OK, New things :-

1. Became a member of the Third Order of the S.R.I.A.
2. Was asked to professionally edit an authors books.
3. Got a none-active Provincial promotion.
4. Organised a Provincial AGM.
5. Decided to step back from Craft & Royal Arch Masonry in North Wales.

I just went back to last years “The Year That Was” post to double check, and it seems I did not pick either a challenge or resolutions for 2025.

I did continue 2024’s challenge and continued updating my website and I published the second NWAMS book.

For 2026, I would like to get another of my website projects completed, and a few more things published. 

My overall plans for 2026 are to get healthier and be a lot more productive.

My youngest nephew had his first child this year.

Alas my good friends father passed to the Grand Lodge above. Mr Maguire was an excellent person and will be missed by many.

A cousin of mine died this year, the poor bloke was found dead after neighbours had realised no one had seen him in a while.

Also a very old Internet Friend/Spod passed away way to young. Laz was the first “Internet Friend” I went away to go visit, and those adventures led to the RLF, and many great times.

The normal, mainland UK ones.

I did pop over to Anglesey, which I count as its own country. 

I would like to have hope and a plan! And for the rot in Freemasonry to start to heal.

Oh, and an end of this Labour government!

• May 16th – Being advanced to the 3rd Order of the SRIA.
• May – When Freemasonry died in North Wales.
• December – Organising a Provincial Convocation

Being advanced into the Third order of the SRIA. It was a great honour, the Province of Western Counties and North Wales only had one person they could put forward in 2025 for advancement. I was greatly honoured to be that person.

Letting the corruption and general decline in Masonry affect me as much as it did.

Nothing!

I managed to survive the whole year with nothing worse than a cold.

I did get a small papercut at one point, but that does not really count as it was nowhere bad.

• Me, Myself & I.  Because I am just so Awesome.

Our current government.

And the people who stabbed me in the back this year after the new Provincial Grand Master for North Wales was selected. 

Books, More Books, Possibly a few more Books.

I may have a problem, at least I can admit it.

It has to be going to the High Council meeting to get my Grade 8 and being advanced into the third order of the SRIA.

There is only one possible answer to this question.

• a) happier or sadder? Sadder
• b) thinner or fatter? fatter
• c) richer or poorer? Richer

• Writing.
• Following my Dreams.
• Conquering the World.

• Eating 🙂 
  • I could do with losing some weight.
• Procrastinating.
  • I really need to be much more productive with my projects.
• Getting annoyed.
  • I need to try and stop getting so angry about the destruction of an institution that meant so much to me. 

Eating too much, drinking too much, and doing a TV marathon I normally pick a film series to binge over Christmas, like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Marvel, etc.

This year, I am thinking of doing the Lord of the Rings.

I also plan to play a load of video games.

May: Being admitted into the Third Order of the SRIA was a very special and awesome event, even more so than getting my 30th is Rose Croix..

Only more in love with the legendary Ashley Johnson!

I do not believe in one-night stands. How can you tell if you realy like something unless you try it at least a couple of times?

Way too many to mention, As well as all the excellent ongoing TV shows, There was the new finds of :- 

• Shifting Gears.
• 2 Broke Girls.
• Alien Earth.
• The Mighty Nein.

The last few years I have answered along the lines of “You know what? NO! I do not believe I hate anyone this year that I did not hate previously. Maybe I am growing as a person, becoming more enlightened? Or is everyone already on THE LIST”.

Well this year thanks to several knives sticking out of my back, there are actually some new names on the LIST!

This is always a very hard question. According to Goodreads I have read about 100 books this year. Trying to pick the best of that lot is not going to be easy.

But if you are going to hold a gun to my head and force me to answer, I will say “Look! a Squirrel!!” and drop a smoke bomb and vanish like a ninja. there were just too many good books this year to pick a favourite.

Ok. I admit it, I may have a book problem.

2025 has been a year without music, not on purpose it has just been one of those years where I’ve not really listened to any music. 

In fact., sitting here trying to think of any new musical discoveries, I realise most the music I have heard this year are songs by Scanlan Shorthalt.

This has been a very odd year. I do not think there was anything I really wanted to have, that I actually got.

Don’t get me wrong, there was many things I got this year that were fantastic, but they were unexpected, or out of the blue. There was nothing that I really wanted, and just got.

Freemasonry in North Wales not to go down the route of corruption, and toadyism . There is a rot, that started when the Maesgwyn was forced out of the Masons hands and damaged local Masonry, and it is now spreading across the Province. And all from the same source.

• Companion.
• The Family Plan.

I am still not having birthdays.

I have decided to stop having them so that I can live forever.

It is SCIENCE!!!!

Less corruption in Freemasonry. It is ruining a institution that had stood the test of ages, but is now looking very tarnished.

Oh, and warmth! It has been a very wet and cold year here in Wales. I have forgotten what warmth and sun is like.

My personal fashion does not change much, especially since the days of Covid when we moved to work from home. This means during the workday I am at home and can dress for comfort since I am not out in public.

Therefore as in previous years, I have mostly been wearing Cargo Pants (I like the extra pockets) and Jumpers (Thick jumpers due to the lack of warmth in Wales).

Oh and suits, because suits are awesome…… True story

Sane? Sane? “You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means”.

I think the Sunday Night Beer Chat has done a lot to keep me sane, and save lives!

I recently started watching the TV show “Shifting Gears”, and since I am enjoying the comedy of Kat Dennings, I figured I needed to watch “2 Broke Girls”.

I ended up binge watching the whole series. And since I have always had a weak spot for tough, sarcastic ladies, how could I not end up fancying Max Black!

The state of the UK.

We have a party in power that had a very low percentage of the UK vote for them, and they are opening the borders to mass illegal immigration. They are upping taxes, banning free refills, business are closing down down, They are looking to make our roads thinner to prevent cars overtaking cyclists. All this while every one of the main people are constantly apologising for breaking the law. Dangerous criminals are being let out of prison (sometimes they just walk out) to make room for all the people being jailed for posting things online that the Party does not approve of.

Not to mention blocking the internet to everything unless you hand your personal details (passport, bank details, etc) to foreign countries to prove you are over 13 (UK passport details have already been leaked online). They are bringing in mandatory Digital ID cards. You can get visits from the thought police in the middle of the night to talk about mean tweets or comments you make online.

Every weekend there are protests and riots from one group or another, I believe the UK is being led into a civil war. If not we will head into a party led dictatorship worse than North Korea.

No one.

“ high functioning Sociopath” Remember?

I do not think I met any new person who exceptionally stood out.

The question is… Does that say a lot about me as a person, or people in general?

Corruption is everywhere.

Also, if you are not willing to arse-lick and worship at the heel of those who think they are superior, then you are on your own and need to watch your back. 

You’ve got to know when to hold ’em
Know when to fold ’em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sitting at the table
There’ll be time enough for counting
When the dealing’s done