2006 (original) (raw)

I think 2006 has been a good year. It started with planning for my big Africa trip in February. I returned to Tanzania 7 years to the day since I was last there. It was a fantastic couple of weeks in which I did everything I had wanted to do since leaving the first time round.

I feel more settled at work now - although I have always got on with people there, I think I now have friends rather than colleagues. It only took 4 years hehe. My study has bonded a lot, mainly over alcohol, but it has been fun and the large personnel changes have not been a negative thing which they can sometimes be.

My poker has developed. I now play in a league and I seem to be doing quite well. I am Tom S in 6th place here. OK, so it is largely down to the frequency I play, but it gives me a standard to meet in future months. I am learning all the time. In the new year I hope to maintain my top 15 position. I also want to play more Saturday casino games and regularly end in the top half.

I also have taken up an evening class which is a new venture for me. I have wanted to learn sign language for a while now and made enquiries around a year ago to see if I could join the course, but I had to wait until September to start. In 3 months I have basic conversational skills which is more than I imagined having. I do really like learning stuff again.

I have met more people this year and made more friends. My circle last year was slightly gay tilted, which although is not a bad thing I do think a balance is needed. So from work, poker and sign class things have been corrected. I am conscious of not seeing some of my closer friends as often as I would have liked and I hope to correct this in the new year.

There have been some bad things about 2006, but largely all out of my control. 2007 promises to continue in the same spirit as 2006.

I wish you all a happy new year and hope you have fantastic times.