Aries

Taurus

Another big purchase, in December, was the surround sound system. We plan to add the DVD very soon so we can make use of the Dolby stereo. We both love watching films, so it's a good mutual Christmas present.

Don brought even more computers and monitors into the house. We now have a storage space under the bed. It doesn't solve anything that a skip wouldn't. But at least it's sort of out of the way.

Food? Yes, we like food as well. Both of us have put on weight, me far too much, Don because of reasons discussed below. The group of women who adopted me (thanks Asa) all like to do restaurants and food-gathers, so my penchant for eating out is being more satisfied.

Gemini

Visited Hairfish down in Castroville. It was great. Don was going to be helping with an office move, in a tech capacity, from past experience that means long hours and exhaustion, so I scheduled an escape. It was a great long weekend doing some tourism and some slobbing around. As it happened, I also chose the hottest time of the year to visit, so I wasn't baking in our home which has no air conditioning or real through draught.

I haven't had enough time to do anything for myself, really, but I did pick up a book about PHP and it's been a blast. It clicks with me, and along with learning the usefulness of server side includes and quite a lot about adapting cgi programs to my preferences (but not actually writing them) that's where the majority of my learning efforts have gone.

I've also learnt more about communicating online. With Ravensmeet, there's been a lot of practice. I find it hard to write letters though, and this year the writing of Christmas cards was such a chore that I've decided that if someone is online and not-family, that's it. No more paper cards if an e-card is available. This is something that has to be done with love, not out of duty.

Cancer

I still have no desire to have children of my own. I'm sponsoring four - two girls and two boys - and they are doing well. I'm proud of that, and I'd rather be a good sponsor than a bad parent. Being an aunt is fun, though it's still long distance.

John, Don's son, turned eighteen in September. Hardly seems possible. He's taller than his dad, and we don't think he's finished yet. We saw him a time or two this year. He has brilliant programming skills.

The cats are wonderful as ever.

Leo

Virgo

I did have the second half of my dental surgery in February. It was painful, lasted a long time, and I was squirming by the end. I don't think the long term prognosis for my back teeth is good because even though the surgery succeeded, I seem to have overactive plaque bacteria and they're already munching away at my mouth, which contrary to popular belief is too small for me to keep properly clean. There, you really wanted to know that didn't you. The surgery was nasty. Enough said.

Don - ah, Don. Whole 'nother thing. One day in early August he came home - I heard the van, and fifteen minutes later he wasn't in the house; I found him outside trying to crawl into the house. He had done something to his back - took him a good two hours to get inside, then in the early morning he was in so much pain I had to get the hospital to come get him. He had slipped a disc in a big way. He was off work for over four weeks, two of which he could barely move. Lots of pain, stress, and the realisation of how hard nursing a loved one can be. He is better... but we both know there is damage. No more heavy lifting - for either of us.

Know how I mentioned Don put on weight too? It was because of not running around like a loony all the time for lots of weeks. It seems that his metabolism has changed. We talked about him quitting smoking. We also argued about him quitting smoking too. Ultimately it is his choice, but it does affect me too.

Libra

Scorpio

I find the "hidden" stuff needs time and energy, and I'd rather do it properly than half-heartedly; plus, it's not like I can force the "juice". I did one reading for a friend, and it just didn't flow.

Sagittarius

I haven't been outdoors enough this year. I do know that much. And I haven't done nearly enough travelling. I did plant some sweet peas. They baked in the heat, but were pretty while I could keep them alive.

Capricorn

I had my first dealings with a lawyer, and I've met some fantastic people. The lawyer was great; not a suck-you-dry person who would mark up the cost of a photocopy. Where I've been unlucky was with offices. Three of them in the space of five months, two failed when I was just getting started. So I wasn't able to get my sellers' permit until December, so really most chances of selling anything went by the by. (Being full time caregiver to Don during August also didn't help. But that was my responsibility and my choice.)

Money? Well, we don't starve. But we earneth, and the taxman and other obligations taketh away. Our debts are on the downward slant, but getting what I needed for the lawyer was a bit tricky. :: shrug :: I trust that one day it will all work out just fine and the hard work will pay off.

Aquarius

I started to sponsor Ditaya this year, a girl in Zambia. That makes four children in whose life I make a difference. (I'm talking charitable stuff here.) I also launched The Forest; after there are enough sales, I'll donate some of the cover price to a tree-preservation charity.

I sure have used a lot of computers this year!

Pisces

I have been able to enjoy quite a few films this last year. Chicken Run and The Bone Collector stand out as favourites. Bukbukbuk. Internet radio looks interesting, maybe one day there'll be an Annwn channel?

I believe that next year will be a very good year.