HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope you started the New Year off well. All the best for 2012.

Let’s continue with my 2011 review rather than trying to predict anything for 2012 and tell you that I want to loose more weight, eat healthier and spend more time with the family….

Half time – July saw our first family holiday to the New Forest. Whilst only for a week it was great to get out. I gave up on my “precious moments” posts. Google+ launched, I went to Germany, and did a whole lot of things in one month. Going through the archive, this has been a busy month with on average 1 blog post a day!

In August I gave up drinking. Also, I was bored and thought a lot about my life and directions. I love those months where you have time for doing that. The thought sticking in my mind is that some people just come into your life for a reason, for a limited time or forever. One other highlight of what we did was to join MyDaddyCooks at a show at London Bridge.

September kick started the season of shows. dmexco in Germany and ATS (Ad Trading Summit) in London showed that RTB (real time bidding) is the future of online marketing. A joy to be part of this development and I am grateful to be in the position I am in. The following months have seen publications and thoughts from myself about the industry, RTB and what is there to come. I feel confident and joyful in the field of RTB and see much growth – I am very excited for 2012….at the very latest. When RTB becomes the only measurement and booking technique for media, then things will clearly take off. Onwards and upwards.

October - autumn. We went to Germany. It was a great trip and I enjoyed driving as much as you could enjoy driving. However, it was our last trip with our car as it ended in us needing a new transmission. You can read the ongoing rants about KwikFit who turned out to be quite good in accommodating our costs, and the hiccups we had on the way. However, the car was not to be saved, and maybe should have never been driven to Germany in the first place. But as things happen, they happen. And we have been without a car ever since. I am sure we get a new one next year but I am not sure yet. I don’t miss a car, and I don’t think it is very important to us either. But it would be a lot more convenient. We shall see, I have my eyes on a few models like the Ford Galaxy, the Mercedes Benz R350 or the Chrysler Voyager. And, of course I could imagine getting another Volvo XC90. Why not. I loved that car.

November saw me being promoted to a new job at work. I took on the responsibility for three offices in total: Italy, Spain and the UK. I am really doing a dual role as Managing Director in the UK and VP International Sales. But I enjoy it and help is on its way for 2012. I enjoy the travel and getting away from the family, my day to day job and London for a day or two a week. Of course I don’t like the extra burden I put on my wife and leaving her with the kids. But in all honesty, it is usually one night I am away which doesn’t count for much less time away than being stuck in the office for 2 or 3 evenings a week. It surely made November pass very quickly.

Will 2012 be that bad? I hope not!

December. What should I say? We got fibre optic broadband, a new stereo and a new bed. All well planned for Christmas and in unison with our plans that we potentially have to move next year to get Colin into a better school in 2013. Another year came to an end. I managed to have a few 30 days challenges, lost 3 kg lately and made it under 100kg again. I still want to get into a routine of exercise if Rohan sleeps through the night. I still want to write my book “my life” at some point. My life moved into the clouds and Steve Jobs got me hooked on Apple from his grave – yes this year has changed me and admittedly Steve was a great influence.

We got curtains this year, we cleared the loft, we painted the fence, we lost our car, we had our 2nd son, we didn’t win the lottery but a few quid, and I re-potted the plants. Life was just normal. We got more toys, got rid of old ones and trying to stay on top of the boys, sorting out routines, doing a good job, being a good mum and dad, and we are trying to contribute our bit to society. We are living the dream

In January I wrote about 2011: “I want to do more sports. I know I have to incorporate exercise in my daily routine, lose weight, get fit, get rid of my back pain and get fit again. Not only for me but also for the kids.
I have to stop overeating, stop smoking cigars and stop drinking alcohol altogether. The hang over this morning was the worst this year, so I might as well stop for the next 12 months. I instead will meditate every night, practise Tai Chi, and be a good boy.
And most days, I will just live. Just eat, drink and sh* as normal.”

I guess that is it. 2012. Yes, the Olympics are in town. I will be travelling a lot more with work. We probably buy and move into a new house. God knows where I write my review for the coming year. And if I do. But I didn’t want to get morbid But seriously, does anyone know what life will bring for us? Let’s do the best in order to live as long as possible and necessary for our kids. And, let us enjoy Christmas parties like this year with the whole family getting together. Those are getting rarer. Let’s embrace the single moments. The here and now.

I look forward to this year.

And now, just imagine for a short moment, that we had lived on Mars. Not only would we have to wait over another 300 days before we could celebrate our next year, we also would have only been in the middle of this one. Weird ey?

Whatever comes, let us embrace life.

All the best to you and your family for 2012.
Volker & family