Upside Down

Requests?

So not quite the solarisation of the old days... I can't seem to transfer 'those' pix from the iPhone to well anything... so here are some I can share..(and have on that blessed Book of Face).
I'll think of a reprise alternative....I'm sure there's a way.. you used to be able to email pix to Blogger... mm.

December 1st....countdown to festive meal-for-one?

Down here the new page on my proudly positioned Vulcan calendar heralds the start of summer. The contrast between this and the first day of Advent I am more used being a Northern hemisphere kind of chappess could not be wider. 

This year however I am all about NOT recognising Christmas. Last year was a totally demoralising experience, best forgotten, and the cool, damp, dark Christmas's of yore are a treasured memory. Often with close family (erm that will be just Mum and Dad then) and some other entertaining ones with odd waif and strays popping by for Christmas Pudding and a festive tipple. 
This year I will be in the southern hemisphere bereft of folks and ducking any potential familial invite from the state of VIC.  

This year I will be having an early morning run (maybe); oh no I won't Thursday's aren't my run day... okay so this year I will be having an early morning cycle - probably to the beach. To observe the local populous on Christmas day. And then I will bask in the sun and share such scenes with cold and damp friends back in Blighty. Then as the day progresses I'll cook something; eat something; maybe pull a cracker with myself and see who I can tempt to a Skype call. I may even determine that drinking at least half a bottle of wine/bubbles is a good thing to do. All sounds rather predictable.

It's 24 hours that I'm sure I can put to better use? 

It not so much being alone on the day, rather being afraid of wasting precious non-work hours. After-all there are many many people far worse off; and the other extreme is too materialistic and greed driven for me. 

So in a bid to fill the day with something worthwhile, I Google Christmas Day volunteering... nada. Well a search round Twitter may help find a purpose to the day. Or it will be like my usual Sunday - only on a Thursday! 

Odd that it was the one thing I always wanted to do back home - spend Christmas Day in my flat, in my home, in London.  Go for my usual walk, see what was open, what pubs etc; truly be part of the community that I weaved between the rest of the year. Could never persuade my Dad to come and stay with me; they've been happy to come to Oz however. More than once. So no, Christmas was always spent in Kent, with Dad presiding over tradition.

New Years Eve - well that's always back in the big smoke! Of course! No parties or firework displays in sleepy country Kent. 

Thus my quest to discover a better use of the day starts here.... 

Back to Blogger?

Well hello ladies and gentlemen, it sure has been a while. 
So much so that the entire format of Blogger has undergone a massive change! It looks and feels pretty nifty and the reporting stats - well our BI team will be jealous.

So what brings me here? Oh the usual! 
And the intriguing results of Google searches... my full name yields no image results. Nor does Karoona Fairy... which is a little disappointing since the heady days of regular shows and regular reveals!  [I was searching for more up dated pictures of the swoonsome Anson Mount; and the discovery that he is a month younger than me; no such pictures to be found but still the distant hope that should our paths cross he would be unable to resist]. The I was randomly searching for people closer to home. (Home now being on the other side of the planet - and does using an Australian laptop generate different results?) I learn that one of my colleagues had a planning application in late 2013 and that the other is an author of tawdry romantic literature. I fear one discovery is likely to be true and the other just the coincidence of name. My full name generates lots of Fred and Richard but no Karoona. 

Maybe that's why I am back. The iPhone was in over drive Sunday as I embarked on a personal portrait study trying to see how good/bad/indifferent the body and face had fared now it was in its 40's rather than its 30's... To be honest I was not too disappointed. Then again I have recently had the very fortunate experience of being told that I am beautiful. Twice. By 2 different men. And 'you've go the pretty'' by a female colleague. Is it too late at the age of 41 to perhaps become aware of your visual value? 
Maybe not. 
I am feeling the positive benefits of no more smoking and much more exercise. Maybe even the lighter days and decreased amount of grey ones plays a part. It certainly is not bourne about from the job I do or the personal life I appear not to have! Either way beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And since moving my real life audience has shrunk so far as to be non-existant. So any form of nicety, let alone compliment is positively cherished. 

As for the pictures one day soon I will reprise the solarised self portrait. Now commonly known as a 'selfie'. A thing some of us were openly doing long before iClouds or wikileaks. I'm sure in fact the evidence exists somewhere on this very blog.... 

This has been good. Not quite the smokey ground floor flat experience of my beloved Fortescue Road - but as warm ups go - it has got me keen to write more.  

November....It's Spring here.....

Which I am finding rather strange... and possibly why I when I saw pictures of the spring flowers I used to keep in SW19 I got all homesick.. but of course its cold and dark back home... and I do need a few months of sunshine.. at least a belated summer cos I've been waiting since Feb!! 

November horrors - I don't really follow anymore. My life is a suspended vacuum so just being awake is a minor miracle.. but if I did... then well maybe these would be relevant. 
Elle
Neil Spencer

My word...

it's all changed here since I last put pen to virtual paper and scribed some words of observation.. certainly very little wisdom. 
Had to rescue my account and re set password.. how many more passwords must I remember to function in this life? It's all getting a little too much. I don't really want to be ruled by a computer... technology - cyber worlds - there will be a mother nature element there whether we like it or not.  Facebook is now possibly my main source of updates. Not that I like it trying to link all my contacts. I want to choose who I connect with on my mobile phone... 

It's 12.20pm here in Perth Australia. The weather is showery - except when it rains it completely tips it down. I had plans of walking, to go to the new Arena as its a free open day and then to Coles for some food stocking up. Now tho I'm not so sure I can be bothered. The full on day of cycling and soccer yesterday - plus late night EastEnders catch up sort of rendering me less than fresh today!  The thing with a blog is you can read back over time and realise that actually this is not an uncommon sense to have. Whether its here or in the midst of SW19 I am essentially still the same being... singular trying to keep my spirits high with walking, shopping and not getting into a self inflicted emotional downer. 

The Arena (blue and white thing... 'squashed beer can'..)

To be fair the last 8 months have pretty much been one long nose dive. Recently joining WeightWatchers has given me a better sense of purpose and the ladies at the meeting are all very friendly  I actually look forward to weigh in and meeting - regardless of the weight aspects! It also helps the nightly walking regime I now have in place. 

I have just been reading previous blog posts - seeking ... not sure what I was seeking to be honest. Maybe an indication of a time when I was happy. I see largely my posts are not really ever happy - just a stream of thoughts at a time when I had no-one to talk too. Bit like now. SO I have to accept I will largely go through life something of a loner and self motivated by at times random and odd desires. 

I am having very vivid dreams about people from my past - work related and non work related  I wonder if I should contact these people and try and repair a bridge? I am also dreaming of current peripheral work colleagues - who largely I know little about and probably never will. My time here will not reap a great harvest of close friends. Perhaps the odd one or two who showed a level of care I did not expect. Meanwhile I have made one great friend - without whom I am not sure I would be still sane enough to function without the help of prescription drugs. Truth be told - if beer was cheaper here I may well I have become a total lush - to escape the constant feeling of being a misfit. Instead I am choosing to embrace it and deal with it in different ways. I am very knowledgeable as to the paths in Kings Park  Likewise the south and north foreshore. The cycle paths take me KM's away from a usual walking route and I like the freedom.. though the last few trips have been a fight against the wind and yesterday I got nicely wet and returned home with a sand band the length of my bum and back... it was even in my hair! Nice. But it was quiet and the ducks, swans and pelicans were all happily enjoying the rain and the lack of human intervention. 

The clouds coming in last Monday ...

A Saturday ritual was reborn when I went to football. It will never be the same as the Priestfield pilgrimage - but for some light relief and a chance to escape the reality of where I am and what I am, or not, doing it helps. The NIB is being rebuilt around the fans - so it lacks a sense of sheer stadium pleasure - but its okay and nicely within walking distance of home.


Its left off raining and I feel the need to go for a walk and listen to The Archers pod cast .. then maybe the Arena and then some shopping.. I will endeavour to return with some more words. Unless I decide to email peoples past and present with whom I wish I could just call or meet for a beer. 

Mad March...

March 2012
MONTHLY OVERVIEW:

There’s no sitting still this month, Capricorn. The Sun is in Pisces, your social and communicative third house, until March 19. You’ll be juggling projects, meetings, dates, and events—a faster pace than your usual measured and deliberate style. Embrace the whirlwind; you could use a little action in your life. And this month, you’ll get it! Put your feet up after March 19, when the Sun moves into Aries, your fourth house of home and family. This is a great time for nesting, visiting relatives, and even a move. With your ruling planet Saturn retrograde (backward) in your tenth house of career until late June, it’s a better time to focus on your personal life, and take the work stuff slow and steady.

On March 8, the Virgo full moon could bring a flash of inspiration. Virgo rules your ninth house of travel, expansion, and the higher mind. You could have a “moment of truth” or an honest conversation that lends you great perspective. An entrepreneurial venture or pet project could really come together now. Your mind is curious and open, so sign up for an inspirational workshop. You may also decide to return to school, start a business, or take a trip.

If you do book a getaway this month, be warned: Mercury, ruler of travel, technology, and communication, is retrograde (backward) from March 12 through April 4. This cycle famously foils the best-laid plans, so take precautions. Leave early for flights and appointments, back up your hard drive and devices to prevent data losses, and avoid buying any new gadgets. Watch for squabbles with family members during the first half of the retrograde, while Mercury is in Aries through March 23. After that, Mercury backs into Pisces, which could stir tension with siblings, friends, and colleagues. Tread lightly with those mountain goat hooves!

In spite of the retrograde, March can still spark some positive emotions between you and your loved ones. On March 22, the Aries new moon brings hopeful new energy to your personal life. Is it time to move into a bigger place, talk babies, or make a change with your family? Your mother, child, or a significant woman could play a role in events around this new moon. Since this moon is also conjunct Mercury and Uranus, planet of surprises, an unexpected pregnancy is possible for some Capricorns. It may also be time to “cut the cord” with a parent or child and strive to be a bit less dependent.

LOVE & ROMANCE:

Spring fling, anyone? Capricorns aren’t usually ones to take love lightly, but this month puts you in more playful spirits than usual. Romantic Venus and adventurous Jupiter are together in Taurus, your fifth house of passion, love, and glamour. You may find yourself wanting to dress up, go on fun dates, or enjoy some spicy, sexy times with your sweetie. This is the perfect month to break out of a rut, right in time with the changing season. Initiate more romance, give a lavish gift, spoil and be spoiled.

Single Capricorns should cast a wider net in your search. Jupiter is the planet of long-distance travel and cross-cultural alliances. You could fall for someone from a different country or background—or you might meet someone while vacationing. This could be especially strong at the March 8 Virgo full moon, which puts you in an open-minded and curious headspace. You’re willing to take a chance instead of being overly practical or skeptical. With Mercury retrograde from March 12 through April 4, people from your past could come out of the woodwork. Who knows? An old friend or acquaintance could suddenly look attractive to you.

The week of March 11 through March 17 is also lucky for love. Jupiter will form a grand trine to transformational Pluto in Capricorn and sexy Mars in Virgo. It will be hard to contain your feelings, and you could be expressive in ways you normally aren’t. Sure, there could be some drama or a few fireworks, but most likely, it will only make things hotter between you and your beloved. Peacekeeper Venus is standing by to ensure that you mostly make love, not war.

The fifth house rules fertility, and with Jupiter here, a pregnancy is possible now—especially since you’ll be getting plenty of opportunities. If you’re trying actively to conceive, aim for the days around March 22 Aries new moon, which is in your fourth house of motherhood. Are you ready for a makeover, or even a complete change of your look? You might even enlist the help of a professional stylist, a makeup artist, or a Sartorially-savvy friend to draw out the classic glamour that your sign is famous for (hello, cheekbones).

MONEY &CAREER:

Work continues to plod along this month, now with a few frustrations that inspire heavy sighing (and not the good kind). Why does it all seem so…dull? Flat? Pointless? From February 7 through June 25, your workaholic ruling planet Saturn is retrograde (backward) in Libra, your career house. It’s the equivalent of slow traffic grinding to a near-halt. Although work is the one area where you reliably rock, it’s definitely NOT getting your rocks off now.

There’s a silver lining to all of this, though. Several planets are moving through more personal zones of your chart. Rather than beat your head against the same brick wall, go spend time on friends, family, and your love life. Take something of a sabbatical—at least, from worrying, stressing and burning the candle at both ends. Refill those other tanks and it will put work into perspective. (Raise your hand if you’re a Capricorn who uses work to avoid dealing with other parts of your life!)

Of course, with taskmaster Saturn and your astrologically dutiful DNA in the mix, it’s not like you’re running off to join the circus. Saturn retrograde is an opportunity to restructure and streamline your life, though. Perhaps you built things up too quickly, overloaded yourself with responsibilities, or took on something big without planning properly, leaving your life lopsided. Maybe you’re still adjusting to new challenges and responsibilities. Identify where you’re “working harder, not smarter,” and make some fundamental changes. Are you still afraid to seize the mantle of your own authority? It’s time to get over that insecurity and own your power.

The March 8 Virgo full moon can bring a lot of insights and epiphanies, as it beams into your ninth house of wisdom, travel, and perspective. You may literally have a chance to travel for business (or use some of those stashed-up vacation days). Try to do so before March 12, when Mercury retrograde makes traveling a little trickier. If you’re an entrepreneur, this is a great day to launch a new line, product, or promotion, especially if it benefits the local community or aligns with a global cause.

HEALTH: MIND, BODY & SOUL:

Don’t overdo it this month, Cappy. You’re juggling more than usual, and some of your support systems might be a little weaker than you’re used to. With your ruler Saturn retrograde, this isn’t the best time to take on more than you can handle. Although you may be fielding a lot of tempting invitations and offers, try not to overbook yourself. With spiritual, healing Neptune now in your third house of friendships and communication, you might want to try a meditation workshop, a book club, or even look into getting certified in something like yoga teacher training. Too woo-woo for your earthy inclinations? Just aim for deeper, more heartfelt connections and conversations with your friends—even hosting a little salon at your home for people to talk about an interesting topic.

Your home life has its highs and lows this month. From March 12 through March 23, Mercury is retrograde in Aries, your domestic fourth house. This can stir up tension with relatives, or make you feel anxious and stressed-out at home. You may also be resisting some necessary self-care. Why are you being so hard on yourself, Capricorn? You may need to resolve something with a sibling or close friend when Mercury retrograde backs into Pisces from March 23 through April 4. Watch out for petty arguments—people will certainly try to suck you into them, and you’ll need to rise above the fray.

Is it time to rearrange some furniture, declutter, or just make your space a little cozier? The March 22 Aries new moon helps you reconfigure your personal domain, or to finally hang that artwork and unpack those boxes of personal mementos. Pull out the spring linens or paint a wall in a cheerier hue. New moons set off six-month cycles, so you may also decide to move, get pregnant, or just make a fresh start with family now.

With visual Venus and worldly Jupiter together in your fifth house of self-expression this month, maybe it’s time to hang up some travel memorabilia or to add some Zen or Parisian accents to your décor (especially if it falls in the Capricorn uber-minimalist aesthetic). Perhaps you should even take some glamorous headshots, family pictures, or even boudoir photos. Why not?

Love Days: 26, 4
Money Days: 11, 19
Lucky Days: 9, 17
Off Days: 2, 29, 6, 15

2012: Fab Feb?

Lucky Days: 8, 9, 17, 18, 26

Yucky Days: 4, 5, 10, 11, 25

Fashion Icon: Kate Moss

Colour: Grape

If ever you were in dire need of a vacation, it’s this month, darling. With your ruler going out of phase in your career sector on 7 February, coupled with Mars still retrograde, you’ll feel like cooling your jets and focusing on some much needed rest, revelry and relaxation. Plus the most spiritual and glamorous planet of them all, Neptune, is about to take up a fourteen-year residence in your thinking zone starting on the 3rd. Get ready to cleanse your entire mental make-up with the most compassionate, Zen-like influence imaginable. On the 7th, the Full Moon in Leo (in your sexuality sector) sparks your current libidinal fires. Make time to explore where your love and lust lie this month. Work is invited to take a back seat – honour the timing of everything by enforcing a reprieve. Do this despite the fact that you can always come up with someone or something that needs to be taken care of; put yourself first this time.
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Having Saturn as one’s ruling planet has its advantages, meaning that where other signs wilt under the weighty issues associated with Saturn (whose metallic correspondence is lead!), Capricorns prove just how resilient and authoritative they are. Saturn represents needs-must, and as it now sits stationary in your career zone, a case of anything-to-survive likely prevails at work. The planet’s retrograde from February 7 doesn’t exactly let you off the hook, but it does ease the pressures under which you have been operating over the last eight months.

The backslide of another planet, Mars, also promises to ease frustrating circumstances. Righteous fury, to which even stoical Caps are not immune, also promises to ebb with Mars’ retreat, not least for birthdays circa January 12-14. You may, however, have to take your foot off the go-faster pedal.

Mostly, your ‘scope has a pleasingly upbeat air. The forward march of Jupiter, ‘the greater benefic’, along with a flurry of planets in Pisces, brings an extrovert, optimistic strand to your outlook. In terms of romance, friendship and meeting new people, February and March promise a flurry of activity and well-wishing. For those of you with creative jobs or past-times, here’s your chance to shine. If you are in the business of communication – and most people are these days, one way or another – then an upgrade of your digital infrastructure is in order.

In any case the new Moon of the 21st brings a following wind to any enterprise involving education, whether as student or teacher, to group activities, and to anything that smacks of a spiritual search.

The most problematical transits in play concern your home base (or property or family), notably if you were born around 21-24 December, where a certain amount of disruption and uncertainty is to be expected, welcomed even. Birthday between 29 December-January 1st face the even more unsettling prospect of Pluto, a signal that a deep transformation is under way. It isn’t likely to be an overnight thing, but it does hand you the chance of a complete self-reinvention, either in your chosen line of work or on a personal level.

Your Valentine: do-gooder!

Farewells

Jan 13th - Last Xmas do...

2012: Jubilant January?

Lucky Days: 2, 3, 12, 13, 21

Yucky Days: 1, 8, 9, 15, 16

Fashion Icon: Sienna Miller

Colour: Winter White

The year starts off on a busy and industrious note, just the way you like it, Cappie. With all of the planets in direct motion (a rare occasion) and the Sun in your stars until the 20th, you’re on a roll. The Full Moon in your relationship sector on 9 January promises to keep things interesting, if not a bit contentious, between you and your closest one-to-ones. Emotions run high and you may feel totally out of your element, struggling for some semblance of common ground. Trust that the temper tantrums will pass and objectivity will return after the New Moon in Aquarius on the 23rd. On this same day, the planet governing egomania and discord goes retrograde, bringing a refreshing break from any recent stress and difficulties in relationships. This will also offer a much-welcomed reprieve from the recent non-stop action in your life. Venus enters your communication sector on the 14th, amplifying the sweet and compassionate side of your nature. You’re especially healing to be around this month, Capricorn. No wonder you can’t seem to steal any alone time.

Your January Monthly Forecast: Do you really want to build a stairway to the stars? Then you had better dig a very deep foundation. The higher the construction, the more crucial a solid base becomes. Intention is wonderful. Ambition is excellent. But there must also, always, be preparation - and plenty of it. Now I know I am not telling you anything new. This is the speech you usually give to other people. Yet, right now, you are becoming uncharacteristically excitable. This brand new, exceptionally special year is firing your imagination. Rightly so. The changes start this month.

Change is the keyword this month. Change in your personal appearance to your personal environment is all going to happen this year. You tend to be positive about whatever you do and this is infected to the people close to you. Change in mind set and attitude are clear indications for Capricorns in the Horoscope 2012. Self expression is what the whole year is about. You take up to new passions which include painting, poetry and acting as well. Family supports you all through your endeavors. The first half of the year will find you in a Trans where you are not able to decide on most of the crucial issues. January, September and October are the months to pack your bags. Work place will be tense and colleagues will not support you. Expectation levels rise at management level and the stress can cause health problems in a long tenure.

2012 - the year ahead.....

General:

Wave goodbye to the fog of 2011 and say hello to crystal-clear vision in 2012. You’ve no doubt been through a series of powerful metamorphoses since 2008, with Pluto taking possession of your stars. You’re not even halfway through the eighteen year shedding process that Pluto requires, and yet you’re not the same person you were just a few years ago. In some ways 2012 is a long, dramatic pause. You’ll be questioning many aspects of your life, especially work. Mars (the planet of action) will be retrograde for the first quarter of the year in your house of higher consciousness, putting you in a deeply introspective and philosophical mode. You’ll be less inclined to hit the road as you will be to hit the books. In the grand scheme, there is no question that you’re leaving the old life behind. Now it’s just a matter of faithfully emerging into the new.

Love:

Love is in great abundance during the first half of 2012 while Jupiter showers big fortune on your romantic sector. If anything, you’ll be bombarded with so much affection, you will feel guilty having to break so many hearts. You could easily fall in love overseas or with someone from a foreign country. Or love could take you on such a fabulous adventure that your entire world opens up. Life itself becomes a daily romantic experience. With Pluto continuing to excavate nearly every area of your life in his ongoing eighteen-year renovation project in your constellation, your relationships are no exception. One-to-one encounters are like being in constant psychoanalysis. Mars (the planet of drive and mojo) will be in positive aspect to your stars for the entire first half of the year. This bodes exceptionally well for your love life.

Career and Money:

Saturn delivers his last lessons and tests to your career sector as he finishes his tour through the sign of Libra. Use the first ten months of the year to apply all of the wisdom you’ve acquired to taking your professional status to the next level. You’ve learned valuable lessons in the last two-and-a-half years. You know how essential fairness, beauty, integrity and backbone are to your process. From now on these must be an integral part of your work and your larger career goals. In October, Saturn will enter your sector of goals, wishes and group associations, teaching you how to work with colleagues in new, better, and more efficient ways.

Friendship:

Your friendships are no exception when it comes to the deep, soul-searching work of transformational Pluto. One-to-one encounters are like being in constant psychoanalysis. You’re learning so much about yourself through the mirror of your friendships and that isn’t always easy or pretty. But in the end you’re in a process of perpetually unearthing some very deep insights about yourself. And with Saturn moving into your friendship sector this October, get ready to cut some toxic ties. You will be very clear about who your real friends are over the next two-and-a-half years.

Health:

You’ll have the extended benefit of Venus in your health sector from April until August. Note that during the retrograde phase of Venus between May and June, you may feel a little under the weather, especially if you work yourself non-stop without adding in necessary recovery time. But for most of the period between April until the end of 2012, your health has a halo of planetary protection around it. And with the auspices of Jupiter boosting your wellness from June until the end of the year, you should have tons of energy at your disposal. Just avoid excess, especially alcohol and sugar.
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General: This year would be generally a year of low profile for you. It helps you to enter a serene and peaceful atmosphere. You can go in for introspection and spiritual pursuits for the year. Much reflection can be done on your future prospects of the course of your life. You are likely to give up some of your projects that were dear to your hear this year. Your ambitions might take a back seat. Don’t lose heart and let optimism take over you. Certain impulsive actions should be taken in your personal and professional life this year.

Career: New contracts and agreements would be signed in your professional field. Much precision needs to be implemented in doing your works. Show courage and commitment in all your endeavours. Be sure you get the goodwill of your authorities. If willing for a change, then this is the right time. Your hidden talents are likely to come to the fore this year. The first quarter of the year shall see some hindrances on your career path. But do not lose heart and keep going.
Finance: You are likely to have a firm footing with regard to finances this year. Long term projects shall see the light of the day after much delays and hindrances in the past years. Inflow and circulation of money would be satisfactory though you cannot expect a windfall. Business pursuits shall reward well during the first quarter of the year when compared to services. Some artistic pursuits shall also see a better flow of finances during the course of the year.
Love: Your love issues take up the centre of attraction in your circle this year. Much emotional happiness is predicted for the year ahead. You are likely to meet your perfect companion if not already into a relationship. You would be attracted to those who understand your feelings, emotions and sensitivity. Express your feelings with an open heart to your partner. This is just a passing year with no major events or mishaps in your love life.
Health: Do not take much risks with your health issues this coming year. Commit yourself to better health habits and pursuits this year. Manage your energy levels in the best possible way so that you do not end up drained at the end of the year. Do not procrastinate your visit to the doctor or dentist. Something bad would be lurking around the corners. The last quarter of the year shall see you in a more calm and peaceful atmosphere and is an ideal time for relaxing and revamping. 

Personal and Social Life in 2012:
Capricorn is perhaps the most practical of signs, which is why so many of them become business executives, or something similar. They have a good head for practical matters, and an innate knowledge of how society works. Capricorns tend to be practical, and unlike Sagittarius and Pisces, they go for a position in an in-demand, competitive field rather than a more intellectual or artistic professional venture.
It's all about the bottom line, and 2012 is definitely no exception for this rule. Over the past few years, a lot of Capricorns may have been forced to remain in a lower-level position than what is suitable. However, the recession is finally letting up, and if you continue to use your business-related skills the way you always have, you may finally get the promotion you always wanted.
As is often the case, it won't be easy, but bosses, colleagues, and friends alike know your strengths and you are smart enough to make the most of them. Even though it's been rough, you'll make it happen this year. Keep climbing!
Love in 2012 for Singles:
For part of the year, Saturn, the ruler of Capricorn, will be passing through Libra, the sign of marriage - and therefore, single Capricorns are apt to be looking for a mate. Capricorns are usually attracted to people who, like them, take life very seriously. Many meet their partners on the job.
This doesn't mean that they don't go out, though. Capricorns like to go to plays, concerts, and be out in nature. If you meet someone who shares other interests that don't involve work, then you've probably got a winner - and by October, you two might be committed.
No matter how attracted to another a Capricorn might be, he/she isn't the type to rush into anything. They want to get to know the other person thoroughly before they get close. Capricorns enjoy the "getting to know you" phase, and once they make up their minds that the person they're seeing is The One, they won't suddenly change their mind. Once they commit, they commit!
Career and Money in 2012:
Capricorns enjoy the competition and excitement of the business world. They may be disappointed when a promising transaction goes down the tubes, but they are resilient so go on to the next possibility and make the most of it. Money is important to Capricorns, not just because it can provide a good life for loved ones, but because they often associate having money with being a worthy person.
Many Capricorns don't have much time for pleasant pastimes such as gardening, but they do enjoy them. You should devote more time to one in 2012 - it could even pay off. Sometimes hobbies turn this into a second career. Outdoors and artistic ventures will be a great way to relieve stress, not only in 2012 but for years to come. The pleasure of seeing what you can produce is boundless, especially when it's what you want to do, not just what you need to do.

Overview

The confusion of 2011 is about to lift as clarity returns in 2012. You've no doubt been through a series of powerful metamorphoses since 2008, when Pluto took possession of your stars for the long haul. You're not even a quarter of the way through the 18-year shedding process that Pluto requires ... and yet you're not the same person you were just a few years ago by any stretch of the imagination. In some ways, you can expect this year to be a long, dramatic pause. You'll be questioning many aspects of your existence, especially your professional life. Mars, the planet of work and action, will be retrograde for the first quarter of the year in your house of higher learning and travel, putting you in a deeply introspective and philosophical mode. During this time, you'll be less inclined to hit the road than you will be to hit the books.

When the eclipse patterns stir up the winds of change for you again in spring and summer, you'll experience some major epiphanies about the new direction you need to take. The new Moon solar eclipse in your work sector brings a fresh approach to the way you go about your daily routine. And then, the full Moon lunar eclipse of June in your dream sector will bring the muse and vision to inspire you to go beyond the known. The total solar eclipse and new Moon in your goal sector in November is the final push to plant radically new seeds. There's no question that you're leaving your old life behind; it's now just a matter of faithfully emerging into the new.

Love is in the air with generous Jupiter in sister Earth sign Taurus, showering your romantic sector until June. The planet of fortune will provide ample opportunities for you to fall in love with someone new - or simply love the one you're with. Pleasure becomes a key theme for the first half of the year, providing a nice balance to your normal dutiful life.

Romantic

Love is in great abundance during the first half of 2012, while Jupiter showers big fortune on your romantic sector. If anything, you'll be bombarded with so much affection, you'll feel guilty having to break so many hearts. You could easily fall in love overseas or with someone from another country under Jupiter's influence; at the same time, love could take you on such a fabulous adventure that your entire world will open up! In any case, this is a year when you'll fall in love a little bit with everything and everyone. Life itself becomes a daily romantic experience!

Mars, the planet of drive and mojo, will be in positive aspect to your stars for the entire first half of the year. This also bodes exceptionally well for your love life. Your ability to magnetize intense encounters is remarkable under this aspect. The chemistry you have with your partner is what makes life so alive and on fire, so enjoy it. It also makes it necessary for you to have more physical outlets for your surplus of libidinal energy. You're usually more apt to direct this energy toward your work, but during the first half of the year, you're more likely to put it into your love life.

With Pluto continuing to excavate nearly every area of your life through its ongoing 18-year renovation project in your constellation, your relationships are no exception. One-to-one encounters are like being in constant psychoanalysis - you learn so much about yourself through the mirror of your relationship, and that isn't always easy or pretty. Still, you'll perpetually unearth some very deep insights about yourself through this process. If you've endured lost love over the past few years, trust that every death in your love life will be followed with a powerful rebirth.

Career

Your planetary ruler will give its final teachings and tests in your career sector this year during its final transit through Libra. Have you learned your lessons these past two years in balance, beauty and harmony? Apply this wisdom and take your professional status to the next level in 2012 - especially in the first 10 months. You've learned how essential creativity and beauty are to your process, and from now on, these qualities must be an integral part of your work and your larger career aspirations. In October, Saturn will move on to your sector of goals, wishes and group associations. At that point you'll want to focus on how to rally a fabulous crew to back your vision!

Venus will spend an extended period in your work sector between April and August. During the retrograde phase in May and June, some projects may get stalled. But if you use this as a creative and introspective time, it could be incredibly rewarding. When Venus turns direct in June, you can turn all your creative visions into reality. Neptune, the planet of inspiration and glamour, will transit back into your mental sector in February to bring back a deluge of creative visions. You're beginning to think more like a poet and a mystic, and with just a little practical application, this can easily translate into wondrous creations in the world. Jupiter will join Venus in June, doubling pleasure and luck in your daily work.

June's new Moon solar eclipse in your house of work will speed up the ongoing changes you've seen over the past 18 months. You've been on an accelerated course chock full of unexpected twists and turns. As usual, you've navigated all the unexpected shifts with perfect grace. The confluences of powerful forces all seem to pointing you toward a spectacular future. Just follow the signs - they're everywhere now!

2011 - the year just gone

I am shamelessly going to recycle these questions and see how 2011 compares to 2010...
1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
* Resigned after 11 years.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
* Yes - lost weight. Probably, no definitely - quit smoking.
3. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
* Erm out probably with Mr G in the Tup
4. Did anyone close to you die?
* Thankfully, no. Though seeing Marco's accident felt like it.
5. What countries did you visit?
* China, Malaysia and USA
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
* Self belief and the confidence to survive down under.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
* October 23rd. Sepang. RIP Marco
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
* Getting a new job and opportunity of a life time in a new country.
9. What was your biggest failure?
* Not quitting smoking.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
* No.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
* Tickets to places far away.
12. Where did most of your money go?
* Ciggies.
13. What song will always remind you of 2011?
* Gossip 'Heavy Cross'
14. What do you wish you'd done more of?
* Laughed. Walked.
15. What do you wish you'd done less of?
* Bitten my tongue
16. What was your favourite TV program?
* Rev
17. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
* Not particularly.
18. What was the best book you read?
* Bleak House - Charles Dickens.... though I read lots see here.
19. What was your greatest musical discovery?
* Peaches/Gossip
20. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
* Good friends, work colleagues.
21. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
* Generally those who should know better but probably never will.
22. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
* Getting my new job... though at the moment I feel really scared!
23. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner
iii. richer or poorer? Richer.
24. How did you spend Christmas?
* With the folks and Mr G. It went far too quickly.
25. Did you fall in love in 2010?
* No.
26. How many one-night stands?
* 0.
27. What did you want and get?
* Change.
28. What did you want and not get?
* Peace.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
* The Fighter or Fastest.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
* I stayed indoors and listened to the Archers all day on Radio 7 - then went to Wimbledon and drank with chums. A great way to turn 38.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
* Gillingham not fluffing it at the end of the season and missing the play offs.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
* Comfort ahead of fashion.
33. What kept you sane?
* Holidays. Reading.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
* Nicky Hayden
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
* Economic dowerness
36. Who did you miss?
* My brother.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
* Met some tops people on the China trip.
40. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011:
* Being single isn't a reason to feel insignificant. Get out there and shine. Oh and that I have a lot of respect from the people I work with and have worked with - made me feel very humble.

Project Perth: Episode 1

I am living with a permanent sense of I must be doing something else at the moment. Every time I wake up I just think packing boxes; flat here - there. People keep telling me this is exciting - and yes it is - but I can't really sit back and basque in the excitement until the formalities are all sorted...

That said I am looking forward to having a place somewhere in the sun with more than one bedroom and room for a pool! Perth is a mighty long way a way - but sometimes people in the same room as you can seem far away.

I keep having emotional break downs at random moments. I mean on the rail replacement bus en route to football in Gillingham, just welled up and had to make myself not cry. The autumnal leaves and the fear I'd be late. And meeting my dad. The routine - the closeness with my folks.

I keep having really vivid dreams about people - some of whom I have not spoken to for months - it all mounts up to trying to tie up loose ends. And then there are all the people I want to see at least once before I go.  

On the other hand my brother and I chatting much more than we have done for a long time and his enthusiasm for my imminent arrival is great.

This is a fantastic opportunity  and it is exciting and I can't wait - but I have to ride this emotional roller coaster whilst staying focused enough to get the mechanical things sorted...and all the while try not to think too much about all the things I will miss....

Decisive December?

Lucky Days: 6, 7, 15, 16, 25

Yucky Days: 3, 4, 11, 12, 18

Fashion Icon: Kate Moss

Colour: Black

December is your month to officially wipe the slate of 2011 clean, Capricorn. The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in your work zone brings another set of sweeping changes. You’re the master of remaining cool, calm and collected, despite the constant shifting of planetary directions this month. First the shock-and-awe planet, Uranus, goes direct on 9 December in your domestic zone, stirring up a deep sense of restlessness. Next up, Mercury goes direct in your subconscious sector on 13 December. It’s recently been difficult to focus, let alone form clear sentence structures, but it gets better as the next few weeks unfold. The Winter Solstice on 22 December marks not just the first day of the Sun entering your stars, but also the return of lighter, longer days. On 24 December, just a few days later, the New Moon in Capricorn invites you to start drafting your New Year’s resolutions for 2012. The best news of all arrives on Christmas, when Jupiter, the planet of luck, goes direct in a sister earth sign. For you, this is all about positive developments in the romantic realm. Alls well that ends well, and this year is going out on a fabulously high note.

Nocturnal November

Capricorn

Work! You love it (you’re a Cap!) and the prestige and riches it brings, yet even you wonder sometimes why you let it impinge quite so heavily on your life.

Given that your ruling planet, Saturn, continues to break fresh ground until February, it looks likely that you’ll have to hang in there with the status quo for now. Even if you are changing/have recently changed jobs (pretty likely if you were born in 1980. ’81 or ’82) you will have to keep saluting the grey forces of the establishment. The chance to slacken your professional chains arrives early in the new year. This month mid-January birthdays are those feeling Saturn’s inexorable pressure, not just with work, but with any life-changing decisions you took 14 or 29 years back. It could be time for a reckoning.

The month of Scorpio, what’s left of it, is broadly obliging nonetheless, especially when dealing with colleagues, professional groupings and jolly sporting organisations. Jupiter in your fifth solar house continues to smile on your expansive, social side. The full Moon of the 10th is good for making whoopee, and for emotions to turn super-intense.

The month of Sagittarius offers a rather different picture. With the total eclipse of the 25th (a new Moon) in the most private, indeed secretive, zone of your ‘scope, what accompanies it is probably no-one’s business but your own, and may need a reclusive moment for a decision. Put the words ‘down time’ in your ever-packed schedule.

Venus popping over your horizon on the 27th brings a sweeter, more mellow mood in the run-up to Christmas and, as importantly, your birthday.

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Lucky Days: 9, 10, 18, 19, 27

Yucky Days: 6, 7, 14, 15, 21

Fashion Icon: Sienna Miller

Colour: Metal Gray

November promises to be one of the dreamiest and most creative months of the year. With Jupiter and the Full Moon bringing endless fruits to your house of romance, gear up for a fabulous pleasure cruise. The Full Moon in Taurus in your love zone on 10 November is the culmination of a fabulous start to the month. There’s nothing mundane or humdrum about this time of year. You’ll have more romantic options than you’ll probably know what to do with. Plus with so many planets (including Mercury and Venus) activating your subconscious sector, you’re in a state of constant inspiration. Dreams easily become realities now. The only caveat is that it may be difficult to distinguish the difference between what’s real and what’s imagined. Neptune (the planet of illusions and delusions) is changing direction around the Full Moon, making it nearly impossible to know what to believe. But then again, you’ve had enough reality checks to last you for a lifetime. Enjoy the dreamy, cinematic splendour of it all, Capricorn.

2011 - Reading List

Novel(s) completed so far this year:

The Book of Revelation by Rupert Thomson. Odd story of kidnap and sexual domination. 

Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Finally I succeed in completing a Dickens novel. Really enjoyed it. 

The Diary of a Nobody - by Grossmith (George and Weedon). Short. Sweet. Funny. 

Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. I liked it as it alluded to my university and did have some very entertaining moments. But he wins through!

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (abandoned - too tedious)

A Slipping Down Life by Anne Tyler - so well written; it resonates with my teenage imagination.

The Pregnant Widow by Martin Amis. I started this before I went away and never really got into it. Think I was expecting more fruity scenes. I didn't dip back into it whilst away and thus I fear it has been abandoned.... oh dear. 

The Tin-Kin by Eleanor Thorn. Once my head had got round the Scottish dialectic I was completely absorbed. Well worth picking up on the off chance.

Recovery by Stephen Benatar. I got this book by virtue of the author being in Waterstones Bromley South when I was seeking books to take on my holiday. As it was I didn't really need a book on my tour in China, the company provided more than plenty of story material. This is a set of 2 novellas. And they stretch your idea of normality. Similar in theme to the Tin Kin - the stories are about finding yourself. The journey of who am I? Both stories deliver hefty twists. And I suspect I need to read them again to fully appreciate their skill.

The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas. Okay I could not put this book down. Nope not for a minute. Not sure if it was because I could identify with the place (Melbourne) or even the characters held within. There were a lot of observations that I could relate too. Maybe it was the plot. Delicately woven into 8 short stories told from the perspective of a key character  Belter of a read. And now I am lost as to what to read next!!

Michael Faber - The Crimson Petal and the White. Total contrast to The Slap. It's a modern day take on a Dickenesque novel. Focusing on the central character Sugar and how she elevates her position from a prostitute. It was a long read at 800+ pages - but actually didn't feel like a slog. The characters and places were vivid enough and unlike Dickens there weren't overt numbers of them. Set in London it adequately takes you back to the Victorian era and you can feel the mists and filth. Sugar inspires Mr Rackham who in turn becomes a fuller man, though I'm not sure I ever really liked him. Glad I read it as I was unable to see the BBC's adaptation owing to being out of the country!

F Scott Fitzgerald - Tender is the Night. I found this took a bit longer to read than a 300 pagers should have done in comparison with the 800+ ones that I have recently read. It's essentially F Scott's fictional telling of his life with his wife. It had a very solitary feel about it and made me contemplate loneliness: in spite of being with someone; of having lots of friends; being successful. Glad I struggled through to the end though. The sense of being in Europe helped bring some sunshine whilst London was rather damp in July.  

J.D. Salinger - Catcher in the Rye. This had long been on my list of must reads. Then JD died early last year and he was much celebrated. As a novel - its set across a 3 day period and covers the thoughts and actions of the central character - Holden Caulfield. I whipped through it in a week. Some of the language grated to begin with - but once I re-set my expectation and went with the flow of a teenager talking to me - it worked much better!

Sebastian Faulks - Birdsong. Mmm. An fairly innocuous tale. Fairly easy to read. A love story, and plenty of First World War mud. I guess the telling of trench life was the most revealing part... having to screw my face up on the tube when another leg was blown off or when the described smells and scenes all got a bit much. As for the central character Stephen.. not sure I ever understood what motivated him to be so cold.

Richard Yates - Young Hearts Crying. Loved this. Better than Revolutionary Road (though maybe I need to re-read it) more lively. Divided into 3 parts. The couple and then each half of the couple and how they survive/proceed once no longer a couple. The striving for being an artist and the pain it causes. The difference between having and not having money. The US dream. Or not as the case may be.

[Please note it was around here I joined the LIBRARY!!]

John Steinbeck - East of Eden.  Will let you know when I finish it. I did enjoy the Grapes of Wrath though many years ago... SO as a reprise. I couldn't put this down. It tells the tale of several families in the Californian Salinas. The theme of brothers, twins, good & evil underpin every chapter. I did not like Cathy at all and at times wondered if she was even a credible character. Vivid, opulent and arid at its heart it is all quite dark and ultimately quite sad. 


Don DeLillo - Falling Man. I read this over a weekend whilst having East of Eden still on the go. It was also the weekend of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. A remarkable observation of the impact of that day on a few individuals. Not sensationalist - just follows the daily lives in the days and months after the extraordinary day the towers fell. Highly recommended. 


Chris Guillebeau - The Art of Non-Conformity. I need a change in my life. So I read this for inspiration. Whilst I may not want to travel ceaselessly I do want to understand how I can find a happier place in this weird and stressful world. Some good tips and observations. 


John Harding - While the Sun Shines. Literally picked this up in the library because he shared the name of my Creative Writing course tutor. A novel whose use of words required me to pick up a dictionary. But in a good way. Still don't know what sinecure means .... All slightly outrageous but as fiction is meant to take you away from normal I really enjoyed it and it got read in under 4 days! Yes it really did make me laugh out loud on the tube - rare indeed!


Don DeLillo - Cosmopolis. This is a dark dark novel. Eric is rich and leads life playing the markets and in his stretch limo. It's set in NY but not one you or I would recognise. It's a day in his life. Haircuts, doctors, hotel rooms a wife whom he barely knows. Will losing everything and being stripped bare allow them to be honest with each other? 

Sister - Rosamund Lupton.  Sought this out in the library following a waterstones recommeneds feature. Advertised as a thriller I found it to be better described as a journey with a few non too pleasant scenes along the way.  Aptly titled, one sister is intent on discovering the cause of her sister's death. Was it murder? Was it suicide? A devilish twist towards the end made it a must read.  And in the world of coincidence - as this covered cystic fibrosis - so did an episode of 'The Body Farm'. So I felt ahead of the game and spooked by the fact the central character in each was called Tess....
Have now got 'Aftermath' out from the library to see how the author expands into the second tricky novel!

Aftermath - Rosamund Lupton. Read this before and after holiday to Kuala Lumpur. Not quite as intense as sister but a jolly good story line never the less.. I didn't work it out until too late!

Room - Emma Donoghue. I was intrigued by this book - and despite trying really hard not to get into it - I did. Read it before/during/after trip to Washington DC. Recommend it if you want to make your mind boggle and feel a little uncomfortable as you read certain bits of it..

The Road to Mount Buggery - a book given to me by my bro in 2001 - he was then in Australia and I'm now working through my plan of execution to be there by end of Feb. A couple are travelling the lenght of bredth of the country to visit all the places with odd/unpleasant or highly descriptive names. Certainly getting me in the spirit!!

It's true...

it has been the hottest recorded few days in October ever!!! Madness...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/02/indian-summer-brings-out-crowds

It's true... they came from Austria..!

October Opus

Capricorn

Even Capricorns who are hardened sceptics about matters astrological know that they are meant to be the tough sons and daughters of Saturn. Some might even have read that with Pluto in Capricorn for a small age (in fact, only until 2023!) they are being challenged to wield their powers with ever more consideration for the masses over whom they hold sway (Caps always rule). Today’s new Moon finds those two planets in powerful alignment, signalling a lunar month when your powers as boss (or wannabe boss) are put to the test for good or for…less good.

With Venus (on 30 September), Mercury (6 October) and Sun (13 October) all conjoining Saturn in the life path zone of your ‘scope, your long term career plans are either coming to glorious fruition or their inadequacies being painfully pointed out. Saturn has been pushing you to do more professionally – or at least survive, by fair means or foul – for the last 18 months. The next fortnight offers a reality check on your progress. For birthdays circa 24-26 December (take a bow Ed Miliband) and Jan 10-14, that goes double. As every Goat knows, there is always someone further up the professional totem pole, and right now, they may have to be appeased. Ultra formality serves you well, attempts to blackmail or bluff your way less so. Compromise – not your default position – is a good bet.

By way of compensation for the pressure from up above, the more playful side of your life – to which Capricorns are prone to pay less than full attention – remains buoyant. Jupiter in Taurus, a fellow earth sign, provides an ongoing reminder that parties, love affairs and (this month’s special) hot sex also have a place in your world. Perhaps against the odds, there also seems to be a chance of fast money – perhaps not even what you have slaved to earn – around the 3rd/4th – good days for you in any case

The full Moon of the 12th alters the mood somewhat, ushering in a month or so when your most sociable nature is called into play. Therefacter, and especially afer the Sun arrives in Scorpio on the 24th, it’s not ‘who you know’ but ‘who you like’ that counts most.

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Lucky Days: 3, 4, 12, 13, 23

Yucky Days: 10, 11, 17, 18, 24

Fashion Icon: Kate Moss

Colour: Off-White

October is a splendid mix of business and pleasure—your two favourite arenas, Capricorn. The Sun will light up your career sector until the 23rd, so make the most of this stellar period to let your projects shine. Venus enters your social sector on 8 October, inviting you to celebrate decadently with your best mates. Intimacy and passion are strong themes under the barrage of Scorpio planets this month, so expect to go deep. The New Moon in your house of long-term goals and wishes is the most opportune moment of the season to plant the seeds to your future success going into 2012. Have you revised your bucket list? This is the month to get clear about what you want to manifest in this big bad world before another six months pass you by. The only bump in otherwise stellar course for October is the arrival of the Full Moon in your domestic sector on the 11th. This fiery lunation could bring some family issues to a state of emergency. But trust that any little crisis will quickly pass, so there’s no need for panic.

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It is not always very easy to take it easy. Indeed, taking it easy can be very difficult. The more we feel that we ought to be taking it easy, the more stressed out we become when we realise that we aren't. Actually, you don't want to go taking it too easy in October. If you're willing to put in the right kind of effort now, you can accomplish an awful lot. Sometimes, people confuse being busy with being under pressure. If you're enjoying your chance to rise to this month's challenge, you're going to be fine. If you're not, relax a little and trust. It's all going to be fine.