Magical Moments

What do you remember most about last year?

Photo by Greg Rakozy on Unsplash

Hello dear friend.

First of all, I would like to wish you a happy, healthy, and peaceful New Year.

I hope you had a magical Christmas and if you don’t celebrate it, I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday.

I have to admit that I enjoy the calm after the storm. Today is New Year’s Day and a time to reflect and start the year anew. Today is a far cry from where I was on this day a year ago.

I was lying in a hospital bed waiting to undergo surgery for an appendectomy but I kept getting pushed back due to more serious cases being admitted. I can clearly remember looking out over an empty car park (we were in another lockdown and no visitors were allowed) thinking I might die alone without my family. A sobering thought.

Thankfully, all turned out well with my operation finally going ahead at 6 pm and I was allowed home the following day and underwent a speedy and full recovery.

In our house, we have already packed away the Christmas decorations for another year. We spent time with our families and at one point, hosted twelve for lunch. Grandchildren were running amok, babies were put down for their afternoon naps, and hubby was not seen for hours as he slaved away over a hot stove. The noise levels sometimes rose to ear-piercing and apart from being busy and tiring, all went well and everybody had a great time. I am especially grateful to my daughter who hosted my husband and I on Christmas eve and on Christmas day. It was magical to spend quality time with her and as we cosied up on the sofa together on Christmas afternoon watching the new Aladdin film, we were transported back to when she was a little girl and the cartoon version of Aladdin was popular. We sang the songs together and it touched my heart that my little girl has grown up into such a beautiful, accomplished young woman.

Another magical moment was when some of the wider family went out for a walk and a four-year-old and two-year-old opted for some ‘down time.’ The black screen in the corner of our lounge lit up and Frozen II kept the toddlers mesmerized. They both sat motionless and were enraptured by the colourful figures telling the magical story. Their angelic faces were a sight to behold.

I wanted to celebrate this New Year because I was all alone in a hospital sideward last New Year’s Eve. This year I spent it with friends, singing, dancing, and joyously bringing in 2023. It was a fantastic evening and as we start the year ahead afresh and with renewed vigour, I am grateful for my wonderful family and friends who celebrated this special time of the year with me in their midst.

What do I remember most about the year gone by? The uncharacteristically hot summer here in the UK. One particular day I recall turning up at the golf club to meet a friend for a round at 5:30 pm and the entire place was deserted. Not a soul in sight. I thought I had got the wrong day or time. Then my friend arrived and we started playing. At 7:30 pm the temperature was still way up in the 80s which is unheard of in this part of the world. The temperature usually plummets during the evening, even in high summer. A worrying reminder of climate change…

My biggest achievement of 2022? I completed a full-length novel. My wonderful supporters and subscribers here on Substack - yes, that’s you! - encouraged me every step of the way with your wonderful comments and kind words. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I have already had my pitch rejected by one literary agent but in true J K Rowling style (she had her Harry Potter pitch rejected by twelve publishing houses before it was finally accepted) I am undeterred and will forge ahead in my quest to find a publisher or agent.

New Year’s resolutions? I am terrible at keeping them but this year I have made two.

The first is to be more assertive and the second is to be more resilient and keep pushing ahead with my novel writing. Whether I get picked up by a publisher/agent or not, I will keep writing. It is what makes me tick and is at the heart of my very being.

Let me know if you have made any New Year’s resolutions and what you remember most about the last year. Do you have any hopes and aspirations for the coming year? I would love to hear from you.

I hope 2023 is a wonderful year for you all.

Take care,

Rosy x