Generalism

And now, with it being New Year’s Eve, comes a time to reflect.

It’s been a hard year work-wise, and in today’s society work often tends to have knock-on effects everywhere in our lives. The company I work for was bought-out, leading to a change of role, a lessening of responsibility, and a great deal of stress and discomfort. Ultimately a realisation of the need for personal change.

So what will the new year bring?

A new job certainly; the position I’m in now needs a pragmatic, details-focus, dependable project manager, and being the guy that likes to blaze new trails and lead a team, it’s just not me any more. Actually this change of focus is probably half the reason I’ve been so stressed and uncomfortable this last 6 months. So now is also the time to get a professional on board to give me some guidance, cause I may know this isn’t the job for me, but I also know that I haven’t a clue what my personality/experience combination is made for. Hopefully 2008 should see me kicking arse for the cause; all I ever really want in life.

The new year should also see me starting as a Volunteer Assistant Coach at the local tennis centre, working with kids and helping with all the good stuff that gets done there. I can’t wait.

As for New Year’s resolutions, I think I shall continue to work on the usual list; try to keep in contact with my friends better, stay fit and healthy, maybe start playing some league tennis. I don’t have any vices so can’t really give up anything. A half-hearted list, but really the job is priority number one at the moment; get that sorted and things should all simply slot into place.

I like the thought of things slotting into place…

Well so far it has been a relaxing and enjoyable Christmas holiday. Up and down the country, seeing family and friends, and mostly without internet access. A pain, but a welcome refocus on the people around me.

Christmas presents arrived from the left and the right, though mainly Xbox360 related (to save the planet of course!). Boy what a collection; Call of Duty 4 (2 copies, thanks Bro! lol), Bioshock, Orange Box (completed Portal today, just such a beautiful finish), Super Mario Galaxy (2 player really is surprisingly fun), Gears of War (to replace one of the CoD’s), Resident Evil 4 (from me to me! ), some of THE best games of 2007. Every present was very much appreciated and will be used til worn out as is my way.

So Happy Christmas to all, I hope it was a good time shared with family and friends. Until next year (which comes round frighteningly quickly these days)…

I’ve never really had a problem with stress. Pressure I love, getting things done to time, hitting deadlines, winning against odds, all very enjoyable. But this last six months at work has been something very different, and the last six weeks has been off the scale.

I put it to one of my work colleagues yesterday as feeling like I’m constantly being told to drive from Sheffield to Manchester in 5 minutes. I know it’s not possible, and have said as much, but that changes nothing. I know that there are likely to be roadworks, traffic lights, traffic jams and all and sundry getting in the way of an already impossible objective. But that’s what I’m being told to do, and if I can’t do it, then I officially suck.

Right now there are some really good, lovely, smashing things in my life. So why are all these good things getting overshadowed by my crummy work life? Now that sucks.

What is it with me and cute? If it’s not talking cats, then it’s puppies chewing on cats ears!

Bah, just call me Cotton Candy McFluff and be done with it!

<sigh>

I love motorbikes, though I did used to get a BIT scared on my last one (must be getting old!). The mix of power, efficiency, flexibility and control that you get really is something to behold. One of the latest Yamaha concepts has got me very interested in the whole “bike” thing again. One bike body, four wheels, and a whole lot of leaning fun. Somebody point me to a petition to get this thing built! Please!

Blimey, what with flying to Vegas and back, moving house and giving myself a healthy dose of back trauma, I’ve had precious little time for blogging. Lame excuse I know, but have you ever tried typing whilst lying down? Someone needs to invent something for that! A killing I say, a killing!!!

Anyway, I love classical music, I love rock music, so adding the two together really does make for something quite, quite special!