I always feel I should hit the New Year with some new and vibrant post, possible the one that establishes me as one of Britain’s premier modern philosophers and sees me offered lucrative offers to write a national column and establish myself on the reality TV circuit. After some of the cooking disasters I’ve had, a couple of weeks in the jungle eating antipodean animal genitalia wouldn’t be a problem.
Looking back, I see I have started with a variety of styles. The first post of 2022 was about twenty words long, published with four minutes to spare and was followed, a day later with a list of unrealistic tosh about reading more.
2021 started with a post which vowed to get rid of some of my irritating writing tics and Unnecessary Capital Letters. I was also going to read Waugh and Dickens. It was published 5 minutes before midnight – another rush. I have, needless to say, accumulated more annoying writing tics and not yet opened a book by either Dickens or Waugh.
That takes us back to 2020. It appears to be a review of a tea room. I’m sure we didn’t go there on 1st January. Obviously I was catching up.
I’m not doing anything so I thought I might as well start blogging for 2019.And with those words I think it can be accurately said that I didn’t exactly start 2019 with a great deal of enthusiasm.
In 2018 I made two resolutions and kept to them, which is quite unusual.
The 2017 post was published on 2nd January. Tch, tch, tch . . .
The year before that, 2016, didn’t see a post until the 4th January. Things were less well planned (or I was busier) in those days. This post has three of my favourite farm photos on it.
And that brings us to the first post of 2015, which was also the first New Year post on the blog. It’s far from the way I do things these days, though I have to say it’s probably more interesting. It was published on the 5th.
And that’s it. The history of my recent life in 9 blog posts.
I think it’s safe to say that they are all part of a long tradition of writing posts that fail to inspire and won’t lead to the life of champagne, coke and chicks that I often claim to aspire too. I don’t really. I’m happy sitting at home in flannelette, eating chocolate and watching TV with Julia. That’s how I am passing New Year’s Day, and how I intend passing the rest of my life. Happy New Year everybody.
And no, I’m not going to be this cheerful tomorrow, so no need to adjust your expectations.
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
Sitting with a loved one in flannelette and eating chocolate sounds good to me. I am sure if your lifestyle was all champagne, coke and chicks your posts would be far less read-worthy than the ones you actually write.
It was a good New Year. Sadly we will never know about my writing performance on drugs as I am now terminally dull and my drug of choice is drinking chocolate.
😁
Happy new year!
And to you and all the family. 🙂
I continue to be amazed by the ignorance and stupidity of newspaper editors. They should be queueing at your door instead of giving money to louts like Boris and Jeremy. Happy New Year. (Can we have one of these fashionable warnings to those of a nervous disposition if you are going to use that picture again.)
I definitely agree about the editors. Having seen what they pay (the Register of Members’ Interests reveals much interesting information) I regret not going into politics as a career.
Happy New Year to you and Julia, Simon. That decorated beard photo is priceless.
I thought it was time to give it another outing. I wouldn’t want people thinking I’d become old and serious.
And Happy New Year to you too. 🙂
LOVE YOUR pic.. had to say hi and wish you good cheer. It’s been a long while since we connected. Take good care! ❤️
Thank you. Good to see you again. I’ve been looking through old posts and stuff recently and and realised how many people I hadn’t seen for a while.
You’re so welcome. Oh yes, I remember how you like to keep to following just some so I didn’t want to keep dropping in when you were so busy with submissions etc. I do wish you all the best! 💞
It is so refreshing to see some genuine weird stuff. Congrats on the decorated scruffy face
Thank you. I must get a new picture for next year – time has made a few changes and it also annoys me that it is out of focus.
Wishing you and Julia a new year filled with plenty of chocolate and all good things, Simon! There are many poetry acceptances in your future, too!
I was wondering if readers would see the bearded Christmas tree again this year. Julia did an excellent job of decorating. 🙂
I am thinking of a new photo for next year – the beard is whiter now and the hair stands up a lot more so look out for an enhanced Mad Santa look.
Just had two pieces accepted today. This is what happens when editors have holidays.
Best bit is that the ones that weren’t accepted are available for sending out again, so it saves me work. 🙂
Congratulations on the acceptances!
Thank you. 🙂
And to you both, Quercus and Julia
Thank you.