Having managed nothing more than an odd tweet here and there, a BrightKite cross post or a random LOLcat it seems only right to try and post some form of update prior to the turn of the year.

I have had a lot of change this year and this has manifested itself in a slightly muted Christmas, where I usually draw from past memories I found that my routine was so altered that it was hard to find that Christmas spirit. That’s out of character for me as I usually have a great sense of occasion. Its the little things that change and you need to get used to. No longer do I have to help the kids put out their stockings and pillow cases at the end of the bed. Nowadays I’m in bed before them and ‘he’ pops the presents under the tree downstairs rather than at the foot of the bed. I even put out a mince pie and a glass of port by myself which was more a ritual for me than anyone else.

That said I would have to say that Christmas day will go down as one of the better ones. It was a relaxing day with no turkey dramas or late relatives. I was so chilled at home I skipped the trip to the pub at lunch which I occasionally do if I feel I need to top up on atmosphere.

In another change of routine I have also found myself working between Christmas and New Year. I don’t mind so much but mentally I feel as if New Year has past and as a result I’m not prepared for tonight. In recent times I’ve been in Scotland and before that I usually had my Mum round but I have nothing prepared, no party food/drink ready, no firework to set off and no firm plans for New Years Day, although we do have a leg of lamb defrosting.

So with the day ahead to try and fill in the blanks I’ll also be reflecting back on 2008 and all the events it contained within, how it was infinitely better than the nightmare that was 2007, while looking forward to 2009 with an element of cautious optimism.