Episode Details

Happy New Year to you.

This time last year I did something I’d never done before, which was to publish my New Year’s resolutions.

I was nervous about doing it because, despite constantly putting stuff out on the internet, I’m actually quite private about some things, and it made me feel quite vulnerable publishing them.

However, publicly stating goals pushes you to achieve them. You’re making yourself accountable, so you’re more likely to deliver. It also clarifies what you’re actually looking for, and solidifies goals beyond abstract ideas. It can also prompt those reading them to help in some way, whether through advice, introductions or collaboration.

I’m glad I did it, and I’m sure it helped me achieve a lot of those goals.

Here they are, in case of interest:

The health, body and mind stuff I pretty much succeeded at - I stayed fit, I drank even less (to the point of barely drinking at all), my fasting fell by the wayside and so my weight has crept up a little. I hit my reading target - just - though really I should read a lot more.

Money was also a goal hit with gold, silver and most Flying Frisby tips all performing well (though let’s be honest last year was a bonanza year for pretty much everyone except bitcoin maximalists).

On the love and family side of things, I think I did ok - you’ll have to ask my kids and mother if I have been a good father/son. My other big target of settling down with a certain Miss Downing was an abject failure, which is probably for the best all things considered, and I am grateful to my Guardian Angel for stepping in there.

On the work and career front I should consider the year a success. The live shows were brilliant, sold out, we have a lot of dates in for the spring.

The book has also done well. It’s coming out in the US next year.

Above all I have got Kisses on a Postcard moving forward, which was the most important target of the year.

The two big failures were that I didn’t finish two writing projects I had in mind - my Gilbert and Sullivan and Peasants Revolt musicals - nor did I do many gigs in the US or practice my uke every day, but I probably asked a bit too much of myself.

All in all I should consider 2025 an annus perhaps not quite mirabilis, but certainly bonus, prosperus, felix et secundus - and be very grateful for it

So what are my goals this year?

They’re not unlike last year.

Love and Family

* Be a good dad to Samuel, Eliza, Lola and Ferdie, and to daughter-in-law, Millie.

* Be a good grandad to Cecilia.

* Be a good son to my mum.

* Get a girlfriend.

Kisses on a Postcard

* Get the script as good as it can possibly be (happening as we speak).

* Get a s**t hot director and cast

* Raise 10 million quid

* Shoot the next great musical.

Easy!

Money

Same as last year. Invest well and grow my net worth - and the net worth of Flying Frisby readers - by at least 20%. I beat that by some margin in 2025 in what, looking back, was a gift of a year thanks to gold, silver and the miners.

If you live in the Third World Country such as the UK, I urge you to

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