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2014 - The Year of the Goat
12 years ago
General
Tomorrow morning, just before 8am, I will board a train out of this small town… and I will not look back. More than last night, tomorrow will mark the real start of the year for me. A chance for a proper new beginning, free from studies, in a city and with people I actually love. So, with this change just 10 short hours away, this is a good place to take stock of the past year, and to speculate on where I am going.
A good few people seem to agree with me that 2013 was a poor year in many respects. Several people are no longer in my life, including quite a few whom I considered ‘good friends’, something which really upset me. Many of my friends have been distant, and although I have travelled around a fair bit this year, I can only fit in so many visits. My disillusionment with the world of politics (and with debating) has grown enormously, particularly on a personal level, and while I still maintain an interest, it’s nowhere near as strong as a year ago. I spent the middle part of the year utterly absorbed in my university work, to the exclusion of nearly everything else in my life. After that, everything seemed to stall. And then to round off the year, I spent two horrible weeks back with my relations, an experience which has all but discouraged me from ever living here again.
(And I still have no girlfriend!)
But plenty of good things have happened this year, too.
-I have been to furmeets right across the UK.
-I attended
confuzzled for the first time and I served on the Security team (a role which I will definitely reprise in the future).
-I had a wonderful holiday in
Switzerland and 
Germany in June.
-I finished university in September, rounding off 18 non-stop years of study.
-I ran my first half marathon in October.
-I got my first fursuit
delphpossum, and I have taken the fella all over the country in the past two months.
And let's not forget all the wonderful people, old and new, who have kept me company throughout this year. There are far too many of you to name, but I do think of you all, even when I am far away. To everyone whom I have stayed with, spent time with, or simply chatted with online, thank you, and I hope to keep in touch in the future. And to the person who just today has invited me to America, thank you so much, and I hope to take up your offer by the end of the year.
Also for the first time this year, I am going to set myself some goals!
1. Run 5km in under 22 minutes
2. Learn Welsh: get to the end of my Welsh book
3. Get back into writing
(I am likely to add to this list)
So, roll on 2014. I have a feeling, I just have a feeling, that it’s going to be a good one.
PS I know that 2014 is the Year of the Horse
PPS I know we are still in the Year of the Snake, technically speaking.
A good few people seem to agree with me that 2013 was a poor year in many respects. Several people are no longer in my life, including quite a few whom I considered ‘good friends’, something which really upset me. Many of my friends have been distant, and although I have travelled around a fair bit this year, I can only fit in so many visits. My disillusionment with the world of politics (and with debating) has grown enormously, particularly on a personal level, and while I still maintain an interest, it’s nowhere near as strong as a year ago. I spent the middle part of the year utterly absorbed in my university work, to the exclusion of nearly everything else in my life. After that, everything seemed to stall. And then to round off the year, I spent two horrible weeks back with my relations, an experience which has all but discouraged me from ever living here again.
(And I still have no girlfriend!)
But plenty of good things have happened this year, too.
-I have been to furmeets right across the UK.
-I attended
confuzzled for the first time and I served on the Security team (a role which I will definitely reprise in the future). -I had a wonderful holiday in
Switzerland and 
Germany in June. -I finished university in September, rounding off 18 non-stop years of study.
-I ran my first half marathon in October.
-I got my first fursuit
delphpossum, and I have taken the fella all over the country in the past two months. And let's not forget all the wonderful people, old and new, who have kept me company throughout this year. There are far too many of you to name, but I do think of you all, even when I am far away. To everyone whom I have stayed with, spent time with, or simply chatted with online, thank you, and I hope to keep in touch in the future. And to the person who just today has invited me to America, thank you so much, and I hope to take up your offer by the end of the year.
Also for the first time this year, I am going to set myself some goals!
1. Run 5km in under 22 minutes
2. Learn Welsh: get to the end of my Welsh book
3. Get back into writing
(I am likely to add to this list)
So, roll on 2014. I have a feeling, I just have a feeling, that it’s going to be a good one.
PS I know that 2014 is the Year of the Horse
PPS I know we are still in the Year of the Snake, technically speaking.
GOOD LUCK and if you need help with anything, perhaps Welsh pronunciation , just let me know and I'll do my best!
Great group of people, they meet Monday evenings for a pint or two. Tell them I sent you.