Quite A Year!

If you are an avid reader of the blog, you will have noticed my absence for some months now. Ofcourse, I'm talking to myself here as I dont think anybody has mentioned my online silence. So as this is more like a diary than a blog, I thought I would revisit 2016 and reflect on the year.

My immediate thought on the year 2016 is this is a year I would like to forget. Chalk it off and pretend it never happened. But, I promised myself I would be more positive this year so although I cant control my initial feelings, I can consciously put them aside.

Oh heck! Who am I kidding? I'm a pessimist and until I appease that side of my personality, there is no 'putting my feelings aside'.

My (not so little) Sister

The oil price remained low this year and I remained unemployed. I struggled with stress management and continue to fight to stay motivated and focused. There! Its out in the open and out of the way. That felt good. Phew! So what was good about 2016?

I connected with my sister like we haven't in a long time. I always thought of her as my younger sister; as someone to take care of. This year we became equal. She is not just my baby sister anymore. She is my friend, my confidante and I am immensely proud of where our relationship is now and of the strong independent woman she has become.

This big guy at Hamad International Airport
is with me at the beginning of every holiday.

I have travelled more than ever before. I spent three weeks in Trinidad and Tobago actually participating in Carnival there, five weeks in Australia, two weeks travelling through Spain and Portugal (where I met my cousin who I haven't seen in almost 15 years), and a week in Jordan and Dubai. Thats almost three months of travelling; much more than I would have been able to do had I been gainfully employed. Ofcourse, I am now pretty close to being broke; but I'm happy and it was worth every penny.

Floating in the Dead Sea

Carnival time in Trinidad

Toledo, Spain

Lisbon Monastery

The very gorgeous Bear

I have managed to care for a few fosters along the way too. First there was Nahla who was with me for a couple of weeks and was snatched up by a lovely in Chicago. This year also saw me meet my most
precious foster; Bear. He came from a most dire situation; failed adoption after almost a year, lapsed vaccinations, old age, amputated leg, cataracts developing in both eyes and suffering from terrible rashes in the Doha summer heat. Despite being ill treated and having had such a tough life, he loved whole heartedly and was a fighter. He went to a lovely home in Canada where he is thriving. I would go as far as to say he's showing all signs of being the real life Benjamin Button!
How does the saying go? Good things happen to good dogs?

Ofcourse, along the way our family grew to include Nazir (Naz) whose forever home fell through and subsequently led to him being a foster fail. I also rescued a gorgeous little kitten recently who I'm currently trying to find a loving home for.

Follow Gibson and Nazir on Instagram @gibbsandnaz

So all in all, 2016 has been a roller coaster of an adventure. I hope 2017 will open some doors to new challenges, adventures and pleasant surprises.