2011
Soooo another year ends and for once I might actually finish writing one of these and update you all on my life and general ramblings.
Work
Still at Aerzen, I started off 2011 selling spares and replacement machines (which I'd already done for a year and a half), halfway through the year when I was feeling a little undervalued I got promoted giving me more responsibility and generally tidying up some of the other bits I'm responsible for. As of the start of December I was promoted again to now include selling Preventative Maintenance Contracts which basicly means a load more work and pushing me outside my comport zone of purely reactive sales. The upside of this is that as well as a stupidly long title (seriously I'm going to have to have double sided business cards to get it on) I get a shiny new feista sport van which is arriving on the 4th. The world of visiting customers and site surveys awaits.
House
Jan - July I was living with Kellie at Borehamwood, at the start of August I moved back into Sarah's flat as she moved up to Stafford. I find myself sharing with my guitars and my rats who are good housemates although I wish they would clean up after themselves. The main upside though is a 7 min walk to work, seriously it takes longer to drive it due to the stupid one way system.
Love
So Cally and I lasted just over a year, I'm not going to go into details here but I still feel bad about how quickly we broke up after she moved in. I guess some people aren't ment to live together. For the first time in my life I find myself single and living alone, which is quite nice being my own boss and a little lonely, however I'm not looking to get into another serious relationship for a while after 4 on the bounce I think I need some space (7years, 2years, 3years, 1year).
LARP
Well the only LT I did this year was Nicoholmasmasmas, then I decided to leave for a while during which time everything exploded and my group were wiped out! However I've been kept busy but staffing Maelstrom (red cap) and Odyssey (grey cap and arena team) and playing (crazy I know) Shadowwars, I love Shadowwars, big thanks to Andy T, Andy B, Pam, Kath, Donna and everyone else involved in writing and running such an awesome game.
2012 promises to have those games and my return to LT, for those that don't know a) yes Christof is coming back and b) I'm back on the staff ref team so don't expect to see that much of him.
Rats
So after helping a friend out I've now ended up with another 6 rats, one of my boys sweep had to be put to sleep from a brain tumor, sad but it happens. The other 6 came from the Nuneaton and Warwichshire Wildlife Sanctuary where they were living and no one was stupid enough to take all 6, until now. I've also offered to help out once a month or so as and when I can get up there.
Guitars
I think I've bought and sold more guitars in the last year than any other time, some to afford others, highlight of the year was getting my Ibanez RG with HR Giger artwork on it and EMG81 pickups. I need to do more with music, although I've practicing a lot more and am actually reasonably good again I do feel I should be in a band or doing something.
Health
Usually I'm healthy however occasionally at random times over the years I've had stomach pains, usually at larp events after drinking so I never paid it much attention and chalked it down to one of those things, my curse of a bad hangover. 2011 saw it randomly appear and after ending up going to A&E after leaving early from Maelstrom in September and then going to my GP we know there is an issue which is probably stress related and I'm awaiting the results of more blood tests to find out what it is.
Other
Well what else happened in 2011? I was best man at Ciaron and Leanne's wedding. I got my first tattoo (5 crop circles down my arm as taken from the inlays on one of my guitars).
I've also found out I have some really good friends without whom I'd probably go insane.
I also have a lot of friends I don't know that well and need to get to know better, if I have a resolution for 2012 its to do that.
2012
So the year ahead, I've got a good feeling about 2012, it WILL be awesome.
Work
Still at Aerzen, I started off 2011 selling spares and replacement machines (which I'd already done for a year and a half), halfway through the year when I was feeling a little undervalued I got promoted giving me more responsibility and generally tidying up some of the other bits I'm responsible for. As of the start of December I was promoted again to now include selling Preventative Maintenance Contracts which basicly means a load more work and pushing me outside my comport zone of purely reactive sales. The upside of this is that as well as a stupidly long title (seriously I'm going to have to have double sided business cards to get it on) I get a shiny new feista sport van which is arriving on the 4th. The world of visiting customers and site surveys awaits.
House
Jan - July I was living with Kellie at Borehamwood, at the start of August I moved back into Sarah's flat as she moved up to Stafford. I find myself sharing with my guitars and my rats who are good housemates although I wish they would clean up after themselves. The main upside though is a 7 min walk to work, seriously it takes longer to drive it due to the stupid one way system.
Love
So Cally and I lasted just over a year, I'm not going to go into details here but I still feel bad about how quickly we broke up after she moved in. I guess some people aren't ment to live together. For the first time in my life I find myself single and living alone, which is quite nice being my own boss and a little lonely, however I'm not looking to get into another serious relationship for a while after 4 on the bounce I think I need some space (7years, 2years, 3years, 1year).
LARP
Well the only LT I did this year was Nicoholmasmasmas, then I decided to leave for a while during which time everything exploded and my group were wiped out! However I've been kept busy but staffing Maelstrom (red cap) and Odyssey (grey cap and arena team) and playing (crazy I know) Shadowwars, I love Shadowwars, big thanks to Andy T, Andy B, Pam, Kath, Donna and everyone else involved in writing and running such an awesome game.
2012 promises to have those games and my return to LT, for those that don't know a) yes Christof is coming back and b) I'm back on the staff ref team so don't expect to see that much of him.
Rats
So after helping a friend out I've now ended up with another 6 rats, one of my boys sweep had to be put to sleep from a brain tumor, sad but it happens. The other 6 came from the Nuneaton and Warwichshire Wildlife Sanctuary where they were living and no one was stupid enough to take all 6, until now. I've also offered to help out once a month or so as and when I can get up there.
Guitars
I think I've bought and sold more guitars in the last year than any other time, some to afford others, highlight of the year was getting my Ibanez RG with HR Giger artwork on it and EMG81 pickups. I need to do more with music, although I've practicing a lot more and am actually reasonably good again I do feel I should be in a band or doing something.
Health
Usually I'm healthy however occasionally at random times over the years I've had stomach pains, usually at larp events after drinking so I never paid it much attention and chalked it down to one of those things, my curse of a bad hangover. 2011 saw it randomly appear and after ending up going to A&E after leaving early from Maelstrom in September and then going to my GP we know there is an issue which is probably stress related and I'm awaiting the results of more blood tests to find out what it is.
Other
Well what else happened in 2011? I was best man at Ciaron and Leanne's wedding. I got my first tattoo (5 crop circles down my arm as taken from the inlays on one of my guitars).
I've also found out I have some really good friends without whom I'd probably go insane.
I also have a lot of friends I don't know that well and need to get to know better, if I have a resolution for 2012 its to do that.
2012
So the year ahead, I've got a good feeling about 2012, it WILL be awesome.