Closer and closer to the snowy precipice.

Well, its now 5 weeks till my first day of work, 13 days of work left in Sydney before I have to leave it all behind, and as the excitement rises, so does the tension.

Work has been stressful to say the least. It seems weekly now, that one client or anothers sky begins to fall, and we all run around picking up the pieces until it all totters back into place. Today Blake got to experience some balmy 33c temperatures in one of our server rooms which was happily overheating.

I was looking through my photos today, after remembering the bike tour Dad and I took when I was younger – 11, perhaps? As I flicked through the series of photos of the drive to jindabyne, I realised just how much I am looking forward to going to the snow again this year. The excitement still rumbles in the pit of my stomach, and I cant think of anything I want to do more right now. However, after some thought about how last season panned out, I’m determined to make this year better in so many ways.

I don’t know (and I don’t particularly care) if certain people are reading this, and I strongly doubt that they would, by the way they speak about me when they think no-one is watching, but if they are, then they better watch out this season. As immature as I probably was last season, and as inexperienced in the whole game of living somewhere new, this season is going to be very different. Lead me, follow me, walk with me, or get the hell out of my way. I realise that last season, I probably didn’t endear myself to a few people, and these people have made their best efforts to ensure that the great friends I do have left over from last season think less of me because of who I am.

To those of you who know me, I’ve changed a lot since then, for the better. To those of you who don’t, make up your own mind once you have met me. Listen to what others have to say about me at your own peril, and feel free to go jump in the river if you believe a damn thing they say. To the few of you who I am talking about, go jump in the river anyway. I have nothing more to say to you.

I think the past six months in Sydney has changed a lot about the way I am. I know when to shut my mouth now, and I think I’ve become a lot more humble in the way I approach things, but I have also learnt to stand my ground, and make my opinions and positions clear. I don’t mean to say that I’m free game to be walked all over, or that I’m going to deck the first person I get in an argument with, but working and living with the people I have been, has taught me a lot about when I need to shut up, and when my opinion or experience is actually worth a damn.

Someone I hold as a good friend asked me last season why I cared so much about other people’s opinions of me, and why I was so quick to submit to them, and my answer then was that I didn’t want to piss people off. It was easier for me to roll over and let them have their way, to give them what they wanted, and to play along with their side, than to endure the problems that come with conflict.
After six months, I looked back on this on the drive home from work this afternoon, and I realised that I’ve come 180 degrees from who I was last season. I like to give people what they want, and I like to make people happy when I can, but no longer am I going to be walked upon, or used.

This post has probably either made you think that I’m ready to pick a fight with the first idiot who crosses my path, or that I’m going to rock up in skinny jeans and black eyeliner. I’m not. I’m still who I have been for the last 19 years, none of that has changed, and it certainly hasnt happened overnight.

On a happier (and for those who are reading, probably a damn sight more interesting) note, I’ve got a bunch of pictures here from various outings

Anyway, now I’ve vented, I’m going to leave it at that, and I’ll post more soon when I have more interesting things to say than general whining about how much my life sucks

Hope you’re all well,

Pip