27 was a difficult year, but I feel like I've made it through the long winter and am emerging once again into the sun. Glasgow is starting to feel like home, as life in Edinburgh fades into memory. I've learned and grown more than I thought possible this year, and I know that in the coming 12 months, the process will only speed up. By my next birthday, I hope to have earned a PhD. It's a remarkable thing to anticipate, and I switch between calm detachment and utter disbelief. Mostly I'm in a space of practical calculations and slow submergence into my work. When it's all finished and the moment of quiet contemplation arrives, I anticipate the terror of staring into the void. But I've reached a point now where, for a little while at least, I feel no fear. I have chosen my path, and now I have to trust that the steps along it will become clear when I need to find them. So far, it's felt like a miraculous unfolding, and I've learned the real meaning of trust. I've discovered more steadfast allies than I ever could have hoped for, and have found the inner resources to disregard those who attempt to hold me back. It's often said that during a PhD, you learn more about yourself than your topic, and I feel such gratitude for the entire experience - even the painful and difficult parts.

Many thanks to all my beloved companions, old and new. You have given me the comfort and faith and joy that have made this journey possible.