Author: johngrantuk

Strange year! Many, many people can’t wait to see the back of it but I had a lot of positives and it won’t be a year I’ll ever want to forget. I’ll always look at it with pleasure because Gracie Milne Grant came into the world ❤️‍🔥.

Reading

Managed to get through 9 books in the year – 2 less than last year, which was 2 less than the year before but I think I have a good excuse after our new arrival! Also similar to last year I’ve read a LOT of blog/technical articles.

I never managed to stick to my plan of reading at least 30mins per day in the evening reading. Instead of watching crap on TV I’m busy with playtime, bathtime and bedtime!

I Started So I…Won’t Finish

It’s hard for me to walk away from a book after starting but because lifes too short and there’s too many books I would enjoy reading I’m trying to stop any that I’m struggling with. This year I started on:

• Perdido Street Station
• Our Man
• A Perfect Spy (gutted as I was hoping this would be good)

Writing

I published 15 blog posts. I feel like I’m kind of cheating because I’ve started writing posts called – Some Interesting Things I Read, which are a collection of links, etc that I’ve found interesting, want to share and keep links to. Although these aren’t as substantial as some of my previous posts I still think they’re pretty interesting and I feel like they’re less of a chore to write and help me gather my thoughts around things. I did also write some pretty detailed technical posts on some of the things I’ve learned.

At the moment I don’t have a particular target or goal or even an idea of what I want to acheive with blogging. I’m going to keep going the way I have been and see how it unfolds.

Coding

One of things I was excited about in last years review was the prospect of continuing to grow my relationship with Balancer Labs and I’m VERY, VERY happy to say that I started full time with them in March. It was the best move ever. Brilliant team, great project and I’ve had the chance to learn and work on so many different things.

The big goal for this year is do help in any way possible to launch Balancer V2 and help Balancer grow into an even more succesful project. I thing I can have a fun and learn more along the way so I can’t wait!

Watching

23 watched this time – not easy to find time for movies with a crazy girl around!

• Laundromat – Interesting and good about money laundering, etc. What makes the world go round!
• Hidden Figures – a bit over the top with the ‘amsuing’ bits but overall very inspiring.
• Uncut Gems – Hectic! But good.
• The King – Probably a bit too long but not bad.
• Hostiles – very good western.
• High Flying Bird – Basketball business. Can’t decide if I liked it or not.
• Contagion – Had to watch it again. Mmmhh.
• The Platform – really original and good.
• The Titan – pretty weird sci fi
• Ultras – So-so football hooligans
• Andrews police one – Depressing
• The boy who harnessed the wind – Picked by Vicki and not bad.
• John Candy Nice
• Leave No Trace – AGs pick. Really good. Nomad dad and daughter. Emotional.
• Freaks – Kind of cool but kind of stupid.
• Collosal – jesus that got stupid
• I’m thinking of ending things – omg really weird and bad
• Borat 2 – Mmmh stupid but ok
• Calm With Horses – Recommended by Andrew and I liked it.
• White Boy Rick – Decent. Makes you think.
• Arkansas – really good
• Trial of the Chicago 7 – good choice by Elaine for once
• Fight Club – Classic

Health

I didn’t include this previously, I think I kind of took my health and fitness for granted and just imagined it would always be the same. Training twice a week for rugby and playing on a Saturday meant I’ve always been fit with injuries being the only real concern.

Realistically, because of my age, I was going to have to wind down playing wise and with a new member of the family commiting that much time was probably not going to be an option but Covid put an emergency stop to everything! And it’s been tough. I’ve purchased and setup a punch bag and rowing machine along with my old weights equipment and I stick to a pretty good routine now but training solo isn’t the same as training with 15mates. Motivation can be hard and the intensity/reward isn’t the same as busting your pan in on the pitch. Mental health wise I miss the crack, the competition (the chance to hit people) and just the escape – there’s no better way to switch the brain off than to play/train 80mins of rugby!

Few goals here – if the Covid nonsense isn’t sorted I need to keep going! Keep training, keep fit and don’t become a couch potatoe – Gracie needs a strong dad that she can run around with! If life becomes more normal I feel like I want to keep going with rugby but we’ll see how the body holds up. If it doesn’t work out then I need to find and commit to something else – Judo and golf come to mind right now.

And to finish on a positive note health wise – I’ve now not drunk in 22 months! And damn I feel better for it!