The end of another year. What is your best memory from this year? Or how you celebrate the end of a year.
I know, I know, the approach of another year is the perfect time to reflect back on what took place during the past year, and to do a bit of a stock-take. Trouble is my memory isn’t as keen as it should be and tends to latch on to something and refuse to move on to other things.
Luckily for me there has been a major event that no grandparent could forget.
It would be better for me if New Year didn’t so closely follow Christmas because I get stuck in the glow of Christmas. And this year was one of those special ones when there is a new family member to add to the joy.
Celebrations? I guess I will celebrate the end of the year as I have lived it – quietly. Which is exactly how I like it. I find that living a quiet, simple life means I enjoy the occasional special events more than I would if it were just another outing.
The Rugby World Cup was a highlight, not just because it was enjoyable following the tournament from the comfort of my lounge chair (and attending one game) but because my younger son (and an English niece) was in the country to celebrate his 40th birthday. Nothing lifts my spirits like my family having fun together.
I’ve never truly understood the point of New Year's resolutions. So this year, I'm throwing out the whole idea of resolutions. I'm not saying there aren't plenty of things I need to change. I'm just not going to waste a lot of energy thinking about them and trying to make a plan on how to change things. While I'm still enjoying all the beautiful memories made at Christmas, I'm going to choose instead to enter the new year being thankful for what I have.
I have just one resolution, to return again to the west coast of the Far North where this year, during the mid winter break my friend Chris and I enjoyed, I felt a real sense of euphoria.
So that's it for another year. It's had it's highs for some of my family and it's lows for others but it's over, there are new beginnings ahead.
The rest of the Friday Shoot Out Team will be posting their "The End" shots here.
I wish everyone a great new beginning for 2012.
Pauline, I wish you and yours all the best in 2012 - and I hope someday to visit that far north that I enjoyed so much on last year's post.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you Pauline. Your grandson is so dear and you will have great times ahead in the coming year with all your precious grandchildren. All the best for 2012!
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of being thankful and just looking forward rather than trying to think of a new list of things that I "must" achieve. Life is a process and continues on... like a train on its track. I will make the stops and chose as I go which direction I turn.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family, Pauline. May this coming year bring you many blessings.
Great family shots. You have a wonderful 2012.
ReplyDeleteI think that being thankful for what we have is just about as good as it can get Pauline. I'm with you on that one.
ReplyDeletelovely little ones.
ReplyDeleteYou have some wonderful experiences to reflect on as the year closes. I'd say 2011 was a very good year!
ReplyDeleteAll the best in 2012, Pauline!
This weeks linky is on the main page of FMTSO. Recently, you may have noticed Sarah has had technical difficulties getting the linky page up. We apologize for the inconvenience. We are planning on migrating the linky page to our main blog in the future, that way any of the authors can help post the linky when needed.
ReplyDeleteTo celebrate New Year's Eve "quietly" is impossible here (because everyone else celebrates it by shooting off fireworks). I'll be having friends over - 12th year in a row. We don't usually get caught up in neither too much looking back nor looking forward.
ReplyDeleteHappy new YEAR!
ReplyDelete2011 was a good year. We welcomed a new grandson in July - that was the greatest gift the year gave us. We visited new places (Hawaii, West Indies, Vienna in Austria, Long Island in New York and several towns in Ohio and not to forget going back home to Paris.) I hope there will be more traveling in 2012. I wish you a joyful New Year and great inspiration and beautiful photos for your blog in the coming year.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new baby. There is nothing better. I enjoyed your post as always Pauline and like you my HH and I will celebrate the New Year quietly. All the blessing of the New Year to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteQMM
Pauline, great post and yes family, babies and quiet celebrations make up our best of year. But i also hope the best for you in the next year, including your trip to the coast, far north. that sounds the best to me.
ReplyDeletethis year will try to minimize the damage done to my body by time and will enjoy a trip to USA in June and to Italy in October.
hugs from Brasil.
You have a wonderful new year 2012.
ReplyDeleteI wish for you a wonderful and peaceful 2012. Thank you so much for your valued friendship Pauline.
ReplyDeletehappy new year to you too pauline-have loved browsing your blog cheers teri
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely family. Baby is too cute. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
Here's to your take on resolutions!
ReplyDeleteLovely pics. Hope you had a great Christmas and wish you an awesome 2012.
ReplyDelete