Happy New Year
2015 has blown in with blustery gales and lashings of resolutions.
An old friend of mine makes a point of noting his New Year’s resolutions in the back of his diary each year.
On December 31 he re-reads them, checking which ones he’s kept and which ones he’s failed hopelessly at. I’ve never copied his trick – and have no intention of starting now. New Year’s Day should be a time for looking forward – not for berating yourself over past failings and mishaps (in my case, there are rather a lot of them).
So, in no particular order, here are some of the things I’m looking forward to in 2015:
Kate Atkinson’s new novel. A God in Ruins, Atkinson’s companion novel to her brilliant Life After Life, is out in May. If she’d only write another Jackson Brodie book my year would be complete.
Lots of uplifting Dorset walks – and not just to keep my fitness tracker happy either.
Seeing who wins the 2014 Costa Book Award. I was a Costa judge in 2011 and it’s my favourite book prize of all, largely because of the eclectic titles it highlights. This year I’m rooting for Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders and Nora Webster by Colm Tóibin. The winners of the five Costa categories – first novel, novel, biography, poetry and children’s book – will be announced on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row on January 5 and the overall winner will be revealed on January 27.
The new film adaptation of Far From the Madding Crowd – out in May, it stars Carey Mulligan as Bathsheba Everdene and Tom Sturridge as Sergeant Troy and has been filmed down the road from here at Mapperton House, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Max Gate. Sounds like a winning combination to me.
Lunch at The Pig on the Beach – the most heavenly place for lunch or dinner, or both. With views across Studland Bay to Old Harry Rocks (left), brilliant service, delicious food and the most chic décor this side of Sandbanks Ferry, I’d be there all the time if I could.
Catching up with Serial – if you haven’t downloaded this gripping podcast then make sure you do. I listened to journalist Sarah Koenig’s true-life investigation into a 1999 murder in Baltimore on a car journey to North Yorkshire and was completed riveted. It was launched in October and is already the most popular podcast in history. If you listen to it you’ll see why.
Happy New Year to everyone…
Happy New Year Emma! I’ve invested in the same tracker as you, so we can compare results!
Happy New Year to you too, Linsey. I’m doing terribly with my tracker so maybe you can spur me on!
Mine should arrive Saturday, so will be better able to comment then – couldn’t decide which to go with, so chose to follow you! Will be interesting to see how it reacts to the gym next week!