Wednesday 31 December 2008

THE FINAL DAY
for my 365 experience, thankyou everyone who has followed my year.
Also a big thankyou to all the lovely people who have left me some great comments.
XXX
********
31st December
My Way
"And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which Im certain.

Ive lived a life thats full.
Ive traveled each and evry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, Ive had a few;
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill; my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!"
- Frank Sinatra

Anna’s final posting for this 365 project:
May I take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you, for joining me in this incredible journey. It has been tough some days, and I admit not to making it each day, nor did I take only self portraits! But that's life. I still did it "My Way". I hope you had fun. I know many of you have had a really tough year, others have lost family members, and others have gained family members. A shout out to my inspirational slimmers, Kay and Lynne, to all the UK 365ers that I met back in October. To all the new friends I have met on Flickr, it has been a wonderful year for making new friends. I hope you will take the time to look back at your year in review, 52 layouts and a journal full of your words and thoughts for 2008.

My day one for this project was to be hidden behind the camera and feeling absolutely miserable. What a difference a year makes, even though this year has had many ups and downs I feel ready to cope with whatever 2009 throws at me.
***
"For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning."
~ T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding
********
30th December
"Laughter is the tonic, the relief, the surcease for pain.”
~ Charles Chaplin

Certainly laughing with Abbie during this summer traumas was the best medicine I could have.
***
Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.
~Victor Borge
********
29th December
"Better keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world."
~ George Bernard Shaw
Me keeping warm and bright and proving that I have come out from under my hat when I wore it on the 9th January LOL.
***
“If you paint in your mind a picture of bright and happy expectations, you put yourself into a condition conducive to your goal.”
~ Norman Vincent Peale
********
28th December
Rest is not a matter of doing absolutely nothing. Rest is repair.
~ Daniel W. Josselyn

I certainly feel like putting my festive feet up today!
***
“The best of all medicines is resting and fasting”
~ Benjamin Franklin
Not much fasting going on in my house at the moment!!!
********
27th December
Things are beautiful if you love them.
~ Jean Anouilh

My new very mini vacuum cleaner, how cute is that?
***
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful. ~William Morris
********
26th December
"May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!"
~ Author Unknown

A very happy and relaxed smile from Jules .
***
A smile is the beginning of peace.
~ Mother Teresa
********
25th December
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,
Jack Frost nipping on your nose,
Yuletide carols being sung by a choir,
And folks dressed up like Eskimos.

Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe,
Help to make the season bright.
Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow,
Will find it hard to sleep tonight.

They know that Santa's on his way;
He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh.
And every mother's child is going to spy,
To see if reindeer really know how to fly."

And so I'm offering this simple phrase,
To kids from one to ninety-two,
Although its been said many times, many ways,
A very Merry Christmas to you."

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL

My Christmas day self portrait.
***
If I could have put it into words I would have written it down. But I couldn't, so I took a picture.
~ Anonymous
********
24th December
"The family is one of nature’s masterpieces."
~ George Santayana

Even though I used this second quote back in January it still says it all!
***
Families are like fudge - mostly sweet with a few nuts.
~ Author Unknown
********
23rd December

"Everyday is a cause for celebration."
~ Anonymous

Abbie and I are preparing for this week's Christmas festivities.
***
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
~ Oprah Winfrey
********

16 comments:

Minty Magic said...

great photos - i love the chistmas eve one - it is really capturing the moment!!!

Curly said...

These are so fantastic Shirley I especially love your last ones you look stunning hun. I hope this year is sooooooo much better for you and yours.

knitkath said...

I'm really going to miss seeing your fantastic photos! You have had a tough year, and come through it smiling, do hope 2009 is better for you and your family! You look beautiful in your sp's!

Barbara said...

Brilliant photos Shirley. The gingerbread house looks great. Love your final photo.

Mary B said...

Tues
Love that gingerbread house and that quote is so real

Wed Christmas Eve
What a fantastic family photo love it because it shows love and laughter

Thurs Christmas day
Such a lovely photo of you

Fri Boxing Day
One very beautiful DD and a superb portrait of her

Sat
lol that vac is certainly beautiful but is it useful?

Sun
very pretty Christmas slippers

Mon
Love the hat and it certainly suits you

Tues
A lovely photo for a lovely lady and I am so glad you had Abbie to help you through the rough time

Wed New Years Eve
Fantastic photo love the pose and I am so glad that you can look forward to 2009 with confidence.

Unknown said...

What can I say? I feel a bit sad that it is at an end - Thank you for sharing Shirley and I wish you the very best of everything in 2009 - I shall keep watching XXX

Hello, I'm Vicki said...

WOW congrats on completing your 365 day photo challenge, it's really great. i'm going to miss your blog tho xxx

Anonymous said...

I have loved reading your blog all year Shirley, your photos are always brilliant! Wishing you all the best for 2009.

Anonymous said...

Well done Mum - we are all so proud of you! XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lynne said...

Shirley finally got round to your blog!!
Lovely photos for the final week
You are looking wonderful as Kay says!
Love your slippers and new vac and grest photos off all the girls too,
Take care and I pray 2009 will be kinder to you, Colin and the rst of the family xxx

Ginny said...

you did REALLY well with this and have created a FANTASTIC blog...i did the 365 in a different way..am glad for it to be finished but also thankful that it helped me get out from behind the camera more

ginny

http://my5bratzcreations.blogspot.com/

mandijane said...

A fabulous record of your journey through the year....
I'll do this to someday....yours has been an inspiration. Thankyou.

Louby said...

Shirley thanks so much for a lovely year of sharing - I have enjoyed it very much. I have left you a little award on my blog by way of a thankyou.
Louby x

Unknown said...

You have shared some fabulous photos with us this year. Your words have been wonderful too. Thank you.

Enfys said...

Hi Shirley, you really are an exceptional photgrapher, I loved looking at your photos. Happy new year,
big hugs
En xx

Sandy said...

I have just been going through this blog - some people have it and some people don't and you definitely do! I love all your pictures!!
Sandy