:: Swimming an ocean of opportunities, hand me the snorkel ::
I look at a one page excel spreadsheet with the year condensed into little blocks on the page. It is forever amusing to me that my life has become a chart of coloured little boxes and outlook booked agenda meetings. 115 out of 365 days on the chart are weekends and Switz public holidays. Not bad.
As for the rest of the 250 days, it looks like I will be spending them at Syngenta, remaining the lead for my project and finally, to quote/paraphrase the boss, "getting an increase in salary to match my contribution". Happy with that! Still facing a lot of uncertainty careerwise, it seems that a permanent position is a vague opportunity as there seems to be little way around the passport issue. Maybe I will have to move house. And just when it is finally Breztt-clean too. We will see. It is somewhat comforting to see friends battling with the "what do I do next" issue. The question never seems to stop popping up.
Swimming an ocean of opportunities, hand me the snorkel. 2005 ("in 2005 anything can happen"- memories of 2002/03 MC taking the piss) is for me a year of getting shit sorted.
Debt free is the big agenda item. Carrying too much debt for too long now and knowing that income will exceed living expectations this year means that I can afford that extra pint etc and still pay the goddamn bills. Amex, Visa and the rest of my banking community friends, you can all get stuffed. This year I hope you choke on your bloody money, and I look forward to not getting anymore fanmail from you guys! "Hi Mazzy, its Wilbur here from Debt Consolidation Services..."
Setting up for the next few years. Maybe London as a base? I have about 300 days to sort that one so I embrace that challenge with confidence. For Laura and I it will be starting a year together that we can spend together, in its entirety - cannot wait for that!
I know that a trip home is on the cards, latest November as the lil bro is walking down the aisle. Man I feel like I am getting old. (No comment needed thanks Jen). I am such a slack arse in maintaining my network of friends. I am going to be making a concerted effort to click the reply button and infact the old dusty "compose mail" button too. Ed has inspired me with an excessive update mail that in one swoop has detailed his movements of the past 6 months, and I feel like I have been there with him. Ed, you will be getting mail from me soon! And all the rest of ya too.
After New Years in Prague I am really keen to do a central Eastern Euro tour and am starting to plan that trip in my head already. When I remember I will post some of the thoughts/adventures from that trip.
Joing the gym, going skiing, the general health kick. However, this is limited to physical activity alone. Before New Years I had all these fantastic aspirations of eating healthy but unfortunately I just love food too much.
For now? Laura is with me until the 26th Feb and then heads back to Ausl to finish (hopefully) her last year of study. March thru June waiting for her return in the summer will be tough, but after 7 month stints apart, I think we will manage ok. AM realy over the long-distance deal now, I can assure you. Saying goodbye to the one you love should happen once a day when you leave the house for work with the full knowledge that you will be together again in the evening. Its funny, but simple things like that and knowing that I can shop for a cutting board and time enough at home to do a load of laundry and clean the windows have become the pleasures of life I look forward too. Do not get me wrong, I am loving my life abroad and travels and the whole package, but I live for quality Brett time at home, knowing that "home" is a somewhat constant.
I take the next few weeks to finally get all of the tidbits I've been collecting from my travels actually pasted into my leather journal (currently bolging with all the stuff just crammed in there), spend a bit of time thinking about the future, but mostly enjoying my free time with L.
Snorkling for now and the next year at least in Basel.
::
8 Comments:
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Anything CAN and WILL happen in 2005. God I remember those conversations :) Making me laugh now thinking about it ! And as for you being old - you said it not me. Up for a reunion. Lets schedule a time and date and make this shit happen.
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Jennifer, at 8:15 PM
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I'm so with you on your long distance relationship comment.
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Persist with it, be patient and life will work itself out!
Moving to Brisvegas in 19 days! Lil, at 1:17 PM
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- Jen you are no spring chicken anymore! HAHA! and Lil I know it will be tough, the beaches, the sun, clubbing in the valley, oh hard times, hard times ;) Best of luck with the move!
By Bretto, at 2:07 PM
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REUNION TIME!!
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I am SO up for a mega reunion!
How about North America :-)
Hugs Maz xx Group Human Resources, at 3:18 PM
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Brett!!! You still have to tell us about Prague!!! seriously I really want to know if you enjoyed it!!! We should now meet up because I am in Brussels.. take care and let me know how accomodation was .. and IF YOU LOVED PRAHA OR NOT!!!!!!! Happy New Year by the way, Maria
By Maria, at 1:31 PM
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Couldnt continue my message as my boss came.. but believe me.... I also Know how one feels with long distance!!!!!! At times it kills you... you feel it in your veins and stomach!!!!!!! I think its my 3rd long distance... or 4th... and hopefully all will be fine....
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take care Brett and I really do hope ill see you soon!! Maria Maria, at 1:41 PM
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I love the way you've customized your blog. I feel like a lazy POS in comparison. What you've done is quite cool and it looks great! :)
By Devrim, at 1:43 PM
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Hey Maria, for sure we will have to catch up!!! And the Prague post is coming!! I loved it, and there was a bit of a story to tell I think!
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Digs, thanks for the compliments, but I should be thanking you - i ripped off the nomadlife blog list you have on your site, in the end I couldn't be arsed mucking about with it anymore so this is it for the next few months at least, well, until I get a net connection outside of work... Bretto, at 6:37 PM
