Winning and Losing 2008
So it’s 365 days since I could last say “It’s my birthday”.
Birthdays are often the time to take stock of ones lot. And I like to look back on my birthday on the pluses and minuses of the last twelve months – and compile a little life balance sheet just to see whether I’m still making progress or not. So here’s a quick catch up on everything since August of 2007.
1. Lost: My flat in England. I came off the property ladder, and went back to the world of renting. Whereas the majority of my peers are well on their way to paying off their mortgage and I feel like I have been left behind.
2. Gained: The most healthy bank balance I’ve ever had in my life! [See '1'] – and it’s even better when I convert the pounds to dollars. Beers on me today then.
3. Lost: A wife. No, no, I didn’t misplace her. Instead she said “I’m ending it”, I cried and literally begged her not to, but she wasn’t having it.
4. Gained: Transport. Thus making me truly American – I can now drive about Charleston. It’s not without its tribulations though.
5. Gained: Too many friends at this place. It feels wonderful.
6. Gained: Confidence. Again, due to [5]. The blog post that I could write to explain the intricacies of my experiences since ‘doing’ improv would go on for so long, that you would seriously get bored as I attempted to explain just how much this means to me right now – and even then it would probably only really be coherent to me. Suffice to say it’s been more fun than I could ever have possibly envisaged when I first started doing it. And I love it.
7. Lost: A steady job, because I quit it. Hang on - fuck that – that’s a gain because I am now finally in a position to further my career and move in a positive direction, rather than being held back by a bunch of numpties.
8. Gained: Travel experiences. And more planned – there’s a lot the US of A out there that I ain’t seen yet!
9. Gained: Blond hair! Ok, blond-ish. Yes – I coloured my hair this week again, would you like a picture? And better yet, there are no readily visible grey ones from a distance either. (Although if you get in close up to me, you might me able to see one or two strands…) Not bad for a thirty-six year old.
I can’t think of a tenth thing – I couldn’t last year either – Well nothing that seems that important anyway. But so far my 37th year alive is shaping up to be one of the best yet, and I am thoroughly looking forward to the next twelve months. And I couldn’t say that last year.
Happy Birthday to me.
Previous years: [ Winning and Losing 2007 ] [Winning and Losing 2006 ] [ Birthday Boy 2005 ] [ Idea stolen from here ]
After living in London for the first 33 years of my life and working for the 
So for ten weeks in June, July and August 2009, I drove 20,000 miles around the the lower 48 contiguous states of the USA visiting towns and places that shared the same name as places on The London
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you….happy birthday dearest Geoff, happy birthday to you. Hope you are having a wonderful day! Lots of love, The P’s
thank-you for adding the word “numpty” to my vocabulary.
oh, and happy birthday.
Happy Birthday.
I realised with this post that, despite having never met you – I’ve only posted a reply here once – I avidly check your blog to see what you have been up to. Notwithstanding the one loss that was a big shock, this year’s summary seems awfully positive and I hope your 37th proves to be as good as you hope.
Happy birthday!
Sorry about some of the losses (especially #3). Sometimes things just suck.
But I see more positives, net, than negatives. The travel and job things are big gains – truly wonderful stuff, I must say!
Happy birthday – and may year the thirty-seventh be most wonderful!
How sweet are those people at Facebook? They add a little ‘Happy Birthday’ message to your profile, look:
*cough* 366 days *cough*
Some years don’t just feel longer than others, they are longer than others. But what a year!
Happy birthday!
Happy Birthday! woo, hoo and indeed yay. partyus maximus.
ps – do you have an online album of anything picture-related anywhere?
[7] Bugger. it was indeed a leap year. Grrr….. thank you Mr. DG!
[8] If you joined Facebook kate you could see my piccies that way, sure …
Happy Birthday to you!!! Have you got something lovely planned before 11:59 pm when you open your presents.
Happy Birthday!
Looking forward to reading about more of your travel experiences. ~x~
HBD2U
HBD2U
HBDDG
HBD2U
works better as a text message!
Well, you finally met me. So that’s a gain
Happy Birthday, btw!
So, now you’re a “bottle blonde.” Are you being “carded” more – asked to prove your age?
Someone actually asked me once if I had dyed my hair white. Guess that’s a compliment to my more youthful deportment.
Happy B Day.
Happy birthday! Remember BotSD?
Happy birthday and the best of luck whatever you do.
happy b-day to you!!!
I got to see new “blonde Geoff” last night. He kept blathering on about U.S. Americans not having maps, and how we need to help people in The Iraq, and South Africa, and world peace. But the swimsuit portion of the competition was just too much, so I went home.
in case you’re wondering what Dan’s talking about ….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww
I actually got to meet her a few months later through work, and she was nice enough but actually not that hot in the flesh (IMHO)
Happiest of Birthday Wishes to You!
Happy Birthday Geoff!
Happy Birthday, Geoff.
Happy Birthday from a reader.
I did not post a birthday message to you cos I’m here! Yes in the flesh,flew over specially, and melting in the Carolina heat. We had a good one X
#24, Explanation, Geoff’s mum was using his computer.
Hey Yid were me Apple Pictures ! lol
Happy Birthday Geoff from yet another avid reader who’s never actually met you.
Late birthday greetings!
Hello Geoff – sounds like a tumultuous, but ultimately happy year for you. Happy Birthday. Am delighted to see that my “life balance sheet” concept has entered its third year on the GeoffTech blog. I might have to rekindle it for my own blog one of these days! Cheers, David.
Happy Belated Birthday!
Did I wish you a happy birthday at all, Geoff?
If not, please accept my apology and extremely belated greetings. Happy birthday!
I echo Anthony’s sentiments there. I’m really crap at actually wishing people happy birthday, despite a) the fact that I go on facebook most days and it tells me exactly whose birthdays are coming up, and b) the whole BOTSD thing and the fact that I easily remember your birthday. By the way, an old school friend of mine shares your birthday!
I still haven’t actually said it…. so a belated happy birthday!
And #3 sucks – sorry to hear that, but it looks like you’re really loving life out there and making the most of things. BTW, I’ve *still* got two signed Danny Wallace books here with your name on them (literally) [1]
[1] Well not quite literally, as your name is on one of the pages just *inside* of each book’s respective cover.
To echo Peter and Anthony, apologies for the late best wishes, lots of bad stuff been going on recently, happy (belated) birthday Geoff.
Thanks for a good time during my recent quick stay with you Geoff. Your birthday was brilliant for all of us, and yes I think you have gained so much confidence doing the Improv. I enjoy watching it, I have never laughed so much since Monty Python was on the T.V.( A lot ruder too). Enjoy your travels, do it while you can, cos life can only get tougher.
Happy belated birthday Geoff. I wish you all the happiness in the world. May you have a steller new year.