2024 - a tough year or a good one?

Generally 2024 a good year. Happily retired now for nearly 11 years. Financially, mentally and physically healthy (touch wood) at the moment after a bit of a health scare earlier in the year. Trying not to dwell on getting older (69 years old, wife 71) which doesn’t bear too much thinking about…amazed at how fast life flies by. Doesn’t help that Mrs B looks 20 years younger which makes me feel fucking ancient !
Glad to have dumped a shite Government only to be followed it seems by another one ! But I’ve learned to tune them all out to some extent…here today, gone tomorrow. Same with International events - not indifferent but don’t dwell on them and try to focus on what I can personally do and influence. Children and grandchildren all thriving atm which brings joy (most of the time). I'm also “certain” City will win on the 115/129/130 charges.
So looking forward to 2025 with my usual optimism, but very aware life can bite you on the arse at any moment.
An example. A good friend of mine, a little younger than me, happy as Larry in January (new grandchildren etc) has a private health MOT check - suspected Bowel cancer - back to NHS they say no, he’s advised to check again as some benchmark measures had recently been changed - they now say yes, and it’s stage 4 and inoperable atm because it’s spread to engulf his liver. Just had a large part of his liver removed, having chemo and awaiting decision in Jan on further liver surgery then hopefully the bowel will follow. It seems these “turbo-cancers” are running an unprecedented levels over the last few years.
A lovely guy, strong marriage, super-intelligent too ( PhD Cambridge) & this hits him totally out of the blue.
Enjoy life while you can.
 
Bournemouth Blue said:
One of the worst for me since 1999. Not in the best of health and it has been a tough one
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Bit of a shite year for me too. Months of anxiety about my son who had been living in Czech Republic for 8 years and who had become unwell. Then we realised his passport had expired so I had to reach out to the British Embassy in Prague to explain the urgency and get him an emergency travel document to get him home.
To be fair the Embassy was fantastic.

He is home now and back on track, but it's been pretty awful.

Chin up, things WILL get better. It's surprising how quickly things can change.
 
On balance, more wobbles both than usual, but still proceeding down the channel steadily.

One of my (three) best friends died unexpectedly. I was the last person he had dinner with. Donald Trump won the election. I didn't get to go on holiday. My key work associate (with a serious drinking problem -- not even caused by working for me!) quit and I've spent all year catching up. Didn't get enough exercise or play much golf.

But . . . settled my last kid in college, so far happily. Able to negotiate a nice pay increase at work. Leasing a new car I like. Planning for my future retirement going well. And my wife, who'd been under the weather for a while, is much better and settling into empty nest life.

So with family generally happy and healthy, that's a win.
 
BlueHammer85 said:
definitely in the more tough category

Mortgage went up a lot, plus on top of a loan and was hoping for a wage increase but that didn't happen so financially struggling - with a 1 year old and a 4 year old its been tough, parenting is also tough, the constant whinging, crying and seeing my Mrs stressed with little sleep.

Work has gone a bit stale for me, feel like I'm stuck in a position and overlooked as i approach 40, company also made a lot of redundancies - some of whom i have been close too.

with my Dad dying around this time last year it's the first year of my life i didn't renew my Hammers ST, to be honest not really missed it that much, helps we've been rubbish anyway.

Positives - health wise all good, same for my little ones - had a couple holidays this year, done some good work trips away, been to gigs with mates and kept up my running and the BM cup!
Click to expand...
How is a wise old soul like you not even 40?!?!?
 


That's life (that's life)
That's what all the people say
You're riding high in April, shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June!
 
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