I am grateful for the opportunity, means and support to take this trip to South America for four months. Not everyone can do this and I plan to make the most of it!

I am grateful that the recent hot-then-cold, immature love interest of mine pissed me off so much that I can shake him off and recognize from a distance that there is someone better suited for me...and more deserving! He serves as a reminder of what I DON'T want in a relationship!

Fun day of skiing at Nakiska with Kris today. Sunny though breezy in the morning, gray and raining (!) in the afternoon. We kept going and had a great time.

Didn't miss being in the office today!!!

Glad that I managed to backup my PC before it had to go to computer heaven!

Grateful that I have a little bit of time to find the house I want though feeling a bit nervous that it'll be there for me in time at the right price in the right neighbourhood. So much to get right but I'm optimistic that 'I'll know it when I see it', just like with my condo and my Dutch digs.

Glad to be just doing nothing this New Year's Eve. It's been a hectic December winding down a fun and fulfilling 2011. Am excited for the adventure that awaits me in 2012!

Lunch and afternoon at the spa with Robin and Jenna today. We realized we've been doing our annual spa-treat for about ten years now. What a wonderful tradition with two stellar ladies!

Had a nice catch-up call with Charlie today. I'm really glad we're still in each other's lives.

Kristen and Marla are such good friends. I really appreciate the effort they've put into our friendships. I'm lucky to have such fabulous ladies in my life.

I love my new iTouch!!!

Lazing around the house today feels fabulous!

Jimi got my computer to work again! I am so relieved. It was becoming a real pain to not have a computer.

It's the chaos that makes a house a home! Family dinner with 14 tonight for Christmas Day dinner. Nice visits with everyone and so much yummy food that I am okay with starting to be good food-wise tomorrow!

Christmas morning with my family. The way it should be.

Kimm, Jocelyn, Andrew.

Today I'm particularly grateful for the friends who made such an effort to say goodbye to me. Leaving is tough but their efforts made it that much better.

Jocelyn, Andrew, Mike, Andy, Adam.

I had my going away drinks and dinner last night. There was a big and varied crowd and I managed to visit with everyone, I hope.

I was truly blown away with the effort that went into the going away gifts that the team put together for me. The camera lens and hood were picked up in Rotterdam! The cards signed by P&T and UIX were lovely. And, la piece de resistance, the penguin poster and costume - This Time It's Technical!

Everyone on the team dressed up in the suit they gave me to wear in Antarctica and posed in front of the green scene in the iScope. Then they put it all together and presented me a big team poster.

I then had to put ON the penguin suit. I just kept it on and wore it from the pub on the tram all the way to the restaurant! Too funny!

I feel very loved and grateful for all that they did for me and I'll miss them all!

My health during this stressful time of leaving the Netherlands and the build-up to Christmas is holding up... so far! :o)

Javastraat 84B.

May 7th, 2008 to December 14th, 2011.

I'm grateful that I seem to be able to follow the 'love like you've never been hurt' mantra, however I do need to be a bit smarter about remembering some of the lessons I've learned along the way.

My departure from Den Haag is imminent and it's now in retrospect that I realize how happy I've been here and how good 2011 has been. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to be here, the adventures I had along the way, and the incredible people I've met. How I will miss the likes of the OPCW and UIX crowds!!!

If I wasn't meeting Meg for a run I definitely would have kept sleeping this morning. It's good to have running buddies.

After all these years, I'm so grateful for the friendship that Andy and I now have. Six months in the same town has been nice. I'll miss him.

I saw so much talent on the stage of Billy Elliott tonight. I'm so lucky to be here in London and get to see such amazing dancers on stage. I simply must sign up for a tap class when I'm home.