The new season of 24! Live on Paul's Blog!

I don't like January much. Particularly the first part of it.

Just when I've finally become accustomed to the fact it's a new year, I then have to deal with the fact that it's my birthday. And as of about 4 days ago, I've had to deal with this mental dilemma 24 times.

It is getting easier though. I'm quite happy with the way my life is travelling at present. I'm saving money, I've made it overseas, I have a good job - yeah. I am happy.

So, the plans then, for this year of 2007.

Well, between now and April, not much. I plan to save as much money as I can - take a few trips out of London if possible, I know Nick and Dan are keen to go to Gibraltar, which would be epic. Late February is the timeframe for that. I'd also like to take a trip down to Portsmouth, and see the HMS Victory, but I can easily do that over a weekend by train.

Now, come April, there will be a whirlwind visit happening. I will have 3 weeks back home, and at least 10 days of that will be spent up at the Gregory River with the old man and the older man. 3 generations of Dawson's, in a Toyota Hilux. There won't have been such a huge concentration of rednecks since Robert E Lee took command of the Army of Northern Virginia.

So, in the remaining 10 days, the following needs to occur.

- Whip Meakin and Justin's arse in Warhammer.
- Go round to David's place and watch a Wests Tigers game.
- Get horrendously drunk with Laurie, Gerald, Glen, Meakin and the lads
- Attend the ANZAC day concert jetlagged out of my mind.

Oh yeah, and probably see my family at some point.

Just warning you all - keep from about April 25th to May 2nd free, because I will be around Brisbane, and I won't take no for an answer.

After that, well, I'll be back over here for a bit. Don't know as yet, I think I'll just take it as it goes. But at this stage I'm thinking to work until the end of 2007, then resign, and spend the last month or two of my Visa seeing Europe. It will be easier, and ultimately more convenient to just do all the sightseeing in one big hit, rather than cram it into weekends here and there.

And then, finally - I might actually come home.

Don't get me wrong - I am missing Australia, and I miss everyone back home. I will return - I couldn't handle living over here permanently. But at the same time, I know this is my one chance to see Europe easily, and I don't want to look back in 30 years time and think, "Hell, I could've done so much more with that time."

That is of course, assuming I live that long. After last night at the Slug, and the dozen snakebites I drank, I was surprised to still be alive this morning. Still, when you're dancing your arse off and your shirt is shaking from the sheer volume of the bass, the morning after doesn't really factor into the equation.

And on that note, I bid you adieu.