New

So here we are in a new year. I always try and write a personal review of my year, just really for my own perusal, you sometimes forget how much has happened.

2008 was a bit of a roller coaster, with definite high points and very definite lows.

It started off in the best way with friends who I will continue to adore forever making New Year and my birthday an altogether fun experience. I always know I can count on them even in times when it seems like I need to be me and my own rock and they made the start of the year the best.

Little did I know how much it would crash to earth only 3 days later when we learnt of the death of my five week old nephew. That pretty much broke the year and our hearts. It's hard to believe that it's almost a year since that day and although things are picking up for the people involved it's hard to think Happy New Year this year knowing that it'll be painful for them in the worst way.

Bitter sweet considering now they're looking towards a new life in April.

I went underground for a while online while getting my head around that news but life must go on and as people had birthdays and summer came on, on came the start of "wedding season" with much interest this year as it was people we know time starting with Craig and Caz in a lovely ceremony at the old airport hotel in Speke. This was always going to be an amazing day no less because Caz would look awesome in a bin bag but also because Craig is one of those people you just always know where you are with him and they took the step to be together. It was a fab day, I'd not had that much fun in a long time.

Then came Tom and Gemma (about time too ha ha). Aside from rushing about like a looney taking photos for em all day with Sephi, it was one of the most fun weddings I've been too, I think made better by the fact that it was theirs. They have become really amazing friends over the last few years so sharing in their day was extra special.

That was followed by Nick and Emma in Darlington who have been “family” since Nicky met my bro at Bangor Uni back in the day. That was a fab occasion as I had all my “brothers” together – me, Andy, My cousin Stu and Nick. No photography that day for me but it was so great to see Nick and Em “get wed” as they say. Little did I know what else this jaunt up north would bring.

Come the middle of August (and never being on to enjoy the summer) I was feeling vile, tired and run down and generally... pregnant. After the eventful start to the year this was mainly exciting and scary as we both got to grips with this news. It wasn't unplanned but sometimes you don't think it'll really happen. But it did and after Al's initial reaction - “Really? SHIT your dad is gonna kill me” for the record - we set about telling the world and my best mate. That was most difficult as she was still mourning her son but fate deals good cards as well as the bad and she had some news for me too... meaning they could be born a week apart depending on how things go. This was great made even greater by the news that her's is pink and mine blue. Now we just look towards April and hope all things go well, all cooks properly and these are for keeps.

Pregnancy has been a very odd experience as my blog has charted but it's been a good one and xmas this year held a note of sadness – possibly marking the end of the “old” ways and the start of the new but also was the most relaxing and enjoyable for a long time.

New year was spent with some of my very favourite people – and some who weren't there due to plague and family and suchlike, but were texting best wishes all night ;) I had a fab time in a chilled and sober way and my only resolution this year is to try and keep up with Photo a Day!

Now we are into the new year and despite the vow for 09 to be a better year it's begun stressfully with the news that my mum may have another DVT. She's had one before but a long time ago but she's 65 now and these things are plain scary however treatable, especially at her age. Still, they're on to it and she's being treated down at my bro's with a view to going to the local hosp when she gets back so I have to be positive about it. It just scares me, my parents have always been healthy as so I get alarmed when they “fall” as my worst fear is losing them. I think this is all compounded by hormones and also the fact it's my nephews anniversary on saturday and I'm grieving for my mate having to cope with it.

It WILL be better though. It Will. So now I'm off to sort out Photo a Day for this new year.