Reflexions...
Damn. Time flies. Already the end of 2006. Overall I'd say another great year. This year was much more stable than the last; at the start of 2005 I had no idea where I'd end up - 2006 I knew it would be Cambridge. Just the bits in the middle would form the surprise.
I've stuck to my rule of going somewhere once at least once a month. But it's kinda changed - rather than going somewhere different, I've been going to the same places quite a lot. Mainly because of events, or to visit friends - makes travelling so much more fun. And so far the only EU countries outside of England I've visited are Spain & Germany (too many times), oh yeah and a weekend in Italy. But hey, Cuba/Mex & the US involved major travels. And Brasil is #1 on the TODO list.
Poor quality map of places I've been. Must be software for this somewhere eh?
Socially things have been great. Throughout the first half of the year, I became really close with my housemates (and adoptees). Team Madingley - no doubt lifelong friends. I'm really sad that most were only here for one year, and now (since July) are scattered around the globe; but at least it gives me people/places to visit. Others are still kicking around; I'm glad Bene is occasionally next door, and others are in and out of town frequently. I'm also super sad that all my Spanish mates have left - they'd finished their language courses here in Cam and are all back in Spain. It was great knowing you could meet with them every Thurs and have a fantastic night. But again, I now have some lifelong friends, and it gives me yet more ppl to visit (some of whom I already have)! Ugh - I also sorely miss Trish and Andy who are great mates that I met right at the start of Cam 2005. But I've already been back to Madrid twice, and Panama is just begging for me to grace it with my presence.
This year has been kinda different; as I'm now settled, I've found myself both working more as well as partying more, and somehow managing the two. On the college front, seems to be some good crew there so I gotta crack the scene more, and lately been hanging with Thibaud a fair bit who is refined yet crazy at the same time. Rok is basically my brother, I met him probably my 3rd day in Cam, and we've been hanging out all the time since. More recently, Gab has joined the brotherhood, especially since this new term has started, where there has been MANY nights of absolute mayhem. Good times.....
I've had tons of visitors this year, especially since coming back from Cuba/Mex/US. Basically I've only had about 1-2 weeks total since October without a visitor. I love it, especially since most of them are old-school. My mum came up and, as expected, loved the scenery of the place - haha she took like 1000 photos, and only about 4 with ppl in them. Was great to see family in my 'new' world. Richelle came up and fit in perfectly well with my mates - many a good night out, and just cool to have her around. Other visitors - Frank G came up a few times (loved it too much, he missed flights leaving my house TWICE!), Joel, Brendan, Chris Stav, Tim, Matt R and Luke. It's so good to see old friends, and to realise that no matter what happens or wherever ppl go - they're still your mates and you still have awesome times together. What was even cooler was when these mates get on so well with my new mates, or even friends of friends (a good example - my buddies and Trish's mates in Madrid - awesomeness attracts awesomeness I guess. Hah.)
The weather changes so quickly in Cam.
These pics taken less than two months apart
In Cam I have a lot more acquaintances than friends, but all of the friends are super-tight. Also, this year I visited a lot of mates around the place - Tim & Kel in NY, Jan in Koeln, Fliss in Cambridgeshire, Guille in Miami, Tim from Phili, Jessica in NY, lotsa old-skool mates back home when back in Oz (inc James & EJ at their wedding(!)), old work mates (Frank, CK, Allen) in London, and of course family. Lovin it.
On the project front, things have greatly improved. Previously I was disillusioned, felt like I'd done nothing, and didn't like the team dynamic of my project nor where it was headed. My supervisors now realise the issues, and are taking new interest and providing better/more directed guidance. I'm guessing I'm about 6 months behind where I should be, but I am a sprinter so I'll be OK. At one stage I was so fed up I actually applied to re-enrol in law @ UWA (only takes me about 9 months to finish that damn Law degree I started so long ago), but now I know it won't come to that. Time to work hard/play hard.
Overall, it's been a good year. Next year, I will achieve ridiculous amounts of work, whilst seeing as much of Europe as I can. Gotta have fun whilst living. Time is flying, but I can't wait to smash 2007.
I've collated a few pics from over the year - can check them out here. I have about 10gigs of pics, so going through them is a chore. Don't feel bad if I miss out your favourite :)
Love you guys. Over-n-out. Jat
PS This was written whilst listening to Wim Mirtens - Close Cover (instrumental off Cafe Del Mar #5). Soppy but reflective, no?
I've stuck to my rule of going somewhere once at least once a month. But it's kinda changed - rather than going somewhere different, I've been going to the same places quite a lot. Mainly because of events, or to visit friends - makes travelling so much more fun. And so far the only EU countries outside of England I've visited are Spain & Germany (too many times), oh yeah and a weekend in Italy. But hey, Cuba/Mex & the US involved major travels. And Brasil is #1 on the TODO list.
Poor quality map of places I've been. Must be software for this somewhere eh?
Socially things have been great. Throughout the first half of the year, I became really close with my housemates (and adoptees). Team Madingley - no doubt lifelong friends. I'm really sad that most were only here for one year, and now (since July) are scattered around the globe; but at least it gives me people/places to visit. Others are still kicking around; I'm glad Bene is occasionally next door, and others are in and out of town frequently. I'm also super sad that all my Spanish mates have left - they'd finished their language courses here in Cam and are all back in Spain. It was great knowing you could meet with them every Thurs and have a fantastic night. But again, I now have some lifelong friends, and it gives me yet more ppl to visit (some of whom I already have)! Ugh - I also sorely miss Trish and Andy who are great mates that I met right at the start of Cam 2005. But I've already been back to Madrid twice, and Panama is just begging for me to grace it with my presence.
This year has been kinda different; as I'm now settled, I've found myself both working more as well as partying more, and somehow managing the two. On the college front, seems to be some good crew there so I gotta crack the scene more, and lately been hanging with Thibaud a fair bit who is refined yet crazy at the same time. Rok is basically my brother, I met him probably my 3rd day in Cam, and we've been hanging out all the time since. More recently, Gab has joined the brotherhood, especially since this new term has started, where there has been MANY nights of absolute mayhem. Good times.....
I've had tons of visitors this year, especially since coming back from Cuba/Mex/US. Basically I've only had about 1-2 weeks total since October without a visitor. I love it, especially since most of them are old-school. My mum came up and, as expected, loved the scenery of the place - haha she took like 1000 photos, and only about 4 with ppl in them. Was great to see family in my 'new' world. Richelle came up and fit in perfectly well with my mates - many a good night out, and just cool to have her around. Other visitors - Frank G came up a few times (loved it too much, he missed flights leaving my house TWICE!), Joel, Brendan, Chris Stav, Tim, Matt R and Luke. It's so good to see old friends, and to realise that no matter what happens or wherever ppl go - they're still your mates and you still have awesome times together. What was even cooler was when these mates get on so well with my new mates, or even friends of friends (a good example - my buddies and Trish's mates in Madrid - awesomeness attracts awesomeness I guess. Hah.)
The weather changes so quickly in Cam.
These pics taken less than two months apart
In Cam I have a lot more acquaintances than friends, but all of the friends are super-tight. Also, this year I visited a lot of mates around the place - Tim & Kel in NY, Jan in Koeln, Fliss in Cambridgeshire, Guille in Miami, Tim from Phili, Jessica in NY, lotsa old-skool mates back home when back in Oz (inc James & EJ at their wedding(!)), old work mates (Frank, CK, Allen) in London, and of course family. Lovin it.
On the project front, things have greatly improved. Previously I was disillusioned, felt like I'd done nothing, and didn't like the team dynamic of my project nor where it was headed. My supervisors now realise the issues, and are taking new interest and providing better/more directed guidance. I'm guessing I'm about 6 months behind where I should be, but I am a sprinter so I'll be OK. At one stage I was so fed up I actually applied to re-enrol in law @ UWA (only takes me about 9 months to finish that damn Law degree I started so long ago), but now I know it won't come to that. Time to work hard/play hard.
Overall, it's been a good year. Next year, I will achieve ridiculous amounts of work, whilst seeing as much of Europe as I can. Gotta have fun whilst living. Time is flying, but I can't wait to smash 2007.
I've collated a few pics from over the year - can check them out here. I have about 10gigs of pics, so going through them is a chore. Don't feel bad if I miss out your favourite :)
Love you guys. Over-n-out. Jat
PS This was written whilst listening to Wim Mirtens - Close Cover (instrumental off Cafe Del Mar #5). Soppy but reflective, no?
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