Looking back – the not so good.

I can’t believe it’s New Year’s Eve again!  The year has flown!

This time last year we were wondering how we were going to get through the year.  New Year’s Eve 2011 brought with it the news that John was to be made redundant at the end of January. Obviously it was a shock, although with him working in the building industry it’s safe to say that we could see that business was slowing, and the worry of what might come had been at the back of our minds for some time.

Our initial reaction was to immediately knuckle down and see where we could cut corners with regard to outgoings and bills.  For the first time in years I found myself penny pinching at the supermarket and doing my shopping in three or four different places to get the best deals.  I think the last time I was that ‘thrifty’ I was parenting alone – a long time ago.

We struggled through the first six months with the proverbial belt tightened and things got a bit easier.  I was lucky to have a part-time job, although I’d to fit this in around college and a full time work placement during the summer, which left me physically drained by the time it came to returning to college in September.  I have never yawned as much in my life as I did in front of lecturers this year…and it wasn’t them… it was me.

Looking back – the GOOD!

The year wasn’t all bad.  I turned 40 (ok…maybe that bit should be with the bad bits).  But it WAS good, because I got to visit my younger brother and my sister-in-law in Oregon, who I hadn’t seen in nearly three years.

I graduated with a Higher Certificate in Creative Multimedia.

Following my work placement, which was with a local radio station (TippFM),  I was offered a regular slot on a Saturday evening.

And I was very honoured to receive an award for Best New Presenter at the Hospital Radio Awards this year.

John got to go to Germany on a CESBEM course with Tipperary Institute, which was a great experience for him.  He also got a place on a Post-Graduate Certificate in Digital Analysis and Energy Retro-fit in Bolton Street, and got his Chartership in April.

And Ally got her Fetac Level 5 Award (all distinctions) in Art and Design.

(At this point, Bláthnaid wants me to add that she got Korn tickets – big positive aspect to 2011 in her opinion.)

So 2011 brought with it a lot of good things.

When the girls both got sick and ended up  in hospital a couple of weeks ago, I thought the year was going to end in a similar vein to the way it started. Ally had only just been discharged when, on the Monday my exams were due to start, Bláthnaid was taken in. Needless to say I ended up deferring my exams – a huge disappointment for me, but unavoidable.

It’s true what they say though – when the going gets tough, you know who your friends are, and that’s another positive of 2011.  As I head into 2012 I’m aware of those I can trust and rely on.  People are surprising!  And help can come from the most unexpected of places.

Thank you to those who supported us during tough times – your help was hugely appreciated.

Happy New Year 2012!

To our family and friends, we wish you health and happiness in 2012, and may the new year bring all that’s good your way.