jimitime wrote:
the most recent backup on there was October 2011
I'd start backing up more often if I were you 😉
You may need to turn iCal syncing off before restoring the calendar data to your computer, as iCloud has the nice habit of removing events once you re-add them. Turn off iCloud syncing in iCal > Preferences > Accounts > iCloud > set 'Refresh Calendars' to 'Manually'. Then read this (it says MobileMe, but what you need to do is the same for iCloud). You should backup the data as it says, then turn iCloud syncing on (change the setting in the Preferences to 'Push') before re-importing the calendars from the backup just made.
Best wishes
John M