2005
General
So the year is coming to a close. I am sat in the study of Nikkie’s parents place, tying to bring everything together in my mind about what’s been going on this past month. Going in reverse is probably easiest.
Last night we went out for dinner with all of Nikkie’s school friends. It was strange, I was sat at a table with nine 20 year old girls, but didn’t really feel out of place. I had met a few of them before, but most of them I was meeting for the first time. The conversation flowed naturally, and they all were catching up on each other’s lives.
I think Nikkie’s group of highschool friends is very much like mine. It was interesting as an outsider to look in at it all, to make objective observations. Nikkie is very much like me, she had to get away. Most of her friends still live locally and go to university locally and see each other regularly. Not Nikkie, she moved far away to Nottingham and only sees them all every couple of months. It’s an interesting dynamic and I was really happy to be a part of it. I did miss everyone back home a little sitting there and seeing how they all just slotted back in together so well. I’ll probably do a new years ring around and that will make it all better.
We went to the after Christmas sales in Reading yesterday. Nikkie bought a handbag and a dress and some underwear and loads of other things. I limited myself to a shirt and tie. Boring I know. Reading was a nice little town. I hadn’t been there before, and it was good to add yet another British town to my list of places visited.
It snowed yesterday and the day before, and everything outside was blanketed with a beautiful crisp layer of white. We went for a walk with all of Nikkie’s family on Tuesday, down the hill from her village, along and then across the Thames and into a small country pub where we had lunch. The countryside was beautiful, all white and fresh and wrapped up warming in my winter coat holding hands with my gorgeous girlfriend I couldn’t have been happier.
Christmas and Boxing Day were fun. I was fully brought into the Foster Family Christmas Tradition. We sat around the fire and opened our presents, we had a big Christmas dinner, we drank wine and played cards, it was a very warm and loving environment.
Nikkie bought me a copy of my favourite book, Haruki Murakami‘s
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and some wonderfully posh cufflinks. I got her some soppy stuff I’m not going to mention, the full Manga of Castle in the Sky, which she loves, and numerous other bits and pieces.
Before that we were up in Liverpool. I had a big security inspection at work. It was very stressful as we were grilled on a number of issues regarding our policies and procedures and also our infrastructure design itself. We did well overall though and have a good direction moving forward. We also did secret Santa and I got four cans of XXXX. Yay! My secret Santa knows me well.
Before that was work, work, and more work, broken up by some really great times with Nikkie. We went to see the St. Petersburg Ballet perform The Nutcracker at the royal theatre in Nottingham. It was outstanding and my appreciation of it was greatly increased my watching the effect it had on Nikkie. She loves ballet, so did it for more than ten years herself, and her enthusiasm is infectious. I almost forgot! She has been offered an internship at the London Royal Ballet School to do physiotherapy over the summer! It’s a fantastic opportunity and I think she is really going to love it.
Nikkie and I are driving back up to Liverpool tomorrow, where we are going to spend New Years Eve. There have been a lot of demands on our time this Christmas from our family and friends, and we decided that we wanted to have some time to ourselves, just to be with each other. So we are having a quiet, romantic New Years Eve; I am going to cook a wonderful three course dinner, we are going to have a lot of wine, then maybe go for a walk all rugged up alone the beach and then come home to the warmth to maybe play chess and chat and enjoy welcoming the new year in together.
So 2005! Well what a year it has been. More things have changed in my life this year than any other year before. I found myself a terrific job. I found myself a wonderful girlfriend (though I rather think that she found me). I cemented my decision to live in the UK. I’ve had three different visas. I’ve left and entered the UK twice to get my visa status sorted. I’ve been home to Australia. I’ve seen my mother and brothers and all my family and friends. I’ve been promoted… Twice! I’ve gotten a raise. I’ve gotten a car and a flat. I’ve bought new clothes, and a new computer. I’ve completely changed my job direction and description. I’m now security cleared, and I’m working for the MOD! I’ve being going out with a beautiful, fabulous, wonderful girl for almost a year now. I am utterly, completely, 100% head over heels in love with a girl for the first time in my life. It’s an amazing feeling and had helped make this year the best year of my life. I am really happy and I can’t wait for new year to begin!
Posted by Wigs at December 29, 2005 02:20 PM