Reverb12, days 8-14

I'm joining in with Reverb12, which you can read about here.
Basically its a look back over the past year and a sneak preview of the next, with daily prompts to set you thinking.

You can read my days 1-7 here.

Day 8  Considering the idea that nothing lasts forever: what was the most important relationship that you fostered in 2012? 

How will you continue to nurture it in 2013?


My relationship with my husband of 25 years, Rog, is still the most important one in my life, we have been very happy together through thick and thin, good times and bad times, sickness and health, we've raised a family and waved them off into the big wide world, and now, for almost the first time, we are enjoying just being a couple. We are having fun doing things we want to do, ordinary, everyday things, like a walk in the park, a shared beer at lunchtime, just having the time to sit together and chat. It's lovely, and I will do my utmost to make sure it continues into 2013, and beyond.


Day 9 What was the best book you read in 2012, and why? (And by "Why?" I mean: Why did you read it? And why was it your favourite? Although these answers could be one and the same...!)

Not so much one book, but the discovery of an author, Lionel Schriver. Our local pub has a shelf of books, available to take to read and return, much like a library but with less books and no membership required. As I was browsing it one time I came across "We need to talk about Kevin", which I thought I had heard of at some stage, so I took it to read. To say I was gobsmacked was an understatement, it's hard to put into words the effect this lady's (yes, Lionel is a lady) writing had on me. I have subsequently read another of her books, borrowed this time from the County Library, called "The post-Birthday world" another brilliant piece of writing, and I hope during 2013 to read some more of her work. Fabulous.

Day 10  What was the greatest risk you took in 2012? What was the outcome?

I dont think I did anything really risky in 2012, although some things were a bit scary. The biggest risk was in 2008, when Rog and I relocated from Surrey, where we had lived for over 20 years, to Wiltshire, a move of about 90 miles to a place where we knew no-one. It turned out to be a good move, and the slightly less risky move from one town to another 15 miles away this year was hardly risky at all, although a bit scary to have ones entire worldly possessions in the back of two lorries.

Neither of us like flying, so it was a bit scary for us to fly to Guernsey for our week's holiday, and even more scary to fly back at the end of September just a couple of days after some extremely heavy rainfall and strong winds had affected the English Channel and the whole of the south of England, but again, no real risk was involved.

The only other slightly scary thing I did was to undertake a 500-mile round trip, on my own, to visit some old friends in various parts of the country, and to meet up with a new online friend. My journey took me from Wiltshire to Essex, from Essex to Suffolk, from Suffolk back to Essex, Essex to East Sussex, then back to Surrey, before returning 5 days later to Wiltshire - again, no real risk involved, but a bit scary none-the-less. Whilst I enjoy driving and my car is reliable,  and it was truly enjoyable to meet up with so many lovely people over such a short period of time, I was very tired when I got back home. I dont think I'll do it again for a while!.

Day 11  What was music to your ears in 2012, literally or metaphorically?

This one is easy, the news that my second son (from my first marriage) and his partner of 15 years are expecting a baby in May next year.

Day 12  What made you dance in 2012? What made you weep?

See the above entry for starters, I wept with happiness and danced with joy at the news. Secondly, the very stressful period of house sale/purchase, which went on for far too long, had me weeping with frustration on occasions, and having unlocked the door of our new house for the very first time saw me weeping with joy.

Day 13  Please post your favourite picture of yourself from 2012, self-portrait or otherwise!

This picture contains all those who are dear to me (except Rog, who was behind the camera), I am on the far right, my 4 sons together along the back, my first son's wife and his ex-girlfriend (mum of the two grandsons), my second son's partner, my Mum, my sister Jan and my three gorgeous grandchildren. Sadly my third son's partner (they've been together for 6 months) was unable to join us on the day due to just starting a new job.

Day 14 What was the most important thing you learned in 2012?

Patience, patience and more patience.