So many books ...

And it's been busy, busy (I know, what's new).

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Telly comment
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Other than that, is it December 14th yet? *g*

Best five memories of 2011:

1. Spending a week in Oman with good friends
2. Seeing an osprey and wild highland goats while walking the West Highland Way
3. Attending the graduation ceremony for my MA
4. Hubby getting public recognition as an all-round good egg
5. Looking out over London from the top of the BT tower

Worst five memories of 2011:

1. My youngest son failing his degree
2. Hearing that a close friend had breast cancer (following surgery she is doing very well)
3. Hearing that another friend had been diagnosed with cancer for a third time (I fear 2012 will include a funeral)
4. S-i-l's wedding to a man that no one in the family likes or trusts
5. Seeing good friends hurt by other people's stupidity and selfishness

Four biggest accomplishments:

1. Finally completing NaNoWriMo
2. Landing some new clients for the conferencing side of my job - particularly loved having Thames Valley Police in for two days doing safe driving education with school kids
3. Walking the West Highland Way
4. Signing up to do a creative writing course that I'd been drooling over for four years or more

Biggest failure:

Allowing my busy and often stressful schedule to push exercise out of my life, and returning to my old habit of using food for both comfort and reward

Goals for 2012:

1. Exercise regularly and eat well
2. Laugh more
3. Take time to enjoy the moment
4. Polish NaNoWriMo novel
5. Keep in contact with friends - old and new

I have a sudden and rather ridiculous urge to go skiing. It is ridiculous because I don't much like skiing. I suspect what i really have is a sudden and not so ridiculous urge to be on holiday somewhere beautiful and snowy.

Need to travel somewhere ...

I spent most of the weekend frustrated that I couldn't find the new Castle episode. Just discovered there was no new Castle episode to find!

Gah! I hate this time of year. TV schedulers in the US seem to go slightly mad and regular shows are anything but.

And what is with Fox and the way they air Fringe? An episode here, an episode there. Now a long break until January? It is so frustrating.

I just got the mark back on my first creative writing assignment and I'm totally blown away. My tutor's opening comment was that I've obviously written before. *g*

It's lovely to be told by a creative writing tutor that a story is publishable quality.

Now if I can just find a way of avoiding the poetry assignment ...

And we're off - 2049 words of fantasy - writing on the fly - very vague idea of the story, poorly constructed world, but words on the page!

So last week, Hubby and I were in Oman visiting friends. It is a very strange place. Seriously hot, to the point that standing about in the heat for more than about 15 minutes is very unpleasant. it is illegal to sell a car that doesnt have working air-conditioning in Oman, and there is good reason for that! The sultan has put a lot of money into the country - shiny new roads, hospitals, schools, a brand new opera house! So lots of Muscat is shiny and new, but there is also a traditional souk, and the older part of the city is just that, although not old as in really historical. The Omanis are not sentimental about old buildings. Anyway, interesting place to visit in lots of ways, and it was great to spend time with our friends.

Now I'm back and busy with a new OU contract, plus my creative writing course. Yes, I am writing. so far lots of little bits and bobs in response to course activities, but it is definitely stirring up the creativity. I'm hoping to get stuck into something longer come November and nanowrimo season.

Very tired this morning - think the jet lag has caught up with me. :-(

It's been a crazy few days of busy, busy, busy. Yesterday's conference went well, despite me finding out 30 minutes before the start that 400 people were booked in, not the 330 the organisers had told be a week before! Thank goodness we purchased 150 new chairs last month! The glorious weather helped too because at lunchtime everyone poured out onto the field and had picnics in the sunshine. Not many places can provide picnic space for 400 people!

There's one more event tonight, but that's a fairly laid back church family affair which will largely sort itself, and then next week I can hopefully catch my breath and crack into my creative writing course.

In other news, eldest son didn't pass the selection board for Sandhurst, but they have invited him to have another shot at it so they obvioiusly think that he can fix whatever it was that let him down. He's awaiting feedback from them.

Youngest son is settled into a house with four other guys in London and is loving his volunteer role. He turned up at the conference yesterday with a large quantity of very expensive video cameras, so learning all sorts of new skills. it was rather strange to have loads of people greeting me with 'Hello, you must be G's mum' instead of my usual event manager tag :-)

Caught the end of Doctor Who last night - it was pretty good although I feel a bit cheated with the storyline, but I haven't quite figured out why yet. Perhaps it was because I didn't really buy into the doctor being in love with River. Also how come I had no idea Merlin was starting again? I love Merlin and will be watching that later today. Also Castle - two new episodes tucked safely away to watch - yummy.

Right, the sun is still shining and I intend to enjoy it today.

Eldest son has made it through day one of his assessment. They are put their physical paces and if they don't perform to the required standard they get sent straight home. He was quite nervous about that part of the assessment, so very relieved to be through to the rest of it now.

Phew - that was a busy few days.
Back in the office after holiday on Wednesday for two days of frantic preparations for the weekend. Then Friday was graduation - wheee, it was lovely. Made me feel right proud to be associated with the OU. Saturday I was looking after a men's conference. My team served 215 cups of tea and coffee in 7 minutes - go them! Pretty much slept through Saturday evening as I was shattered from running around all day. Sunday was busy, busy with four hour meeting including food for 36 to sort.

And relax :-)

This week I'm in the office for four days and hoping to catch up with paperwork. Then I have a four-day weekend in Barcelona. Yippee! Bring it on.

*ignores OU project and teaching prep that is demanding attention this week*

In other news, my eldest son is off tomorrow to do his final Army submission for Sandhurst. Please send flisty good thoughts his way. For anyone interested the BBC has a new programme starting on Sandhurt see this article 'Hogwarts with guns': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14929441