2013 - how was it for you?

Not great at all, but it's ended on a possible humdinger.

Actually, editing this after reading Freefallers post.

Debt free (well, mortgage but we're overpaying that super quick), some great holidays, health, and the family is well. So yeah, not bad at all.
 
Started well, went down hill from then. Split from the girlfriend of 2 and half years, been falling out with friends lately although I don't see it as much of a loss as most of them behave as if they're 12 and I'm fed up of the childish arguments and immaturity. Find myself regretting a few choices I made in the past. Didn't help myself by going of the rails a tad either. Think I've stopped the downwards trend though. Ohhh and our giant house bunny died :(. Suppose the last year did see me promoted into a job that i love with a 20% pay rise and a huge amount of unique opportunities, silver linings n all. The bunch I work with are a good crack too so suppose not all bad.

Fresh start for me next year though, need to work out how I'm going to fill my time meaningfully rather than moping around feeling sorry for myself. My old man has started volunteering to teach the army cadets and my uncle now does a lot of work for Samaritans so maybe I'll do some volunteering stuff or find a new hobby (or both). Been far too self centred in the past and never really done much for charity so maybe it's about time I start.

Sorry Nitefly completely ignored your format rules and I cba to re-write to comply with them.
 
bakes0310 said:
Pretty well, getting a bit tricky in places but after a lesson or so I get to understand it then move onto another tricky part:p
Do you play at all, or have an interest in maybe giving it ago?
Click to expand...

Been playing piano on and off for years. I mostly play the oud and guitar. Piano is an extremely satisfying instrument, no doubt about it.
 
2nd extended trip to Sweden including spending Christmas here with GF and her family.. Celebrating it today. Should really be getting ready not reading the forum :P

Only bad things about this year.. Little bit home sick especially around this time and finding a job here isn't particularly as straight forward and as easy as i was hoping. No turkey on the menu and COD Ghosts was rubbish. My uncle died but we were estranged, which is a shame but too late now. Appreciate your families and friends and [GF shouting at me time to go]

God Jul. (Merry Christmas) -19oC out... This will be fun
 
Lysander said:
Been playing piano on and off for years. I mostly play the oud and guitar. Piano is an extremely satisfying instrument, no doubt about it.
Click to expand...

Bloody boring to learn stuff when you practice properly though! I'm brushing up old repertoire at the moment as a load of it seems to have fallen out of my head. Used to be able to play a few Chopin Nocturnes from memory but they are a mess now. :(
 
Narj said:
Bloody boring to learn stuff when you practice properly though!
Click to expand...

I know. But you just have to identify that you know it will be boring but ultimately worthwhile.

Each session I alternate between exercises [not for guitar since I find it a piece of p***], written pieces [which are generally learned a stave or two at a time] and improvs.
 
Great year overall, became a dad, finished the house and my hip is finally starting to feel normal again.
 
It had been a great year up until Sept when I lost my Dad in a plane crash and my granddad, my mum's dad, the day after the funeral due to a heart condition. It's scary how quickly life can go from wonderful to empty in the space of a few weeks. Everyone's in shock. I'm just trying to get mum through Christmas and keep everything together. It's hard to find some positives considering. Fitness wise I've had a turn around this year - from having never run more than a few km to doing Tough Mudder in June and the 3 Spartan Races, finishing with the Beast in Nov. Dad was there for Tough Mudder and was very proud, and the Beast I did for him. He would have been proud again. He was a second dan in Judo btw, a 3rd dan in Iaido and was posthumously awarded a 4th dan and given a stage name, which translates to something like venerable old gentleman, by the head sensei in Japan. An honour for anyone, and particularly for 66 year old Englishman. I still remember with a smile him trying to get his sword through customs when we went to Japan for his grading a few years back - this tall, white bald guy brandishing a sword and demanding to be let into the country :) He was a Geophysicist and the smartest most caring guy I know. My granddad lived with us from when I was a kid to when I moved out. He survived WW2 and was in the first wave to relieve Belsen. That haunted him every day since. He was a hair dresser and used to cut the hair of some of the English football team. He made me breakfast and walked me to school every day, taught me to swim and how to train dogs. He was also a great guy.

Few people are as fortunate to be raised by two such men - I'm going to try and forget the bad and be thankful for what they gave me, which is more than can be counted, and pick up where they left off.
 
Last edited:
All good, I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself but if I step back, I am incredibly fortunate. My kids and wife are great, business has grown, I turned 39 and have the body of a man of 38.
 
Better year than I've had for quite a while. Happier, fitter & more confident did a fair few new things. But didn't do a lot of other things i wanted. Next year up and onwards.
 
Warbie said:
It had been a great year up until Sept when I lost my Dad in a plane crash and my granddad, my mum's dad, the day after the funeral due to a heart condition. It's scary how quickly life can go from wonderful to empty in the space of a few weeks. Everyone's in shock. I'm just trying to get mum through Christmas and keep everything together. It's hard to find some positives considering. Fitness wise I've had a turn around this year - from having never run more than a few km to doing Tough Mudder in June and the 3 Spartan Races, finishing with the Beast in Nov. Dad was there for Tough Mudder and was very proud, and the Beast I did for him. He would have been proud again. He was a second dan in Judo btw, a 3rd dan in Iaido and was posthumously awarded a 4th dan and given a stage name, which translates to something like venerable old gentleman, by the head sensei in Japan. An honour for anyone, and particularly for 66 year old Englishman. I still remember with a smile him trying to get his sword through customs when we went to Japan for his grading a few years back - this tall, white bald guy brandishing a sword and demanding to be let into the country :) He was a Geophysicist and the smartest most caring guy I know. My granddad lived with us from when I was a kid to when I moved out. He survived WW2 and was in the first wave to relieve Belsen. That haunted him every day since. He was a hair dresser and used to cut the hair of some of the English football team. He made me breakfast and walked me to school every day, taught me to swim and how to train dogs. He was also a great guy.

Few people are as fortunate to be raised by two such men - I'm going to try and forget the bad and be thankful for what they gave me, which is more than can be counted, and pick up where they left off.
Click to expand...

So sorry for your loss - it sounds like they were truly inspiring individuals, and you are cherishing their memories in the very best way that would make them both happy and proud - by following the example they set :)
 
^TANK^ said:
That is pretty much what has killed my year.
Click to expand...

I've been doing a combo of CBT and ACT (Accept and commit) through the NHS that has been helpful. I recommend getting down to the doc and make it clear that you are having troublems. Took ages to get through the waiting list, but it beats struggling through day by day with no plan! Hang in there bro, I know it's tough.
 
How has my 2013 been?

Well, besides a few setback here and there to do with being out of work at the first quarter of the year and going through a few personal issues and going through yet another failed relationshop - this year has definitely been better than 2012!

In this year, I've actually managed to stay in a full time job without be it being temporary so that I've had to finish or even being made redundant (In the past 18 months alone I've been made redundant 3 times from 2 different jobs). However, I've been in my current job now for over 7 months and it's been going really, really well. To be honest to begin with I actually thought that it wouldn't last as at the time, it was yet another temporary position that I applied for but since then and with the work load basically doubling the company have took someone else on to work alongside me and therefore I was made permanent.

Besides successfully being in full time employment for 6 months+ for the first time in 18 months, I've also been really lucky to of had 2 fantastic holidays. The first which was 2 weeks in South Africa in Feb/March as my Mum & step Dad got married over there and also a week down in Cornwall with some friends in September.

2013 was also the year for me to really keep in control with my finances and do the best I can do to make that step further to become debt free after all the palava that I've had with being out of work here and there, and that being I have managed to successfully clear my credit card and I haven't touched it since and I don't ever intend to ever again :)

Plans and ambitions for 2014? Well, with my parents still sticking to the plan of packing & selling up over here and emigrating to France to run a B&B for a few years and if it definitely goes ahead in March, I will have a house move on the cards. I have high hopes that my current employment will still continue for a very long time yet but I am still forever still on the lookout for employment in IT so if the right job comes along, I won't hesitate to apply for it. However, if something like that doesn't turn up then I'm still more than happy to stick where I am now :)

Edit - oh yeah I forgot to mention, I also managed to successfully quit smoking after doing it on/off for over 4 years and moved onto vaping. I've been cigarette free for over 3 months now :)

Liam
 
Last edited:
Not getting into details but it's sucked big time. As did the year before.

Only good thing from this year is getting my dog.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom