A week's disappearance and a year's end

This past week has been the longest stretch of inactivity I've experienced on Air Nice-to-Livelands to date. At the end of Christmas Day, my laptop developed a problem and has been out of action since then, although one of my uncles was able to sort it out over the weekend after I left the device at my grandparents' house.

In addition to my laptop's problems, I've been at my girlfriend's house for the past couple of nights and since I've been busy spending time with her, I've not paid much attention to updating my blog.

And so, 2017 ends. For me, this year has broken major ground in that during it, I completed my first year of university, attended a wedding (two, if you include the reception I went to back in July for the first time since California and I started a relationship. As it stands, I am nearly halfway through my time at university.

Happy New Year, everyone; I hope 2018 brings you all much good luck and success.

New Year's Day 2017

I've just come back from my mother's and brother's house, as I spent the day down at theirs to celebrate the new year. I hope you had fun NYE celebrations and I wish you all a happy new year. Good luck for 2017 and beyond.

As 2016 finishes

Here in the United Kingdom, 2017 is less than six hours away while in other parts of the world, the new year is already here. I had intended to have my next blog party post up today but due to changes in plans, it'll have to wait a day or two.

I hope you had a good 2016 and are looking forward to an even more productive 2017.

New Year's Day 2016

This is the New Year's greeting I posted to Facebook earlier:

"Wishing everybody a Happy New United States Presidential Election Year. If you enjoyed 2015's season of the political show, with all its eccentric and fun-filled characters, 2016 is guaranteed to be even more action-packed! Watch partisans from all sides slug it out against both each other and supposed "moderates" in a metaphorical arena of ideologies. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that never seems to end!"

Happy New Year!

New Year's Eve 2015

In slightly over three hours, 2015 will reach its conclusion and, obviously, 2016 will emerge in its place. I'm not sure what to make of this year - it has contained many awesome moments but certain events...well, I wish they had never happened. The stark contrast in emotions has been unimaginable.

Here's hoping for an improved 2016. Happy New Year's Eve, everyone.

When do you take them down?

My parents usually take down their Christmas decorations in the early New Year and my grandparents are the same with theirs. On the other hand, I have observed some houses and stores that are still decorated...more than three weeks after Christmas, now.

When do you take down and put away your Christmas decorations? 

Everyone now returned

None of my relatives who were visiting are present here anymore. My Hong Kong uncle left in the late afternoon on New Year's Day and he should be back in China now. The house has felt different now that he's away again...colder...quieter. I'm back to being the only member of the family living with my grandparents.

College begins on the 7th of January. I'm looking forward to attending college again; my only gripe is that the new term doesn't start on Monday the 5th. Monday is a teacher training day, hence why there will be no classes then.

New Year 2015

As I implied last night, I spent New Year's Eve at home. What separated it from previous ends and beginnings of years is that my Hong Kong uncle was present; I don't recall ever spending the start of a year with him. I should also note that neither my parents nor my brother were with me, so it's the first New Year's Eve and New Year I've experienced without them.

When the New Year began, my uncle, grandfather and I watched the fireworks that were taking place in London at the London Eye; after that, my uncle went to bed while my grandfather and I watched a musical performance from Queen, who are currently fronted by Adam Lambert. Both the fireworks and the concert were worth watching, even via television.

Happy New Year! Let's have an amazing 2015!

New Year's Eve 2014

Here in the United Kingdom, it's slightly over three hours until midnight and the end of 2014. Not much is happening here at my grandparents' house; we're just watching television.

As I've written elsewhere this evening, 2014 has brought several transformations upon me, the most significant being my moving to Nottingham to attend college. The minimum goal for 2015 is to build upon 2014's successes and to not withdraw from what I've done this year. I've achieved much in the past twelve months - especially in the last five; I do not want those gains to be reversed. Not at all.

Oh, and just to address how I'm not doing much this evening. Honestly, one of these days I'll attend New Year parties again. In the meantime, I hope that everyone is enjoying whatever plans they've made for New Year's Eve and Day.

Everyone returned (nearly)

Nearly all of my visiting relatives have returned home now; the sole relative still here is my Hong Kong uncle. He will leave on New Year's Day and be back at his home on the 3rd of January. I'm glad he'll be present for a short spell longer because it means there's another person around during my break from college.

New Year's Day 2014

I hope that everyone is having a pleasant New Year's Day. My health has improved since yesterday, although I have still been "out of it" for much of the day and this has been the least fun 1st of January that I can recall. Still, as I said, I am better and should be close to being fully recovered tomorrow.

Thank you to all my family, family and fellow bloggers. I look forward to our interactions in 2014 and beyond.

Happy New Year!

The end of 2013

At last, we're at the end of 2013. I hope that everyone has had a pleasant year; I know that it's been difficult for some of my friends, who are now looking at 2014 with enthusiasm. I, too, am looking forward to New Year, as I have some plans to follow through with, which would be highly beneficial to me if they succeed.

Today could have been a nicer day for me, though; I haven't been well since breakfast, I feel cold even though it's warm and I had to have a lie down this afternoon so I can be awake at midnight. Hopefully, I'll be better at New Year.

See you in 2014!

New Year 2013

2013 is here! I hope everyone isn't too tired from celebrating the new year into the early hours of the morning! My brother and I marked the occasion by listening to a new CD until 2:00am.

I can't expand upon yesterday's post without repeating myself, so for now I'll just wish you all a Happy New Year!

The end of 2012

It's hard to believe that 2012 is in its final hours...it feels as though it was yesterday that I wrote about the closing of 2011! The time has flown by.

How has this year been for me? Well, it's certainly been a huge improvement on what I was anticipating: while I wrote last New Year's Eve that I was looking forward to 2012, I won't deny that I was expecting it be a long and stressful year. It's had its ups and its downs, but on the whole it's been okay!

The highlight of the year was going with Becca to see Carrie Underwood perform at the Royal Albert Hall. That concert was not something I saw coming, but I am delighted and grateful to have attended. At present I don't have any more concerts planned, but given how the Underwood event came out of the blue, that could quite easily change!

The plan for 2013? Keep on writing and proof-reading/copyediting. Meet more people and make new friends. I've made gains in these areas this year, but not to the extent that I had hoped; I'll endeavour to improve more strongly in 2013 and beyond.

Thank you again my readers, fellow bloggers and friends; I await stepping into 2013 with the rest of you. Happy New Year's Eve.

New Year 2012

Just a very short post for today, the first day of 2012, to wish everybody a Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Closing of 2011

New Year's Eve...the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, in just a few short hours. We began this year watching television at my grandparents' house, but fortunately, this will not be the case for 2012 (well, I would not mind being at my grandparents' house, but I am glad we will not be watching TV!).

2011 has certainly been an interesting year, although there are several occasions where I wish it had been better: we all could have done without moving to Cambridgeshire in January, only to have to move again in the middle of the year to Northamptonshire (having to move really did slow things down for us). I also think I could have spent more time outside...thanks to the situation this year I spent a greater proportion of time inside than usual. On the bright side, we have able to see more of the United Kingdom this year, I have met interesting and kind new people, and we had a brilliant week in Nottingham with family during the summer. Another great event this year was starting Air Nice-to-Livelands! It has been good to share my thoughts, improve my typing, and meet new people through my blog...all at once.

I am looking forward to 2012: to begin with, there are some very important world events that I will be keeping a close eye on, although I admit I have already been following their progress for this year. There are issues that my family...and myself...have to work on in 2012, but I am sure we will deal with them accordingly.

Finally, I should also note that 2011 is the first year since 1995 that we have lived entirely in the United Kingdom.

I have said all I wanted to say for now. Have a good New Year's Eve everyone.