awahlbom | Looking back on 2007 (Reply)

Another new year, and so it's once again time to summarise the old one. So here we go:

WORK:

Too much, as usual. July and September were the worst months.
As usual, we had our yearly kickoff conference in early September. This time we went to Bornholm, which was really neat and highly recommended.

HOME:

I moved in February (and it did take all of February). Before that I got rid of so much junk: old hardware, furniture I didn't need and couldn't even give away, tons of old papers. The process is not finished yet, but I am getting there and in a much better position than I've ever been.
Thanks to

darnia,

kjn,

sunjan,

thette and Mattias for helping me move, apologies to the aforementioned friends for all the stuff you had to carry, and special thanks to

thette for backing me in my ongoing effort to get my home in order.
Moving wasn't fun, but having moved is great! At last I have a home that feels like home; this flat is so much nicer than the old one, and not just because it's 15 minutes walk from the office. Also had a very nice combined birthday/housewarming party in late April.

FANDOM:

Åcon in May. Other than that, not much apart from the occasional pub meeting.

BOOKS:

My reading pace is picking up again — I am a fast reader when I get around to it, and this year I have been more in the mood than I've been for many years:

MUSIC:

Bought a few new physical records (Skinny Puppy, Esplendor Geométrico, Lustans Lakejer, Kraftwerk), and another few as downloads (Aviador Dro, Nine Inch Nails, Rheingold and Einstürzende Neubauten).
A few concerts this year: Nine Inch Nails (twice), Ladytron (supporting NIN in April), Skinny Puppy (in Manchester) and Nitzer Ebb. I skipped Marc Almond (who later cancelled), Stereo Total (for which I wasn't even in town) and The Human League; no time, no real desire to see them. I must be getting old. [EDIT 080826: Months later I learnt that they were supported by OneTwo. If I'd known at the time I would have gone anyway.] The only band I am planning to see in 2008 is Einstürzende Neubauten.

GEAR:

My iPod died in early April, so I bought a new one (the 80GB model, now withdrawn) for Easter. Works well.
New mobile phone in late April, as part of changing operators: from a T610 to a W810i. Not much difference, apart from a better camera and the Walkman functionality (which I've only used twice so far).
As I said, I weeded out my computer collection further when I moved. I still have a few boxes that need to be shipped to other collectors, but when they're gone I will only have half a dozen Macs, ranging from the Classic to the Mac mini, two C64s and my Dell laptop. (I lent my desktop PC to

darnia, as I no longer had the space for it after I moved. In the end I will most likely tell her to keep it (but don't see that as a promise yet!).)
I am still considering the offer to buy my co-worker Matilda's old Access Virus. She still has it and is not exactly in a hurry to get rid of it; it's just that she wants to sell it to someone who will at least use it.

TRAVEL:

More than ever.

May: Åland (for Åcon)
July: Värnamo (over the weekend, to visit kjn, thette and hulda)
August: Scotland (to visit thebutlersaw and E)
September: Bornholm (conference)

FAMILY:

My paternal grandmother turned 80 in September, and then my niece Elvira was born on December 20. I haven't had the time to meet her yet, but I have photos. She's incredibly cute! Other than that, things are reasonably OK with most of them; at least nobody has died yet.

LOVE:

Erm, yes... Things have been better than ever, without actually getting all the way; I get nearer misses all the time. Can't give you more details at the moment, other than that parts of my love life have been mutual. (And no, it's not the same girl I mentioned last year; I mostly lost interest in her around January-February.)

All in all, 2007 has been one of the greatest years ever for me; thanks to all my fantastic friends for helping make it so! I only hope 2008 will come anywhere close...

Looking back on 2007