Hello Everyone,

Thanks to the invite from Drew and Be, this is the first time I've ever been a part of an online community (with the exception of Facebook) and therefore, this is the first time I have ever written 'a blog' - I do not even know what'll happen when I figure out how to post this or where it'll end up posted come to that.

Oh well, the reason I'm giving it a go is because this year has already provided me with so many 'firsts', I thought it'd be a shame to let this chance pass me by.  Many of these firsts have been little things like watching my first Eurovision Song Contest from start to finish, having my hair cut above my shoulders for the first time and trying my first ever cheeseburger. However, some have been more emotional, like the first time I've been dumped, or significant, like the first time I saw my name published in an academic text and the first time I organised a departmental conference.

Even though these mini events do not mean much outside the context of my life, and may be regarded as insignificant in the greater scheme of things, they are all relevant to my development as an individual. They have helped to make me realise that life's full of opportunities to do things we simply haven't done before - it's just up to us whether we take advantage of them or not  xJx