2010 - You will be remembered

How can I let 2010 go without recapping the major events of the year?

Let’s start with the bad ones first because I would like to finish off on a good note....

The Bad

- Seeing my son A with his arm in a cast – all thanks to his dad getting aggressive over some stupid tennis match and receiving the news on my b’day.

- A not getting his UK visa!!!

- Numerous arguments with DH over my OCD. (He the hoarder and me the purger.) I am also obsessive about keeping things neat and tidy. I kid you not, my marriage was literally on the edge. We spent 22 days in the same house not talking to each other and frankly during this period I did not see DH even once. I was cooped up in my clean little room.

- With the new job that I started on 1st Jan, I stopped going to the gym. Result – same weight but completely un-toned body shape.

- Lost all interest in dressing up nice – with a relationship full of constant arguments and working from home, I had no reason to dress up!

- Giving up my Indian citizenship. Every time I hear mile sur mera tumhara I literally have tears in my eyes. I love being an Indian and believe that in about 10 years time an Indian passport will be worth more than having any western passport. But alas these justifications do me no good today. With the amount of travelling that I do for work, I just cannot afford to waste any more time in consulates for an entry visa.

- Towards the end of the year, I became a bit of an expert at my new job. And that resulted in me being a bit too aggressive for my liking. I like being confident but not too over confident.



The Good

- After 7 years of staying away from my son and being fearful about my ex-husband, all it took was seeing my son’s broken arm - overnight I developed balls of steel. My parents and I knocked all doors – the Police, the Court and finally I got my son’s custody back. There’s no greater joy than knowing that your kid is safe and sound.

- So yes A didn’t get his visa to the UK and right now it is under appeal with the appeal date set for April 2011. A not being with me no longer bothers me. Currently he is studying in a very good school in India and frankly speaking I have a very low opinion of schooling in the UK, especially schools in Southall where I live.

- If A does not ultimately get the right to live in the UK, I am planning to relocate to some other Western European country. I have that sort of option with my company. And I know that DH does not have any problem in joining me if I were to shift due to A.

- Ah my husband. Well 22 days of not talking to each other was just about what we both could take in terms of separation. Later we had the hottest make out session and then got down to discussion our problems and how best to get over them. Net net result – we both will adjust. Now how come we didn’t remember that before?

- Alright so I rarely get out of the house during week days and something tells me that I should make exercise part of my daily routine just like how it was in 2009. So I have now invested in a Reebok bike and cross trainer. Will be taking delivery of it soon.

- Not so sure why I lost interest in dressing up. I was the best turned out one in college and also in my previous company and took pride in my beautiful clothes. I guess God gives everyone a quota and if you finish it up too soon, you have nothing left for later on. My policy is comfort over style and even at work and during my business trips I wear my black jeans. This had to change, c’mon I am not yet 40. First things first – chopped off my waist length hair and now it’s just to my neck. I cut it first to shoulder length and then mustered enough courage to chip it all off. I look hot, if I may say so. Next was cashing in on the Christmas sale – I went to all the shops, even the ones online and have now bought enough outfits to last me a year. Strangest thing – I bought only dresses, not a single pair of trousers.

But above all I want to thank the Universe for two things – for having given me the strength to withstand all that came my way and for such a wonderful husband who patiently stood by me all the time.

And now I look forward to what's in store for me in 2011.