I am an engineer and teacher, so as the year draws to a close, I like to look back on memorable events where an engineering activity went, or almost went, awry. Luckily all were caught in the nick of time. Once the problem was adverted, my engineer’s sense of humor kicked in, and the result is the list below. Hopefully, some of these lessons learned, or learnt, as my colleague Kevin would say, will serve as examples of what to be watchful for in the new year.