Goodbye 2008, HELLO 2009!

I hear everyone saying "Has another year really passed already?"

Well, afraid so folks, but lets think back as to what we've achieved in 2008 rather than ruing the time that has simply 'passed us by'. Time does appear to pass by quicker as you get older, I think that's accepted by most of us, however we're also blessed and cursed with that wonderful substance called Money, which allows us to get out there and do things.

This year I feel like I've done my fair share of 'getting out there'. It all started on the beach of St Kilda in Melbourne, Australia, with a bunch of friends revelling on into the late early hours (I went straight from the beach into working at Beachcomber with no sleep, and having had been drinking wine from there moments before! Oops).

Soon after, I decided to leave work at that place, picked up some labouring work for a couple of weeks before I managed to swing a job with an organisation called Conservation Volunteers as a team leader of their Green Corps scheme. It was a 6 month program for 18-21 year olds, where they were trained in environmental conservation work by myself, and studied for a certificate in that area. I look back on it fondly, though at times it was a rocky road of course, but it kept me on the straight and narrow through the winter and put some money in my pocket. I really enjoyed the work, but was getting to the end of my desires to work in 'youth development' any more, and so I decided I would focus on either working for the Parks Service, or move into working with CV in a different role.

Somehow I find myself a year later spending my New Years Day in New Zealand with a whole new life panning out for me. New Years Eve was quiet, by necessity and design; watching the light close out on 2008 on the beaches of Punakaiki, and then a couple of drinks in the local pub.

In between that a few things happened though;

• Holidaying with friends on the Great Ocean Road - wine, BBQ's, sunshine and great company, what more could you want?
  
• Australia Day - my first & only so far, though I hope there shall be many to come in the future.
• Australian Open Tennis, my first tournament visit other than Wimbledon... surreptitiously pleasing!
• Getting out & about in Victoria - courtesy of my first drive of the Woo; Yarra Ranges & Great Ocean Road with Bill & Ben (I mean Phil & Ben).
  
• A trip to Tasmania with Vic (from Raleigh). There is little more to be said than Wine Glass Bay, Bay of Fire, Fish & Chips and Bessie... read the blog!
• Visit from Raleigh Friends Si & Charl, including a trip to the Point Nepean Music Festival - an awesome day in the sunshine!
• Becoming a MCC hockey player - meeting the boys and having ridiculous amounts of cans with them. We made it to the Grand Final, but couldn't quite win it - great to be part of that team though.
  
• Coming to terms with 'it' all - and coming home. Great to see my family with a clear head, a clear conscience & visit the flat en France. I miss my family still. A lot. Catching up with old friends wasn't half bad either! And being with my mum to celebrate her 60th was very special.
  
• Travels to Singapore - only a brief stopover I should add, but back to Asia!
• Blogging... a lot! I like to write, and I like to keep in touch - blogging has worked out well for me to get what I want to say across most of the time.
  
• After arriving back in Australia, something very special happened - somehow Elinor and I got together... something about a mutual love of Indiana Jones, food and music (of course it's blossomed to much much more...)
• Life at home in Elwood was somewhat consuming for awhile - discovering more about this little town/village, frequenting their eateries for breakfasts with Elinor, quiet post-work drinks with Stephanie & friends, and wandering the coastal paths on foot were all highlights for me.
• National Tree Day warmed my heart, if not my extremeties - on a horrible windy & rainy day many many people still turned out to do their bit and plant some trees, it asserted that what I was doing for a job was pretty important to people still - even if they wouldn't do it themselves.
• Work was taking me all over Victoria from Coast lines to Animal Sanctuaries! Planting a lot of trees, building dune stability fencing, and helping my participants achieve the certificate in Conservation & Land Management was a good feeling. Completing the scheme with no injuries and seeing a couple of the participants move on to new careers was also great.
  
• As time ticked by, my relationship with Elinor became stronger, and my love for Australia even greater, I realised I did not want to leave, and so I began searching for ways to stay a bit longer - whether it was becoming a student (too expensive), an extension to my working holiday visa (denied on basis of my work being suburban instead of rural), or even staying on a tourist visa & working cash in hand (too illegal!). In the end, it all fell through and I was left to face the prospect of leaving Oz.
• Visiting friends on the East Coast - 30 hours in Queensland to celebrate Stu Needham's birthday with him!
• Dandenong National Park with Elinor, a weekend away from the hustle & bustle of Melbourne. Just beautiful to share this place with her.
• Making the most of Melbourne - eating out with Elinor & friends, markets, photography exhibits, cinema, brewery tours, coffees on the hop... a wonderful city to live in.
• A day out to the Western suburbs, and up with Elinor to Organ Pipes National Park and a drive up into the mountains, and still back to Yarraville for a film in the evening.
  
• Day trip to Mornington Peninsula with El; beaches, rain, and seafood - all enjoyed in equal measures!
• Camping at The Prom with Elinor... probably one of my highlights of Australia, both for natural beauty, and as time I spent with El. Just a perfect trip away.
• A day out of town with Meg, Juicy, Chubbs & El to Meg's family place in Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road - BBQ's, Wine & The Chocolate Game...
• The Dream Festival - a tip off from a friend about a free music festival in Melbourne, and I made the most of a sunny weekend
• Securing a job in New Zealand's South Island with Conservation Volunteers; based in Punakaiki on the West Coast.
• Volunteering in Gariwerd (The Grampians) in Victoria and meeting some interesting folks out there. Beautiful location, climbing trails to the top of mountains, and seeing my first Echidna!
• A spontaneous day's Road Trip after I dropped El at uni for the day, into the middle of Victoria's expanses. Hiking Alpine Nat Park in summer, visiting the Eildon Dam, and seeing some of Country Victoria.
• A move to New Zealand - new country, new job, new environment... new, well... everything!
  
• Work has led me to most of my travels in NZ so far, including Auckland, Lake Taupo, Tongariro National Park, Wellington, the Inter-Islander Ferry, Punakaiki, Okarito, Franz-Joseph & Fox Glaciers, Arthurs Pass & Christchurch. All in 2 months.
• Buying a new camera and signing up for a photography course.
  
• Christmas back in Melbourne with Elinor and her family, along with a short trip to Walhalla & Gippsland Lakes.

And full circle, I find myself a little blurry and my head spinning from thinking of what I've been up to this year. It wasn't always wonderful, I had some serious low points and having to leave my girlfriend in Australia and pack up bags for New Zealand was one of them, but I still have health, happiness & a beautiful life currently and into the future planned. I am thankful for everything that has happened to me, all the things I've made happen, and all the people I've met along the way - not even to mention the love and support of my family and friend back home.

Thank you 2008.

As I said, this year I spent my New Year's Eve on a beach again, but this time quietly contemplating 2008 and 2009 as the sun dropped silently from the sky over the Ocean. Who knows where I shall be for next Christmas & New Year!! Photo Album Link

And so I turn to 2009, and what it promises.

A few things on the radar so far;

• Working on the Punakaiki Coastal Restoration Project - protecting the Westland Black Petrel's flightpath, building nesting boxes for penguins, constructing Petrel transportation cages, restoring a 3.5km strip of coast, and working with volunteers to raise their awareness of the environment.
• Working on a variety of other South Island projects - Okarito, Waiuta & Cragieburn all planned so far. Could involve a variety of things including plantings, plant care, weed control, historical restoration, track construction, penguin monitoring, and other elements.
• Travel between West Coast & Christchurch regularly, and getting to know both coasts.
• Elinor's visit to NZ in January, and our subsequent 'hello holiday tag' between NZ & Australia.
• Visiting Melbourne to see friends, maybe even play a game of hockey for MCC again!
  
• A visit to Sydney to see Meg.
  
• Ski/Snowboard/Snowshoeing season in NZ, and travel through Arthur's Pass in the snow.
• Borneo Wedding for Mia & Will - I really hope to be there to see it happen and see Borneo again!
• My family's visit to NZ in September, can't wait to see everyone again!!

Wow, it's already looking like a packed year!

Resolutions?

Last year I just about covered off all my resolutions pretty darned well, so I think this year I shall set myself some more - if it aint broke...

1. Learn more, and pass on knowledge about the New Zealand environment - minimum of 50 species (flora & fauna).
2. Make opportunities to see and spend time with Elinor, and have a firm idea of where or how we shall be together by the end of the year.
3. Complete diploma in Professional Photography, print up some of the best images and sell some images.
4. Secure Residency in a country other than the UK.
5. Visit Fiordland National Park.
6. Save for the future spending (pensions, property etc).
7. Maintain & improve contact with friends & family around the world.
   

I wish you all a very Happy New Year, I hope it's not all doom & gloom with the economic situation. I wish you all health and happiness, whatever form it may manifest itself in.

Be good, people.