Well this is the most miserable start to a year for me...

[Richard (T.A.F.K.A.T)]

And that is saying something... I mean i usually have the most boring of New Years Eve's as possible, they would be tepid affairs with just my parents and two brothers celebrating it at home with some sparkling wine or something. A prime example of the dullness and spectacular fails of my usual New Years party was the turning of the Millennium, wherein the first words i heard that year were from my Grandfather who said and i quote 'What a load of rubbish...'

Since we buried him only a few weeks ago thankfully his enthusiasm will no longer be with us, and whilst that might sound a little harsh, it was for the best of everyone concerned.

However this New Years is a new low, i am sitting here in my flat, alone writing my first ever blog as i can hear the fireworks going off outside and the kids screaming with excitement. I really hope this does not portend of things to come, as this year there have been so many changes in my life that they are hard to track.

Firstly it appears my close family that has always been pretty near, only with my middle eldest brother living a few hours drive the rest of us withing ten minutes, is splitting and scattering to the four winds. My parents have moved further South West into deepest darkest Cornwall where mobile phones are treated with suspicion of being the devils work because there sure as hell is no coverage, and cars are still called horseless carriages. (OK it's not quite that bad...)

My middle eldest brother who already lived the furthest might well be moving to America with his wife, where he is pursuing a lecturers post at an Ivy League university over in the states (I do have to grudgingly admit that there are some things he knows more about than me... hmph)

My eldest brother is either going to be the only one to stay put, or he might also be moving up country to accommodate for a new job, right now you take what you are given.

And myself? I will be moving to Scotland in... 4 days time now. Its about as far away from where i live right now and still be on the same bit of land, its over 500 miles or so. And i have so much to do still my head is hurting, i have to rent out my own flat which i only bought last year (i know, great timing huh?) as well as rent a place up there, there are so many details that need to be sorted its mind numbing.

Whilst i am really anxious about this next year, i am also excited, and i have hope that it is going to be a good year, despite its start. And considering how things are going in the world right now, even to family and friends who are affected by it, i count my blessings at being offered the promotion.

I am also going to be renting a flat with my best mate who i have known for 6-7 years now, and i am really looking forward to that. He is quite an abrasive character to many, very brash and can come across insensitive, but i know better, he is a good laugh and a genuine good guy... and thankfully he works offshore so i should get 6 months of the years break from him! But i know he will help me settle down up there, he always manages to bring me out of my shell, get me out and about meeting people, when if i am on my own, i am quite content with my own company so retreat into my own space. But i much prefer being around others, making people laugh and just having a good time.

So i am hopeful for my 2009... no doubt there are some huge challenges ahead for me, and seismic shifts in the direction of my life, but i think they will be for the better.

Writing this was quite cathartic, i might well try it again sometime. We shall see...

[XOX]

Good to hear you are settling in well. Yes, do write an undate, if possible, photos of Scotland.

[Richard (T.A.F.K.A.T)]

Actually this change has been fantastic so far. I have been here for two months now and loving it (now that the internet has finally been installed!)

But yeh its been really good, getting on well with my flatmate, work is hard and getting harder but thats ok, was better than it was before.

Thanks for the comment, its much appreciated, and it reminds me is should write another blog with an update.

[XOX]

Wow. Change. It could be good for you. It was good for me.

Anyway, how are you settling in Scotland? I hope everything worked out fine and you are having a great time working there.