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2023 hasn't give me a lot of things to remember, good or bad. I was able to ride my bike around 5000km (3k miles), all in small trips, mostly commute, which was nice. Workwise, I started the year with a new colleague, who is going to be fired next month. So history will repeat itself on that side. On my personal life, nothing much happened. I was able to avoid Covid for another year. And I went to NYC to visit a couple of friends and walked around the city for a week (78 miles on foot).

2023, I have been watching my parents get worse and worse, my mum with a mix of depression and loss of memory which worries me, and my dad although very driven is getting weaker with every month from ELA, he also disregards my wishes for the future and seems to create something else for me to worry with every year that passes. On that front, I am not optimistic for the future to say the least. I had a good trip out, to the UK with Sofia, which had its up and downs but overall ended on a high note and I'm glad I went. Had the chance to go on another trip to Morocco but ended up not bothering with it, a few work things had me fretting about impeding things that would ruin said trip but ended up not materializing, also just overall mental health wasn't where it should be. I ended up spending some time at my place and now the last weeks with Sofia, and all is good except I'm dreading getting back to reality and dealing with sad issues regarding the folks. Work was a mix of a market going downwards which put some pressure on me, sales average to low, it was ok but am now feeling like 2024 isn't going to be an average year if it starts like 2023 is ending. It seems like I'm also thinking of impending doom that will force me to look for an alternative. It's not been the dark year the previous paragraphs make it sound like, in fact 2023 felt like 3 years with one big trip and a few small ones around Portugal. Am trying to end the year feeling happy and looking forward to things.

Can't remember a more peaceful year for me.... my wife has alot to do with that. Gonna definitely get some more camping in next year...

And sort your cock out so it starts firing blanks.... two dustbin lids is enough.

Did not have to pay parking charge, exit barriers are fucked, they are in the up position all the time..

Might aswell put this one.

The biggest thing for me in 2023 was that my son reached the age of 30 years, which considering his traumatic start to life was pretty amazing,. We had a great trip to Italy to celebrate with him which he really enjoyed. I also managed to get to Italy again later in the year but this time on my bike , the last time I did the Stella Alpina rally was 13 years before that so it was great to go back and ride those iconic trails. Health wise I had a decent year but I'm definitely getting older and I can't really see me riding big bikes anymore, the weight is definitely a factor and getting at least one foot on the floor confidently now is a bit of a must.

For me this year has gone there was more good things than bad and i cant do nothing about anything in the past so looking forward to next year with hopefully more biking, camping and living the way i want, there are things that could fuck up for me but not even worth thinking about unless they happen so just going to look ahead at what i might do instead of looking behind at things i should have done bring on 2024

Aborted trip to Senegal was ok despite having only got as far as Marbella. Bloody heat waves! Loved Portugal and Galicia. A bit busy dahn saath though. Can’t remember much about the summer. Bike change in mid August. Overland Event near Oxford and meeting Ted Simon again there was great despite costing a small fortune in beer. Spent a few weeks caravaning in September, most of it hoping for aurora near John O Groats. Might do the same again in April. Got the start of shingles some time in November and only now beginning to get over it. Not the greatest year, but there have been worse.

And it don't get any easier Bob. Every year it gets a little bit harder. But at least we're facing up to reality......there's a lot that don't!

2023 has been a bit of a mixture really, on the bike front it was a fucking disaster with that DR600S but the Tracer 700 proved to be a decent bike but sadly didn’t stir the soul. Bought the FZ6N as a stop gap and it’s turned out to be a whole lot of fun for not much money. My dad has slowly deteriorated this year and his demeanour is changeable. One minute he’s quite aware and with it, the next he’s vague. He gets angry very easily and some of the stuff he comes out with makes me cringe………I dread to think what would happen if he repeated it in public. I know he resents me moving to Spain and he feels like I’ve abandoned him………he does his best to make me feel guilty but I do my best to ignore it. My missus has suffered badly from the menopause and that’s put a strain on our relationship but it’s ’for better or worse’ as they say.

doing what i want when i want

My 2023 hasn't been too bad few work ups and downs but I feel that I've found a good place to work now and that I'll finally stay put more than 5 minutes. 2024 looks to be on the whole good what with the boy coming along in April so hoping that will calm skye down somewhat as she will have a brother to look after. Financial wise im looking at 2024 being the year I get everything back in order and my loan paid off and 2025 im hoping will be the year that we buy our own place

The rotten tree came down last night, luckily it fell in the opposite direction to my shed, not damaged the fence from what I can see, so I have some clearing up to do, shame I ain't got a log burner, If i had it would be a damn sight warmer in here.

Doc says my tumour is not causing him to be concerned...it is a little larger, but not significantly, they may leave my MRI scans to every 18 months instead of every 12 months, they will make a decision on that after my next one in June, he is also happy that my balance is not effected, but he said that could change in the blink of a eye as he has found out from other patients......... better get on some rides (spring onwards) while I am still able to........overall I am happy, things could be worse.

Off to audiology at 11am, I expect I will be there till about 3pm, car park charge is gonna be horrendous taking sandwiches and flask, not going into costa Coffee in the hospital, Rob Dogs

@Sofia's visible happiness takes my vote.

I'm voting for The Speed Triple, mostly for the smile, Sofia was so happy to be in proper motorcycling UK roads and it really shows in the picture.

R1300GS is lighter and a lot quicker by all accounts. All horribly expensive, and too heavy.

You underestimate how little i need to be happy. It's the simplest things in life i appreciate now although i won't deny more money would help me out but only to help me retire earlier. I'm in a position in life where i find i don't really want anything more than what i have the only thing i desire is not to go to work everyday.

That entails going sheeping as much as possible on his trail bike predominantly alone so there is no evidence of the activity

told you , once.... i sold him to some Africans cause he was heavily retarded and i didn't want him round me.

If I am still alive and kicking in another year I may go on the Cochlear Implant waiting list, be better if it was done at our local hospital and not one the other side of Nottingham. As I have said before, I would rather be deaf than blind, that really is a disability....

thats a glass half full and not half empty clive,

Remember what I was doing in January/February? I can't remember what I was doing last week.........been to Mablethorpe twice this year though.

Interesting but I cannot see how any of those bikes listed there would be any good for a beginner ...................

Fitted a new battery on the Cube this morning , retrieved a parcel from down the road as my Uncle had incorrectly addressed it . Sorting out my calendar for next year now , very exciting ................

@JustaPor turn it into a Lexmoto

These two are very entertaining yes they are farmed in south america.

What have you got against @Six30's photo there's 15 if you count his as well

A word of advice..........Don't hold your breath. But i would like to extend my thanks to my campaign manager @Buckster........Great work fella

Bob's DR for me!

Clive could get Man of the year, oops sorry, Member of the year now we have become politically correct and Bike of the year.

@Six30 would try to have sex with them.

OK, submissions are now closed, I'll start the vote in a few minutes.

Strangely enough I had one last night. All of £30!

I think you'll need a Lottery win for that!

if you want some kiddy pics you weirdo... @Buckster is your man i should imagine

Still more than you managed you wannabe!

My next adventure is being able to get back on the bike!

A bit like the spic surgeon who is still looking for that lost spatula.

Something like this? (didn't spend a lot of time on it, that's why it's far from perfect )