Ah, well. I'm glad that's over. 2010 officially claimed the title of "Worst Year Of My Life". Well done; 2007 is now relegated to the number 2 spot.
Not that there weren't good things. In amongst the steaming crap heap that constituted the rest of it there were some sparkles of loveliness from new and exciting things that have happened. I have decided to list them in a counting-my-blessings kind of way:
Elowyn. My niece is possibly the most perfect thing I've ever seen. I love her little face, particularly when she is smiling, or sticking her lower lip out (I know it's a precursor to a proper cry but it is still hi-larious), or staring at me as I dance or sing for her amusement. I'm taking her bemused expression as amusement anyway.
Revenger's Tragedy. I took three weeks off work in order to pretend to be a proper actress. The routine of rehearsing during the day; flinging myself about, experimenting and generally being creative was amazing. I got frustrated with myself at times: I'm still not as good physically as I wish I was and got a bit stuck and embarrassed playing about with voices when I didn't get it immediately but the things I enjoy doing the most are the ones that I find difficult. And because of the scale of it (i.e.; small) the performers had to do everything, so props, set and costume were all made by us. Although the amazing puppets and masks are all the creation of the incredibly talented Frankie. The best part was the run in London (including three days when I had to go back to my day job(!)) travelling up on the train, trying to get some sleep and being looked after by the boys before cranking up the energy to perform. By the end of the week I was bruised, exhausted and stupidly happy. I wish it was my life. We've got some performances coming up (check it out at http://www.soop.org.uk/) so it's not yet over and I can't wait to do it again.
My house. I love living in my house. Friends and family turn up, stay over, eat fajitas. Steven miaows endlessly, Meatball snores, Splash Gordon the goldfish has had to be moved to Finchy's room as his life was in danger in the kitchen. But it's strange how much a friendship shifts and moves over time. I've always got on really well with Finchy but he's become one of my closest friends. There have been some really bad times when he's unfailingly been there with cups of tea and big hugs, we have quiet times when we just sit about and get on with sketching (him), reading or writing, and then extremely silly times when we are loud and stupid and I end up scrunched up from giggles. And in the morning, there's a cheery "alright?" that always makes me smile, even if, on some days, it's a smaller smile than on others.
