I'm pretty much writing 2011 off as a loss

[rmad]

Nov 15, 2011 11:42:49 GMT Dave Dorson said:

Like the sticker on RMad's cressida used to say.. why grow up?

What an apt place to be saying that.

I've had an interesting year, nowhere near as bad as some people on here but I'm going into 2012 with a new attitude and I'm closing the door on some of the things that caused the problems that have haunted me for years (all occupational, rather than personal - although the crossover between the two is one of the issues!). Next year is going to be a bit of a struggle, but it'll be me that's in control.

Back to the 'Why Grow Up?' bit. I've just started the old RMad Designs stuff up again, initially experimenting with some old stock that was lurking around but I'm hoping to have some new stuff to sell in my ebay shop and at the RR January Jumble in, er, January.

[GavinJ]

My 2011 has been pretty rubbish, fell just 2ft and destroyed my knee, spent 6 months on crutches (unable to work or drive) had knee reconstruction op and still walking like an old man at the age of 27!

But driving now and able to tinker on cars again :-) mgb v8 sebring WILL be finished for next summer!!!

[mudbitz123]

however bad or good 2011 is and was its waking up thinking more mods to do more searching of parts more collecting or selling parts more meeting rr people etc so thats where i lose myself as a cushion against fuel costs job losses x factor and a hundred other things that would depress me
glass as to be 80 percent full to survive
thats my personal formula not everyones cos life is full of surprises for us all
in it to win it is my motto

[akku]

Nov 16, 2011 1:38:53 GMT Rich606 said:

Akku your attitude does you real credit. If I were in your situation I'm fairly certain I'd spend most of my time curled up into a ball crying.

I try not to wash my laundry in public you know, so its just the edited highlights here and on Facebook. I nearly made the job centre guy cry! Seriously, I had to give him my full unedited tale of woe for the forms and he was cracking, said "I don't know how you keep going" and he must see some right wibblepoo in his job.

Possibly the unusual bit is someone this far into the system and genuinely looking for work? Meh.

I got some stuff coming up for the future I have to keep under my hat but will be E-P-I-C when its out. You'll just have to wait...

Anyway, I have job applications to complete and the Cadillac is going into my garage this afternoon so I can finish the paint on that come Friday when the weather is predicted to be warmer

I've heard that one of the classic meets over Derby way has a winter indoor programme where basically they are hiring a room and having speakers on various topics. I'll get details and post 'em, but maybe a Retro/Rod/Custom type version of the same thing would be ace for mojo... Who fancies that?

[bmw156]

I don't want to buck the trend, but i must say i have had a good year.
Being promoted in my job, taking on new roles and more money, surviving two redundancies is also good!
At the start of the year i had no intention of moving out of the parents house, as house prices are mental and i wont rent. We discovered the Shared ownership scheme and are now in the process of getting a mortage and almost moving in which is great.

Started saving some more for the house also as i have never had any savings in my life.

So lets hope 2012 carries on.

[akku]

glad someone is bucking the trend!

[WillCarter]

You know what I think Akku all about 2012!!

[penski]

The last few years have been filled with the highest highs and the lowest lows that I can remember.

I've enjoyed the freedom of the end of a constrictive, unfulfilling yet 'comfortable' relationship, I've made friends that I hope to keep for many years to come, I've seen so much that I've missed out on previously...

But I've been to the funerals of friends, family and a partner, and I've suffered ill health and injury.

Right now I'm at the gym for an hour each day. I'm getting stronger and back in shape. I finish my current job on Dec 23rd and start a new one Jan 9th... More money, more free time, more prospects.

I wholeheartedly wish you all the best, akku

No matter how low you are, you can climb back out of it. You'll do it.

*n

[Lopez]

Alright penski?

I've had a weird 2011. Work has been good, but next year it will be bad. No big losses and all good at home.

On the car front it's been a bit of everything. The Manta suddenly blossomed into a complete rotbox over what seemed to be a period of days, and the more I cut out the more I find, so it's needed to come off the road.
The 205 project has gone in the bin.
I've bought another (running and on the road) 205 GTI to replace the Manta as the daily.

So Mojo is on tickover, it's neither high nor low....

[damien4884]

My resto place went tits up 18 months ago, mrs was pregnant got a job at a garage and took previous customers with me, once I had shelled out all the money I had in the world (3.5k) on getting there motors out of the lock up so they at least had them back or I could work on them at new place, they caused a lot of aggro in both areas f my life and I lost my job (nearly my wife more than once), got evicted due to paying to get customers cars out rather than the rent, filed for a debt relief order, moved in with the parents in law.

Got the standard to give me something to do, not much has been done but its looking good for the future.

Took over a year and 160 applications to get a job, moved away from cars as I lost all mojo due to the previous aggro. Been in my new job 4 weeks (asda delivery driver) tomorrow is baby girls 1st birthday and I get my first payday, whole family is in good health and the mrs is still with me so it can be that bad or she loves me more than I know.

Head gasket went on the bimmer and getting it fixed has now become a priority for me and i'm enjoying tinkering almost as much as I did before, standard will be moving over to a garage for the winter whilst I sort out some parts then roll it out and crack on when the weather is better.

Feels like my life is getting back to normal, just need to keep working towards getting our own space, as great as it is being here sometimes we just need somewhere to call our own.

Roll on 2012.

[Violet Vivid]

Nov 15, 2011 10:05:17 GMT akku said:

But so many people off this forum properly reign like kings (and queen, don't forget Vee) and I wanted to say thanks to you all for that.

*Blush!*

many have said, but things will improve, always do for good people

for me 2010 was a Bad year, 2011 has been improving (anybody unfortunate enough to have me on facebook will be able to tell why ) but also car wise things are improving, have my Imp, Ary, and Zebby is currently having engine swap

onwards & upwards

xXx

[RobinJI]

I've had a mixed year, but generally good, still looking forward to 2012 though! Starting uni was a high point, and continues to be pretty good (although the work's piling up now!). Moving to Oxford (for uni) has been nice, as rural Somerset does get you down after a decade or so, but I do miss the coast. Love-life wise I've wasted a lot of time chasing a girl I shouldn't have bothered with, but ah well, we had some nice times, and I know where I stand now, so it's not really much of a loss. I've also re-discovered push bikes since being in oxford, which is a definite good point, lost a decent amount of weight and feeling better for it (not that I was ever really fat, but I'm used to being a skinny healthy/athletic curse word, and I'd let it slip over 2010!). All in all, it sounds like I've been luckier than some of you guys, it sounds like it's been a hard year for some of you, I really hope things improve for you all! (even if your years been awesome, but especially if it's been a bastered!)

Car wise, I've changed car 3 times (only once intentionally/planned ), and got absolutely nothing done on the mini. The Scirocco blowing up 4 weeks after doing the engine conversion was a real downer, but I think it's worked out ok in the end, I've now got the Passat which will remain in it's 'practical daily' position indefinitely, which is nice as I've been missing having an estate for a while, and it's retro enough to have potential when I've got the cash to realise it. I've continued to learn about cars from education, this place and my social life, which is cool and has allowed me to improve the designs for the mini even more.

2012 will hopefully see me finish education, and with any luck I'll start full time work in a 'proper' job. As such my plans at the moment are something along the line of:

This:



Becoming something along the lines of this (but still blue):





Also This:



Becoming more like this (but still white):





And most importantly this:



NEEDS to become this (although it'll run into 2013):

[Davenger]

Nov 16, 2011 17:18:42 GMT WillCarter said:

You know what I think Akku all about 2012!!

Gets my vote.
Won't go into details, but I've not had the best year.
Looking forward to getting off these sodding anti depressants and getting back to the workshop once my back is sorted out.

Keep on truckin' Akku

[Mark]

Akku, I've never met you but it seems like stuff is on the up and up for you. The Caddy is going to look fantastic too. I don't know how old you are, but if you're struggling for work, have you thought about selling up and emigrating (even as a temporary solution). If you want any ideas/opinions, feel free to PM me as we took the plunge last year.

That said, 2011 was a weird year for me. I started continuing my travelling within Australia, including driving all around Tasmania and it was epic. Then we started doing a bit of regional work to extend our visa and from that managed to land what appeared to be a dream job with a fantastic pay cheque. We didn't envisage that living in isolation would be so tough so we've decided to move back to civilisation. So this year, I learnt that there is more to life than money. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that life's a piece of cake when you're broke but I let it sway my decision and it was wrong. Anyway, pending visa extension, I'm hoping that 2012 is going to be full of awesomeness and possibly a new career path. I also want to buy something that I enjoy driving.

[Joe T]

This thread is very moving - almost to tears! To those people that have had a hard year my heart goes out to you! There seems to be a lot of them in this thread unfortunately!

Anyway, on to next year which I hope will be a fantastic year for all of you! ;D

Akku, keep your spirits up mate! With your attitude you certainly don't deserve some of the curse word you're going through. Here's to 2012! ;D

[nofrills]

Al, i dof my cap sir, i think i would of crippled at what you have gone (and still going) through, i haven't had the best of years but its getting better (2009 was a very bad year where i was on the verges of losing my house) but it has been slowly getting better, i have been redundant once in this time and luckily for me was head hunted and got more money and less working hours. still have no savings (my 3 children and my wife who has not worked for 6 years see to that!) but slowly getting better hoping next year is gonna be a turning point for us (and you!) and slowly get straight again...

AlistairK i salute you!

[Davenger]

The best thing about this year, on a more positive note, was the gathering.
Which, fortunately for me, happened not long after everything went tits up for me and did a really good job of taking my mind off it and cheering me up.

[geschmack]

Its nice to hear about people picking themselves up after the worst and not just "making the best of it" but really going for it.

When I read stuff like this it makes we want to leap off the sofa and do all the things I should have done yesterday, usually get 1/10th of it done but its still motivating!

give 'em hell boys

[akku]

Cheers for the comments and keep the pics coming!

[rwdrules]

Hmm,
WASNT going to post in this thread, but realise there are people worse off than me!!
our 2011 has been awful, so long story short, we sank our life savings into a place in spain, because of the other halfs health
(she has severe heart disease) and has been over the last 3 years much better, however this year unbeknown to us because of a loophole on the contract, The russian mafia(yes really) bought the land from under us, cut off the water and electric and locked the gates, so we have to carry shopping and water half a mile, from the gate to the house, ive wired up a small pump to supply water to the shower and kitchen, have a small petrol genny running for six hours a day but still costs us around a hundred quid over 2.5weeks to fuel it, living like this is soul destroying,but we cant afford to just leave it, have been to solicitor and they reckon it will take 4 years to come to a court case, so as said 2011 is not to good for us!!
luckily i can still work up the workshop so am earning a little, but of course with xmas on the horizon and the recession here, work is drying up!! never mind we just keep gooing as per akku,s original post
keep your chins up guys!!