A belated preview

This blog post is by no means going to cover the entire year, in-fact it may be irrelevant before it even gets published, all I will say is that this year is shaping up to be a good one, I can feel it.

Towards the end of last year I had a period of reflection. I looked back at what I had achieved during the year, as well as having an eye on what I wished to develop in the coming year — both personally and professionally.

I’ve a long list of skills I wish to develop:

• React.js
• More advanced features of Node.js
• Revisit and emphasise core HTML5 and CSS3 skills
• Continue to look into Sass and it’s more intermediate/advanced uses
• JavaScript. Not jQuery, but pure unadulterated JavaScript.
• FE workflow = Grunt//Gulp

Trying to keep up to date with new tech, as well as ensure your key skills don’t suffer, is such a difficult balance to strike. Everytime I load up Twitter a new technology or technique seems to be mentioned — probably more than I could ever wish to learn in two lifetimes.

It’s only when I look at the list again that I realise there is a lot there; Maybe I’ll trim it down, maybe I won’t.

Outside of work, photography is top of my list, by a long long way.

I’ve recently become a Dad for the first time, this is such an ace feeling, and one that has really helped to focus what I actually want out of life. I can’t wait to see how the little guy develops, already I can see how much he changes day to day.

Finally, I’m going to be setting up a side project to keep my out of work focus — and to some degree life focuses — alive. Having recently turned 34, hardly old I know, it dawned on me that I’m nearly ready for my midlife crisis. Hopefully I can share more on this soon, but essentially it will be a list of items I wish to achieve before I hit a certain milestone.

All in all this excites me, a lot.