Wow! Here we are 2007 is almost a thing of the past - 31 December - early morning and I am thrown into reminiscing on the year that was . . .
Started off with a flurry of activity - Sam & Hud were in Perth for Christmas and then spent some time here as well - I had spent some time with Judi between Christmas and New Year - was up to my ears in uni work - had a programming assignment; an essay & an exam to prepare for . . . then James & family arrived from New Zealand - followed closely by Graeme from South Africa and almost straight into my Mum's 80 th at the Radisson hotel . . . phew! It was a busy month and basically a gathering of
the clan -Mum; Judi & I as well as Sam & Hud stayed overnight at Radisson . . . . was a stressful evening in some ways - the event had been 18 months in the planning - my one regret - I did not have a photographer as didn't really get a lot of photo's out of the evening. Was sorry did not have more time to take James & co., around. Actually managed to pass my assignments - although Internet Programming by the skin of my pants . . lol
I can't remember Feb in quite as much detail - took Graeme to see Six nations game Wales vs Scotland and by all accounts he really enjoyed this -far more than the Kilmarnock Vs Rangers game at Ibrox . . . I booked up for a holiday in Rome as Judi had told me she always wanted to go there.
March my birthday - Judi bought me a ring - hmmm usually other way round . . . lol - and there were 2 rugby games - she spoilt me that whole weekend . . . I wasn't allowed to lift a finger.
April - exams again Designing Usable Systems & Artificial Intelligence . . . then it was the long wait - which proved longer than expected - to hear whether or not I had been accepted onto Masters component of course - things could have ended here and I would have been awarded a National Higher Diploma . . . .
May - Roma (was still awaiting results) Judi & I went to Rome - stayed near Navonna Plaza - in the heart of Old Rome - walking distance to Vatican City etc., - hired an apartment - everything turned out to be within walking distance - the odd day we could have taken a bus we just walked anyway - was great immersed ourselves in the local atmosphere (by going to all the tourist haunts . . . lol) - had a great time . . .
June - finally received confirmation was accepted onto Masters - chose my dissertation topic - not without some confusion - but eventually settled on 'A comparative evaluation of Java teaching environments' - which proved to be very interesting . . . this was to keep me really busy for the next 3 months . . .
July - dissertation . . . Judi's birthday (Rome had been the birthday present) - went down to London with Judi - she attended a acupuncture conference on fertility . . . met up with Sam & Hud at went Cuban for the night . . . I ended up smoking a cigar . . . felt quite sick afterwards . . lol . . . Judi kept stealing my glass of wine . . . lol
August - dissertation . . . a brief visit down to Sam - I had a airplane ticket from a year ago ( a long story) - anyway visited and basi
cally cat & house sat - whilst Sam & Hud were in Switzerland. What a calamity when I got lost in London and missed my train . . . . and had to get back to Sam's place after having hidden the keys inside the door . . . lol - Babbaloo was pleased to see me again and I managed to let him out so he could wander - Sam had kept him inside all the time - as they had only had him for a week . . . a friend for life - after I gave him his freedom.
September - dissertation hand in . . . . a last rush to complete and tidy up - by this time I was sick of reading and re-reading it and eventually just handed in . . . was I to regret it . . . not in that sense but I had hoped to do better . . . Murray my mentor had been great - I should have paid a little bit more attention to a few pointers / requirements - some simple stuff I left out . . . Fiona my niece arrived with her two kids Rozita & Rosario - she has decided to come and stay here in Scotland now . . .
Wow! How could I nearly forget an amazing weekend in the Lake District - Ambleside - I had no sooner handed in my Dissertation than Judi whisked me off for the weekend - lovely - apparently June suggested it - good one June! Thoroughly enjoyed and loved the area - worth exploring in more detail - file under - Well Worth another visit . . . lol.
My Mum and I shot over to Vancouver for a week - absolutely lovely - a great hotel / location-wise and we managed to do a lot in our week . . . even got to Whistler . . . I've always wanted to go here . . .
October - the big question - What now?? Academic / Work / Leisure ??? Central themes for this month - Graduation - the big day a year's work behind me - blood sweat and tears . . .
November - somewhat similar to last month - more focus on applying for jobs though and lo and behold end of the month an add on the Monday morning and by the end of the week I had the job - not permanent mind you - but seeing as some confusion and no definite decisions having been made it was ideal . . .also bearing SA 2008 birthday extravaganza - It seemed ideal . . . also somewhat depressing not working and not having that sense of urgency . . . uni work etc.,
Started work on the last day of November . . . .
December - Phew - what a baptism . . . a hell of a lot of work - very complex and involved - really enjoying it but I have to say - it is taking a lot out of me - not sure that I am being justly rewarded . . . perhaps that is a commonly held point of view . . .
Judi has just contacted me - her first delivery as a Dullah (???? spelling) she has been with a client since Sunday morning about 03h00 and she just arrived home at about 05h00 Monday morning - a baby boy . . . she is totally knackered and she is already wondering how this would have panned out in a normal work week . . . . have to say so am I . . . lol
Well its been an eventful year - one that stretched me in many ways - but I am a better person, in my opinion - a lot of personal growth - more apprecaition for who I am - setting limitations and allowing myself some quality time - relaxation. Judi & I have had some ups and downs and I am sure we will have some more - I am pleased to say that we appear to be ending off the year much closer with a deeper understanding and appreciation for each other -which I feel can only bode well for the future.
UK - wise Brown seems to be a total nightmare after starting off quite well - the best punchline was he has gone from 'Stalin to Mr Bean' and that really sums it all. Looks like a mild recession is on the way . . . house prices may actually drop . . . who knows ????
On a Global perspective If I could have one wish for 2008 - its that people start talking to each other . . . Hamas & Israeli's; Taliban & British / US; they are legitimate organisations with a following . . . too much to ask for?????
May you have a great 2008!
I am following the US elections with interest - the main interest is between Obama and Clinton - it is proving to be a neck and neck race - rumour has it Clinton for president with Obama as vice president - whether the two will speaking to each other by the time of the Democratic congress is another matter. (Lets not talk about the rumours of Blair wanting (I'll bet he does) to be the first European president . . . . lol.
