070120041636

The eagerly awaited first entry for 2004 is finally here!

After several attempts (most of which were thwarted by my own ineptness) I have actually managed to get something up here. I did start writing what was essentially a yearly newsletter, and then realised I wasn’t in my 60s and nobody really wants to know what Little Susie is getting up to these days (although I’m sure if there was a Little Susie, she’d be doing something interesting).

So I will summarise by saying that 2003 was pretty much the best year yet. I have left my surrogate family in Edinburgh after many great adventures and miss them all terribly. On the plus side, I’ve come home to Auckland and my very good friends have accepted me back even though I abandoned them so long ago and will do again in a few short weeks. In fact, some of them weren’t so close to me when I left and I really appreciate the time and distance bringing us back together!

Christmas was as quiet as it can be when you have 5 brothers and sisters and other random relatives coming over for dinner. I managed to cook for them all and even spared enough time to open some presents, most of which I’d wrapped myself (Mum and Dad gave me $600 to play Santa for everyone this year, it was great). New Years was pretty good really – pre-club party that a friend was DJing at and then into the city for Dave Lea (Slinky DJ) until after dawn. I wasn’t sure how long I’d last after getting up at 6.30am on New Years Eve but getting into bed at 8am on nothing but a little caffeine and a vodka is not too bad. Had a wicked time anyway and finally got to spend a New Year with that whole group of friends.

In other news, I’m finishing at this whiteware job on the 19th of January, which leaves me a couple of weeks to get organised and then party it up (it’s my birthday on the 27th, send presents!) before I leave (that’s right, I finally booked a ticket) on the 2nd of February. I have two nights in Sydney with Julie and whoever else I can find, and then arrive in Vancouver on the 4th. After that, I have the rest of the year to potter about Canadia to my heart’s content, providing they let me in! You Canucks had all better be ready!