Well, it's that time of year again. Time to review the past 365 days. Apologies up front, as this is always a long winded affair :) Just to recap, this is what my aims were for 2007;

• Spend more time supporting Steph
• Spend more time with Aurora
• Be a good role mode for Aurora
• Learn more about myself through Aurora
• Write at least one "story" from my past in the blog each month*
• Blog at least 10 times a month, preferably 15 times*
• Go on a holiday to Adelaide
• Go on a holiday somewhere semi-exotic (not Adelaide :D)
• Indulge where appropriate
• Pay off an extra $5K on the home loan
• Go to the Zoo
• Go to the Aquarium*
• Have a "quality" catchup with one of my friends at least once a fortnight*
• Continue to make sure SDM has the best EPM practice in Australia
• Establish SDM as a force in the MOSS arena. Transform the business into something others will envy, and one that makes a nice little profit for all involved
  :)

Well, I didn't hit the mark with a few unfortunately (those with *'s), but for the majority I did fine. And I managed to write 83 blogs this year (not including this one) from a target of 120... so, some room for improvement there, but not too bad overall. So why didn't I hit the mark with blog entries for this year? Let's take a look at 2007.

Overall, I think this year has been one of the hardest of my life. It's been one that has seen some of the biggest challenges I've had to face, particularly in my personal life, but also at work, and it's been a year of growth. In years to come, I'm sure I'll look back at 2007 as "the hard year". The year started badly. And I mean badly. Steph and I were fighting, a lot. I started smoking again, and smoked (mostly) on and (sometimes) off for the entire year. And although I had some clear cut direction in my work life, my personal life was at a bit of a loss really. Having said that though, this year proved to be excellent for "finding my feet again" and "rebuilding". As a result, the relationship I have now with Steph is the strongest it's ever been in the 8 or so years we've been together. And I'm HAPPY at home and at heart.

One of the big things that shifted for me this year (and it took some time) was the balance of work/life. I managed to cut work out from the weekend (except for very rare, high importance circumstances). And I dialled back working from home at night as well. Mind you, I'm still addicted to email, but that's something to work on in 2008 :)

My extended family situation got better as well, although it wasn't always easy. I came to grips (i.e. more than just saying it) with the fact that I don't really care what my family thinks of me - as long as I am resolute in my principles, the truth and hold fast to what I feel is right, then that's all that matters. My relationship with my Mum improved. I enjoyed the company of my mother-in-law, and her interactions with Aurora. She helped a great deal this year and for that I'm eternally thankful. I didn't however speak to my sister this year - we have been incommunicado since 16 June 2006. I offered an olive branch in November in an effort to mend bridges however it hasn't happened yet. I sincerely hope it will sometime soon.

I managed to do a lot of personal growth in my trip overseas in the middle of the year. I went to Denver for work and then took a week off solo in New York. I didn't realise until I got there how much I needed some time by myself. I've got to say that I was blown away by Steph's support on this... I was obviously very apprehensive about the whole idea, both from my perspective of being away from Steph and Aurora for 2 weeks, but also leaving Steph to deal with Aurora, full time, 24x7 for 2 weeks. Steph was supportive, probably also very anxious about it and at the end of it, seemed to also have a period of growth between her and Aurora. And although it was extremely hard to be away from Steph and particularly Aurora, it was definitely worth it. I'll always hold a special place in my heart for New York because of this, and it was truly one of the highlights of my year.

Another (quite unexpected) highlight of the year came to us, as a family, twice. This was our 2 family holidays to Adelaide to stay with one of my dearest friends from work, Marc Soester, and his family. Again, I was a bit unsure about how it would work out; Would Steph get on with Marc's wife, Danyse? How would Aurora go, in an unfamiliar environment for a few days? How would we all go, all sleeping in the same room? How would we cope with the HEAT? (the first trip was done in 40 degree weather). And how would Aurora go on the plane? All of this however worked out smoothly and I (and Steph I think) had the most relaxing, nicest, most welcoming time on both occasions we went across. It just felt very comfortable and very "right". We came back from both trips energised, but also disheartened that the Soesters don't live closer, and that we'll only see each other a few times a year. In fact, the first trip really cemented in my mind that we had to do something with our house to provide the same environment for Aurora that Max and Missy (Marc's kids) will grow up with.

Thus, a focus of this year was also working out what we wanted to do with our house. Janet St is a great house - it's just "not quite right". I had never been able to put a finger on it until that first visit to Marc's. It all became clear though when we got back home - there was no kids play area (among other things). So, we started the wheels in motion. The plan was to somehow get a rumpus room. We started with looking at renovating the existing house, but it became clear that such an exercise would cost a lot of money ($180K+), and we'd basically end up with a shitty bottom half + rumpus + great upstairs (we're single level at the moment). That wasn't going to do. So we looked at moving, but the (very few) houses that came up in the area were either a step backwards or sideways, never up. And when one did come up that was a step up, it went for $726K... After some serious consideration, we started to look into starting fresh, on our same block (e.g. knocking down our existing house). We looked at probably around 40 or 50 house designs in Display Villages, were getting into that "it'll do" mood, until we saw THE home. Note, not the house, but the home. And now it's all systems go; we should get the final plans back in a week or two, we've got some approvals from council, waiting on a few more, we're looking for a rental for 6 months, have a demolition crew lined up - it'll all happen in 2008, and we'll have a kickass house with 4br + study + rumpus to move into. I can't wait. I still have some apprehension about the costs (but that's the "economic conservative" in me coming out). I know it's going to work out in the end though - it's going to be a magnificent family home for the Neumanns in the years to come.

SDM has kept me busy this year. Ha! That's an understatement. I've taken 62 individual flights this year (not including my time in the US, which was another 5 flights). Managing both the EPM and Information Worker businesses within SDM has kept me flat out for most of the year (one week off in New York and a few days here and there respite). I'm very proud of where we are now though compared to a year ago. A year ago I was most certainly proud of SDM and the areas I was involved with, however 2007 has been the year to really cement and grow the business. The EPM team is now the biggest, most focussed, most profitable, most reknowned in the country. We are a clear leader in the field nationally, and the team is strong, despite the fact that we've had two significant departures this year. The IW team has "come of age" and is still maturing day by day. We've started to see some impressive results in the team, and I'm happy to say we were able to share some nice profits with the team in the middle of the year (which was one of my main aims). We've still got a while to go yet - and at times it's scary. We've put on more people than any other area of the business this year, lost more people, had more fuck ups, had more successes and have a lot more scrutiny and support. But this is exactly the stuff I live for - the thrill of the chase. 2008 should be huge for us.

2007 saw me attending a few concerts, all of which I really enjoyed. I saw Big Day Out (Tool, Muse, The Streets, Trivium), Pixies, John Mayer, Lamb of God, Nine Inch Nails, Guns N' Roses (well... debatable), The Black Crusade (Machinehead, Arch Enemy, Trivium) and Gigantour (Megadeth, Static-X, Devildriver, Lacuna Coil) and I have two of the most Andy-anticipated concerts coming up in 2008; Dream Theater and Iron Maiden. I remembered why I was in love all over again with a current flame (Coheed and Cambria released a new album) and rekindled an old affair with Nine Inch Nails. Album of the year for me though most certainly goes to Dream Theater's "Systematic Chaos" - a tremendous album, and thank God, a return to form. Song discovery of the year (note, not song of the year, as it was released in '06) was Mew's "The Zookeeper's Boy". One of the best songs I've ever heard. And a definite highlight of the year for me was playing a live gig. I played for Monstar Music's "Dining with the Stars" concert in June, which meant learning 11 (very different) songs on acoustic and accompanying 11 different singers one evening. It was great fun, I had a ball, and even though it meant a lot more rehearsal and prep than I had anticipated, it was a great experience.

I didn't spend nearly enough time with my friends this year. I saw Gav and Meg a bit (we did get away to Sorrento with them this year, which is always a pleasure), Mark and Tammy a bit, Sean a tiny bit and Pauly, mostly at concerts. Speaking of Mark and Tammy, we did go to FOUR weddings this year (and sadly a funeral as well). Congratulations to Jade and Joel, Pauly and Im, Tammy and Mark and Sharna and Mark (note, a different Mark).

Finally, I'd like to end this recap with the only thing that mattered this year (doesn't mean you can ignore all of the above - took too freakin long to write it). Aurora, as she did the year before, and no doubt will in the years to come, changed my life this year. For the better. She made me laugh harder than I've ever laughed, smile more, worry more. She made me be more responsible, have more fun, and made me sob uncontrollably like a child. She made me be more relaxed, question myself and change my behaviour. She made me very frustrated, learn to enjoy to walk around a supermarket (with her) and pick up a camera more. And mostly she just made an important part of me that wasn't there before, and I can't ever imagine not being there anymore.

OK, that's it. I hope you didn't try and read the above early on New Year's Day with a hangover... and even if you did, you probably had to have a nap halfway through. As I said, 2007 was a hard fight, but a worthy one that was reasonably cleanly won.

Bring on 2008!

I renewed my licence on Friday (10 years since the last one). Was a relatively painless process, but it got me thinking about the next time I'll be doing it. More specifically, it got me thinking about Aurora the next time I'm renewing my licence, and if she'll come with me, and what she'll be like in 10 years time. Exciting stuff ahead :)

Labels: Aurora

Aurora turned 2 years old today. What a fantastic day it was, and what a complete joy she is to be around. Highlights of the day included her + ice cream cake (she just LOVES ice cream cake), the enormous haul of presents she received and of course, the huge amount of love she received from those around her. Was a reasonably quiet affair in terms of her party, but she went to bed a very happy, satisfied, tired and loved baby girl.

Labels: Aurora

Well, last week was the end of the (official) working year for me. And it ended with an absolute bang. Besides being a stupidly busy last week of 2007, we've had two huge things on the plate other than the normal goings-on of work. The first has been an impending office move for the first weekend we return to work in 2008. The new office (in South Yarra) is going to be fantastic; much bigger, much more conducive to work and in a much funkier location. So, my last day was spent trying to pack up my desk as much as possible (reasonably successful). The other huge news has been the acquisition of SDM by DWS. What does this mean? Well, a number of things, but in essence it's all very positive. Of course, there are some unknowns involved in any merger / acquisition, but both sides are being very open about intentions, plans and details. And for me? Well, it's likely to involve some more responsibility - but there's still a bunch more details to work out first. Suffice to say, 2008 is going to be a MASSIVE year on the work horizon from the looks of things.

Labels: Work

Had a great Xmas. Aurora had a ball, was great to spend the morning at home, with my Mum who came for breakfast, and then lunch at Steph's Mum's. And I scored some great loot as well; Slash's book (have been hanging out for that one), Nikki Sixx's book, the Rockwiz 1001 songs book, some beer, some chocolate and some other assorted goodies. Even my work Kris Kringle was awesome (I got 2 music magazines - perfect!). One of the mags I got (Q's 21 people who changed modern music) has been a great read so far.

Tomorrow is Aurora's 2nd birthday. A busy time in the Neumann house, with lots of wrapping paper involved :)

Well, I succumbed to the revolution and got myself an iPod just before Xmas. Mainly because my current MP3 player (my phone) started to get a little flaky (the headphone jack). As a result, fellow train travellers would randomly get blasted with my current music of choice (the last effort was Ministry's latest album... at which point I was getting some pretty strange looks). Using my frequent flyer points from Virgin, I redeemed a 160gb iPod Classic (Black). I've gotta say, it's pretty cool, and seems to do exactly what you want in a portable media player (i.e. play music, TV and movies, with a few games thrown in as well). The menu system is pretty good, however, for someone who is used to using the Windows Explorer to select their music, one of the main issues I've found is that the metadata on my music isn't quite up to scratch. And given I've got (as my iPod tells me) 135gb of music (that's just over 28,000 songs), I've spent a few hours updating metadata on the music over the past week. So far I think I've probably spent 6 hours updating songs, and I'm only just up to "M". A way to go yet. Other than that though, it's going well :)

Yesterday marked the third anniversary of the death of Dimebag Darrell, the unique and incomparable guitarist from Pantera. Darrell Lance Abbott had such a distinctive sound and inspiring style of playing, and although Pantera had long split by the time of his death, and in my opinion, his other efforts afterwards (Damageplan, Rebel Meets Rebel) never quite lived up to the standard he set during his Pantera years, it's a real shame for him not to still be around, cranking out awesome riffs and mindblowing guitar solo's. A life cut too short. R.I.P Dimebag.

Labels: Music

Just had a good dinner with Bren, a mate who I don't nearly see enough of. He's a funny guy, and one who's not too bad at cutting a line of code either. Anyway, he opens the conversation with "By the way, did I tell you that I work for Microsoft now?" (knowing full well that he hasn't told me, smartass... heh). Anyway, as it turns out, the company he works for in Thailand (for which he mainly works for remotely from here) was acquired by MS a month ago. Nice! Quite ironic also in that Bren has always been a bit on "the dark side", cutting code in both Java and .NET. Guess he's now (forcefully) seen the light :) He'll do well there anyway, and realistically, it doesn't sound like a whole heap is going to change for him. In essence, sounds like MS bought themselves a healthcare solution (Bren worked for GCS - who produce a software suite used by major hospitals throughout South East Asia). Interesting turn of events...

By the way, if you missed my last post, I'm a little excited about Dream Theater. And the good folks at OzProg.com are running a comp for free tickets to the show. I'm hoping I win so that I can either;
a.) take Steph to the Melbourne gig
b.) take a flight to Brisbane :)

So, click the logo below and check out the concert details if you so desire...

Labels: Concerts