Lumpkid turns 6!!!
The thing about having Lumpkid is that it's as if I get to celebrate my birthday twice a year (one for partying, one for introspection). It kinda rocks!

It's been a big big year for us.

Early in the year, Lumpkid got to be a 'real journalist' again for a spell, covering the 2011 General Election where he quickly re-discovered 'real journalism' = 14-hour days with little to show for it but eyebags and a lot of namecards. Oh and a byline (which bizarrely makes up for all the suffering).

He then traipsed off to China (yes, again) to make friends with two pandas. There, he was relieved to learn that pandas are indeed herbivorous (unless they happen to sit on you in the wild, in which case, they'll make the most of the opportunity and have a nibble). This relief was in large part due to the discovery that parts of the panda enclosure was just styrofoam covered in a thin layer of cement.

Pandas are cute, until they break out of their styrofoam enclosure and eat you.

The travellin' kidney then took himself off to NYC for a spell. His host turned 30 and celebrated the event in lovely NYC and Vegas in the company of great friends. Having a 39-hour birthday is a little tiring and a lot surreal. Following up the occasion a week later with a not-so-surprise-but-10-gold-stars-for-the-effort-yacht-party was spectacular.

In between, Lumpkid did a little Muay Thai, a lot of dieting and managed to learn to sing and strum at the same time on the ukulele. (Okay, singing is too strong a word - saying lyrics in an approximation of a tune might be more accurate).

Work took a back seat a little this year - it's been a crazy three years of non-stop deadlines. But Lumpkid is raring to go in 2012; lots of plans are on the horizon! There's a wee house to save up for and some possible travelling. Lumpkid's also got plans to get fitter and shed the security fat he's hoarding. If not, his doctor will make his host run ten times around the hospital yelling "I'm a fatty fatty fatty". Avoiding humiliation is not the incentive here, it's the running.

It looks like another exhausting, exhilarating, exciting year is ahead of us and Lumpkid is decidedly looking forward to it. I'm not so sure myself, but I'll go whereever this hardy lifesaver of a kidney will take me. Happy 6th birthday Lumpkid!

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary,