It’s been twelve months, to the day. 365 days ago, I posted the first entry on www.goodrichard.com, not knowing how long I would be keep writing for, or what I would be writing about. But, I am still here writing, and, looking back, they have been a very busy twelve months.
So, month by month, what were the highlights?
January
Starting at the end of January 2007, there were only three posts in the first month. Objects around the home were doing their best to test me, with the DVD recorder not recording, and the kitchen radiator ticking. A Watch with Mother night at the South Bank brought happy childhood memories back, though.
February
Not knowing where my journey would take me, I added to the 65,000 bloggers already writing. Carbon footprint worries got bigger while The Archers audience got smaller. There were visits to Framlingham Castle and Southend, and we saw the first snow of the year, while views of Primrose Hill on Valentine’s evening will be remembered for some time yet. Motoring achievements included the Trabant’s 50th anniversary and the driving of Volkswagen’s latest range.
The view from Primrose Hill, February 2007
March
The start of spring produced some long exposure night-time pictures of the South Bank, and some natural word photos at Alton Water reservoir. Keeping with the nature theme, the Luigi Colani – Translating Nature exhibition at the Design Museum provided some organic thinking. I celebrated the Barbican, and Ipswich docks, too, which were both bathed in unseasonal sunlight. I also found out that library borrowing had been brought into the cyber century, while Volkswagen showed technological developments at the Geneva Motor Show, with the launch of the Polo BlueMotion.
Frog at Alton Water Reservoir, Suffolk, March 2007
April
The end of the first third of the year was quieter, but events were no less significant. The first unofficial leaks of Kylie’s X were to be found circling cyberspace, and my musical taste buds were tickled by London six-piece, Lucky Soul. New life was the theme of April, with Will Norris coming into the world, the planting of herb seeds, and my feet being treated to a new pair of running shoes. Geocaching got us out and about in Essex finding treasure and old cars, while Sizewell and Sandford Mill were host to equally entertaining afternoons.
Herbs were planted in April 2007
May
The fifth month of 2007 brought Eurovision fever, and a speedy car and train trip to France. Sticking with an automotive theme, Volkswagen surprised everyone and pulled the covers off the ultimate Super Golf, the GTI W12, and we enjoyed the Stanford Hall VW show, and a spot of camping. Cultural highlights included The News Quiz, a chat by Stephen Bailey at the Design Museum, and the much-talked about Kylie exhibition at the V&A.
Kylie - The Exhibition opened its doors in May 2007
June
The midway point of the year brought visits to the Essex coastal resorts of Frinton and Walton, while Suffolk soil was tramped at Bury St Edmunds. Cardiff was also host to my first visit to Wales. The bike was woken from its somewhat long hibernation, and was used for a day sketching the canals of Chelmsford, while a new Polo GTI whizzed us up to the north east of England for a week away. There were more cars at Canary Wharf’s MotorExpo, and GTI International 2007. Progress on the herbs was encouraging, and we planted out the vegetable patch. Musical highs were brought by the This is Tomorrow Saint Etienne film premiere, and more leaks from Kylie’s X.
VW Polo GTI provided fast and dry transport in June 2007
July
July started with starvation (of email due to account inactivity and termination), but future meals were provided by the making of soup with the first of the herbs, fruit picking, and a visit to Wyken Hall farmers’ market. An almost flooding of the office proved fretful, as did the ongoing gearbox problems with the car, which were finally rectified. Entertainment was provided by a night’s racing and the Pet Shop Boys at Newmarket racecourse.
August
Architectural goings-on trickled through August’s entries. I became a follower of the Save Milton Court campaign, and saw the part-demolotion of the P&O Building in London’s Leadenhall. Ickworth House in Suffolk showed what can be built on a grand scale, while the O2 and the wind turbine at Lowestoft demonstrated that modern structures can be large, too. Looking up to the sky was essential to catch the Event Horizon exhibition, to see where our kite was flying on Aldeburgh beach, and where the planes were soaring through the air at Wings and Wheels.
The upwards demolition of the P&O Building started in August 2007
September
The last quarter of the year started with stunning scenery and the best-ever holiday at home in the south west. Broomhill Pool in Ipswich held its heritage open day, while train delays made us wish we were only holiday again. Spending a lot of time in the kitchen, beetroot cake, quince jelly, marmalade, and tomato chutney were all baked and made. Heralding a new era in city cars, the Volkswagen up! was revealed, just as the company’s cars were featuring in Hollywood blockbuster, The Bourne Ultimatum. Musically, and to great excitement, the first official details of Kylie’s X were released.
Torquay in early September was unseasonally warm
October
The darker nights saw the near-end of the herbs, while we tried our hands at making sloe gin. Orford Ness provided insights into a secret past, while fine food and a special occasion were enjoyed at The Leaping Hare restaurant. Sleep was economical, as the problems from March resurfaced, and economy of an impressive sort was trumpeted as the Polo BlueMotion finally hit UK shores. The Kylie comeback trail was well and truly blazed, with the premiere of single 2 Hearts, the White Diamond film, and still more leaks from X. Technology was tried and tested with the launch of The Archers podcast, and a download from Channel 4’s on-demand service, 4oD.
October 2007 saw the BBC launch The Archers podcast
November
The month before Christmas gave us a busy day early on, with visits to the MPH car show, Borough Market, and Zaha Hadid and Matthew Williamson exhibitions at the Design Museum. The Save Milton Court campaign stepped up a gear, but demolition was sadly confirmed. Majorcan memories from 2007 gave a European taste, while a visit to Country and Eastern in Norwich offered an altogether Far Eastern influence. With the onset of winter, a review of the heating at the flat proved that it wasn’t in the best of health, while reviews of a musical and literary kind came in the shape of Kylie’s X, and Daphne du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn.
December
Christmas and preparations for the festive season dominated December, making for fewer blogging visits. But beyond the homemade cards, colds, and Christmas cake, the Market Café in Aldeburgh brought a welcome reprieve.
January 2008
Strictly speaking the thirteenth month, 2008 dawned with ill trains and an even sicker me. Technologically, the BBC iPlayer impressed, while Fiat’s 500 showed that retro can be cool. Thoughts of slimmed down life were pondered, as was the national state of chicken sheds thanks to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Chicken Out! campaign. A night at The British Museum was a cultural highlight, while being back in the garden was a horticultural delight.
Find out what else has happened in Year One by clicking on any of the month links to the right. If you’re a regular passenger, I hope you’ve enjoyed the ride, and if you’re just an occasional traveller, I hope you’ve found something of interest. Here’s to 2008!