So much has happened though. I've written my first romance novel - and I WILL finish editing it before the stroke of midnight on the 31st December. I will, I will, I will! (If I say that enough I'm hoping some magical force will make it happen.) I've set up a website and this blog. I've joined twitter and facebook and I've made lots of wonderful and supportive new friends - you know who you are!

But it hasn't all been good. Last year Sylvester, one of my two cats, had to have several operations for oral cancer and in March, he was given the all clear. In September it returned and he had another operation. This time we were told it's only a matter of time. Oral cancer is one of the most aggressive types and once it's returned, there's not much hope of eradicating it. I was told that we've been lucky to have had this extra year. Strangely, I don't feel lucky. I thought we'd caught it in time and he'd live to a ripe old age. He's only 12 and he's gorgeous; the thought of losing him fills me with dread. I'm hoping that 2012 will be a year of miracles!

Sylvester hasn't been the only one with health problems this year. I've had to have a couple of operations and biopsies too and I've got another operation on the 29th of December so, whilst you're reading this I'll actually be in hospital recovering (I hope!). I've set this blog to post automatically - which I hope it will - by giving it a "publishing date" of the 31st December. Isn't modern technology wonderful?

I don't usually make New Year Resolutions but ill health really concentrates the mind. It makes you think of all the wonderful things you still want to do, places you want to go, things you want to achieve. It also reminds you that we are all on this planet for a limited time and that we have little or no control over the length of that time. It makes you realise what really matters to you and that spending time with people and pets whom you love is actually far more important than work or deadlines or material goals, although they still count, of course.

So this year, I've decided to make some resolutions. Well, not really resolutions, more like a list of hopes and dreams and as 2011 drives off into the sunset with my past packed in suitcases in the boot and 2012 revs the engine waiting for me to step in, release the handbrake and roar off down the road of my future, I'm going to share my list with you. This is it :-

• Show those I love just how much they mean to me (and this includes Sylvester). I'll spend more time with them, talking, listening, playing or just being there for them. I won't say, 'I can't, I'm too busy.' I'll say, 'Of course.' -Â