2007: Year of the…

Looking back over 2007 — oh, my! What a year!

For me, 2007 has been Year of the:

House

Well — more precisely — villa. Though technically I bought it in December 2006. But I’ve just had a full year in my “new” home and I cannot describe how much pleasure it’s brought me. Not least because this is the first time in my life I’ve lived in my own home — i.e. not shared with anyone else.

Foodie

This year, I learned to cook. (Well, I’m still very much learning!) I also learned to appreciate good food that I, myself (wow!) have prepared. Also, kudos to Al, I developed a strong interest in the Slow Food movement and joined Slow Food Perth and the Organic Growers Association of Western Australia as a consumer member. I love what is happening in these areas and feel it’s important to support them as much as I (and my limited budget) allows. Quite a change from the ignoramus I was a year ago…

Five Senses Coffee Addict

I make no apologies for becoming addicted to the wonderful Five Senses Coffee. Their service is second to none, as is the quality of their coffee beans. My current favourite blend is Johnny Cash. My idea of heaven!

Decision to get cochlear implants

My hearing had become noticeably worse, or maybe it’s just that I no longer had Andy to buffer me and I was pretty much on my own and deaf. Either way, it was tough, and I decided to move forward in that area. It’s All Good™!

Job

I started work as a full time employee again for the first time in over three years. (And, I might add, I’m very excited about that, believing it will lead to Good Things™!)

Introspect

In this last year I have hit some pretty low lows, and it’s caused me to look inwards a lot. I have learned a lot about myself and about life. I can’t help looking at a so-called “bad time” as a Learning Experience™ — of course this viewpoint is always easiest achieved when said bad time is in the past! But I do believe I’ve grown as a person as a result of all that’s happened.

Friendships

It’s easy, when you’re married and living in the styx, as I was, to let friendships lapse. Well, if not exactly lapse, take a back seat, anyway. Since becoming single, I have learned how much I need and value my friends — old, new, and virtual. Mind you, those online friends who I may or may not have met, I consider to be some of my closest friends in the truest sense. Perhaps only a geek could understand, I don’t know, but it’s a fact.

In addition, and above all, I appreciate and value my family, and that includes the friendship and support of Andy, who continues to be a rock. Thank you, Andy!

Grown-up

Yeah. I stopped being such a princess. Now, I pay my own bills, cook my own food, run my own baths, pour my own wines, make my own cheese and crackers, put out my own rubbish bin! And it doesn’t hurt a bit. (Though the pampering in my previous life was, of course, just lovely!)

Weaning off IM

Or maybe that should be “Year of the Twitter”. A combination of my other responsibilities and the way Twitter has been a spectacularly successful substitue for IM — for me, anyway. I don’t want to sit in front of the computer all the time, but still want interaction, and Twitter fits the bill perfectly.

Happy New Year!

I wish all of you the bestest year in 2008! However you celebrate its beginnings, may it be successful, healthy and happy in all ways!