How was it for you?

Last year I mean. For me it was a year dealing with the consequences of my actions, but then isn't it always? Still, I was able to divert myself reasonably well. I walked nearly 500 miles, keeping to my target of walking 25,000 miles in my whole life. I probably ascended something like 7 vertical miles, again keeping with my target of ascending 350 miles in my lifetime; the equivalent of walking straight up to the height of the International Space Station. I played table-tennis with my wife about 140 times, though I have resolved this year to join the old fogeys (over 60s that is) down at our local sports centre once a week. I look forward to being thrashed by people long in receipt of their pensions (I don't qualify for mine until next year). Don't giggle- some of those gnarly old gits, and gitesses, well into their eighties, show surprisingly quickness around the table and conjure the most fiendish feints and spins with their ancient bats which sometimes look almost old as they do.
Towards the latter end of the year I started juggling again after a lengthy lay-off, working mainly with three and four balls. I enjoyed it enormously and would propose it for anyone as a fun way of taking your mind off your problems. It certainly worked for me.


Last year I saw 112 films for the first time, a record for me I think, and read 36 books (not a record: mine is 45 in one year, and that, incredibly, achieved when I was still working). From these I offer a list (skip this if you hate lists, though I don't understand why you should) of the most notable:
BOOKS
1. Captain Scott, by Ranulph Fiennes
2. The Worst Journey in the World, by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
3. Alone in Berlin, by Hans Falada
4. Effie Briest, by Theodor Fontane
5.The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri
6. Traveller of the Century, by Andres Neumann
7. Omeros, by Derek Walcott
8. The Blue Flower, by Penelope Fitzgerald
All these are quite wonderful books which I would recommend to anyone with a reading age of 12 or better.
MOVIES
1. Caesar must Die (2012)
2. This is Not a Film (2011)
3. Divine Intervention (2002)
4. I want to Live (1958)
5. The Patience Stone (2012)
6. Les Biches (1968)
7. Ida (2014)
8. Home from Home (2014)
9. The Exiles (1961)
10. Mr Turner (2014)
Once again I cite these as representing the finest examples of cinema and accessible to everyone. I can guarantee, and this goes for the books as well, that you will be stirred both intellectually and emotionally, which of course, is why we read and go to the movies in the first place.


As for TV, three series stand out, and forgive me if they are a little predictable:
1. Game of Thrones
2. Breaking Bad
3. Fargo.


It is impossible for you not to have heard of the first two, and despite the astonishing level of hula surrounding them they remain unforgettable examples of television at its best. The third. Fargo, seems to have gone under many people's radar, but believe me, if you are thinking of acquiring a box-set this year, make it this one. The performances of Martin Freeman (comedic it ain't) and Billy-Bob Thornton are breath taking, and the writing is darker than dark. It's believable, but so terrifying.


Good luck to you in this brave New Year and may it be an improvement on the last one, even if the last one was good too- you lucky bastard!