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Thursday 10 December 2009

Wendishness to the rescue!

Oh lookie….I’m hosting Fun Monday again….

I saw Cynicalgirl beg and the moment I saw her post I came up with a great idea for a Fun Monday assignment that isn’t Christmas related and I do hope many will join in this one.

Okay, your mission, should you choose to accept it is this – we’re at the end of decade and in the media we’re seeing a lot of highlights, mishaps, misfortunes etc.. that have happened in the news. But what about everyone else? I would LOVE to see your highlights and lowlights from the “noughties”. Photos would be fantastic but you don’t have to – the choice is yours.

This will take some time I think...
Highlights
2009
November
- Toyota Yaris
- baptism when our god-daughter became a godmother
December my Mac book pro!
2002 EARLY RETIREMENT! YIPPEE!


Lowlights
The lowest of the low has to be dear friends who are no more...
Pol, Liz, Shirley and Mike
Not forgetting the loss of our dear girlie Kira , long-coated GSD and real 'teddy bear'


Reached the end of my working life. Illness and anxiety, pressures of work took their toll. Yet another futile, pointless egregious waste of money aka some £30000 spent by the school to undergo OFSTED! Institutionalised torture!

Now for something more cheerful!

2002 was my first trip abroad in many years (20+) so I needed a new passport. Even crossing the Irish Sea is easier with a passport.
Dublin is a charming, pocket handkerchief sized cosmopolitan capital city. I've been lucky enough to stay there with friends on several occasions in the 'noughties'. Discovering the Gravity Bar (Guinness Storehouse), Jamesons distillery, strolling along the Liffey by day and by night. Temple Bar restaurants, bars and shops.
Craic is an Irish word, redolent with fun, laughter and cameraderie. The Irish Tourist Board website www.discoverireland.com/ is well worth looking at to find out more.

I said it was a work i n progress...
More highlights...
2000 saw me taking up the personal challenge of studying with the OU (Open University).
What a learning curve!
Began with tech and geosciences. This led me to become even more interested in both subjects and joining OUGS the geological society. From that, I began to do fieldwork, something I'd enjoyed many years previously. Culminating in a visit to Iceland (place I had to see). 12 days of travel, along the south, east and north, the reverse of the 'Golden Route'. Returning from Akyureri following a difficult route south thro' Iceland's interior. Wearying, worrisome but well worth the effort. Haven't been on any more field trips to date.

6 comments:

newwine said...

Fun to read about your "noughties" - I remember some of the later ones thanks to Plurk! I will take up the challenge when Christmas is done and post on my posterous. It'll be a challenge, I have LOTS of changes...

Faye said...

My friend is also the proud new parent of a Mac Pro. She got it as a retirement gift. We're all jealous. I share your affection for Dublin--actually all of Ireland. Loved just walking the streets of Dublin and exploring the record shops.

And you're right--yay for early retirement. I retired at 60 and haven't looked back. Have you written posts about your "field trip" in Iceland? I'd love to read more.

Anonymous said...

Ireland and Dublin in particular sound like fun. I've always wanted to go myself and you've certainly sold it to me :-)

Thanks for sharing the decade with us :-)

Jill said...

You Europeans and all your travel. Sheesh. Lucky you!

Sayre said...

It sounds like you've crammed a lot into your post-working life! I think I'd like to further my education then, when I have a bit more time than what I've got now!

joanygee said...

Thank you for all your lovely comments.
I heartily recommend Ireland and Iceland as places well worth exploring.
Ireland is only a 30 minute flight from here. It takes far, far longer to get thro' check-in.
In NW England, we're lucky having Manchester n Liverpool airports making travel easy.
The years before the noughties were stressful, work woes being uppermost. Hence, I challenged myself to make the most of life after the hard grind.