Happy New Year 🙂

Here’s a quick look back at the year that’s just finished, and my plans for the year that’s just begun.

Much Modelling

2022 was a varied year. I completed Apadobe Mine, my little Inglenook shunting layout in a toy box. This included finishing the baseboard, track, electrics, lighting, scenery, a loco and eight wagons. Oh, and creating some not so serious wagon loads.

There was a diversion to create a lovely O9 Schaefer loco and some quarry wagons.

Plus I revisited 009 and built a baseboard for a new micro layout that fits into a convenient plastic storage box.

Back to Exhibitions

It was nice to get back to exhibitions again. Gosh, so nice. I hadn’t realised how much I’d missed them. I particularly enjoyed the smaller, local exhibitions ‘open days’.

Interesting modelling + friendly people + tasty cake = an enjoyable day out.

My three favourite open days were Thetford, Ely and Ipswich. If I lived closer I’d join any of these clubs.

This Blog

I didn’t set any goals this year. I pottered along, posting when I had something to say. Yet I managed over 12000 words, in 59 posts (more than one post a week!) and in November got the highest number of visitors I’ve ever had.

Thank you for visiting 🙂

I especially appreciate the likes and comments, it’s good to know other people like similar things to me.

A Personal Note

This is a modeling blog and I rarely write about other things. For a review of 2022 I feel I have to. My best friend died this year. I met Chris within an hour of arriving at college and we hit it off immediately. I was his best man, he was my best man. We were friends for 39 years. He was admitted to hospital as an emergency, then diagnosed with late stage cancer. I went to see him and we spent the afternoon talking, laughing, chatting like old times. Two weeks later he died. I was, and still am, gutted. I guess I wont find another friend like Chris.

That was a bit heavy but I couldn’t look back at 2022 without acknowledging how important that friendship was to me.

Let’s switch back to the modelling…

.

My Plans for 2023

I don’t want to set too many goals for 2023. I get the feeling work will be busy and I want my modelling to be pressure free and relaxing.

I’d like to:

1. Progress my 009 micro layout, Boxomise. Not sure I’ll complete it, but I’d like to make good progress
2. Start another 7mm scale layout. The idea has been in my head for a couple of years. Now, I want to make a start on some practical work
3. Try to be more focused and not get sidetracked. Progress on 1 and 2 would be good. Impulse buying and late night surfing on ebay must stop!
4. Visit more exhibitions and real railways
5. Just have some fun, making models 🙂

Whatever you have planned for 2023 I hope you have a happy, healthy and enjoyable year!

.

This image by christmashat is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.