The Man with No Time

Part two of my end of year review, and I'm again looking back at 2013. This time I'm going to look at the goals I set myself for the year, and see how successful I was at achieving them. 2012 didn't go too well, so have I managed to go any better this time around?

It doesn't seem that long ago that I was writing my end of 2012 review. A lots happened in 2013, and it seems to have gone past in a blur at times. On the other hand bits of it have seemed interminable, so I suppose it's a wash really! Anyway, I'm going to reprise my set of three end-of-year posts: part 1 will be a review of the events and happenings in my life during 2013; in part 2 (tomorrow) I'll look at how well I met my goals for the year, and in part 3 (on New Year's Day) I'll be setting my goals for 2014 I rather liked this image. Quite appropriate. (Credit: linda-dawn-designs.blogspot.com)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

It's been a looooooooooong weekend of Christmas carols. At this point I'll be happy if I don't hear any more for at least a week, but I know that's probably a faint hope. I guess I'll just have to avoid shops for a while (which shouldn't be hard), and console myself with the fact that it was all for several good causes.

As of this morning it’s Christmas break for the BULSCA lifesavers. In year’s gone by this would have marked the halfway point in the season, but some calendar shuffling at the last AGM means that we’re not quite there yet (this is a good thing, as it’s spread the events out a little more than has traditionally been the case). It’s been my first season as a judge rather than a competitor, and it’s been a slightly odd experience to be honest. I missed one competition whilst at playing in a concert with my new orchestra, but the rest have really opened my eyes to a completely different side of lifesaving events.

As I’ve talked about before, since the start of my undergraduate degree eight years ago the amount of television that I watch has dropped off quite sharply. The only things I really watch on television any more are sporting events, such as the 6 Nations, F1 Grand Prix, and the BTCC. Plus Dr Who and Top Gear. Part of the reason for that was time; as a student I just didn’t have the free time to be regularly watching a TV show, so some of my favourites I had to reluctantly let fall by the wayside. Some I’ve since picked up on DVD or download, and have sitting in my ‘to watch’ queue. I suppose to be strictly accurate I should have said ‘traditional television’ above, as over the last couple of years I’ve started watching more and more YouTube, BBC iPlayer, and other online streaming services. This has really allowed me to get back into TV shows, as it allows me to watch episodes when and where I want rather than being tied down to the airing time. That flexibility has been ...