The last few months of the old year were tarnished by the sombre presence of death.
> My boyfriend's grandmother passed away, hit by a sudden stroke.
> A colleague's heavily pregnant wife was diagnosed with lung cancer. She passed away the day before yesterday. Thankfully the baby is fine (delivered by cesarean) and ready to go home soon.
I fell ill with a horrible virus just shortly before Christmas, but was up and about in time to scoff some stuffing! M & I spent the New Year in Hamburg. Strolling around, dancing to rock music at 7am at the fish market, enjoying the local delicacies (cake, not fish!) and shopping til we dropped!