Sad things:

• We lost Grandpa Vallance. He was a wonderful, warm man with twinkly charm and an eye for the ladies. He reached a great age, though, and was ready to leave the many people who loved him dearly. We miss him, and celebrate his time with us.
• We lost Uncle Andrew. No happiness there. He fought hard for so many years against leukemia. I still hate that this nasty, little, mean disease took out such a giant, great bear of a man.There's a little bit of everyone who knew him who'll always be distraught. I'll try to remember his optimism, hope, warmth and curiosity in his fellow man.
• Louisa got sick.
• We lost Louis, through illness, and then Thomas, through a strange accident. We all think Thomas was distracted and looking for Louis. They were wonderful, great cats and it was terribly sad to see them cut down in their prime.

Happy things:

• Alex made Louisa go to the doctor.
• Louisa completed her treatment. Dear Science, it'd better bloody work. That's all I'm saying. *menacing look*
• We found Comma and Hector, and they chose us. Two tiny, scared little cats made timid connections with us and are now happy, well-fed, cosseted creatures. Every day they surprise us and bring us joy. We love them very much.
• Ted and I have become closer than ever. Partly the house, partly the cats, partly the sad things -  but also, just gently getting ever more used to each other and growing together over the years. He is, and always will be, my most precious friend and my soul mate.
• Work was really tough, but it was a good year. In particular, a trip to the mothership in Atlanta this year left me inspired, recharged and with lots of lovely new friends. I'm relishing the thought of what we can do in 2011 and feel incredibly lucky to do the work that I do.
• I feel calmer, saner and more at peace with myself than I have done in years.
• I swam further than I swam last year - and even further than the year before.
• We can now walk through our house without getting covered in dust. 
• We made Ponting history.

Hopes for 2011:

• We're going to do the garden. Trug, gloves and wellies at the ready.
• A bit more work/life balance for both of us. (Plus ca change ...) I really believe, though, that this year we might manage it.
• More travel (much more than 2010), more friends, more family. I'm hoping for Berlin ... and puffins ...
• I aim to swim 50km in 2011.
• Meeting one (or maybe more?) of you face-to-face ^_^

To those of you who aren't with me on Facebook or Tumblr, I miss you very much. Do look me up.

I wish you all happiness, good luck and peace in 2011 ^_^

"Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four hours sharpening the axe." - Abraham Lincoln

Are you watching Eurovision? Oh, it's wonderful. Here's my ball-by-ball commentary. Now the waiting begins ... can you guess who'll get my vote?

Azerbaijan
Must be *gutted* they're on first.

Spain
Clowns! And a stage invader! Be afraid. Be very afraid. Bonus point for the invader!

Norway
Wow! Totally ballad-tastic! Surely they must be in with a good chance.

Moldova
Digging that blue airbrushed eye makeup. Bonus point!

Cyprus
Apparently the song is really by Wales. I'd keep quiet about that if I were you, Wales.

Bosnia Herzegovenia
Yeah, fine, whatev.

Belgium
Oh, this song is so cute. Hope it'll do well.

Serbia
Balkans! Is that a man or a woman? I don't know! Bonus point!

Belarus
OMG BUTTERFLIES! 100 bonus points! Surely this must win.

Ireland
Ireland really don't want to host it ever again, do they.

Greece
EVERYBODY SAY WHOOPA! Drums on fireworks! This is fantastic! Bonus points aplenty!

United Kingdom
Oh dear, he's a bit Tim Henman, isn't he. Ah well, it's nice we showed up. Bonus point for that.

Georgia
Very dramatic dancing. A bit like when they play Kate Bush towards the end of a wedding disco.

Turkey
Oh look, it's Euro-Muse! With robots! Bonus point!

Albania
Eighties cyberpop? Excellent! And a bonus point for the shoulder pads. Hoorah!

Iceland
Ooh, pumping!!! But in all seriousness, is anyone going to vote for them? Bonus point for looking like a wedding party.

Ukraine
What is that thing on her head? Is this another stage invader? Where's the real act??? This is terrible!

France
I hadn't even heard it and I loved it already! We're going to be hearing this all summer long. Bonus point for buttock-dancing!

Romania
A double-headed piano and Buntonesque nose twitches! FIRE!!!

Russia
I'm with the crowd on this one. How depressing. The cat can't take any more, either. She's headed straight for her litter tray and done a big poo.

Armenia
Thank goodness! Back to normal service. There's a ballet dancer clutching an amphora and she's singing to a giant apricot stone. I'm hoping it's going to turn into an Eye of Sauron. Bonus point for having the oldest person ever to appear on the Eurovision stage.

Germany
This is a cute song, but they need MOAR dancing and MOAR stuff going on in the background! MOAR!!! It's far too tastefully done.

Portugal
Gosh, they *really* don't want to win. She's singing in Portuguese! Still, pretty song, very pretty dress.

Israel
I have no idea what he's singing, but he's very nice to look at. Thank you, Israel!

Denmark
Are you sure this is Denmark? It looks and sounds like a z-list Police/Abba tribute band! It's awful! No - wait a minute - it's magnificent! Denmark, you are a country of genius!

So I was chatting with my mate Steve, who also swam Swimathon this year, and he was browsing my categories of swimmers -- when he realised I'd missed one! Which I have. So here it is:

Sea Dogs

Older gentlemen, probably former Fishboys/Spaniels. Steely grey hair, with a variety of blushingly inappropriate tattoos on upper body, (which are probably an embarrassment now they are grandparents). Capable of swimming great distances, but take their time: a bit like watching someone swim fast, but in slow motion.

It's so true! And I'd add that they are particularly grumpy when overtaken, especially by Cheery Dumpy Ladies. Thank you, Steve!