December 29 2025, 15:07

2025: Life projects review

I can’t believe it’s been a year since my 2024 life projects review. There’s been less family drama, more culture, and some not-unexpected symbolic shifts. My focus in the first half of the year was physiotherapy and gradually strengthening the muscles around my hips. Then in the summer, things became more varied and interesting.

I’ve been less hung up on writing, and instead done a mix of other creative things—guitar lessons, learning to swim, travelling, reading more fiction, and so on. The Arvon week was challenging, and perhaps it highlighted that I wasn’t ready to go full-on at being a writer in 2025.

Projects in 2025 (chronological order):

• Arvon week-long writing course in Shropshire
• New bathrooms drama
• Mumbles/Gower weekend to see Welsh family
• Family in Vietnam, me at home
• 12 arthouse films in the summer, a.k.a. #ArthouseSummer2025
• Daughter started Sixth Form for A-Levels
• Stephen Hough & Viano Quartet with Guy at Queen Elizabeth Hall
• Lisbon long weekend
• Abertoir Horror Festival of Wales in Aberystwyth
• Swapped knackered old Polo for an electric car
• 12 horror films in December, a.k.a. #12FilmsofBlackXmas
• Logged 28 books on Storygraph
• Logged 132 films on Letterboxd

New skills and habits:

• Strength at the gym and stretching at home
• Swimming lessons
• Guitar lessons
• Posted to Patreon a review for every novel I read
• Meditated most days

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