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Monday 31 December 2012

Happy New Year!!

Twenty three years ago tonight, round about 1am  in the morning, I planted the lips on the man himself and never looked back.  
Actually, when I think about it, that whole sentence is pretty much completely inaccurate because it  was definitely more like 230am, HE planted the lips on ME, and every New Years Eve since I've looked back, and wondered what my life would've been like, if I hadn't pulled on my DM's and my Fresh Garbage hippie skirt with the tiny mirrors on, and queued up in the rain at the Greenan Lodge on that New Years Eve in 1989.

Still in my teens, still at school, I was chubby, ginger, a wannabe (but not quite) goth, the inevitable wing woman to my vastly more attractive, much less gauche mates. Oh, and did I mention the dodgey perm? Yes indeedy, I had it ALL going on at Tulips nightclub on that last night of the 1980's and yet.... and yet...unbelievably, amazingingly, on that rainy night, I was the lucky one.

And as the 90's slowly dawned, I really had no idea that I'd just happily snogged the face off my husband- to- be and future father to my five (just as well really!) children. I DO however, remember being soooooo mortified when my dad arrived at my friend's house to look for me at 3am, emerging through the cold January mist to find us otherwise engaged on the doorstep. He gruffly told me to get myself home NOW... which I did...but I didn't go to bed without first informing him, that he'd just ruined my life and I wasn't EVER speaking to him again....I know!  *wince*

So,  I suppose in an awkward way,  I'm saying  that you just never know what blessings a new year can bring....even if you don't know they're blessings at the time, even if you don't realise that a whole chain of events has just been put in motion, nor that your world has just tilted slightly on its axis.
 Like so much in life, you only appreciate it when you look back, sometimes years ahead, and you understand that all those decisions, and choices, however random they seemed at the time, somehow led to right here today. And so for that New Year's Eve all those years ago, I feel grateful and thankful and blessed.

The only other thing I wanted to say, apart from obviously wishing each and every one of you a Happy New Year,  is don't beat yourself up too much about New Years resolutions. I mean, I know they're great in theory and all that, but I've found they can leave you feeling a bit shit about yourself...and apparently it's not just me breaking every January diet I ever started because 75% of us have kicked the resolutions to the kerb  by January 10th.
 So as an alternative, here's this little quote by the author Neil Gaiman that I really love. In fact, I like it so much, I'm adopting it as my mission statement for 2013, so stick around  and I'll let you know how I get on. Take it away Neil...

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.
Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.
So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.
Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” 

A very, very happy 2013 to you and yours, my lovelies xxxx

15 comments:

  1. Thanks Emma, looking forward to making lots of mistakes this year, lets do some together!

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  2. Scooped a cracker by Johnny....scundered or wha!!! 23 years ago tonight eh? Sure get the pair of you down to the Balmoral Hotel and relive those memories. There's a fro wig somewhere in Harberton Loverboy could borrow too..

    Lovely post Ems. Love Clarence xxx

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    1. Totally scundered....a LOT of water under the bridge since then! Must hunt out that Afro wig though....

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  3. Ah lovely post Emma! You are so right about fate leading us to where we are meant to be. Give that man a good reminder of that first kiss tonight!

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    1. I did Dara! Happy New Year my lovelyxxx

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  4. What a wonderful memory! Swiped the fab quote :-) Happy 2013 x

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    1. Thank you- so glad you liked the quote too!

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  5. Hee hee - lovely.
    Happy new 2013.

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    1. And to you too Paul!! Hope to meet up in 2013!

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  6. Love the Gaiman quote - will use it for Assembly on Tuesday! Have a great 2013!

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    1. Oh wow!! That's great- hope they liked it! Happy New Year xx

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  7. Hi. Happy New Year. Couldn't believe it when I read your blog. I met my now husband and father of my 4 kids the day before you. I too was wearing DMs, dungarees and had a real dodgy haircut. The perm didn't come till a few years later. I'm sure it's the same for you - the years have just flown by and I can't believe how lucky I feel to have been out that night and have met my future husband and often wonder what my life would've been like had we not hooked up. Hope you and your family have a great 2013 and I look forward to hearing all about it.

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    1. No way!! What a coincidence and a very happy new year to you and your lovely family too!!

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