Monday, December 31, 2007

Agony and Triumph

This oddly enough has been the best year of my life; it took 39 years to happen. 2007 has been a remarkable year with many highs and the odd low, it has been a year of agony and triumph. It started with aphelion, my furthest distance from the sun and the year is ending at a warmth opposite.

The year began with myself in abject pain, readying myself for a move to a new town and a new start, away from the bleak place where I lived, and indeed once happily called home. Times change places though and it didn’t seem like home anymore, it was indeed time to change course. So after trying for what seemed an age the move came about and I found myself a nice little place in Newark. Moving home with two busted hips isn’t easy but the whole life change had me driven above the pain which racked me.

Friends and family pulled together and just after mid January I moved. It was an exhausting process. Then seemingly a disaster struck, after leaving behind bad neighbours I inherited new noisier ones! A word with my landlord and I was offered another flat close by that had a quiet neighbour. So, with things barely out boxes I had another move on my hands. More pain, more bother but ultimately worth it as the new place is much better, and the neighbour is quiet too.

Then came the settling in period, scouting out a new local pub, making new friends and getting used to my new town, which incidentally I really like!

March came and the first hip operation happened, and just in time really as I had almost completely ceased up, x-rays showed my cartilage was shot through and it was bone rubbing on bone. Amazingly I was back on my feet in no time after the operation, and with one good hip life became that bit more bearable. Life improved, more friends were made and a couple of more driving tests were failed! My friend Gary came over from Hong Kong to visit his family and we visited Lincoln, climbing to the top of Steep Hill a mere six weeks after my op made me feel anything was possible…. Plus I wanted to get to the pub at the top!

So the year went on and I got out and about more, visiting London a couple of times among other places. The early part of the summer was almost like monsoon season but the weather improved.

Things seemed to be going well but on the relationship side I was to become hurt. I made the error of letting the ex back into my life only to hurt me all over again, at least I finally woke up to the person she really is, a selfish one devoid of compassion and motivated by clinical self interest, but hey, lets not give her too much press here, she doesn’t deserve it, I’m happy to say I’ve moved on in such a positive way. Being human you always hope things might work out, especially when you love someone, sometimes you don’t see the writing on the wall, you may love them but alas they never loved you.

So back on with 2007 and happier things. I passed my driving test in August and was completely over the moon. This was part of my year plan for changing my life and now I could go where I pleased. I purchased a car soon after and things have been good so far, though I still feel like I’m learning. As the year moved on more friends were made and I got back into work, a job which is very rewarding and I hope to return to shortly when the hip is healed. Talking of hips I had my second hip operation in November, and although I didn’t recover quite so quick this time I’m ok now, just a tad sore in the muscles.

Christmas has been a quiet affair, Gary is again over from Hong Kong and I’ve been given clearance to drive again after the op. I hope to return to work early in the new year.

So many things have changed this year, nearly everyone of them have been good, 2007 is a year I will remember fondly, a cornerstone year, a year of determination and a year of result but mostly a year of happiness, laughter, new friends and smiles.

Thanks to all my friends and family, especially my dad who has been a tremendous help all year.

And to anyone reading this? Well a happy new year to you too !

1 comment:

Mysti said...

Jay, I am in complete awe of your accomplishments in 2007! I'm thrilled that the hips are in working order, you love your new town, and getting to drive.. well, that's like the icing on the cake.

Here's to a fabulous 2008!