Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

[RichardMEL]

Hi all,

As I type there's just 90 minutes until we hit midnight and the start of 2012. Our kiwi cousins have already done that...

So as everyone here, over the next day or so, depending on your timezone, celebrate the end of 2011 and the start of 2012 - I just want to wish everyone all the best for the new year - with special wishes for those waiting for transplant miracles, and hopes for those enduring dialysis or awaiting it or those having a difficult time - either for themselves or loved ones.

Very best wishes to everyone and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

[Rerun]

Back at you Richard!  Happy New Year and may 2012 be the best yet.

                 

[willowtreewren]

Thank you.

We have hours to go before hitting 2012, but I must say that 2011 was a banner year! I only hope that 2012 tops it! 

I hope everyone finds love and happiness in 2012!

Aleta

[cariad]

Ooooo, a message of hope from the future! Love it!

I want to hear about this posh trip to Singapore, Richard. I've never been but had a good friend at university who was from there.

2011 was not my best year, despite coming off all transplant drugs. That moment was far and away the highlight in a rough time.

I want to wish everyone here a deliriously happy 2012. (And for those that want them, bring on the transplants....)

[kitkatz]

Happy New 2012 to everyone!!

[Bajanne]

I wish my IHD family the best for the coming year.  This year had many challenges, especially financial ones.  I had a run of bad monetary luck November and December.  Lost $1,300 when I was in St. Martin with my French students.  Then someone just took $700 from my wallet at the Cruise ship dock where I work. But I am not allowing it to depress me.  What I have done is admit that I am too scatterbrained and my daughter is now Chancellor of the Exchequer (my Brit friends will understand)!
But already 2012 seems promising.  We will be moving into a new apartment with more space so everyone has their own room! Hurrah!

[rsudock]

Happy New Year IHD family!!!  Love to you all!

xo,
Rachel

[Riki]

2011 was a kick in the pants for us, but I see 2012 as a year of renewal.  Mom and I will be moving out of a house we can't afford, and moving into an apartment that we can afford, and the new dialysis unit will be opening, after years of anticipation.  I'll miss my view of the harbor, but at least we won't be packed in like sardines. *L*

So, as long as the world doesn't blow up on December 21st, I think it'll be great

[Poppylicious]

So, as long as the world doesn't blow up on December 21st, I think it'll be great

I'm not going to buy any Christmas pressies (except for ihd SS ones) till the 22nd December, just in case!

Happy 2012 everyone! 

  (I wanted a big fat kissy emoticon, but the wine will have to do instead!)

[kristina]

Best wishes to everyone and a Happy New Year

& lots of luck in 2012 to everyone

from Kristina. 

[ToddB0130]

It's nearly here !!  Like others,  I am kind of glad to be looking at 2011 in the rearview mirror !!  Here's hoping for better days ahead in 2012 and beyond for everyone.  HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and all of your loved ones.

[del]

Happy New Year to one and all!!!    Appreciate and enjoy each and every moment you can.  Hope 2012 is a good year for everybody!!   

[Joe]

Happy New Year all! It's got to be a better year than 2011 was.

[boswife]

Happy New and improved Year to all   Wishes for peace and love for all 

[galvo]

A happy New Year to y'all!! Let's live it to the full.

[looneytunes]

May 2012 bring many blessings to all my friends at IHD.  Happy New Year, everybody!     

[RichardMEL]

Re end of the world Dec 21st... just in case I plan to party hard and [ CENSORED [ on Dec 20.... want to go out with a smile

Cariad - re Singapore - yes, it was quite good thank you I am not a fan of Singapore per se as  a place - I find it quite soulless in many ways - all the social rules and regulations give them a beautiful clean city and, in the main, great manners but behind all the steel and glass shopping malls is.. not much. I feel, compared to somewhere like Hong Kong, a lot of character has been lost from the place. Little India, for example, is sort of like the "postcard" version to my way of thinking....

... having said that I did get out a bit, did a lot of walking and looking around (and next to no shopping!) but had a good time. Then I flew home in First Class on a QANTAS A380, which was something I've wanted to do fora ahilw to compare with some of my other premium airline experiences (yeah, I am a geek). They're not Emirates or Cathay, but they had delicious food, a comfy seat and the pj's were decent lol. Again, without the wonderful gift of Danny the kidney I would not have been able to indulge in such things. I am so happy that I could.

Yes 2011 was difficult for many folks in so many ways, but I see it as mostly positive for me - not only did I start the year with a new kidney, and a new outlook, but I got to go to Vegas in October to meet the wonderful IHD crew, plus I have had other trips around and about, including Seattle and Vancouver in September and of course Singapore just been. I've had a pretty good year at work including an offer/near plea from my managers to go full time which is a bit of an ego boost. I've had some bumps, like the virtual loss of my left eye, but I honestly would rather focus (no pun) on the positives and that things have progressed well for me in the important ways - my kidney is going well, and has already allowed me some unforgettable experiences, and my health is doing pretty well. Most other things are going ok.

I want this next year to be the best they can for everyone with only positives !!!

[billybags]

Wishing all my IHD family a Happy New Year.

[cariad]

Richard, you are such an inspiration. We've had a rough year but also loads of good times, but you are phenomenal in how you can bring it all back round to the positives again, come what may.

I had that sense about Singapore. My friend defended it vehemently during that whole 'caning an American' episode. I really don't like those ultra-modern but as you say 'soulless" cities at all. Gwyn used to claim that American cities have no soul, but this was back when he lived in Detroit which really does lack a distinctive rhythm like many places in the US. Milwaukee does have its own personality that I quite like. It would be a dream city for me in many ways were it not for the weather. First class! I so wish.... I think the last time I flew first was to our honeymoon.

I would love to hear how others rang in the New Year if anyone cares to say. We went to this little event that was OK, lots of activities for the kids but not very well monitored by staff, so some of the areas seemed like they were going to get dangerous. We arrived around 6:30, just as they opened, kids ran around in there going down bouncy slides and into bouncy castles. I finally convinced them to try eurobungee, so we had to stand in line for quite a long time for that. Liot's turn came up and he just started frowning and you could tell he was just about to cry, so we told the guy that he didn't seem up for it and he unhooked him. Aidan did it for a few minutes and actually asked to stop - said it made him a bit sick. So, now we know that's not their thing. Liot and I rode the carousel endlessly, and that was just so fun. I think he felt a bit of a wimp not doing the bungee, so when we got on the carousel I said "wow, this is going fast" and he said "Yeah, it's fast, and that's the way I like it!" He felt really brave, not hanging on, riding the horse all by himself. We ended the night there with 9 holes of mini golf.

Around 10 we had had enough, so we returned home, broke open the wine, and began a Wii tournament. That was such fun! It has been a long time since we've played as a family, so we did some Wii Sports resort, Wii Sports boxing had our own New Years countdown, turned on some cheesy music and were dancing around the great room. Then we had a final Mario Kart tournament and the boys were wound up and racing round the house like they were on high doses of speed, but we somehow managed to get them into bed. Gwyn and I crashed out at around 2AM.

Woke up this morning gone 10AM, treated ourselves to the only episode of Gavin and Stacey we hadn't seen yet, the Christmas special. We discussed resolutions over lunch and have been having a lovely, lazy day.

[RichardMEL]

Now now Cariad - Detroit had a soul, but it seemed to have been firebombed out at some point. I remember going to a symphony concert there maybe 10 years ago with a friend who lived in the area. It was in downtown, but most of the blocks around where the hall was were like bombed out, or derelict, and it was creepy, and when we parked the car they had rent-a-cops to "protect" us.... maybe not a soul, but definitely a personality

I did enjoy Singapore don't get me wrong, and probably would have enjoyed it more with the right company (vs. no company!!) but it's not #1 on my list. Next trip is mayube March or April and probably will involve a round the world trip.... we'll see

My NYE though was positively dull!! I sat at home with my kitty, had one small bottle of cider at midnight, watched fireworks and got on with it! LOL. It was pretty hot (and yesterday hit 40C/104F) so yeah wasn't doing much except drinking fluids!!!

[chook]

Happy New Year to all my IHD family!!! I know it's a bit belated but still wanted to say it.
Where did 2011 go? Oh, yeah, hernia op and kidney transplant followed by shingles and then three months of feeling GREAT!! I'm hoping for a more relaxed 2012 with more time at home and the health to enjoy it.
To Richard, you always make me smile with your positive turn on things!
And to Cariad, we had a family New Year on the back lawn under the stars. (Our youngest wasn't with us though) The grandies were in bed and we were all just about to head there ourselves when we realised it was almost midnight so stayed up to see in the new year. Then our eldest daughter and I turned all the lights out and had a special viewing of the spectacular night sky. The moon had set so it was just right.