So it’s 2012 and idiots across the world will now be counting down to their ‘doom’ on the 21st of December. So before I go into a round up of the year that has been lets follow up my last post of my first week in Germany.
Life in Germany is steadily getting better. Shopping for food is substantially easier now we know where to go to do it. This has meant that I have got back into making stir fry meals, pasta dishes and similar things. It feels good to once more be consuming a healthy balance of things.
This last week has also seen our friend, James, who works at Big Point as a games designer, visiting, and spending our time watching plenty of movies. Buy a new TV and blu ray player when we got here was has made a big difference. We now also have all of Sam’s DVD collection and are over half way through watching all of Angel.
Also on the subject of food we have finally found one place that does a decent brunch called Mandragora. Inside is dark like an old pub back in the UK. While outside are gurning gargoyles. So far it has been great, with a crazy selection of pancakes to eat.
So onto the year in review.
January:
January saw a very cold winter with lots and lots of snow and myself and my wife in the flat with our two young kittens. I look at their pictures and it is hard to imagine them ever being that small.
Also had a good time celebrating my birthday with my fellow Capricorn, and musical alchemist, Mark. We’re the same age (his birthday being the day after) and we share a lot of the same interests. Plus his girlfriend is the awesome Anna, aka Aiko273, who has photographed my wife. These are two people I am really greatful for making friends with.
February:
February is always special as it is the month in which I celebrate my marriage. Of course with the kittens this meant getting away was out of the question. Plus we really couldn’t afford it what with getting the kittens and paying for their medical care. It feels sad each time we cannot go back to Venice but then we did have the cats to think about, who have been a great addition to our lives.
March:
Seems a dead month. Roleplay wise we were close to finishing the Changeling chronicle, and had played a one shot of Fading Suns, and were preparing Exalted.
April:
April saw me join the Darker Days Radio team. Initially as a guest I am now a co-host, adding to the insightful thoughts of Mark and Mike.
April also saw me start my first foray into freelance writing for games, in this case for David Hill and Filamena Young’s project, Amaranthine. I still need to run it at some point :( . It was a good start at doing some writing and I hope to do some more again.
Also April marks me being with Sam for 4 years.
May:
Saw a few good things. A paper being practically finished. More Darker Days podcasts. Running Exalted for a larger group of players. And also buying the Asus Transformer.
If there is one piece of technology that has changed my life, the Asus Transformer is it. Fucking hell has it been worth it. Not only for being a web device. Not just for being an ereader. But it actually does make it easier for working on certain things. It makes life less cluttered. It also comes with a stupid amount of free storage space on the web! Hell i use the thing during games. It is just such a joy to use. I really want the new one, but that is just greedy.
Also played on Mass effect and thought it was a pile of crap.
June:
We went to see the weird film, Rubber, at a showing that took place in the mausoleum of Warwick St Mary’s church.
I also played on LA Noire until I just couldn’t stand the constant killings of women and the misogyny.
We also got back some awesome photos from Anna from a photoshoot myself and Sam did back a few months before (I just can’t remember when.... sigh. It involved visiting and staying over in London which is always fun).
July:
OK this was a weird month. I had got back info on some funding. I didn’t get it. And so began my mad panic to get further funding and applying for jobs. I applied to Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, a job in Italy, another in France, and also one in Bochum. The one in Bochum would become very important.
August:
On the 10th I flew out to Bochum, and well the rest is history. I got the job on the spot.
The week before involved Sam being photographed by Anna again. This basically meant me sitting around reading a paper or two for my interview, and then having a good chat with Mark. Plus the two took us to an excellent Turkish restaurant.
I also had the pleasure of reviewing the new, revised edition, of Unhallowed Metropolis. A great game, which I can pick up the new copy in print form as it was in the local gaming store here in Bochum.
With the job sorted, and forms being filled out, I had to start working out how to end my Exalted chronicle early. This is always a shame but has to be done.
Also my most recent paper was submitted and off in referee limbo.
September:
Birthday time month as Sam turned 26. Last year was quite a big party. For her birthday we had a smaller gathering, and lots of cake. The cake was a theme cake, with Harley Quinn on it. It was awesome and the start of an obsession with our local cakery and their fine foods.
Also September saw us getting the cats mega vaccinated ready for shipping them over to Germany (April time) and also me going to a conference in Barcelona. It was quite amazing, and a shame that I did not bring Sam, but then the conference meal was only for people there on business.
October:
So the slow march to packing began.
I got back my paper with referee questions to answer and changes to be made. But it was all OK and sent back.
November:
Saw the start of the end as roleplay was wrapped up, packing continued, and we had our leaving party. The party was a sort of late Halloween with a computer game theme and lots of cocktails.
Mark and Anna also came to visit us on last time before we left the UK.
The hardest thing this month was saying good bye to our cats as they were sent up to Sam’s mother’s place to stay until we were ready for them to be flown over. It was a really hard day saying good bye to them.
So that brings us all the way up to the most recent posts.
Looking back it doesn’t look like the most exciting of years, but then I think 2011 was really the year of doing little extravagant as money issues were still present and we also had to think of our cats. I honestly wouldn’t change the year though as I think as years go it has been a year of normalization, with new standards being set in place and new status quos. The main thing is that Sam and I our more settled with our balance of life, with her not working and writing, and me having a job. We have just found a better way forward which means less drama and stress.
Overall i am really positive about this year. I already feel renewed and ready to tackle my job head on and a push forward with things for gaming. The podcast has been a great addition to my life, and I really hope to be more creative this year with regard to my writing.
If there is anything I miss? My old gaming group, and brunch at Corleone’s in Leamington. I feel the last year involved making many good friends, friend who I wish I had spent more time with.
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