For me it began with my birthday party – fabulous fun – and ended this morning when my in-laws went back home. Christmas Day was great; lunch around 4pm by which time Noch (see self-portrait below) and I had danced to most of the 80s hits on her i-pod.

This evening our great friends Jean-Claude and Alexandra arrive from France with their daughter Elisa, Olivia’s best friend, and Astrid, Leo’s girlfriend (although he denies it). We will have lots to do including the Capitala Tennis tournament (Rafa and Federer playing), a trip to the desert and a party to see in the New Year. If it is anything like my birthday, it will be a memorable end to the year. In any case I can’t wait to see them, although I worry I won’t be able to speak French any more.

Last night Rupert and I tried to think of the highlights of 2009. Very tricky. Especially after a long Christmas and not much sleep and a lot of wine, but we came up with…..

Olivia winning the two-hole championship and setting a club record

Bea winning the raffle to play with Rafa and Federer

Leonardo getting engaged but not knowing his fiancee’s name

The Savoie this summer (especially watching Wuthering Heights at Norrie and Mary’s and dinner at Mrs Wasta’s with the “talking bush”.)

Our trip to Rome (and especially making friends with my aunt again and watching the children discover ancient Rome, as well as seeing my parents who are thankfully just the same as always).

Interviewing Prince Andrew

and lots more, but the silly thing is one can never remember.

So what are my hopes for 2010? I hope I will get to do lots more interesting interviews and that the job will continue to be fun. I also hope that at some stage I will be able to do a full forward bend. I hope that the children will start to be a little easier to manage and not quite so demanding/difficult; mostly the girls, Leo is pretty easy to deal with most of the time and a joy for much of it.

And I hope inspiration hits me for a book because right now, despite encouraging comments from lovely readers like the one from Nina on the previous blog, I am not really sure what to do next. The novel does not look like it’s a goer and non-fiction is tricky with a full-time job. Added to which, you don’t really make any money from books. So maybe it’s time to stop and do something else? Seems strange to give up on the one thing I always wanted to do, but as Rupes says, at least I did it.

Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 200