Charlotte: Happy New Years Eve you gorgeous lot!, I can’t believe today is officially the last day of 2011, where did the year go exactly?!
For me personally, and as I imagine for many of you, 2011 has been a year of a few minor lows but generally major highs – I look back on everything that’s happened and all in all I’m eternally grateful for my health and happiness. As I get older (and hopefully wiser) I’ve learnt to appreciate every single moment as much as I possibly can, life is precious, as are those we love so I plan to spend 2012 doing much of the same, spending as much time as I can with family and friends and working really damn hard at something I enjoy and believe in.
As for my New Year’s resolution?
I only have one really, and that’s to believe in myself a bit more. My new motto is “You want it? then go out and make it happen” …because you know what? I think whomever said you can never have it all is a great big ruddy fibber.
Oh and wear a Mermaid costume. I have always wanted to wear a sequin tail – preferably is some kind of turquoise hue. I’m hoping someone will invite me to a fancy dress party so I have an excuse…. and if not I’ll just throw one myself (you’re all invited – obviously)
Have a fabulous one RMW’ers and don’t forget to leave us your resolutions and 2012 plans in the comments box below.
Big See You In 2012 Love
Charlotte xxx
Adam: I’m not going to give myself a strict gym commitment that I just won’t keep. Instead I’m just going to say that every time I get back from the gym I’m going to back my bag for the next time I go. To make easier to go when I can fit it in.
I’m going to find more time for friends… I have already started this and it’s been quite successful so far… But I NEED to keep it up!
I’m going to learn to play the piano. I’m 31 but I’m bloody well going to do it.
Some smaller things:
I’m going to eat less take away food.
I’m going to give up alcohol in the week (for a bit anyway).
I’m going to sort through that mountain of paperwork.
Once that’s done I’m going to attempt to never have a mountain of paperwork again (maybe just a foothill)…
Happy New Year Folks.
Adam.
Jenny: I love what the start of a New Year signifies, sweeping the old cobwebs away and starting with a fresh clean slate. I am so over making new years resolutions though, I’ve wasted too much money in gym membership and fallen off the ‘will not drink wine during the week’ wagon umpteen times so I generally just try to be a better person. So this year, my only resolution, is to try and be better.
Being over in Asia I am looking forward to my first expat experience of Chinese New Year – it seems to have so much more meaning over here. For starters it relates to lunar activity, so the celebration marks the end of the Winter season and the beginning of Spring. So I will be having a mahoosive spring clean and organise some crap in my cupboards, sounds boring but I love having a good clear out!
Also, as a married couple, we can be asked for Red Envelopes of money from singletons, children, and the elderly, and Mr O’s boss has already given him a heads up that he’ll be asked for a fair few envelopes from the blokes at work. I can’t get my head round this, actually going up to a complete stranger and asking for money? Sounds like a ruddy good deal for the single people out there! Also the Chinese are a bit funny about numbers too. The numbers 6, 8, and 9 are lucky because they sound like other chinese words that have positive meanings. However I have been told not to give $4, $14, $24 etc as the number 4 sounds like the chinese word for ‘death’ and is considered very bad luck! This is why over here you’ll find that a lot of buildings are missing the 4th floor, or the 40-49th floor, and they avoid using the number 4 at all! This all fascinates me, I am going to throw myself head first into this new culture and try my hardest not to offend (although me being me I will probably get something wrong). Red is the colour of happiness and joy, so I shall be rocking the Chinese New Year by wearing my hot red lippy at all times, by trying NOT to drink too much wine, and by passing out lucky red envelopes to thank the Hong Kongese for welcoming me into their amazing culture!
Happy New Year to all our wonderful readers, here’s to a happy, healthy, wealthy and positive 2012!
Team Oatham xxx
Vix: Well 2011 for me has been a bit of a whirlwind, some fantastic times including Malcs 30th, our brother and sister in-laws amazing wedding in the Seychelles, getting engaged in Italy and seeing some great friends tie the knot. It’s also had some lows, redundancy and my account got raided by some nasty thief who’s spent all my money all just before Christmas 
bad times….
My new years resolution for 2012 is the same as 2011′s and I propose to do something amazing for someone else, something completely selfless and rewarding. This year I surprised Malc for his 30th with a gift that I know he always wanted, it cost a small fortune but the look on his gorgeous face was so worth it.
2012 I plan to do something amazing for a stranger, I am in the middle of signing up to volunteer at the Royal Star and Garter home for the elderly, I plan to give some of my time to someone that really needs it, whether it’s just a cuppa and a chat with someone who has no-one to talk to or accompanying someone to church on a Sunday who cannot get there on their own. I miss my grand parents and I want to give something back. I know they will be proud of me and I say it’s completely selfless but the feeling of utter selflessness will make me feel good so it’s not completely selfless I guess??
Oh and my other one is to give up crisps and chocolate, I was planning on giving up alcohol for Jan but I just don’t think I will make it, is that awful??
So a MAHOOSIVE Happy New Year to every single one of you and roll on 2012 – New Year, new start!!!!
Lots of love
Vix xxx
Lovely post guys, @charlotte it made me a bit sad when you said I’m sure your years have been a few lows with some great big high’s because just a few months after my engagement my cousin (best friend and made of honour) was diagnosed with cancer. I’m not going to lie it’s been horrific, but our long journey brings us here with exactly 5 months to go, and just 2 days ago I was sat in hospital with her for 4 hours whilst she was receiving her second to last treatment and we discussed the wedding inside and out! Despite what she has had going on she has been the best maid of honour you could ask for. I can honestly say at the moment I’m more excited that she will be walking down the aisle on my wedding day.
So my new years resolution is, to spend my time with the ones I love because life is so ruddy short, and spending time with people that really don’t give a damn is only taking my time away from the people that do.
Oh and to continue to read RMW everyday, twice a day for the next 5 months and beyond
xxx
2012 is gonna be the best yr ever, but guess I’m biased! No resolutions for me as i don’t wanna fail at them, but gym membership is bought and I’m ready to get healthy. I have been so lucky in 2011, finished our travels, got engaged, got back to UK, got a job and house. Fingers crossed it continues and i really do count my blessings. Happy new year eveeyone x
Hello Team RMW! *waves*
Happy New Year when the bells ring! I shall be ceilidh dancing my Way into 2012 in Edinburgh.
As well as the fun of starting the wedding planning in 2012, it’s make or break time for my business so no resolutions other than to work ruddy hard! I decided no wedding weight loss pressure, I have been working on losing the food baby so that will continue but not for the sake of the wedding – just for me.
It’s also my 30th in 2012 so I shall also be throwing a huge party with all the ideas that don’t make it into the wedding!!!
And of course reading RMW several times a day from our new iPad!!
Great post folks!
Charlotte – I have a mermaid tail you can borrow AND it’s turquoise!! I went to a fancy dress party dressed as Ariel once
Adam – your made me laugh because they’re so similar to mine! I was managing quite well on the no alcohol during the week, until I finished school for Christmas! Filing is our biggest issue – tiny cottage + mountains of paperwork = not good!
Jenny – This red envelope thing has the potential to be very costly, no? I can’t imagine asking for money in that way, but I guess tradition is tradition(?!)
Vix – Yours almost made me cry! I would LOVE to do some volunteering with the elderly, and once my teacher training and the wedding are sorted, it is definitely something I will look into. Your Grandparents would be VERY proud of you lovely
I’m a bit like Kelly on the resolution front, as I always make ones that are too hard to achieve/keep up BUT I intend to:
- start running again, and not use the weather as an excuse(!)
- invest in some good skincare products before the wedding.
- not take things so personally, and learn to take a compliment (I started work on this in 2011, but haven’t mastered it yet!)
Fingers crossed!
Have an amazing New Year – wishing RMW continuing success in 2012, and a healthy, happy year to you all!!
MrsA-to-be xx
I have just one resolution and to be honest, it’s more of a resolve rather than a resolution…
I am going to be the best bloody aunty going.
The past two years have been tough. I’ve watched a most loved sister struggle with something beyong her control. I’ve watched my mum as she battles with feelings of sheer helplessness becayse this time, she can’t make everything OK for one of her girls with a hug, sensible words and a trip to Topshop.
I have spent a lot of time randomly bursting into tears because it felt like everything was going right for me (a great big flipping vintage rock, the excitement of planning a wedding)…but at the same time it felt like I was having my guts ripped out on a daily basis because my wonderful, wonderful sister was struggling and out of the two of us girls, she really is the most wonderful one who deserves life to go her way…I’m the brat, not she.
Anyhow, as we say goodbye tonight to 2011 (and 2010) it will be with no looks back on what has been…I shall not miss these years one bit…but forward…
Because at my August bank holiday wedding there is going to be a very, very, very special guest. A guest that wll not make me a daughter, a sister, a best friend, a bride or a wife…but an aunty…and I cannot wait.
Ever since I have known the news wedding planning has not been as frantic, my ‘the devil is in the detail’ calls have somewhat subsided…I think I was hiding behind it all, trying to busy my mind…and whilst my peachy tones and beautiful blooms, AMAZING heels and Ginger Rogers dress still all have to be just so (I haven’t had a labotomy!) I also know that even if they are not just so it doesn’t really matter…my family and the Big Chris will all be there…and as long as there is that (and a few of my mum’s famous ‘emergency pies’) it will be just great.
So yes, I am committing to being Aunty of the Year 2012. And nobody is going to keep me from the title!
xoxo
aaw – well, 2011 has had its highs and lows for me too. We had three fabulous weddings to go to and we got engaged in Sorrento which was amazing! But my friend got really really ill earlier in the year which was horrific and then a month ago I was horse riding and got thrown, fracturing my vertebrae. So now I have two months off work. Ive decided that one of my Resolutions will be to use my time off wisely, so I have signed up for an online creative writing course and I am also going to look into my Grandmother’s ancestry as a little project.
Other more random resolutions are:
spend more money on having nice hair – My partner treated me to an amazing haircut for christmas which i love and am determined to maintain, even if it does cost close to £100 a go. Erk.
Am going to make more effort in the glamour stakes once I am up and running again – invested in some lush bargains from Reiss and Anthropologie in the sales and want to get some wear out of them!
Get our little cottage spick and span.
Maybe get some trpoical fish?? x
Ah, lovely post. I’m feeling bit sentimental today. 2011 has been such a good year and 2012 is set to be even more exciting. I have my wedding, a close friend’s and my cousin’s, plus all the hen dos that involves! Going to be needing RMW more than ever. Keep up the fabulous work guys and I hope all your dreams come true. Me? I’m resolving to get my butt to the gym three times a week (although I have to say, I’m losing weight for me, not just for the wedding!)
Love to all! xxx
Happy new year all! No resolutions for me, I’ve never made a resolution, and don’t seem to have done too badly so far! Although I’m sure as the wedding creeps closer, I’ll start wishing I’d started a healthy eating kick in January!
Hope everyone has a good night tonight, whatever you are doing. I will be living it up on a night shift at work, booo!!
Ps. I have ALWAYS wanted to dress up as Ariel for a fancy dress party! Or Belle… ahh, that beautiful yellow dress!!
Afternoon oh gorgeous ones, so lovely to hear your 2012 plans and how although some of you have had to face really difficult times you can all be so positive – you are an inspiration to all.
@Emma – what a fantastic MOH you have, and your last piece of advice is oh so true.
@Pamela – I like your resolution very much, and I am sure you will achieve your goal.
….And I’m glad it’s not just me with a dress-up-as-Ariel desire
Here’s to a fantastic New Year people.
Charlotte xxx
A very Happy New Year to you all! Asa I get older I too share the sentiments of my fellow RMW readers – it’s been an interesting year and I’m grateful to have made it through with all of its ups and downs. The last two years have been somewhat traumatic as I lost my father in 2009, and as I lost my mother some sixteen years before, it’s in these early years that the reminder of them not being here really hits me. It’s also been a wondrous year in that 2012 is Wedding Year – but I’m going to miss them on the day. I very much appreciate my family – as crazy as they are – and I’m blessed that we’re all still healthy and here.
So, ditto gym membership (although I’ve been attending the gym since August!), ditto wine drinking in the week (I’m a teacher and actually I’m sometime too tired to even open the bottle!!!) but Charlotte’s resolution of ‘believing in myself’ is one that I am definitely going to embrace!!!!! Tonight I’m playing Kerplunk with my niece and nephew and cleaning the sink…..very rock ‘n’ roll, but that’s how I like it! Happy New Year – and I look forward to gracing the pages of RMW sometime in the second half of the year!
A xx
Pamela your post made me cry my eyes out. I am sure you will be an amazing Aunty. Good luck to you and your family and have a fabulous wedding! x
Vix,
Please have a look at Contact the Elderly. I have been volunteering as a driver for a year now, it’s only once a month so it’s not too much of a worry when your weeks get busy – you always just know to leave that Sunday afternoon free. The lady I drive is absolutely amazing – she is as sharp as a knife, tells it as it is and I consider her a friend, and if we were the same age we would be best friends I’m sure! She drops me pearls of wisdom, the best ever being ‘Don’t worry trouble until trouble worries you’ – being a serious worrier it rings true with me. The others in the group are lovely also – one has a knitting frenzy anytime anyone has a baby, including our group co-ordinator, one tells us all about wartime in Japan, and they have all had such interesting lives. It’s fab to know that something so small to us makes such a huge difference to a lonely older person, I hope someone does the same for me, if I ever need it.
Good luck with it – it really is so rewarding!!
Faye x
Gawd I’m exhausted just reading all these resolutions, think I’m gonna start next month instead