Entries from December 2008 ↓

I hope 2009 brings something special for all of you!

Image source kvasir licenced under Creative Commons.

Lately I’ve been on a fitness kick. Partly because I was feeling rotten and partly because both my parents died of Heart Attack’s in their very early 60’s. Dad had his first at my age and had to be medically retired at 49! So when we got a Fitness Challenge flyer via fax at work I jumped at the opportunity.

As part of my fitness routine I have taken up Cycling. I regularly ride from my place to Shoal Bay (though sometimes I get sidetracked) and back. It’s about a 15km round trip, and is perfect for clearing the head. The issue now is where to go next as it is time to up the anty. Do I keep going past Shoal Bay to Fingal Bay, or do I head in the other direction and ride to Soldiers Point?

Either way, an opportunity to clear the head and get fit is a wonderful thing. Is it working? Well I’ve lost 20kg in 14 weeks so I think it is. Mind you I’ve had to cut out a lot of “garbage” from my diet as well. The big question now is how will it affect me at work for 2009? I’m feeling good and positive at the moment so lets see how we go. The next step is the Goal Setting for next year. Lets see where that leads too.

Wow, there’s 9 days left of 2008! I have been reflecting on many things in the last few days, and now its my blog’s turn, and therefore I am looking at the year that was from my blogging perspective, and also in part on a personal level.

Not too long ago I stopped blogging and removed the content from my blog. I see now that was probably a knee-jerk response to some things that were going on in other parts of my life. Luckily I backed up, or exported, the content so I will be able to put it back, clean it up and move on. Now all I have to do is remember where i have put that backup…. It could be on a Server at work, or on one of my External HDD’s. That’s a job for the next few weeks, find and restore.

I’ll start with 2008 on a personal level, as that has affected the many other areas of my life. On a family level 2008 has been a Roller Coaster. These happenings ranged from uplifting experiences, rumors, various other untruth’s, to one of the most devastating things that a Parent can try to grasp. I would like to go into some of these in more detail, but for my families sake i will refrain. Those of you that are close to me will understand, and to some of you I owe my greatest thanks. You have helped me through some very tough times, and some of you still are helping.

On a work level we have had an interesting year. There has still been fallout from events of 2007, and some rebuilding taking place. We have implemented some new technology at work, which has been well received. Our Junior School have been preparing for Class Blogs in 2009 and we have been running some PD with them in preparation. Some of our students, and one very special girl in particular, have been assisting with our staff PD. It is fantastic when the invisible barriers between Teacher and Student are broken down and learning can happen in both directions.

If I was to look at the goals I set at the start of this year my first thought is disappointment. But then when I look in reality at what the year has presented to us that was unexpected, and what we have actually achieved, i can look back and feel happy. We have made progress in many areas, and especially in areas of personal health and what we need to do to be able to continue. For myself and some of my colleagues we have had to take a step back from time to time. But it’s better to do that, than totally collapse in a heap and be unable to go on.

To my “partner in crime” I say a special thank you. We have both had good times and bad, but without your support I fear I would be at a total loss. I also think we would be chasing rainbows, as what is really important is what we can achieve, not what we never could.

To all my readers, thanks for sharing 2008 with me. I lok forward to 2009 with anticipation. We’ll fill you in on our Goal Setting and see what the year ahead holds.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a safe and prosperous Holiday Season.

Cheers,

TFT.