if i look back over the past twelve months they have been fairly full and not a little traumatic. it started in january when i had my graduation for my doctorate - i trod the boards in my local thetare for that dear thespian! - then went off to deliver a paper at a conference and came home to furious rows with my girl. the rot had set in before then and had been simmering all over christmas - so the first half of 2007 was an attempt by both of us to patch together something that perhaps had run its course, it just took us a while to realise it. in a way 2007 was one long break-up that took until september to happen. the stress levels seem to rise over the year and this was reflected in the numerous allergic attacks that caused my lips, eye-lids or face to swell up. neither my GP nor the allergy specialists could suggest anything which i why ive been seeing a chinese dr for acupunture and herbs. and im sure it is stress because having been relatively free of trouble for a while (just very minor attacks no one would notice) a sleepless night of worry and a christmas period of doubt has left me waking this morning with a badly swollen eye i just have to try and relax today, do little and be happy with it. then it might go down before i go out to see in the new year.

the other low point of 2007 was my grandfather's illness: he had a stroke (brought on by a prank call from a unknown teenager threatening to kill him) which landed him in hospital and he lost all feeling in his left side. but he is a remarkable man and at 91 has recovered sufficiently to be allowed back home (reconstructed by my mother's partner to take wheelchairs) and he continues to work from home for his family electrical engineering business and flirt with female visitors . he has also been diagnosed with an inoperable aneurism so we will lose him sooner than later. this year because of all this i've seen much more of him and that has been a plus. but its put a heavy strain on my mother and very much coloured her year.

but apart from some stresses at work and an ongoing concern about the future of my position (which will hopefully be resolved in the spring) most of the rest of the year has been positive. what are my highlights?

my book contracts - i hoped for one but never expected two: that's 2008/9 planned out for me!
discovering cambridge united and arsenal's renewed and surpising vigour following the departure of mon. henry
going back to Skye, finding Raasay (the picture i use for my blog page) and climbing bruach na frithe in the cuillin - 3,143 feet up in air -fanatstic!
seeing sea eagles close up in scotland and hundreds of puffins on skoma in pembrokeshire
getting my flat back after J left and getting to know the rats
seeing the sex pistols at the academy and then trying to lecture the next day - rock'n'roll!
having my bike stolen - because the insurance allowed me to buy a much better one
meeting the bouncing muppetter and renewing contact with SheWho (despite all the emotional heartache both gave me)
and last, but not least, writing this blog and meeting so many lovely people and reading their thoughts on life

tomorrow i might try and set down some goals/aims/thoughts for 2008 (if im not too hungover) in the meantime i wish you all a very happy new year and i hope 2008 is the best ever for all of us
x