2004

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ardross
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Doesn't seem like many have had a good 2004 so hope 2005 gets better for everyone :)

I, like so many others, have had probably my worst year ever :(

Starting with Alan's untimely death back at the start of the year, I remember sitting up to almost 5am that night I found out. At first I thought it was a sick joke, and I wish it had been. I was totally gutted when I found out it was true, a strange reaction as I had never met Alan, but to me he was this forum's 'leader' (for want of a better word) and after his death I did consider closing it.

I had a couple of business plans for this year that I really wanted to get up and going by the summer. However my best friend's (who the business would have been with) mother died earlier in the year so the plans got put back, and then his wife passed away a few months ago, totally unexpectedly - he went out for 20 minutes and when he came back she had died. That totally knocked me for 6, and as a result nothing else got done with regards to our plans. That was devasting for me (his wife dying not the business plans), and I hated to see what he was going through. He lived for her, and his whole life was built around her. They were the most in love people I think I have ever known.

Then, just to round this year off, my Dad had a bad stroke on December the 18th, and as of today is still in the high dependancy unit (which is as close to intensive care you can get without actually being in it), can't talk, breathe without a mask, and can't move his right side. It's also very rare he is awake so that makes it harder. Obviously thats why I haven't been around that much recently.

On the good side...er, not alot :)

Anyway hope everyone has a good New Year

Are we taking bets on who will be the first to post in 2005? :D

All the best

Col
 
Colin that is awful news about your father. Here's hoping the new year brings better news.
 
So sorry Solerina - dreadful whatever time of year. I lost my Dad 15 years ago and my Mum nearly 12. Christmas Eve was their 65th wedding anniversary and I hate this time of year - my birthday is just before Xmas too, and this Monday coming is Mum's birthday. You have to take one day at a time and delight in the memories and know that he knew you loved him and that he still loves you, and cry whenever and wherever you need to/want to.

Col - fingers crossed and all best wishes for your Dad. Keep talking to him when you are there - even if he's not awake.

This year up until the last few months has been dire - left my dream job, bought a place to live I absolutely hate, have a neighbour I could strangle at least 6 times a week, work in jobs I absolutely hate for not enough money, and getting to an age where there seems less ahead than has passed - but fell in love the last few months and can't believe he loves me back.

Hope everyone has a better 2005 than 2004 - even if you thought it was good, and everyone stays happy and healthy, and keep going racing.
 
Back to the thread
As a racing year it has been a fine one, but this year has been really bad for the world as a whole.


The Tsunami has been terrible , a lot of people died and the economic repercusions will be huge in the short and long term.

The situation in Afganistan and Iraq is terrible.

The terrorist attacks in MAdrid and Rusia were tremendous.



In my country the political situation is really tense and we are in front of a key year in 2005 with the most inept political leader of the whole international scene.


Lets hope things improve next year but I am really pesimist.
 
My reflection on the year pales into insignificance when compared to the hardship and suffering referred to on this thread for some of our contributors and, particularly, what is happening in South East Asia at the moment,

Personally, I've had the most remarkable and formative year of my short life to date and definitely the best one. So much happened, that I really don't know where to start but I'm sure I will look back in years to come and find that a lot of my most important memories and experiences came in the past twelve months. So many highs and a few notable lows, but I've learned from each of the bad experiences and tried to make every negative a positive.

Had a fantastic month travelling around Australia that opened my mind so much and has given me the taste for travelling again. I know that all the friends I made there were not going to be in Thailand at Christmas time but still it is a very sobering thought to think that so many who died were enjoying the same experiences on their trip of a lifetime.

I know that Alan's death has left a terrible void for his family and for those who knew him, but I still take consolation from the fact that he lived a very full life - a chance that will not be afforded to many of those whose lives have been lost or torn apart in the past few days.

Certainly, life is very fragile and the past year has definitely taught me to be grateful for every day that passes by untroubled. And it's also taught me that the minor quibbles, occasional insecurities and aches that bother us all are irrelevant compared to the bigger picture.

I have a confession though.

I must admit that as someone who graduated with a degree in History and Politics and is currently studying for an MA in Political Science [as well as trying to work] that this is a macabre yet fascinating time in world history. The 90's were far from a boring decade with events in the Balkans, Slovakia, Somalia etc and of course the Gulf War at the start of it but they were relatively benign compared to the preceding generations. Yet now, despite the onset of technology that has brought people closer together, the world is at a massive crossroads.

Much as the shift to the right in global politics horrifies me, I think that the next few years will be absolutely crucial. I never thought I'd say this, but in a bizarre way the election of Bush this year could prove a blessing disguise. I think that by the time 2008 comes around, you would hope that people will have finally come to terms and realised the terrible mistakes that have been made in the past few years. And maybe the Democrats will finally get their house in order.

It was Lipset and Rokkan who suggested that the cleavages in society froze after the First World War and we have been shaped by those developments. Yet the complete uselessness of the opposition in many Western European countries at the moment, where the ruling parties are unpopular but the alternative terrifyingly incompetent has the potential to drive some massive changes over the next few years. A lot of battle lines will have to be redrawn.

In some ways I'm very guilty to admit it as I'm relatively privileged and withdrawn from the action but as someone who is interested in these things these are incredibly worrying, yet somehow exciting, moments for our generation.
 
And yet, and yet... look, squirrelled away in there, among the horrors and the personal sadnesses, is something that makes me very happy: Hunneyb has found someone who loves her, and who she loves back. I'm very, very pleased for you. You're a very lovable person and you deserve it, and it's certainly a state of being that many of us might have wished was ours as we start another year.
 
I haven't had a fantastic start to this year. Yesterday a glass shower panel fell on me, minutes before I was due to go to Wetherby! :lol:
 
Had a so-so start to 2005, been up late most nights so far on the internet and have assignments to do.
But thus far not met anyone really nice but equally not met anyone really nasty so thats a good thing.

Good luck all in 2005!!!!
 
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