The End of 2015

An eventful year for me.  I’ve been through such huge changes in my life, but I’m looking forward to the end of 2015 and the start of a New Year.  It always feels shiny and bright.

So here we are at the start of 2016.  I started 2015 thinking I’d have my teeth whitened and I’m ending the year hoping that I only lose one.  The aggressive gum disease with which I was diagnosed in the middle of the year is showing no signs of making a dramatic improvement.  Is it genetic or is it because I took a couple of whacks as a teenager?   Who knows?  Hey ho.  We are where we are.

Career Change

I took voluntary redundancy from my long-term career at the end of August.  I’d wanted that for some time, and I still think it was the right decision.  A bit scary, and I’ve been busier in the last few months than I have been for a long time, but, actually, I’m loving it.  It’s a massive learning curve, doing all the things I’m trying to do, but it’s amazing.

I love writing and I’d love to make my living from that, but I’m not there yet.  However, I can do it alongside all the other things I’m doing.  I have a novel and a few non-fiction books on the go.  The plan is to get at least one published in the next few months.

I started a life coaching course in September, as well as an NLP practitioners course.  I am so glad I did, because these have both inspired me to move ahead with all sorts of things in my life.  Things that I have been trying to move on with and just haven’t been able to.

I’ve set up my own business – an HR Consultancy – and the coaching will fit in nicely with that when I qualify in the first half of 2016.

Sad Things

My dear friend Kate’s mum passed away in October.  Such a huge loss for her, and me too.   I can’t say much more about that.  That was compounded by the loss of Kate’s cat, dear little Tigger, earlier in the year.  Poor Kate and Geoff have had more than their share of bereavements this year, as has my friend whom you know affectionately as Hot Chocolate.  Rest in peace Shaq and Lorna.

I’ve had dreadful problems with my two-year-old boiler – to the point that I am so grateful it hasn’t been cold because I’ve had no central heating.  And a problem with my conservatory – water seeping up through the floor – which is in danger of becoming litigious.  I can’t say more about either of those at the moment, in case I do end up in court.

So that’s the end of 2015 in a nutshell.  I’m excited about 2016, and wish everybody the very best for the new year!

© Susan Shirley 2015