1. What do you want to learn this year?

Kirk: This year I want to recover the low B2 level I used to have in speaking the Tibetan language. It's been many years since I used it and I think I'm probably at a low A2 level right now. Er, I have some books that I plan to use and I'm sure I can find some resources online and I think I'd like to get a tutor as well.

Elena: I have to admit that I'm not a good cook, so this year I would like to, er, learn my family recipes from my grandmothers. I will help them to prepare tortellini, lasagne or olive ascalana for our Sunday lunches.

Stephen: So whenever I'm not at work, you can usually find me at my workshop messing around with motorcycles. Erm, now I can do a lot of stuff on a motorbike, but the one thing I still can't really do is engine timing. And what I mean by that is inside this mess there's a bunch of gears and timing chains and levers and valves and stuff. And they all have to align in a really, really specific way. And it's kind of one of the last things that I still need to actually get the help of a qualified mechanic to do. So I hope in 2026 I can take apart enough engines and watch enough YouTube videos to finally be able to get around it myself!

Noha: Hello, in 2026 I'm hoping to explore strength training as a way of maintaining and hopefully enhancing my muscle mass. And because I'm aware that small but regular steps are the key to consistency, I'm going to start … ease myself into it by starting with low-intensity strength training such as cycling and wall push-ups and then slowly working my way up to probably about mid-intensity strength training such as planks and chair dips.

Paul: So one thing I'd like to get better at is gardening, so I have a garden, but I'd really like to know what plants to put in the garden and when and when to plant them and planting bulbs, erm, so that we get flowers all year round. I don't know if that's possible. Erm, but the other thing I'd like to learn is Catalan, or at least get better at Catalan 'cause I'm not very good at it. So I thought I could combine the two things because we have neighbours who are retired, erm, who live in our community, erm, who are Catalan and who know a lot about gardens, and so my plan is to, erm, to try and ask the neighbours and speak to them in Catalan and get advice from them on how to, erm, how to get better at gardening, er, and what to, er, what to plant and when.

Kirk: This year I'd really like to learn how to do basic welding. Erm, I've found out about a place where you can take a class in it, not too far from home. And recently a colleague of mine also mentioned that her husband knows how to weld, so I'm thinking of pursuing one of those two avenues to, er, tp learn the basics.