Exit 2009 - Enter 2010

So here we are, coming to the end of yet another year! Time to look back, reflect, and glance forward...

Work
Wow, where to start... Last year in my end of year blog I mentioned that I was loving the new job I had just started. I did, truly did... But then the world found out that the crisis was a bit more than just a few banks that had done silly things. One of the industries that was hit really hard was the training industry. Companies were just not outsourcing their training any more, or at the very least reducing it to save costs. All in all it meant that I found out relatively early in 2009 that there just wasn't enough work for me to do. And not just for me... The crisis hit us so hard, that the company was defeated and had to declare bankruptcy in July. Luckily for me I had already found a new job to go to and I am now very happily working as an HR/Learning & Development Manager for a large international company in the building industry. Building industry? Yes, another industry that has been hit hard by the crisis. So fingers crossed that this job will work out as I am truly enjoying the job, the people, and have great opportunities for personal development there! And really, having gone through the experience of seeing a really great company with really great people see bankrupt is not something I want to go through ever again!

Love
Our relationship has developed further and despite the troubles my boyfriend and I have both had at work (he had quite a lot to cope with this year as well) our relationship has grown stronger. We have been able to support each other through difficult times and our definitely hoping for better times to enjoy together as well. We have now also taken the big step to start sharing our household (he moved in with me this month!) and are looking forward to explore this new way of living...

Health
Nothing new to report, thank goodness!

House
Still loving the house, which has now become our house. And at the same time looking forward to the house we are going to buy in the future - 2010 or 2011 - which will be closer to our new jobs and for me also closer to friends and family.

Cats
My two darlings are in excellent health and hopefully will remain so for a very, very long time!

Dancing
Ah, our biggest passion! We continued our climb up the ladder and ended up winning 6 first places in a row in the national ballroom competition, which led to a promotion to a higher class just before the summer. And we are ending 2009 as champions of this higher class, as we won the last competition of the year. So things are looking very good for 2010 when it comes to ballroom dancing! As for latin dancing, we are working hard on our technique and choreography for latin and will decide towards the summer of 2010 whether we will continue with latin or whether we'll put all our time and energy in ballroom dancing. So stay tuned for that!

A sneak peak of 2010
Lots of changes on the horizon... We both have new jobs to get used to, and a new living situation to adjust to. Plus a possible house move coming up. But most important is that we stay happy and healthy, and that's also my wish for those of you who have read through my ramblings. As a lady of a networking club I belong to said: may the best of 2009 be the worst of 2010.

Happy New Year!