Reasons to be Cheerful 2020

1. I May Destroy You destroyed. 191 drafts helped create the TV show of the year.
2. With my concentration on the floor and fatigue through the roof, I’ve taken to listening to audiobooks on BBC Sounds. Queenie, Nickle Boys and The Midnight Library were all great. Admittedly abridged, but something is better than nothing.
3. A big pile of washing up and a good podcast on the go.
4. Desert Island Discs with Samantha Morton. An incredible woman.
5. Adam Buxton’s jingles.
6. Where This Service Will Connect on Radio 4 was beautiful. If you like the Before trilogy or Nora Ephron, then you’ll love it.
7. Daisy May Cooper is a national treasure.
8. Motsi crying over Oti winning Strictly. I like seeing siblings that get along. I sometimes ask students in school about older siblings I taught: “What are they doing now?” “They’re at uni.” “Oh, what course?” “Don’t know.” “Which uni?” “Don’t know.” It must take more effort to not know where your brother/sister is living than to know where they are living.
9. Watching the computer game challenge on Taskmaster – an old episode, but we watched it for the first time.
10. In the park on Tuesday a crowd gathered to see a kingfisher. My dad always liked seeing them, so I thought I best take an interest. Harriet saw it immediately. Owing to my poor eyesight, I said, ‘I can’t see it, H.’ A ten-year-old overheard and said, “Come over here, I’ll show you.” I was a bit wary of following a child, but his mum gave me the nod. I still couldn’t see it. I liked the helpfulness of the kid. Sounding a bit Holden Caufield here aren’t I? I’m not going to start crying at a carousel or anything; it’s just nice to see someone young being kind.
11. Biden beating Trump.
12. A vaccine is on the way.
13. The hospital staff that gave my dad dignity.
14. The people in supermarkets who really deserve more credit for working throughout this pandemic.
15. I know that ‘Blinding Lights’ tune by The Weeknd is everywhere but it is pretty great.
16. The jokes about Dominic Cummings.
17. Season 2 of Sex Education.
18. The awe-inspiring athleticism of Cheer.
19. Those final moments of Better Call Saul.
20. Michael Sheen: great bloke, great actor.
21. The Last Dance was an incredible documentary. I watched it in the early hours when Kit was born.
22. Richard Osman’s lockdown quizzes.
23. Zoom: where would we be without it?
24. Louis Theroux’s Grounded. Always does a great interview.
25. Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ in Jojo Rabbit.
26. ‘He’s My Boy’ in Everybody’s Talking About Jamie.
27. Parasite winning Best Picture. ‘Once you overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.’ Director Bong Joon Ho nails it.
28. Adam Sandler’s performance in Uncut Gems. He should have been Oscar nominated.
29. Holding Kit for the first time.
30. Introducing him to the seaside.
31. Taking the boy on an old-fashioned steam train.
32. Knowing that he carries my dad’s name.
33. His first smile.
34. How he’s started to clasp our arm when we pick him up.
35. Great Ormand Street have done a fine job in clearing up his eye.
36. When our families held him for the first time.
37. The artwork he does with his mum.
38. The joy he brought to us at Christmas.
39. Harriet: an incredible partner. Dad died at a time when she was nine months pregnant. She supported me at a time when she may have felt fearful about going into hospital alone. She was brilliant during Kit’s birth too. On her own for four nights because of restrictions: she kept her head throughout.
40. I’ll always be grateful to my mum and brother. They took on so much after dad passed, understanding that I had to prioritise the baby.
41. Kieran getting his dream job.
42. After years of thinking of doing a show, I finally did one. I’m so thankful for everyone that came.
43. Dec for making a bit out of theatre out of my stories by accompanying them beautifully on guitar. His way with sound is something really special.
44. All of the thoughtful cards our family received. The words meant a lot.
45. The kindnesses people have shown Kit. The cards and gifts were quite overwhelming.
46. We’ve gone on two short family holidays to Dorset and Norfolk. To get out of the house and go to two lovely places was very fortunate.
47. A hot cup of coffee on a cold, cold day.
48. A ramble with my nearest and dearest.
49. Writing a nice message for someone.
50. I thought Normal People really captured what university was like – apart from the sex bit – that part of uni must have passed me by.
51. My family have been lucky with work this year. No one has been cut loose or furloughed.
52. This year I’ve had to lockdown and self-isolate twice. It does mean I’ve seen my little boy grow up. In the 7 and ½ months, I’ve been at home about 5 of them. It’s like I’ve got the paternity rights of a Scandinavian or something.
53. I say it every year, but I work with really lovely people.
54.  Watford ended the year with a win against top of the leaguers.
55. The documentary I listened to on Bury FC was great. Football can be dismissed but it’s a huge part of a town’s identity and economy – smaller clubs need more support.
56. Jim and Jen on their daughter; Scott and Laura on their son.
57. Rosie and Bruce on having twins. Hats off to you.
58. All the qualities I saw in Harriet have been highlighted as a mum: her silliness, focus, creativity and kindness.
59. The maternity team that looked after us at Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
60. The first Clap for Carers was very moving.
61. My Radio Times subscription. As I’ve said to Harriet, “It’s more than a TV listings magazine. It has interviews, podcast reviews, quizzes and streaming recommendations. The best magazine out there.”
62. Kieran got me a Beer 52 subscription. Eight beers each month and a tasty snack. Delicious.
63. All the time Phil put into designing my brother’s Christmas gift. (https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Pegsfootballprints)
64. Mackenzie Crook saying there might be more detectorists.
65. The new jumper I got for Christmas is so warm.
66. The Ranganation and Grayson Perry’s Art Club were perfect formats for socially distanced TV.
67. Just the way Grayson Perry is with members of the public. There’s no ivory tower with him. He is to art what Dickens was to prose: he walks amongst the people.
68. This Country and The Good Place show how you should end a sitcom.
69. Cooking with my earphones on.
70. The message I sent my dad has two blue ticks. Never have ticks meant so much.
71. I put up a mirror, baby monitor and coat rack using my new drill. This achievement satisfies me far more than any qualifications.
72. I was all fingers and thumbs when Kit was first born. I didn’t feel very confident or comfortable. Now, he fits hand in glove. I’ve loved getting to know him.
73. The fact Harriet’s family get on so well with mine. I know how much respect my dad had for them. No, Montague and Capulet war to see here.
74. Bev, Zoe, Jonnie, Fi, Ben and Jim who got new jobs.
75. Clare doing such a good job with Rich in her virtual masterclass.
76. House of Games. I’d go as far to say that it’s my favourite quiz show. Sorry Victoria: love the surreal intros and fiendishly difficult rounds, but it’s all about the Osman.
77. Like him or not, Keir Starmer has made Labour electable. He’s got ice in the freezer, but he does need fire in the belly.
78. I’ve really enjoyed writing my ‘Pram in the Hall’ blog. Thank you to everyone who has read it.
79. Friday evenings.
80. My mum who has shown incredible resilience.
81. My brother getting his new place.
82. Matt starting his career in nursing.
83. Dancing under the Christmas tree to 'Fairytale of New York' with my boy and Harriet..
84. Sarah on qualifying.
85. Sir Michael on Twitter. It’s rare that I cry with laughter, however his post on buying a bucket had me.
86. The first mince pie of the year.
87. Finding the hidden Gruffalo in Julia Donaldson/ Axel Scheffler books.
88. If you want to see what good writing is, you can throw all your Booker Prize novels in the bin. Lynley Dodds’ Hairy McClary books might be aimed at children, but her precision with lexis and rhyme is really something. The Dylan Thomas of children’s literature.
89. We have a buddy system at work where you’re paired up and someone buys you a gift from time to time. Mine has been very generous. The Richard Ayoade book, ‘The Grip of Film’ was a right touch.
90. My year started with my brother gifting me a VIP experience at Watford FC. We had lovely food, a great seat, beat Wolves 2-1 and even received a complimentary programme.  
91. Watford beating Liverpool 3-0 – it seems so long ago.
92. The work Watford FC did during the first wave, effectively giving over the ground to the hospital so staff would have somewhere to eat and rest away from the challenges that were taking place next door. I’m glad I support a community-minded club.
93. The Athletic: I pay a £1 a month for excellent journalism. I don’t pay anything for The Guardian. I guess we should pay more for our media.
94. A cup of tea in my hand, an idea in my head and fingers on the keys. (I’m talking about a laptop. I’m not Fats Domino.)
95. Edgar Wright on Films To Be Buried With. Unbridled enthusiasm for cinema. Let’s hope cinemas make a glorious return next year.
96. I’m still getting paid to talk about books. On the flip side, I’m also teaching subordinate clauses, so it ain’t all roses.
97. Joe Pera dancing to ‘Baba O’Reilly.’
98. I had the most wonderful dad. He gave me a blueprint of what a good dad should look like. I’ll only have myself to blame if I don’t do a good job of it.
99. I am happy. Not as happy as I could be. But if my dad were here I probably wouldn’t have recognised how great I had it. I’m so pleased he knew we were having a little one. I do wish he got to see him though.
100. I’ll leave you on a video of our little Alex Horne.