Resolution

The new year sweltered into being with a lethargic 48°C in the shade as ETSA Futilities worked for over 6 hours to restore the 21st century to the upper South East.

With the power back on as the last daylight faded from 2007, a quiet evening of recuperation was spent at Menalpyn with the kids and a few friends old and new. The Old were the AUCS: a soundtrack of Ben Folds underscored the 10 years of familiarity and history. The New were a couple of local girls, the more outspoken of the two the same age as my eldest daughter. And I, the Oldest of the Old still conscious at Midnight saw a depth of years looking back that never fails to stagger me.

So, turning forward what will 2008 be? I've resolved to learn Mandarin Chinese and to gain PRINCE2 certification for Project Management. Lets see where those take me by 2010, eh? My first Mandarin class starts 7 January 2008 - the same day I go back to work.

2006 was the year of international secondment - 6 months in New Zealand a week in Malaysia. 2007 was the year of Owen William Miles Barkla, as the tumultuous 2003 had been of Eleanor Isabella. What will the next year bring for all of us? No doubt some that we have planned leavened with serendipity and other denizens from the realm of the Unexpected.

Bring it on.