It has been another busy week… sometimes I think that I should slow down a bit (and on the odd occasion I do), but I like to be busy and I like to try new things…. And this week there was absolutely some of that!

I managed to tick off a huge bucket list item… a tour of the operating theatres at work!! It was only quick, but I am very happy (I know, it’s weird!) to say I got to see some things! In one of the first rooms we went to, I was able to see a brain surgery! It was soooo interesting!! I was also able to see a mastectomy and an orthopaedic surgery; none of them for very long – I would have stayed watching for ages, but I’m super happy I got to go for a look around. Hopefully at some stage while I am in my current position, I will get a chance to work in a role that goes into theatres daily. I find it all fascinating – although not enough to go back to uni and study it!

Karaoke with my Italian friend was also super fun! I’m not entirely sure what he made of the experience, but it is something that he can now tick off his bucket list! I was happy because some of my favourite people were there to sing and it was a great vibe for the night! My girlfriend and I got up to sing as well, and dedicated our version of ‘Mamma Mia’ to him!

Saturday night was another first for me… I went to a Rodeo!! A group of us went, quite spur of the moment just for something different to do. I was really not sure what to expect, but I had a fabulous time!! – so much so that I will definitely go again! I did find a cowboy to chat to for a minute… I had a whole lot of questions about the whole thing… but his enthusiasm was less than mine, so he wandered off to find younger and more attractive people to impress!

It is just over a month to go now until my girlfriend and I head off to China! Nerves are starting to set in a little bit… we have upped the adventure stakes and have some interesting things to look forward to as part of our tour! I have started training (and by that I mean I have started taking the stairs at work) for the 5-6 hour hike along the Great Wall, and I’m working on my squatting game for the ‘non western’ toilets we will encounter! I am looking forward to a whole lot more ‘new’ for this trip!

This year for me is a year of saying yes to things. I’m enjoying learning more about myself and giving myself permission to keep working on figuring it all out. Claytie is always part of everything that I do… I think about him and talk to him (and about him) all the time, and I think he would be proud of the boys and I for the way we are living our lives. I don’t know that he necessarily would do, or have done, all of the things that I have, but I do think that he’s cheering me on….. it is what it is, and I am doing my best with that.