Happy New Year ....
And so it begins. As we've done in the past - it starts with a word. Except the rules are about to be broken. Several Americans have decided to set up websites dedicated to choosing their New Year Word so we need to reinvent ourselves. Hmmm.
So this year we've expanded a little - as there were two words (which will look like 4 words really) and they are
inpsire/inspiration and celebrate/celebration.
I mentioned this to Gina at the weekend and it seems appropriate - she was in the middle of writing her essay about mentors and inspiring people.
And then there is the celebration. I've decided that it's not possible to ignore it any longer and need to embrace and enjoy the fact that this year I will be FIFTY. I realise that it's only a number but it's beginning to feel like an o.l.d.e.r number ...
So I've been making plans for things relating to the number 50. And I have a list for 2013.
I will read 50 books this year. This is getting off to a decent start as I'm back doing some reading for Waterstone's. This time they have two panels of 3 readers who are reading and reviewing two books every two weeks. So last Friday we discussed "Quiet" by Susan Cain and "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. Waterstone's are voice-recording our words of wisdom (!) and plan to add them to their blog. It would appear that I need to talk in shorter sentences so that I edit into the blog .... (The same reason that I don't use Twitter - can't make the point in so few words!). I thought that initially I might try to read one book from each letter of the alphabet, but decided that it would be better to read something from a new country - which tied in nicely with Vivi's Christmas present where she bought me two Brazilian books (in English, obviously).
The second 50 list is to achieve/participate in/experience 50 new things. Polite suggestions welcome ... Now Vivi has been contributing to this one. For those of you that don't know - Vivi is the Brazilian flatmate and she is allergic to eating fruits and vegetables or pretty much anything from a good food group ... So we have a deal that each month this year she will try a new food. In January she has already had the choice of lychees, physallis and pomegranate and has eaten (and enjoyed) the first one. Let's see what I can find for February! I haven't tried a new food yet - but sure that it will happen this month.
And whilst I'm on the subject of celebration - this is also a chance to celebrate others' successes. For Matt and Carol who both have books published this year (Matt's is called "A Death at the Palace" and still waiting to hear what Carol's is called).
Last Sunday evening was one of my fifty new experiences. David and I went along to the T S Eliot Poetry competition at the Royal Festival Hall. Each year the competition makes a short list of ten from the approximately 350 poets who enter and the night before the winner is selected and announced the poets read from their published work.
This year's shortlist was announced on the 23rd October 2012 and comprised
And so it begins. As we've done in the past - it starts with a word. Except the rules are about to be broken. Several Americans have decided to set up websites dedicated to choosing their New Year Word so we need to reinvent ourselves. Hmmm.
So this year we've expanded a little - as there were two words (which will look like 4 words really) and they are
inpsire/inspiration and celebrate/celebration.
I mentioned this to Gina at the weekend and it seems appropriate - she was in the middle of writing her essay about mentors and inspiring people.
And then there is the celebration. I've decided that it's not possible to ignore it any longer and need to embrace and enjoy the fact that this year I will be FIFTY. I realise that it's only a number but it's beginning to feel like an o.l.d.e.r number ...
So I've been making plans for things relating to the number 50. And I have a list for 2013.
I will read 50 books this year. This is getting off to a decent start as I'm back doing some reading for Waterstone's. This time they have two panels of 3 readers who are reading and reviewing two books every two weeks. So last Friday we discussed "Quiet" by Susan Cain and "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn. Waterstone's are voice-recording our words of wisdom (!) and plan to add them to their blog. It would appear that I need to talk in shorter sentences so that I edit into the blog .... (The same reason that I don't use Twitter - can't make the point in so few words!). I thought that initially I might try to read one book from each letter of the alphabet, but decided that it would be better to read something from a new country - which tied in nicely with Vivi's Christmas present where she bought me two Brazilian books (in English, obviously).
The second 50 list is to achieve/participate in/experience 50 new things. Polite suggestions welcome ... Now Vivi has been contributing to this one. For those of you that don't know - Vivi is the Brazilian flatmate and she is allergic to eating fruits and vegetables or pretty much anything from a good food group ... So we have a deal that each month this year she will try a new food. In January she has already had the choice of lychees, physallis and pomegranate and has eaten (and enjoyed) the first one. Let's see what I can find for February! I haven't tried a new food yet - but sure that it will happen this month.
And whilst I'm on the subject of celebration - this is also a chance to celebrate others' successes. For Matt and Carol who both have books published this year (Matt's is called "A Death at the Palace" and still waiting to hear what Carol's is called).
Last Sunday evening was one of my fifty new experiences. David and I went along to the T S Eliot Poetry competition at the Royal Festival Hall. Each year the competition makes a short list of ten from the approximately 350 poets who enter and the night before the winner is selected and announced the poets read from their published work.
This year's shortlist was announced on the 23rd October 2012 and comprised
- The Death of King Arthur by Simon Armitage
- Bee Journal by Sean Borodale
- Ice by Gillian Clarke
- The World's Two Smallest Humans by Julia Copus
- The Dark Film by Paul Farley
- P L A C E by Jorie Graham
- The Overhaul by Kathleen Jamie
- Stag's Leap by Sharon Olds
- The Havocs by Jacob Polley
- Burying the Wren by Deryn Rees-Jones
I think the last time I listened to someone reading poetry I was at secondary school. This was a fabulous evening - two thousand people breathing quietly whilst each of the poets presented their work. I'd forgotten how grounding poetry is - there were a range of accents, representations from Scotland and Wales, two American finalists (one, Sharon Olds, was announced the winner the next day, her reading is on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8xaXoK4Mz8) along with all of the readings (youtube and then poetry book soc) and a rather impressive MC (surely there is a better word?) who gave short introductions for each finalist - complete with references to their past works or their writing styles or inspirations. And then there was the range of material - some personal, some people watching, some abstract, and all captivating and inspiring (there it is - the word).
Mum came to stay last week and we had a couple of nights out on the town. The first one, the film version of "Les Miserables". We'd both seen the stage version as one of my friends played Marius for a while. It surprised me that I've only seen the stage version, don't own the soundtrack but still seemed to know the songs. It has to have been the noisiest cinema I've been in for a long time (the largest Odeon on Leicester Square) but once the opening began it was quiet - not even the rustle of popcorn and slurping of soft drinks.
And then Thursday night. Mum and I went to the première of "House of Cards" - an American adaptation of Michael Dobbs' work. Some of you may remember Iain Richardson and his fabulous performance on the BBC mini-series. Well this time it is Kevin Spacey in the leading role. The première was the first two episodes followed by a Q&A with the writer, director (David Fincher) and the main three cast members. It was a first for mum too - as she got to walk in on the red carpet!
So this weekend is relaxing, catching up on the blog and talking to friends, the next book for Waterstone's and then eating and sleeping, all whilst avoiding going out in the snow!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Maryx
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