Things to do in 2009

Do the Junior Cert
Get 10 A`s in the Junior Cert
Go to Neyo concert
Keep friends I have nowMake more good friends
Do TY
Start the Gaisce awards
Redecorate my room
Be a size 12
Go to a City HallBe a flexitarien
Lose the Traintracks/braces
Play hockey seriously
Take up photography
Get some sort of love interest
Be better mannered
Read more books

• Do the Junior Cert
• Get 10 A`s in the Junior Cert
• Go to Neyo concert
• Keep friends I have now
• Make more good friends
• Do TY
• Start the Gaisce awards
• Redecorate my room
• Be a size 12
• Go to a City Hall
• Be a flexitarien
• Lose the Traintracks/braces
• Play hockey seriously
• Take up photography
• Get some sort of love interest
• Be better mannered
• Read more books

• Jan: surgery/recovery
• Feb-April: Db and e-Comm work work work! :)
• April/May: 2 x exams
• May: chill! Aberdeen trip, relaxing :)
• June-Dec: study NetApps and multimedia design, get a website up and running
• Dec: have the NetApps coursework finished!!

So, instead of trying to cram an extra, almost entire, module into the next 2 months, I’m going to push the exam back to 2010 (ouch!) and enjoy learning perl and javascript and everything else!

I also think the ‘original’ plan will still work: to introduce a whole pile of more ‘me’ projects alongside the studying. Maybe not quite as many, but more to look forward to past that? Hmm! Anyway, one of the big things I want to do is start actually working on some real websites. I’m up to three ideas, two for other people, and I want to almost make it another module. Definitely feels time to stop putting it off, and with, say, 6 months to do the NetApps course over it feels possible to take a month or so and really focus on CSS.

• fitness – oodles of it. Hard work, worth it.
• gardening – so looking forward to this, it’s weird! It’s sunny today and the garden is starting to sprout, and there’s a definite appeal in working on it, sculpting it, and getting myself some fresh air and exercise to boot!
• crafty stuff – two (not so new) plots: to have a stock, so that when birthdays etc creep up on me I can have something!, and to try ALL of the bits and pieces I’ve been collecting!
• review writing
• NaNoWriMo – this might actually have to wait now. Oh well.

So, not the plan I started with, but with that bit of rearrangement I suddenly feel so re-energised towards tackling this year and making a success of it! :)

I’ve tried to stay in touch with old friends from university and some from my old office since New Year by sending them messages, New Year cards and postcards.
I don’t want them to fade away from my life. So, you guys will want it or not, I will bombard you with postcards, letters and some surprise gifts!

Completed my 43things.com goal list as planned for 2009.

:)

I’ve started the first one on the 2nd of January and it felt great after doing it. I wrote to my girlfriend living in Bangkok. We have exchanged postcards for 12 years since graduating from university but we have never met since 1997. I want to find a place to sit and talk to her but the chance is pretty slim. So, I decided to write her a letter and told her what I want to tell. We talk occasionally on the phone but I think writing a letter is much better.

I want to do it more often. I used to have a penpal for 15 years and still kept the letters, postcards and cards. It was too bad that we didn’t stay in touch. I tried to write him many times but there was no response. I guess he’s moved.

Now, I want to do it again. Apart from sending postcards, I will take time to sit and write a letter once a month.

I want to leave home every month on mini-trips, weekends, roadtrips, or overseas trips. Few trips were planned for this year but I want to grab every chance I can to travel and see the world. There are really bunches of things and places to see and go.. I can’t just stay home and look at other people’s photos.. I must get out more.. (more than last year..)

I want to improve my English writing. Sometimes, I feel that I am slacking off and don’t pay much attention to my skill. I want to be able to write better in formal style as this will help me immensely with my translation.

I majored in English when I was studying in university but English is not used everyday where I work right now. So, if I don’t use it every single day, it might fade away from my brain. What I’ve done constantly for many years to master in my second language is journalling, both online and in my diary. This helps me alot as I have to think in English, instead of thinking in Thai and translating it into English.

What I want to do more is to read more books with different styles so I can get myself used to those different styles and don’t give up when I get bored or when it’s not my thing. I have to take notes when reading and try to use them when I write, practice using them until I get used to them and remember them.

It sounds like going back to university again but this time there is no grading so I have no pressure and I will enjoy it more.

It’s the loan I made when I started my shop. I’ve paid it constantly and there is not so much left. I’ve planned to pay if off by this year and it will set me free, so I can start to invest on something else..

I’ve been wanting and longing to own one for a long time. I’ve waited more than 6 months to weigh if I really want it and the answer is still YES! I’ve envied people who carry this kind of camera. The love of taking photos makes me want to own it more.. This year, I am going to buy one..