I’m off to start my new job in Rotherham – I’ve been appointed, finished the grad scheme with M&S, and now I’ve got a proper accountability rather than being extra support as I have been through my training. It’s been pretty tough to get to this point, with some difficulties that started almost a year ago, and there have been several times where I’ve just wanted to pack it in – personally, getting here is a big achievement, and so is doing it with the jobs market the way it has been. Jennie, Mum and Dad, my Grandparents and friends have all helped me do it, one way or another at different times in the year, and I can’t tell you all how grateful I am… thanks!

This time last year (specifically, about 22 hours ago last year) I was in Birmingham’s jewellers quarter, having just bought a diamond ring for Jennie, with Kieran’s expert advice. It took me almost a month to get the courage up and figure out how to ask her the question of our lifetime, which I finally did on the 1st of February, up Arthur’s Seat, in Edinburgh (and yeah, I got good marks for the location ).

This year we’ll be getting married (after much deliberation over the date) in mid-August up here in the North East. I really can’t wait, and I’m hoping that our time apart, while I’m in Rotherham and Jennie finishes her NQT year up here in Darlington, will fly by and not drag on too much. She’s very worth waiting for, though, even if it does!

Winding back slightly to January, I went over to Dubai with Dad, Mum and Felix, just as they were starting out on the strange experience of living out there with Dad’s work. The setting that time wasn’t too glamourous, in some of the oldest accommodation in Dubai, some serviced apartments near the World Trade Centre, but there was a nice pool and it was good and central. I think all the rain of the year, more or less, fell while I was there, but my next visit had better weather.

In July, Jennie finished her PGCE, having done very well in it, and she promptly (though after a bit of head and heartache) got herself a job with a 1 year contract in a Darlington primary school, to start in September. She did really well – it’s no mean feat given the small number of primary vacancies up here and low turnover, and she’s setting herself up well for 2010 with the experience.

The graduation of the year was Dominie’s, another gorgeous sunny affair on Palace Green, with copious amounts of Pimm’s and the usual dose of academic pageantry. This January will see Jennie’s second of (a probable) 3 Durham graduations, but I think it might be a bit colder than the other two I’ve been to!

August brought another (for me, Jennie’s first) great week in France with the gang – Brittany this time. There were quite a few more trips out in the local area this year, which was good, and the weather held pretty well, which was a worry with not being as far south as in other years… though Ben might not agree, who got the very worst of what was our worst journey there yet… and it wasn’t entirely his own fault, either . We’ll not be going on another France trip this year, for obvious reasons, but I’m looking forward to the holidays resuming maybe next year (Italy 2011, anyone?)

September was the inevitable end of summer and start of term for Jennie – she got a little flat, nice and close to her school, to try and make the notoriously difficult first year of teaching that little bit easier without the commuting. After a false start in Darlington before the France holiday, I started working over in the Middlesbrough store, with what was to be my last placement before getting appointed at the end of the year. Things were pretty quiet with us for a few months, with Jennie outrageously busy at work and me gearing up for the big Chrimbo push, but I managed to slide in starting to sail at a sailing club in Northumberland – I’ll have to find a new one in Rotherham, which is a shame, but it was a lot of fun and something I’ll be keeping up with this year.

In late September, Beckie died, obviously completely without warning. I didn’t know what to write about it then, and I still don’t now. I’ll miss her badly, as will each of us. I don’t often have a day when I don’t think of her now, which I feel quite sad about, because I didn’t always make the effort to stay in touch before it happened.

In November I took a second trip to Dubai, and saw Mum, Dad, Felix and Dom all settled in to their lovely (and enormous) house out there. I basically had 10 days of escaping the British winter, swimming and sunbathing, catching up with family, and big time being on relax. When I came back, Jennie had planned a mini-break to York for the following weekend, where we did the usual mini-break activities like painting china and stuff like that… why, what do you do on mini breaks?

December’s always a busy month, and I just about found time to fit in Christmas shopping around work, and preparing for the (very welcome) familial invasion at Christmas, which has just finished, and was full of food, presents and fun. And then, it was Now.

The end of a busy year, and this one’s starting just as busily, with moving to Rotherham, househunting, wedding planning, and all sorts of other things to do, I don’t think we’ll be at a loose end much…

Christmas was all new… for a start there was the work, which was busy in a strange way – the work peaked in the last three days, after being quite quiet up to then, but when it came it was more than we ever expected. It seemed to take even the guys who’ve been around for years by surprise, which was interesting. I really enjoyed it when it picked up, anyway, which is a good sign.

I spent Christmas itself (I had 4 days off!) at Jennie’s house with her and her mum – a much smaller (in people if not pressies) affair than I’m used too, but it was really good fun… I was given lots of lovely things that have all been used, which is the real test of a good present.

We had second Christmas at K&L’s, then a New Years Eve party up here at mine – was great to see everyone, as it always is.

After a few days back at work at the start of Jan, I was off on holiday to Dubai, to see Mum, Dad and Felix and help them settle in over there… it’s a really interesting and quite strange place – I had a great visit, though it did rain a fair bit more than you’d expect in the desert! I’ll probably go back out in October, which will be good especially to see them settled in their new house.

And my main big news, which most of you lot know anyway, is that Jennie and I got engaged! I proposed up Arthur’s seat in Edinburgh on the 1st of February, and we’re looking at Christmas 2010 for the wedding (which can’t come round soon enough!) – absolutely fantastic news, and I’m thrilled that she said yes.  We’re starting to get embroiled in the crazy world of wedding planning, but we’ll be having an engagement party in mid-April to celebrate with everyone… hopefully we won’t be all jaded by the hassle of planning by then!

I’ve had a nice few days off since Sunday – back at work tomorrow, so not a full week off, sadly.

That’s all for now folks, I don’t really want to write a great long post about things you all know anyway!

We went around the gardens for a bit, after sneakily blagging our way in free by Felix getting his photo taken by someone from The Journal, proudly holding a lantern he made… all very interesting and modern and creative – it’s not often a garden like that even vaguely interests me, even with my NT membership! Except maybe if it contains picnic baskets…

They’re off to Dubai in the New Year, to be with my Dad who moved out there a week or two ago… that’s just how a recession effects industries linked to construction, unfortunately, so he’s had to go where the work is. It was good to see them for probably the last time before Dom graduates next summer, and I think they had good fun too.

We went to Barter Books, a great big second hand bookshop/Aladdin’s cave/British Library in the old (massively oversized) railway station. It’s the kind of place that you could spend a week in, as well as a month’s salary, quite easily. Jen’s quite jealous, so we’ll have to go back sometime… I was sorely tempted by lots of old OS maps they had, but restrained myself.

Felix has become ridiculously good at the Diabolo since I last saw him (when he was struggling to even catch it from a flick in the air – not that I can do that either!) He’s made up couple of very intricate tricks of his own… it seems like a much better playground fad than Pogs ever were!

So, here ends my last weekend off before Christmas… almost. Tis St. Andrews Day today, and even though it’s not quite Burns’ Night, Jennie and I will be celebrating with Haggis, Neaps and Tatties, and maybe some Scotch “gravy” too .

Only if she finishes her essay though *cracks whip*

Hope you’re all well and have good weeks.

I spent the morning playing with my new TomTom 520, a handy eBuyer misprice (which has now been corrected), so pretty cheap. I’m pleased with it – by fully updating it and using the latest maps guarantee to get the v8.10 map, it now has the IQ routes and advanced lane guidance, features that are the main selling point of the newer 530, which cost a lot more. I got a special business version, which includes a year’s speed camera updates for free, and another free map update over and above the latest maps guarantee. Doesn’t sound like much, but they usually charge £50 for a map update, so definitely a good thing to have! </geek>

The TomTom took us a great route down to West Wittering – we couldn’t be bothered with the A3, so recalculated the route and went via Petworth. There were all these pretty little villages and things to see – you could have spent a day on it, getting out to look at everything interesting, and I think my dad fully intends to do that!

I showed a few more people around this house in my hunt for a replacement tenant – and there have been lots of people interested. I think the landlord is now settled on one, so with any luck I’ll get my deposit and last 9 days rent back – should help with furniture buying! I’m also quite pleased because a tax rebate from last year that I applied for finally came through – I’d totally forgotten about it, and had the same pleasant sensation of finding £10 in a pocket that I didn’t know I had, but it was £850. Winner!

I’m now just counting down the days until the move… bought a fridge and booked the van this morning, it’s all really happening! This time next week I’ll be waking up in my own house! How very, very exciting. I’ll book in the housewarming with you all as soon as I know which weekends I’m working at Metro.

Right then, I think that’s all for now – I’m going to get back to my sorting and packing, you all have a great Sunday!