Yearly (and a bit) Roundup

New, never before things for me in 2008, and the first bit of 2009, in no particular order:

• Experienced leeches. Twice within 4 months too. Northern NSW be leech territory.
• Took a solo road trip - long distance unaccompanied driving.
• Swam under 2 waterfalls and in 2 cascadey rockpool type places. (That time I fell off the edge of the little waterfall at the Camelia Gardens when I was about 6 doesn't count, because it was an accident, not recreational and it was just reeaalllly embarrassing.)
• Packed up my entire belongings and set up life in a new city.
• Directed quite a famous actor. (Well, he directed himself really, but I get a directing credit nevertheless)
• Drove a Mercedes around parts of England. Not a flash Mercedes, but still a really nice ride. I understand why people pay extra for them. It totally took the pain out of commuting. As did BBC Radio 3.
• Performed live impro in front of a small audience
• Stayed in an Australian Youth Hostel. (Yes, of course I've stayed in many youth hostels before - in other countries. But never in Oz, and it's listworthy because I'm not a "youth" anymore and after years of backpacking in my actual youth I swore I'd never do it again. But it was just one of those things that...... happened.)
• Went to an open air cinema - and it didn't suck. The semi-tropical climate meant a perfectly temperate evening. The little deck chair was actually comfortable. And there were no mossies.
• Drove a four wheel drive along a beach.
• Experienced a Glam Yoga class
• Tried to learn to surf
• Drove 100ks just for a dip in the ocean
• Made contact with primary and high school friends I've not seen, and rarely thought about since. Apparently 2009 is to be my year for reconnecting with my past.
• Went to a poetry slam
• Regularly encountered lizards and other wildlife on the commute to work
• Finally discovered Radio National, after many false starts.
• Saw glow worms
• Shared a hotel room with a mouse. Well, never knowingly....until tonight.