As I prepare for bed on Christmas Eve I’m thinking back over the past year, and oh my word what a year it’s been. I remember being so excited this time last year, as I’d had an offer accepted on a longed for bungalow and had agreed a sale on my little cottage, was in a new relationship and the year looked full of promise.

My house move happened at the start of March and the entire year has been taken up with renovations. Unfortunately I’ve run out of money to finish the photography room, though it is wind and water tight and I can still use it as a photography space until I can replenish my funds. This morning I’ve been building a cupboard to house my props, hoping to get the room ready for use in the New Year.

I have, however, mostly finished my hallway. Being a bungalow it’s a big space but not useful for anything, so my idea was to make it into a kind of gallery for my pictures, which had been in a box under my bed for a decade! I’m tentatively thinking of joining the local Art Trail, so I’ve designed the space with that in mind.

Regular readers of my blog will know of my brain tumour diagnosis, which was a huge shock. Once I got my head round the situation, however, I barely ever give it a second’s thought and it’s certainly not something I’m concerned about. The facial paralysis has been much harder to cope with. The fact it’s affected how I look doesn’t bother me at all (although I miss being able to laugh properly), it’s my issues with speech, eating and drinking which have been difficult and although I’m much improved I’m still not sure if I can keep the speaking engagements I’ve been booked to do in the New Year.

Relationship breakdowns and breakups have been tough this year but have reminded me of some important truths. If someone wants to talk to you, they will. If someone wants to care about you, they will. If someone wants to spend time with you, they will. If someone wants to make things work, they will. And if they don’t want to, let them go – it frees up space for the people who will.

When you’re a good person you don’t lose people – they lose you.

Time for some shut eye or Santa will never arrive 😉 Whatever you’re doing over Christmas I hope you share it with people who will.

Happy Christmas xx