2015

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around.

Admit it.  You just read that in Hugh Grant's voice.

As 2015 slowly comes to a close I thought I'd reflect on this year and the years to come.  But first I need to make a confession.  

I did something very silly.  

For a mixture of bizarre/paranoid reasons and genuine forgetfulness I stopped taking my medication.  I went completely without it for a week before dissolving into a mess when I dropped some cardboard on the floor at work.  No damage was done.  No one died.  The cardboard forgave me (probably) but I reacted as if I'd just shot a baby.  Some of you who are on a similar journey to mine are probably nodding your heads in understanding and remembering similar experiences in your own lives.  Those who have not been down this path are probably scratching your head in confusion.  

But that is done now.  At the time when I wanted to hurt myself I did the complete opposite and called my boyfriend instead.  To anyone who is going through dark times I cannot stress how important this is and how it really does work (so long as you call the right person, mind you).

So now that's off of my chest, onto newer and brighter things!  I've been thinking about all of the wonderful things that have happened to me this year.  

 I went to a Disney party and had my very own Peter Pan and Tinkerbell....

Aaron turned 21

 Katie turned 7

First show at Aelfa! 

First football match 

 Growing in confidence at Aelfa

SEEING S CLUB 7!  With my best friend

Going to Portsmouth with Aaron

 Moving house several hundred times

Going blonde

Being Julia in The Wedding Singer

Doing my exam pieces about my idol

All my brilliant opportunities at Groombridge.  Starting with Wendy in Peter Pan

Followed by an Elf and then Tinkerbell in Myths and Legends

And then a Chimney Sweep in the Christmas Market!

Turning 21

Our first anniversary

Of course I could go on!  There are many highlights.  My favourites have been my confidence to express an opinion, and anyone who can see my Facebook will tell you that I like to express it a lot.  

 So now onto news on a more global scale.  

No one can ignore the plight of the Syrian refugees who are fleeing for their lives in their thousands.  No one who claims to have any shred of humanity can turn aside from these desperate people.  

This year I have seen the polar opposites of people's opinions.  I have seen people sob for the little boy who washed up ashore.  I have seen people scoff and call it a media tactic.  

I have seen people for fight for the wealthy to recognise these people as fellow humans and to do something.  I have seen people call for them to be drowned at sea.  

I pray for those making the journey, those in the camps and those who are being scape goated and victims of racist attacks.  

In 2016 I pray that we can all be reminded of our duty to one another and that we have the courage to act on it.  

Saying that, here's the Canadian Prime Minister helping a young Syrian refugee.  Here's some more helpful acts from 2015....

We've had some major events happen in 2015 too.  (In no particular order).  

• Legalised gay marriage.  
• More talking and learning about transgender people since the Vogue issue with Caitlyn Jenner. 
• Jeremy Corbyn elected as leader of the Labour party
• John Snow.  That is all.  
• The blood moon.  
• The dress.  The black and blue one.  There was never a white and gold one.  
• No more page 3 boobs!
• Libby Lane becomes the first woman ordained as a bishop in the Church of England, at York Minster.
• The end of Top Gear.  
• Jurassic World returns!
• As does Star Wars!
• Princess Charlotte is born.  
• The Church of Scotland votes to allow the ordination of gay ministers in civil partnerships.
• Queen Elizabeth II surpasses her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria as Britain's longest-reigning monarch
• Saudi Arabia elected women into office for the very first time. Five women won seats on local municipal councils. These five women were among the 7,000 candidates competing for 2,100 government seats across the country. Of the 7,000 candidates, 979 of them were women.
• Apparently Kim Kartrashidan broke the internet.  Not sure how.  
• Viola Davis gave an amazing winners speech.
• As did Nadiya Hussain.  
• Katie Cutler heard how a mugger viciously attacked disabled pensioner Alan Barnes on his doorstep she wanted to find a way to help. She set up an online donation page to raise £500, but a week later she was handing over a cheque for £330,000.
• Jamie Brewer is best known for her acting work - but in February she became the first person with Down's syndrome to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week. 
• Adele makes a phenomenal music comeback.  
• Noma Dumezweni is cast as Hermione Granger.  Some saw it as a controversial choice.  Everyone else applauded.  

So this was a long blog post.  The point is I wanted to say goodbye 2015.  You've been brilliant actually.  I'm sad to see you go.  I'm glad for the memories you've given me and I'm looking forward to those I'm going to make.  

xx