2023 - how's it been for you?

I'm glad last week is over anyhow - might not seem like it given my frequency of posting here :s but I doubled my normal work hours and went in for an extra day in the last minute crunch to Christmas - though January's pay should be good - but it was hugely stressful - we had a bunch of temps decide to just quit towards the end of the week before last so as to have more time off over Christmas as well, we've really not had a good time of it recruitment wise this year at all. Unfortunately seems some of them decided to help themselves to some stock on the way out as well :( the quality of people these days seems to be steeply going downhill.
 
I'm glad last week is over anyhow - might not seem like it given my frequency of posting here :s but I doubled my normal work hours and went in for an extra day in the last minute crunch to Christmas - though January's pay should be good - but it was hugely stressful - we had a bunch of temps decide to just quit towards the end of the week before last so as to have more time off over Christmas as well, we've really not had a good time of it recruitment wise this year at all. Unfortunately seems some of them decided to help themselves to some stock on the way out as well :( the quality of people these days seems to be steeply going downhill.

StriderX will be along shortly to remind yoi it’s not their fault they helped themselves to stock and that they’re probably just desperate. The corporate overlords are always to blame for their behaviour.
 
Feb. Close family friend and mum of two teenagers died after a long illness.

May. Cancer scare with my wife (all fine in the end, but two months of high stress)

Sept. Father in law died.

So some pretty low points. But we finish the year with me, my wife and two kids all healthy and with stuff to look forward to.

So not too bad.
 
Bad:
- I’ve been going to The Football with my dad for 20 years but he now doesn’t have the mobility to get to the games. There’s an empty feeling knowing I’ve been to my final game with him. Lucky to still have two parents though, so shouldn’t complain.
- Life is constantly hectic and often stressful. That’s the price of having kids and two working parents I guess.

Good:
- Went on some nice holidays.
- Kids doing brilliantly in school.
- Got a new job with a huge pay rise, for which I count my blessings every day considering how bad the tech industry is doing at the moment.
- Ange Postecoglou
- Joined the OCuk forums :D
 
2023 has been better than 2022, but overall I would say the whole period since Jan 2020 has sucked for me.

Here's to hopefully 2024 being as good as the pre-COVID era once again
 
Objectively quite a good year. We welcomed the arrival of our second child late last year and he's thriving at 12 months old, eldest one continues to flourish and can really see her growing in confidence. We bought our (likely) forever home though we're still living with parents while it gets renovated. Work has been okay but the outlook for contracting/locum has gone down the pan so forced to take a salaried job starting early next year. We had a good year wrt income from locum work but the medium-long term work prospects are pretty poor and unfortunately my wife isn't keen on moving abroad. Personal health wise has been okay, but I know I need to take better care of myself. I know on paper I can't complain but still feel something is missing and the long term work situation is a constant worry
 
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Had first 2 bambinos in April (not sure if they will be the last but thats a discussion for another day...)

Work is going well enough and I am finding enough time to do my hobbies whilst pulling my weight around the house. All in all life is good!
 
I would say the whole period since Jan 2020 has sucked for me.

Yea it's not been a good few years in our recent history.

Goes without saying could have been/can be much worse, but I reckon worst few years in what, at least 20-30 years?

We've had 2 years of COVID/lockdowns, Russian invasion of Ukraine and the potential knock on from that, now cost of living and interest rate rises (basically our economy is screwed), public services NHS/police being the worst they have ever been, at least in my lifetime.

If you could go back to 2003 and say this is what the country will be like in 20 years people would think you are a mad man.
 
Work is a pain. But came off my anti Ds. Health is exceptional other than a bit of arthritis in the knuckles. Getting better at BJJ. Made some new friends. Went on a few holidays. Didn't clock up any debts.

Life is expensive though and quite stressful. But kids are doing well and keep me grounded.
 
The GF hinted I should move out of her flat in February :( I spend 5 days a week in my man cave in the Highlands, it took at bit of adjustment but it worked out well as I stay over at her place at weekends. I thought it would be crap but it’s actually bloody brilliant :D

King size bed to myself, toilet seat up, watch whatever I want on TV, all the footy without moaning, the list is endless :)
 
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I'm usually a bit more cheerful in these threads, but this year (Q4 anyway) has been less than ideal.

Wife diagnosed with a non malignant brain tumor, removed surgically, but this is probably not the end of it.

I got pneumonia.

Dog got Pyometra and we very nearly lost her. €4000 later and she's getting better.
 
Family healthy. Finally been able to buy a house, at 38. Kids doing well in school. Got a promotion and rise.

So pretty good year all in, and I'm enjoying doing bits around the house that I never would/could add a renter.

Not all rosy though, money is super tight due to mortgage, interest rises, cost of living etc. So holidays have been on the cheap, and I can't see us going abroad for a number of years. Not a huge issue though as there are more important things in life.
 
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This year has been good to me, few holidays, Spain with the boys on the bikes, Iceland with the mrs before our family trip to Turkey.
Came back, got married, bought our last stop home.
After 6 years of constant training and hard work, I managed to get into my 2nd choice dream job.
Baby boy born in Oct.

Not all great but have so much to be thankful for, and I am.
I hope 2024 is fantastic for everyone.
 
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