Add What’s New in 2024

content/blog/2025-01-14-what-s-new-in-2024.md

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+title = "What’s new in 2024"
+date = "2025-01-14"
+updated = "2025-01-14"
+[extra]
+authors = ["Ydreniv"]
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+
+We have a finite amount of time to do so many things.
+Life can become full very fast, from domestic labour,
+paid work, hobbies, taking part in social events…
+Finding the right balance between all these activities may be one of my biggest
+challenge.
+Looking at my [basic information](@/_index.md#basic-stuff-about-me), one can
+see that among my interests, I’d like to take time discovering geology,
+listening and writing about music, ornithology,
+[miniatures](https://minis.kestrels-and-roses.rocks) and much more.
+How much time did I dedicate to each of these in 2024 ?
+Well, it’s mostly been miniatures.
+
+I have painted dozens of models, for varieus settings (the grimdark
+science-fiction of Warhammer 30k, the undead world of Necropolis28), in two
+different scales : 8mm and 28/32mm.
+This has been a fun experience, and I’ve played with many great people.
+I know I’ll continue doing this in 2025.
+I’ve already played at a Necropolis event in January.
+However while the painting process is generally soothing, this can also lead
+to some anxiety.
+I’m not concerned too much about the social factor of meeting and playing with
+people.
+However, my growing amount of unfinished miniatures is becoming stressful.
+I haven’t put myself in any kind of financial danger (I’m not that impulsive),
+but I find my amount of free space currently very limited.
+This means that cleaning up my room gets harder, as a couple boxes simply
+don’t fit on the shelves.
+This is a significant source of anxiety, as I don’t want to live
+in a constant mess.
+I haven’t found a perfect answer to that though, besides limiting my new
+purchases to a minimum.
+Moreover, there’s the environmental impact of this hobby.
+Miniatures are either produced from various kinds of plastic, or white metal.
+Acrylic paints are plastic-based.
+While preparing or converting a model, I produce plastic waste, whether
+shavings or bigger chunks.
+Although all of these are relatively small quantities compared to a lot of
+other activities, it is still currently unsustainable.
+So far, the easiest solution is as always to reduce consumption, and I intend
+to limit mine.
+I would also like to research sustainable miniature painting and modelism.
+
+Related to this hobby, I have brought many changes to my
+[Minis](https://minis.kestrels-and-roses.rocks) website.
+I have ditched DotClear 2, as I felt the blogging engine was too big and
+cumbersome.
+Instead, I have built a static site using [Zola](https://www.getzola.org/).
+It’s now much lighter, and I prefer this workflow where I edit Markdown files.
+The website could use some improvements, but it’s overall fine.
+
+I have pretty much been inactive on Tilde Town.
+I have started coming back more in December, even publishing an [article about
+ddrescue](@/blog/2024-12-11-ddrescue.md).
+I’d like to be more present here.
+Realistically though, while I think I’ll still visit in 2025, I doubt I’ll do
+that much given all the other life stuff.