Well 2023 was nothing like that. It was a mostly shit year, not really a holding year, and generally a year of total flux.duncs500 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 28, 2023 5:07 pm With work it's just a case of fighting on, keep trying to come up with more ways to be efficient, and wrestle it into a better place. It's taking longer than expected, but I have to believe we can get there. I still like the company, and they've taken care of me relatively well, but the client is a monumental cunt and that has been harder than expected to change. Got to just try to stay professional and do my best I reckon. I am feeling less ambitious than I used to, at the moment at least, having a good work life balance is just more important to me.
In my personal life, really looking forward to see the little one advance, I think it can be hard for dads to have a good relationship before they can talk, but I can see it getting easier and more fun for me with every passing few months. Definitely going to go on holiday abroad this year with the family, after a couple of years at home, so that should be great although more challenging with the child. Money wise, a couple of big expenses early in the year, then I want to build up a bit of a buffer to keep us comfortable, feels like we should be able to do that unless something major changes.
Diet is starting today, lots of work to do, but I've done it before successfully so hopefully can recreate that. I need to. Looking to put more structure to my exercise too, so lets see how that goes.
Keen to do more with the Lotus again, this might well be my year with that. With the bbq, I want to focus on consistency, and turning out good stuff time and again. Do want to do a brisket at some point though.
That's it really, another holding year to some extent, not too many grand plans. Hopefully everyone can stay healthy.
Losing YK was an early blow, I didn’t think it would affect me as much as it did, but as well as making me feel more mortal, he’s still often on my mind. Then losing my mum quite unexpectedly in June was obviously horrible.
I think related to these two events my approach to work changed (I still can picture the time YK told me with a smile that all he wanted from work was an ok salary and an easy life). Work hadn’t improved throughout the year, and I realised that it wasn’t going to, so after some soul searching I decided by late summer it was time to make some fundamental changes. Luckily I was able to find a an opportunity to change roles, be supported while I upskilled, and also where they valued my previous near-two-decade experience enough that the pay cut was manageable. So far I am loving the new job.
My daughter has advanced really well, it’s been a rollercoaster (as it probably is with most toddlers) but she’s a really bubbly and confident kid for the most part now. It hasn’t been plain sailing for the wife and I, we’ve had some rough spells, but I think we’ve both been really trying to be better versions of ourselves through various methods in the latter part of the year, and I think we are starting to see the benefits of that.
The Lotus has really been one of the few beacon’s of light in 2023. Since I got it back from Dan I’m so happy with it, it’s intoxicating to drive and have really enjoyed planning each of the next thing I want to do with it in terms of tweaking it (I’ve never really been into the whole ‘modifying’ thing, but I can see why some people are now). I haven’t stretched its legs on track yet (almost certainly would have if YK was still around
), but it’s been out to various events and bits since I’ve had it back. Having C&M less than half an hour away has been a game changer since it opened in September time, just always a good target destination to take a drive out, have a coffee, see some interesting cars, and usually end up chatting cars with people has really enhanced my enjoyment of the car too.In summary, 2023 was mostly a shit year, but my big hope is that some of the results of that are reasons to be positive for the future.
I’m really excited for 2024, I need everyone stay healthy and alive though first and foremost though!
Work wise, just looking to build on the good start I’ve made in the last couple of months, grow my skills and enjoy it. I have been determined to just focus on my job and not get too ambitious, but sometimes I’m frustrated with myself because I can’t help but look further ahead. Need to try to keep a lid on that, and just use it in a positive way rather than get frustrated if I think I’m not getting recognition etc.
At home, I just want to enjoy life with the family, watch the little one grow and see my wife smiling a bit more. I think as the little one becomes more self sufficient the pressure gradually releases on the stresses of parenthood, so should be a better year for that.
Car wise, just continue on my journey of getting the car where I want it to be, and use it at every opportunity. This year I discovered the local classic car club, which does some great meets particularly in the summer, so that’s got me out and about more, and with C&M there as well, and a neighbour and mate/colleague who are usually keen to join in on car stuff, I feel like I’ve got a nice little mini community that is really making it fun to talk about cars and have an excuse to go places. Just want to add a bit of track to that to allow me to enjoy a bit more of the envelope of the car.
Other plans, keep bbqing, sort the garden out a bit, and sort the garage out. I’ve been spending more time in there tinkering with the car and it does my head in that it’s so dusty and disorganised.
.. thanks for sharing though! 
