This year has been difficult, strenuous and outright stressful at times. So many failures with few successes in a year where I feel I achieved very little.
There were very few posts this year. Ultimately, a plan didn't pan out, but we learn from our mistakes, Often promises made when we're happiest are the least likely to go through to fruition. We make so many promises when we're happy, not thinking about how difficult it might be to complete or how hard it is and what completing it entails. Sometimes, long promises should honestly never be made in the first place if people aren't prepared to follow through.
To my readers who stuck around, thank you. Disruptions are not always easy to work around.
I did a lot of travelling this year. For a person who self-proclaims himself to hate traveling, I did more travelling than most people. Two contrasting trips in Australia gave me an eye opening experience into my own backyard.
The Northern Territory trip allowed me to complete an old goal which I have always had at the back of my mind. It was wonderful, to finally travel the outback, a place where the lore is strong and the stories meandering. It was great to finally to see the history of Australia, particularly Aboriginal history and culture. The beauty of the old rocks, especially King's canyon and Kata Tuja was extraordinary; the place really did feel old and burdened with history. The Northern Territory trip was the first trip where it lived up to the brochure's pictures and expectations. Swimming in pristine swimming holes, hot spring, the termite mounds and camping in swags were all things I enjoyed so much of, which aren't necessarily what I expected.
More recently, I went across the Bass Strait to the Apple Isle to undertake the Overland Track. Despite falling and injuring myself, some of the views and scenery were second to none. Clumbing Mount Ossa just as the weather was clearing was absolutely perfect. The climb itself was difficult with the waist deep snow, hazardous rock scrambling but the view on top was truely beautiful and literally breath taking. Day 2 was literally walking in a winter wonderland; the best few hours of walking ever. Snow topped flowers in a plain as far as the eye could see. Completing the trip was an achievement in itself, but the scenery really trivialised the pain and injuries. We met a lot of great people along the way, (mostly more experienced than Mina and I) and they were all so nice. That was something I didn't necessarily expect.
This year, a mix of advice and observations for my friends. Advice always sounds pretentious but we all know I'm a little pretentious.
To Mina, thank you for being my travelling companion for that week. We've make jokes about comradeship, mateship, friendship and all the "ships." After that hike, after hiking in the gale force winds in the middle of the night, those concepts seem so much more real. Friendships are galvanised in experience and mateship in adversity.
To Josh, advice when unexpected have the strongest impact. When you tell me I've done something wrong or when you give me advice, you should understand it has a strong effect. And I listen. All I've seen you do in the past 5 years is be neutral, which made it so much more shocking when you came down hard. Giving your opinion is something you should do more often. (Us going to wrong suburb totally wasn't entirely my fault.) Your advice has meant the world to me, particularly this year.
To Sam, hard work always pays off. Everything you've achieved this year, you worked for. Luck never entered into the equation. The way you got through everything, not letting it hold up your life is a testament to your character and honestly, admirable. May that perserverance and your ability to take the initiative never leave you in the coming years. (Your birthday, was probably the most enjoyable experience. It was really nice to close the year off so chilled and relaxed. )
To Amanda, it's really nice that I know a little about how you tick. I would usually say a "little more", but that would mean a little more than something as opposed to nothing before. You-know-that-feeling-when-we-say-seemingly-really-obvious-thing-and-the-other-person-just-goes,-"but-actually" or-just-agrees,-but-like-seemingly-no-one-else-does/agree-with-this-seemingly-obvious-thing. That's a nice feeling that there's someone else sane in this world. And there's literally no one else who I can talk to about TV shows. I kind of don't want everyone else to know how TV I watch. But it's okay with you, you watch more.
To David, another year of structural engineering. One last push to finish the degree. Hopefully with more tea, less hours doing CAD, less putting together assignments and more Engineering. At the end of it all, it'll nice to say we graduated together. One more semester to finish everything.
To Gab "Pencil," if all my friendship was as clear cut as ours, my life would be a lot easier. We've helped each other out a lot over the years and this year was a little that usual of that same. After all these years you know what to say to make people stop worrying and smile. We both hate pressure but I think we get through it with each others help. As we've grown, our conversations have slightly grown less 'late night', less food-centric and a little more frank. And I'm okay with that.
To Megan, I'm glad we're friends again. Not every DotA game is going to be like that 1:47 one.
To Mikey, Chris and Tom. Another year, another year of hanging out, SSB, darts and pool. Simplicity has its merits. Chris was surprisingly nimble and knowledgeable when I needed help with my mask. I think it turned out pretty well.
To So, Allan and Tom. DotA has been fun this year. I probably haven't played as much as I'd like but it has been so nice being able to find a stack anytime I like. There's been multiple memorable games this year; the 0-20-3 Rubick win, the 1 hour 47 minute epic of being unable to throne against divine sniper and my new GPM personal best game as Luna.
To my hockey friends, it was a very enjoyable season. I'll probably take hockey a little more seriously this season, but this first season was really fun. You're all a really good bunch of guys.
To my uni friends, particularly my group mates, Stephen, Rick, Carly, David, Nicole, Richard, Driess Andi and of course Nick, thank you for another year of Engineering. Engineering has become routine; finding like minded people to study with has just been part of it. From studying site with Carly and Nick to late nights with Stephen doing fairly difficult assignment, this year has been at the very least, rather enjoyable.
To Mena, I've greatly enjoyed your company. Driving up to Canberra and the way back was a lot more enjoyable than I envision it to be had it been by myself. Sarcastic jokes are so much more funny when people understand that they're sarcastic. (The above image was my most liked post ever)
To Andrea, it was a fun year, from the birthday to the ball, the comedy, late night alcohol, early lunches and YOU THINKING I WANTED TO SWAP GROUP WITH YOU. It was a fun year. At the start of the year you were worried about your classes and yet now you're doing an internship.
To Ashwin George, from strength to strength, regularity in friendship is always good to see, especially in an old friend. It's always nice to have someone who lives so close, who can hang out at the drop of a hat.
To Amelia, I always hope to see more of you in the new year.
To everyone I met on my travels this year, it was fun an unexpected. Something I underestimated.
This is my favorite photo from this year.
And to the one person I know will always read to the end. I think it's fitting to end it here. And like usual we both made the other life hard, but this year, I think a little more towards you. Neither of us expected our friendship to be easy or cruisy. I've enjoyed the AFL, the blog discussion, the darts and the 1000 steps. Between the cupcakes, the dumplings and the ice cream, we've had a lot of fun cooking. Not many friends can say they did all that in between uni, work and everything else.
Everything you've done this year has been extraordinary; deserving of a little more faith in yourself.
Maybe, friends are supposed to do that all the time. Maybe it's supposed to be all fun and games, but I think society got it wrong on this one. Friends need to push each other; to offer advice when needed and a pair of ears when failings are obvious. For us, we've found a good balance.
Do you remember how the year started? The very start, January 1st. The first song that played on the radio going home from Sam's New Year?
To my friends and family, Merry Christmas. It has, once again been an absolute pleasure writing for you guys again.
~TastyJacks~
P.S. I love you sis!
1 comments:
bob
Post a Comment