Chimon Tendo

The annual meme is back so as 2018 draws to close it is time to review the year as it is, as it was. Reflecting on life that has been led by me in my Pete-centric universe.

1. What did you do in 2018 that you’d never done before?

A bit lame, but I have never been SD in the Craft or JW in the Mark.  I now have those Job in each order.

I have also never done a family history search before and I have investigated the Masonic legacy of the my Great Grandfather.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No as I planned to read 12 books in the year and only did

1. Origins
2. Darkness Visible: The Secret of the Vaults: Volume 1
3. Royal Arch Journey
4. Tracing Boards of the Three Degrees in Craft Freemasonry Explained
5. The Transformation of Freemasonry

I am partway through 3 books but am unlikely to reach 12 this year so will added it to the list for next year.

2019 – Plans

1. Read 12 books
2. Sort our St Edmund’s  Website
3. Draft version of the book by December 2019

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Sister in law – had another child – Emily so I think I am an uncle in law again or is that still!!

4. Did anyone close to you die?

The sad passing or W.Bro Reg Holbrook-  a friend, confidant and Random bloke with a white Labrador when I was young  Paper Boy.

5. What countries did you visit?

Well it was certainly the year of the Caravan.

1. Capesthorne Hall (Cheshire)
2. Ynys Mon (Wales)
3. Flamborough (North Yorkshire
4. Llangollen (Wales)

Then in November  & December we went to North Lakes.

6. What would you like to have in 2019 that you lacked in 2018?

1. Still, more sleep but to be fair to Callum is getting better, but next year he loses the ball and chains. This may increase his need to arrive in our bed at 4am.
2. Structure and Plan for Masonic Learning
3. More confidence in myself.

7. What dates from 2018 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

To be fair, it has been an eventful year in public and private life. But no dates truly spring to mind.

It was great to get a visitation from the Gord and Prof and look at St Edmund’s.  But on the whole a fun packed year.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

1. Giving another lecture in the lodge as I was unsure if me and the lodge are compatible but to be fair  they are a good bunch of people.
2. Staying at the job whilst is got boring and dull and quiet and dealing with some horrible and distasteful parts.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not being as patient with  Henry and Callum as I should be…

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing springs to mind.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

1. Laptop
2. New Caravan
3. Smart watch
4. PS4  – although this may have been a bad idea

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

Henry:

•  he is almost at the correct level at school ability, despite being investigated for ADHD and Autism
• Can Walk 7 miles and not complain
• Loves riding his mountain bike –  16 miles  (Hebden Bridge to Home)

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Depressed  – Public Sector companies

Appalled – The Pollical landscape of the country

14. Where did most of your money go?

Household stuff – a New Caravan

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

1. Meeting Gord again, catching up with the Myletts in Anglesey

16. What song will always remind you of 2018?

The Vine  by  Tristram

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? Happier

b) thinner or fatter? Thinner  – well I eat 5 pieces of fruit and Veg a day and now as the wife cooks we are on Phat Klub  rations

c) richer or poorer? About the same – but a pay rise would go a miss.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

More fun time with the kids

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

More  Patience with the Kids and less shouty

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Christmas this year was at home with family and My parents and then the in-laws on Boxing day. In a bid to control Henry’s excitement

21. What was your favourite month of 2018?

December – Adventures in the Lakes, then new things in Craft, Mark and Chapter.

22. Did you fall in love in 2017?

With the one that calls me Husband

23. How many one-night stands?

Zilch

24. What was your favourite TV programme?

I have enjoyed:

• Forged in Fire
• Curse of Oak Island
• Condor

25. Do you hate or dislike anyone now that you didn’t hate or dislike this time last year?

I have come to dislike MPs

26. What was the best book you read?

Royal Arch Journey – Rev. Neville Barker Cryer

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Grabbitz

Tristram

Mr Fijiwiji

28. What did you want and get?

A Laptop and a SmartWatch

29. What did you want and not get?

Sleep, but I seem to be doing ok

30. What was your favourite film of this year?

1. Avengers – Infinity Wars
2. Tomb Raider

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Nothing, 41

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more

More patience with the kids

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2018?

Jeans and T-shirts – Although having had a beard for most of the year, but now I am beardless. Ok as I type this I have stubble but that’s cos I am on a break!!

34. What kept you sane?

The wife and Masonry

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Alicia Vikander  – the new Lara Croft

36. What political issue stirred you the most?

The WTF Brexit situation, still no deal agreed by Parliament and we leave in March!!

37. Who did you miss?

Hunni – She has passed from this place to another place, God rest your canine soul.

38. Who was the best new person you met?

I have met a lot a great people too numerous to name.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2018.

With great friends comes interesting challenges and fun times.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.  

Better with Time by Grabbiz – “Yeah, I hope it gets better with time”