2025: Family, Music, Work and One Italian Victory

๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฌ๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿฑ: ๐—™๐—ฎ๐—บ๐—ถ๐—น๐˜†, ๐— ๐˜‚๐˜€๐—ถ๐—ฐ, ๐—ช๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ธ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ข๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—น๐—ถ๐—ฎ๐—ป ๐—ฉ๐—ถ๐—ฐ๐˜๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜†

As we sunset 2025, Iโ€™ve found myself reflecting on a few standout moments from the year.

First, some proud dad milestones. My eldest finally got his first car, making life a little easier as he moves between Greater Manchesterโ€™s hospitals in his fifth year as a medical student. My youngest also had a big year, stepping up to News Editor of his student newspaper in Durham - deadlines, opinions and strong coffee the order of the day.

On a personal note, I was incredibly proud to complete the โ€œMighty Hikeโ€ - raising nearly ยฃ5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support by walking 26 miles along the stunning Causeway Coast in Ireland - in memory of my mum.

It was also a great year for live music. From the Sex Pistols to Rick Wakeman, The House of Love, Beta Band, Craven Faults and more - with the clear highlight being Radiohead. I last saw them in 2012 (!), but this was on an entirely different level. An unforgettable experience that still makes me smile.

Work-wise, itโ€™s been a real pleasure continuing to help start-ups and scale-ups find clarity in their marketing, sharpen their strategy and execute for growth. More importantly its been a great opportunity to work with, and meet, so many smart people. Iโ€™ve learnt a great deal, and enjoyed every minute.

And finally, perhaps the greatest achievement of all: securing planning permission for building work at our place in Puglia. In just 18 months. Which I believe may qualify as an Italian bureaucratic speed record. Victory! Negronis on me.

Wishing everyone a restful break and a very happy new year.

And, yes, no mention of AI.

Ciao.