The Last Blog Of 2024: A Christmas To Remember

52, 51, 50...

The hours left of 2024 slowly tick down...

And it gets me emotional - about the year just gone, and the year preparing in the starting blocks ahead.

As predicted, 2024 ended with an absolute bang - From last week, I felt like I hadn't a second to catch my breath. Blog A Day Review 2024

Day 1 - 11 of Week 13 went absolutely according to plan.

On the 12th, I missed the "Midnight Deadline" and instead uploaded it on the 13th and used this as Blog a Day, Day 13.

The "13th's" blog was scrapped and instead replaced with the 14th & 15th (as a weekend blog)

Day 19 came out a day late/few hours late, followed by the "Moving Blog" on the 20th.

Christmas 2024

The plan for Christmas was to finish work on the 22nd, and have the 23rd - 3rd off, on the Isle Of Wight.

Due to the amount of drivers off, on the 18th December, I was informed that my holiday request was rejected - fair enough, I was very late with my request, and being one of the newest drivers in the depot, it completely made sense.

The 18th - 22nd went exactly as I planned previously.

On Monday (23rd), I worked my normal Monday duty - Harlow To Epping Station and back again - three times, and then some local routes to finish the day.

On Tuesday (24th), I woke up early to compete in my two weekly iRacing races (road and oval) before heading to work where I drove a new up and coming favourite duty of mine - the "15" running to Waltham Cross train station via Waltham Abbey.

The only disadvantage with working evenings (starting at 3pm), is that you finish late - and had I driven back to the Isle Of Wight after work (which finished at 9pm), I would have only made it back for midnight.

Sod's law states that once something goes wrong - anything that can go wrong...will. And it did.

Christmas Day, 2024

Christmas Day, 2024 started well, I woke up at 5 to head down to the Isle Of Wight for 1 of 2 ferries that were running that day.

As I hadn't had breakfast at the time, I was starting to feel peckish and knew of a drive-thru in Woking...

Predictably, it was closed. It was Christmas day and those poor, under-paid workers deserved a well-earnt break.

Upon trying to leave Maccies, I realised the main-road was closed - the very road I needed to use to get back on track (Maccies was off the M25).

With time slipping, I put my foot down - it was Christmas morning, everyone was just waking up to presents under the tree, and children waking up at an ungodly hour, cannonballing into the parent's room - and bed.

I caught a traffic island. I drifted just a little bit too far over to the right and whallopped the kerb. I've had my fair share of kerbings, but this one was particularly hefty. This was the last thing I needed.

The only lucky part of the day was that the RAC WERE working Christmas day. Even luckier was the fact that they'd get to me within the hour. I checked the time. Under normal circumstances, I'd probably just say "I hit traffic", and catch the next ferry. The parents had to know. Just don't let them know HOW you got the puncture right?

Predictably, the booking couldn't be changed - I would just have to hope there was enough space on the midday ferry.

It would certainly be an unforgettable Christmas.

With the RAC sorted with my spare wheel, I sheepishly continued my journey - lost in the thought that I could absolutely be at the ferry port by now. I completely understand how lucky I was to only get a puncture, and the thoughts raced through my head - I could have been killed. On Christmas morning.

Instead of a message saying "I'm going to be late, puncture", they could be getting a call from a policeman...The Phone-call. I could have wiped out the radiator - I'm just so thankful it was on the tyre that needed replacing. But sometimes, sometimes we need a reminder we're not invisible - and I suppose that's why young driver's insurance is so high - you don't know your own limit until you find it. And I found mine. And the limits are not to be messed with.

Radio off, I'd drive (very carefully) down to the port and board the ferry.

Upon getting off, a fellow passenger notified me my rear was completely flat.

Well Shit.

I hobbled off the ferry and parked up and called every mobile mechanic on the island - but predictably - and quite deservedly, they were all enjoying Christmas Day with their families. Well, a few call-operators weren't, but the drivers were.

After further hobbling to a residential street, off the yellow lines, my dad shows up. Now there was a sight for tired eyes.

I head home.

Despite the first half of the day being.... "problematic", Christmas was absolutely saved by the parents.

It was truly a very merry christmas - and one I'll remember for a long time - not because of the "slight tyre hiccup", but because of how magical the rest of Christmas was - seeing family, presents, the decorations in the house, the food, biscuits...seeing my old room where 2024's whole journey began...

I got home, then we had some lovely food, opened presents - all were absolutely exactly what I wanted (Silverstone jumper, winter/rain coat, a calendar from a content creator, odd socks - plus a tea-towel - bonus!)

After a long bath (and hot choc), we'd all watch a lovely Christmas movie - Wallace And Gromit, Vengeance Most Fowl - before retiring to bed for the night.

Thursday 26th December - Boxing Day

On boxing day, I'd wake up, have breakfast and head back to my car and have the tyre changed (thankfully I left a few spare tyres/wheels on the Isle Of Wight).

Upon returning home, I felt a bit...meh, I had a small headache and wasn't really feeling "it".

I went upstairs and napped for a few hours, just to reset myself - which worked a treat - and I felt a lot better upon waking up.

Following lunch - or was it dinner? I had another long bath, and then came down.

to play a board game - "Touring England".

In so many words, you get 6 cards each with (UK) city names on them, and you have to travel to each of the city names on the cards, and return to the start point.

You roll a dice to see how many places you move forward - and every six places is a city.

After the board game, we returned to the lounge to watch another classic - or future classic - Christmas Movie "That Christmas" - funnily enough - about a Christmas all going wrong, and everyone working together to resolve the issues plaguing the town.

Following this, we'd watch something rather "unconventional" - "Beast Games" - like Squid Games - but nobody gets shot, just "eliminated" from the games. I don't know how much my parents could follow along - being y'know, the internet and "things kids watch nowadays", but I made them sit through it, and as long as I was happy.

Following this, we'd hug and say our goodbyes - I was out on a ferry in the early morning - and with that I retired to bed, relieved in the knowledge that I had two inflated tyres, Christmas wasn't a disaster, and we were all in a good mood.

27th December

After an early start, I'd leave my front drive-way and make it to the local town before returning and throwing a spare tyre in my boot.

I'd have a considerably less dramatic journey back home - although with speed reductions and everyone returning home/to work after Christmas, traffic was "less than desirable".

After getting home, I'd have about half an hour - which I spent composing a message in response to a message I recieved whilst driving home - before work started.

Message sent, I headed off to work - one of my favourites - 15, 5 & 8.

I suppose it was a little sad to see how quickly people take down their decorations, especially after some put them up almost a month early!

28th - 29th December

I woke up and realised I hadn't blogged in over a week - sure, "Blog A Day" was well and truly over - but I felt like I left it a little...unfinished. No sooner had I finished work, I drove home and jumped on the sim - the IMPC (IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge) race was due to to start at any moment.

Sunday Racin'

On Sunday, I ate an "iRacing Sandwich" - I came home from work, and then booted up iRacing at 11:30pm - for a race starting at midnight. And - ironically enough - finished the day with the second of the two time-slots, starting at 8pm, and finishing at 10:30pm.

After this race, I watched a few episodes of "Squid Game" before falling asleep - ready for the penultimate day of the year.

To maximise my championship points, I thought "I'll run both races and by doing both, I'll have more chance of finishing well - and scoring more championship points.

Race 1:

I'd qualify 17th/36th. Being in the middle of the pack - I opted for a pit-start - from 17th I had very little to lose - but a lot to gain.

After starting, I quickly found out that the race would be all about strategy - Oscherslaben isn't the most overtaking-friendly circuit - so early on, a train began to form.

I quickly learned that I could short-shift and lift and coast on the straights - and catch up to the "train" again in the braking zones.

If nobody was overtaking/getting anywhere (everyone had slipstream), why not save a bit of fuel and last a bit longer - and in turn increase the gap by the time the pit-window opened.

The 11-Car battle for 21st - stretching from 21st to 32nd

Every lap from Lap 8, I short-shifted and lift-and-coasted on the straights - and on lap 23, the pit-stops began - Boekholt in 11th officially opening the pit-window.

I eventually pitted on lap 41 - (28th/30th car to pit) leaving just 2 - 3 cars that managed to last longer than me - but that could be dependent on setup.

Before the pit-window, I was in 25th, having started 34th/35th.

After the pit-window, I was in 19th - but the race was only half run. By fuel-saving, what I had managed to do was go far enough into the race to eliminate the need for a second splash-and-dash.

Eventually, after two hours, I'd finish in 14th.

Sure, I started from 17th, but I actually started from 34th - so to get to 14th was a good race - especially considering I had to play an unusual strategy given the "traffic" situation.

Out of it, I gained +19 iRating, finishing the season at 1289 iRating - my personal best of S1, 2025 - and second best of the previous season

With now just one race to go (FalkenTyre) before I round out 2024, should Watkins go well, I'm looking at rounding off the year very nicely.

I don't usually compete in two races of the same series - especially not on the same day, but as I was attempting to do well in the championship - and I knew the 8pm slot would be popular - I decided to run it.

Race 2

The way championship points (in iRacing) work are:

the higher the SOF (Strength Of Field/skill level) the more points you get for every position - so if I finished 14th at midnight, I would get 100 points - if the race at 8pm had a higher SOF - I might get 110 points for 14th. It's very interesting - lower SOF may be against easier competition - but offers less points on the table - but by doing both races, you increase your chances of either a good finish or a good SOF race.

Anywho, after another 2 hours, I'd finish 9th - only losing 8th at the final corner because I ran out of fuel...defending like my life depended on it.

Championship After Race 1 (1167 SOF):

Q: 17th (34th)

R: 14th

Global: 250th

Division (6): 24th

GBR: 13th

Championship After Race 2 (1298 SOF):

Q: 16th R: 9th

Global: 282nd (More competitors have raced/won) (V 32)

Division (6): 18th (^6)

GBR: 32nd (v 19)

After Race 2, I launched myself up into 1343 iRating - but I do feel guilty, as I would have either done Race 1 or 2, and not both - but as they always say - your iRating always finds a way to even itself out.

Monday 30th December

So! It's Monday! Just 35 hours of 2024 remain - and I'm pumped to see what 2025 has to offer.

Currently I'm just listing the things that need to be done before 2025 - so I can start the year on a fresh slate.

This morning, I've been informed (after a bit of pestering) that another driver is happy to take my duty on the 31st, so I'm delighted to be spending the last hours of 2024 - and the first of 2025 with them.

Depending on how interesting the Watkins Glen (and indeed Oxford Plains) races are tomorrow - they may or may not get a race report.

But from me, from now, and from here, it's goodbye, good afternoon, good luck and have a very stinkin' happy new year,

Robin

Over and Out.