I thought that after my last big post I should write a little about what’s happened between now and then.

Some of the news is sadly a little disappointing – due in large to financial reasons, I didn’t start at uni this year. I will however do everything within my power to start next year instead. There just wasn’t enough time between making the decision and being able to plan financially for it. I’m not a single woman, nor am I a wage earner, and above all I have a teenage daughter currently going through college and hoping to go on to uni. I’m pretty sure she’ll get there, being the bright and determined young thing that she is, and that most definitely takes priority. That and the current job market being far from lively in recent times means our finances will be strained for the next couple of years. In a nutshell, I’ll still go ahead with it but it’s taken a backseat for now.

In the meantime, I’m busying myself with other things.

I have, as usual, many ideas for online projects. Most of which will never see the light of day but there’s one I hope to launch by the end of November, hopefully in the next couple of weeks. I’ve been procrastinating about it for a while, now it’s time to get on and do it. Don’t get too excited, it’s probably of little interest to the few people who read here but I’m hoping it will appeal to a number of others. If not, well nothing ventured nothing gained. One of these days I’ll strike upon an idea that actually works out, I’m very much hoping this will be it!

I’ve also been more involved with my local LUG (Linux User Group) and was appointed caretaker of the website and forums. Unfortunately since I contracted swine flu in August I seem to have gone down with every darn bug floating around out there and therefore have missed a lot of meetings in recent months. Luckily that doesn’t stop me from carrying on with the web side of things, but I hope in future I can be a bit more in touch with the group by actually getting to the meets! It’s come on in leaps and bounds since I first joined and it’s great to watch the group getting bigger and stronger.

A couple of weeks ago I had one of the best weekends ever when my husband Carl and I attended LugRadio Live and OggCamp. Not only were both days packed full of fantastic talks (and the odd comedy sketch!) but I also got to meet some people in the flesh for the first time who’ve become very dear to me over the last couple of years. People that I originally met on Jaiku, and some who I know through Linux Outlaws (which is hosted by Fab and Dan whom I originally met online through Jaiku). There are too many to mention really, but you guys know who you are – it was an absolute pleasure and meeting you all totally made the weekend complete!

I also stood very close on several occasions to somebody whom I respect for many reasons (not least because he’s a metal god!) – Jono Bacon. Like a pitiful fangirl however, I was far too shy to actually say hello to him. I’m not good at small talk anyway, I’d probably have gushed like a complete idiot (I probably did that to a few people over the weekend, sorry if you were one of them!) so it was perhaps a good thing that I didn’t introduce myself. :)

All in all it was a fantastic weekend. I was sad to hear that it was the last LugRadio Live, as it was my first, however I’ve heard whispers of another OggCamp next year. I certainly hope so, I thoroughly enjoyed it as I know everybody else did. Considering it was the first year it was held I thought it was presented exceptionally well. A huge congratulations to the Ubuntu UK Podcast and Linux Outlaws guys on your success, it was a job very well done. Oh, and your mugs were also an astounding success with me. I have personally road tested them with both tea and coffee numerous times since the weekend they were bought and they are now favourites amongst my huge mug collection. :)

Last but not at all least – I’ve stopped smoking! I’ve done so with the aid of an electronic cigarette – I can’t sing the praises of these little (or in my case mostly not so little) devices enough. I’m almost on day 90, and I’ll be publishing an article dedicated to the subject on that day in celebration. This post is already too long for me to delve into that subject here, so I’ll just leave you with this – after being a pack a day smoker for almost 21 years I am now smoke free. Not only that, but it was a completely painless process. I’m still amazed at how easy it was. If anyone at the LugRadio / OggCamp weekend wondered what that strange thing hanging out my mouth was, now you know. Sorry to disappoint if you thought it was some strange kind of illegal drug delivery device. ;)

Stay tuned for more….

PS I realise there were far too many smilies in this post but I won’t apologise for that, I don’t care how unprofessional it looks, this was a personal post. So there. :p ;)