A Year in Review
Trip Start
May 27, 2010
1
82
97
Trip End
Aug 31, 2011
Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
Monday, January 2, 2012
I started the year in New York with Kim, Lalene and Scotty, counting down to 2011 on top of an apartment building with a view of the city skyline, and a glimmer of the ball dropping in Times Square. It was such a special way to start the year, trudging through snow and walking the streets of one of the most amazing cities in the world.
It was then back home to count down the weeks and days until I was able to get back to Australia in May and be able to catch up with my nearest and dearest. It was a whirlwind trip, but one I was grateful for, knowing that it could be a little while before I was able to head back there again.
I decided to finish up my job at Norton Rose and leave behind the most amazing desk I have ever sat at (and some good friends) to move to Birmingham to be with Phil. It was a move that paid off, resulting in an engagement later in the year. Having a home that wasn't occupied by 7 people at once meant that I could host visitors - Kim, Gemma, Ben, my parents, Jacci and Dave, and could put my stamp on a home again. One of the first things we did after I moved in was head to Ikea, the first of a few subsequent trips, and pick up some items to decorate.
I turned 30 in July. I had a great time in London spending the night with my old housemates and Ben, ending up in a gay club and limping out with a stubbed and bruised toe. Why do I continue to get drunken injuries? I'm 30 for god's sake!
I was able to take several trips throughout the year, and was able to see a lot more of the country than I ever anticipated I would. York, Chester, the New Forest, Cornwall, Brighton, some place called Hayling Island that is the asshole of the earth and best avoided. I spent a weekend in Amsterdam with Nat, Bec and Jane and had a couple of ripper nights with them.
I managed to get my arm bound in plaster for three weeks, thanks to a stupid fall at the icy cider pub after throwing giant pretzels at Shazza. It would've been ok if I hadn't had to start my new job two days later, and also if the NHS had served me a little better. It might've served me right for throwing food.
Oh, and just to top off last year's New Years Eve, I got married! Phil will never have an excuse to forget our anniversary now! Nor will we ever have another dull New Years Eve. But on a serious note, it was a beautiful day, just the way we wanted it, and will be something special we will remember for the rest of our lives together.
Now. I've decided to do a bit of a Hall of Fame/Hall of Shame to record some of the more notable things that happened in 2011.
I begin with some celebrities that have dominated the tabloids and particularly taken my attention.
Shane Warne. What a radical transformation he has undergone thanks to Liz Hurley. Not only did he shed some kilos, he has also managed to make himself look rather scarily like a Ken doll. How strange.
Kate and Wills. It was undoubtedly the most showstopping wedding of the year. Or should that go to Kim Kardashian for her ridiculously over the top wedding to some giant sportsman? I can't decide.
Now to real life.
Jane, Jane, Jane. The Benalla girl gone bad. Spewing in her bed in Amsterdam because she didn't want to jump off the top bunk and wake the Asian lady beneath her. The lady wasn't even Asian.
Gemma. Even though I wasn't there to witness it, I still find it hilarious that she dislocated her knee in a situation I dare not detail. Good one Shazza!
Ben gets a mention for his spectacular stair fall at the Hares & Hounds, splashing his pint all over the place, only to outdo himself with a mysterious foot gashing in Spain a week or so later. And I thought I was accident prone!
Baxter and Wedge, doing their famed Houdini impressions and not coming home for the better part of a week. Those dogs are unreal.
Nat and Mike, for making the courageous yet prosperous move to Guernsey, and then getting a rock on a rock! I can't wait to celebrate with you both in Thailand in February. It really is incredible the way our lives have aligned in the last couple of years.
To Mum and Geoff, getting their grey nomad on, and jetsetting around the world spending time in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, France and Belgium, and then spending another month or so in Alice Springs. It was great to be able to spend time with them both, road tripping through the UK and just generally catching up.
Brooke and Clint, getting hitched in May. And, for that matter, Mark and Kylie doing the same in October. Great work everyone! It's great that we're all settling down and finding the things we want in life.
Simon and Kristy welcoming Isla into the world, and adding to the reasons for our parents to be unquestionably overjoyed. And they have just bought a house to put down roots in, so that's awesome as well.
Jacci and Dave, for jetting over to the UK to spend time with family and friends, and Jacci's specky in the JJB shop - Dave's former employ.
And last but by no means least, Philo, for all but getting down on one knee to ask me to be his wife in the middle of a Birmingham street at peak hour, and for being amazing every other day. What a legend. I'm so lucky to have met you and be able to spend my life with you. I love you.
The quote of the year award goes to Dave, whose comment just scraped into 2011. On New Year's Eve, while being threatened with a steak knife and told he'd be stabbed if he didn't give the guy his meat, Dave holds up a business card and says "that's fine, I'll just give you a paper cut"! Brilliant work, Dave, hilarious!
All in all, it's been another brilliant year, and I'm very much looking forward to whatever 2012 brings. As long as I stay happy and healthy, that's all I can ask.
Happy New Year!
Comments
Awesome recap Heids. When you list all the things that have happened its been a pretty phenomenal year! So eventful! And that photo of me really doesnt do justice to the true explosion of beer that covered my head! At least it lives on in our memories :) Such an amazing year for you Heids. So happy to have been a part of it and truly chuffed that you have met such an amazing man (and that he has met such an amazing woman!). Bring on February!!!