29. 31st January 2025. Looks like we made it.

 We made it. We got through. 

So what did we do in January?

Book wise I'm (still) in the middle of the Collected Poems Of Roger McGough (bit up and down to be honest), the Salmon Poetry Compilation I bought in Cork last year (similar but very modern and not attempting humour, guess it's a case of finding what works for you, maybe I'm not a poetry person. 

Still reading the Eno book, the Rupert Everett short stories, the collected 2000ad Dan Dare that Tom bought me for Xmas 23, the Johnny Cash lyrics (same as) which work brilliantly, they're leading me to Cash songs I'd not heard before, making me reappraise the value of those lost years between San Quentin and the American Recordings. 

Realised a couple of days ago that I've started the Paul Morley Anthony Wilson bio and not got far, so still in the middle of that, still own the middle of Jon Savages Secret Public and 1966 (technically still in the middle of God Emperor Of Dune but have been since March 1982, think that's an admission of defeat).

Ran 26k in total, would have been ore if not for snow, ice, slippy conditions, minor injury. Few gym visits, happy to ramp up levels on both these during the year.

Finished the Christmas cake mum made us. J had one piece, the rest was me. A slice a night. 

Discovered the joys of Aldi's £12 single malt.

Watched - a lot of West Wing, the return of Severance, A Complete Unknown, The Last Waltz (inspired by last month's Uncut and the death of Garth Hudson, season 2 of Cheaters, half of season 2 of SAS Rogue Heroes (always a blast, Paddy Main is a wonderful creation, the Loaded documentary, a series called Playing Nice which is already vanishing from memory, Paul Simon 'In Restless Dreams', Northern Soul (started well, went astray), Blur 'To The End' - no-one really comes out of that well. Challengers - decent enough film, not amazing but enjoyable. 

A few games of football in the real world (in the virtual world me and Matty won a PL and CL double with Everton and have just bought Lamine Yamal)

Five creative writing lessons which have been an utter blessing.

Judged a heat and the final of What Happens next. 

Went for coffee with Beryl Marsden, during which Sandie Shaw phoned her. That was a moment. 

Bought lots of records (current listening - Nelson Riddle's 'C'mon Get Happy' album), played guitar (learned the intro of Day Tripper at last!), played piano, bit of banjo. 

All adds up really, doesn't it?

Working on becoming less impatient on waiting for others. I sometimes feel that I need other people to react to what I need as quickly as I react to them, to work at my pace to get everything done (currently: Scott on what we'll want from the Epstein so I can move MIH forward, Lee arranging a meeting, Jess and Kevin getting back on DD, Evan and Maisy making contact re what they're now referring to as Inevitability, which I like) Need to remind myself that other people have other things going on as well :)

Long January. Quite packed. 

Month 2 starts tomorrow, let's see what we can fit in, what rises up to offer us opportunities. It's all good. 

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