And a happy new year to one and all.
Yup, Xmas is done and dusted and, as I write, the car crash that has been 2016 is drawing to a stuttering and much anticipated end.
So, to quote a certain Ms Summers, 'where do we go from here?'
Back From The Future
It occurs to me that, as I'm writing this on the 31st of December you, my dear readers, will actually be reading this next year(or I'll be writing it last year, depending on your point of view). Let's start then, by taking a quick look back... Brace yourselves.
It's fair to say that 2016 has not been a good year. It would be even fairer to say that it has been a never ending progression of free-falling terror rides into the excrement filled pits of darkest Hades.
Alright, that might be a bit strong.
A Most Violent Year
There has, of course, been the seeming avalanche of celebrity deaths (and the point has been made to me that we should not forget the undocumented deaths of 'ordinry people' that have not made the headlines and bylines). Then there's Brexit; Trump; and the eternally escalating threat of extremism and terrorism. Not great,
And on top of all that there's the home front to consider too.
Three job losses between myself and my wife, Tina; A less than friendly end to our relationship with our former landlady; and of course Tina suffering a neurological stroke half way through the year (noted here), have all taken their toll on the Seated Perspective clan. Add to that my ongoing troubles with my wheelchair (down to about 3 working parts at the moment), and of course the merry cut and thrust of the battles with certain media providers, benefits agencies, and one heavily misleading holiday park (see here for details of that) and you have pretty much the full picture of our annus horibilis.
There's not even been a series of Doctor Who to rescue things! I mean an Xmas special, sure, but no full series...C'mon 2016!
Yes, it certainly seems that there have been better years and, as the countdown to Auld Lang Syne begins tonight, it will be with considerable relief and a complete lack of sobriety that I welcome in 2017.
All Change
For the Seated Perspective household it promises to be a year of new starts. First of all, there is the brand new house. Yes, we've been living here two months already, and yes, we've settled in really well, but 2017 will be our first full year in our new home and hopefully within the first few months we'll have an all new non-avocado bathroom and some stylish yet durable flooring installed. We've recently had funding agreed for some adaptations too, so a ramp will shortly be appearing up to our front door, along with wheelchair access to our back garden. That will mean that, personally, I will be able to use the house to something like it's full potential. It really will seal the deal for me.
There's also my new job, which, as long as the company in queston can get a health and safety questionnaire to me in the intervening period, should start next Tuesday or possibly Wednesday (fingers crossed).Tina is quickly getting back to something resembling full health and is also hoping to dangle an experimental toe back into the waters of gainful employment, although for obvious reasons we are looking at her taking it nice and slow. Hopefully she can find something with reduced hours and less stress involved in it. We do not want a repeat of her health problems. Ever... Ever, ever... Ever!
Half Way Out Of The Dark
Of course the advent of the new year is largely arbitrary, based as it is on our rise from the darkest days, and there is nothing to say that this fictional line in time's ongoing march will be some magical tipping point in the random stream of events we call life. It is, however, a day that we can use to put recent events in our rear view mirror and focus more firmly on the immediate future. It may only be on a psychological level but this new year, more than any other, feels like a chance to draw a line, a chance to move out of the shadows and into the light of an optimistic new day. It feels like a fresh start, and that's just a little bit special.
Until next time
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