Happy New Year, a Finish and a Giveaway

Hi everyone, how are you all?  I am good; a little stir crazy but good.  Car issues have meant I have been stuck at home since before Xmas but never mind.  It could be worse, at least I have a home to be stuck in!

I have put all the Christmas things away and the house is clean and tidy.  I don't usually do things this early but I can't wait to see the back of 2012 and get on with 2013 which I hope will be a happier, healthier year for us all.

My Book challenge for 2012 was 100 books.  I actually read 124.  I won't be challenging myself for 2013 but do intend to carry on reading when I can.  I love books.  So many lives to live in one lifetime, all through the wonders of literature.

I had some lovely things in the post.  I won a prize from the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe...I was told it was threads but look at what actually arrived!

Excuse the light....we don't have much natural light at the moment so photos are a bit hit and miss.  Wow hey? Trims, lace, chenile, buttons, ribbon...amazing.  Thank you Nancy.  You will be hearing  more about Nancy and her shop as I have just ordered some more bits and pieces for my next big challenge...and I mean BIG.
More about that at the end of this post.
Nancy, thank you.  This went way beyond what I was expecting xxx

Lynda also surprised me again....and she sent me the first Chart from Santa's Village with a request to pass it on should I already have it.  Which I do.  Threefold now!  One is for me, one has been offered to a friend on the Irish yahoo group and this wee one is now looking for a home.

If you would like this chart please say so in a comment and I will draw names if there is more than one.  The only condition is that like me, you will pass it on when you have finished with it.  Gift it away.  2013 will be the year of the RAK so let this be yours xx

I have a finish.
Meet Lucky, the shamrock owl pin cushion.

I need some honest feedback from what you can see please.  The beak is blanket stitched on, and the wings are not quite symetrical.  I have stuffed her with polyfill...and now I will explain the reason I need feedback or tips and advice on how to improve her.  She has a home but I need to know for future ones.  How important is symetrical for example?

I probably won't use blanket stitch for the next ones but any advice, please feel free to offer as much as you like pretty please xx

I have applied to do a 112 km organised walk for the Irish Cancer Society.  I need to raise 3000 euros in order to do this walk. I really, really want to do it.  The Irish Cancer Society funds research alongside the USA and UK which benefits EVERYONE who has to live with a cancer diagnosis.

They have been a huge help to me.  When I was first diagnosed, they gave me a grant towards expenses (petrol alone costs 40 euros per hospital trip): when my gp was a complete tosser and mis-read my diagnosis, they provided breast cancer nurses on a phone line who helped me and explained the terms my gp didn't seem to understand: saved me a day of crying and gave me enough information to go and shout at my gp for being said tosser (very, very loudly; I felt much better afterwards....so it was really, really helpful).

I was also offered the chance to speak to a peer survivor who had breast cancer at a young age like myself.  This gave me great hope and allowed me to start to learn that we LIVE with a cancer diagnosis: All organised through the Irish Cancer Society.  I can't volunteer myself until I have survived a certain period of time: I am still healing and I need to be over it all mentally before they let me lose with vulnerable people so what can I do?  I can walk.

 I want to give something back.  I am not in remission, you have to survive for five years for that honor lol, nor do I know what my outcome will be...but today I am ok and I feel it is so important to live...here and now..live..stop worrying about tomorrow...sort out the here and now.  So that is what I want to do.

I am waiting to find out if I have been accepted as a possible candidate but I'm optimistically  organising potential fund raising ideas.  One of which is sponsorship.  I have been on fb and asked who would be interested in sponsoring me for a small amount; times are hard..I don't want people to feel they have to give more than they can.  One penny or cent all adds up. So many people have said yes and offered to take sponsorship details into the workplace etc.  But I want to think of other ways to raise the funds.

I also considered selling what I make or give my home-mades away in return for a donation.  This means things have to be of a certain standard.  So any advice would be much appreciated.

I will be interested in hearing what you think.

Well that's me for now.
Good bye 2012: you were a challenging year for lots of us.  Though the world wasn't really ending,at times if felt like it was.  You have been hard on us, but you know what; what doesn't kill us makes us stronger: makes us kinder: makes us appreciate the things that really matter.  Friendship.  Family. Fun. Laughter.  Back to basics and less materialism and shallowness.   What can I say?  2012 you are dumped.  2013 is my new love and I am now looking forwards to a calmer relationship, filled with hope and optimism.

I don't care if you cry.  No. Please don't call me.  It is over.  You and I are no longer an item.  2013 is offering me all kinds of potentials and it promises to let me be myself.  Less of the drama and, well, at times sheer terror that you gave me during our relationship.
Goodbye 2012.  Hello 2013.

Yes, it must be my bedtime if I think I am dumping a year!
So I will leave you but not before saying I hope that you all have a Happy New Year.  Let 2013 be a year of healing and kindness, a fresh start with infinite possibilites xxxxxx