So, using the usual sort of headings:
BOOKS
This year, I’ve read 90 books (I keep a tally as a reminder!)(last year it was 80 and the previous year 85!). It seems ridiculous that I used to be one of those people who only read four books a year – and two of them would have been while on holiday! My favourite books were probably: The Crooked Cross (Sally Carson)(I’m a sucker for Persephone books!); Once Upon A River (Diane Setterfield); Proof Of My Innocence (Jonathan Coe); The Children’s Book (AS Byatt); Hostages To Fortune (Elizabeth Cambridge); Sculling (Sophie Dumont); Tell Me Everything (Elizabeth Strout); Highway Cello (Kenneth Wilson); Little Boy Lost (Marghanita Laski); and The Fortnight In September (RC Sherriff).
FILMS
I think I’ve watched 18 films this year at the Watershed. These were my favourites: The Ballad Of Wallis Island; Blue Road; A Complete Unknown; Steve; The Phoenician Scheme; The Thing With Feathers; Prime Minister; and I’m Still Here.
THEATRE
My/our theatre-going has been pretty awful this year (partly due to Moira’s hearing struggles; one trip to Bristol Old Vic (Your Starter For Ten) and one to the Tobacco Factory (The Winter’s Tale – featuring Felix).
CONCERTS
Bristol Beacon: Graham Nash (a highlight); Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; and London Symphony Orchestra. St George’s: O’Hooley+Tidow; and Takács Quartet. Bristol Cathedral: Simon Watterton.
Thoroughly enjoyed our visits to the impressive Harris Gallery (especially the Ocean Mother exhibition), Preston; Hauser+Wirth Gallery, Somerset; the Barbara Walker, Dana Awartani and Sahara Longe exhibitions at the Arnolfini; Helios (Bristol Cathedral); Brutal Bristol (Sparks, Bristol); Holburne Museum (Diedrick Brackens), Bath; plus various exhibitions at the RWA (we have Art Passes so drop in quite frequently), including: Summer Exhibition; Connecting Threads; Paule Véselay; and Paper.
SPORT EVENTS
Didn’t watch any football or rugby, apart from going to watch the Women’s World Cup Rugby Semi-final game at Ashton Gate between Canada and New Zealand (and saw my first ‘live’ Haka!)… which was excellent. Once again, cricket was my main ‘live’ sport this year: Somerset (at Taunton) once and Gloucestershire (in Bristol) three times; also watched cricket at Bedminster CC on a few occasions… but must do better next year!!
ART
This is my main form of ‘activity’! I continue posting on my daily ‘One Day Like This’ blog (a drawing and a photograph on alternate days) – which has been running for the past 13 years (since September 2012) and has now amassed over 4,850 posts.
I continue to be involved in the wonderful Urban Sketchers Bristol group (I’ve participated for the past 7 plus years and continue to be one of the administrators). We celebrated our 10th Anniversary this year – so put on ‘birthday’ exhibitions at CassArt and on board MV Balmoral. We meet at least once a month throughout the year and usually meet up in a pub to share our sketchbooks afterwards. I also try to get to the Urban Sketchers Bath gatherings on a regular basis.
I continue to enjoy the fact that the cathedral is our next-door neighbour… and the building and its beautiful garden have continued to be one of my regular sketching locations.
HOLIDAYS
Holidays don’t really feature highly in our lives… but we did have a lovely few days at Salisbury in February; and an excellent break at Ilfracombe in June (in a lovely flat directly overlooking the turquoise sea – and the sun shone!). We also had an enjoyable few days in the Buckshaw area with Alice+Co in November.
HEALTH
We’re both getting older! Medication has continued to keep Moira’s Parkinson’s in check (which is brilliant)… but, by its very nature, its effects vary on a day-to-day basis. Rest and diet continue to be important – as is regular exercise; Moira impressively (to me) does her ‘PD Warrior’ exercises via video link perhaps three times a week. At times, she struggles with sciatica (and knee issues) and visits a physiotherapist on a regular basis.
As for me, like all us oldies, I really don’t like the ageing process… but I’m really doing ok.
SPIRITUAL STUFF
I am no longer a church service attender – which has been the case for more than three years now. Moira continues to attend church pretty regularly. I miss the people, but I don’t actually miss the ‘church stuff’ – although I do continue to go along to our weekly 7.30am café gatherings - referred to as ‘Blokes Prayer’ (and we are all ‘ageing males’) - consisting of six or so old fogeys – who have become special friends and which has now been going for more than 7 years. I suppose it’s effectively become my ‘church’ (or nearest equivalent). I continue to be disenchanted by the Church of England.
I’m a very early riser and, these days, use much of my early morning time sitting in my ‘thinking seat’ - reading words from the likes of Mary Oliver, Richard Holloway or poets/writers such as my friends Chris Goan and Ian Adams… and sometimes even writing stuff myself – and, of course, looking at the emerging day from our balcony. They’re very special times.
REUNIONS:
2025 was a year of several reunions. During the course of the year, I/we met up with Dave+Sue; Gerry+Merry Carol; Alan+Gareth; Adrian; Ted+Paddy and Steve+Bev; Nick+Christine; Ken+Debby; and with my cousins Jackie, Janet, Lyn+Barry… and, of course, more regular get-togethers with Gail+Ian; Diane+Steve; and Pete, Bob+Steve.
STUFF FOR 2026?:
• Continue to do my daily early morning ‘exercises’ (all 7 minutes of them!).
• Continue to monitor my weight.
• To walk more (and to continue my Leigh Woods/harbourside ambles).
• To jump on the bus to Clevedon, Portishead (and train to Bath) more regularly.
• Watch more live cricket.
• Produce another ‘Blurb’ self-published book (possibly under the heading of ‘Half A Mile From Home’?).
• Continue with my daily ‘One Day Like This’ posts (they will pass 5,000 in 2026!).
• Continue to attend urban sketching ‘events’ – both in Bristol and Bath.
• Continue to sketch at the Watershed, Cathedral and Bristol Old Vic.
OTHER STUFF:
My old early morning walking activities (eg. during Covid lockdowns) rarely happen these days… instead I enjoy watching the mornings begin… looking through our living room windows. I do, however, also enjoy taking the bus up to Leigh Woods on a regular basis… and then walking back home through the woods, tracking the River Avon towpath and then back along the harbourside.
Having said, my brother Alan and I also had a wonderful walk to Bath (along the river from Keynsham) in July… so lovely to spend time chatting and looking at our beautiful surroundings (Alan+I have also continued to get together for lunches in Brum or Bristol on a regular basis… and these have also included Barry, David and Martin at various times.
We gave up the car 8 years ago and, getting on for 3 years ago, I gave up driving altogether – so buses and trains are now our default modes of transport - but, weirdly, I seem to have developed some form of ‘anxiety’ towards travel (I know!). I really don’t like journeys away from my comfort zone.
I’m conscious that our ‘world’ has become much smaller over the years… and that we’ve probably become rather boringly unadventurous (who us?!)… but that also feels ok. Enjoying and recognising the simple pleasures of life and our lovely family and friends. Lucky us!
All in all, we continue to count our blessings.
I wish you (and all yours) a very happy, healthy and (hopefully) peaceful 2026.
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