I fear you may think me a little bonkers, but I do believe it's true..ish.
2009 - looking at this number, it seems cuddly. Curvacious zeros and a circular 9. But the 9 has a whip in it's tail and that is exactly what happened to me in 2009 - my butt got whipped. It was the height of the economic downturn....need I say more!?
2010 - Well I went into this year with far more optimism. I was writing my book and enjoying every moment of it. My daughter graduated from university with a 2:1 in Classics - I'm
a proud mum of a very clever girlie.
Other areas of my professional and personal life were ticking along very nicely thank you. Looking at the date, it has a couple of zeros looking a bit cuddly, and then number 1 - a nice straight line...driving everything forward. Or so I thought - 2010 was me driving things forward as much as possible, but on occasion that bleeding zero just kept taking me around in a circle every so often. A bit mean of it really.
However 2011 - Look at it! Two 1's - two straight lines gunning us all on forward in a very positive manner.
All hail 2011 - it's going to be a marvellous year. Yes, we have to pull our belts in, but that won't do us much harm - we think we need a lot more than we actually do. There are various issues all of us have to deal with - but I firmly believe it's going to be good.
As I come out of two particularly difficult financial years (being honest here... bear with me!)I feel proud that I've managed to keep the roof above me (it was touch and go), I didn't default on anything and yes, I had to sacrifice a awful lot to do this. But that was something I was happy to do.
My cottage is beautiful, but there is only my income holding it together and sometimes it's hard.
I've learnt so much in the last couple of years - but my main lesson?
Family, friends, a love of food, wine and get togethers, will keep you going when you really don't think you can take the next blow. They all helped me and for that I am enormously grateful.
I have some very exciting times ahead. Lots happening and I can honestly say that I am looking forward to 2011 with more enthusiasm than the last few years.
Thank you to everyone who has bought my book this year - it means an awful lot to me. I love the idea that people are reading my words and cooking my recipes. For many years, I've longed for someone, somewhere to say they've done a 'Lotte' as opposed to a 'Jamie', 'Delia' or 'Nigella'..and now people are, and it's bloody fantastic! Big thanks and a Big X to you all!
I wish you too, a very Happy New Year and hope that it is everything you could possibly wish for.
And if in doubt - Drink Gin! Works for me.
x
