Happy Hogmanay!
It's become a bit of a tradition for me to round off the year with a post reminding myself of some of the good things in the year. Having a toddler makes life mega busy and we've some had some great days and holidays this year, including our roadtrip to France, a holiday with friends and various other little weekends away. The year has involved a birth, a wedding and lots of birthday parties - all very exciting in different ways. Blogging-wise I listened to every album on Kurt Cobain's top 50 - an achievement of endurance I feel. I completed my 30 challenges before my 30th birthday - great fun. We've started a little Tuesday film club and we've watched some great films so far. I've also done quite a bit of brewing, learning loads in the process - I just need to drink them more quickly!

Music - My Favourite Music From 2013

My top 3 last year were Trent Reznor, Chvrches and Frightened Rabbit... and Last FM tells me that nothing has changed this year.

  • Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks: Awesome album #1 (I've also continued to listen to Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Ghosts I-IV and Year Zero... and am seeing NIN live again next year)
  • Frightened Rabbit - Pedestrian Verse: Awesome album #2 (I've intentionally not listened to it too much so I don't spoil it!)
  • Chvrches - The Bones Of What You Believe: Awesome album #3 (everything I'd hoped for and more)
  • Dum Dum Girls - End Of Daze: I don't know why I love this EP so much but I really really really do!
  • SONOIO - RED: old music recently discovered
  • Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City: a really good album that easily blasts their older stuff out of the water... instant classic!
  • The "Oh, Pioneer!" mixtapes - well worthy of a listen

Films - My Favourite Films From 2013

  • Trollhunter
  • Skyfall
  • Cockneys Vs Zombies
  • 30 Minutes Or Less
  • Perks Of Being A Wallflower
  • Source Code
  • Iron Man 3
  • Searching For Sugar Man
  • Taken 2
  • Robot & Frank

Films - My Least Favourite Films From 2013

  • Plan 9 from Outer Space
  • Shock Treatment
  • My Sassy Girl (Korean)
  • Idiocracy (Overall winner)
  • Skyline
  • Twilight Eclipse

Books - My Favourite Reads Of 2013

I've done so little reading this year but here are some highlights:

  • Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter - The Long Earth
  • Warren Ellis - Iron Man: Extremis
  • Len Deighton - Berlin Game
  • Neal Stephenson - Anathem (part of the reason I've not read as much... it's epic!)
  • Joe Sacco - Safe Area Gorazde
  • Rob Gifford - China Road
  • Neil Gaiman - The Ocean At The End Of The Lane

2014 Resolutions

  • Get away on more family holidays
  • Go camping more often
  • Get fitter
  • Make the house feel more organised