With the new year only two days old it is time for me to look back at the previous year and look forward at the coming year.

Personally wise last year was a roller coaster with the home coming of our adoption daughter, a wait of 3.5 years. We had some difficult times since adapting to a 5 year old is not easy for both sides. The communication problems in the beginning (she spoke oriya, a local dialect) were very frustrating. It is all well now, she is happily blabbing our ears off like most girls of 6 year can do, she likes to go to school and we are looking if she can start primary school in September.

Miniature wise a lot has happened too. After some on and off time in the hobby for almost ten years due to the drug that MMORPG's are, I started full gear painting last year in spring. It was time to quit online gaming and do a pass time that was easier to bend around the demands of a child. It worked out well since I go upstairs too when it is sleeping time for my daughter. She falls easier asleep knowing when someone is always near to her (these kids have a lot of separation anxiety) and this forces me to spent considerable time behind my painting desk which I use well now.
I managed to finish a few decent quality miniatures where every mini shows progress. I finished my first unit in years for a play army (vampire counts).
The point is, I finally started to FINISH stuff and there is no bigger motivator for me to continue painting.
I met the great group of people that is wamp. There is a lot happening here, too much for me to participate in all.
I met some old friends from back in time when I did historicals and AFV's, I rejoined my old modeling club, having every Friday a place to hang out with fellow enthusiasts (they got me crazy enough to make me start in oils again, but more about that later).

Looking forward for the new year I will try to paint more and better and find a balance between army painting, fantasy and historical display painting. I will try to continue improving. I will probably not participate in contests (on line or events). I will however try to open more to the internet community and this blog is a first step. In here I will write about my ideas, opinions and techniques.

So with this promise I close off this post