Best of 2019

Let's not beat around the bush... 2019 was a shocker of a year.

I'm not going to go into all the details because that's not the purpose of this post, but it started badly as we tried to come to terms with upsetting news we received just before Christmas. The second half of the year went from bad to worse with a string of horrible circumstances and events, some of which brought back vivid memories from the horrors of summer 2016.

Things kept coming at me like a tidal wave, and the next awful thing would hit me while I was still reeling from the last one. I felt thoroughly battered by the end of the year, and I was genuinely terrified about what on earth would happen next.

I was perpetually convinced that the next bad thing would break me completely, but somehow I kept going.

I haven't blogged since July thanks to the constant stress and anxiety of the last six months, but I wanted to make sure I posted my 'best of 2019' post to keep up the tradition of the last three years.

In spite of all the horrible things that happened last year, I did have lots of great times with my favourite people. These are far too easy to overlook when I look back over the year, but it's really important that I try to focus on those great times because they ultimately kept me afloat.

So, here are my highlights of 2019...

I went to see Matilda in the Millennium Centre with Sarah. 

I celebrated the 16th Fake Christmas with my university friends in Milton Keynes. 

We celebrated Neil's birthday with a visit to Got Beef, and I bought him these amazing canvasses. 

We spent a relaxing five days in Venice. 

I went to Bar 44 with Sophie to celebrate her 30th birthday. 

We celebrated Jessie's 2nd birthday. 

I had a lovely Easter weekend which included copious amounts of food, a cinema trip, and catching up with friends. 

We went to Hang Fire Southern Kitchen for the first time. 

I had a really lovely birthday which included more meals than I can count, a spa day with Nicola, a catch up with Sarah, a couple of days with my parents, and time with Neil and Jessie. 

We took Jessie on holiday to Llangennith. 

I went to Bristol for the weekend to catch up with my university friends and eat some excellent food. 

I had a catch up with Georgina and tried a hot chocolate from Hotel Chocolat for the first time. 

We celebrated my mother's 70th birthday with a family meal at our local Harvester. 

We celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary with a spectacular meal at Restaurant James Sommerin. 

We spent a blissful two weeks in Florida's Walt Disney World, my favourite place in the whole world. 

My colleagues and I won two silver awards and a gold award at the Chartered Institute of PR's PRide Cymru awards ceremony. 

I spent the weekend in Milton Keynes with Fee and Liz. I didn't take any photos for some reason, so here's a photo of Jessie being clingy when I got back. 

I visited Balti Cuisine, one of my absolute favourites, for a catch up with Catrin. 

I went to Bristol for the annual Christmas shopping tradition with my university friends. 

I bought a new car... horrible circumstances forced me into it but I do really love the car, so I've decided to include it in my highlights. 

After a long wait for results, I celebrated being all clear for three years with an amazing meal in Villa Napoli. 

I went on a three day digital marketing course and learnt loads (and ate loads) in this beautiful setting. 

I got dressed up in a sparkly dress and sparkly shoes for my work Christmas party.  

I celebrated Amy's 5 years all clear with her in Miller & Carter. 

I went to Pettigrew Tea Rooms for a festive afternoon tea with Jo. 

Christmas felt like the light at the end of a very long tunnel. We had some time off work and spent quality time with our families, and with each other and Jessie.  

We drove to see my family on New Year's Eve, then came back home and spent the last evening of 2019 with just the three of us (and cheese, chocolate and mulled wine).

There were lots of meals, hot chocolates, catch ups and visits I couldn't include because the post was getting too long, so it's fair to say that 2019 was peppered with lots of nice things amongst the bad. 

However... please be kinder, 2020!