HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026

he year, with all its sound and fury, has settled into memory, and now we face a new one. What will 2026 bring? It feels like only yesterday we were raising a glass to the new millennium, brimming with dreams we can barely recall now.

But let's anchor ourselves back to the present: Yule is drawing to a close. Before the inevitable return to routine, I want to take a moment to share the quiet observations, the small joys, and the reflections that made up my week before looking at the year ahead.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025

appy New Year. 2025 is here, we are a quarter a way through the century. Time is something that rages past and we can't control the speed in which it travels.

So, Yule is almost over for another year and soon "normality" will return.

2401.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR

Another year in the bag. It's time to look at my 3 targets I set for myself and to look at the year ahead. Before we look of that let's look at my Yule experience.

2301.01 VIVA LA RESOLUTION!

For some years now I've stated that resolutions are not for me. Instead I usually set myself 3 achievable tasks, this year is no different.

2201.01 RESOLUTIONS

As I've said in the past I don't do resolutions. Instead I usually set myself 3 achievable tasks, I'm not about to change this year.

2101.01 THE DAY AFTER THE DARKEST YEAR

I'd say most of us will be glad to see the back of 2020. I called it last year as a shit year but obviously didn't forsee the pandemic and the associated blight to all our lives. 

2001.01 THE ROARING TWENTIES

As another decade closes I can't help look at the time that has passed. So whilst looking back on the last year I also find myself going back over the last 10 years, and some of it was very painful.

1901.01 TWO-K NINETEEN

So 2018 is gone. Disappearing into the distance as we move ahead with 2019, the final year of yet another decade. Was 2018 so bad (personally speakiing)?

1812.29 CHRISTMAS SICKIE

I was going to call this post "Christmas Hangover" but circumstances have meant that has had to change. But first let's go back to the beginning.

1801.06 BACK HOME ON MY OWN

Some couples are inseparable, others keep their distance. I like to think that we strike a healthily balance. We love to spend our time together but are free to pursue our separate interests.

1801.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR ANYONE?

So here we are. 2018. Still no flying cars but robots are coming closer to a reality (apparently). Living in the 21st century isn't entirely as it was sold to us.

1701.01 THE BEGINNING

So here it is... 2017.

1612.31 THE END

As year draws to a close many reflect on the events of the year. Some say that 2016 has been a really bad year and in many respects. Political upheaval, celebrity deaths as well as the usual war and terror. It's difficult not to say it's been a bad year. 

1601.01 LET'S GET STARTED

So I survived 2015. Today I find myself, as in previous years, in St Neots at the mother in law's. We drove down last night following a day shift at work. 

I'm not about to lay down any resolutions, to me they are pointless and just setting myself up to fail before I start. I've got some goals but I think I'll keep those to myself. The only thing I'll happily reveal is the fact that I intend to cycle further this year (last year I managed a total of 5017km) than last year. 

There are loads more changes on the cards at work with a new shift pattern being implemented in April and the possibility of a forced transfer to a new team (as they attempt to balance numbers following last year's exodus).

I'm hoping we can pull off another holiday this August , it's a very important event in our family's year and our visits to Wales a very special to us all. 

Then there's the beard. I've had a goatee on and off since I was in my early 20s. The style has been tweeked over the years and since the hair on my head went has been the only hair above my neck for some years. About a month ago I decided to myself that I would let the beard grow down and that it has. The plan is obviously in the public domain now since it extends down from my chin about an inch. Morticia wasn't chuffed but I think she's started to accept it since she bought me some beard conditioning oil for Christmas. My boss hasn't said anything (since our appearance is regulated) so for now I'm going to enjoy it and see where it goes. 

My beard featured in my
onesie on Boxing Day!

Oh, and Star Trek is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year.

1601.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy New Year to everyone. Except David Cameron. 

Hoping 2016 is going to be the year when everything just finally works out. 

1501.07 TOO THOUSAND AND 15

So we are here again, another new year. I have high hopes for this one after a long battle back from what I deem to be rock bottom over the last number of years. Sure there are things even now that are testing my resolve but I feel a new determination that I hope I can hold on to. 

This year I have a holiday to look forward to, I'm hoping to get back on my bike soon and really get into it again.....

....and (hopefully) stay accident free.

WISHING ALL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY A VERY HAPPY 2015!!

1401.01 HAPPY NEW ONE

So it's 2014. The New Year's celebrations were pretty much the same as previous years down in St Neots with the Mother in Law and her partner Dave. 

Before we set off on New Year's Eve I had a hospital appointment with the consultant regarding my broken wrist. I was basically an x-ray and a check up. I was signed off work for the rest of the week with a recommended phased return to work following. I'm back on the 7th (Monday is my day off). 

I'm ready to face the year with hopefully a more positive outlook. My life is far from perfect, I miss my eldest daughter more than anything and I'm not about to pretend that I can mend my broken heart. All I know is that I can move forward now and get on. 

1301.01 REVIEW OF 2012... ...OR NOT

I was going to review last year, but I'm thinking 'what's the point?' since 2012 was such a horrendous year for my family and me. I had the most time off sick from work in my life when the stress broke me.

There were couple of highlights but not enough to lift me off the floor. I'm concentrating on putting my life back together and moving on. 2012 is over, it's time to get back on the horse.

First job in hand is my phone, I'm in my upgrade window for a new one. I have had a very good 2 years with my iPhone 4 which has been awesome. The refinement of iOS is apparent and works well. I was all set to upgrade to the iPhone 5 but the spanner in the works is my new toy, my shiny Nexus 7. Android has always seemed to be a shabby sub standard iPhone clone in the past and I've never liked the way the updates arrive via everyone in the world first. 

Not so with the Nexus with its slick Jelly Bean OS and instant updates. So now I'm pondering my upgrade and wondering if the Nexus 4 would be the next one for me. I'm reading reviews and doing my best to avoid the nasty fanboy hatred from both camps.

1201.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR

I'd be lying if I said 2011 had been good to us. Yes there has been some good times but we've had some hard times too. Now is the time to look forward, not back. We begin this new journey as usual at Morticia's mother's in St Neots over a few beers.

Our eldest continues to be our greatest challenge at this moment, the mission to keep her on the right path. I start the year with a wish to rebuild the lost relationship with my parents and to strengthen my family.

As I tap this entry I finish off my last beer of the evening/morning and my thoughts turn to my Uncle Adrian who passed away yesterday (1112.30) suddenly aged just 47. I'm still in shock about his passing.

1101.01 HAPPY NEW YEAR

As usual we welcomed the new year down in St Neots, at the Mother-in-law's. This year we went down earlier since I had the day off on New Year's Eve. We had a great time, better than usual in my opinion, it was a really relaxed affair.

I am determined that this year will be a different year for us. Sure I can't do much about Morticia's illness or my eldest's daughter's teenage strops but I can make sure that the environment in which we live improves, I also want my own quality of life to improve with some quality time for me with my family and myself.

So here's to a new year, again we set off with good intentions, last year was awful. This year I want to be happy.