2012

Twelve things I did in 2012 that made it awesome.

1. I lived in London during the Olympics. The whole reason we moved here was because Rob was working on the Olympic Village so to see all his hard work come to fruition was truly amazing and I am so incredibly proud of him … and proud to be Australian because he works for an Aussie company who do big things over here. Australians rock.

2. I celebrated the Queen’s Jubilee with a proper English street party (in the rain). Went to Wimbledon to see the women’s final, had a romantic trip to Paris, a week on a beach in Thailand and spent Easter in an old English castle.

3. I didn’t drink a drop of alcohol for the entire year and I don’t plan on ever drinking another one. I should have done this ten years ago. It’s possibly the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done and it’s totally possible to have an amazing life without alcohol. As a sufferer from depression, this has changed my life.

4. I started writing and MamaMarmalade was born. My first blog lit a little flame inside me and the fire is growing.

5. I lost 18kg following Jude’s birth last year and finally shed four kids worth of weight gain. I am one of those strange humans that can suffer acute morning sickness and vomit 24/7 but still gain 20kg per pregnancy. I am finally back to my pre Holly pregnancy weight .. albeit a little floppy and war-torn.

6.  I overcame my hatred of exercise and turned into one of those annoying endorphin junkies that nag people who don’t exercise. Even I find me annoying. I caught the running bug and ran my first 10km race and am in training for a half marathon I’m doing next May. Running has unleashed something within me that I can’t describe. It soothes my mind and keeps the darkness at bay. Running is my tonic.

7. I went home to Sydney for the first time in five years and it was a reminder of how proud I am to be Australian. My kids saw a beach with proper waves for the first time and they marvelled at kookaburras and kangaroos, squealing with delight in their proper little English accents.

8. We saw the ten year anniversary of the birth and death of our twins, Ella and Jasmine. I came close to dying of a broken heart in 2002. I was a devastated, shattered, grieving wreck and if you’d told me ten years down the track I’d have four beautiful children I wouldn’t have believed you. Keep on believing ..

9. I watched my children grow into little people who I am more proud of each day. They are my world and I am trying to be the best Mum I can. I spend my daylight hours worrying I may not be getting it right but each night I go to bed knowing I’m doing my best.

10. We decided it’s time to go home to Australia so we’re closing the book on our last year in London. I’m struggling with it big time. I have changed so much in the six years we’ve been here and am so grateful for our time in the UK. However it’s time to go home and show our kids why we’re so lucky to call ourselves Australians.

11. I’ve met some amazing friends this year through blogging and have had my eyes opened to a world I never knew existed, a world of different views, opinions and a raw honesty I’ve not seen elsewhere. I’ve seen the collective power of intelligent, articulate women and I feel very privileged to be part of it. I also reconnected with people from my past, people who know my shit .. you need people like this in your life. These plus spending time with my oldest and dearest friends in Sydney and also my close friends in the UK have shown me what real friends, life long friends, are meant to look like.

12. And last but not least, I got to spend another year with the kindest and most genuine man on the planet. Rob knows me like nobody else. We have no secrets, we know each others strengths and weaknesses, we know what makes each other tick … and we built four beautiful children together and are in it for life. He is the love of my life.

So there you have it, 2012 in review. Wishing every single one of you love, health and happiness for 2013 and beyond.

Steph