The Year that was 2024

I thought the world had recovered from multiple hits in 2020; oh man, how wrong was I? 2024 was probably the most challenging year after 2020, especially towards the end. We, as humanity, will take time to figure it out.

Personally, it's been a decent year. I restarted motorcycling, and we traveled a bit and spent time with friends and family; work has been very decent. So not bad at all.

• We continue to live in two cities. This year, we did three trips to Thrissur. It's been okay until now. We will have to see how we do it as Uma grows up and Echo gets older.
• I restarted motorcycling and did two beautiful ( Gokarna and Valparai) rides with friends. I would like to do more next year. I also restored my Yamaha but have yet to take it out. I want to. Soon 🤞.
• We got our first EV. It's a license and registration-free 2Wl Amphere EV – Reo Li Plus for Appa. He likes it. I will review again once he completes 1000 km.
• I wrote 100+ blog posts in total this year. Completed another year of Weekly Notes. I continue to enjoy reading them as well. I added a bunch of people to my blog ring. I have been writing these yearly reports since 2007. That's seventeen years.
• I continue to map surveillance in Bangalore and update IDVC prices. I want to restart the postbox project. Hopefully, I get to work on it in 2025.
• I missed a couple of big conferences, which I am fond of. But I was able to meet folks in meetups, map walks, and smaller conferences, which are more people-focused. I loved them. I need to find smaller, niche gatherings.
• Appa and I got to do a very memorable Cambodian trip. Rema Aunty also joined us, which made it fun. Early this year, we went to Bali to celebrate Uma's first birthday. We plan to do similar trips this year.
• 2024 was the seventh year of NMG. I could announce results faster than in previous years, which I am happy about.
• I spend a lot of time contributing to Peppo, which is THE gig. However, I continue contributing to DataMeet, BuzzWomen, and the IITM BS program. I could not contribute much to FOSS this year, but I am currently working on an interesting ( not released yet, so not FOSS yet) project. Hopefully, I get to release and write about that in 2025.
• I am enjoying being a parent to Uma. I am getting to learn a lot as a parent. Some of my worldviews have become stronger than before. I will write about them later. Everyone is growing up faster; Pathu is running on five, and Echo is ten or eleven. 2024 was also our (Anju+Thej) 11th anniversary year; time flies. I always think we are a small family, but we are a family of five (not counting while we are with our parents), which is big in the current world; I realize it when traveling :)
• I also got to spend a lot of time with friends this year. I could meet them for movies, dinner, or just coffee. I feel fortunate that time and place allowed us to do this.

Be Nice as always. Wishing you a fantastic 2025!