This looks like a good opportunity for a birthday blockchain submission - yep, it's my birthday and wtf, it's the big 4-0!

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The 10th of December 2018. My fortieth birthday, and the most sober one for about 25 years - is that a success or a failure?

Let's go with success - there is no chance of drunken blockchain activity today, and I had my lunch and single beer bought for me. Cheers mum!

Forty doesn't feel so bad, I was close to a mental breakdown approaching 30 and did not want to leave the 20's at all. Today though, whatever! A couple of kind souls (who I didn't bribe) have already commented about me not looking my age, that's nice, and also fitting if the case because I often don't act it either - not sure how 'acting 40' is supposed to go. If it's wife, job, car, house, then yeah... I'm not even close!

There you go, I achieved 40 years old in 2018. Upvote/Resteem/Flag.

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What else has happened this year then? Well it started with a trip to Paris, and quickly on to La Reunion which was going to be our new home. At the time I wasn't single, and the other half had landed a job on the Island. A pity in some respects that the role wasn't as advertised, the school wasn't ready, the apartment above wasn't even close to being ready, and that plan quickly changed. I'm not sure Sylvia still reads my blogs (probably not!), but here's a couple of photo's from happier times.

So Reunion Island (outside of the capital) was pretty cool. I'm happy I got to visit and so can put that one down as an achievement. Oh yeah, the trip was covered 100% by SBD - thank you Steem!

At the same time though, I'd say it was a failure too - a relationship failure. The stress behind the job situation for S, and trying to write blogs each day whilst wanting to 'go do stuff' was hard. We fought a lot, smiled for the camera, and tried to balance work and play. Did a shit job overall, and yeah, c'est la vie.

Once the job thing didn't work out, we took a plan over to the next nearest tropical island, Mauritius..... And went through the same motions again. Let's go do stuff... OK but I need to pay for it with this blog....

I think you get the point. Anyway, that was January and February. A crazy/stressful/wow look at that waterfall coming out of the clouds couple of months.

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Looking back at the posts from the next couple of months, it's pretty obvious I was in hermit mode. The weather was still pretty dire here in Mallorca, and most of my content was Steem related - usually a sign that there is sweet FA going on in my life. At the end of April though, I took a trip to the UK to visit this little lady.

My daughter, who I'll be seeing again in 5 days time.

I've written a fair amount in the past on my decision to leave the UK, and I know there's likely people thinking 'how/why', when she's there. Fair enough, I can sometimes not answer that question myself. At the time though I was in a dark place - somewhere I hope never to return to, even though a move back 'home' could happen in the near future.

Anyway, seeing her in person is a big thing for me (and likely her), so the 2 trips are going down and a good thing for me this year, even though I'd like another 50 on top.

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Summer arrived along with the world cup and a couple of Steemians I'd met at last years Steemfest. Sunshine, friends, and football. Hell yes!

Knowing these guys were heading over for the a weekend during the summer was very cool. They watched England win a game and provided some proof to my mum that I wasn't sat here all day talking to a bunch of bots/aliens.

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Most of the remaining 'me' blogs after the summer were focused on 'the road to SteemFest'. Like this contest, it was hosted by @anomadsoul, and was an excellent idea to get to know your future friends at this years event. Making it SteemFest 3 (with a huge helping hand from @smooth, @curie, and other kind Steemians supporting me/my content, was one of the highlights. Another destination off the list, and some more friends gained. I think it's fair to say that I'm welcome to go bin-diving any time in Finland, or get fucked up on Palinka in Romania - Networking, done!

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This year though has mostly been about Steem.

I've sat in front of this screen for god knows how many hours, producing content, bitching at people, giving out STEEM, mining data, falling asleep with the laptop on my legs, laughing, shouting, and much more.

My self-diagnosed addictive personality has really latched on to this one, and even through these lows I see massive potential. The time invested has been great, but that doesn't guarantee a red Lambo, at all. Many will look at my account and see I've done very well compared to the average, and some will remember 5500 STEEM being worth $45000 in January.

It's been a roller-coaster year, emotionally and Steem-wise, but I'm still here, working away for the potential of a more secure and settled future. Who know's what 2019 has in store.

tl;dr

Achieved: Shit-loads of sunshine and 0 hours behind someone else's desk

Failed: Didn't cash enough STEEM out in January to carry these 0 hours through 2019

Achieved: More friends and hugs from new nationalities

Failed: Relationship number 763

Achieved: 40 (OK 41) trips round the sun

Failed: Didn't keep the '6 pack at 40' (abs not beer) promise I made to myself - next year!

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Enter this contest yo! There is STEEM up for grabs and some selfless accounts are watching the tags.

Peace!

Asher