friends - the third

I don't think anyone who has ever met her could think of one negative thing to say about her. She is a beautifully person inside and out, she is honest, loyal, loving, intelligent, energetic, caring, fun, sweet... she really has everything going for her. She is not only a wonderful friend but a new mother to a gorgeous son.

I have never been more proud of any of my friends as I have been of her in the last 14 months. She is so strong and confident and so wonderful with her son, I can only hope that I will have some of the same qualities that she does when the time comes for me to have children. She gives with all of her heart and I love her and her son with all of mine. I couldn't ask to have a more understanding, more loving and more courageous friend.

When we were fifteen we spent a week at a cottage up north with another friend's family, when we were seventeen we travelled to the US with my parents, when we were eighteen we travelled to France, but what I remember most - in the nearly thirteen years of our friendship - is how often we've spoken about how amazing it will be to grow old as friends and to see our children play and go on adventures together the way we have done. I can say with all certainty that no matter where we are living we will grow old as friends... I'd be a fool to let anything break up our friendship.

38 for the start of 2008

Stolen, nay borrowed, from Nicole... To sum up 2007 and bring in 2008.

1. What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
I went crab and lobster fishing in the English Channel - true, I didn't do any of the hard work, but I was on the boat before 8am in February... brrr (but I'd do it again in a heartbeat)

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't really make resolutions, but I do try to make changes every so often (as any of you who have read my blog before should know)... in 2007 I made a promise to be more honest about my feelings and to put myself first. It wasn't as easy as I had hoped it would be to do those things, but I am getting better every day.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My wonderful friend Anna gave birth to her gorgeous son Kofi in February. I was so sad to have missed both her pregnancy and her son's birth, but am so proud of her and absolutely adore my little "nephew".

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My granny's sister passed away while I was overseas. It all happened to fast and not being able to say goodbye and not being able to be there to send my love to her husband and children was really hard. But we grow stronger and love deeper with every change.

5. What countries did you visit?
England, Wales, Austria and the United States

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More motivation to achieve the goals that I set for myself.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
15 January - submission day for fall term papers and my first big drink up at Falmer Bar
18 February - the big fishing day on the sea
3 September - submission day of final dissertations... what a relief that day was
6 September - my final day in the UK, spent in London with Jack, before returning to Canada the following afternoon

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my Master's in Contemporary History

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not really a failure per se, but certainly something I am disappointed in myself for - I wish that I had stayed in England in September instead of coming back to Toronto.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Thankfully, no.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My second tattoo... it really does remind me every day to be myself and to not be afraid that I wear my heart on my sleeve.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My friend Rupert had a not-so-easy breakup in the fall, and though he calls his behaviour childish and immature I was and still am so proud of his honesty and his willingness to share so much of himself at such a difficult time.


13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
A friend of mine who will remain nameless.... For constantly disappointing me and for making me feel guilty in times when I was not at fault. For making me question my love, my loyalty and my heart... I am big on forgiveness, but I am not going to forget the hurt that this friend caused me anytime soon.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food and drinks in the UK... too much booze!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
A lot of little things. Most of which revolved around nights out with the boys of Newmarket Road. Whether they know it or not the four of them made my year so fantastic. Every time I went to their house or went out with them I was happy, and being genuinely happy made me really, really, really excited every time.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Heart of Gold" by Neil Young... it's always been one of my favourites, but I definitely listened to it a LOT this past year.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
Sadder, fatter and poorer.... OOPS!

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Spent more time on the beach in Brighton when it was sunny and warm.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Sitting on my butt in my room watching the sea from inside.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with my family... just like old times.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I thought that I might have, though I can't be sure just yet.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office (US)

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is far too strong of a word, but I will say that I lost a lot of respect for someone....

24. What was the best book you read?
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Simian Mobile Disco

26. What did you want and get?
Wonderful new friends

27. What did you want and not get?
The funds and means to move back to England/remain in England.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Juno (go figure I saw it three times in theatres)

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
For my 25th birthday my fantastic friends (mostly new, and two old) filled the main floor of the Fish Bowl in Brighton - what a great night that was!

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Ending it with a fabulous job offer for a proper job.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Longing to wear more exciting and sassy clothes, settling for whatever was comfortable and clean.

32. What kept you sane?
Reruns of Friends and Fraser... and late night gab sessions with Dina and Annie and Genti.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Steven Gerrard and Matt Damon

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm not going there...

35. Who did you miss?
All of my new friends who are scattered across Europe, Britain, Asia and the Americas

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Jack. My music and club guru, who knows a little something about everything.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
True friends are hard to come by, and once you find that you have some never let them go.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
No, I don't think I can do this.... I can't think of a specific song, but it would go something like this: "What started out great, got better, and then sucked, and then it was Christmas, and now I have something to look forward to."