11.11am.
I've been thinking a lot about this blog recently. I think when the baby arrives, it might just be a good time to let it naturally come to an end (or at least, let it rest for the foreseeable future). I started it in June 2010, which means I have now been writing it for 11 years (and a bit), and for a blog called Eleven Eleven, that seems fortuitous.
In that time, I have:
written 2,997 posts (an average of 272 a year)
had 177,186 views
lived in 4 countries
got married (twice)
moved house a LOT (and bought our first property)
and am about to have a baby.
Those stats don't come anywhere near to describing the richness of the past 11 years. So many people, so many memories, so many photos. So many houses we've lived in, jobs we've done, holidays we've taken. We've lived through a global pandemic, lost much-loved people in our lives, had illnesses, injuries, down times, and so many highs. Reconnections, time spent with family, and with friends who feel like family. New people, new music, new films, so many new books, adventures and walks, exploring where we live and deciding to go further afield.
The first blog post 11.5 years ago, when I had just moved to Berlin, doesn't feel like any time ago at all, but I look at all that was to come for me in that next 11 years, and I can't believe how lucky I have been and how much goodness has been in my life. Having Andy by my side for it all has been just the best; I am so glad he's featured in every one of those 11 years and I am in no doubt that the good times wouldn't have shone so brightly without him. We are a team, and about to embark on expanding that dream team, so it feels a good time to let this blog settle now.
Another year ended, a new one beginning, and with it, who knows how many more years of the richness of the life we've built and been lucky enough to live. It feels a bit sad ending this, but I am just so glad I persevered with writing it, and now have memories from my 20s and 30s that will never go away.
Thank you to everyone who's featured in it – both on the blog and in my life in general! – and, while I wrote this post just before New Year's Eve 2021, I will wait until our little boy is here to post it.
So... introducing: Sunny Dylan Walker Lawrence; born 10.01am on Tuesday 4th January 2022, in Truro, Cornwall. Our biggest accomplishment, our next adventure!
