morsla | International Old Ben Day XXX

It has been a hell of a year. For good or bad, it has been a year of defining events and decisions, that will shape the years to come. One thing is certain: I'm definitely feeling older than I did this time last year...

Dad passed away last September, not quite two weeks after my birthday. Louise and I decided to move down to Somerville in the new year, as Mum was now on her own in a large, mostly empty house.

In November, Louise and I got married in Blackwood. I think that the reception was probably the last time we've been able to spend time with you lot in any significant numbers, as we've been pretty quiet since then. Thinking back on the day still makes me smile, so I think we did okay.

In January we moved out of North Melbourne after five years, and headed down to Somerville. Weeks later I started my PhD, and began commuting back into the city each week... So far it's been keeping me busy. It's also been fascinating to work in a research role, instead of orbiting around other people's projects.

Some time between June and August,

aeliel and I bought an apartment in Kensington. It's not quite real yet, as we've only set foot inside it twice. However, next month the tenants will be moving out, and we'll finally be able to move in. I'm looking forward to living in the city again.

I don't know what the next year will hold. I'd like to think that it might involve things like spending more time with friends, getting back into training again, and rediscovering the secret to sleeping before 3am. If the past years are anything to go by, though, the only guarantee is that it will be a year marked by an ever-accelerating rate of change.

I have a pretty good idea of what tomorrow will be like, and a vague idea of where I'll be in a month. Beyond that, I'll just trust that all the change that's happened so far will help prepare me for whatever comes next.