End of year post

I've been reading various end of year posts this week. I know it's only my imagination but everyone seems to be shutting up shop earlier this year and announcing they'll be back later into January.

And who can blame them?

I hope all of my readers are going to get a proper break at some point. Not long till we start getting more hours of daylight again.

In fact, today's is the earliest sunset at 1554 in Birmingham and on Tuesday the sun won't go down till 1555. It's a bit of a shame the anticyclonic gloom is hiding any light from us here in the UK.

With two house moves, several elections, a few different jobs in the last two years under my personal belt and another year of turmoil for the planet, I'm looking forward in hope to a 2025 that brings some calm and stability to us all and for tyrants and warmongers to be brought to justice.

Here's to a peaceful and free Syria for all Syrians. A peaceful and free Palestine for all Palestinians. A peaceful and free Israel for all Israelis. A peaceful and free Lebanon for all Lebanese people. A peaceful and free Ukraine for all Ukrainians. A peaceful and free United States of America for all who make it their home. A peaceful and free Sudan for all Sudanese people.

I'm hopeful but only a little bit.

Life seems a bit more peaceful now I'm not on Twitter any more. The skies are blue over on Bluesky if you want to find me there: https://bsky.app/profile/lucycaldicott.bsky.social

I bet I don't feel as exhausted as Wisdom.

Wisdom: World’s oldest known wild bird lays egg at ’74′

Laysan albatross Wisdom was spotted with her new partner and egg at a Pacific Ocean refuge.

BBC NewsRobert GreenallBBC News

What am I reading? 📚

The Life and Rhymes of Benjamin Zephaniah - a fascinating life that ended a year ago.

People need people.

What am I watching? 👀

Well done to the 33 employees and former employees for bravely speaking out against the appalling work culture and sexual harassment at Pink News and to everyone affected.

This expose of Pink News makes for troubling viewing.

Solidarity with the whistleblowers.

What am I listening to?👂

My Apple Music replay told me that I'd spent my year listening to a load of old blokes. I'm sure that comes as a surprise to precisely no one.

Have some Voice of Baceprot instead.

Indonesia’s hijab-wearing metalheads play Glastonbury

(Baceprot means "noisy" in Sundanese).

Joy-giving things 😍

In November and December each year, the Men's Premier and Women's Super Leagues celebrate LGBTQ+ inclusion with an official Rainbow Laces fixture.

I was pleased to attend the Aston Villa match against Brentford with my friends from the Villa and Proud official supporters' club. The weather was horrendous!

I made a little film about it that you can watch here. Can you see I was excited to be on the pitch?!

A big thank you to Aston Villa FC and its staff for looking after us so well. Disappointing to see players at other clubs not so supportive. The work continues.

Talking of work, if anyone wants to book in a call in January, just reply to this email. No strings attached!

Wishing you all a happy holiday, wherever you are.

Lucy

I write this newsletter because I believe in sharing progressive ideas that help us work towards a truly equal world. I throw in a few sparks of joy here and there too.

Share it with your friends so they can read it too 📣

Thank you!

ChangeOut is created by Lucy Caldicott. You can find more about my work at ChangeOut.org. If you’re looking to have a chat about culture, leadership, purpose, equity, or a facilitated team discussion about any of those things, get in touch. You can also find me on Bluesky, Instagram, and, LinkedIn.

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