New Year, New Me?

As 2017 has drawn to a close, I have taken some time to think about all the things that have happened and that I have achieved over the past year. I think that this reflective process is something that pretty much everyone goes through when they are approaching a New Year. Although it is only really a change in date, it can also be an opportunity for a nice 'fresh start'.

I have decided to do a small summary. Although I have a good brain and memory, I obviously cannot remember every day of the year. Perhaps this is something that I will change in the upcoming year..Maybe I should pick up on the trend of writing a sentence a day...or maybe that would be another thing I would have to do daily.

 I celebrated my first ever Valentines Day with my perfect boyfriend

Ever since I started having hormones, I always wanted a Prince Charming of my own. I always wanted that perfect boyfriend. The boyfriend that dotes on your like you're a Princess but also lets you be your own bad ass self. Well, in 2016 I got one of those 'Prince Charmings'. I'm pretty happy with him. On February 14th, 2017 - I celebrated my first ever Valentines Day. It was special and it was a great moment.

I went to Copenhagen! 
This was my first holiday abroad with my BF! We loved exploring even though the weather was on the cold side!

I had another health scare...

I almost didn't put this into my timeline but it happened and it was pretty significant.
In the earlier months of the year, I got told by an incompetent, idiotic doctor that I had cancer.
THIS WAS INCORRECT. IT WAS WRONGLY DIAGNOSED AND BASED ON VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE AND NO MEDICAL EXAMINATION.
So, just to reiterate she was wrong. She made the decision to tell me that I had it based on looking at the large lump in my throat. She told me it could be nothing else but cancer.

I felt a wave of terror surge through my body. I cried and walked out of the Doctor's room.

I spent weeks thinking she was right. I was on a long waiting list for a scan. I didn't think she could be wrong. After all, she was a Doctor, she was bound to know what cancer looked like...

Well, it turns out a Thyroglossal cyst looks a lot like cancer.
A massive lump in my throat that suddenly appeared out of nowhere..
It wasn't until I had a scan done by a specialist that I was told that it was nothing to worry about.
The cyst was harmless.

This was the scariest moment of 2017.
Although I was fortunate enough to have the clear and for it to just be a cyst - the scare made me appreciate my life all over again.

I changed my hair (again) 

As part of a fresh start, I changed my hair again. I wanted something new. So, I decided to bleach my whole head.... I regret this deeply as my hair progressively started snapping off..but, I lived in the moment.

I went on holiday to Thassos!

This was the first holiday that my boyfriend and I had gone on in the sunshine! It was May so it wasn't boiling and to be honest we did see a fair few clouds..But nevertheless it was good to go away.

I lost one of the strongest women I've ever known to the angels.

At the time of my loss I wrote a blog post dedicated to my Grandmother. It was a way for me to write down everything I felt and to pay tribute to her in my own small way. I didn't publish it. All my emotions were raw and it felt too personal. But, something that I majorly went through was loss in 2017. It was extremely tough and was painful. She was one of the toughest cookies that this earth will ever have. She struggled with a long cancerous battle and pulled through harsh attacks of illness so many times. She was the longest survivor in the UK of her type of cancer. But despite this she was always full of laughter and love even until the end. I will always miss her and she is forever in my heart.

I moved out

Although this should have been very exciting, moving out fell into the same week as my loss. It felt like an inappropriate time for me to leave my family home with all things considered. But, life has to carry on so I moved out. We hated the house that we had chosen and we learnt so many lessons about moving out and renting within the months that we lived there. I will probably write a blog post on what I learnt and my experience soon - so, stay tuned!

I got my dream job

This was the highlight in a tough time for me. I managed to get the job of my dreams. It was my biggest achievement in 2017.

I bought my own car

On finance but I did it! I finally own my own car after four years of driving someone else's and it feels goooood!

I moved out again

We managed to miraculously get out of our tenancy early. Our previous house had so many issues and it was time we cut ties with it. It had horrible energy (yes, I believe that places have energies!) and it was no good for us. We are now living in an amazing flat with a sea view. Even though it does break the bank slightly...

I had my first ever Anniversary!!

Yay! My first big relationship milestone. I felt proud that I was finally in a relationship that lasted more than three months... Previously to finding the one that made me this happy and feel like a Princess, I found relationships laborious and a chore..not any more!!


Overall, 2017 was quite life changing for me. I found my dream job, I moved out, bought a car, explored the world and experienced a massive loss. It was eventful to say the least. I believe that everything that happens in life happens for a reason. Even my loss meant that my beautiful Grandmother was finally at peace and not fighting a miserable battle daily. She is with the angels.

2017 taught me a lot. I grew up majorly when I moved out and my worries started becoming things like, 'Do we have enough toilet paper at home?'. Life is a funny old thing. But one thing's for sure, I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a lot of goals for 2018. I am going to be writing them up in a notebook which may transpire into a blog post. At least if I publish my goals onto the internet I may feel a pressure to actually achieve them..

2018 - I'm coming at you with force! This shall be my year to shine and blossom (I've decided, so it must be true..)

What were your 2017 highlights and big moments?