2022 has been a strange year. A year of highs and lows, transition and stagnation, introspection / soul-searching, an emotional roller coaster of a year.

The Good

• Resumed proper travel again, and added a country (Sudan!!). Given we turn 40 this year, the Boy wanted an iconic / memorable trip to celebrate our 40th. We discussed several ideas, and eventually decided on Egypt and Sudan, which he planned out wonderfully, for an action-packed 2 weeks:
  • We flew into Alexandra (Corniche, Roman Theatre, Serapeum, Catacombs, etc.), hit all the major highlights from north to south
  • Great Pyramids of Giza (with an overnight stay)
  • Cairo, including: Pyramid of Djoser / Saqqara, Red Pyramid and Bent Pyramid / Dahshur, Bab Zuweila, Hanging Church, Islamic Cairo (Qalawun complex, Bab-al Futu, Khan El-Kalili), Necropolis (Qaitbay mosque), crazy tuk-tuk ride to the Citadel, and Cairo road crossings!
  • Overnight train to Qena and taxi ride to Dendera to visit the Temple of Hathor
  • Luxor (Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, Colossi of Memnon)
  • Dahabiya cruise down the Nile with stops at El-Kab Tombs, Edfu Temple, visit of Egyptian village (Bisaw village?) and Nile fishing and option to swim in the Nile, Kom Ombo Temple)
  • Aswan (Temple of Philae / Temple of Isis), ‘adventure’ to withdraw & exchange cash, and get transport into Sudan)
  • Abu Simbel (Great Temple of Ramesses II and Smaller Temple of Hathor and Nefertari)
  • Border crossing between Egypt and Sudan into Wadi Halfa
  • Meroe (Pyramids East and West, Temple of Lion, Naga)
  • Karima (Jebel Barkal, Nubian pyramids, Nuri pyramids, El-Kurru temple, Petrified forest)
  • Khartoum (street scapes)
• In April, we went home to Malaysia to visit the ‘rents for the first time since 2019 I think (Big Boy-O and Baby-F could finally see 爷爷奶奶 again). I actually worked a bit from home the first week.
• We also did some other trips during the year:
  • Malaysia (April)
  • Brittany (June)
  • Israel (July)
  • Kent (August)
  • Basque / Béarn (August)
  • Brittany (December)
• Some nice meals in our 40th year:
  • Sola * (London)
  • The fordwich Arms * (Canterbury)
  • Azurmendi *** (Bilbao)
  • Sources * (Lorient)
  • Restaurant Nicolas Carro * (Carantec)
  • Mere (London)
  • Le Relais de la Poste ** (Magescq)
  • Leroy * (London)
  • The Clove Club ** (London)
  • Moulin de Rosmadec * (Pont Aven)
• Big Boy-O took his first ever music practical exam (Trinity Violin Grade 4) and scored a strong Merit. Despite some level of disappointment at the outcome (reasons outlined here), net, I am happy and proud of him.
• Started a wildlife pond
• Baby-F won an award for his Chinese art

The Bad

• The Boy had to be hospitalised for 3-4 days after the contracted erysipelas. After he returned from a work trip, his face got red and puffy on one side. He initially self-diagnosed himself with sinusitis and dismissed it, but I eventually insisted we visit the A&E for a check-up. After 10-12 hours of waiting around, he was finally, seen, tested, and then admitted to the treatment wing attached to the A&E department. They took a while to diagnose him while they pumped him with a range of different meds. And apparently at some point, he was at risk (or in) sepsis, with a ~10% chance of dying. It was quite a shock because his immune system is usually exceptionally strong – he almost never falls ill. While he was hospitalised, he was also diagnosed as being pre-diabetic.
• Big Boy O and Baby F got into several situations at school, and were called into the primary school’s head teacher’s office (I think both boys got into trouble at least, but definitely Baby-F did). Most notably / worrying was Baby F who actually got a written warning, in a really silly (and hence, to me, worrying manner). Basically, when one boy was being beaten / punched by another kid during lunch break, instead of telling a teacher to stop them, or stopping the bully from attacking the other kid, Baby-F decided to join in and fight the victim, because the kid was shouting / screaming / making too much noise. I was completely stunned. And what worries me is Baby-F’s complete failure in logical processing to find at least two better and more logical solutions to the problem, than direct, brute force at what he considered the immediate cause of the problem. Humph. I had to talk to him to explain in detail just how inappropriate his reaction was. And then had to apologise to the other kid’s mum, and we ended up going on a family play date, which was pretty fun overall, even if it started out under trying circumstances.
• Some very difficult times this past year, personal struggles / demons, doom loops. I suppose some of it was a culmination of things which have been brewing a long time…unconsciously, then sub-consciously, and then an explosion… what next I wonder -possibly an implosion?

The Ugly

• I had 3 bosses in the last 12-18 months at my work place. Technically shouldn’t perhaps be part of ‘2022 review’ as my first boss who recruited me left in 2021, a few weeks after I joined. But still, I think the tragi-comic factoid deserves a place here.
• Partly thanks to the high churn / transition, I suppose my non-existent sideways career stagnation deserves a place here.
• Big Boy-O got elected as a ‘class delegate’ and then lost his position in a rather… weird, convoluted manner… due to: (i) teacher’s sub-optimal communications / expectation setting and math skills, (ii) parental interference, (iii) the school / teacher’s approach to handling the incident, which made it look like they caved because of parental interference / influence, and possibly with the excuse of supporting the diversity cause (i.e. affirmative action for girls / women). But honestly, it looked a bit like ‘money talks’, ‘cronyism / nepotism’ etc. A bit harsh for Big Boy O to learn about the unfairness of life, so early. And after he did a surprisingly good, effective and efficient job at campaigning too! (Basically the only candidate who didn’t create supporting slides / materials I think, but ran on three main campaign promises which were popular and realistic.. something like: (i) improve school canteen food, (ii) get more iPads for the class, (iii) … [i’ll need to check this]…)

[note: drafted largely in December 2022, completed and published in January 2023]