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Happy New Year!!! I’m not going to ‘hope’ you have a wonderful 2024… I would like you to have a wonderful year with lots of special moments.

I say that because I’ve just finished reading the book, ‘Power of Moments’. Really good book… explains about moments that occur and breaks down a moment to understand why it’s a moment and why moments are important & memorable.

So plan big for 2024

Plan lots of moments.

Lots of fun in whatever you decide to do.

I’m going to be sharing a lot more on my blog this year… 2023 was busy for a variety of reasons but I’m more committed in 2024… will be sharing more about technology in everyday life. But also, what is happening in the world and how we can better people (off course, with a tech twist).

With that, make some big plans and go for it…

Well, a fair few folk have been asking me, Bal – what’s the best present to get loved ones this Christmas?

Well there’s so much to choose from these days! Honestly, there were lots I recommended last year which would be still valid for this year – but nevertheless, since you’ve asked, I will share my Top Five Christmas Gift Ideas for 2023/

First up for the body..

We’re sitting down alot these days – and with that, our backs are not what they used to be. We’re not stretching and whilst most of us are members of the local gym, how much do you actually use it and how many of you actually stretch?

With this back massager – it sits on your chair and helps soothe those back muscles. Now you can get some that add heat – which is a good idea during this time of the year!

Next up, for the mind… (well, more the brain)

Our brains need exercising! And whilst we can look after our bodies, what about our minds? well, there’s alot of mind exercises and meditation you can do… however, remember the brain training on the old Nintendo Wii?! Well, there was a reason why it was so popular! It was because we need to exercise our brains! Otherwise… you know what happens when you don’t exercise!

You can download them onto your phone or tablet, and/or even better still – there’s a fair few on youtube (you will have to pause whilst you work answers out). You might be thinking.. Bal, how’s a link on youtube for brain games a gift? – well it is if you pay for an annual subscription for youtube!

Next up… exercise the brain but learn something new!

Reading – it’s important. We want to read, and some like physical books some e-books. Either way, great christmas presents – you can buy the latest inspirational book or a great fiction book. Either works… as long as it’s something they like.

You could go one better… and get a kindle for someone who loves to read all the time – with that, you often get some free books they can read.

Next up… get some good aroma’s around your home

Smells are important.

They can help you ease, relax and/or concentrate (depends what you’re doing). These can come in the form of oils, candles, bath salts, etc…

I’ve been using particular candles I got from Camden market – which are really good! You can buy different oils that help you with different things… relaxing, concentration, etc…

And onto my last gift idea.

This one’s different.

It’s the gift of time.

Now being honest, we’re so busy… do we really have time for friends and family. Whilst you’ll spend it with them, hows about doing something in particular with them. You can search on Etsy for ideas and cards with things to do with friends. But honestly, make a list of things you’d like to do with who and do it.

Sounds a little crazy, but say you want to do a carvery with a good friend… buy a carvery gift card for them, and tell them you want to have an evening out with them. Alternatively if you want to go cinema with someone. Buy a cinema gift card for them – and tell them, you want to go with them. The actual date you can work out later…but the thought of spending time with them is there.

I was speaking to someone today, whom had asked me – should I get an electric car?

My answer… there’s a few things you need to consider.

1. Have you got/getting a charge point at home?
2. How many miles do you do during the week?
3. Do you drive over 250-300 miles (incl. a roundtrip) regular?
4. Do you want a new new car or a second hand (new for you) car?
5. Are you ok to plan some of your longer journeys?

You see, it is quite simple – but the above questions really will help you. In fact… the first question is quite essential.

Then I was asked… are EV’s the future?

Now, that’s a great question.

The current push is on EV’s.

Remember when they said diesels are the best and we should all be driving them.

Well… there’s other options and who knows where this could go.

The other options are…

Hydrogen – like the Toyota Mirai

Ok, this is a cut-away image that shows what’s behind a hydrogen car – but the essential thing is, it’s an option away from electric.

Power is generated by converting the chemical energy of hydrogen to mechanical energy, either by reacting hydrogen with oxygen in a fuel cell to power electric motors or, less commonly, by burning hydrogen in an internal combustion engine

Now what’s the difference between these, electric and petrol?

Any other cars to consider?

Yes!

e-Fuel.

eFuels are produced with electricity from renewable sources, water and CO₂ and are a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. eFuels can be used in existing infrastructure and thus decisively and affordably reduce CO₂ emissions

Porsche are leading the way with e-fuels, but we’re still a way off from having it all readily available. But there’s hope we can keep alot of our current cars as is… maybe.

So in all reality, with the ban coming in 2030 (ban of selling new petrol or diesel only cars – you’ll still be able to get hybrids), the optionsa are limited and with the push, as mentioned earlier, to electric… the option would be electric or hybrid.

So with that I leave you to prepare yourself, have a charger installed at home and start thinking more about your journeys.

Cars will be around. Don’t think, in the UK, we can do without them. As much as you try to say use other transportation modes… the problem is, trains are expensive and cars can often still work out as a viable option…. not in all cases, but majority.

Now, how we listen to music has changed alot.

From the trusted vinyl, to cassettes, to cd’s… to (remember minidisc?) and then we could save music files on our ipod/device and more recently, being able to stream music… from our favourite streaming provider.

I’ll be honest – not sure what will be next. I think there’ll be an element of AI – that’ll be able to sense your mood and behaviour and play something applicable from your playlists without you having to select something. So whilst AI will play something for us, at times we want to be in charge and select what we want. And with that… recently, vinyl’s have been selling. And selling quite well!

No longer just a niche hobby for dads and hipsters, vinyl is experiencing a major resurgence in mainstream music. According to the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) annual revenue report, vinyl records outsold CDs in the US last year for the first time since 1987, selling 41 million units against 33 million for CD.

Vinyl record sales have consistently increased over the last 16 years which is crazy thinking how streaming services have become the norm! This is all according to the RIAA report published on Thursday, now accounting for 71 percent of all physical music format revenue. The growth margins here aren’t trivial, either — while physical formats as a whole increased by 4 percent, earning $1.7 billion between 2021 and 2022, vinyl sales alone accounted for $1.2 billion, experiencing a 17 percent increase in sales compared to the previous year!

Wondering what is going on here…. well, there are several factors driving the vinyl revival. Many audiophiles claim the format provides a warmer, more authentic sound compared to digital. Nostalgia also plays a part for those who lived through the golden age of vinyl, but younger generations are driving sales too, praising the format’s tangibility and artwork. Artists for the Gen-Z and millennial demographic made up a significant number of record sales in 2022. Taylor Swift was the highest-selling artist last year, selling almost 1.7 million vinyl records alone! Wow!

So… whilst many of us have gone digital with our music needs – there is a growing number of folk who prefer the old, warmer sounds of a vinyl record. Though… whilst that is nice at home, you won’t be able to play it in your car… something, that for sure is a hobby.

And it’s these non-digital type of hobbies that are on the increase. Yes – there’s an element because it’s mainly for the music, but it’s also covers, the artwork, the material with the vinyl, and so much more. It’s holding that physical product in your hand.

In conclusion – we’ll continue to stream most of our music, because of it’s flexbility but.. there’s an increasing sense of enjoying our music. And that’ll be mainly via vinyl.