So this blue marble has completed another cycle around the sun, and I am another year older. And now in last year of my twenties…
I’m not much of a diary keeper, and I did try and attempt at using one second a day to record a second a day of my life, but managed it for about two weeks before realising how mundane my day-to-day really is. But let’s see what memories of this last year I can pull up…
January – March: Homeownership Adventures and Spa Surprises
The year kicked off with a hefty £500 bill to rectify the guttering, only to see it leak again, not once but twice. Ah, the joys of homeownership! Amidst these challenges, I found solace in attending a moving memorial gig for my girlfriend’s dad’s former bandmate, raising funds for Leukaemia Care.
Surviving a couples’ IKEA trip and conquering the flat-pack challenge marked a domestic victory.
February brought a fresh start with the decoration of my home office and an unexpected wall breach during a radiator replacement. Again, yay, homeownership!
March, however, was a month of indulgence.
A spa day at Ramside Hall promised relaxation, but an untimely 1 am fire alarm tested my tranquillity. Note to self: even Premier Inns offer better post-alarm apologies!
April – June: Co-Working Trials and Sun-Soaked Escapades
April marked the commencement of back-bedroom decoration and the exploration of a new co-working space. Farewell, Commerce House, you served us well.
May brought a touch of democracy as I exercised my right during local elections, brandishing my newly acquired adult passport in lieu of my driver’s licence – a victim of a now won fight with the DVLA.
May’s climax, however, was a magical evening at Sunderland Empire, where my girlfriend and I immersed ourselves in the enchanting world of The Lion King musical.
June ushered in a week of bliss in Lanzarote – a welcome escape filled with sun-soaked days, leisurely reads, and exploration hand-in-hand with my wonderful partner.
July – September: New Office, Anniversary, and Pondering Surgery
July marked a professional transition as we moved into a new office.
August saw us utilising the Christmas present I had bought my partner – an Arctic Wolf Feeding experience at South Lakes Zoo, a venture to remember, proving that experiences often make the best gifts.
The month ended with a milestone — our first anniversary, a celebration of a year filled with shared adventures and laughter.
As September rolled in, home improvements continued with the arrival of carpets for the back bedroom and the assembly of a pool table in our office. Amidst these practicalities, serious discussions unfolded with my consultations with maxfax to explore further surgery options.
October – November: Home Office Upgrades and City Adventures
October witnessed the addition of a standing desk to my home office, a final touch to a space I spend a good amount of time in.
Personal victories continued as my car triumphed in its MOT, a sigh of relief for any vehicle owner.
November brought a blend of practicality and nostalgia. A missed green waste collection turned into a bonfire night spectacle, and a visit to Hull unearthed the serendipity of revisiting my hometown, and a place exactly a year later.
Oh and a fantastic work gathering in Manchester.
The verdict?
It was a good year after all.
I did many fun and exciting things, and spend it with the most wonderful person.
What’s for 2024??
- Go on another holiday abroad where I can read and sip on fruity flavoured drinks, whilst slowly burning
- Read more. I was never interested in reading as kid, I’ve certainly got into it more in the past year, but I want to aim to read even more. Maybe try and keep my goodreads updated too.
- Keep in better touch with my friends. I am AWFUL and reply to messages, and in the last year I’ve used Facebook twice, both on my birthday to thank people for posting on my wall.
- Get healthier. I need to the gym more, there is no doubt about it. My t-shirts are getting tight.
- Cook more. At the front end of 2022 I was cooking from scratch most of the time, experimenting with Gousto – with this I tried over 122 different dishes and 20 different cuisines. The numbers for 2023 will be less I imagine. So I shall be resubbing, with the aim of buying fewer takeaways and drinking less wine.
- I want to be more involved in politics, with my local council teetering on “bankruptcy”[1] and the looming election (my bet is Q2 of 2024), I want to be more involved – as you could stand up and be heard, or sit down and be ignored. I don’t know what this “involvement” would entail.
- Do more in terms of personal development. Explore courses either around PSM, ISTQB, or some form AWS. Ideally also getting the certification too.
- Blog more? We’ll see
[1] Councils can’t technically go bankrupt in the normal legal sense. Instead, they issue a ‘Section 114 notice’ whey they can’t commit to new spending and government may intervene… or the gov could reduce what are the councils’ statutory duties in order to let the council make further cuts.