Happy New Year to all my
thousands of readers! What? I'm only writing this blog for my own
amusement, and that of two of my friends...?
Ah well. Plough on!
2014 was an annoying year for me, mainly because the number 4 is broken
on my keyboard, and so everytime I want to type 4 I have to google FOUR
and then copy the 4 symbol. So, that was a pain in the ass. But aside
from that, it was a pretty good year!
My fellow blogger (and one
of my only two friends, previously mentioned) suggested to me that I
should write a post about my favourite things from the past year. It
seemed like a fun way to spend half an hour, and HERE WE ARE!
My Favourite Book
My book of the year, despite
being published in 1926, is Winnie the Pooh. Having always been a fan
of the films, the sweet little dolls and the wonderful link to
Taoism, 2014 was the first year I picked up the book and read it. And
read it again. And dipped in and out of it over and over, much like
Pooh himself dipping in and out of a large jar of honey. Because
that's how the book feels, like a big jar of sweet honey; a
comforting escape from the real world. But it still manages to offer
a great many insights to modern life, mindfulness and matters of the
heart.
But it does it in such a
sneaky way! Possibly the sneakiest, cuddliest philosopher, Winnie the
Pooh. I recommend it to everyone in the world, even those (especially
those) who say they are too grown up for children's books.
My Favourite Movie
I think it will have to be
Guardians of the Galaxy... I know, a great big blockbuster that was
everyone's favourite doesn't really make for great reading in the
blog of some Irish twenty-something girl sitting at home in her PJs, but I liked it
a lot and that's all I have to say to YOU.
I'm not going to analyse the
writing, the lighting and the jokes, because I don't know how and it would be rubbish. I will say that I laughed a lot,
fell in love with Chris Pratt and spent most of the year grooving away to
the soundtrack. And like the rest of the world, I watch Baby Groot dancing more times than is healthy.
My Favourite Music
Again, another favourite
that doesn't come from 2014. But FUCK IT, this is my blog and nobody
is reading it saying "Hey! You can't do that!", so
DEEEEEEAL.
It's a brilliant disco track
by the lady herself, Diana Ross. My Old Piano is one of those songs
that worms its way through your body and nests itself in a place you
didn't even know was there- a funky disco place that makes you shiver
(gross, I really made it sound like some kind of parasite).
It's a great song, and it
will make you feel like dancing (not like you have worms).
My Favourite Place
I'm sure everyone saw this
coming- Valentia Island. Even though I travelled to Cambodia, Peru
and Milan, Valentia beats them all (this is a lie. I did not leave
the country).
Valentia scores points for
four reasons-
1. It is outstandingly
beautiful.
2. I spent my time there
with some of my favourite people.
3. We ate a lot of really
good food
4. By going there for the
weekend, I temporarily conquered the little voice in my head
screaming "BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A MILLION PANIC ATTACKS"
and that felt lovely.
Valentia was fantastic, and
we filled our days with excellent things- early morning walks in the
harbour, late night arguments and beer, breaking into an old
lighthouse, spotting the treetops of a prehistoric forest, and almost
getting to visit a chocolate factory (it was closed).
And me and my boyfriend
arrived on the island at sunset, which is just the most perfect way
to arrive anywhere. It makes you look like some kind of Sun
Goddess, I recommend it to every woman.
My Favourite Waste of Time
Last January I set myself a
task! This task was that by the end of the year I would be
proficient- nay, magnificent- at watercolour painting. Now, I
did not exceed any expectations here, but I am fairly handy with a
brush and paint at this stage, and that'll do me!
I had a lot of fun learning
how to splash colours about the page to make a pleasing picture and I
am very happy with my skills today.
