Another Year In Review

It's my birthday! As is customary, here's my year in review. See 2016, 2015, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010.

At the risk of tempting fate, I've had an extremely good year!

• I've survived a year in a new job - working at GDS to implement Open Standards.
• As part of that, I got to fulfil a long-held ambition to visit Beijing.
• I also visited the Isle of Man (a first for me) and Rome (a welcome return).
• A few media appearances - mostly talking about solar panels.
• The launch of a new project with Liz - OpenBenches - which has gone remarkably well!
• We've made some new friends in the neighbourhood, which is always pleasant.
• I was asked to join a charitable Advisory Group - which feels terribly grown-up!
• A bunch of companies have sent me a variety of interesting gadgets to review. Some have been great, others have been... weird!
• Presentations always feature heavily in my life! This year was no exception - including a bizarre invitation to speak at the Shambala music festival.

But, lest you think me smug, it hasn't all been roses.

• I now commute for about 4 hours a day. It's tiresome and - although I can work on the coach and only commute 3 days a week - it is draining. I've cancelled some weekend plans because I just can't face travelling. Will this mean we move soon? I don't know.
• I closed my consulting business. I just wasn't able to attract enough independent work to make it worthwhile. It was also hard to combine it with my Civil Service job. Bit of an "end-of-an-era" feeling.
• Either I'm getting grumpier - or people are getting more incompetent. It seems that every week I have to contact a company who are incompetent. Incorrectly issued traffic fines, incorrect bills, incorrect payments, broken promises. Is the world getting dumberer?
• I found attending a music festival by myself a rather depressing experience. I'm not much for random socialising - and seeing the bright young things brazenly enjoying their youth made me feel rather old and uncool.

Overall though, I think it's fair to say it has been a good year. My hair is getting grayer and my belt is getting tighter, but I suppose that's the natural way of things.

But enough about me. How have you been?