2011 - The year that was

It was the year one seven-year-old girl predicted the end of the world, but later admitted she'd got her dates wrong. Apparently it’s next year. Just as well we lived 2011 to the full then.

There have been some noticeable highlights in another blogging year that has proved even more unpredictable and varied than the last. According to IJ these include watching me lug a massive box of Scalextric half way across London, touching dinosaur vomit at the Guinness World Records HQ and our day out at London Zoo courtesy of Vosene.

Not forgetting a visit to Alexandra Palace where Jumbo Toys introduced us to their new ipieces range for the ipad, and IJ took to the ice for the first time.

I loved our trip to Center Parcs and the luxury of a night at the Radisson Blu East Midlands Airport. But all the trips and half a million freebies aside, I’ve particularly enjoyed another year of working as a blogger with UNICEF, the highlights of which were meeting Martin Bell and flying to Copenhagen for a day to hear about their inspired gifts range one week after Kate and William made the exact same trip.

In the aid of charity we also took to the South Downs to walk for WaterAid with a group of fabulous bloggers, and I’ve also given coverage to the Meningitis Don’t wait for the Rash campaign and the issue of educating children about alcohol. I’ve also been honoured to be an official blogger of the Tesco Mum of the Year Awards 2012.

It was also the year of the Cybermummy conference where I talked about bloggers working with charities, met some incredible bloggers for the first time and made some lifelong friends.

And then there was Israel.

An incredible action-packed trip that will stay with me for decades to come, and not just because I have a massive canvas of the Dead Sea on my office wall. I met some inspirational women who have built successful careers, started businesses and achieved success both at home and at work, including travelling companions Sally and Jane. It has led me to focus on a career path, set some goals and finally gain a sense of direction. From my little office at home I’ve been building up my own business over the last few months. It will be the main focus of the year to come and I simply can’t wait.

The blogosphere has remained an incredible place to be despite its occasional ups and downs and it’s great to be a part of it. I could go on and mention all the bloggers I’ve met this year and tweeted and Facebooked and say a special thank you, but frankly we’d be here all day and I have a party to go to.

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year and everything you could wish for in 2012.