2022 in review

It’s been quite a year! January kicked off with a visit from the in-laws, which was made a bit more complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We took all necessary precautions, but my father-in-law tested positive and spend the trip locked away. Alas, it was still nice to see them and spend some time together. January was also the month of my son Ezekiel’s first birthday, which was a big milestone.

In February, we finally got around to having Ezekiel’s delayed birthday party, delayed to the aforementioned covid, which was a lot of fun. I also ran a 10km race with only a month’s notice and managed to set a personal best time which I was proud of. I had a work trip to Newcastle, and my wife and I also took a trip to London where we enjoyed watching Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the theatre, visiting the Natural History Museum, and the Science Museum.

March brought a nice meal with my sisters at Dishoom, a fun curling outing with work, and my wife’s birthday, which we celebrated with a meal out at Fazenda.

April was a big month for me as I handed in my notice at my job and made the decision to leave, read more here. I also learned the Japanese art of kintsugi, visited a farm with my family, and had a bit of a plumbing disaster with a WC pipe outflow.

May brought a trip to Bulgaria, where we visited with my wife’s side of family, enjoyed the beach, and experienced some very hot weather. Tragically, this was also the month of the Terra Luna crash, which resulted in a financial loss of £5,000 for us, bit more on that here.

June was a busy month, with a BBQ, painting the WC, Father’s Day, and my departure from my job at Barques. We also took the family to the Sea Life Centre, where Ezekiel really enjoyed looking at the fish and penguins. My wife also started a new job.

July brought my 30th birthday, which we celebrated with a fantastic meal at Pulperia, a Michelin-starred restaurant where I had one of the best steaks of my life. The meat just melted in the mouth! My sister Siana also got married in July, and I was extremely proud to be a part of her special day. The day after her wedding I cut all my hair off to reset. I also started a new job, experienced some extremely high temperatures, and attended the dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games. I also had a cousin meet-up in Rugby and took Ezekiel on his first train ride.

August was a quieter month, with a revamp of Ezekiel’s room and a family BBQ at my mom’s house.

September brought some crazy rainfall and street flooding, but we still managed to have fun days at the park with my family.

October was a month of fun outings, with a trip to the Fire Service show where Ezekiel got to sit in a fire engine, a visit to the Legoland Discovery Centre, and Halloween pumpkin carving.

November brought a trip to the theatre with my mom, to see The Mouse Trap, a visit to another farm, and the installation of security cameras around our house because people are the worst.

December was a busy month, with the FIFA World Cup final (which was won by Argentina in one of the best games ever), work Christmas party, and our first snowfall of the year, which Ezekiel was able to enjoy for the first time.

Overall, it’s been a challenging but rewarding year. I made the decision to leave my job after six years and gained a lot of confidence and control as a result. My son Ezekiel has grown so much and it’s been amazing to watch him develop and learn new things. I’ve made a conscious effort to focus on my family and have come to love my wife and son more than ever. The cost of living has been tough, but we’re managing. I’ve also been able to learn a lot about coding and have even done a soft launch of my own project with plans for a full launch soon. I already have another project in the works, so I’m excited to see what the future holds. Overall, I’m optimistic that 2023 will be the best year yet.