Starting with statistics:

I was impressed with my blog stats for 2015 – 45 posts, 1,960 views, 1,091 visitors, 94 likes, and 74 comments. And although the US and the UK topped the list of numbers of viewers from different countries, I was amazed to see some from Hong Kong and India.

So, thank you to everyone who has visited – and especially those who have liked and/or commented. My goal for this year will be to top these figures.

However, I don’t bother giving myself New Year’s resolutions anymore. It took me a while to work out the poor economic value. For example, if a gym membership costs £600 a year, then trips to the gym during the year cost me £100 each time.

I can ‘eat less-drink less alcohol-exercise more’ anytime of the year. So, I don’t have to start today. That’s my excuse, anyway.

Christmas holiday:

We did a fair bit of eating and drinking over Christmas, so I’ve already cut back. (Feeling virtuous – and not counting the glass of Champagne last night – well, New Year’s Eve…)

Here are some photos from our hotel overlooking Lake Windermere…our room with a great view, the walk through the woods, and back to a warm up by the fire.

Before the rains came, we visited Bowness. The lake was already overflowing from the heavy rain the week before but there were plenty of visitors, including this good looking bird:

The floods:

We had a wonderful few days but spent most of Boxing Day wondering if it was safe to go back home. Our village, Mytholmroyd, featured as front page news for the first time ever in its history – as the flood waters from the River Calder rose up to unprecedented heights and submerged a much larger area than usual. Our house is out of range, but it was worrying all the same with reports of power and water cuts.

Although we were relieved to find our own home undamaged, the extent of the destruction to so many local homes and businesses is heart breaking. One such business is the independent bookstore in nearby Hebden Bridge. But the owners have been heartened by the support garnered, not just locally, but through Twitter and Facebook…with publishers willing to send new stock and authors offering signed books for auction on eBay.

Not the start to the New Year many in this area were hoping, or planning, for – but, encouraged by the outpouring of community spirit, they will find the strength to carry on.

With more rain forecast over the coming week, we can only hope there won’t be a repeat of the devastating flooding, not just here, but many other parts of the country as well.

November has passed by in a blur.

Missing parts

Back in the middle of September I went to see my doctor about a pain in my abdomen. I’d experienced this a few times and was starting to think it maybe wasn’t just the effect of too much to eat or drink. The doctor thought it was serious enough to refer me to a specialist as soon as possible. The following week I found myself sitting across from a gynecologist who didn’t hesitate to tell me I would need to have a hysterectomy in the very near future. As I’m past the menopause I figured this wasn’t particularly good news. The MRI and CT scans subsequently showed a large mass. I was told that if I were pregnant it would be at the four and a half month stage.

November 3^rd was the date set for the operation. Later in the day the surgeon stopped by to check how I was doing. He had a big smile and you would have thought he’d just delivered a baby. He spread his hands about a foot apart and said: “It was this big.” My melon sized ovarian cyst is probably now the subject of an academic treatise to be delivered at medical conferences around the world.

So, all relevant parts having been removed, biopsies taken (results have all come back clear) I’m now at home in the recovery stage. I think my wife is the one who will need a recuperation period after a few weeks of being my carer. But she has risen to the challenge magnificently, undertaking tasks that are usually my domain. Watching her change the duvet cover was entertaining, but I almost split my stitches when she struggled with the light bulb. I thought I was going to have to phone a friend.

Missing person

I arrived home from the hospital on November 7^th. Mourning the loss of a few redundant parts of my body faded into irrelevance when the following day the sad announcement appeared on Facebook of the death of Sandra Moran. Given the severity of her condition, this wasn’t unexpected, but it did seem to happen very quickly.

There have been many moving tributes to Sandra in the past few weeks from people who knew her well. My only contact with her was through Facebook and a few brief conversations at the GCLS conference in July.

As well as doing a reading at the conference, I had volunteered to be on a panel discussing research. Sandra was also on the panel. What I know about research would fit onto the end of a pencil compared to her knowledge and experience. However she was kind enough to say to me afterwards that she had peeked at my notes and was impressed. In this photo, from the expression on her face, I’m not sure if she was listening to my ramblings or thinking about pie.

It is sad beyond words that the world has lost this amazing woman. I can’t begin to imagine how hard it is right now for her wife, family, friends, colleagues, students…and everyone she touched via social media. Her humour, generosity of spirit, and radiant smile…these aspects of Sandra will live long in our memories.

Both these recent events have reinforced in my mind what I know to be true, but often forget. Live in the moment…it’s the only one we have. The past is gone and the future is unknowable. Deep thoughts for a wet November morning but an apt time to reflect on the many things I have to be thankful for.

Photo credit: Thank you to K C Richardson