As usual, I will be at Matt’s place listening to the Hottest 100, dipping in the pool, helping out with the chopping cos the bbq is usually men’s business, and enjoying a sunny, 33C day! Hope yours is a good one too!

Glow poi with Kuri (made by Kuri) on Henley Beach. Taken by Martine Cotton.

2009 is over, we are already halfway through the first month of the year and I haven’t had time to reflect or think about what I want this year to be about. I guess I should do that now…
What stands out for me in 2009 was a new field of study, a new relationship and a new hobby. These three things were simultaneously the most difficult and pleasurable things in my life.

Study was the most difficult of these three. I went into the subject with no background knowledge and have learnt so much. I started out interested in indigenous archaeology and ended up interested in historic archaeology as well. The course emphasised and explained both the processes employed in doing archaeology and the interaction with legislation, but the fieldwork excursion was the most work, the most fun and a fantastic opportunity to link head knowing and hand knowing. Archaeologists are an amazing bunch, I met some very wonderful people. There is more of it in store this year.

The new relationship was also difficult. I haven’t been in a relationship that worked as well as this one, and the difficult part was mostly learning to relax into it, and as always, to be balanced. I think the two of us have done a pretty good job so far of avoiding drama, spotting assumptions, dodging misunderstandings and maintaining realistic expectations, or at least revising expectations in the face of reality. We have maintained independence, privacy and respect for each other’s boundaries, whilst hanging out every day. Its all pretty new to me, I have to admit, but it feels so so so good, and there will be more of if this year.

The new hobby is hooping of course. There is pleasure in moving and learning to focus, in quieting the mind with repetitive activity. There is also pleasure seeing an action, desiring to do that action, practicing for a short time and acquiring competency and then moving on to excellence in such a short timeframe. And I dont think I need to explain how incredibly pleasurable it is to dance around in the living room to your favourite music - I’m sure you know that pleasure as well as I do! But I am surprised to find that being inside a hoop makes it totally ok (with me at least - you may or may not enjoy the spectacle) for me to dance around outside in public. Hooping is basically dancing with massage, and there will be a lot more of it this year.

This year holds more photos, more blogging, a new job, a car with air-con (i know a few people who would sign that petition), a lot more travel, a lot more money (of course), more study, new friends and family, more hooping (monday nights, south-east parklands - hoops available for loan or purchase!), more crafting, more live music, more love and more peace, and I have been advised to thank the universe in advance so I would like to take that opportunity now. Thanks!

Ah, its been ages! Christmas was never-ending and New Year was marred somewhat by two good friends having a major fallout, but in the end there was fabulous food, lots of nice time spent with family, at the beach and watching fireworks over the holiday season. I’m back at work again now, but of for an extended long weekend for my brother’s wedding this weekend. The crew arrived yesterday at lunchtime and we went straight to the markets pretty much. Kuri and Tod cooked a yummy pasta dinner for me at their hotel room, and late in the evening we went and picked up Ms. Frangipani, who is in the shower as I type, getting ready to go out for a day of shopping, poolside-lounging, wedding prep and general fun. We will do our best with the heat, but everyone seems to be coping pretty well so far.

Photos and updates soon!