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Original poster

How has 2023 been for you?

101 replies

baubletits · 15/12/2023 08:12

Reflecting on this year as I know it's been a shitter for many people with the cost of living etc.

2023 - jobs steady, first family holiday abroad, DD1 applied for secondary school, promised ai would lose weight and currently am heavier than I was this time last year, absolutely no idea where the year as gone as it feels like it's flown by without me noticing

2024 - DD1 will be starting secondary school (Welp!), new kitchen as ours is falling to bits around us, mortgage fix coming to an end in March so going on to the variable to see what is happening with the rates, no other exciting plans and no holidays for at least a good 6 years!

So just because I'm nosy, how has your 2023 been and what is 2024 looking like for you?

OP posts:

Boska23 · 15/12/2023 12:43

2023 was solid until literally the day after we came back from summer holidays. At that point, everything that could have gone wrong - went wrong. A close family member died, fallouts in the family, my dad divorcing and now being on his own, not being able to travel back to my home country and see my parents, shitstorm at work, rising damp in the house, beloved old dog getting cancer and having to have £££ surgery…

I feel as fragile as porcelain but have to keep strong for DH and DD. Desperately awaiting for Xmas holidays just so that I can break down and cry.

2024 does not look promising either.

piscofrisco · 15/12/2023 13:09

It's been a bit rubbish generally . After the two years prior to this,which were awful in anyone's book, I'll take it.
I've mainly been low level poorly this year-Covid at Easter followed by ear infection/chest infection/cold/cough on repeat.
Started a new job which is ok at best, but fine for now.
We moved back in to our house after a huge fire in summer 22, so that's been positive but was a lot of stress and work.
The high point was unexpectedly great gcse results for dd2.
Hopefully next year will be healthier and we can start having fun again instead of endless drudge and snot.

EmmaEmerald · 15/12/2023 13:20

Dreadful

Moved home, which was a very wrong choice, elderly mother problems.

So have to gird myself for worse because it doesn't get better with elderlies (nor for them, old age is dreadful).

Everything's been horrendous since lockdown. A day without tears is an a achievement at the moment with the awful loneliness of Christmas.

Pp mentioned time speeding up. That's the only positive.

EmmaEmerald · 15/12/2023 13:21

I am really sorry for everyone struggling. MN can be harsh but it's a blessing at times like this.

Tisfortired · 15/12/2023 13:29

The happiest year of my life. We got our miracle baby in December 22 after many years of trying and losses and our family is complete. To know that I never have to worry about my period coming, or losing another baby or the TWW ever again is more freeing than I can explain.

To have finally been able to make my eldest a big brother and see the way he loves the baby brings me so much joy.

I also quit my job whilst on mat leave, this was DPs idea, to be able to enjoy this baby we waited so long for and be here for all of the ‘firsts’ I missed with DS1 as I went back to work quite early on.

Ridingthegravytrain · 15/12/2023 13:30

There were some good bits but overall I feel it was shitty. Poor health. Lost old dog after prolonged neurological issue and dementia, not a great year marriage wise not sure what the future will bring.

Glad to see the back of it to be honest.

Newgirls · 15/12/2023 13:38

Sorry to hear so many have had a rough year

this year I think was golden in many ways for me - achieved a work goal, kids happy, went to some dream destinations

sadly next year looking less rosy with work issues, empty nest and bills outpacing our work. Need to downsize really which will be more upheaval. A club I enjoyed has come to an end.

but it’s the world politics that makes me feel most sad. Hard to push on and find joy when so many are suffering.

xogossipgirlxo · 15/12/2023 13:40

I had my first baby in July☺️ Got accepted into Midwifery from next year September. My husband got his first IT job. Everyone’s healthy, no tragedies in family. Good❤️

Bookist · 15/12/2023 13:40

It's been an excellent year. Both our DDs are happily settled at their universities so DH and I are now officially Empty Nesters. We've had a lot of relaxing weekends away this year. We've also made a lot of money recently investing in property so we're meeting with a couple of financial advisors soon to discuss the best way to fund DH retiring next year (as he's only 52). The renovation work on our house is finally finished so it's looking very smart and spruce for Christmas (it's been absolute chaos here since October).

Tomorrow we're heading up to The Lakes for a few days with our DDs to stay in a fairytale cottage with real fires. Absolutely cannot wait and really hoping for snow x

caringcarer · 15/12/2023 14:11

I've had a relatively good 2023. No one close to me died this year. I went on a proper 16 day holiday for the first time since before Covid. I finally paid off my mortgage 8 years early. I've gifted my youngest son a £55k deposit and now he's moved into his own house. My FS with SN's passed his BTEC level 2 in Sport and his GCSE Maths resit and got on to the BTEC Sport level 3 course. My eldest son is still very happy his lovely gf and I think next year he might propose from the chat we had last weekend. My DD is moving on well in her career and her DH got a promotion in August. Mil is over 82 and slowing down a bit but is in ok health still. I've got a lot to be grateful for.

Hows2023been · 15/12/2023 14:13

Awful really.

My dad got the all clear in January after having surgery for cancer the October before, which was the best news and we were hopeful that 2023 would be good. A week later we lost a much loved pet very suddenly and a week after that my stepmum was diagnosed with a brain tumour later confirmed to be glioblastoma. She is still with us and battling on but we know what’s coming.

My children struggle with anxiety, probably since lock down. The cost of living has hit hard. I’m working full time and studying with a view to going to University next September but realistically I’m not sure I’m going to be able to afford to.

WenttheDayWell · 15/12/2023 14:19

First time DS GF has come on holiday with us, was lovely, we paid for them both. So was a bit ouch but was fab.

My widowed sister remarried, that was lovely.
I stayed after the wedding in my home town for 3 weeks and stayed with my sister and my friend, that was fabulous but made me homesick and a bit tearful on the way home. DH had to get back for work.

DS GF graduated and we went along to her graduation lunch, was a great day.

DS career is going very well and I feel quite proud.

DH was made head of dept last year and is doing well

I have retired early and doing a little voluntary work that is close to my heart and have made some new friends at a hiking group I have joined.

My health issues, have stabilised, still have some very bad days but no worse.

On a very sad note my other sister missed the wedding as she is seriously ill, didn’t think she was going to make it at one point. She had a major heart op and is doing much better but is in serious amounts of distress some days at the situation overall as they are struggling to control her pain levels, she has some other circulatory issues.

2024please · 15/12/2023 14:35

Shit.

Mum in hospital/nursing home for 5.5 months until she died last month.

Cat also died this week.

Life is just a bit stressful at the moment; am hoping to get to Xmas in one piece...

AndStand · 15/12/2023 14:42

Horrific.
The months up to November were too stressful to describe, culminating in my husband's death 4 weeks ago.
The worst year of my entire 57 years.

Rickenbackergoodgrief · 15/12/2023 14:46

It's been wonderful as usual, no complaints.

PaulaPocket · 15/12/2023 14:52

Gave up smoking, went abroad for first time since Covid, entered opposite-sex civil partnership with DP of 30 years. All good.

GMsAWinner · 15/12/2023 15:01

Year low - I lost my very much loved Uncle. Year high, I won two tickets to an event we follow, worth over £600 and we had the best day ever. Life hasn't really changed for me, but I'm happy. DH retired. DD down in the summer, split with boyfriend, affected by marking boycott so no graded degree, no graduate job (although she did have her shop job). Changed in September, new job, met a lovely new man and received a high 2.1 degree (she had times when she doubted herself, so the fact it was strong, more than pleased.

cornflakesandtea · 15/12/2023 15:19

The first half of the year was good. We went to shows we'd been waiting for since before covid, went on our first holiday in years and years, and got married. We got a dog who is the love of my life! Thought everything was really looking up. Financially we should have been good by now because of bills going down or cancelled completely.

Since then everything has just seemed hard. We've found ourselves with unexpected massive bills so the finances have gotten worse, not better. We're having some problems with our house and a close family member moved away who I miss a lot! It's made me realise who we can and can't rely on. DH didn't get a job he really really wanted and would have made life that little bit easier so we're a bit gutted about that. He's miserable in his current job so it would have really brightened him up if he'd have got it. We're also having problems with DS at school leaving me anxious every time I get a call. I know none of it is terribly terrible but I just can't wait for the end of this year. Desperately hoping, but not convinced, that next year will be better for us.

We joked the other day about how the only good thing in the second half of the year was getting the dog on the 1st July, but then I googled it and it turns out the midpoint of the year is the 2nd July! So she still came in the first half!!

Teddybear120 · 15/12/2023 15:43

A mixed bag but ending better than it started hopefully. Work has been very stressful and a merger was very unsettling. Found out I am likely to have a premature menopause and not likely to conceive another child naturally. My family were wonderful and helped us a little so we could take the plunge and fund IVF. Not the best timing with our mortgage fix finishing soon but waiting would have really affected our chance of success. A couple of set backs with the treatment but I’m currently pregnant. Early days but I’m hopeful it will make it.
Nervous for 2024 hoping for a healthy pregnancy, my son starting school and now saving like mad to try ensure we can manage with the rate increase while Im on mat leave.

escapethemaze · 15/12/2023 15:51

i heard this today and really resonated

You are only as happy as your unhappiest child

and give. both mine are happy and healthy - that means i’m happy with 2023

piscofrisco · 15/12/2023 15:53

Sorry to all those grieving, unwell or struggling. I hope things get better for you all in whatever ways possible next year and all the years after that.

Doyouthinktheyknow · 15/12/2023 15:59

Bit crap but nothing major.

I dislike my job, something awful happened at work just before my first holiday abroad for years and the fallout from that is still stressing me. Started the year worrying about one child, finishing it worrying about the other.

I need to find a way to be more content. I think I spent so many years focusing on my dses I am struggling to find the right balance for me now the focus has changed.

I need to lose weight and haven’t lost a pound in the last year.

Have lots of travelling planned for 2024 but is that enough to balance my awful job? I really don’t know!

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 15/12/2023 16:04

It started off well - we paid off our mortgage in January.

But, my marriage is failing. I want to leave but I'm too scared to actually say the words.

manipulatrice · 15/12/2023 16:07

It's been horrendous. It's almost broken me.

Sorry to be a whiner.

fussychica · 15/12/2023 16:15

Well it's been one where I've used the NHS more than ever before including two trips to A&E. Fortunately all OK and my experiences of the NHS have been very positive, unlike many people. Long may that be the case, though I'm obviously hoping that I won't be troubling them in 2024!
Had lots of lovely holidays in 2023 but nothing booked yet for 2024, which is unlike us, so better get the thinking caps on as to where to go.

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