Wednesday 01 January 2003

Happy New Year

Another year gone by, a brand spanking new one stretching out ahead ... Time then for a little "That Was the Year That Was", and maybe even a resolution or two.

∞∞∞∞∞

2002 was eventful to say the least.  First off, we got married. That was (and is) amazing and wonderful and simply lovely – the state suits me very well.  Tuxedo  is simply the most darling person, very caring and kind, logical and rational, very cuddly and snuggly, hilariously funny and a total geek.  I’ve mellowed a lot this year – being with him and being happy, and letting lots of those ol’ barriers down. 

The rest has been, well, mixed to say the least.  Bloody fucking debacle might be a more accurate description.

1.  Visa.  Due to outrageous incompetence on the part of a certain country's immigration department, a routine application which should have taken six weeks (or so I was advised) ended up taking eleven months of bureaucracy-wrangling.  Result:  I sat on my arse at home for the entire year, unable to work or get out much, being financially dependent (and both of us being financially strained) and getting very lonely, isolated and unhappy. 

2.  Health.  My particular debilitating illness took a major nose-dive down the toilet; I couldn’t find a specialist or anyone at all to help me, there were no rehab. or even proper gym facilities available (you’d think there would be in a place where people are still regularly getting blown up and their kneecaps shot off, but no, its all step machines and tanning salons, too surreal), and even if someone/something did exist who could assist, there'd be a two year waiting list. So blah all around.

Disappointing too, because there were hopes that the climate would be advantageous.  Yes, obviously much much colder than what I'm used to, but the barometric pressure and temperature doesn't swing around quite so much.  That is, while in Perth a "typical" day could  have a 10C difference between minimum and maximum temperatures, up in Norn Iron the min to max variation might be only a couple of degrees.  The barometric pressure is also lower overall and with much less variation during the day and from day to day.  As it is believed by some rheumatologists (although no conclusive research has ever been carried out, so far as I know) that higher barometric pressures cause more stress on soft tissue conditions, I had hoped that my general condition would improve.  It didn't work out that way; the cold was simply too intense for a start, plus the constant howling, blustering winds and pouring rain restricted my ability to get out of the house and go for walks, etc.  And no I am emphatically not being a wimp about it.  The weather is that bad.  Actually, fucking awful and miserable pretty much covers it. 

3.  And then there's Belfast itself ... Hoo boy, this is a tough one and worth an entry all it's own one day, but basically I found the whole social, emotional and cultural set-up deeply disturbing, a total nightmare.  This country is terminally ill, and I cannot see any way that there will ever be peace and a healthy environment for it's people - less chance of that happening now than back in the truly Troubled times even.  I'll explain what I mean by this broad sweeping statement, one day ...  It's interesting, and a bit of an eye-opener. 

Anyway its been an “experience” and not one I’d change for the world, despite everything.  Sure it didn’t work out like I wanted (and should have; hell I wasn’t being unrealistic!) but there’s not many who can say they up-sticks and went and lived in Belfast for two years.  Not to mention learning the theory of making petrol- and pipe-bombs; being able to identify and describe the specifications, advantages and disadvantages of a range of serious weaponry (P90s, MP5s, G3s, AK47s of course, various handguns ... ); and how to blow up a car with a few drops of chemicals and a strip of magnesium.  Not that I'd use such knowledge in a kerzillion years, but hey it's all part of that unique Norn Irish learning experience!

∞∞∞∞∞

So ... 2003 huh.  I'm not big on New Year's Resolutions.  I don't like setting up expectations that I may not be able to fulfil for reasons beyond my control, and so end up feeling like a failure; I tend to make decisions as to what to do and then just go ahead and do it already.  So instead of making endless lists I make one or two resolutions or rather objectives as to what I'd like to achieve, and have them be achievable yet not in the realm of fantasy.

For example, in 2001 my objective was to be living in a different country and have a different job / different goals by December.  The main motivation being that I simply did not want to be in the same place - geographically, mentally, emotionally, whatever - that I'd been in throughout 2000 (not a good year for me at all).  And would you believe, on 25 December 2001 I sat down to Christmas dinner with my new fiancée and his family, by that time had  been living in Belfast, Northern Ireland for some months, and it was snowing outside.  Getting engaged had certainly not been on the agenda - no one was as surprised by that event as I - but there I was.

2002's resolution was much more prosaic.  In fact, it's so damn prosaic and practical it's embarrassing ... In the interests of the environment and our easily-blocked toilet I resolved to use less bog roll (oops, sorry, toilet paper) per "visit".  This I achieved, approximately halving the amount used and not once did I block up the loo. 

So how on earth could I even attempt to follow up and improve on those achievements?  Well, for 2003 I've decided I want to maintain better contact and ties with my overseas friends and online buddies; to start learning (re-learning?) Spanish; and to work hard at getting fit and healthy again.

I'll report back this time, next year.  In the meantime, here's wishing you and yours all the very best for a safe, satisfying, successful, scintillating and super 2003.