So my epic holiday is nearly over … i go back to work tomorrow after more than 3 weeks away. I actually can't wait to get back! I so enjoy the work that i do, and i appreciate the structure of knowing what is going to happen each day.

Here is my holiday summary:

• A few days at home relaxing and getting ready
• Four days in Germany
• A week in De Panne, on the North coast of Belgium over Christmas
• Back home and time with family and friends
• Dealing with horrible damp mouldy walls that got really bad when we were away

For more details and photographs, read on … but beware of the mould pictures if they might squick you out!

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Approximately a year ago, you may have wished me a happy 2008. If you did, thank you! I had a pretty awesome year!

Reading back in my blog, it feels like a long year. In fact, i noticed a stark contrast between the two halves of the year, pivoting on the moment i got my new job. I was amazed by how much of a difference it made in my perception: the first half of the year feels much longer than a year ago, but everything since my new job feels very recent. Yet the two halves are separated by just one weekend! I also noticed how many more blog posts i made in the earlier half of the year compared to the latter.

So it's new year's eve again, the time when i get all retrospective and nostalgic. I actually quite like staying in on new year's eve and blogging. Here is a summary of the year.

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I'm home again, safe and sound. Today has been ein schöne Reisetag – we spent most of the day travelling, but it was nice weather. I will make a holiday picture post later, but for now i'm just delighted to be back on the Internet!

I fixed the MyChores problem in a matter of minutes. Fortunately i had backed up the user-uploaded pictures not too long ago, so in the end we only lost 32 pictures. I've also had some help from William, the owner of HostingRails who came up with a few suggestions as to what might have happened and how i can ensure that it won't happen again.

I saw my dad and stepmum briefly this evening, and my lovely sibling Felix is staying over tonight. We will probably all be going to Harvest Church tomorrow, which both delights and excites me! We're also having a big family get-together at my grandparents' house tomorrow! Yay! :)

I have had a nice meal, done the washing up, wiped the kitchen surfaces, tweeted on Twitter, and i'm slowly getting through 10 days worth of emails. Feeling a lovely sense of normality returning.

Remember i said my CouchDB on Rails series was being translated into Portuguese? It's done, courtesy of Leonardo. Here are the links to the separate instalments: Tradução: CouchDB on Rails by Aimee. Awesome job, Leonardo!

Just a quick post to say, hello, and celebrate the fact that i'm on my netbook at my parents' home! :)

Predictably, they didn't know the password for the wireless internet. I thought it would be written down on a piece of paper somewhere, but no, it's worse than that … only my uncle in Yorkshire knows the password! Happily i managed to poach a network cable and use that. It's nice to have my own machine, with my email and calendar, and internet preferences and keyboard and everything just the way i like it! :)

This has been a tough week at work, and i was feeling rather overwhelmed yesterday, but several things all came together nicely today. It was a good day. I'm also very happy and relieved to say that my brother, who has been very ill for some time, is significantly better now.

I'm going to bed in a minute … i've been given some Nytol sleeping tablets which will hopefully help me to sleep better. I've had a lot of nightmares and sleepwalking lately. I can feel the tablets kick in as i type this (or maybe that's just psychological?!) … i think this is going to be a nice relaxing weekend.

I had a nice weekend away with my family in Essex. Yesterday some of us went to Burnham on Crouch for the centenary carnival. It was excellent – a really fun afternoon with fine weather, watching a wing walker, admiring the fancy dress, enjoying the atmosphere. My Felix looked amazing, dressed up in a stunning leopard costume with incredible face paint. We saw a beautiful sunset, had a good view of Jupiter and several stars – it was a lovely clear evening – and we enjoyed watching some of the carnival floats in the procession.

It was great to see the people who mean such a lot to me, and i'm glad we're seeing more of each other now. It's actually not that hard to get to Essex on a train; it's quite convenient to go for a weekend, leaving straight from work on a Friday. I really felt i relaxed for the first time in a few weeks.

I got my parents set up with the Skype so we can have free phone calls, and they can call their friends in America. Very good, very good.

I finally feel ready to explain the grief that i was feeling when all i could manage was a full stop to get my feelings out into the big wide internet.

My kid brother is badly ill. Since there are 11 years difference in age between us, i played a big part in bringing up my brother, and we have an incredibly strong bond of love between us. It was breaking my heart to know that my precious little baby bro was going through so much suffering.

I have just come back from a couple of days away with my family, and i feel a whole lot better for it. My boss was very supportive and told me without hesitation to go and be with my family. I was very lucky that my darling Felix was also able to come and visit at the same time. We are very close as a family, and the three of us had a wonderful time last night. Tears were shed, we had many cuddles, our bonds of love and trust were renewed. I very much hope that i'll be able to go back to visit again soon.

If anyone wants to reply but doesn't know what to say, i very much appreciate replies containing just a full stop. To me that says, "I read your post and i am offering my support".

There is something about Spring that attracts positive feelings to me. I feel happy about the weather, and therefore, i start to feel cheerful and optimistic about other things too. I went to have my eyebrows shaped nicely yesterday, so i was feeling really good about my appearance. I went into the charity shop thinking they might have some boots, and sure enough, they had the exact style i was looking for in just the right size! I also bought a new skirt and top, two necklaces and a pair of pyjamas from the charity shop! Where i was willing to spend £30 on one pair of boots i got all of that for under £20! Bargain!!

A friend came round for lunch and a chat, after which we went to my cousins' school for the concert. It was absolutely excellent! I was astonished at the talent of the young children, and all that the teachers are doing to encourage them musically! They have a percussion band, an orchestra and a choir! I kept having to remind myself, "This is a primary school!" The kids are aged 5 – 12. It's absolutely amazing what the kids are able to do. My cousin did very well on the piano, and our duet from The Little Mermaid was well received. I guess i did alright on my piano solo, but to be honest it's a total blur in my memory! Everyone told me i played well! :)

Second Life continues to be a very effective distraction for me! Every time i ought to be doing some chores, i just think i'll pop into Second Life, see what's going on, and inevitably there is something to draw me in!! It's great fun though, i am really enjoying it! I went to a party last night (actually two!) and i suggested a song for the DJ to play. Next thing i know, the track is playing through my computer headphones, and everyone else at the party was hearing it too! Isn't technology marvellous!!

And what a beautiful day it is! My favourite season is here and it is making me very happy!! :D It's the kind of day i want to throw the doors and windows wide open and let the sunshine stream in! If only the neighbours weren't smoking on the balcony below …!

This afternoon i am playing a piano solo in a concert at my cousin's school. I will be playing Debussy's Golliwog's Cakewalk (though not nearly as fast as this!) My cousin, whom i teach piano, will also be playing a few pieces. I am looking forward to it, sure i will feel very proud! :)

I am about to go into town and look for a pair of ankle-heigh black boots. I am doing the unheard-of and wearing a skirt for the concert! The main reason i don't wear skirts or dresses is because i generally don't have the right shoes to go with them. Unfortunately there are no cheap shoe shops in Winchester that i know of … but maybe that's a good thing because it will stop me from getting any poor quality boots. I think Clarks are having a sale; i'll try there. I'm also going to get my eyebrows threaded, so a nice little morning of vanity for me! :D I am even going to wear earrings! I kind of want my ears pierced again, but i refuse to pay £20 for 2 minutes work … so i found some magnetic stud earrings which look just as good for £2! :) I think it is Second Life has got me interested in clothes and jewellery again!

Suzie was looking worse than ever last night … eyes completely shut and wouldn't open … but they opened up later on after we'd had a wash. Suzie has caught onto the trick with the milk drops covered in antibiotics, and now refuses to eat them! Bah! I had to get the syringe and squirt the medicine straight into Suzie's mouth last night! This morning i have just seen Suzie up and about pigging out on food, which is a good sign.

I hope everyone is having as gorgeous weather as we are here today! :D Have a lovely Caturday!

I feel like a Life Review is in order. But i'll keep it short. [Edit] no i didn't! It's kinda long!

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Wow, finally a day to unwind. Don't get me wrong – the Christmas period has been lovely – but very busy! Lots of 'face time', which is good, i have enjoyed seeing friends and family, but i also enjoy a day to myself.

I think i have decided to do nothing at all for new years eve. I'm too tired and i don't really see the point. It's just a number, arbitrarily decided. I'm more inclined to celebrate the solstice because it has geological and astronomical meaning. I think i might just go to bed as usual tomorrow evening. As for new years resolutions, i have made one easy one: to carry on being myself. I am really happy with my life as it is at the moment, and i want to continue in the same way: getting fitter by running, developing my spiritual awareness, learning more about science, stars and planets, making MyChores better … it's all good! :)

We had our friend goodarcher to visit yesterday. Had a lovely time together, i cooked a nice apple pie, and we had a good meal in the evening. We tried to install Second Life on my computer but it won't work because i don't have a super-splendid graphics card. Probably a good thing: i don't want to become addicted to Second Life!

We went out into town to see Library 2.0 which continues to impress me! They have this amazing self-service check-out for books! You scan your card, place as many books as you like on the table, and somehow it recognises what they all are! It checks them out to your account and prints a receipt! MARVELLOUS! :D There is also a lovely exhibition on about the history of the library and how they built the discovery centre. Oh, and there is a special room for railway geeks! It's so sweet, with chairs and a table, and surrounded by books about trains. I am actually quite interested in trains and railway lines, but when i went in the room there were three or four hardcore train geeks and it was instantly clear that i am way out of their league!! I covered my face in shame and walked out again!

It's also a good time of year for bargains: we got a steamer for £12.50. Hurrah! I have wanted one for ages! We have already done broccoli, Brussels sprouts and a Christmas pudding in it with great success! It's so easy! :) It's nice after Christmas is over to get a little gift for ourselves! ;)