31st December 2025 - End of Year
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I am writing this in a room filled with boxes, empty book shelves and 
curtainless windows. Why yes, I did manage to move into a house I have 
bought. A first for me. It is in a different part of Solihull, a weird 
'metropoliton borough' to the south and east of Birmingham. Urgh, the 
unpacking is frustating. I keep having to solve tetris problems to 
work out how to get to boxes. It is nice knowing I can do what I want 
to the house though. Well, so long as I keep paying the mortgage. 

I managed to have a successful and fun Explorer Belt expedition with 
Scouts. It went very well with no issues we could not resolve. I am 
starting to think about running another in 2028. It will soon come 
along. I will be taking my group to a UK based Jamboree in the summer. 
That will be fun. I managed to support all of the Duke of Edinburgh 
expeditions last year and hoping to do the same this year. They have 
been a good laugh. The group has grown and I managed to help someone 
with complex additional needs feel secure enough to join. They seem to 
be having a great time. I also got an Award for Merit. There is a 
variety of awards which leaders can get and this is the first of the 
dangly ones where you wear it around the neck. I am still having some 
fairly pants Tuesday evenings where activities don't work. However, 
there have been fewer this year. Well, it feels that way. 

Workwise, I have been doing well. Suspiciously well. Almost like I am 
competant. It has been a year of supporting people. I have helped a 
friend who had a break down find their feet and build their confidence 
up again. Along with that, I got great feedback from 2 apprentices I 
supported through placements with my team. Supporting them was great 
and I enjoy finding ways to help people develop. It was a pleasure to 
see their confidence develop. A new responsibility has proven to be 
both a pain in the arse and interesting. I know more about security 
and export control than I have wanted to know. I did also manage to 
get a work trip out of the UK. Only taken 14 years! Must have been for 
good behaviour or something. 

I managed another 52 shows of FLUX this year. Fewer terrible filler 
ones I feel but I am sure others will disagree. I do need to try and 
ensure there are no fillers but the inspiration trap can dry up. 

I did not really progress much with Forth. Too much going on to be 
able to focus I think. I am still interested but need to commit to 
doing some. A bit like my solo table top RPG efforts. They are mostly 
reading and not doing. Just do it. 

My niece continues to slowly accept my presence. She will say hello on 
the phone. Well, occasionally. She mostly blows raspberries down the 
phone. She has done well in not being petrified by Santa. She did hide 
from him when he appeared at her Grandparents in Finland though. She 
came to the door, saw him and ran behind the coats. Once he sat down, 
she did come out and engage. Fair play to her! I have some lovely 
voice messages she sent while I was looking after my parent's dogs. I 
do need to practise my spider-man web slinging hand gestures as I 
don't do it right apparently. The perils of being an uncle. 

2025 has been a very good year for lots of reasons. Hopefully 2026 
follows on in the same way. Lots of decorating though. This house 
needs new carpets, walls painting and other usual superficial stuff. 
Not bad really. 

I wish you a happy New Year. Hopefully one which is as good if not 
better than the last.