First blog post of 2012 so Happy New Year to one and all – I sincerely hope that it brings us all much joy and happiness. Looking back on last year for this post I realised that I had done far more than I had remembered and I bet that goes without saying for all of us – some things get forgotten as more important events seem to take over. And as Dermot O’Leary would say “in no particular order” this is what I managed to achieve in 2011 whilst keeping on top of Heart Gallery in a challenging climate:

Becky and The Pox, Jan 2011
I watched Becky suffer badly for three weeks with Chicken Pox for the first time in her life at 13 and then gradually morph throughout the year into a beautiful young lady that seems to be taking her own path as a leader and not a follower:

Becky started 2011 off almost black!

Becky changed to brown hair mid 2011

Becky with light brown hair by the autumn

Becky nearly blond by Christmas - much nearer to her natural colour finally!

Becky
I proudly saw Adam buy his first place in Newcastle after years of paying far too much rent on pokey little rooms in shared houses whilst at University:

Adam

Adam's new flat, July 2011

Adam's bedroom

Corner of Adam's living room

Adam's 'Christmas Tree' and view out of his living room window

Adam in the city he loves - Newcastle
I went to two weddings:

Nic and Joe in Heart Gallery's garden

Nic on her wedding day with sister india

Emma and Richard cutting the cake

Emma and Richard's stunning cake
Celebrated my 15th Wedding Anniversary to my gorgeous hubby Bart – there aren’t many men made like him in this world:

My Barty Boy

My 15th Wedding Anniversary (Crystal) ring from one of my super talented makers Adele Taylor
Went to a 40th:

Julia's eighties themed 40th Brithday Party

Julia
Enjoyed three big 50th Birthday parties:

Louise's era themed 50th party

Louise's amazing cake

Ang's 50th dinner party

Ang's very apt cake

Debi's 50th and her Dad's 80th
Travelled to a 60th:

Drinking games at mum-in-law's 60th

Mum-in-law's 60th in Leicester
Celebrated Heart Gallery being five years old:

Heart Gallery's 5th Brithday bash
Scattered my Aunty’s ashes and enjoyed our bi-annual visits to my mum’s resting place and sister’s resting place:

Aunty Ruth's resting place 2011 Wharf Wood overlooking Pen-Y-Ghent

Mum's resting place Skiddaw overlooking Derwentwater Jan 1997

Rachel's resting place at Friar's Crag Keswick Jan 2005

Derwentwater
Had a relaxing holiday in Egypt with a friend:

Extremely quiet and unbelievably cheap holiday in Egypt
Saw Dad and my Step-Mum take their first ever All-Inclusive holiday:

Dad and Sandra in Tenerife
Visited some amazing exhibitions, this one being by far my favourite at The Yorkshire Sculpture Park:

Jaume Plensa at YSP

Jaume Plensa at YSP

Jaume Plensa at YSP
Enjoyed lots of incredible walks, locally and nationally, alone and with family or friends:

Luddendendene Valley

Canal walk from home into work

Hadrian's Wall Northumberland

Walk to Castle Carr fountain

Fountain switch on

Blackpool beach

Bamburgh Castle

Brighton Beach
Ate well and socialised lots with those who mean the world to me:

Chateaubriand

Dinner parties

Fish platters

Cupcakes

Gatherings

Thai

Dad's another year older but no wiser - he loves those silly hats!

Italian

Fancy dress parties

Healthy breakfast

Birthday bashes in new places

Greek
Had my best friends over from America and miss them dearly:

Carol and Neil
Joined the Hebden Bridge WI and learned to knit as well as enjoying many great Mondays organised by our fabulous President Amy Leader:

Hebden Bridge WI Ladies

How much knitting did we all do to decorate Hebden Bridge with?
Suffered a painful and horrendous stay in hospital in the summer and quite a bit of time off work after removal of my appendix but enjoyed the lovely flowers bought for me:

flowers

flowers

flowers

flowers
Was inspired by my beautiful friend Hilly who has spent 2011 fighting cancer and although she is continuing to do so she looks and feels amazing and has already miraculously said goodbye to 4 tumours.

I treated Hilly to a haircut to 'soften' the blow before she started her treatment

Hilly after the chemo took her hair - she will not be beaten x
Heart Gallery won two awards at a Totally Locally event:

Magic Tenner Award and Top 5 Shops in Calderdale
Bart and I opened our second Milk Bar in Halifax:

Milk Bar Halifax
I have experienced peace:

Peace
love:

Love
and joy:

Joy
And I hope that 2012 is a continuation of everything 2011 has left behind for me and wishing you all the same; one thing is for sure you really do have to seize the day as time flies and none of us know what is around that corner. Happy New Year.

Seize The Day

Time flies