I guess it's not too late to post about the past year, which isn't something I recall doing before but I want to point out to myself for later how the year 2006 was probably the 2nd worst for me, though it did include a few high points.

The year started out with a marked increase in demoralizing and draining office politics, which culminated in April with my being publicly chastised for standing up for a friend and for pointing out improvements which could be made in the unit's retention and recruitment. I can't overstate how much that set of events knocked out any sense of initiative or drive to do any more than the bare minimum my job requires.

This wasn't balanced out by the offer by my employer to pay my fees for a 2yr Masters degree, (about which I have had serious doubts about the benefits of completing) as I'm tied in to working with them for 18 months past the completion date & have to make up the work time I miss for the classes (which are held in another town).

I got a minimal salary increase and yet my monthly expenses went up by about 15%.

People who I thought were friends have completely disappeared.

I've been to London only once this past year for fun (the last time in Feb.), but had a very nice day trip to Bournemouth with AA in June.

In 2006, I saw four films, one play, one stand-up comic, and one concert. I didn't travel anywhere other than Bournemouth, inside our outside the UK.

After nearly three months of evening and weekend tuition and nearly $1100 in fees, I was able to obtain my UK driving license. However, I still don't own a car, and haven't driven since the day of the exam.

I enjoyed my mom's fortnight-long visit in September, but my father was just about banned from conducting his yearly visit during the Gran's birthday weekend. And I spent the holidays away from the family for the first time ever.

My condition seems to have taken a turn for the worse and I've missed some classes, work and social plans --even some of my favourite activities-- because of it. Very often I spend one whole day of a weekend in bed.

Already 2007 has seen some changes, but in other areas change doesn't appear to be on the horizon. We'll see....

Labels: uni, work