I am currently easing back into work after nearly 3 months off (refer http://tenweeksinitaly.wordpress.com/) with a few odd jobs. Some of my work mates will be going on well-earned leave for up to 4 weeks and I’ll be odd jobbing and helping out around the department. This week I have been updating our policies (one of them ironically on keeping policies up to date) and I have handled a few staff suggestions related to our new smart forms (interactive PDF forms). Next year will bring a swag of new projects and I have a feeling I’ll be deeply involved in making a few of them happen. This is both exciting and a bit scary as all the thinking I have had to do for a while has been related to decoding menus in Italy and seeking information on the wily ways of public transportation in Sicily. I guess, thinking about what a challenge that was, that I am up to the task at hand….

Everyone around me is in a pre-Christmas frenzy. I am so fortunate that I did not grow up with the ‘Catholic Guilt’ thing. I don’t celebrate Christmas because I am not a practising Christian and, after all, I try to show ‘goodwill to all’ throughout the year and not just save it up for December. As my mother used to say “It’s Jesus’ birthday honey, not ours”. Smart woman, that Louise.

Living in the southern hemisphere also somehow takes the winter festivus feeling out of the season. For heaven’s sake it’s summer and I am sitting here in a sarong.

So I hope everyone has a peaceful time but remember not to buy me a present. If you must, make it a goat for a village in Africa or a donation to an aboriginal community. OK? Cheers!