At the moment life feels a bit non-stop. It might not be the
case it might just be I’m focusing on different things and in my spare time
I’m now knitting (something I learnt in 2013) rather than blogging and in my
new job I’m driving less, and driving was my thinking-of-blogs time.
Looking back, each year is that bit different to the others,
I’m not saying on December 31st things stop and January 1st
other things start but there are definite treads in each year.
2010 was the year of five addresses, I graduated, went full
time, and at the very end lived on my own.
2011 was the year things started. I got my passport and went
to South Africa, MWiB came into existence.
2012 was the year of interviews – well eight weeks of it was
anyway, with seven interviews squished in them.
2012 was the year I challenged myself to run 5K to complete
my Grade 5 Music theory.
Then there was 2013.
A year
in two halves, the first eight months were saying goodbye, packing up. It was
about half way through those eight months I was offered my new job.
Subsequently the final four months of 2013 were hellos, fresh starts, and new
challenges.
It was the year I left the first place I’d chosen to live.
That beautiful little city where I went for university will always have a place
in my heart. I loved living there and miss it and it’s people.
2013 I grew up. I bought a house, I got a mortgage, I learnt
what a damp proof course, a retainer on a mortgage and all sorts of other
jargon was.
2013 has also been a year when I didn’t go to things. I
missed Spring Harvest due to it clashing with MWiB weekend – and actually my
job interview. I missed Greenbelt because I was bridesmaid at a friend’s
wedding. So both good reasons! Then I missed 3Generate – as I’m too old – but I
was on local radio that Sunday morning. That weekend was also five year anniversary
of me and boyfriend! That is a long time! Much of 2013 was spent as a short
distance relationship, which meant dates to the cinema, art gallery and a new
found love of Chiquito’s popcorn. (We also went to a very beautiful wedding
with lots of driving as I didn’t realise how big Yorkshire is). Boyfriend has
now moved far away – sad face. My best friend has also moved far away – in her
case to the other side of the world – very sad face. I did get to go to the
weekend of Conference in London, and Soul Survivor with my young people –
playing the animal game almost constantly, was really lovely when they wanted
me to play. The other great moment was when one of my young people mentioned my
passion for participation – “you always let us decide together” - win!
One of the most impressive things of the year was the fact I
managed to do my journal every day, something my Brother and Boyfriend both
thought was way beyond me.
2013 was also a year of travelling. My trip to Italy to help
plan the seminar there this June was a great time –well despite having my purse
stolen. I got to go to Northern Ireland for the Irish Methodist Conference–
something I didn’t blog enough about, but the President’s sermon about Joshua 3
has reoccurred in many of my own sermons. I got to see the theological college
which is a beautiful place to study in. The whole Conference was God centred
and prayer was a key aspect. I also got to see Irish Helen Kim Memorial Scholar
J.
Soon after that I ran 5K in 36 minutes – 6 minutes faster
than the year before and much helped by the Youth President’s fitness regime
while I was in Ireland.
Then there was Paris. Part of my new job is helping with the
Churches’ Scout group and in October half term we got to go to France and meet
Minnie Mouse, we did get the ferry in the awful storms. Other parts of my new
job include a toddler group, lots of different styles of worship and a very
busy advent.
You will now realise that it is February, and we are already
1/12 into 2014. What does it have in store?
So far I’ve been trying to set up my pension, I’ve knit two snoods (one
for me and one for Mum) and visited boyfriend in his brand new exciting job –
see his blog here for more on that.
2014 will be another year of solitude evasion - finding ways
of building community. It will hopefully me the last full year that I’m single,
(like I had to put on a form the other day). It’s a year of more new
experiences, running an international conference in Rome, and so far a year of
three weddings, every year has had a different number recently – very clever of
you my friends.
I think I need to pause more, to put on the handbrake,
reflect what’s happened. So bring on
2014! Let’s hope it’s not as manic as 2013 but just as fun and action packed.
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