2024 Rewind

I first saw these rewind posts on YouTube and whilst I have tried to create a vlog recap, I honestly find it quite tiresome because of how time consuming it is to do that. I actually really like being able to look back and both see and read what happened this previous years, so here's a summary recap of my 2024. 
Where to begin! 2024 was yet again, another year of quiet sadness but positively, it was better than the previous. I'm pleased to say that I no longer feel depressed and whilst I'm not certain I can say I live a happy life, I'm trying to be content with the life I do have, although that isn't always easy for sure. It's been a year of travel, weddings and sickness!

January 
The year began quite sad as I received the confirmation I had been dreading...my car had been written off. I was still grieving the loss of my grandma so the fact I now lost the last thing I had of hers was devastating. For those that don't know, my catalytic convertor had been cut from my car in the hospital care park on Christmas Eve. The disgusting criminals had no repercussions as the security cameras weren't working, of course. I was even sadder when the insurance company wouldn't return the keyrings on the keys, with my grandma's name and picture on. This of course meant, I had to buy a new car, my first purchased car. It was bittersweet and whilst I do love the car, I of course wish it was under different circumstances.
I enjoyed 2 pantomimes, lots of winter walks with my cousin and nephew and had a lovely spa weekend getaway with my mum, sister and great aunt. 
We had a cousin's getaway which we are trying to make a 6 monthly tradition. Plus, to top it off, I saw some old high school friends and celebrated another getting engaged!

February 
The next month was much quieter, with more shifts at work and a focus on my Masters. I did however celebrate my first wedding of the year and have a trip to see both my dad in Wales for a few days and my mum in Wakefield for a few days too. 

March 
As the weather started to warm, I celebrated Mother's Day, Easter and some birthdays. My cousin and I had our first head spa experience and it was quite the relaxation. I also started two new jobs at work with my position as Chair of the Labour Suite Shared Governance Council and as a Sessional Professional Midwifery Advocate. 


April
Easter came at the start of the month with celebrations at work and some cute treats. We also celebrated my mum's birthday. I started my zoo membership with the first of many trips to the zoo. Likewise, reignited my passion for musicals with the Wizard of Oz and Life of Pi. 


May 
May started jam packed! I organised some celebrations at work for the International Day of the Midwife. We had some kind donations, a fuddle and an aromatherapy massage service. I headed down South to spend some time with my second oldest sister and youngest niece, before making my way to Liverpool to see my oldest best friend and attend the RCM Conference
I also celebrated two of my cousin's with a hen party in Leeds for the oldest Ellie and a weekend hen party in York for the youngest Ellie. It was also filled with all the toddler love as I started chasing my now very active youngest nephew. 

June
This was a big month of dissertation writing so I spent the majority of the time sat on my sofa researching and writing! The sunshine came out and summer walks were the perfect way to spend a quick couple hour breaks. It was also my birthday celebration month. I caught up with some friends, headed to Beverley to see my mum's new AirBnB and had a lovely meal with my mum and sister. 


July
July meant whilst I was a little stressed as my dissertation deadline approached, I knew it was important to have some downtime so a week at the Great Yorkshire Show was a perfect break. That weekend, it was also the first of my cousin's wedding

I finally got my cousin to agree to letting me steal my nephew for an auntie-nephew bonding day of perfection, had a couple of musicals (Unfortunate and Madagascar), celebrated another wedding of my friend's and finally submitted my final assignment for my Master's degree!
August
With more time available to see friends and family, it was a month of big celebrations and all the memories! The first and biggest was my baby cousin getting married, and she was honestly the most beautiful bride. My mum came down to visit Nottingham for the first time, I met up with my friend where she told me she was pregnant and my sister turned 40. 

I had the best auntie-nephew day at the water park and zoo, celebrated another friend with a hen party and finally convinced someone to come to the Sunflower Fields with me. I then spent a week in Wales visiting my dad, and meeting up with my sister and her family for a few days too. 



September
September was when I started to really plummet health wise. I've been on and off full of colds and chest infections since June, but kept trying to push through. Unfortunately, the end of August was the final straw and I had to cancel plans last minute, which I felt terrible about. I just about made it to my cousin in law's brother's wedding, although I only went to 2 of the 5 events. 
It was just about the final straw and after forcing myself back to work, I fainted at work, unable to leave due to short staffing...getting admitted to hospital less than 48 hours later. I've shared a full series on my pneumonia journey but it was quite honestly, one of the scariest times of my life. I was on IV antibiotics, had ECGs, chest xrays, CTPAs and oxygen for a week. I'm still feeling the aftermath of it all even now, but I was told it would take my lungs 6 months to recover and they now think I also have long Covid too. 

October 
I set out on my epic USA and Canada trip towards the end of September and spent the month of October out of the country. I started in New York, visiting Washington DC, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Vancouver, San Francisco, Hawaii, Las Vegas and finished in Los Angeles. I've shared so much on the holiday so won't go into too much detail here, but whilst it was fun and jam packed, I defintely felt incredibly lonely at times and regretted it. 
Of course, my first day back in the country called for a visit to my cousin, mainly for a squeeze from my nephew. I hadn't seen him for almost 2 months thanks to being poorly before travelling so he had grown so much! He was so sweet and called me Auntie Hannah for the first time. Of course, a trip to the zoo was the first call. I also had some doctor and hospital follow ups and sadly, had to return to work. 

November 
I headed to my friends new house for Bonfire Night as I couldn't find any events on, but we managed to celebrate with sparklers. Then, I had a lovely couple of days visiting my oldest sister and her family. I'd seen them very briefly for one day for her 40th birthday, but other than that, hadn't seen them all year as schedules sadly didn't align. I had to leave early Sunday morning to get back for my youngest nephew's 2nd birthday party which was a big Bluey-themed success. 
Then it was time for more celebrations with a couple days with my parents for my graduation ceremony in Chelmsford! I caught up with a friends with a lovely meal, escape room and hot tub night, had the second cousin's day of the year and booked myself a luxurious ASMR massage. 

After that came the big freeze with so much snow! I had lots of doctor's appointments and blood tests, but in the midst of still feeling like utter shite, I decorated the house super early for Christmas. I also reunited with someone I felt was a really close friend and we started hanging out. It's been a bit of an up and down relationship, but at the moment, I'll take what he gives me. The month ended with some more belated birthday celebrations, a visit from family, trips to Winter Wonderland and another auntie-nephew day to the zoo. 

December 
After a busy few months, it peaked with December. It's always a month filled with family, friends and festivities. It started with a Christmas work party, then I drove to Wakefield for one of my friend's wedding and the next day was the family Christmas party! 
I then headed to my annual wreath making class, before spending a day with each of the oldest sister's for some mini Christmas celebrations. My Christmas in Nottingham finished with another trip to Winter Wonderland and a very unusual boudoir photoshop. Driving to Wakefield was interesting as I had a flat tyre, but I made it safe and sound, met my friend for tea and then took it to the garage the next day (Christmas Eve). 

When I got back, I spent some time with my Great Aunt and mum's cousin, headed to my step-grandma in laws and then had a movie night. Christmas Day was a little sad as I could only stay for the main course, before heading back to Nottingham for work. It was a truly awful shift and I finished over 2 hours late, heading back home and crying for hours before finally falling asleep. I slept terribly, on and of, only waking with an alarm to head to my cousin's for a Boxing Day party which was actually so much fun. Once home and in bed, it's there I spent the rest of the year, before waking up on New Year's Eve and forcing myself to stop crying to head back to Wakefield for a party.

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