What a rollercoaster year!  My contract ended with my enjoyable government job and i moved into the financial sector just in time to join the rollercoaster ride of the credit crunch and the banking crisis. It looks like it will continue too…  I managed a record 6 or 7 colds this year, and i think the change in working environment was a large part of  the reason for this. I’m also a news junkie and followed every market or business downturn closely, which didn’t help with my stress!

My dream-come-true cruise on QE2 finally came around, and was everything i hoped it would be… then a few months later i watched as QE2 left forever, and arrived in Dubai where she is to be torn up and rebuilt as something quite different.  I’ve watched her sail the world for 20+ years so its been quite emotional at times.  I know, its just a ship, but I’m amongst many thousands of people who think like me.

Absolutely terrible, terrible weather this past summer – unrelenting grey, week after week.  Not at all typical for us.  if it hadn’t been for my sunny escape to the Med it would have driven me crazy.

To my horror, i turned 36, my mum turned 65, and my nephews turned 6 and 11… the years are flying past now!  When I look back at what i was doing 10 years ago, it doesn't seem that long ago at all.  I think your thirties, mid-30s, are when you start to understand how short life is and how a year isn’t really a long time at all.

 
Anyway, next year is ‘Mini 50’ and I've been a Mini addict since the late 80s, so I’m planning on having some fun with my Mini, if I can keep it going that long!

Happy New Year!

You should watch this – really – its pretty amazing.

BBC iPlayer link to 'How to Rob a bank' program

The Times says it all for me today!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/sathnam_sanghera/article5267814.ece