Mum and Dad’s birthday card to Sita arrived yesterday (it was sent 6 wks ago)

Nicked from Mario’s blog:

1) Where did you start 2007?
In 2495 Garibaldi street, Guadalajara, Mexico with Sita, Daniel and Monica. Monica showed off her “smurf” dance and Sita had “Got the power” and Daniel showcased some impressive German pantomime skillz… Meanwhile I had to abandon a bunch of mates in El Muro bar.

2) What was your status of Feb 14th?
heading towards 4 and half years of matrimonial bliss.

3) Were you studying at all this year?
Yep, a couple of short photography courses, photojournalism and contemporary photography and beginner’s and intermediate PHP.

4) How did you earn money this year?
That’d be telling, but a fair amount came from gringo academic institutions and hard earned savings.

5) Any hospital visits?
Nope, but the day before leaving GDL I had to take photos for a local hospital’s website and ended up wearing scrubs and checking out operating theatres.

6) Any encounters with the police?
A couple of Guadalajara’s finest asked me what I was doing when I was out with my camera taking photos of reflections of puddles in the middle of the day.

7) Where’d you go on holiday?
Mexico was a permenant holiday, but my folks took us to Tulum which was a highlight. The UK was also nice to be back to. I grudgingly went to New York, and did a fair amount of travel within Mexican borders.

8) Did you buy anything worth more than 500 quid?
My Pentax + lenses.

9) Anyone you know get married?
Anel and Claus. From now on, no wedding will be complete without a marimba.

10) Did anyone pass away?
My grandma. Unexpectedly but painlessly. I miss her.

11) Did you move anywhere?
Just from Mexico to Califas.

12) How many gigs did you go to?
Ooh, nothing to top Shakira last year, but a handful including Keane, Kinky and the Killers. Any group beginning with K was basically seen.

13) Describe your birthday.
According to my blog: Peeps coming round here for pizza and drinks then Bar Calavera at 10:30ish for some Pocilga Beat, choons and ale. And lo it came to pass

14) What did you do in 2007 that you never thought you would?
See the Day of the Dead in Tzintzuntzan, Michoacan at the last minute.
Meet such a lovely bunch of people via a photography sharing site.

15) Favourite moment?
There were lots. Xmas was a highlight round me little sis’s and all kinds of travel, especially Chacala.

16) What have you learned about yourself?
That two years in Mexico aren’t enough for me. I might go back to edit this one…

17) Any new additions to the family?
The nuclear family remains Sita, Atticus and Me. Me cousins have been busy though…

18.) Worst Month?
The worst month was offset by the best celebrations, November/Dec. The bad bit was leaving Mexico, selling up, dealing with TelMex and saying goodbye to so many peeps, but we know we’ll be back and we had the best send offs.

19.) 3 favourite choons of 2007?

a) The Salmon Dance, Chemical Brothers
b) Foundations, Kate Nash
c) Acceptable In The 80s, Calvin Harris

are what occur to me for the minute.

20) ¿Quién fue tu mejor amigo de pedas? (who was your best drinking partner?)
Jose “Pinguino Frog” Obdulio wins this prize despite strong competition from the likes of Javier, Anel y Claus, Fernando, Paulinita, Abuela, Daniel & Monica and many others…

21) New friends?
Tons, then we had to leave them behind. But through the magic of the interwebs we’ll be in touch as long as there’s DSL.

23) Favourite party?
Again, too many to mention, but Pocilgafest 2007 was a definite highlight.

Have a fine 2008 all.

ridiculously busy at work right now. reports, planning, training, supervision and budgets. it’s up to you to guess how much fun it all is.

normal blogging will be resumed shortly…
quick stream of consciousness from last Wed to today… meetings… reports… fielding phone calls… reporters cancelling… final preps for social… dog… sita in miami… sita back… dog… social event… tables… bert and dad arrive… barby in the back garden… party round gerwin’s… breakfast on the wharf… rehearsal for queer youth awards… played guitar… asparagus… atticus… anarchist… ciao bella… “‘china” the cat… car hire… workworkwork… pope… dentist… budgets… next week planning… dr. bert’s friend… Red? Tomorrow… berkeley… first 5… scrabble… thurs… INS/Dept of homeland nonsense… passport photos… announcements at work… ian’n’yuri’n’william… on sunday he rested or had a stab at it… monday… training… tues -> berkeley… trianing… training… training. dentist again. 3 x fillings, 1 x crown replacement.

Here’s a few photos from our new abode. So far we’ve bought 3 shelves, two computer desks, a sofa, an armchair, a dining table and are in the process of connecting the house to the interwebs. Once they’re up and running we’ll be moving in. We also met the neighbours who seem a very nice bunch and seem amenable to energetic little black dogs.

Anyroad, we’re off yard saling. A bientot mes amis.