A New Year - Endings, Beginnings, and Other Things...

Here we are at the beginning of another year - out with the old, in with the new, a time to look back and to look forward at what's going to be.

It's nice to be back back writing and a quick look back at 2015 tells me it was  pretty good year, everyone happy and healthy and despite an ever increasingly crazy and angry World, my corner of it is pretty good, happy, warm, and safe.

The biggest event for me from the past year was our federal election in October - with the majority win of the Trudeau-led Liberals bringing fresh air and vitality into the political scene, I feel more Canadian than I have in years. The previous Harper government was doing its utmost to create an American presidency in Canada and thankfully they didn't succeed. Interestingly enough with the defeat of the provincial Conservative government in Newfoundland and Labrador by the Liberals, there is now not one single conservative government at the provincial level (although the Saskatchewan Party and premier Brad Wall are definitely conservative in philosophy) - the broom swept well. It will be interesting to see where Canada is at the end of 2016...

As 2016 unfolds I'm looking forward to less of a Winter than last year (not sure it can get worse - there can't be that much snow left!!), better organizing my time to do things - read, blog, exercise and be happy :-) (these aren't resolutions, but an attempt to be better at doing what makes me happy). I want to spend more time with my dog Max, who is such an amazing, loving, giving animal and deserves that from me, with close friends and family, and all in all focus on enjoying life!!

Here are some of the other events that I'll be watching in 2016:

• The presidential election in the US - election night is 8 November, my birthday - not sure if that is a present or not - feels more like watching the decline of the American Empire - specially if Donald Trump is a legitimate candidate...
• Summer Olympics in Brazil - maybe the last big Olympics? Venues not finished or scaled back, and enough pollution to be a serious health hazard - I hope it goes well and all are safe
• Chaos in the World - refugees, terrorism, ISIL, will be interesting to see where we are at the end of the year - all I know is that the World is fundamentally changed

And then there is the biggest event of the year, my 60th birthday - bring on those senior discounts!!

Hmmmm...