So much of my life is outside of my control. Naturally family comes first and they need me to drop everything on a regular basis. So I got a bunch of stuff that I hope to do. I wouldn't go as far as saying goals. They're listed in order of importance. Stuff near the top more likely than stuff at the bottom.
74kg
I'm over 80 now and I want to loose a bit to get into a more healthy weight. I can be disciplined about what I eat, so with the one below, this should be ok.
Run 5k
I enjoyed the couch to 5k app that the BBC put together but stopped due to illness. I'm going to pick that up again. I hope to do some other types of exercise but this one seems achievable and a challenge.
I'm tempted to get a smart watch with fitness shit on it to help gather data.
Cycle-Camping break with Felix
Something he's always wanted to do. My bike won't fit paniers so there's some working out to do.
Reduce Outgoings
Just go through the monthly outgoings and do a phone round or compare the market stuff.
Sort out the Study
It's now my permanent office and it needs to feel like my room. It doesn't right now, so I need to fix that. I have ideas, that's for another post.
DIY
There are lots of little bits that are annoying that need doing. Shower mixer is clogged again, kitchen sink tap needs replacing, the extractor fan needs replacing.
Clomper
I want to get Clomper into a feature complete stage so I can then start polishing.
Definitely doing
- Steam integration
- Hats
- Game rules
- Accessibility (inc using new Unity input system)
Up for discussion
- Inventory
- Weather
Marketing
- Steam page and 200 wishlists
- YouTube from 1930 -> 3000 subs, 12 devlogs
- Discord 200+ users
- Twitter 200 followers (although don't care too much as I don't think this is the best place to find players)
Drones
- Go digital - this is what I'll be saving for
- Get the Hornet 120mm flying again
- Convert big stuff onto ELRS
- Build a 6s quad (if money permits)
- Be able to power loop an air gate
Digital Painting
Do 2 pieces a month.
Thassit! Let's see how much I get done. If any of it.
Comments
I'll be interested to see how you get on with bike-packing. It's very on-trend in cycling right now (insofar as anything could be considered trendy), hopefully that will give you plenty of options to load up your bike!
Thanks mate! I *think* I'm going to get a trailer and have a look at paniers for mine. Felix's will do paniers but I think the extra weight might make him quite unstable as the bike is large and he's still "small" - although growing at an alarming rate.
We're not going to be going far (Hurley? Wellington Park?) at first and I'm quite used to dragging 30kg of deadweight behind me in the shape of Naomi on the tagalong. I'll need to get some camping cooking stuff; which I'm actually looking forward to because I always enjoyed that side of camping and modern kit is really cool - unlike flipping hexi-block stove bullshit we had at cadets.
https://www.readinghalfmarathon.com/pages/green-park-challenge - 3Km challenge - Sunday 2nd April 2023
Would give you a target to run for - although don't know if having a kid running is a requirement
Well I fucking well missed all of that shit. Not surprising really, Naomi has sucked all the energy out of the household.
74kg
Up to 83kg, although I'm eating less carbs at lunchtime. I quite like tuna and salad, so I'll keep doing that.
Run 5K
Nope. I got crippling pain in my right calf that won't go away. I'm not doing anywhere near enough exercise. I want to. I like cycling and have a safe (if a little boring) route along cycle paths almost from my door. My bike runs well enough, although it's heavy and not a road bike. I'm often suited, booted, helmet on, but then there's a reason I can't go.
Cycle-Camping break with Felix
Nope. Don't have the cash for the new kit and staying away from home overnight is very very hard due to Naomi. Want to try again for 2024.
Reduce Outgoings
Nope. Increased due to cost of living but also because of Naomi we use take-aways more than we should. Some other expenses (Felix needs a new bedroom layout and bed) coming up I can't avoid.
Sort out the Study
Partly. I got a new desk so I can now push my legs forward. It's not fully sorted but at least I managed to get started.
DIY
Nope. Shower mixer still fucked. Kitchen tap still leaks. Extract fan never switches off. Add tumble drier won't heat to that.
Clomper
Some success here. I've refocussed and heading for a Steam Evolving Demo - a way of getting Wishlists and bug reports without it being the whole game.
Generally, very happy with how Clomper is going, especially how I've managed to keep going despite not really having any regular anything.
Drones
Digital Painting
Did 1. But that's OK because I'm doing lovely 3D graphics now, and that cheers me up!
Not feeling too great about how my life is going right now but largely because it's outside my control. Moving to polyamory is definitely a plus overall. Kate and I are closer and while I do sometimes feel desperately lonely, it's more a facet of Naomi's energy sink rather than anything else.
Now to think about 2024.
Regarding the cycle-camping in 2024, it might be worth checking out Reading Bike Kitchen
https://www.readingbicyclekitchen.org/
They helped me out in summer, when I was looking for a specific thread tap to fix a bottom bracket, and they have absolutely tonnes of stuff, not just bikes but racks etc. All thoroughly decent chaps, they can probably dig out some stuff to get your bike(s) more tourer ready.
That's a really good shout. I'd forgotten about the kitchen. I am half tempted to buy myself a road bike because the GT3 aggressor is insanely heavy compared to Felix's bike - which has a slightly larger frame and bigger wheels
I mean, I'd obviously recommend a road bike to anyone! Though actually, for yourself, I'd strongly recommend gravel/cyclocross (sopmetimes called adventure bikes). They have the same basic setup as a road bike (dropped bars, 700c wheels), but wider clearances for tyres (wider tyres = comfier ride), and will have rivnuts for mudguards/racks. My commuter is a gravel bike, and it's bullet-proof.
As a basic idea (and I rate Boardman bikes for value..looking at this one the main budget cut is the Tektro brake calipers, but you can always upgrade them later to something decent like TRP or Juin-Tech)
https://www.halfords.com/bikes/adventure-bikes/boardman-adv-8.6-mens-adv...
Carbon fork, 38mm clearance on tyres. The tyres it comes with are more for dirt than tarmac, but you can get some 35-38mm road tyres, and that would improve the efficiency no end.
(nerd alert...tyres are the single biggest impact to speed, and one guy has dedicated his life to documenting them)
https://www.bicyclerollingresistance.com/cx-gravel-reviews/schwalbe-g-on...
Looking at 26w/tyre on the defaults, which compares to 7.1w/tyre on my "posh" road bike.
That's an awesome bike but it's a bit outside what I can afford right now. I think a reconditioned one from RBK on Gumtree might be the best place to get a tourer. Doesn't need to be flash, just not weigh a fucking ton and have some rivnuts for racks.