A year in review

So another year ends.
It has been a tough year for me. Getting a new job at the tail end of 2009 meant coming to terms with that in 2010 but actually work has been the least of my worries. I've settled in ok and aside from a few rough patches work has been good.
My marriage has suffered a bit. For the first time in 7 years we've been off more often than on, or at least 50/50. I guess this has something to do with my wife being diagnosed with a failing thyroid and the lack of sleep and the horrendous recovery period from a traumatic birth... but still.
Our house extension has also been a major stress, taking months longer and costing much more than we thought.
Not to mention moving house.

But there has been positives. One of my perennial New Year's resolutions is to better keep in touch with friends. I never think about the possibility of making new ones. But this year I've made two great new friends, one of whom I didn't know at all in 2009. If nothing else that has made the year worthwhile.
I turned 30, which actually I enjoyed. I always think of myself as a 30 year old anyway so at least now I actually am!
Some good nights out have been had. My sons have been growing up brilliantly.
Nobody close to me died or even got seriously injured :-)

So I look forward rather than back as I hope for better things to come in 2011.

Peace.

Randon Rant: Christmas

Don't panic, I'm not gonna rail against Christmas. I actually despise all those bah humbuggers because there is enough to get miserable about through the year without dampening the festive spirit as well.
I tell you what though - the whole thing is massively stressful.
Meeting up with family sounds fun enough but preparing for a visit is hell. Not to mention overstocking on food and chocolates and having to buy ad wrap everyone's present. I love buying presents for people but so many at once leaves it more of a chore than anything.
And is it me or does it get earlier every year?
I also despise 'Christmas music'. Oh for someone to write a decent Christmas tune that hasn't already been heard a thousand times before. The bland awful versions of 'classics' that we get re-recorded by today's pop artists are useless.
Snow: I love it and it's brilliant for the kids. But it shuts half the country down! Football matches shouldn't be cancelled and when people can't get home...
Anyway.
Despite it all I love Christmas because mostly it brings out the best in people and that can't be bad!

Posting Frenzy

Howdy.
Long time no speaky.
As mentioned previously, work blocked me from accessing this so I've been unale to post much of late. But there was some stuff I wanted to post before the new year so it's all going to come at once now in a mad flurry.
Just thought you might like to know.