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01/21/2006: "2005 Round Up"
OK, so it's a bit late but I managed to think of a few things that I did last year. As this is my blog, I've concentrated on the things that pertain to me, not the political or wider world things we all know happened; the disasters, floodings, bombings etc., so please don't read if you are not interested. It's really just me reminding myself of things I did or achievements etc.
2005
January:
The year started farily quietly, SO bought himself a new car, I went back to art classes, learned a bit about oil painting and more about b&w photography and stained glass. At home we bought a new pc, installed broadband and I bought a scanner. The shoulder which had been sore since last summer was bothering me quite a bit.
February:
Stress seemed to fill much of February with deadlines at work overshaddowing most things but we did climb our first hill of the year and saw Winter Hares playing in the snow.
March:
Perhaps spring helped make this a bit more active. I had a couple of art weekends and managed to fit in trips to the theatre, rugby and a long weekend up north. I also started physio for the shoulder, had flu and started a new secondment at work. Spamming started on the blog.
April:
A wonderful holiday in Skye was a great way to start the month. I also had my first ever entry in an art exhibition at college, for which I was very excited and proud of. I installed a new flicker photo site and SO and I climbed Ben Lomond on what I recall was one of the hottests days of the year.
May:
Again work overshaddowed most things but I did get a trip to Sheffield out of them and discovered Sudoko's
June:
Work was hitting a crisis point for me and I had a few decisions to make, it didn't help that all my art final assessments were due at the same time. However, I pushed myself - almost to the limit - and made all the deadlines one way or another - mainly by giving up sleep.
July:
July brought sun and a slightly more relaxed pace to work. Sadly it also brought the end of term for my art course but the lack of deadlines was a welcome change from the previous few months. SO and I climbed Ben Lawyers and Schehallion and had a weeks holiday in Edinburgh.
August:
Another wonderful week in Skye and our 20th Wedding Anniversary were the most memorable things.
September:
All the hard work paid off, I had passed all my modules and was able to arrange classes for the next session. Felt so positive I even tried a diet - for a week!
October:
Decisions made during the most hectic time of the year finally started to develop when I applied for a new job. Art classes started again and new skills were nurtured in wood carving and jewellery. Also had a great night out at the Scottish Thistle Awards.
November:
The nights were getting darker, winter was setting in so trips to the Theatre to see Twelfth Night and the Mark Morris Dance group were just what was needed to keep the spirits up. A first for me was getting my first ever complaint on the blog which was disappointing and made me question the whole blogging concept again. In what can only be described as a fit of pique, I went off air for a week or two. During this time I was invited for an interview for the new job and invited back for a second interview which kept me busily preparing a presentation.
December:
In amongst the usual hectic preparations, I was offered the new job. It made me so happy and for about a week or so my confidence was high but sadly the news about Sarah made most things pale into insignificance. Christmas was more thoughtful. It was quiet and at home, my Mum came to stay and the whole family came through on boxing day. For new year SO, SED, SYD and I went north and saw a quiet (mostly) but lovely end to another year in a very peaceful spot.
So a few achievements and a few firsts. For me personally, the prospect of a huge change which I'll keep you updated about. I'm very sad about leaving the people I have worked with for seven years and I will miss some of them very much but neither they nor I could do anything about the nature of the job and there comes a time when you just have to be the first to change things before being swallowed up in the bigger picture. I still feel a bit of a deserter though and get upset about it if I think too much.
Despite the sadness of the end of the year and the beginning of 2006, this is going to be an exciting and challenging year for me and I'm pushing myself forward to meet every challenge that appears. I have learned many more things about myself, what I am capable of putting up with and what I am not, what I am capable of achieving and how I cope with things and it's nice to have this place to write to, to record it all and to share my feelings with whoever wishes to read.
If you do read, you probably notice that like most people I have up's and down's but as I get older, I hope the energy of the downs can be interpreted and channelled in a more positive way to get me moving and motivated more quickly. I think 2006 will see me change a lot. Maybe I'll finally grow up! I hope you'll all stick around and grow with me. Finally, I just want to thank you all again for popping by and adding the odd comment, it means a lot.
PS: For a more visual round-up of the year click on the flickr link or just go here.
Better get that right before you venture over. 
and Greg, do keep popping in - I feel like I need all the friends I can get right now, even if they are all miles away in a cyber world. I have a few munros and travels to accomplish this year so will make sure I get more pictures up. Which part of Scotland were you from?
elise!