King of Snow

First for 2009.

Things have been pretty busy these last 6 months and I've been rather absent from the virtual world.

In the last few months of 2008 I was busy job hunting. After landing three interviews, followed quickly by three job offers, I had many choices and a hard decision to make. While holding the first job offer and contract in my hand, only requiring my signature, I managed to complete the writing test, interview and receive the job offer for the position I ended up accepting. Talk about moving fast! I think it was over a total of 3 days.

So now I am a Medical Writer in the editorial department for a Medical Communications Agency and I love it. Every day I am thankful for leaving the lab. It was strange for the first month being in a purely office environment after ten years in a laboratory but this didn't last long. I really like the crazy busy workplace I am now a part of. My PhD and medical research experience is very useful in this job this is a good feeling.

2009 has been good to us so far. G and I saw in the New Year at a Youth Hostel in Interlaken, Switzerland with DrN and many other happy people -what a party! Oh the big fat snow flakes that fell that night were amazing. Driving to Interlaken in the heavy snow fall however was rather scary.

This was not the most recent ski trip for G and I either. In February we met up with G's family in Japan for two weeks of skiing and other Japanese adventures. If I thought the snow was incredible in Switzerland, Japan was just a dream world. I was lost for words with the experiences we had at Rocky Inn, Appi Kogen. We were well looked after and spoilt by our host Tomoyoshi. We had the whole in Inn to ourselves and enjoyed meals prepared specially for us from food grown on Tomoyoshi's own farm (even the rice and coffee beans). Each evening, dinner was like a show. So entertaining. After our Appi experience we were worried the rest of the trip could not compare. However there was more beauty to see and I wasn't disappointed. The river cruise through the islands of Matsushima and climbing to the top temple at Yamadera, where the snow gave the mountain a majestic and mystical quality. Very spiritual and serene. Next was the Golden Temple at Hiraizumi, followed by a dip in the traditional Japanese Onsen (hot springs). At Nikko, we saw a traditional Japanese wedding in the temple complex (also home to the frieze containing the famous three wise monkeys). Our last few days together were spent exploring Tokyo and then I flew back to the UK on my own as Gareth stayed on for work, returning the following week.

Now we spend the weekends out riding our mountain bikes and generally looking forward to the days getting longer. Flowers are beginning to bloom and lambs are appearing in the fields. Summer is coming. We can't wait.