NEW YEAR'S EVE, TUESDAY 31st DECEMBER 2013 08:29 GMT

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1. THIS DAY IN WORLD WAR 2 (31st December 1943)
On the Russian Front...
Soviet 1st Baltic Front attack the German 3rd Panzer Army around Nevel
Soviet West Front attacking between Orsha and Vitebsk
Soviet 3rd Guards Tank Army and 18th Army capture Zhitomir, 100 miles west of Kiev

In Lisbon, Portugal...
The Portugese government approves the establishment of US bases in the Azores

In Italy...
British 8th Army is heavily engaged around Orsogna and Ortona 
US 5th Army attack unsuccessfully around Acquafondata 
Montgomery departs for the UK to take part in the planning and preparations for Operation Overlord 

In the Mediterranean...
British minesweeper Clacton is sunk by a mine off Corsica 

In New Guinea...
Australian 20th Infantry Brigade, advancing along the coast of the Huon peninsula, approaches Nanda 

In the Pacific...
Japanese vessel Shoho Maru is sunk by USN submarine Greenling 

In Burma...
Chinese 38th Infantry Division continues to battle Japanese 18th Infantry Division along the Tarung River in the Hukawng valley
In the Arakan, Indian 161st Infantry Brigade attacking toward Hathipauk west of the Mayu Range

Today's Air Raids...
Northern France airfields and other military targets by US 8th Air Force
V-Weapons Sites, Northern France by US 9th Air Force and RAF 2nd Tactical Air Force
Italy on the German front line by US 12th Air Force
Shimushiru Island and Kashiwabara on Paramushiru Island by USN PBY aircraft 
Madang, Alexishafen, and Bogadjim, New Britain by US 5th Air Force
Cape Gloucester, New Britain by US 5th Air Force
Arawe, New Britain by Japanese aircraft, beaten off by American Fighters
Lampang, Thailand by US 14th Air Force
Bay of Bengal on Allied shipping by Japanese aircraft, beaten off with heavy losses by RAF Fighters

2. TODAY IN MY LIFE
Blogging
Quality Missus Time
Me Time

Twitter Followers = 1,702 (no change)
Nonfollowed eliminated = 0
Unfollowers eliminated = 0
New followers = 0 

3. SELF-OBSERVATION - 2013
2013 was a year of endings, failures and disappointments, but at the same time a necessary clearout of things not working.

My business partnership came to an end amicably, as my business partner was clearly distracted by the domestic front, meaning that a whole Complementary Therapy business project/collaboration never got off the ground. Reconciliation with Daughter ended very acrimoniously and so did my relationship with my mother and father. I abandoned all attempts to contact my sister after no response. I have lost all interest in any relationship with all these blood relatives.

Though the clients I did have were satisfied customers, my Practice made no profit this year, and at just the wrong time - a naive attempt to get Son into a music conservatoire before he was ready was a total and financially disastrous failure, though we were poorly advised. 

My personal investigation into the Hypnotic Gastric Band technique convinced me that it is an overrated method and like any other will not work if the client is not motivated. In fact, I put some weight on this year, as weight was not a priority for me with all the other events going on.

This was the year when increasing age finally had an impact on my life. Erectile Dysfunction advanced beyond any natural self-help method, and from now on only chemical assistance will keep Missus' rampant libido satisfied. My vision noticably deteriorated, and I have become textbook-case long-sighted, unable to read without glasses. 

Fortunately I have developed a very positive attitude to failure. I believe failure is an integral part of success, with many failures necessary in order to achieve. I am quite happy to go on failing and will do so until I succeed! 

There have also been positive outcomes from all this failure. My life has been purged of all deadweight relationships - I have no commitment to any relationship that distresses or disappoints me. Consequently the last causes of stress have been completely eliminated from my life.

The one outstanding success this year has been the deepening of my relationships with Son and Missus, now stronger than ever. They are sources of continuous pure joy. Though Son suffered big disappointments, he has learned a lot about singing technique, and his raw talent has become that much more refined. He also has a talent for comedy performance. All this adds up to a very uncertain but exciting number of opportunities in 2014.

This was also the year when Son came of age, which means the nature of our relationship has shifted. I am now a friend/confidant/consultant, no longer inclined to take initiatives on his behalf. It is time for him to make his own decisions, make his own mistakes and learn the lessons that arise. I will as far as I can (and am invited) simply support him in his own initiatives.

At the turn of the year I feel I have undergone an uncomfortable but necessary purge of all things not working, which has left me free and unburdened to face the challenges of 2014 These are:
1. Lose weight, exercise and exploit the process to reinvigorate my Practice
2. Complete and promote my book by the Spring Equinox
3. Master my mind to the extent where I can keep it free of all unhelpful thought.
4. Develop my powers of manipulation and influence.
5. Care for and subtly manage the wellbeing of Missus
6. Clear the debt accrued in 2013 by austerity measures
7. Support Son in his personal development

Before this, three days of self-indulgence and marriage-enrichment begin! In this self-imposed three-day limbo, I will simply be, love and enjoy!

4. TODAY'S QUESTION FOR YOU
What are the lessons of 2013, and what will you do in 2014?

5. TODAY'S WEATHER IN BRADFORD
Dry and cloudy start
Rain, occasionally heavy, will arrive by mid-morning
Rain will abruptly clear by mid-afternoon and a window of dry weather follows
Light showers will pass through in the later evening, but these will clear overnight.
A moderate southerly will blow throughout
Max Temp = 7 degC
Min Temp = 4 degC
Sunrise at 08:25
Sunset at 15:55

6. TODAY'S ONELINER
Do people with Parkinson's Disease shoot steady footage during earthquakes?  : D

7. NOW THAT'S FUNNY! 
Mock the Week- Unlikely Things to Hear On A Survival Show or Read on a Packet - particularly funny!


8. TRIVIA
Blonde-haired women are stereotyped as being stupid, but in the Middle Ages they were perceived as devious temptresses not to be trusted

9. ZEN WISDOM
What distinguishes a forward-looking person from an intransigent one, a virtuous person from a dishonest one, is whether one can candidly admit to one’s mistakes and take bold steps to redress them.