2015 and All That

We’ve come that time of year when we reflect on the past twelve months and look forward to the next.

From a personal point of view, it’s been a marginally disappointing year. My health never seems to improve despite my best intentions and efforts. I gave up smoking in January… and started again in April. Diabetes took a stronger grip, but medication helped balance that… when I remembered to take it. In an effort to combat arthritic knees, I was advised to take more exercise, so I walk the dog further than ever… as a result of which my wrists hurt from bearing weight on the walking stick and Joe dragging me all over the town.

How’s all that for consistency and determination?

Continuing our travels through Southern Europe, we found a new and favoured holiday destination in Lanzarote. It’s a lot calmer and quieter than Tenerife, but to make sure we got our share of hedonism, we went back to Benidorm in September, and as a consequence had two of the worst flights we’ve ever had. It’s back to Tenerife next year

And Filey. We’re going there for a few days in the spring. It’s where I met Her Indoors, and I see no reason why the town shouldn’t suffer us for four days considering we’ve had to suffer each other for four decades.

We’ve spent the last 36 years together, and during the summer, we had our first few days apart when Her Ladyship flew off to Spain for a hen weekend. The consequences of that particular soiree were two new smartphones, and a mobile bill that was down by about £120 a year. Her Indoors didn’t know how to put texts together on her steam-driven Samsung, so I had to do something to ensure she could nag me from 1,200 miles.

I began the year reading a marvellously funny book entitled Lifting the Lid by Rob Johnson, and I’m ending it with an even funnier book (sorry Rob) entitled Puckoon by that master of manic absurdity, Spike Milligan.

Talking of books, I slowed down productivity this year. The Sanford 3rd Age Club Mysteries were getting a little tired and repetitive, but I sought to address that with Trial by Fire, and as we moved into the autumn, I set up a new series, the Midthorpe Mysteries. A little stronger than your bog-standard cosy crime, with an accent on humour as much as mystery, they’re performing quite well. Come 2016, I’m seeking to put out more of these and add to the 14 STAC Mysteries already available.

I’ve made new friends online during the year, and reinforced older friendships, and some of my closest internet friends have suffered personal sadness. To them I say, I am sorry for your troubles. I hope 2016 will bring you’re the peace and prosperity you deserve.

Family are likely to loom large in 2016. Another grandchild  due in February. Fingers crossed  for David & Sarah that everything goes okay. Later in the year I’m hoping to be in Cambridge for my eldest granddaughter’s graduation, and my daughter is getting married again… odd that. I fell for it twice, too.

Beyond that, I imagine it will be more of the same ups and downs it’s always been, but remember, you need the downs to let you enjoy the ups.

As the clock turns midnight and we move into the New Year, may all your dreams be grand and come to pass, and may all your troubles be little ones.

Happy New Year.