With a 35 degree day I grabbed a Pendleton light wool Board shirt I picked up on sale in the spring of this year. Had to cut the tags. Layered it over a CT linen blue shirt and an orange tartan tie I picked up in Italy over 25 years ago. Picked up the weathered navy in the shirt with some deep navy RL cords. Donned a new for Christmas pair of Pendleton socks and to fit the 80 plus year old shirt design grabbed my 1940s Ernest Burrell watch, 1982 Cole Haan Waxhides, a wool raglan shoulder car coat and my Dobbs wool fedora. Now if I can just get those geese outta my yard.

You ever notice that the finish line almost always is the same spot as the Starting line??? While 2025 is nearing a close, that finish line is immediately greeted but the Starting line of 2026! While most think of the end of the year as something to be sad about, I look at it as a time to reflect on my goals and how I met them. I never worry about getting older because another year went by. I worry more about not being able to see another year. All of my wrinkles, aches and pains have come from a life that has been lived. and a LOT of lessons learned along the way and a desire to keep living and learning. I have always lived my life to make sure that if today is my last on earth, I didn't waste a single minute. and everyone in my life knows how I feel about them. It would make me sad to think that I didn't do my very best everyday! So as 2025 is coming tomorrow and end. I am grateful for all of it. The good, the bad and the lessons learned. I look at 2026 full of wonder and amazement like a little kid looking at all the gifts under the tree. The opportunity that is front of me (and ALL OF US) is truly wondrous and exciting! I cherish all of you in these communities and want nothing but the best for you all! Finish 2025 like you started it. Full of energy and excitement. and Start 2026 even more energized for the future!! Today's outfit puts me in exactly that frame of mind!! Happy New Year!!

Well just like that another year has gone like the darkness at dawn, as I reflect on the year that was with immense contemplation, I come to the realisation that this was a year that had many storms, with some taking the form of thunder and lightning and others taking the form of adversity and despair, the latter of which were strong enough to make the likes of Zeus and Poseidon watch on with profound apperhension, as unlike a regular storm the type and amount of destruction and devastation left by them is something that no god, angel or demon ever wishes to see, no matter how good or evil they may be. For me though, this year was another year of adversity that tested my strengths and exploited my weaknesses in a way that was deeply humbling. However despite that I was able to use the lessons taught to me as well as entrench myself in my newfound faith to become stronger as a result. The highlight of this year was undoubtedly moving back to our newly renovated house 9 months to the day when it was ravaged by raging orange flames and thick black smoke. However there were some other great highlights too throughout this year, and whilst it wasn't the best year I've had, it was a far more pleasant year than the year that came before it. I want to take the time to thank everyone who's, helped me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, your virtue and valour is truly admirable and dare I say enviable to some extent. To welcome in the song and story that will be 2026, I would like to recite a proverb that's vitally tied to my faith of choice that has brought me substantial comfort throughout the duration of this year "For every dusk that carries despair is always followed by a dawn that carries hope." I hope to still be apart of this community, but regardless of whether I stay or ride off into the sunset, I say to one and all Happy New Year! - Banjo