My 2010

January's cold winter sun heralds the New Year.

Little did we know what a momentous year 2010 would prove to be for our family ...

We spent February half term in Italy ... Here is Mr. B. stepping out in Pompeii.

The coldest spring in years meant that there were no daffodils in our garden at the end of March.

The weather had much improved by the Easter holidays,

and we spent a glorious few days in the Lake District.

I had a lovely weekend in May with our daughter in the North East ....

then just days later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer ...

In June our house resembled a florists ...

so many wonderful good wishes sent after my operation.

At the end of July we were able to manage a short break in the Lakes before the radiotherapy started over the summer.

Five long hard weeks of radiotherapy took its toll on us all, but we tried to make the best of things and on good days we got out and about ... like this day in Portmerion in North Wales.

I spent most of September asleep, I think ... it just passed me by in a blur.

We did have a weekend away in the caravan, but I remember being desperately tired.

By October I was recovered enough to enjoy a week in Turkey with my daughter ...

 a lovely week of rest and recuperation, warm sunshine and good company.

At the end of November I had started a few sessions back at work ...

and we had a weekend at the Christmas Market in Bath.

Time is a great healer ...

on Christmas Eve I was able to complete a short walk in the mountains ... very slowly ... but I did it!

The year has been dominated by my illness ... it was hugely emotional at times ~ but it hasn't been all bad.
It's given me time to think ... time to take stock of my life so far...

In 2010 I learned a lot about myself ...
I learned that our family was strong enough to cope with what was thrown at us and we became much closer as a result ... we've learned to make more time for each other.
I learned that you can be truly happy in the most awful times if you are surrounded by the people who love you.
I learned that it is the people in your life matter more than anything else .... things aren't important
I also learned that there are some people who, sadly, will let you down ... they are the people you don't need in your new life.
I learned that things I used to stress about don't matter at all ... particularly my job.
I learned that I need to pace myself. I don't go rushing around like I did before ... slow and steady wins the day! If I'm tired I will take a rest!
I learned that it will take a long time to get over my illness ... physically I am fine now ... but I'm not fully recovered emotionally ... I  still have wobbly days ...tears can flow easily... but that's O.K... we're getting used to it!!! (These days it's usually happy things that set me off!)
I learned that no matter how bad things are, there is always someone worse off than you ... remembering this makes you more positive about your own situation.

Above all, I've learned that you only get one go at this life and you have to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way. And if an opportunity doesn't just pop up? Then make one!!!

You think you know these things already ... but it takes something drastic to make you really see things clearly.

Roll on 2011! A new year, a second chance at life ... no plans ~ we'll just take it as it comes!