- We welcomed in the New Year in Panevezys, Lithuania visiting Lina's parents. Lithuanian new years come with huge amounts of fireworks set off wherever and whenever which is equally beautiful and terrifying.
- I turned 29 in Brighton and surrounded by good friends.
- Lina and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary on February 7th.
- In March I left my job of 2 1/2 years with Refuge and started working with Rise in Brighton. Around the same time I started working part-time in a young people's homeless housing project and volunteering with Allsort's Youth Project supporting young LGBT people in a weekly drop-in.
- We also went to Venice! it was a bit rainy but mostly beautiful :)
- Linas, Urte, and their girls came to visit us in Brighton for Easter.
- In May we had our annual cycling trip with our friends and camped in the New Forest in the South of England. It was a great combination of cycling, exploring, and spending quality time with friends.
- In June we moved from our first Brighton flat (which was very damp:( ) and moved into a unique flat in the center of Brighton, we are still really happy about the move and are making it more like us everyday!
- July was really busy for us and mother nature brought us a hot sunny month here in Brighton. We went to the Mumford and Sons Gentleman of the Road festival in Lewes. It was a great atmosphere full of folksy people and awesome music. We also spent some time in London including heading to London Pride and meeting up with some great friend we don't get to see too often!
- Then we went on a Cornish adventure! We went by train and bicycle to Cornwall for our friends', Belinda and Ella, outdoor Tipi wedding. The weather was beautiful as were the brides! We had lots of fun exploring the countryside and beaches by bike, camping, and meeting Bel and Ella's friends and family.
- August brought us Lina's 30th birthday complete with a karaoke birthday party and a trip to the USA. We spent time with family and friend's in Wisconsin including hiking, canoeing, camping, cycling, a wedding shower, and my dad's birthday. Then we stopped in NYC on the way back and saw Ina and explored new bits of the city. August also brought us our first Pride in Brighton!
- In September Kristen and Mike came to stay for a few days on their European tour, it was great to catch up and get to show them Brighton and London.
- October meant more travelling as we went to Rome with Lina's parents. We spent 5 days so had plenty of time to slow down and explore the city. This trip came with plenty of people watching and gelato. In October our good friends, Linas and Urte, made a big move to Milan, Italy which was definitely bittersweet for us!
- We celebrated Thanksgiving surrounded by friends at our place with everyone bringing delicious food. We basically ate a lot and were in a bit of a food coma :) We visited the World Aids Day 100 artist private viewing where Lina, our friend Sarah, and I were showing work and ended the day watching Fried Green Tomatoes.
- December has been a whirlwind of lots of work, spending time with friends, and preparing for Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas with our friends Tautvydas and Asta and Asta's mom and it was again full of lots of foods, drinks, and games :)
There was lots of good and great things in our 2013 and I hope that we can continue to make time for what makes us happy and keep surrounded by loving and supportive family and friends. So far I know that 2014 will bring my 30th birthday, a trip to Milan, and my sister's wedding in Bermuda so I think we're on the right track! :)
xBecky
