Well, the end is near and 2023 is almost over... What a year it has been!
Unfortunately I haven't had much time to keep up with my blog but I thought I would make an effort and write a small one covering the year! Its been a crazy one, thats for sure. I feel like I (and the Sunshine Boots) have been well travelled this year, with trips to Scotland for the ice hockey with the big one, to London with my sister and so much more in between.
Way back at the beginning of the year was the #SBSEvent2023 in Birmingham and as usual it was a brilliant event to be a part of. Winning my award back in 2021 opened so many doors for me, and being a part of the "elite" few is always a 'pinch me' moment. Yes, Imposter Syndrome does kick in a little bit every time I attend the event - I mean, my little business being chosen to win!
We did have a fantastic time at the event and we ended up at the pub for COCK...tails afterward where even more people got to know how inappropriate my mouth can get - I am pleased I can make people laugh though! I gained a couple of new nicknames that evening!
After this it was time to get started back at stalls and I was back at Heanor Market and Matlock Bath. Heanor unfortunately was a bit of a difficult one for me this year as I was finally diagnosed with hEDS by my GP and this year has been hard healthwise. Fighting with my own body to work properly and the heavy lifting and things were not great for my joints, standing out in all weathers was not the ideal situation but I am hoping for a better time in 2024 over events and stalls! I think I better stick to indoor ones as much as possible!
I watched Team GB ice hockey win Gold at Nottingham and the big one met some of her heroes while walking to one of the games. I got to see the actual Stanley Cup too... That was an incredible sight for sure!
I passed my Level 2 British Sign Language in July so I have now taken on a third job - well a voluntary position at the college helping Marie, my tutor, teach the new students who are starting their journey in BSL. I now work two evenings a week helping out at the college and I love it! Using my own qualifications means I am forever practising and learning new signs and to get to use my sign language twice a week is better than not using it at all.
2023 also saw my little business turn 6 years old - I can't believe I have been going for so long, it only seems like a couple of years but I am still here, and I am still fighting to keep open! I will admit this year has been an awful year for small businesses, I am not alone, but I am nothing if not determined (stubborn) and I will keep going - I have you amazing customers to thank for that!
So what else have I been up to? Travelling again I went to Cardiff with the youngest to go and see Harry Styles at the Principality Stadium - I always thought my first time there would be to watch the rugby, how wrong I was! I also went to see Louis Tomlinson with her in November, a little closer to home in Sheffield. We have made some amazing memories this year which means so much to me!
I had some new tattoos too - the first being my Bestie's pig tattoo. She loves pigs so much, and back in January I had my 7th tattoo. Then in July, sadly we lost one of our amazing ice hockey players. Mike Hammond played for both Nottingham Panthers and Team GB and Young Cardinal Tattoo decided to carry out a memorial tattoo day and I had my Panthers tattoo done for Mike. It was a very emotional time and when we returned to the ice in September, it was nice to see all the teams do their own little memorial for him. Devastingly we also lost another player, this time during a game and we were all distraught. Adam Johnson had only just started his International career with Nottingham at the beginning of the season when tragedy struck and a freak accident sadly took him from us. So, on 19th December I had my third tattoo of the year and the second in memoriam of another amazing ice hockey player. Adam will be missed massively in the hockey world and 2023 really did show that we are just one huge hockey family. 🖤💛
It has also been a year of big birthdays in our house with the eldest turning 21 and the youngest 16... Life has a habit of whizzing past in the blink of an eye! The youngest also started at college this year and has grown massively in her confidence and loves it.
As 2023 draws to a close I am going to add here that throughout everything this year I have been kept going by some incredible people. I am lucky to know some beautiful souls and I hope that 2024 brings more of the same - I already have lots of things planned and booked in for both personal and business so watch this space! Thank you to my friends, my family and my customers for your support in 2023.
We will start the New Year doing what we love and the Sunshine Boots will be on tour again - now they have new soles - first stop in January will be to Belfast, February will be to Birmingham for the #SBSEvent2024 and maybe a new pair will be making an appearance in 2024?! Who knows what it will bring.
Have an amazing New Year, I hope 2024 brings you love, luck and prosperity. I will be content with just happiness as usual!
❤️ Lx
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