Happy New Year!

'We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.'  ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Oh how different things were last New Years Eve.

On the afternoon of New Year's Eve 2009, I was sitting in my dressing gown in Hexham General Hospital - waiting to be called for a lumpectomy operation. I felt quite excited actually. The cancer was going to be cut out, and I could start 2010 without the bloody lump inside me.

I walked down to the operating theatre, and signed the consent forms. There was a buzz in the air. It was New Year's Eve after all, and the theatre staff were busy discussing where they were going and what they were doing - once they'd finished operating on this wifey. I recognised one of the theatre nurses. She always used to be at softplay when the kids were little but I'd never spoken to her before. I remember thinking 'God - I thought you were just a harassed mother - and here you are looking after me in an operating theatre.' She was so nice to me. One mum to another.

The next thing I remember is hearing voices saying 'Bye! And a Happy New Year!' 'Have a great time...'
My name was being called gently, and I remember smiling and saying 'Happy New Year everyone, Happy New Year.' I was still alive, totally drugged, high as a kite and felt wonderful!

Back in my room, as the anasthetic wore off I made a few phone calls to my family to say I was out of theatre and still alive. I don't really remember much about these calls, but people tell me they were amazed because I sounded like I was calling from a party - drunk as a skunk!

Hubby was taking the kids to a New Years Eve party at the village hall with a live band. I was so pleased they were doing something to keep them busy. It made me feel more relaxed in my hospital bed.

I tried to grab some sleep, but the clock on the wall was ticking so loudly that it was impossible! I watched the hand coming round to midnight, and at that moment a nurse came in with a champagne flute full of orange juice. I asked her if she would open my window. The room was stifling hot, but most of all I wanted to hear Hexham Abbey's bells ringing in the New Year.

As time progressed, the drunken revellers replaced the sound of the bells - it was good to hear people partying and having a good time. As things quietened down, I looked towards the window, and noticed big, fat, white flakes of snow falling down rapidly....it didn't stop for days - but people still battled in to visit me in hospital - my darling husband and beautiful children were my first foots the next morning....

And so this New Years Eve was very different. An early drink and a game of cards at the pub with the kids, followed by home and 'The Karate Kid' film - all snuggled up together in front of a blazing stove, flickering candles, the twinking lights on the Christmas tree and a glass or two of sparkly. No parties, no revelling, no fireworks....just being together...with my lovely family to bring in a brand new year.