Down in the Underground

Every year since 2008, I've taken the opportunity to write about my annual reflections and future plans. The plans really come to fruition as they are more motivational than realistic, but if I get more than half of what I seek to achieve done, that's invariably a good year. Usually, I manage these reflections in the last week of December or the first week of January, but of course, when you're gazing over Antarctica, the sublime beauty of nature gives reason to delay. But now I have left that grandeur and the lively cities of Latin America to return to the relative calmness of Melbourne with my work and study.

The past year wasn't nearly as busy as the previous, but there was still a great deal of activity and progression. I paid off my apartment in Southbank, which hosted four major themed parties, continuing proof that my apartment can hold more than a score of people. I travelled to the Northern Territory, New Zealand, China (twice), Chile, Lima, Argentina, Antarctica, and especially the South Atlantic. From these journeys, I can mark visiting The Great Wall, The Forbidden City, the Nanjing Memorial, Machu Picchu, and, of course, Antarctica as major locations. And I must mention that my health continued a turn for the better with almost 35kg being shed between June 2024 and June 2025 as I have revived a long-dormant athleticism.

In academic life, I completed three units in my doctorate studies at Euclid University, each with A-grade results (I'm a swot), along with two online courses from the University of Edinburgh (music theory) and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Spanish), hosted a Murdoch University alumni event and, for what it's worth, was in the top 0.1% of users on Duolingo for the third year in succession, completing the Spanish language course. In other writings, there were eight articles for Rocknerd, six for Isocracy, and another 15 on other sites.

I gave two conference presentations in New Zealand, as well as brief presentations and panel participation in Australia and China, along with an extensive philosophy presentation on Daoism and Stoicism, which resulted in some permanent ink being etched into my skin. Unexpectedly, I also delivered a Christmas service. At work, I delivered 15 HPC training workshops, organising three researcher technical presentations, in addition to usual technical and managerial tasks. Plus, I've been running three non-profit incorporated associations. Through the ACFS, I hosted and organised at least four events, wrote a dozen articles, attended ten concerts, events, and received delegations. Perhaps one of the most important actions of the year, however, was fundraising for the Isla Bell Charitable Fund through the RPG Review Cooperative; over $15K, mostly through the sales of my personal collection.

Despite all this, there are a lot of things I didn't get done in 2025 that I initially planned to do. These remain on a "to-do" list and will make up the bulk of activity in the initial months of this year. I know I want to travel more, and I have already made plans for my next adventure. I certainly have to continue my current doctoral studies in climatology, economics, and international law, as it remains a great priority in my life. However, I will admit that beyond this, I have yet to build firm plans for the year. Perhaps over the next few weeks, this will coalesce into something more definite. However, as I expressed on the morning of the year, I do have a theme: Do what matters. Live deliberately. Act despite fears. Don't postpone. Memento mori.