Yes but...

It can also be the thing that lets you explore new regions outside the limits of the map drawn by those that raised you. And it goes both ways which is probably the best bit as you each doodle on the other's map letting the landscape grow organically.

Dates

3rd + 4th February - Alpe d'Huez
6th + 7th February - T Wells for mum's 60th

It's that time of year again

Yet another year ends and so let us see whether our aging minds can remember what has happened in the last 365 days...

Books

Last Christmas (I gave you my heart) I received Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy from my brother. Red Mars has to get my (much coveted) award for best read of the year. Such wonderful characters, jaw dropping descriptions of Mars and incredibly complex look at sociology, psychology and the methods and ethics of terraforming. There was a patch where I lost interest but the ending was fantastic.

Of actual 2009 releases, I must admit I only read a couple of books and so the competition isn't all that strong but obviously I have to give praise to Dragon Keeper. Her Hobbness writes exquisitely and the characters and story were quite compelling. I look forward to part two and hope that there are some huge payoffs.



Television

Battlestar Galactica had the back end to the fourth and final season shown this year and it was amazing. So dark and depressing. Dexter was also on top form with a season that kept me excited and on my toes. Merlin stepped up to be highly emotional with some complex characterisation as we see them move into their "fated" roles.

But the television show that marks the year for me is Outrageous Fortune. I started it just over a year ago (thanks to dvds from cheeky) and grew more and more obsessed with it. To begin with it was just the attitude- the feel-good factor of the show. A drama-comedy that didn't really capture me but forced me to come back and watch more just for the simple pleasure of grinning for 45 minutes. But then with time the stories became more complex as they built on each other and grew. Plots and characters were rarely done and dusted with; things you thought dealt with in an episode coming back to haunt the characters later. The show juggled plots, characters and ideas in such a deft way I am not sure I have seen the like elsewhere (which isn't to say it doesn't exist of course but it is rare). This year was series 5 and thanks to the generosity of cheeky and her friend with a dvr, I saw it not too long after broadcast. The fifth series was as strong as anything they had done and rocked my world.



Film

I shouldn't write categories I don't have ideas for... I'm not a terribly big film person. I guess I liked Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince the most. The films just seem to get better with each one for me. This film was so dark and beautiful in appearance and unlike with the books, I got a strong sense of the other characters and their problems (mainly thinking of Malfoy).



Comedy

I went to the Fringe again this year and saw a handful of stand up comedians (plus I saw a couple of acts outside of Edinburgh). Strangely enough, my favourite one drew the smallest audience- Nick Doody. His act was wonderfully constructed: in two halves it talked about what is wrong with Britain and what is great about it with a thread running throughout that was the recent death of his mother and the meaning (or lack of meaning) of comedy. It was clever and funny but most of all it had a point. Which is rare in stand-up routines. He got to a conclusion and it was serious and it resonated, leaving me with serious thoughts.



Personal Event

Every year it comes down to Hobblings, more or less. Is this a healthy thing? Meh. I met with Nadine on a few occasions and each time I had a great time. It's nice to just relax with a friend. I think going to the Venetian Carnival at Annecy was a particular highlight. I adored the costumes. Skit visited me in France and we had a great holiday together with a little hire car. I'd say the frozen waterfall (Cascade du Rouget) was my most memorable part (including the treacherous walk to get there). Then in August I went to Edinburgh with my brother and saw Mike and Madeleine. I enjoyed mixing with these two local celebrities (or at least that is how it felt- I mean, they know Ben Moor!). Also in August, I went to France with skit, biped and Ata and we met Chi and her mother on probably the hottest day of the year. It was a brilliant week. Somehow I can't quite separate the laughter into unique events to identify a high point. All that springs to mind is melon. A lot of melon. And breakfasts and lunches in the sun and dinner with wine and dvds and games... And burying skit and playing crazy golf... Stuff.