I hope that you have a very happy new year and that 2008 will be a bigger, better and brighter year! xxx

Sandra Evertson said...

Wow, Fabulous blog!
Happy New Year!
Sandra Evertson

Moon said...

This year certainly has had some very difficult times for you..they say what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger...I hope its true..we do learn from our hardships..although it's somehow not very reasuring to hear that sometimes...Know that, although we are a computer keyboard away, spanning countries..this world is a small one among us loyal blog friends...many have you in their prayers, or send positive thoughts...I truely think it makes a difference.. Here is sending you the best wishes for the new year to come..we are routing for you and cheering loudly...BONNE ANÉE from your canadian blog friend!

rashbre said...

So right to look forward to a new year of possibilities. May 2008 be a great one for you. Best wishes,
rashbre x

Anonymous said...

BK I'm glad 2007 is behind you.

Who knows what 2008 has in store for us but know that you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers this coming year as well.

I look forward to visiting you often in the coming months.

utenzi said...

Happy New Year, BK. I hope that the changes in your life that have occured this past year work out well for you in 2008. Cheers!

Shephard said...

I keep hearing how arduous 2007 was for everyone. Here's to a much more pleasant and prosperous 2008.
~S