Well, that's ten years in Coventry... [part 1, the lazy Sunday draft edition]

[mrph]

September's the time of year when I start thinking "well, which bits of my life changed in the last twelve months, then? And where next?". I know most people do this sort of thing in December/January but, for me, September's always seemed a much more useful marker - it measures the years since I first escaped from Southampton and got to Cov Uni.

Ten years here, now. Excluding '92-'93 (year off down south, for good behaviour).

And it's been a pretty good year[1], this time. For starters, I'm a lot less screwed-up and mopey than I was a year ago. I'm financially a little more stable, emotionally a lot more sorted, and generally a bit more confident.

Work could be better, of course. And, generally, the "Coventry mob" seems to be dispersing a bit. But these things happen. Nothing stays the same for ever - even if it did, I'd be complaining that life was boring and stale.

So, things to do...

- Either get a new job or find a way to revitalise the old one.

- Think about whether I want to be in Coventry in 12 months time and, if not, where I do want to be.

- Finish decorating the house! And nuke the garden... :)

- Get another cat.

- Organise the two trips I've been promising myself for ages - Kyoto and NYC.

- Slow down, or at least change focus. Cut out some of the more hectic whistle-stop gothclub socialising (no, not the Calling or Exile - I miss them often enough as it is!) and spend some proper 'quality time' (for lack of a better phrase) with some of the friends I only seem to see in passing.

- A few places and events have been neglected, too - the British Museum, for one. I've not seen any theatre for ages, either (I missed Yukio Ninagawa's visit this year - especially annoying as the plays were by Mishima...). Oh, and I really ought to see Laurie Anderson this tour, too - if I can drag myself to London to see goth bands on a weekly basis, surely I can make it down the road to Warwick to see her?

- Cook more. I'm starting to forget how much I enjoy proper food and experimental cookery...

- Sleep now'n'then.

- Write more. I've not written any fiction for years, and I'm starting to worry that all that time spent on technical manuals may have rotted vital bits of my brain...

Lots of things I need to think about. Life, as it stands, is enjoyable and comfortable. I'm generally a happy soul. But it's probably time for me to cut down on the non-stop displacement activity and really start thinking about what, if anything, I do want to change...

[1] - Sorry for the Tori Amos earworm, folks...:)