Taking a broad view of 2011

A day for looking back before we start to look forward. I've chosen to illustrate it with a panorama taken from Castle Walk in Crail - look large on a wander round the village earlier today. Could wait till the evening for party to commence to blip our celebrations, but as Sandy's doing the cooking at the moment, I've a few minutes to myself so I'll take them while I can.

So, a chance to look back over a year of blips and choose a favourite or two from each month as I've blipped without fail for all 365 days this year.

January saw a Travel Tweetup in Edinburgh - of which there have been more, each building on friendships and connections.

February meant a holiday at our beloved cottage and a photo of Crail Harbour.

March's selection is of Canongate Kirk which I blip quite often as it's near our Edinburgh cottage, and was the scene of a Royal Wedding celebration in July.

April we were in Crail on holiday again and having spring sunshine and wonderful views. We also went to the Edinburgh Science Festival and took part in a blip 'Flashmob'.

In May the focus was on a countdown for completing a walking Marathon, although there was a break for cake as the Edinburgh Cake Ladies started a new bake-off.

June saw the completion of the Moonwalk Marathon - with our family raising over £1,000 for Walk the Walk, a breast cancer charity. And of course we'd been planning for Crail Food Festival and got a glorious day for our harbour event.

July we were in Cornwall and I faced a fear of heights and scaled to the top of the Eden Project with my daughter, while later in the month my son and I were amongst the first visitors waiting for the re-opening of the National Museum of Scotland after a massive refurbishment.

August was a busy month, with lots of Fringe Reviews, a very special visit to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the start of our house refurbishment.

September saw an involvement with the Lammermuir Festival - a classical music festival - and an amazing event featuring Concorde, as well as the sad loss of a close friend for whom we'd all walked the Moonwalk. We miss you.

October holidays were centred round a visit to London - the first time we'd taken the kids there, and we had fun although it was marred somewhat by the illness of one of our children which dragged on for quite a few weeks. We bus-toured past the 'Capitalism is Crisis' protest at St Pauls. I am torn over the arguments about this. We have been prudent over the years, and have lived within our means, paid our bills, and saved when we could, which has meant that we are 'comfortable' for right now, but who knows how soon the imprudence of others will take that away in a swipe?

November has been difficult to choose a highlight from - in blips the visit to the Scotch Whisky Experience with an old friend was a pleasant excursion, and our family was once again at Crail Harbour for a glorious autumn day later in the month. Our involvement with a Twitter project called #ScotlandHour saw a 'big push' on St Andrews day, trying to put Scotland on the agenda for holiday plans for visitors from near and far. I've done a few 'Scotland the World Over' entries, and look forward to the movie.

December we're still not living at home as our renovations progress, but have been happy to celebrate Christmas in Crail and New Year in Crail which must be counted as a blessing rather than a hardship.

So, farewell 2011, it's been good living through this year. I wish everyone who's wandered this way a Good New Year and many more of them. Lang may yer lum reek. Here's to 2012 whatever is in store.

Susan