NPR

What are your personal goals?

Mine are
- make the most of the time with my daughter while she still likes me. She’s 9, and still likes a cuddle with her Daddy.

- forge a next stage career plan. Currently at a firm which could sell/flip soon. Do I hold or move on? I’m approaching 50 too.

- 10km swim? I’d love to do one or at least have one earmarked. Was looking at brownsea island, but not sure it’s running. Plus, the med might be more appealing.

Always wanted to scuba but never got round to it. So a buddy and I are planning to do the PADI open water course and then do a couple of trips. Its been a goal of mine after recovering from a mild stroke a few years back and regaining my fitness and health.

- I'm belatedly qualifying into the profession I've been aiming for since school, having got a place at what I'd declared would be my very final attempt, so making a success of that is fairly key
- Getting married later in the year so managing to make a good day of that, I absolutely cannot dance so really should work on that
- I last ran a sub 40 minute 10k about 5/6 years ago, about time that changed
- I'm ticking one off the bucket list in the summer and doing the Pennine Way end to end. I've got a bet with a mate that I can do it in 10 days and I will absolutely never hear the end of it if I can't
- Not be told 'you're acting like a cross between a child and your Dad' after any England poor performance

FalseBayFC wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:53 am Always wanted to scuba but never got round to it. So a buddy and I are planning to do the PADI open water course and then do a couple of trips. Its been a goal of mine after recovering from a mild stroke a few years back and regaining my fitness and health.

You won’t regret scuba. I love it. My dream is to do it with my daughter. She’s done a few kiddies trial days already.

Basically achieved everything in life I wanted to by the time I was 21.

Now it's just making the Mrs laugh and make her happy tbh.

Freedom and happiness is what I am going for this year.

Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

Ymx wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:18 pm

FalseBayFC wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:53 am Always wanted to scuba but never got round to it. So a buddy and I are planning to do the PADI open water course and then do a couple of trips. Its been a goal of mine after recovering from a mild stroke a few years back and regaining my fitness and health.

You won’t regret scuba. I love it. My dream is to do it with my daughter. She’s done a few kiddies trial days already.

Yes the Cape has some great dives. Cold water but interesting wrecks and marine life.

FalseBayFC wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 2:07 pm

Ymx wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:18 pm

FalseBayFC wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:53 am Always wanted to scuba but never got round to it. So a buddy and I are planning to do the PADI open water course and then do a couple of trips. Its been a goal of mine after recovering from a mild stroke a few years back and regaining my fitness and health.

You won’t regret scuba. I love it. My dream is to do it with my daughter. She’s done a few kiddies trial days already.

Yes the Cape has some great dives. Cold water but interesting wrecks and marine life.

I’ve been quite spoilt in my trips got my advanced PADI in the Red Sea, did a several day excursion off the great barrier, Thailand, and other high vis locations. I’ve never dived in cold water tbh.

In Cape Town I only got ankle deep, blimey that was some cold water.

Ymx wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:30 am What are your personal goals?

Mine are
- make the most of the time with my daughter while she still likes me. She’s 9, and still likes a cuddle with her Daddy.

Yeah, treasure those years. My daughter & I were very, very close when she was younger (Daddy's girl) but now shes2a teen and the relationship is just not the same. It's heartbreaking tbh.

For my personal goals, one thing I am in the process of doing is getting into counselling to deal with some of the issues that I have that have been plaguing me for some time. I really want to get on top of my mental health once & for all and be truly happy.

Find a way to make exercise anything other soul crushingly boring so I stick at it.

-Make it round Mallorca 312 in less than 13 hours.
-Get under, and feckin stay under 90kgs (ideally 85kg)
-Wield the sword of austerity to my family's finances after a catostrophic year for the P&L due to 3 big family holidays (great fun tbf)

3rd booster jab

Getting to 2024.

My only plan for this year is an extended holiday down South. I have only ever done destination visits since our honeymoon so booking 4 weeks in.

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

The only larger money pit than a Land rover Defender , is a boat

( both make life a lot more fun though)

Hopefully taking the boat up from Kilcreggan , through the Crinan , and finally over to Tarbet in Harris in the summer

Hugo wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 4:21 pm

Ymx wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:30 am What are your personal goals?

Mine are
- make the most of the time with my daughter while she still likes me. She’s 9, and still likes a cuddle with her Daddy.

Yeah, treasure those years. My daughter & I were very, very close when she was younger (Daddy's girl) but now shes2a teen and the relationship is just not the same. It's heartbreaking tbh.

For my personal goals, one thing I am in the process of doing is getting into counselling to deal with some of the issues that I have that have been plaguing me for some time. I really want to get on top of my mental health once & for all and be truly happy.

I wish you all the best with that. It's been a torrid few years for me too, and I didn't realise how much I was struggling with it until I finally, suddenly, had lots of time to think about my future, only to find...I had no idea, no purpose, no direction. Just felt so lost. Most of it down to grief, of course. I got counselling, which has been hugely helpful, and although I'm still very unsure about what the future holds I know one thing...

My 23-year old daughter and I are now the best of friends, and planning all sorts of crazy hair-raising adventures together for this year. She went through a couple of spotty, surly teenage years when I was Public Enemy No.1 (having had to bear the brunt of all the separation drama with her mum and I) which was understandable but her anger was still really hard to take at times.

It gets better, bro. Keep pushing.

Strange to see Ghost-of-Voltman briefly appear. Could've sworn the last time the spotty sprog and I saw him was at the Red Lion all those years ago.

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

We 100% need that beer!! Been dreaming about this for years and hope this is the year!

Paddington Bear wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:09 pm - I'm belatedly qualifying into the profession I've been aiming for since school, having got a place at what I'd declared would be my very final attempt, so making a success of that is fairly key
- Getting married later in the year so managing to make a good day of that, I absolutely cannot dance so really should work on that
- I last ran a sub 40 minute 10k about 5/6 years ago, about time that changed
- I'm ticking one off the bucket list in the summer and doing the Pennine Way end to end. I've got a bet with a mate that I can do it in 10 days and I will absolutely never hear the end of it if I can't
- Not be told 'you're acting like a cross between a child and your Dad' after any England poor performance

I’m very intrigued as to what the said profession is, now.

Gumboot wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:13 am

Hugo wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 4:21 pm

Ymx wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:30 am What are your personal goals?

Mine are
- make the most of the time with my daughter while she still likes me. She’s 9, and still likes a cuddle with her Daddy.

Yeah, treasure those years. My daughter & I were very, very close when she was younger (Daddy's girl) but now shes2a teen and the relationship is just not the same. It's heartbreaking tbh.

For my personal goals, one thing I am in the process of doing is getting into counselling to deal with some of the issues that I have that have been plaguing me for some time. I really want to get on top of my mental health once & for all and be truly happy.

I wish you all the best with that. It's been a torrid few years for me too, and I didn't realise how much I was struggling with it until I finally, suddenly, had lots of time to think about my future, only to find...I had no idea, no purpose, no direction. Just felt so lost. Most of it down to grief, of course. I got counselling, which has been hugely helpful, and although I'm still very unsure about what the future holds I know one thing...

My 23-year old daughter and I are now the best of friends, and planning all sorts of crazy hair-raising adventures together for this year. She went through a couple of spotty, surly teenage years when I was Public Enemy No.1 (having had to bear the brunt of all the separation drama with her mum and I) which was understandable but her anger was still really hard to take at times.

It gets better, bro. Keep pushing.

That’s a relief to hear for both of us. I keep telling my daughter she is going to hate me when she’s a teen. I’m working the reverse psychology angle on it in hope.

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

Nice. I also did my Day Skipper, before covid times, so finally got to use it in 2022. A week sailing round the Ionian islands with my teenage kids - absolute heaven (even the slightly 'sporty' day getting into Big Vathi with a howling tail wind).

(Just a heads-up: if you go to Greece, you'll probably have to get an ICC (your Day Skipper ticket lets you do this for a fee.))

I got engaged in 2022, and the future Mrs S/Lt Phillips and I would love to build a house. So goals for me are to move that project forward, and also do more cycle touring and canoe camping. We didn't use the canoe as much in 2022, after more travel than usual due to catching up on covid-era trips & holidays. Sensible financial planning might mean no sailing holiday this year. Oh, and finally get off my arse and get to a game at mini-murrayfield.

S/Lt_Phillips wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 12:41 pm

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

Nice. I also did my Day Skipper, before covid times, so finally got to use it in 2022. A week sailing round the Ionian islands with my teenage kids - absolute heaven (even the slightly 'sporty' day getting into Big Vathi with a howling tail wind).

(Just a heads-up: if you go to Greece, you'll probably have to get an ICC (your Day Skipper ticket lets you do this for a fee.))

I got engaged in 2022, and the future Mrs S/Lt Phillips and I would love to build a house. So goals for me are to move that project forward, and also do more cycle touring and canoe camping. We didn't use the canoe as much in 2022, after more travel than usual due to catching up on covid-era trips & holidays. Sensible financial planning might mean no sailing holiday this year. Oh, and finally get off my arse and get to a game at mini-murrayfield.

That's what I've got in mind for when the kids are a bit older, at the minute I'm not sure I'd survive the screaming and shenanigans in an enclosed space, let alone sailing the thing. I'd definitely need a refresher first though, there's a few clubs out of Cramond, Newhaven etc who have club boats and I'll look to help out on those first.

On my night sail for my day skipper I ended up on a dead run into Milford Haven with the Pembroke ferry catching us up. It was a bit more to worry about than I'd like!

I remember the ICC thing, you get a year's free RYA membership with the Day Skipper and the conversion would - at that time - have been free, but I stupidly forgot to do it.

Nail down the diet improvements and exercise improvements I made since being diagnosed as pre-diabetic during 2022 - get them to a point where both have settled into being routine, rather than conscious choices made on a daily basis (if that's ever possible).

Help our young lad, however I can, to get though his final school exams.

At some appropriate stage post-exams, bring him on an us-only holiday to somewhere like Malta/Gozo where I can introduce him to scuba diving. (I'm a lazy warm water diver only, "just" PADI advanced, but would be nice to work up that ladder myself if the chance arises). Have a sense he'll really enjoy it. Should have done it before now; did similar with his older sister when she was entering her teens and she loved it.

Make the move back home to Ireland mid-year and start laying the foundations for the next stint abroad.

Keep herself sweet, and continue to crack fun out of one another.

Make the most of finally being mortgage free and of our eldest finally exiting student life and paying her own way.

Plan a roadtrip with herself, possibly the North Coast 500. Not sure that'll gel with the aforementioned 'keeping her sweet' though. MX-5 doesn't leave much room for breathing space.

Everything flows from nailing health improvements, which are the selfish overriding priority.

EnergiseR2 wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 10:58 am

Paddington Bear wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:09 pm - I'm belatedly qualifying into the profession I've been aiming for since school, having got a place at what I'd declared would be my very final attempt, so making a success of that is fairly key
- Getting married later in the year so managing to make a good day of that, I absolutely cannot dance so really should work on that
- I last ran a sub 40 minute 10k about 5/6 years ago, about time that changed
- I'm ticking one off the bucket list in the summer and doing the Pennine Way end to end. I've got a bet with a mate that I can do it in 10 days and I will absolutely never hear the end of it if I can't
- Not be told 'you're acting like a cross between a child and your Dad' after any England poor performance

Oldest profession in the world and all

I consider that pleasure rather than work

Gumboot wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:13 am

Hugo wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 4:21 pm

Ymx wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:30 am What are your personal goals?

Mine are
- make the most of the time with my daughter while she still likes me. She’s 9, and still likes a cuddle with her Daddy.

Yeah, treasure those years. My daughter & I were very, very close when she was younger (Daddy's girl) but now shes2a teen and the relationship is just not the same. It's heartbreaking tbh.

For my personal goals, one thing I am in the process of doing is getting into counselling to deal with some of the issues that I have that have been plaguing me for some time. I really want to get on top of my mental health once & for all and be truly happy.

I wish you all the best with that. It's been a torrid few years for me too, and I didn't realise how much I was struggling with it until I finally, suddenly, had lots of time to think about my future, only to find...I had no idea, no purpose, no direction. Just felt so lost. Most of it down to grief, of course. I got counselling, which has been hugely helpful, and although I'm still very unsure about what the future holds I know one thing...

My 23-year old daughter and I are now the best of friends, and planning all sorts of crazy hair-raising adventures together for this year. She went through a couple of spotty, surly teenage years when I was Public Enemy No.1 (having had to bear the brunt of all the separation drama with her mum and I) which was understandable but her anger was still really hard to take at times.

It gets better, bro. Keep pushing.

Thank you for the kind words, it really means a lot. I'm glad to hear that your relationship with your daughter is now in a great place, it makes me very hopeful.

On the subject of mental health, I've noticed that I am not as resilient in my 40s as I was in my 20s and 30s & some unresolved trauma from childhood has reared its ugly head. Again, thanks for the insights, you are very kind. I hope that things are good with you, moving forward.

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:52 am

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

We 100% need that beer!! Been dreaming about this for years and hope this is the year!

The West of Scotland is spoilt for lovely places to explore - Dogbert's trip out to Harris will be stunning. A little bit more exposed this way, but there's a few places on the fife coast and can sail to a few of the islands in the Forth.

As an aside, there's a dinghy sailing club on Porty promenade, sea sailing is a bit trickier than lake (tides and waves and the wind can be a bit too overpowering at first) but it's a really good intro if you've not sailed before? And if you don't mind being dumped into the Forth on a regular basis!

Dogbert wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:48 pm

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

The only larger money pit than a Land rover Defender , is a boat

( both make life a lot more fun though)

Hopefully taking the boat up from Kilcreggan , through the Crinan , and finally over to Tarbet in Harris in the summer

That part of the world looks lovely, my brother in law is from Lewis and some of the pictures he sends of the beaches and general scenery are stunning.

Hope you enjoy the trip if you do go!


I'm open to buying a boat but will wait until I know what sort of thing I'd want. At the moment I'm looking to get more involved over the next season - kids depending - in a local yacht club and help out on the club boat, and go from there.

(The defender idea has been well and truly binned for the foreseeable, prices just seem mad - a local Nissan dealer had a very tidy used defender and wanted 60k for it)

inactionman wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:21 pm [quote=Dogbert post_idI'm open to buying a boat but will wait until I know what sort of thing I'd want. At the moment I'm looking to get more involved over the next season - kids depending - in a local yacht club and help out on the club boat, and go from there.

(The defender idea has been well and truly binned for the foreseeable, prices just seem mad - a local Nissan dealer had a very tidy used defender and wanted 60k for it)

If you ever sail out of South Queensferry, drop in on Engine 710. They are pals of one of my sons, and my son has been out sailing with the family. Just don't ask prices.

inactionman wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:21 pm

Dogbert wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 11:48 pm

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

The only larger money pit than a Land rover Defender , is a boat

( both make life a lot more fun though)

Hopefully taking the boat up from Kilcreggan , through the Crinan , and finally over to Tarbet in Harris in the summer

That part of the world looks lovely, my brother in law is from Lewis and some of the pictures he sends of the beaches and general scenery are stunning.

Hope you enjoy the trip if you do go!


I'm open to buying a boat but will wait until I know what sort of thing I'd want. At the moment I'm looking to get more involved over the next season - kids depending - in a local yacht club and help out on the club boat, and go from there.

(The defender idea has been well and truly binned for the foreseeable, prices just seem mad - a local Nissan dealer had a very tidy used defender and wanted 60k for it)

Would strongly recommend some time around Loch Striven/Colintraive/north Bute. Quiet even by the standards of rural Scotland. The new marina at Portavadie won’t be to everyone’s taste but is a serious facility to stop off at as well

We just sold our unit in Sydney and will be renting for a at least 6 months - the plan is to move up to Newcastle and enjoy the beachside life more (Sydney is completely cooked traffic-wise. Even though I only live 5Km from the beach it takes over an hour to get there and forget parking).

New opportunities for Martial arts and exercise as well.

I work remotely and am not tied to the career - could easily drive a Wine Tour bus in the Hunter Valley..

More weekend trips once we're out of the 2hr bottleneck of Sydney traffic as well.

Number 1 is get fit and lose about 2.5 stone

Number 2 is to get more adventure in our lives on the hills and in the water. Kids getting a real appetite for it and think we can take it up a level

Number 3 is end the year more financially stable like a real adult. The fact this is 3 probably explains why I still need to do this

inactionman wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:30 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:52 am

inactionman wrote: Sat Dec 31, 2022 12:27 pm Go sailing - I used to sail dinghies (badly) and I've now got a yacht Day Skipper certification I've never used due to various limiting circumstances. Plenty of places to sail out on the Forth, and even better on the west coast of Scotland. If that proves a success, next up will be Greek Islands.

The missus does not particularly like the idea of taking our 4 year old out, but that's what lifevests are for.

I am toying with buying a boat, which is pretty much universally acknowledged as a disastrous idea.

We 100% need that beer!! Been dreaming about this for years and hope this is the year!

The West of Scotland is spoilt for lovely places to explore - Dogbert's trip out to Harris will be stunning. A little bit more exposed this way, but there's a few places on the fife coast and can sail to a few of the islands in the Forth.

As an aside, there's a dinghy sailing club on Porty promenade, sea sailing is a bit trickier than lake (tides and waves and the wind can be a bit too overpowering at first) but it's a really good intro if you've not sailed before? And if you don't mind being dumped into the Forth on a regular basis!

Yup, been and spoken to them a few times and will join this year. Amazingly it’s only £45 for the year! It looks like I’ve been gifted a sea kayak as well so will get a little bit of tuition for that as well

Hugo wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 5:37 pmOn the subject of mental health, I've noticed that I am not as resilient in my 40s as I was in my 20s and 30s & some unresolved trauma from childhood has reared its ugly head.

So true. Childhood trauma is the root of all evil.

Slick wrote: Mon Jan 02, 2023 2:20 am

inactionman wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 6:30 pm

Slick wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 7:52 am

We 100% need that beer!! Been dreaming about this for years and hope this is the year!

The West of Scotland is spoilt for lovely places to explore - Dogbert's trip out to Harris will be stunning. A little bit more exposed this way, but there's a few places on the fife coast and can sail to a few of the islands in the Forth.

As an aside, there's a dinghy sailing club on Porty promenade, sea sailing is a bit trickier than lake (tides and waves and the wind can be a bit too overpowering at first) but it's a really good intro if you've not sailed before? And if you don't mind being dumped into the Forth on a regular basis!

Yup, been and spoken to them a few times and will join this year. Amazingly it’s only £45 for the year! It looks like I’ve been gifted a sea kayak as well so will get a little bit of tuition for that as well

That's a bargain! Not sure when they sail, assume there's a safety boat given it's open water but not quite sure how it works just from looking at their website. I've seen them out on the water a fair bit so they look nice and active.

I may be tempted to give dinghies another go, but my hips are like piano wire which makes getting around a dinghy pretty cumbersome and inadvertently hilarious to any onlookers.

Annoyingly most of my dinghy gear is in a loft in Bath, but really only comprises a wetsuit (which I will unquestionably have to get a bigger set of) and buoyancy aid.

I feel an NPR sailing day coming on (I almost said watersports but that might attract some of the weirdos off PR)


Longer-term I'd like to get kids into it, they love messing about in the sea but really want them able to properly swim first.

Settle down ... maybe.

Niegs wrote: Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:58 pm Settle down ... maybe.

Never!

mat the expat wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:32 pm We just sold our unit in Sydney and will be renting for a at least 6 months - the plan is to move up to Newcastle and enjoy the beachside life more (Sydney is completely cooked traffic-wise. Even though I only live 5Km from the beach it takes over an hour to get there and forget parking).

New opportunities for Martial arts and exercise as well.

I work remotely and am not tied to the career - could easily drive a Wine Tour bus in the Hunter Valley..

More weekend trips once we're out of the 2hr bottleneck of Sydney traffic as well.

I haven’t been to Sydney for 10 years and the increase in cars and traffic was really noticeable. Not really sure how you get out of it either.

Another thing I was quite shocked at was the almost total absence of anyone giving a shit about the environment, just doesn’t seem to register in most people’s interests

mat the expat wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:04 am

Niegs wrote: Mon Jan 02, 2023 11:58 pm Settle down ... maybe.

Never!

Yeah, you're right! Scratch that.

... I've actually given myself one more month. Applied for about 8 local jobs, another 12 elsewhere. If I get none, I'm going walkabout Europe (I think).

Slick wrote: Tue Jan 03, 2023 12:15 am

mat the expat wrote: Sun Jan 01, 2023 11:32 pm We just sold our unit in Sydney and will be renting for a at least 6 months - the plan is to move up to Newcastle and enjoy the beachside life more (Sydney is completely cooked traffic-wise. Even though I only live 5Km from the beach it takes over an hour to get there and forget parking).

New opportunities for Martial arts and exercise as well.

I work remotely and am not tied to the career - could easily drive a Wine Tour bus in the Hunter Valley..

More weekend trips once we're out of the 2hr bottleneck of Sydney traffic as well.

I haven’t been to Sydney for 10 years and the increase in cars and traffic was really noticeable. Not really sure how you get out of it either.

Another thing I was quite shocked at was the almost total absence of anyone giving a shit about the environment, just doesn’t seem to register in most people’s interests

The thing that makes Sydney beautiful, the Harbour, also completely fecks it from a transport POV - they should have also built Metro decades ago - Sandstone is perfect for tunnelling.

Congestion charging should be a thing as well - will never happen as most of the Politicians all went to one of 2 Universities in Sydney and probably 3 private schools. The old Boy's network here is truly shocking after London

Instead, the State Governments build more Toll Roads

Not sure what you mean re the Environment - we vote in Greens regularly and it's a major reason the ALP got in this time due to the LNP being Stone-Age about it