Tales from the Sea Garden

Tales from The Sea Garden

Email me: theseagarden@btinternet.com

Friday 31 December 2010

A new year!

So here it is......2011! Happy New Year everyone!

The turning of a new year is a time to reflect on what has passed and look forward to what is yet to come.......

Nothing really significant happened in my life in 2010, it seemed to be a year of just buckling down and getting on with it....but then nothing terrible happened either so I can only be grateful for that. Hearing the news last night about the knife-edge political situation currently playing out in the West African country of Ivory Coast has brought back lots of memories for me, because when I was 6 years old I went with my family to live in that country's capital, Abidjan. My father was employed by ICI and had just acquired a job out there. We remained for two years, and they proved to be the most formative years of my childhood. I looked in the suitcase under the bed where I keep my photograph albums and found my old school photo of the first class I was in at 'The American International School':

Here I am kneeling on the grass at the far right, and on the far left in the front row was my best friend Alexia. Our class was truly international, with fellow pupils from Ghana, Senegal, United States, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Haiti, Ethiopia. There was one other English girl, my friend Nicole. Alexia and I were inseparable for those two years, but on my return to England we lost touch with each other, as her father was an ambassador and they moved from country to country. Alexia was from Haiti, and I recently typed her name into Facebook to see if perchance she was there... but no. I do hope she is safe and well.
2010 has been a year of devastating natural disasters - the Haiti earthquake and the Pakistan floods - and much human suffering. I just hope and pray that the Ivory Coast situation does not develop into another genocide. History is littered with rulers who have become so intoxicated with power that they refuse to stand down when a new leader has been democratically elected by the people, and it is the common people who end up suffering.
As I look forward to the year ahead, I can feel a change in my life coming......I have been feeling restless for a few years now, not quite knowing what to do, just letting things drift along. But life is what we make it, and if I need change then I must make it happen!

18 comments:

  1. happy new year to you
    i have just signed up to women for women international sponsership..
    maybe my life can make a significant and important difference to another wife ..mother..daughter
    i shall fine out who will be my sister in a few weeks...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mermaid,

    What a nice post to remember those less well off than us. No matter what 2010 brought, there were always people less well off than us. So for the new year we should all be happy and appreciate our loved ones and what we have :) Thank you for sharing

    All things nice...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Many wishes for a Happy New Year from me....

    PuNo/Monika

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your last sentence sums things up for me too.
    Life is what we make it let's make the most of it.

    Jo x

    ReplyDelete
  5. A great post. I hope this year brings the changes you want. Happy New year.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy New Year to you x
    A realy lovely post, I so enjoyed reading it. You are so right about changes in life, and just drift along and see what happens. I hope your 2011 brings you lots of joy x
    Andrea x

    ReplyDelete
  7. As my first blogging action of 2011, I follow you! Have a great new year!
    Laura@RicevereconStile

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for all your well wishes and lovely comments! I have heard about the women for women sponsorship programme Lynnie, and think it's such a great idea. Women are at the forefront of child rearing, education. welfare, and often are the more prudent economically and so can greatly influence the future wellbeing of the whole community they live in. Women also often suffer in silence and just to know that someone, however far away, cares about them, I'm sure your sponsorship will make all the difference to whomever you befriend. My best wishes x

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi,

    many thanks for your lovely post, I've been reading your blog for some time but this particular post & your pic of your time in Abidjan encouraged me to post a comment - bizarrely I also lived there for a few years way back in 1978-1981 (although I attended a french speaking school )& have never, until now, come across anyone else who did ! It brought back some very happy memories for me.

    Best wishes for a very Happy New Year & I shall continue to follow your blog .

    Lula
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hello to you from Brittany in France.
    I've just found you and love your site.
    You seem to love all the things that I love.

    Yes, if only we could have more peace and equality in this world.

    My good wishes to you
    Diane.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lula - thank you for your message. Incredibly those are the exact years that we were also living in Abidjan! How old were you and which part of the city did you live in? We first lived in Marcory and then Deux Plateaux. If it had not been for the International School I also would have gone to a French school. I did learn French of course, I have never forgotten my French teacher, Madame Corvez. I cannot find a blogger profile for you, so do send me an email - it would be lovely to share memories!
    Christine x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy New Year Christine. I'm afraid I've been a very lax blogger and haven't left any seasonal greetings on my blog, but I wish you a prosperous, successful and happy year doing just what's right for you!!

    Hope to see you again before too long.

    Sue x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just found you this morning and I am just delighted to have found you.
    I dropped by Julie's Pottery to tell her I had added her site to my Temptations page that I just started and saw your button.
    Now I can not wait to read your other post.
    Where you live is just beautiful. Would love to live by water. I was born on the coast of Texas of course nothing like yours but living inland about 150 miles I still feel drawn to going back.
    If you would like me to put your site on my Temptation page I would be more than happy too because I saw that some of your pieces are for sale on line.
    Happy New Year
    Maggie

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy New Year, Christine. You haven't changed a bit from your sweet school photo! :)
    Perhaps as you had such a wonderful childhood, spending part of it overseas, it has left you knowing that there is more out there. I hope you find what it is you are looking for and that 2011 will be a happy year for you.
    Best wishes,
    Niki x

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ah Happy Happy New Year to you Christine,
    What a lovely post this is, yes indeed life is whet we make it so here's to 2011 and all that it may bring all that we may offer it!

    Love Sarah x

    PS I was half expecting to see you in my January edition of Country Living, any news on when you are due to be featured?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Happy new year, Christine,

    I feel changes are afoot too.
    I know they will be good ones.
    Here's to all the best in lucky eleven
    xx
    julie

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi Christine,

    Happy New Year! Congratulations on the article in Country Living Magazine - it looks absolutely beautiful - best wishes for a successful 2011! xxx

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Christine,
    I am visiting for the first time and just love the beauty of your blog.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hugs,Laura.xoxx
    Best wishes...

    ReplyDelete