2023 in review
Welcome to my highlight reel of 2023.
I wanted to start posting more work, and non-work, stuff online. To start with, a review of 2023 alongside photos taken (mostly) on 35mm film. It’s a blend of work, travel and photography.
This year I made the switch from working in the financial industry to charities and NGOs. At the start of the year I planned on taking an extended break after my contract finished but it’s funny how things turned out. I also tried the “digital nomad” lifestyle.
About me, I’m a data specialist based out of the UK that likes exploring, taking things apart and trying to put them back together again.
I started shooting with 35mm film early last year after finding my Dad’s old camera gathering dust. I like the selective nature of building each shot and the excitement when getting the photos back, often months later.
Developing the film is also the reason this post is up so late - hopefully only a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things.
Q1 - Venturing into the unknown
The year started in London concluding a contract at EDF Trading. My projects mostly focused on global gas balances. It was a fast paced environment with complex, technical and collaborative work. It was amazing working with a truly world class team.
Personal highlights include a trip to Berlin (where my camera jammed so no photos unfortunately) and some general shenanigans around London before my “exodus”. I also got a photo with one of my heroes, Ronnie Coleman. On the same day as this one of my best friends had a daughter - huge.
My project wrapped and the last day of my contract was on the last day of the quarter - which fit perfectly with this. After hanging up my gilet, it was time to move on.
Q2 - Refresh & restart
I was extremely fortunate to start projects for Impact Intel and Operation Fistula. The work was technically similar to my previous roles but the data and objectives have a very different focus. Working in this sector can mean a wider scope of responsibility compared to corporate. I’d also be doing more end-to-end system design and system simplification which is what I enjoy.
The charity operates in 22 countries and focuses on preventing childbirth injury when a woman experiences obstructed labor by providing access to the care she needs to give birth safely. A super friendly team and access to analytics tools of choice, Alteryx and Tableau, made it a perfect fit.
However, before diving back into work, I took some time off, travelled and did some photography. The first stop was a post-london detox in the Peak District. I met up with a buddy that lives around who showed me some amazing routes. We climbed the trinnacle and saw sunsets which make Manchester look more like El Dorado.
Next, New York and to the deep south to see friends. Not much to report here apart from a well thought out trip to Atlantic City and renting a car too big for me because I wanted to drive the GTA FBI car from my old PS3 days. It’s always the times when things go wrong which make the best stories.
Straight after, my old training team, DS19, AKA my data-fam-day-ones, were meeting in the Canary Islands for a week of relaxation, so I flew over to have some beach-side discussions about data types. Exploring new places with old friends will always be one of my favourite things to do. I’m sure there’s a Rumi quote in there somewhere.
After transiting through London, Italy was next- I had to go to Pompeii to see Caecilius. The rest of the time was searching for giant lemons and cruising up and down the Amalfi Coast in the only Italian classic I could handle, a Fiat 500. A connection through Malta on the way back made the perfect post-post holiday relaxation period before getting back to work. I even saw some GoT shooting locations. Good vibes.
After touching down in the UK, I picked up from the work-front and my routine got back to normal.
I also offered to oversee some building work. My thought process was that I’ve managed projects before and everything has turned out “ok”. Typically, building work is said to be delay-prone and go over budget - something that has never happened to anything I’ve worked on. It would also be cool to do some ‘grand designing’. The project seemed simple and focused around designing a new kitchen. Easy.
After settling down, for some strange reason, travel came back into my mind. Ground was due to be broken shortly for the building work so I did what any professional project manager would do - flee the country.
Q3 - Digital Nomadin’
I wanted to try the ‘work from anywhere’ lifestyle flaunted so much online. I heard a recommendation of a peaceful place called Essaouira in Morocco, found a coliving spot and made my way there. I sadly wouldn’t be earning billions from Forex, high ticket closing or any triangular shaped scheme but still wanted to see what it was like.
On arrival I found out it was low season and there really weren't many people around. It was different to what I was expecting but I was enjoying the warmth, food and laid-back atmosphere of Essaouira. Expectations and reality don’t always align I guess.
I defaulted back towards my regular routine, joined the local gym (only to see the king up on the wall), falcon spotted during early morning runs and ate amazing food. It was tranquil and life was good. I was working on some incredibly technical work at this point and the environment and relaxed nature of everything helped me think clearly.
I’ve found with solo traveling the constant you can always count on is unpredictability - you never really know how a day will pan out, who you’ll meet or what you’ll end up doing. The co-living place started off being quiet, but, as unexpectedly-expected, this switched and the office was bustling.
After increasingly busy and social days I left for Tahgazout in search of surf. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon, ready to enjoy the weekend - only to be met with another empty co-living place and news that the waves were not anywhere to be seen. The Sound Of Silence played in the distance. Times were quiet at the start, and Taghazout is significantly smaller than Essaouira. Here I think I felt the differences between loneliness, isolation and solitude.
This, of course, switched again with the waves picking up and a new lil surfer gang being born in the town.
Work was progressing and building work had begun. With any sort of project, open and clear communication is always key. Working remotely through covid honed this and there’s an art in getting the golden communication frequency to make sure everyone is on the same page and comfortable with updates.
I extended my trip a few to many times but eventually but eventually had to leave Morocco.
Back to London, sadly another fleeting visit. However, I unexpectedly met with part of a previous PwC analytics dream team I was in - an amazing surprise and one of my favourite happenstance photos with the Robfarther of Alteryx troubleshooting.
I got the chance to attend talks and conferences during the UN General Assembly week so ended up going back to New York in September. It was my first time in attendance and the change of environment and being surrounded by so many inspiring people was super cool.
The week was hectic to say the least but seeing issues combatted (or not as much as hoped) gave perspective to how issues are being looked at at a global level. From a technological side, as an engineer, I think it’s sometimes hard to see the macro impact the technology you work with can have. Spending most of the time in the detail can create laser vision towards what you’re working on and keep you from thinking about the wider potentials and impact of the skillset you have.
The talk of the town was being halfway on the timeline for the SDG’s (Sustainable Development Goals) but not being as far along to achieving them. I did feel concerned with, what felt like, a lack of true accountability on this. On the flip side, I was genuinely amazed to hear how different organizations / governments / institutes had approached problems and planned solutions. Grit, patience and perseverance can really take you far. I only got one conference photo during the week but the smile says it all.
Doubly fortunate, I stayed with some friends after the week who brought much needed mindfulness, tranquillity and pizza after such a busy week.
Q4 - Consolidation
I had a heavy focus on another workstream so I hunkered down to complete some end of the year deliverables. The building project was over schedule and needed some attention so it was best to be in the same country whilst it concluded. I did also made time to complete something that I should have done years ago - pass my motorcycle test. Vroom vroom indeed.
With delays for kitchen fitters I decided to fit the kitchen myself. Evenings and weekends became full of DIY. It was fun, and felt more like high stakes lego with a hammer, than work. I took inspiration from different places I’d visited over the years - with the tiles reminiscent of what I saw in Morocco. My idea of “Grand-Designing” the project went exactly as you’d expect. Finishing touches/snagging became the bane of my life and the completion date has been pushed to Q3 2037.
On the travel side, I went to a “Christmas” party in Porto, Portugal where friends kindly helped with taxi / “travelling light” complications. Thank you gentlemen. Also, a fleeting trip to Tirana, Albania where I misplaced my wallet before getting on the plane. Never a dull moment.
The end of the year was full of meetings before a much needed to slow down to spend time with friends and family.
Thoughts on digital-nomading
Working from a beach seems like paradise.. right? Online, it’s often sold as the dream lifestyle. I’d agree to some extent but say it can be a real rollercoaster ride. The novelty and wanderlust seems appealing but, ultimately, it’s all about your state of mind and how content you are living with a potentially unpredictable day-to-day.
One breakfast in Taghazout a group of us were talking about this. Someone, who I only saw that morning, was on the tail end of a long stint of travel. He mentioned he was happy ending his travels and was really looking forward to going home and do things like walk his girlfriend's dog in the local park. We all talked those ‘homely’ comforts over Msemems and omelettes.
We got to the conclusion that no matter where you are and what you’re doing there’s nothing stopping you from indulging in normality and, what may seem like, life’s daily pleasures. You can be working from the most fantastic locations but sometimes it’s these little things which bring deep-rooted homely contentment. To some extent I’d say happiness is a choice and your attitude underpins this. On another level it can also be truly understanding what you want.
The digital nomad lifestyle might be what people dream of - but it’s hard to know what it’ll really be like without experiencing it. I do love it, but there are things I know I’ll enjoy anywhere in the world- good company, early morning coffee and the smell of freshly baked bread.
Closing thoughts
It’s been a busy year. I’ve learnt to be more serious and intentional with time and effort spent.
Even if I didn’t accomplish all I set out to achieve, it’s always important to recognise what was done in the time allotted.
I realize I’m extremely fortunate to have lived like this and even more fortunate to have amazing friends and family that put up with me (you know who you are).
Veering off the conventional finance / data career path brought a lot of uncertainty but the underpinning desire to explore and and apply what I’ve learnt differently has kept me going.
Also, with everything new I’ve learned, if needed, I’m sure I can bring perspectives to drive shareholder value like never seen before. 🚀🚀🚀
I like writing, and curating these highlights has been fun. Was a nice way to wrap the year up and finally move the photos out of my downloads folder. They say you can’t score without a goal but I enjoyed taking a step back to find out what goals were beyond my field of vision.
I do feel nervous posting this but, funnily enough, my biggest concern is my Uncles embarrassing me with ridiculous nicknames for everyone to see. Hopefully they’ll miss the post. Damn Chachas.
Finally, I have to give a shoutout to naledi.co.uk and her last year review post. Trend-setting stuff.
Thanks for reading. This is my first public post and so if you have any comments, recommendations or advice please let me know!
Vikash
