Your Worst and Best Years

[Gathursty]

Best years

2008: - Just everything going well at college. Loads of friends, smashing my A-Levels, going to uni and my first brief but very personal relationship

2014: - Getting my 15 minutes of fame with the stations thing and getting my PGCE

Worst years

2012: Losing my grandad, feeling eternally single and thinking everyone else was moving forward in their life except for me.

2016: The blood-chilling moment when you are told by a consultant that your dad's chances of surviving cancer is 50-50. He's doing okay so far though (Thanks Christie Hospital Manchester)

 

[fowler9]

Thanks mate. Both of us are really excited, just over a month to go now.

Chuffed for you both mate. Amazing news. Hope to see you again soon.

 

[fowler9]

I'd say that my best and worst years would be 2015/2016 & 2011/2012 respectively:

Best

2015 was the year I first got into travelling properly, the first year I was really interested in trains, and the year where I started to gain a bit of confidence in myself, and this carried on into the beginning of 2016, where I'd started to talking to a girl I liked, and didn't want to come across very hasty, she had completely different intentions...cue one hell of a mess over my 16th birthday party, when she decided to well and truly try to break me, or at least cause me to lose that bit of confidence... I didn't, fortunately, and although she apologised for it, I'm still wary of trusting her. 2016 was also the year I took part in NCS; and led a team of teenagers (no mean feat!) in helping a local charity, involving me being paraded around Wolverhampton in a giant sunflower costume, and a funny incident having to get out of McDonald's dressed in it! Along with that, sleeping I Uni accommodation overlooking Wolverhampton North Junction, well, what more could I really ask for...
Add into all of that, that I passed my GCSEs, and made new friends through my A Level choices, and my prom, a night I won't forget for a long time... yeah, u think that sums up my personal bit about 2016!

Worst

2011 started off reasonably, I was finishing Primary, aged 11, and moving to my current school for Secondary education, resulting in nothing much interesting happening, minus a rather painful game of paintball...
October 2011 was truly the worst point in my life; the most depressed I've ever felt, as one day, I went back to my nans as I usually did then, after school; only to see my dad's car there, unusual, but could also be my nans TV was screwed again, so I didn't think anything of it. Only once my dad sat me down and explained everything to me did I realise the enormity of the situation, that my mom had passed away, after recovering from a blood clot, there was realistically nothing I could say, I just sat there, basically comatose, thinking about things, and it was enough to scare me away from doing what I was about to do afterwards, and I'm glad it did, I really am!

After that, 2012 couldn't be any worse, well, yes, and it was, or at least as bad, as in December, my nan passed away, but I was the last person to see her alive, and, although irrationally, I started blaming myself for not doing enough to help or stop it, only to be told be everyone to stop, as it wasn't my fault (brilliant advice there, but I came to accept it)

That may be a lot longer than I intended! I realise only been 16*, that I may not be the most experienced in life, but I always try to find the positives (not that there were many in either situation I guess)

Mate never write off your experiences because you were only 16. Those are some of the most formative years of your life. To come out of it with a positive attitude is amazing. Lots of people much older than you would just fall apart, probably me included.

 

[fowler9]

I'm the same age as Richard, so again I don't have much experience.

2016 has really been a mixed bag, on the positives I went on my first forum meet, and first forum challenge where I met fishquinn. I also started travelling by train more.

On the negatives, I didn't get good AS grades, as a result this academic year has been very busy and stressful.

Hey mate, was that the Merseyside Challenge you were on? I was on it to. I thought I remembered Yorkie introducing you. Don't write off you experiences because you are young. They are the ones that go the furthest towards making you who you are. Intelligent, resourceful, able to cope even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.

 

[fowler9]

Best years

2008: - Just everything going well at college. Loads of friends, smashing my A-Levels, going to uni and my first brief but very personal relationship

2014: - Getting my 15 minutes of fame with the stations thing and getting my PGCE

Worst years

2012: Losing my grandad, feeling eternally single and thinking everyone else was moving forward in their life except for me.

2016: The blood-chilling moment when you are told by a consultant that your dad's chances of surviving cancer is 50-50. He's doing okay so far though (Thanks Christie Hospital Manchester)

Hope your dad is OK mate.

 

[507021]

Hope your dad is OK mate.

Seconded. Best wishes to you and your Dad, Gathursty.

 

[backontrack]

2016: The blood-chilling moment when you are told by a consultant that your dad's chances of surviving cancer is 50-50. He's doing okay so far though (Thanks Christie Hospital Manchester)

I really hope that your dad is OK, Gathursty.

 

[backontrack]

2016 has been, to put it bluntly, nothing short of a disaster.

To name but a few things, the slow deterioration my family's financial situation (with no real improvements foreseeable on the near horizon), my grandfather's health on the decline (prostate cancer & memory loss, among other things), my struggle in finding a job since leaving college, not to mention my own personal health taking a turn for the worse as the year has dragged on (severe depression/anxiety both worsening (with suicidal thoughts/tendencies becoming prominent), O.C.D tendencies beginning to crop up, two sudden fainting fits, chronic bouts of gastritis (every 4-8 weeks), severe heartburn and a torn/twisted muscle in my left foot). It has been one thing after another this year...

To say that I've become a exhausted, cynical & burnt-out wreck would be an understatement, but hey, every cloud and all that.
I suppose passing my college photography course in August (which is when the results came in the post) is one positive aspect I can take away from this year, along with making new connections & friendships throughout the college year. They're about the only positive things I can take away from this year. Overall, I'll be glad to see the back of 2016.

Not that my hopes for 2017 are all that high, granted...

Strathclyder, that's awful. I hope that things with your granddad improve as well as your own condition, and that you enter 2017 in a better place, condition and state of mind.

I know that, after all you've been through it might not seem much, but I still feel it's important to say that you'll always have the support of all of us on RailUK.

You're still a person, you're still you. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can ever take that away from you. Remember that. You are unique. You...are...YOU.

 

[Strathclyder]

Strathclyder, that's awful. I hope that things with your granddad improve as well as your own condition, and that you enter 2017 in a better place, condition and state of mind.

I know that, after all you've been through it might not seem much, but I still feel it's important to say that you'll always have the support of all of us on RailUK.

You're still a person, you're still you. Nothing, and I mean nothing, can ever take that away from you. Remember that. You are unique. You...are...YOU.

Thank you so much, backontrack. That really means a lot to me. I sincerely hope so too, for the sake of my sanity if nothing else.

This year has really taken it's toll on me on both a physical and mental level, but what has kept me going more than anything else has been talking to friends, family and even folk online. Without that outlet, I would have succumbed to my demons by now. Thanks again and if you ever need someone to lean on, please don't hesitate to PM me.

 

[Springs Branch]

The Best and Worst Years in my life have tended to fall within the same year.

In the 1970s, at age eighteen, I passed my driving test first attempt, had my first proper girlfriend and was awarded a university scholarship which has been the foundation of a long career ever since. But in that same year my father, grandfather and favourite uncle all died unexpectedly within a short time of each other (with different causes) which devastated our family.

In 2000, I married my wife (we're still happily together), was appointed to a senior position at a prestigious scientific organisation in the USA and relocated to San Diego, California - one of the world's most pleasant places to live in my opinion. Later that year I succumbed to a debilitating illness which eventually meant I had to resign my position and has dogged me on and off ever since.


I'm naturally a bit of a pessimist, so tend to think whenever life is moving along quite well for me, I must be up for a big fall soon.

 

[backontrack]

Thank you so much, backontrack. That really means a lot to me. I sincerely hope so too, for the sake of my sanity if nothing else.

This year has really taken it's toll on me on both a physical and mental level, but what has kept me going more than anything else has been talking to friends, family and even folk online. Without that outlet, I would have succumbed to my demons by now. Thanks again and if you ever need someone to lean on, please don't hesitate to PM me.

That's really kind of you, thanks!

 

[Gathursty]

Thanks for your wishes.

 

[507021]

Chuffed for you both mate. Amazing news. Hope to see you again soon.

Thanks mate. Yeah definitely, we'll have to arrange something in the New Year.

 

[djpontrack]

2016 has been a good year for me and a bad one. Good because in Jan my daughter gave birth to a lovely baby boy and bad because in Oct my father passed away.

 

[507021]

2016 has been a good year for me and a bad one. Good because in Jan my daughter gave birth to a lovely baby boy and bad because in Oct my father passed away.

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad mate, but congratulations on the birth of your grandson.

 

[djpontrack]

I'm sorry to hear about your Dad mate, but congratulations on the birth of your grandson.

Thanks for that. I was close to my dad but my daughter and grandson have kept me going over the last few months. It does'nt matter how old you are it's a difficult time when you lose a parent.

 

[fowler9]

Thanks for that. I was close to my dad but my daughter and grandson have kept me going over the last few months. It does'nt matter how old you are it's a difficult time when you lose a parent.

Much love to you mate. Loosing a parent is hard. I lost my mum nearly 11 years ago now. In my experience the feeling of loss never goes away, you do get better at dealing with it though. Even if you are not a big fan of Christmas like me it can still be a difficult time, my dad very helpfully told me that there is no right way to feel. My dad is not great at emotional stuff but that helped a lot.

 

[djpontrack]

Much love to you mate. Loosing a parent is hard. I lost my mum nearly 11 years ago now. In my experience the feeling of loss never goes away, you do get better at dealing with it though. Even if you are not a big fan of Christmas like me it can still be a difficult time, my dad very helpfully told me that there is no right way to feel. My dad is not great at emotional stuff but that helped a lot.

Thanks for your kind words mate. I'm not a big fan of Christmas either but I've just gone along with it all to keep others happy. Hope your day has gone well.

 

[najaB]

What's been your year of personal favourite, or year you don't particularly care about, and why?

2017 isn't starting too good. First day back in the office, got told I've been dismissed.

 

[AlterEgo]

2017 isn't starting too good. First day back in the office, got told I've been dismissed.

Oh s**t. Sorry to hear that. Hope you get back on your feet again soon.

 

[507021]

2017 isn't starting too good. First day back in the office, got told I've been dismissed.

I'm really sorry to hear that, I hope you find a new job sooner rather than later.

 

[Cowley]

2017 isn't starting too good. First day back in the office, got told I've been dismissed.

Sorry to hear that NajaB. Not good at all

 

[J-2739]

2017 isn't starting too good. First day back in the office, got told I've been dismissed.

Geez, really sorry. Hope something better comes out of this.

 

[AndrewR232]

2017 isn't starting too good. First day back in the office, got told I've been dismissed.

Really sorry to hear that. :cry:

 

[najaB]

Thanks all. I knew it was a possibility (it's the result of a poor decision making in stressful circumstances which resulted in a financial loss to the company) but it's just starting to sink in.

 

[Busaholic]

Thanks all. I knew it was a possibility (it's the result of a poor decision making in stressful circumstances which resulted in a financial loss to the company) but it's just starting to sink in.

We all make mistakes: it's just a shame that you've had to pay a big price. Hope you find another job soon.

 

[najaB]

We all make mistakes: it's just a shame that you've had to pay a big price. Hope you find another job soon.

I'll appeal the decision - nothing to lose for it. If it's not successful then nothing to do but have a cry, shake it off and look for a new job.

 

[Lankyline]

Start with the bad, 2015 lost the love of my life in the July very suddenly, still miss her every day.
2016, Ended up being homeless for 4 months, basically lived in my car ! Got back on my feet, with the help of some good friends, then my mum passed away in Dec (we weren't close) so 2017 can't be any worse !

Best years 2004 - 2015 the time I spent together with my darling Karen despite everything, including losing my dad, her mum & dad, it was still the best 11 years of my life !

 

[507021]

Start with the bad, 2015 lost the love of my life in the July very suddenly, still miss her every day.
2016, Ended up being homeless for 4 months, basically lived in my car ! Got back on my feet, with the help of some good friends, then my mum passed away in Dec (we weren't close) so 2017 can't be any worse !

Best years 2004 - 2015 the time I spent together with my darling Karen despite everything, including losing my dad, her mum & dad, it was still the best 11 years of my life !

I'm really sorry to hear that.

 

[Lankyline]

I'm really sorry to hear that.

Thank you, main thing is you either try and deal with the situation or just give up, thankfully with some help from friends, I'm dealing with it, not just because it's in my nature to do so, but because I know it's what Karen would want me to do.