Goodbye 2023…Hello 2024

2024 is here. As I usher in the new year, I look forward with hope, optimism and anticipation. And the mere thoughts of my granddaughter Kayla bring me joy and gratitude. 

I just turned 66 five days ago. As age catches up with me, I have to admit that I am no longer young. My body has given some small red flags about my health. I need to pay more attention to my health and not take things for granted. 

My biggest grouse for 2023 is being plagued with some minor health issues and insomnia. The insomnia has fallen so deeply in love with me that it has refused to leave me despite my pleas. For months now, I have been depending on sleeping pills to keep her at bay. I have tried so many sleeping aids and supplements but none had helped at all. Oh insomnia, I can’t keep up with you. And I really don’t need you in my life. Can’t you understand that?

My happiest moment of 2023 was physically seeing my granddaughter Kayla for the first time when my son Clarence, my daughter-in-law Amanda and Kayla came from Sydney to visit us  in May. The 12 days they spent in Miri were filled with so much joy and love. Every time I recall Kayla running to me shouting ‘grandpa’, my heart oozes with so much love and longing. 

I pray that 2024 will be a much better year than 2023. May insomnia kiss me goodbye and jilt me forever. Go and fall in love with someone else. 

I strongly believe that there will be a huge crypto bull rally in 2024. With more and more people losing faith in fiat currency, cryptocurrencies are poised to gain worldwide acceptance. Blockchain technology will revolutionise the world and create millionaires like never before. We live in exciting times. 

I will continue with my bird photography which has been a source of great joy. I hope to be able to photograph lots of lifers and more unique bird photos in 2024. My son Leslie and wife gave me a Honor Magic 5 Pro smartphone for my 66th birthday 5 days ago. I will have a whale of a time in 2024 taking photos with its superb camera. 

I will stick to my goal of posting a haiku daily on my blog for the entire year of 2024. Writing haikus gives my mind great exercise which I hope will help to keep dementia at bay as I grow older. 

I will continue to read books which is another hobby of mine. I still have more than 800 to be read books in my huge book collection. But I may not be able to read as much as I would like to as my eyes often get stressed after too much reading. 

The thing I look forward most eagerly to is to carry my granddaughter Kayla and have lots of fun with her. It would be lovely to bring her for walks in the parks and beaches in Sydney if I do make it to Sydney this year.

2+0+2+4=8…..may 2024 be a prosperous year for all of you reading this. Huat ar!