The great thing about working at this time of the year is that even though you are "at work" it doesn't mean you are actually WORKING! And the traffic, what a pleasure!! It is at these times that I am really grateful for the type of work I do, where sometimes the pressure can be a monster but then when it comes to this time of the year, it's dead quiet and you get the chance to catch up and even relax at work.
The long weekend is ahead of me, in which I am supposed to celebrate the coming of a new year. I'm afraid I'm not mad keen on it. The celebrations that is, always a complete non event for me. I generally sleep through and treat it like any other day. But I am into making new years resolutions in a big way. I enjoy the personal challenge of setting intentions or goals and then finding a way to stick to them or create them. I also think I'm big enough to realise when something was a good idea at the time and to let go of it. I don't know how good I am at dealing with the disappointment though.
So looking back on 2005, set some goals, had some great intentions, some of them materialised and others are still a work in progress. My theme for 2005 was to HAVE FUN. And have fun I certainly did! Traveled to Mexico and Barcelona. Saw U2 live in Barcelona. Went to my first cricket match - loved it. Went to a ball game in Atlanta - loved it. Went to the Nedbank "Million Dollar" golf challenge at Sun City - loved it. Learned to play 10 songs on my piano. Lost 15kg and can swim 100 laps non stop in the gym swimming pool - major achievement. It's been 20 months and no cigarette - that feels good. Can do a few line dances without having to concentrate like mad. Put blonde highlights in my hair and can now categorically state that blondes do have more fun. Eat better and I feel better. Gosh I sound like an episode of Oprah!! Sadly I lost my dad this year and I miss him terribly. People keep asking how we are coping as this is our first Christmas and New Year without him. I think, because you expect to feel terrible you are well prepared for it and can cope. It's when you least expect it that it hits you. Having said that though, I do miss him something awful. Never realised how much I actually did love him, because he very rarely put that love to the test.
Favourites in 2005 in no particular order:
U2 live in Barcelona
Million Dollar Baby - what a movie
The new Robbie Williams Album especially the song "Find a place to crash"
REM live at the Dome - nice
Getting to 100 laps in the swimming pool
Riding around in a golf cart on an island in Cancun - it was hot, beautiful and spectacular
Touring CNN in Atlanta-fascinating
Drinking hot chocolate and eating churros in Mexico City.
The opera house in Mexico City - beautiful.
Drinking our own coffee in our hotel room in Cancun - after searching high and low for a kettle and eventually buying a small hot plate and pot to boil water.
Discovering how to use my mom's digital camera - have now hijacked it from her
Learning to live with my mom again and having her look after me - it's great to have meals cooked for you.
The new Harry Potter Book - Half Blood Prince - great fun
Meeting Donald Duck at Epcot Centre
But most of all I have come to realise this year, that things are not always about me, I am not the centre of the universe, but really only a very very very very small miniscule part of it - it's quite humbling. I am blessed and I am grateful. I have so much, great job, home, and so on, but mostly I have wonderful, amazing, beautiful, intelligent, funny, supportive, incredible people in my life, family, friends and colleagues. They enrich my life and inspire me.
So what's in store for 2006? Ooooh lots. The theme for this year....... "To make a difference" I'd like to make a difference to the lives of others by the way I live my life. So I shall continue to do the weight loss and fitness thing. I have another 15kg to go. I've stopped weighing myself weekly and have decided to weigh four times a year only. So the next weigh in is at the end of January. Hold thumbs for me that I am down to 89kg please!!! I hope I'm not setting myself up for an even bigger disappointment. But I have been good, really good. (Can't believe I've told you what my actual weight is!!! ag, well there you have it so deal with it!) Want to hire a personal trainer and start toning some of the wobbly bits. So how does this make a difference to others? If I keep myself healthy and fit I can be the best I can be to others. Then I am going to teach myself to deal with confrontation - I really fear it and I don't get why. I will do anything to avoid confrontation. I have no problem speaking my truth, but when others talk crap I let them get away with it. Sometimes it irks me so that I confront them but then I'm nasty and ugly, I want to learn to do it in a classy way. Become involved in an AIDS awareness/education campaign, have something lined up and will let you know more when it starts next year. Perhaps go to Germany with my mom next year, if time and especially finances permit it. Learn another 10 songs on my piano. Buy an Ipod and a Mac - an expensive hairy goal. I really really want an ipod and I feel so superficial for desiring it soooo much. So I'm saving even though I have plenty other financial obligations. Renovate my home so that mom and I have our own living spaces and look after my mom. At work step it up a level. Lots going to be happening but nothing that I can discuss at the moment. Learn something new and way out, going for golf lessons - will keep you posted. Make some more men friends, have too few of those around, used to be I had very few girlfriends and only guy friends, strange how things change. I'd also like to stop swearing, I use the work fuck way too much, it's a goal to find other more descriptive words to say in its place. So much to do. And finally there are the Robbie Williams concerts coming up, can't wait for those!!!!
So my friends, this was a little catch up from me. I have included some pics of this year. I wish you a fantastic 2006. Thank you for being in my life.
