10 Years

10 years ago, i did not believe i would sustain the blipping for a year. I rarely 'stick' at anything! But, here we are, and what a 10 years it has been. Firstly, thank you to Sam for introducing me in the first place, and to Mrs HCB for guiding me in the early days. 

So, 10 years in brief.....
Work - I have seen 3 CEOs, over 200 staff come and go, written 4 new workshops, had the big refurb of the education centre, and seen 2 supervisors retire! Was I too much for them?!
Homes - Sold Mum's, sold ours of over 35 years, bought where I am now. That was the best thing we did!
Highlights -  I almost highlighted this as travels, but as most of the travels involved a reason I've put them together. Several trips to Wales to visit my aunt and lots of castles! 2 trips to Norfolk, one for Sarah and Tim's wedding and one for B's 70th birthday - both trips involved seal watching! Bath with B and Sue to collect the Sandford award. New forest on several occasions, various trips to Chatsworth, Holkham Hall, Harewood House, Blenheim Palace, Burghley House - these a mix of work and pleasure! London Zoo with Stalker!! What a day that was!
But, most of all, the true highlight for B and me (house move notwithstanding) was the trip to Florida for Peter and Michaele's wedding. So many happy memories of the day and the whole trip. 
Covid - has to be mentioned, because it undoubtedly turned all our lives upside down. Families, friends, work - all changed and not for the better, but with hindsight I learnt a lot, and I am very glad in retrospect, that I had that 1:1 time with B. 
The losses - have been many, and as i wrote this list of family and friends that have gone over the last 10 years, I did shed some tears.
RIP Sandra, Bill, Wendy, Brian, Andy, Roger, Alan, Anita, Sheila, Aunt Judy, John B, Natasha, Baldy, Aimee and of course Brian.
Blippers - Too many to list and link individually, but so many of you have given support over the last 2 years, some continuing to read my blips even though no longer writing your own. Thank you to you all, but especially Eileen (now a life long friend), The Big Cheese1, AngelsShare, Davesfotos, TrixieNixi, Lindisaur, Shaamie, Green56, PamakaSuzie (a distant cousin in Utah, discovered through registering DNA)! , Sarah (sparks 789),  Rhona,  HoneyCombebeach, Jenny (a friend long before blip, but we keep in touch with each others lives through it), and not forgetting Stalker, who is not a blipper herself, but reads mine regularly and calls if she reads anything that concerns her!!

Final thought for today!
A couple of weeks ago one of the aforementioned blippers wrote me a message that said  message that said 'I think you are a very strong lady and am in awe of how well you are coping'. 
That sentence reminded me of when the hospice doctor visited a few days before the end and asked B if he would like her to arrange counselling for me afterwards. His response? 'She wont need it, she's strong'. 
He was right - BEFORE! You all know I have struggled with who I am now, and will do for some time I think,  but I am going to embrace that sentence and try to see what others see in myself.