It is that time of year,
when we look back, analyse and wonder.
When we look forward, dream and plan.
What a year 2013 has been.
In some ways it was a magical time.
Imagine this time last year I had never written publicly.
I didn’t know what a blog was,
and my outlet for my thoughts was a private journal.
This year, thanks to my brother, I discovered wordpress.
I met a huge number of wonderful online bloggers,
who I now consider “friends” of sorts.
I was also nominated (thank you!) for the Irish Blog Awards,
and amid much excitement got shortlisted, eventually making my way,to become a very unexpected finalist.
It was a huge thrill for me,
and has put me in touch with a lot of Irish Bloggers.
I am especially grateful as it has led me to the door of The Irish parenting Bloggers.
A group of Irish bloggers who have offered me friendship, advice and access to some great posts.
It has sadly also been a terrible year personally.
This time last year I was so full of hope,
that a young friend recently diagnosed with leukemia would do well.
The odds were hugely in his favour.
85% make a good recovery.
As you all know he was the exception,
the minority.
He was the 15%.
We are still coming to terms with that.
As the New Year looms I, like most of you,
look back and take stock.
I remember the wonderful highs and the crushing lows of 2013.
This is life.
None of us know what the future holds.
The only thing that we can be absolutely sure of in the year ahead,
is that we will all experience some great days and some challenging ones.
We just have to learn to live them as they come.
So to all who follow my blog regularly,
I have two wishes.
Happiness, and the ability to appreciate it when you have it,
and strength to cope when life throws you more than you bargained for.
Happy New Year.
Lets drink to fresh hope.
To the promise of a better 2014,
and for me personally,
to the end of a poxy 2013.
Sláinte.
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My thoughts on a page. 
Happy New Year to you and yours.
Thanks J.D. Best wishes to you too.
I am proud to have spent part of this year’s journey with you, Tric. A new Year is the beginning of a new cycle, with the wisdom brought by the year we have ended… Wishing you health, happiness, friendship and a good dose of laughter for 2014, beautiful. Love, MM xoxox
I’ll definitely drink to that. Strangely despite the bad year I’ve just had, I’m really looking forward to next year. I’m also looking forward to more banter between us two.
Enjoy the celebrations tomorrow, and heres to 2014.
Cheers – lifting my glass to you Tric. Make sure you put those Doc Martens on with your cocktail dress – they’ll bring you good luck 🙂
Happy New Year to you too,may it be a good one for us all.
Cheers. Here’s hoping. We can enjoy the promise anyway.
and on to the new, with our past never far from our hearts! lucky you found wordpress, as my life has been made better by crossing paths with you in the blogosphere, and that is just one great thing to take from 2013 )
Thank you for such a lovely comment. For myself too connecting with you has been great. You have been so good to me especially when life was difficult, and I really do appreciate it. I hope you and all yours have a wonderful 2014.
Wishing you all the best in 2014.
Thanks a million, and the same to yourself.
Best wishes to you, your family and friends for a wonderful, happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
Thanks Deb and to you and yours. Here’s to a great blogging year ahead. Cheers.
Your brother too, huh? We have something to thank them for. Hope 2014 is all you could wish for. Happiness and strength to cope are two wonderful wishes. We couldn’t ask for more. Cheers, Tric. I’ll toast you tonight. 🙂 x
Have a glass in my hand to you too. Clink clink.
I always approach a New Year with a sense of optimism – hoping the new year will be better than the one just gone
wishing the same for you and yours, tric – hoping the good things in 2014 outweigh the bad for you and your loved ones !
Thanks Duncan. We have to take the rough with the smooth. I have so much good in my life and hopefully many fun days ahead, you have too I’m sure especially with the next generation now around you.
Cheers. See you in 2014
Slainte good buddy! 🙂