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Happiness & Joy

The Annual Christmas Card Letter

By Education, Friends & Family, Happiness & Joy, Life, Love & Relationships, Paganism, Pets, Thinking2 Comments
Reading Time: 4 minutes

Every year I write to my family and friends and include a Christmas card letter – letting them know what’s happened in my life in the last twelve months. This year has been no different, below is my letter tweaked slightly for you, the readers.


Get in touch, contact me

Monday 21st November 2011

Dear Reader,

How fast this year has flown! I hope you find that yours has been a positive one, that’s been filled with joy. My year has been a tough one, more so than I could have ever expected. In January Alex my younger brother (18 year old) suddenly and unexpectedly died (see My Darling Baby Brother & Grief). I lost my enthusiasm for life, and still have times when I am incredibly sad. (Right: photo of Alex.) It was around this time that I also got a letter from work stating that I was ‘at risk’ of redundancy due to the government budget cuts.

In February I continued to work on my final two university modules to complete my Nursing Degree (elearning). However due to the strict fortnightly deadlines on one module and the emotional trauma I was experiencing at the time, I was forced to put the module back. This means that instead of graduating with honours this year it will be next year.
My Darling Baby Brother

My Darling Baby Brother

25th Birthday Blackpool

 In May family and friends joined me to celebrate my 25th Birthday in Blackpool (Left: a photo of family and friends, see My Blackpool Birthday). A good time was had by all and I feel very fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family. Simon and I also visited Anglesey to see some of the ancient pagan monuments. (Right: a stone circle, see Visiting: Ancient Angelsey.)

Pagan Stone Circle in Anglesey

Dylan & Russell

 June brought the arrival of new additions to my immediate family, two gorgeous Bengal kittens named Dylan and Russell. I have had hours of laughter from them, lots of cuddles and intermittent mischievous behaviour (Left: Dylan and Rus saying hello to the camera, see Kittens at home and spending time with Family and Friends.) In July I had the privilege to attend Shaun (my long lost brother) and Sarah’s (his now-wife) Wedding. It was a very emotional and touching ceremony, followed by a big reception and evening party (see The Wedding of the Year).

Shaun & Sarah's Wedding

September brought new career prospects as I got interviewed for and offered a new job. I accepted and started a three year post. I am enjoying the challenge and making the most of the opportunity to learn.

John Barrowman LIVE

 In October I finally got to see John Barrowman Live. I have wanted to see him perform for the last four years. The first two years I couldn’t manage to get tickets (as he only plays at more intimate venues), last year I got tickets but was too ill to go, so I was pleased to finally make it. I went with Simon and we had a fantastic time. (Left: John Barrowman before the curtain dropped, see An evening see John Barrowman LIVE.)

Now as the winter starts to signal the years end I find myself in a reflective mood. My love life this year has been barren, but I haven’t minded as I haven’t been at my best. Most of my goals for this year have not been met, and my spiritual beliefs have been challenged. Still despite all that has happened this year, there have been moments of joy and positivity.

My hopes next year are for more positivity for me and those I care about. In the New Year I hope to make more progress in whatever goals I set and hope those around me make progress in their lives too. Most of all, I hope for happiness for all.

My love always,

Antony xxx

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Sunday 18 December 2011

Exciting News & Things To Look Forward Too

By Happiness & JoyNo Comments
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Let’s start with the exciting news. I have a new job!

The last week or so has been a chaotic whirlwind of activity that has led me to be offered and accepting a new job. I wont give too much details as I’ve always maintained this is a personal blog and always had a strict rule about not discussing work. Needless to say this rule will be maintained in my new post.

But it is an exciting opportunity, out of the geographic area I currently work in and will present me with some new challenges. I’ll have read up and update myself on Nursing practices in a hospital setting, as I haven’t worked in a hospital since I completed my Nurse training. I’m looking forward to starting the post in the coming months, embracing the learning opportunities the post brings as well as developing best practice.

Now on to things to look forward too over the next few months:

  • Watching John Barrowman live – I didn’t manage to see him last year due to being ill (see The long fantastic weekend, that never happened).
  • Dressing up the cats in costumes for Halloween / Samhain.
    (If anyone knows where I can buy cat costumes, please let me know by commenting. I can find plenty of human Halloween costumes online, but none so far for the cats.)
  • Undertaking Samhain ritual with Simon & Chrys (see Pagan Festivals).
  • Having a private Samhain ritual to commerate the loss of my brother Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother) earlier this year.
  • Reading The Fear by Charlie Higson and The Time of My Life by Cecelia Ahern.
  • Yule / Christmas – the opportunity to take some time out with my family and friends. Plus it’s the cats first Christmas, so they will be spoilt. No doubt they’ll manage to bring down the Christmas tree. I’m sure it will have sad moments since Alex (see My Darling Baby Brother) wont be here – but I’m hoping that overall it will be positive.
  • Completion of my first few chapters of a creative writing story I’m going to set to work on (I promise) and getting all of your feedback.
  • One of my brothers fiancée giving birth to a baby. Giving me another Niece or Nephew.

So lots to look forwards too. Signing off for now, feeling really positive,

Antony

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Friday 16 September 2011

A Moment of Joy

By Happiness & Joy4 Comments
Reading Time: < 1 minute

Recently I’ve been living to a new philosophy: find a moment of joy in each day. Whether it be something big or small, noticing those little moments of joy during the day has made a big difference to my happiness.

Here’s some of my recent moments of joy:

  • Coming in to see the cats bed tipped upside down with Dylan attacking it. Then seeing the bed move and realising Russell is under it.
  • Laughing with a work colleague until my stomach hurts, over something that’s seemingly not funny.
  • Attending Shaun and Sarah’s Wedding (see The Wedding of the Year).
  • Going for a walk with Sye.
  • Seeing people make real progress in turning their life around.
  • Reading a funny status on Facebook.
  • Listening to music in the bath after a hard day.
  • Getting a text of someone you wanted to hear off.
  • My faviourate song coming on the radio.
  • Getting time to mediate.
  • Finding out Torchwood is coming back on TV.

    • Try looking out for the moments of joy in your own life, it will make you feel much better. Remember it’s not all doom and gloom.

    Write soon,

    Antony



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    Tuesday 19 July 2011

    The Wedding of the Year

    By Happiness & Joy3 Comments
    Reading Time: 4 minutes

    On Saturday 2nd July 2011, Shaun (see The Long Lost Brother Story) and Sarah (his missus) got Wed. They couldn’t have choose a better day for it. The sun was bright, warming the air and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Plus they had the sound of the calm sea as they got married on the sea front. I was honoured and privileged to be invited to what turned out to be the Wedding of the year.

    The night before I had stayed over with Shaun, to help get him and the kids ready in the morning. Well I managed to get the kids, Shaun and myself ready and there on time. Shaun was uncharacteristically nervous, but then it was his wedding day, so I’ll let him off.

    Shaun and Myself

    As people started to arrive I got a snap of mum and Jodie (Alex’s girlfriend going in his place, see My Darling Baby Brother), the both of them looking particularly beautiful:

    And I am pleased to say I didn’t scrub up too bad either:

    The ceremony started at 1pm in the hotel. It was a small intimate setting with the ceremony being one of the most overwhelmingly emotional I have ever experienced. You could feel the love in the room; the love for Shaun and Sarah and the happiness at them both finally making a life long commitment to one another. Tears of joy filled my eyes as they did in most peoples. I didn’t get many pictures during the ceremony as I wanted to really absorb the event in to memory. But I did get these:

    Shaun and Sarah signing the Wedding Register

    Shaun and Sarah about to leave the room as Husband and Wife

    After the ceremony, the photographer used his charisma to get us to pose for various photos. Here’s one of Shaun and Sarah outside the hotel:

    Then it was time for something to eat. On entering the well dressed dinning room, I couldn’t help but notice the seaside town theme:



    Food came which was course after course of some of the most delicious food I’ve ever had in my life. Seriously good food. Pate, Soup, Chicken with green pepper corn sauce and veg, profiteroles and then coffee.

    Speeches followed. All from the heart and with a good amount of humour.

    Shaun giving tokens of appreciation as part of his speech

    After all that, it was time for a break. We had an hour to relax before the evening do commenced. Some went up to their room in the hotel, whereas others stayed by the bar. I was so full after all those courses I wanted a nap, but as I wasn’t staying at the hotel I didn’t. The evening do kicked off with cutting of the cake and the first dance:


    After that it was party time. A good time was had by all. I spent the next few days recovering from all the fun! Easily the best Wedding of the year. I’m so happy that they had such a good day and want to wish them all the luck in the world for their future together.

    Take care,

    Antony

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    Friday 8 July 2011
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