…because it has been one crazy mofo of a year for team MacDonald, starting very chilled out back in the Caribbean and ending up, slightly greyer and wiser, in our new home city of Singers.
It’s been the most incredible 365 days of our life together actually, and I don’t think we’ll ever be able to match it. Starting on a ruddy enormous high back in February, when all our familias and besties came over to Cayman for our wedding, then shortly after realising ‘holy crapballs, we only have 8 days to sell everything, get our shizzle together, and leave our little island paradise for Big Scary Asia’, with no jobs, no flat and not many friends. Yikes.
We’ve been so so lucky this year to have had umm, a few excuses to go gallivant around our new continent, from chilly Nepal and bananas beautiful Indonesia on our honeymoon, to Macau and Japan more recently, and have been totally bowled over by every single place we’ve been to. Seriously guys, it is all. about. Asia! But don’t have any motorbike crashes or try to eat your surfboard – little bit of advice from yours truly, you are welcome.
But it has been TOUGH peeps, really blooming tough actually.
Our first month in the big HK wasn’t the best, once we discovered that it was true that there really were nil points finance jobbies over that side of the world and started spending way too much time in the company of revolting buildings like this in the drizzle:
A word of wisdom from me to you: NEVER MOVE CONTINENTS WITHOUT A JOB TO GO TO. Unless you’re Donald Trump or Victoria Beckham.
It is so bananas stressful my locks have started going grey (and I thought redheads were supposed to be immune?! Well no they are not I have discovered to my chagrin), and I’m not even the one who was jobhunting. Am I being a bit OTT dramarama? Well you can decide for yourselves:
But once we discovered all the goodies in the city, Bob was your proverbial Uncle, and we couldn’t get enough of the beeeautiful Sai Kung waterfalls, insane roof terrace views over the city and err, just general insane views over the city…
I took on my first commission, which I was delighted about…
…and then was so so proud when the hubs scored a fabulous new role here in Singapore and we hotfooted it over to the Lion City!
So we’re still in our little crappo serviced apartment but are making a whole bunch of fab new buddies, and reconnecting with lots of oldies (but goodies), Ali’s rollicking over at his new job and I am getting a smidge overexcited about designing this little puppy that we move to in 2 weeks, wahoo!
[By the by, the East Coast is the way forward in SG if anyone's planning a move any time soon, this place was a total steal]
So looking forward to 2013? Well firstly I’ve decided:
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The big 3-0 creeps up on me in May (the sneaky little bugger), and I’ve decided that’s my deadline for fiiiinally getting my design course finished, new home designed and portfolio’d, and company set up here in Singapore. Whew, now I’ve blogged it I’m committed – so it’s looking like 2012′s trend of being constantly slightly terrified but buzzing around like a crazy bee will continue.
Here’s to a very Happy New Year lovelies – I hope you have a fabulous night wherever in the world you are.
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Thank you for joining me on this weird little journey we’ve had this year and it is the bee’s knees to have met a whole bunch of fun new bloggy buddies – I am always so very appreciative to read your comments and hear what y’all are up to. Hit me up with some more and we’ll connect in the new year!
Absolutely wonderful post! It has been a long and exciting year, but you’re right that 2013 is going to be the best yet. And for the record I would recommend to anyone packing up for a new life abroad, with a job or not. He who dares, wins!
Oh Elly, I am so proud of both of you for all that you have accomplished in 2012; and I know that you will both achieve such phenomenal success in your new home for 2013. I cannot wait to hear more about your adventures in Singapore, and your new company!
Happy, Happy New Year, my love!!
All my best wishes to your new adventures in 2013! It will definitely be your year! xxx
Beautiful photos! Happy New Year and I hope 2013 will be at least as wonderful for you as this year.
Great summary and beautiful photos Elly. All is well that ends well as they say, and now you have a lot of good stuff to look forward to.
Best wishes for a very good and Happy New Year!
Emily @ UpstateCountryHouse.com
What a fantastic year for you guys! Can’t wait to see what 2013 will bring!
Holy heck, yer a freaking WARRIOR PRINCESS!! I love this recap as I’ve only recently discovered you but all the more in awe of your tenacity to take over the world with your coolness. I have no doubt that you’ll make a huge success of wherever you lay your ginger tresses baby! All the best for the new year! xxx
So enjoyed reading this recap on your last year, amazing so pleased we were a small part of it. Xx
Hi Elly…it was great reading about your year in review…with the wonderful images to match. It seems a rollicking adventure, and with all great journeys, they are surely ups and downs but you have come out of it stronger and wiser indeed. Wishing you a very Happy 2013! May it bring you everything you hope for…and more. It was an utmost pleasure getting to know you this past year!
Love this Elz!! Happy New Year! I reckon that 2013 will be a good un!
This is great summary of the year… Have an amazing 2013!!!!
Is sounds so funny when you say it, but I think it was a hard year. I am yet asking myself, how did you decide to move from your paradise place? Asia is beautiful and I am sure there are a lot of things to do there (I’ve told you that my friend working in Vietnam for 6 months now told me a lot of beautiful things about Singapore) and see, but with no job, it was a bold decision that I admire. Your wedding dress is sublime and you are beautiful, Elly! Happy New Year and I will be right here (or there) following your 2013 blog posts
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