I was looking in my diary earlier and my entry for this year was almost identical for last year. Christmas was written off because of Covid; I decided against seeing family in case we caught or brought Omicron to others. The academic semester had been insane this year and I had managed to get through without catching anything, but it felt like a bridge too far trying to conduct a big family Christmas, so we opted for relaxing at home instead. On reflection, it was the right choice I feel.
Last year I made some predictions and hopes for 2021. Some of these were successful and others continue to bug me. First, the good news. Having continued to monitor the amount I drink, I am happy to say that I only drank alcohol on ten different occasions this year and truly feel much more healthy as a result of it. I think I will stop bothering to count this element now, as I am confident that I don’t feel compelled to drink socially any more. Second, I managed my book (53) and film count (153) for a third year running. Fewer films than I would have liked, and December was a bit of mad push to get over 150. Favourite books that I read this year were Bullshit Jobs, The War of Art and probably The Salt Path. I started walking sections of the South West Coast Path this year so I am probably biased. Favourite films that I watched this year would probably be Bo Burnham: Inside, No Time To Die (controversial choice, I know, but I am a OHMSS fan) and Dave Made a Maze. Bo Burnham and Dave Made a Maze probably struck a chord with me through their excellent inventiveness. Honourable mentions go to The Mitchells v. The Machines (had no expectations and was really surprised, especially loving the pug gags) and Limbo (having had the pleasure knowing and working with the super talented Irune for years.)
I don’t think I’ll make predictions for next year. Covid makes it too uncertain and I end up feeling a lack of achievement even when I shouldn’t. For example, I didn’t manage to travel as much as I would have liked this year. I managed some filming and some writing, but difficult to finish things under these conditions. I managed a little music, and published Four Scores, even if only half of it was new to 2021. My only commitment is to do similar to what I managed with the alcohol – to track progress in small increments and see what turns up along the way. I believe this will be healthier and happier for me at the end of 2022.
READ: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams, Visual CBT – Avy Joseph and Maggie Chapman, Leading – Alex Ferguson and Michael Moritz
WATCHED: The Nut Job, The Report, Eagle v. Shark, Hollywood Banker, A Street Cat Named Bob, A Christmas Gift from Bob, The Croods, The Star, The Pendle Witch Child, Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, A Hard Days Night, Brexitannia, The Farewell, Operation Filmmaker, Mr Peabody and Sherman, Krampus, The Street, Sound of Metal, New Town Utopia, Shaun the Sheep: The Flight Before Christmas, Don’t Look Up, Abominable, The Future of Work and Death, Dave Made A Maze, Limbo, Sing
