Gratitude list - November

It’s Thanksgiving so an extra special list this monthI’m grateful for;1.returning safely from my first trip to Montreal to celebrate being on this planet for 43 years.2.Powder Room Graffiti for publishing my first article, my first paid for article indeed and for giving me wonderful constructive feedback.3.receiving the news of the above during my birthday lunch in Montreal, the best birthday present I could have received.4.being followed on Twitter by not one but three of Birmingham’s finest editorial staff5.India Knight, esteemed Sunday Times columnist conversing with me on Twitter6.deciding last Christmas I will no longer buy Christmas presents because there are now too many to buy. Every one person I know has expanded into a family of 2, 3, 4, 5 or more and whereas I love buying presents, this is way too much time and I find myself buying meaningless gifts for the sake of it. Enough.7.the boyfriend and I getting through an extremely tough, emotional month but surviving and now being back to making each other laugh every day. We’re planning a wonderful, chilled Christmas together in snowy Montreal, taking into account all the issues that we have aired (the biggest one being 3300 miles apart)8.rejecting shop bought and deciding on making real fresh American pancakes each weekend, even though I had to buy a special pan for them. Yum yum.9.my friend K for helping me move some of my belongings not shipped to NY to my place and for car booting other things I no longer need.10.my three friends visiting me from MK. In seven months since returning I’ve only had three visitors and one of them was my boyfriend flying in for two weeks in the summer. We had an absolute ball of a weekend and I couldn’t ask for nicer supportive, understanding, loyal friends. I’m truly blessedFollow my updates on Twitter