Happy New Year!!!

Hey! It's 2012! Happy New Year!

Yesterday was a world of hangover pain and tomorrow gail force winds are predicted but for now, today, the sun is shining. Thought you'd like a look at my Miss Hope plant...she's doing well...

How was your New Year? I had a pretty fabulous one! It started off not so ace with another trip to A&E to dress my infected burn - Christmas injury no. 2 - fatty boiling hot gammon water wave all over one side of my body (happened as I tried to turn the ham). Man did that hurt. Forget torn cornea on Christmas tree injury no. 1. That was a walk in the park. This had me curled up foetal round a packet of frozen peas feeling downright sick for a couple of hours.

I think I might make a pain line someday and mark the different things I have gone through. Broken bones would be right at the bottom and burns and internal aches and pains right at the top. Anyway...I digress...

After 3 hours in A&E I was finally let loose and allowed to go and celebrate. I headed up to London and got ready at a friend's house in Southfields before we hit Shoreditch for some preparty prosecco and jambalaya at another friend's house...

(here's a nice photo of the girls!)

...and then it was a taxi down to Shepherd's Bush to dance the night away in Ginglik (Old Victorian underground toilet turned club with free cloakroom!). My friend's scar band were playing again - Popes of Chilli Town and my friend's Stu and Panda also had a set later on.

(Here are some people doing the conga...)

It was great fun and we ended the night playing guitar and singing on the tube back to West Norwood.

Later, after little sleep and crawling to the station in the rain, I opened a letter from my good friend who had told me not to open it until New Years Day. It was full of advice and wisdom and good wishes as she knows I've been struggling a little lately. A good way to start the new year. Here are a few snippets I thought I'd share:

'Life is never hopeless when there's someone needing you. Life is never futile when there is something you can do to help and something you can say to lighten someone's burden or brighten someone's day.

Don't give way to loneliness, depression or despair - just because you face an empty chair. The world is full of people. There is much for which to live.

Someone needs you. Someone wants the things you can give.'

Also:

'Use your gifts! Don't let them rest or they will waste away. Take the opportunities that come with everyday. By perseverance, self-discipline - you can be what you desire.'

So there you go! Positive thinking for 2012. I also hope to not drink any booze this January and to avoid the drunken cigarette. How are you all for NY resolutions? xxx