I must say that, on balance, 2016 happened to be a good year for me and family. If I could be lucky enough to have another one as fortuitous in the snatch of time ahead then I will be doing very well. In some ways 2016 has laid something of a platform to build on, whimsical fate allowing, I now simply need to push on and make something of the opportunities that have come my way.
The kids are all doing well, with Erin building on her A level success by transferring to Uni well and finding a group of people where she belongs. Cam is a mini wonder, accelerating in height and understanding all the time. He is enjoying year 6 much more than the previous year, so persevering with conventional schooling seems like a vindication. All eyes are now on March and confirmation of his secondary school place. Everything crossed that he gets King Ecgberts as he wants. This would be the apex of my house investment and catchment plan. Connor also dazzles with his academia and faces the different challenges that a dissertation brings. I hope that he gets his research PhD place; I can really see him excelling in that.
My resolution here is to do more of the same. Love, support, advise, taxi, share, prioritise. I’d like to see more of my wider family if I can manage.
In August I got engaged to Carmel in Santorini. Yes! The wedding will be in 2018, so some planning will help to make the day memorable and fun for everyone we can invite. Changes will happen this year. Once we have the schooling decision resolved in March we can think about shared living and how that is all going to work. We might be talking a new house, if the finances and increasing dotage allow, a new mortgage to lash me to conspicuous productivity. Perhaps extensions, perhaps just making room with what I currently have. Any which way, change and new living is on the way in 2017.
My resolution here is to declutter as best I can and stay agile to possibilities. I tend to keep hold of old stuff a touch. I need to let go a little. The move would be focused on Cam’s schooling and space for family. Interesting to see how this all pans out. I never lose sight of how fortunate I am to have a roof over my head and one that loved ones call home.
In March of last year my work developed in a very positive direction. After much preparation, persuasion and level discussion, I moved my programme across to the organisation’s development centre and into a full scale technical replacement. In a year we are to fully rebuild the service that we offer onto a platform that we fully own, understand and can exploit. We go live April this year. It is going to be full on and exciting. I am very lucky to be playing an influential part in the adventure ahead.
My resolution here is to be as productive as I can without losing myself. A positive life balance will be key and being able to immerse and then leave the metric ton of work at the door will be essential. I’m good at this, but it can be hard. I never lose sight of how fortunate I am to have a good job and to be working in the most inspiring and enjoyable place I ever have. The team around me are brilliant, dedicated and innovative. They’re also nice people!
I write and play tabletop roleplaying games. The hobby started at Uni back in 1981 and is staying with me for life. I love it. I’d like to get a few more books out this year if I can, both solely authored and collaborating with my partner in tweed, Paul. Wordplay 2 will be well formed by April, I have a professionally paid piece coming out during 2017 and have my eyes on some more Wordplay, Heroic Fantasy and a possible SF project.
My resolution is to browse less and write more. There will be an interesting tussle over my commute time. I think I need to use one of the journeys, which provides about 40 minutes, to game write rather than day work. I have a lengthy list of conventions to attend, a few of which I have setup. I’m looking forward to all of them, knowing that they create time strain and I will need to manage this carefully.
Life has a way of serving up the unexpected, so I’ll need to see what unfolds. You can be as active and dynamic as you like, some things just happen and you have to deal with it. On the whole, I think 2016 really was a platform to build on and I look forward to seeing where I can take it.
All the best to you in your year ahead.