What a horrible few days it has been. I am stunned at the death and destruction I have seen in Asia. I got a call from one of my NGO co-ordinators and was asked whether I was available to deploy to Sri Lanka to help out in a mapping effort. This christmas period was the worst time as everyone else was away on leave. Regretfully I had to say no but the team deployed with a good bunch.

I was still available to provide support from the UK along with three others and we mobilised over the next few days in providing mapping and data to the team in the field.

Still, the sights and sounds and smells the guys are experiencing in the field must be horrible.

A good friend and his wife was in Thailand - they were due to celebrate New Year in Australia and I hope they left Thailand early. I pray that they have.

It seems like this year is ending like last: with a disaster. 2004 had the earthquake in Iran and now this one in Asia. So many dead - I hope that 2005 we all can rebuild, the death toll however in this latest disaster now stands at 170,000. The mind reels in shock from this.

What of me this year? My blog entries have been sparse of late due to the increasing pressures at work. However, 2004 has been an excellent year: full of fun and good memories, not to mention some interesting people and places. I am looking forward to 2005 immensely. I have plans now to start looking ahead at a new house as well as possibly looking ahead for a new job. Not that I want to leave my current place of work but since I am happy here - now is the best time to look. Overseas work beckons once more and the presence of a well-travelled friend has allowed me to focus my mind.

I need a fresh injection of passion into my life, not necessarily in the romantic sense but more of throwing myself into something that I love. There are many things I have dabbled in but I think with 2005 but a few hours away, I need to choose a handful and stay the course.

Quiet new year for me this time - was invited to a party but declined as I wanted to go and visit my mum and brother. A nice time to reflect.