Dec 16, 2015

Focusing on the Positive - a Year's Blessings - Annie West

 Almost the end of 2015 and I decided it was time to think about the year almost gone and wave it goodbye in style. 2015 has been a mixed year for our family with joys and fun and sadness and crises all mixed together. That's life of course but some years seem a little more 'lively' than others. My initial instinct is to wish the year farewell as soon as possible as there were events I know I won't want to reminisce about. But then I stopped to take stock of the many truly wonderful things we'd been blessed with in that time and how very lucky I am.

First up I live in a democratic, free, peaceful place where I can pursue the work I love, have enough to eat (far too much in fact), get top quality healthcare, education services, and whatever community support I need. We have a comfy home in a quiet setting and if the kookaburras or channel-billed cuckoos choose to wake me in the early hours with their raucous noise, so what? All those things I take for granted every day are enough to make me grateful. Then there are the extra bonuses. Far too many to share here, but believe me, I've been thinking about them. Here are just a couple at random:

1) My garden. Stepping outside and seeing how the tree ferns are faring in the summer heat, saying good morning to the blue tongue lizard who guards our vege patch, or enjoying the green space, is enough to rejuvenate me.

2) Friends. Those I see often and those I only catch up with at conferences. Or those I connect with only via social media or emails because we live on the opposite sides of the world.

Michelle Douglas and Rachel Bailey at the RWA Conference
3) My first gondola ride! I first visited Venice when I was a skint student and my eyes watered at the cost of a gondola trip. This year my daughter and I had a very short but very special stay in Venice and I finally found out what it was like to float around the city in my own private barge for an hour.



4) Winning a Romantic Book of the Year Award. Romance Writers of Australia is a very special organisation for me and probably the reason I ended up as a published author. You can see by the smile on my face how wonderful it felt discovering 'Damaso Claims His Heir' had not only finalled but won!


5) Visiting the UK and (very, very briefly, Ireland) to catch up with very special family and friends and also the Harlequin Mills and Boon team who look after me and my books. There were some indelible memories made, new books plotted, new experiences, places and faces and catching up with 'old' friends who are very dear.

Not only a welcome sign but bubbly too at the editorial office in London!
 6) Time out with family. Perhaps the best thing of all.
Family picnic spot in the Hunter Valley.

There are so many other things I could add here but this isn't the place for an exhaustive list - just a taste.

How about you? Did you have a fabulous year in 2015? What are your top 6 things for the year, or your top 3? Or are you already looking ahead to something special in 2016?

19 comments:

  1. Hi Annie

    Wonderful post as with you it has been a year of ups and downs November was the anniversary of me retiring from work and I have to say that has been fab but of course the reasons have made Doctors visits many this year hopefully they will settle next year I have had lots of fun reading and going out to lunch spending special time with family and of course the grandkids but I am looking forward to the new year and hope that it will be fab

    have Fun
    Helen

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    1. Helen, I hope the doctor's visits ease and things settle in 2016. I'm hoping for good things next year, that's for sure. I love hearing about your reading days and your lunches. You do know how to make the most of precious time, especially with your family.

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  2. Aw, what a gorgeous post, Annie. It's been a bit of an up and down year for me too, but a gloriously relaxing beach holiday back in February helped me get through it. The RWAust conference is always a highlight of the year too...and it was great to be there this year to see you win your Ruby.

    I'm looking forward to a quiet and calm 2016. Fingers crossed. :-)

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    1. Michelle, wasn't the RBY fun? It was terrific having you there beside me for that.

      I remember hearing about your beach holiday and thinking it sounded just perfect. Hope you get some down time soon.

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  3. Love seeing your highlights in pictures, Annie. This year has been good to me and can I say one of the highlights was breakfats at the Windsor in Mebourne with you and fellow cat Michelle Douglas - very special memory for me :-)

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    1. Amy, I loved our brekkie there. It's rare to spend time with you and I couldn't have asked for better company or a better location. Such a treat. We must do it again some time.

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    2. Oh, that was the best brekkie! Maybe we should make it an annual event. :-)

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    3. I think that is a fabulous idea :-)
      Also apologies for my poor spell checking in the first comment. Doh!

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    4. Annual brekkies sound great to me!

      Amy, I rather liked 'breakfats'!

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  4. Hi Annie, lovely for us all to focus on the positives. I've had a good year writing wise; highlights being working with other Love Cats on the box set, which is also my first toe in the self publishing marketplace. A RITA nom was a thrill as was going to RWA in NYC for the first time.
    But I've also lost people this year so it's been a mixed twelve months all told.
    Looking forward to some R&R over the holiday period, then our new empty nesting adventures. Plus, as always, can't wait for conference to spend time with valued friends.

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    1. Louisa, I'm sorry about your losses this year. That's so hard. I'm glad though that you've had so many positives as well, and your empty nesting adventures sound exciting. I look forward to hearing more. Enjoy!

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  5. Hello Annie, also I in 2015 I've had some pleasant times and periods not very nice, but overall were more good ones.
    My top 3 is this:
    first :a long weekend in a fabulous place only with my husband.
    2 : you have found many friends through FB and between them we are you and I am really happy to assets known.
    Finally the wedding of my nephew after so many years of engagement, and of course my family.
    For 2016, I hope to have health for me and my family, work and a bit 'of tranquility ..... and your many books to read. :)

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    1. Franca, that time away with your husband sounds like a real treat.

      Isn't it great to connect via FB? And to celebrate special occasions, like weddings.

      Here's hoping 2016 is a lovely one for you and all your family.

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  6. Sounds like you've had a fabulous year, Annie! It's a great time of year to reflect back on all the blessings we have :) For me, this year was great - an abundance of travel, love and opportunity with my writing are definitely top of the list. I couldn't possibly ask for more x

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    1. Sounds like you had a ball this year, Stefanie - I'm so glad. Mine was definitely a mixed bag. Hoping for steadier things in 2016. Hope yours is a beauty.

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  7. It was so lovely to see you win the RUBY, Annie. So exciting.

    Wow - this year can't nearly be over. I can't believe it. Certainly on of the highlights for me was being involved in the LoveCats Christmas Boxset. Such a great experience working with our fab LoveCat authors.

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    1. Jenn, that was a stellar moment for me. So nice to see so many smiling faces around when the announcement was made. Thanks for being excited for me.

      I have that boxed set ready to read. All I need is time...!

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  8. Annie, what a lovely post and I love the pictures - that one of you with the Ruby is just gorgeous. You should blow it up and frame it, one of the nicest shots I've seen of you.

    2015 was an interesting year for me too. I actually rediscovered my writing mojo in a big way which was lovely. As a result, I had more releases than I've ever had - a full lengther and three self-pubbed novellas which I really enjoyed writing. As a result, I haven't done an awful lot outside my office but there was a lovely trip down to see you, the Scottish paintings exhibition at the AGNSW and D.B. Tait in the Blue Mountains. I also took on a cleaner which has turned out to be such a life-enhancing decision. I also had an awful lot of fun on Facebook!

    Just in case I don't get back, I wish the Love Cats and all their wonderful readers a very happy Christmas.

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    1. Anna, what a big year for you. Chuckling over the freedom that a cleaner brings. One less excuse not to write!

      Wasn't that Scottish exhibition great? I just saw it recently.

      Ah, thanks for the kind words about the pics. Don't think I'll be blowing up any photos of me though!

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