As is true for most, the end of
the year is a busy time. 2016 proved even more so than usual for me and I
couldn’t find the time to squeeze in any writing. I hope you’ll forgive this
bumper post which will be both a look back at 2016 and a look ahead.
First off, theatre highlights from the past year. An
early performance that certainly left its mark was Dinosaur Park, a quirky show by a talented trio that weaves a
re-telling of Jurassic Park with a
moving family story. Even for someone who isn’t an avid Jurassic Park fan this is a fantastic show – funny, clever, and with a
real emotional kick.
Another highlight, also
associated with a film – The Rocky Horror
Show. Not having seen the film I didn’t know exactly what to expect – I
knew it was a cult classic, was familiar with some of the costumes, and of
course, knew the Time Warp. What ensued was one of the most fun shows I’ve been
to. The performance itself was brilliant but the atmosphere in the theatre
certainly added to the experience.
Finally, a comedy show – Randy Writes a Novel. A purple
Australian puppet may not be your average weeknight entertainment but this was
well worth it. He had the audience in fits of laughter, and dealt well with the
general reluctance to participate, but there were plenty of more serious
moments where he spoke about more difficult issues. A comedian that can make
you laugh and think all at the same time.
It’s difficult to choose
highlights of days out both in the UK and further afield, but here are a few
that stand out. Portmeirion had a full post for me to gush about it in but it
deserves a mention here too. This decorative Italianate village in north Wales
will transport you to a different world. Colourful, slightly eccentric, and
beautifully peaceful, a happy afternoon can be spent exploring this gem.
The Historic Dockyards at Chatham
proved a surprisingly fun day out. I was originally there for a Call the Midwife locations tour (highly
recommended for any fans) but the dockyards themselves proved plentiful entertainment.
There are ships from broad periods, a submarine to board, and a Victorian
ropery.
Sticking with the history theme,
Chartwell, Winston Churchill’s home in Kent is in beautiful surroundings and
has plenty to keep all the family entertained. They had a Winnie the Pooh trail
when I was there, swings are dotted around the estate, and the café had some
simply delicious chocolate cake. Even on what turned into a rainy day, this was
a brilliant trip.
The most recent jaunt abroad took
in Copenhagen at Christmas. Activity-wise the highlight was probably Tivoli
Gardens. Bedecked in festive lights, it felt truly magical. Bustling Christmas
markets, a light show to music from The
Nutcracker, and an impressive firework display – if you find yourself in
Denmark’s capital during the festive season this is a must-see. I can’t write
about Copenhagen without a nod to their incredible cycling infrastructure which
truly puts the UK to shame.
Another major highlight from the
year’s travels was Paris. I can’t choose just one thing, there’s so much it has
to offer. The Louvre is just incredible, the view from Notre Dame breathtaking,
and you can easily imagine Claude Frollo or Quasimodo lurking just beyond the
staircase on the descent. I fell utterly in love with the small town feel of
Montmartre with its bustling markets, creative vibe, and quirky side streets.
You feel the culture and history as you wander the streets of this remarkable
city, take in the sights, or enjoy a peaceful amble on the banks of the Seine
- I hope to spend many more happy days exploring. The only downside is that the
delicious pastries available in their many boulangeries has utterly ruined the
British alternatives (aim for the year – learn to make pastry the French way).
Finally, to books, of which many
more have been consumed than have made an appearance on here. A Little Life continues to haunt many
months after embarking. See the full post for further details of its power, but
I’ll just say that it is a remarkable character study that becomes all
consuming. Heartbreaking and illuminating.
Another highlight is a short gem
of a book – Doctor Glas by Hjalmer Söderberg. Using the narrative form of a journal the reader
is privy to our protagonist’s thought processes as he carries out his duties as
a doctor and ruminates on topics such as assisted suicide and abortion.
Published in 1905, his views were considered shocking and the author suffered a
harsh backlash for their inclusion. For the modern reader it is a wonderfully
realised deconstruction of Glas’s mental state and tackles issues that although
not as shocking today, continue to cause debate.
Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo also deserves a mention. Hugo is infamous
for his penchant for lengthy tangents that are mostly irrelevant to the story,
but Notre-Dame is not so bogged down
in these digressions as Les Miserables, and
it is a far smoother read because of it. The story moves at ample speed and has
a marvellously constructed villain who is infuriating in his determination and
wickedness. The characters are all three-dimensional, their stories cleverly
woven together. It’ll certainly tug on your heartstrings but there’s also
humour to be found. At its core is a gripping story handled masterfully by one
of France’s national treasures.
I also
discovered this excellent open source journal in 2016. It’s run by the
Department of Victorian Studies at Birkbeck College and I have been happily
making my way through their issue archive.
As for
the year ahead, well, hopefully it’ll include making some headway with the
serious backlog of book posts currently taunting me. After finishing reading The Saga of Gösta Berling I intend to
move on to What Would Mary Berry Do?, which
should be something of a gear change to my recent reading fodder. It may then
finally be time to finish the Chaos
Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness with Monsters
of Men. I hear it’s a bit of a tear-jerker so better stock up on the
tissues! I’ll then likely scuttle back to the nineteenth century but have no
set reading plan (though do have an ever-increasing to-read list/pile). Any
recommendations always welcome.
A while
back I saw a blog of someone who had baked their way through an entire Mary
Berry cookbook and blogged their efforts. Ever since reading their blog I’ve
been keen to try out every recipe in a cookbook myself. This being a very Mary
Berry Christmas, I received My
Kitchen: 100 Cakes and Bakes, which may well be the one, though I’ll give
myself more than a year, there is such a thing as too much cake…
I’m also entering
the year with a satisfying stash of tickets, starting with The Red Shoes this evening. I’ve heard only good things about it so
have high hopes. There’ll also be a few old favourites including The Phantom of the Opera and Woolf Works. Wayne McGregor’s take on a
selection of Virginia Woolf’s writings almost had me in tears last time, and I’m
hoping it won’t have lost any of its power. There’s also, finally, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on the
horizon (and, I hear, an exhibition at the British Library later in the year
which will doubtless be one to see). I admit I have read the script so the
story won’t be a surprise, but from reading it I could just imagine how
incredible the production value will be and can’t wait to see it brought to
life on stage.
It looks set to be
another busy year and hope it’ll be a good one. Happy new year one and all, may
it bring peace and happiness.
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