2007′s been a good year, I’ve decided. Not as spectacular as last year, maybe, but pretty good nonetheless. So. 2007 in summary.

Went away on a houseboat. Heaps of fun, but I kept randomly swaying as though we were still on the water for about a week after the trip had finished and we were back on dry land.

Got a job at Lenards, the local chicken shop. I think I have demonstrated a huge amount of growth. For instance: when I first started and I’d find a chicken head in the neck box, it would be a ten minute mission to get it out, involving about ten meters of paper towel and lot of suppressed shrieks of disgust. Now I can just chuck them in the bin. I’m very brave.

I played hockey again this year. Not very well, but still. It was fun.

Turned sweet sixteen and got a trip to Sydney with Mum. Very fun.

Played hockey for the school team. Almost scored my first ever goal (that one in the minkey’s carnival when I was about five years older than everyone doesn’t count) but there was a short corner a SPLIT second before I put the ball in. Actually if I’m honest, the whistle got blown just before I hit it in, but I hit it in anyway. It still counts!! Not really, but humour me please.

Climbed Mount Warning. Didn’t kill myself on the chain bit at the end. Very proud of that.

Went to a laser skirmish day with hockey. Played three or four games (about two or three hours) and only shot one person. Aimed a lot and died a lot. Had fun.

Volunteered at the Gold Coast Marathon with the Palm Beach Scouts (don’t tell anyone). Had a ridiculous amount of fun, but I jumped up and down so much that I couldn’t walk the next day. Kind of (okay, very) pathetic, since I didn’t even run. Yes, that’s me with the teased and coloured hair, T-shirt over the jumper and plastic crocs with long football socks which I very stylishly wore over the top of my jeans. Hey, fashion comes first.

Went roller blading of all things. Hilarious fun. Should do stupid, totally random stuff like that more often.

Hosted a Japanese student, once again.

Used as slave labour selling ugg boots at the Bangalow, Lennox Heads and Byron Bay markets. Although if I hadn’t done that I would never have seen the awe-inspiring sight of a full on bikie in leather and with tatts and piercings all over the place buying a pink pair of uggboots for himself. Also I wouldn’t have got any more of those incredible nachos.

I got my learners license. Did not crash or lose my learners license, despite my dad’s attempts to get me breath tested. Also, I think my mum’s coming around, cause she was always too scared to take me driving. She’s just told me a story about a friend’s daughter she used to take driving, who had a tendency to try and go up busy, inner-city Hobart (so really not that busy at all) one way streets. So she really has nothing to worry about. The Gold Coast doesn’t have any one way streets.

Spent two nights and three days home alone. During this time I realised that if I don’t want to get freaked out at night, animated Disney films are excellent. Also that it’s strangely lonely without smelly ones (and Mum of course) around.

Did Leadership and Business Week at school. My team kicked butt. Yes, we are fabulous.

Did the Salt 5km run!! So proud. Came first in my age group. Yes, I am a legend. (I’m getting rather good at the self-praise thing, if I do say so myself.)

Went for school captain at school. Screwed up the interview magnificently, due to my complete inability (somewhat surprisingly) to tell people how good I am and why I’d make a good school captain. However, I didn’t make an idiot of myself on the full school assembly when I had to do my speech, so I’m not too worried.

Went to Gympie for the Heart of Gold International Film Festival. Very pleased that my favourite film won the whole thing. Discovered that Gympie is very hot.

Went to Academic Awards night. Usually it’s the boringest thing ever, but it was made interesting because I was sitting with two exchange students and a friend who went to Japan for three months, after coming with me and everyone for the tour. After about an hour, it was me and the German guy, who was explaining to me the entire German education system and was completely outraged that the people who win all the massive plaques and trophies, the “special award” ones, have to give them back to the school. Quite hilarious.

Did the Noosa Marathon 10kmn run leg in 1:11:19!!!!! I’m very proud. Smelt pretty bad by the end, but you get that. Ooh, and here’s a photo of me looking athletic. Actually, can’t find that one, so here’s me and Jack (my little bro, who did the bike leg – Dad did the swim) in the transition area, with all the bikes in the background.

Attended the Sports Awards night just cause I could, since I’d never won an award for that before. Since I got the Mixed Hockey award, they put me on the boys list for the rehersal. I wore a dress especially for the actual night, so noone’d think I was a guy. Also I voiced my outrage to anyone who’d listen, even though they put me on the right list for the night.

Started going to the local youth group two weeks before it broke up for the holidays and started wishing I’d gone a lot earlier.

Went to the Salk Oval Rotary Carols By Candlelight. Left and walked home up the hill in preference to waiting half an hour for dad to pick us up, it was that bad.

Well, that turned out pretty long. So yeah… I’ve had a really good year.

Oh yeah. My friend Mitchell Stevens is going to Scotland for a gap year next year. That makes it sound really far away, even though he’s leaving on the third. So yeah. Very jealous and currently trying to convince Mum that I should do that when I finish year twelve. She’s not going for it as yet. Will continue to bug her.

Anyway… Happy New Year!!