doing the janus thing

There is a tradition among diarists, starting with the great Samuel Pepys, to use this day to take general stock of the year passed along with a look ahead to the prospects of the coming year.

Last year I read 42 books (3 fewer than in 2010) and watched 103 films for the first time, which is a personal record (NB: see my blog in the coming days for my book and film review for December- it's gonna be great!) There were other fascinating cultural diversions too, including being host for 3 weeks to a man from Bethlehem- a strange, at times confusing, but always a hugely enjoyable experience.

I wrote about half a dozen short stories, and although I failed to win anything in the short story competition I entered, I still feel they had some merit and were certainly creditable first attempts at the genre. I have also written about 30,000 words of my autobiography, representing about half of the total I intend to write. I should say the first half is not completed. It awaits the critical 3rd draft, where I shall read the words aloud, always an essential part of any editing job. I expect it to be nearing the end of 2012 before the book is in a suitable condition to send to publishers.

I have managed to ward off the depression I feared might overtake me following my retirement at the beginning of last year, keeping myself occupied without placing too much pressure on myself to stay active. My recycling project has kept me quite busy, and I continue to do regular hill walks and sessions with my hand weights. Last year also marked the transformation of my teeth and the grim discovery that I have a difficult-to-treat eye condition which may threaten my vision at some stage down the line. In February I am due to see the corneal specialist who will give me the definitive 411 on the issue.

We have had some good holidays: Malta, Normandy, Budapest and Milan; this year we plan to return to the West Bank, this time by way of Jordan, to add variety.

Finally, in my New Year Resolution list is to follow a trial in Crown Court. I already have one in mind: 2 youths charged with the savage knife murder-for hire of a young man- who was not even their intended target. They are pleading not guilty, and are facing their accusers for a second time, as the first trial collapsed late last year on some technicality. Sounds interesting, non?

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU!