Goodbye 2024

As we approach the end of 2024, it is time for me to reflect on the year just passed and think ahead to the new year and 2025. It’s quite amazing when you consider that it has been 25 years since the turn of the millennium. That year was iconic in many ways due to it being the end of a millennium, the end of a century and a year where certain ill-informed people thought that a computer bug was going to bring about utter chaos and the world was going to end with aircraft falling from the sky and all of your electrical and electronic equipment trying to murder you in scenes reminiscent of the Terminator. 

Of course none of that happened and people like me who worked with computers for a living knew it wouldn’t happen. 

What is even more surprising is that it was all a quarter of a century ago. I was a young man (if you count 37 years old as young) and 2025 was so far ahead that I barely gave it any thought. Nevertheless, a lot has changed in those 25 years; for example I am now an old git aged 62 years. 

Anyway, I digress. I am resurrecting some questions that will help me both summarise the past year and look forward to the next one. 

1. What did you do in 2024 that you’d never done before?

I retired. I know that people only retire once, usually, but this is significant because 2024 marked 40 years since I left university and keenly (and naively) joined the rat race like an excited young puppy. Those 40 years had their ups and downs and I can now look back on them with a mixture of happiness and gratitude. Granted, the last few years were not that fulfilling and I moaned like a grumpy old man as I approached the end. The company didn’t really want me to retire and I was asked to delay it a couple of times but my mind was made up.

I am also a bit of a perfectionist and I waited until September so that I could retire exactly 40 years after I started. 

During my retirement speech (it wasn’t a big one) I was positive about me career, saying that although I really wanted to retire, a big part of me would miss the people I worked with and the opportunities it gave me. And the words I spoke were true and sincere. 

Nevertheless, I am delighted that I did it and I am looking forward to 2025 with renewed vigour.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I did keep most of them but it was easy because really it was more of the same things I have been working in. I won’t bore you with what they were as I have mentioned them numerous times. 

For 2025, I have a slightly different plan which I will be reviewing in the next week or so but involves a more refined routine given that I now have more time on my hands. 

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Not this year although some friends of mine became grandparents again.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Thankfully, I have had a year free of funerals. 

5. What countries did you visit?

It was quite a good year for travel this year. I went to Spain twice (Gran Canaria and Menorca), France (Nice),  Greece (Skiathos), Hungary (Budapest) and Czechia (Prague). 

I enjoyed all of them.

6. What would you like to have in 2025 that you lacked in 2024?

It would be nice to have a better summer than the past year or two. Global warming means that we have decent temperatures but that combined with the UK’s geographical position means that we end up with more than our fair share of rain generally. We do have great years where we have hardly any rain but my nation is never happy. When it’s too hot and sunny people say “I wish we had more rain!” and of course when it rains they say “What happened to our summer?”.

Make your minds up, fellow Brits. 

7. What dates from 2024 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

Thursday 12th September – the day I retired.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I don’t want to labour the point but I think retirement is a bit of an achievement. You could argue that it isn’t really because people have to retire eventually but looking back I am proud that I managed 40 years in the rat race without going completely bonkers.

Also, I’ve tried to be more positive this year and it has worked. My method? Simple – do not get involved in or think about politics!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Okay – I will come clean. Despite my answer to the previous question I have thought about politics once or twice and ranted mercilessly. I’m getting better though. 

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had a rather nasty virus a couple of weeks ago that resulted in a totally blocked nose and chesty cough for about two weeks. I was fine but it was very annoying and was a little too close to my trip to Prague. Thankfully I recovered in time. Sadly it jumped to Mrs PM shortly after our trip and she wasn’t best pleased. 

11. What was the best thing you bought?

A synthesiser. I mentioned it in my previous post so I won’t go into too much detail. I am looking forward to playing with it in 2025. 

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

As usual, I award Plastic Mancunian Knighthoods to those heroes who dedicate their lives to helping others without wanting the plaudits that many more famous people crave.

I salute you all - you know who you are.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Okay – I said above that I don’t want to mention or get involved in politics but I will try to hold myself back. Basically we managed to finally get rid of the Conservative Party in this year’s election but Nigel bloody Farage was still around and managed to con a constituency into electing him as an MP. 

And Elon Musk I have a message for you. Keep your big nose out of British politics.

The less said about Donald Trump the better. 

Oh – and of course mad Vladimir Putin.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Holidays as usual. 

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

I wasn’t particularly excited about anything other than going on holiday and seeing a few bands around the city. 

16. What song will always remind you of 2024?

The new song that will remind me of the year is Powernerd by the great Devin Townsend. 

However, two older songs by rediscovered artists that I have ben into this year are worth a mention too. The first is Breathe by The Stranglers:

The second involves Alison Goldfrapp (from the band Goldfrapp) working with Norwegian electronic duo Röyksopp to produce this lovely tune called Impossible:

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?

I am much, much happier. 

I am about the same in terms of weight and body shape (perhaps a little greyer I think with a couple of more wrinkles).

I am probably less well off – but I don’t care.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

I was quite happy with the balance struck this year to be honest. I have got myself into a new routine and it seems to work. 

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying. I was a little perturbed about retiring until I actually did it. I had nothing to worry about but that’s easy to say. 

20. How will you spend New Year's Eve?

We are going out with some friends for a New Year’s Eve party. It should be fun.

21. Did you fall in love in 2024?

I was already in love. 

22. What was your favourite TV program?

There are quite a few that I liked. I saw enjoyed the three new Walking Dead spin-off series, the Boys, Sense8, Snowpiercer and I am currently enjoying reruns of Stargate SG1 (I have never seen it before) Also I am watching reruns of a comedy show in the UK called Taskmaster which I have also never seen before where a group of comedians take on ridiculous and humiliating tasks in the name of humour. 

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I struggle with this because I don’t believe in hatred of a human being. I have to say that Nigel Farage pushes that belief to the absolute limit and the worst thing in the human frog is still around. And Donald Trump tests my resolve too.

24. What was the best book you read?

I’m currently about to finish a post-apocalyptic science fiction series called Under the Breaking Sky which is quite entertaining. 

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

I’ve been listening to a lot of songs by a prog band called The Pineapple Thief having discovered them towards the end of 2023. However, this year has been a year of rediscovery with artists like The Stranglers, Ayreon, Goldfrapp, Queensryche (post Geoff Tate) and Rob Zombie.

26. What did you want and get?

I wanted a synthesiser and got one (but slightly earlier than I had anticipated). 

27. What did you want and not get?

More holidays? I spent too much money on travelling as it is but I could have done more. 

28. What was your favourite film of this year?

I really enjoyed Deadpool and Wolverine. It was a good laugh.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 62 years old. I ended up in Budapest with my old university buddies just before (the timing was perfect for that I guess) and when I returned I went out for a meal with Mrs PM on the day itself.  

30. What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Do I have to say this again? Retirement. 

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2024?

Non-existent. I do not understand fashion at all and my fashion sense is dictated by two things.. First, Mrs PM has the final say on things I wear because (and I quote) “I’m the one who’s got to look at you and be out with you – even if you DON’T care!”. Second, the shops themselves. The places I buy clothes do tend to follow the latest trends so I would have to go out of my way to buy something eccentric and weird if I was that way inclined. 

32. What kept you sane?

Mrs PM keeps me sane. 

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

The same ones as the last few years. I am a man of simple taste but too old to care too much. 

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

I am trying to avoid politics but as I said above I was delighted that we finally have a new party in government even if Farage is still hovering around like a putrid smell. 

35. Who did you miss?

Nobody leaps to mind. 

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Again, nobody leaps to mind. 

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2024.

Always plan your retirement. Mine took several years and I think I timed it perfectly. 

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I love my coffee I drink it to keep sane

If I cannot have it then I cannot play the game

Will not play the game

'Cause the game is just fucking stupid

And finally...

I wish everyone who stumbles across this blog post a very happy and fruitful 2025. May all your wishes come true – unless your name is Nigel Farage.