Reasons to be Cheerful 2024

1. Harry's final act of betrayal in the last episode.

2. Jazatha Christie uncovering the dark arts of Harry and Paul.

3. "Paul just couldn't be my son - but Ross is."

4.  I really enjoyed The Traitors. January is the cruelest month and you need some good tele.

5.  Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams did more to represent young working-class life than any other show this year.

6.  Baby Reindeer for its messy murky brilliance.

7.  Danny Dyer showed what a good actor he is in Rivals.

8.  Mr Bates showed how TV can be a vehicle for good.

9.    Mr Inbetween was the best thing I saw on tele this year. Nothing was funnier, nothing more devastating. Perfect in its comedy and drama.

10.  One Day's soundtrack.

11.   I still get a kick out of Elton John holding up a Watford membership card in Step Into Christmas.

12.    Growing to like the contestants in Race Across The World. 

13.    Going to The Rex to watch a film.

14.    Watching James Acaster in Hackney. 

15.    Getting a book at Xmas. There was a moment that I thought my family wouldn't come through, but then at the death my mum delivered David Peace's Munichs.

16.    Gareth Southgate on Desert Island Discs. What a great man!

17.    I loved all of Louis Theroux's podcast interviews.

18.    Benji's book doing so well.

19.    Listening to The Football Ramble. 

20.    Having a brew and a slice cake with my mum on Friday. (She doesn't always put on a bake, but if I write this it might encourage her to do this regularly in the new year.)

21.    I did a 10k in Welwyn. I wasn't fast but I got round without seeing St John's ambulance at the end.

22.    The In Writing With Hattie Crissel interviews

23.    Richard and Marina on The Rest is Entertainment.

24.    Paddington 3 with Kit. His first full picture at the cinema.

25.    Irish writers are the ones for me. Bee Sting, Long Island, Rachel's Holiday, Intermezzo, Close to Home, Strange Sally Diamond - all books I loved this year. 

26.    David Baddiel and Miriam Margoyles wrote my favourite memoirs this year.

27.    Being thrown off a lilo repeatedly by Kit on holiday. He laughed every time.

28.    A breakfast buffet in our hotel.

29.    Getting away to the sun in April.

30.    Jude's birthday on the beach

31.    Kieran and Zoe getting engaged in Swanage.

32.    Taking Jude on the steam train

33.    The boys meeting Santa - the first time they didn't cry.

34.    The four of us sitting together on Christmas Eve watching Stick Man.

35.    Rod and Allyson having an offer accepted on their house.

36.    Baby Nile

37.    Xmas market with Bev and Jonno.

38.    Jim and Jen moving into their new home.

39.    Andy doing his hour

40.    Dec getting down on one knee

41.    Watford were unbeaten at home until Sunday.

42.    Bellingham and Watkins in the last minute

43.    Keely Hodgkinson running to victory.

44.    Watching The Olympics each night.

45.    Kit got a certificate for his attitude to reading.

46.    Jude chatting away

47.    Seeing Kit in his nativity. He was a great Shepherd no. 5.

48.    Doing more A Level teaching

49.    The first Baileys of winter

50.    Toast and ketchup. I know it's boring, but it's my favourite part of a fry-

up.

51.    The Tories being decimated

52.    Maisie Adam's crowd work.

53.    Playing pirates in the park with Kit.

54.    Jude shouting 'load the cannons.'

55.    Having Kit on my shoulders looking at all the colourful beach huts.

56.    A fitting conclusion to Gavin and Stacey.

57.    Watford having some flair players.

58.    Kieran and Zoe getting new jobs.

59.    Harriet doing well on her course

60.    Burger and chips on a Friday.

61.    Chris McCausland winning Strictly.

62.    The scarecrow of the Gallaghers at the Flamstead festival.

63.    My birthday fell on the day of the scarecrow festival and I couldn't have been happier. Beer and British eccentricity: what more could you ask for?

64.    Two teenagers teaching Kit crabbing on the pier.

65.    Having a takeaway to celebrate the end of term.

66.    I was in a ball pool with Beppe di Marco from Eastenders.

67.    Taking Jude swimming

68.    Bike ride with Harriet on our anniversary.

69.    The staff at Kit's school.

70.    Kit taking a leap of faith at trampolining 

71,    Our local hospital, which is a good one.

72.    When the boys laugh together

73.    Living room disco on a Saturday night.

74.    Kit saying, "I love you." He doesn't give it away, so it means a lot.

75.    Borrowbox and Libby app. You really don't need Audible.

76.    Reading a chapter a night with Kit

77.    Kit learning to read

78.    Reading a book on holiday.

79.    Upping the speed on an audiobook when you're so immersed in it that you could put it on fast and still follow it.

80.    Having a cup of coffee on a Saturday.

81.    Watching videos of Jude from his music class.

82.    Long winter walks with the family

83.    Jude going on Thomas The Tank Engine.

84.    H had a voucher for GoApe. We enjoyed it.

85.    Kicking towards the home end in the second half.

86.    The chocolate tin being passed around

87.    Our neighbours bought us a huge bag of Twirls.

88.    The library is the centre of civilisation.

89.    Man City and Manchester United imploding.

90.    Mackenzie Crook's Christmas introduction to detectorists.

91.    Lesser fancied teams doing well in the Premier League.

92.    Philomena Cunk disagreeing with academics.

93.    It may have been a Brat summer, but Charli XCX has nothing on CBeebies theme songs.

94.    The minisode 'Goldilocks' on Bluey.

95.    The staff in my school are good sorts.

96.    Getting a question right on Only Connect.

97.    Doing the Radio Times puzzles in bed with Harriet. We have become Morecambe and Wise.

98.    The Assembly with Michael Sheen.

99.    I got a 6 pack of a beer from a student's family this Christmas.

100.    I didn't think I was going to meet Beppe di Marco in a ball pool this time last year. So it's exciting to think what's in store for me next year.

Reasons To Be Cheerful 2023

1.    Kit saying "That was amazing" after we watched a little panto at the library.

2.   Our local library for all they do. Jude goes to rhyme time and messy play every week. Libraries are children's centres, social hubs, grief cafes and IT access for people who don't have it. They are very special places.

3.    Taking Kit to see Acorn Wood at the local theatre and watching him so enraptured by his books coming to life.

4.    Kit on the toilet impersonating me reading The Radio Times: (Whilst flicking through a magazine) "On Sunday there's going to be football."

5.    The Radio Times goes from strength to strength. I have little energy to read in term time so it's often the only thing I physically read each week.

6.    I have, however, listened to a lot of audiobooks this year. My favourites have been The Wonder by Emma Donoghue, Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Mr Loverman by Bernandine Evaristo. Cracking books with excellent readers.

7.    I am reading Watford Forever by John Preston - and loving it. It's by the writer of A Very English Scandal but is it about a very lovely friendship between Elton John and Graham Taylor.

8.    I've got some great books and audiobooks to be getting on with: David Mitchell's Unruly, Peter Kay's Big Adventures on the Small Screen and Claire Keegan's Small Things Like These.

9.     I read that Colm Toibin is bringing out a follow-up to Brooklyn in the new year. Also, David Nicholls has got a new book on the way.

10.    Whilst H takes Jude to a baby class, I sit in Waterstones and just read books with Kit for an hour.

11.    Dancing in the street at our road's Coronation party.

12.    Kit singing to Jude when he's sad.

13.    The first time Kit gave his brother a kiss.

14.    Jude's hair, which resembles Doc from Back to the Future.

15.    Watching Dear England with my brother. I don't think I've ever had such a good time at the theatre.

16.    Going to see Bluey's Big Play. I'm so glad Kit watches Bluey.

17.    The Bluey episode 'Rain' is probably the best thing I've seen this year. To be fair, we don't watch much these days.

18.    Saying that, I loved Colin From Accounts.

19.    Happy Valley was strong too.

20.    Welcome to Wrexham was even stronger in the second series by broadening its scope onto the women's team and the club's mining background.

21.    The last series of Ted Lasso wasn't much cop, but he remained a great character until the end.

22.    Really got into Race Across The World this year. Gutted Bonnie and Billy couldn't see it through, but lovely, lovely people.

23.    Raye's interview on Louis Theroux Interviews. Knew nothing about her going in and came out really respecting her.

24.    Watching quiz shows with H.

25.    Still listen to 'Must Watch' each week. A great pod for TV recommendations.

26.    I remain loyal to the Football Ramble. Still the best football podcast out there.

27.    Mark Kermode remains the oracle.

28.    Other audiobooks I really enjoyed this year were Lamplighters, YellowFace and Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo.

29.    One week I listened to Bob Mortimer's autobiography and the next I listened to his novel - it was a good two weeks.

30.    Teaching The Great Gatsby to Year 12s. Its prose is utterly gorgeous.

31.    I taught the nicest group of Year 11s this year. Hardworking, intelligent, modest. They were a credit to the King. How they didn't make the Honours List I'll never know.

32.    Pleased to see Michael Eavis and Mary Earps on the Honours List.

33.    Good to see Mary Earps win Sports Personality as well. Great with her hands and an expletive.

34.    The England Women nearly going all the way.

35.    That Chloe Kelly penalty. You won't see a better spot kick.

36.    You will see a better goal though. Our Watford boy Wesley Hoedt scoring from the halfway line.

37.    Watford not sacking their manager when the going got tough.

38.    Having a Watford team we can support again: likeable players, doing their best; led by a manager that has a plan for playing.

39.    Had a little school reunion last week. Only seven of us, but that was close to covering all the heroes and legends of our year group.

40.    Dec and Beth buying their new home.

41.    Clare and Rich getting a new home.

42.    Bev and Jonno moving in.

43.    My brother living with Zoe.

44.    Matt getting his first nursing job.

45.    My brother's work gamble paying off.

46.    Zoe getting her Masters.

47.    My good lady wife getting on her Senior Leaders course.

48.    My mother and father-in-law having a well earned holiday in Austalia and Singapore.

49.    Having lovely holidays at the seaside with mum this year.

50.    Going to Center Parcs for Kieran's 40th with all the family.

51.    Kit saying 'I love you' to me. He isn't one that gives 'I love you' away for  nothing; I paid for it in hours of puppet shows and potty training.

52.    Jude saying, "Daddy." He said it last month and he hasn't said it since, so I'm best to enjoy that moment as it might not happen again.

53.    A friend of mine spoke about my Dad last week and it confirmed what I already knew: my Dad was a one-off, a very special man.

54.    I really like the plot where my Dad is. We've got a model of his favourite bird, the kingfisher, alongside pictures of Kit and Jude. I know he would be very happy there.

55.    Leonard and Hungry Paul was the loveliest book I read this year.

56.    Really enjoyed seeing Bridget Christie on a fantastic comedy bill in August.

57.    That night I went out with Harriet for the first time in a long time. I held her hand from Kings Cross to Chalk Farm - it's a good hand to hold.

58.    Got some lovely ear phones from the in-laws.

59.    Harriet bought me a coat, scarf and slippers for Xmas. All I really want in these my autumn years  is to be warm.

60.    I do love the build-up to Christmas. 

61.    Got a £15 M&S voucher from a kid at school. My biggest ever windfall as a teacher. Didn't deserve it one bit. Only teach them twice a week. Not complaining though. I'm going to have the biggest motherfucking teacake in that cafe.

62.    I don't get to see them as much as I like, but I've had good chats with Jim and Andy on the phone this year.

63.    Andy took a risk on leaving teaching, but is doing so well at building up his Comedy Ladder portfolio.

64.    Our school seemed to do alright with OFSTED.

65.    I really admire the people I work with.

66.    I went with my father-in-law to see Ria Lina in Oxford. We'd never really socialised over a whole day before. We drove up together, had dinner together, watched the show - and he still wanted to drive me home at the end of it. He's a great man.

67.    Jude's approach to eating. He eats as though someone at any moment could snatch all the ambrosia from him. I've never seen someone with such raw vigor.

68.    Jude's smile.

69.    Kit dressing up and getting into character: "I'm not Kit. I'm a dragon."

70.    Jude's kamikaze approach to slides. Where his brother is Caution, he is Chaos.

71.    Dancing with my boys in the living room.

72.    The Chugginton theme tune is my favourite song of the year. 

73.    My other favourite theme tune is GoJetters followed closely by Hey Duggie.

74.    I did really enjoy The National album First Two Pages of Frankenstein though.

75.    Barbie was a great watch. Well done to Gerwig.

76.    Richard Herring interviewing Rob Reiner. Spinal Tap 2 is in production.

77.    The look of pride in Kit's eyes when he does something well.

78.    Kit settling in well to nursery.

79.    Having a cup of tea with my mum when I pick up Jude. She normally has a slice of cake to go with it too.

80.    Jude's first birthday on the beach.

81.    Finishing my 10k and then catching up with an old friend. I mean that adjective in terms of friendship duration, Gayle - not your advancing years.

82.    Southgate and Weigman leading our national teams. Proof that you don't have to be Billy/Billie Big Bollocks/Vagina to manage.

83.    Grealish on the piss on the City bus.

84.    Lineker continues to stand up for refugees.

85.    Ian Wright was the true hero of Lineker's stand-off with the BBC. His solidarity meant the other pundits and commentators followed him off air. 

86.    Our union action getting teachers a pay rise. If it wasn't for the trade union movement then teachers, doctors and nurses would not have got a fair pay deal.

87.    I love reading to the boys, whatever the content. My head is constantly full of stories. 

88.    The Tories are approaching their endgame.

89.    Jude blowing kisses.

90.    I believe toast with ketchup is the unsung hero of a fry up.

91.    I made the move from Sainsbury's muesli to Sainsbury's granola - I'm pleased to say the gamble paid off.

92.    My mates that are expecting.

93.    I feel that my bond with Kit has really grown in the past few months. 

94.    Kit's look of wonder when he came down and saw the Christmas tree set up: "I think Father Christmas did it." He did, Kit; he did.

95.    Seeing his face come back from seeing the Rotary Club Santa outside our door. 

96.    Watching my wife with our boys. 

97.    Lying in bed with Harriet and doing the Only Connect puzzle in the back of The Radio Times. A salacious window into our bedroom world, I'm sure you'll agree.

98.    I'm so pleased that I lie and stand shoulder to shoulder with Harriet.

99.    The Caroline Aherne documentary was the best thing I saw over Christmas.

100.    In her house, Aherne had this quotation by Auden, "Among those I like or admire, I can find no common demonitator, but among those I love, I can: All of them make me laugh." How great is that? I'm married to someone who makes me laugh; I've got family and friends who do the same. It's all good.

Reasons to be Cheerful 2022

1.     Jude’s infectious smile.

2.     Jude’s babbling.

3.     The birth of Jude.

4.     The happiness a new baby brings to the whole family.

5.     Kit adapting well to his brother: we’ll take general indifference over raging jealousy.

6.     Kit’s speech coming on.

7.     Going with my mum to see Les Mis: she’d always wanted to go.

8.     The students in my debate team holding their own against selective schools.

9.     Kit saying, “He came,” when he opened his present from Santa.

10.  Kit’s mischievous giggle.

11.  How much Kit loves going to the library.

12.  The way Kit points at me and says, “You’re my daddy.” He seems surprisingly ok with the idea.

13.  Playing a new game at Christmas: we got Tension this year.

14.  My mum came through and got me a book this Christmas.

15.  Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers was my favourite book this year.

16.  Closely followed by the comic writer, Georgia Pritchet’s memoir, My Mess Is A Bit Of A Life.

17.  The women brought football home.

18.  England winning the Euros was great for the nation, but I was really pleased for my brother who has followed the women’s game for fifteen years.

19.  Watford keeping hold of Joao Pedro.

20.  Jude Bellingham showing wisdom beyond his years. A great first name too.

21.  Southgate staying on.

22.  The flight to and from Australia wasn’t the expected disaster: the boys slept pretty well.

23.  Sitting in Harriet’s aunt and uncle’s hot tub in Australia.

24.  Going to Fremantle: coffee bars, record shops and breweries. What a great place!

25.  Talking to Carl about classic British comedies.

26.  The pizza I had in that brewery in Mandurah was the best I’ve ever had.

27.  I saw an actual dolphin in the water.

28.  Carl and Linda made a great Chilli con carne on our first night in Australia.

29.  We saw kangaroos in the wild.

30.  Harriet’s cousin Emma finding out her art had sold whilst we were there.

31.  Clea getting her first acting jobs following her graduation from WAAPA.

32.  Baptising Jude’s feet in Swanage waters.

33.  The Good Friday episode of Derry Girls.

34.  Jack and Danny’s friendship in Big Boys.

35.  Jimmy and Kim sharing a cigarette.

36.  Ben Whishaw’s acting in This Is Going To Hurt.

37.  PJ Harvey’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Who By Fire’ on Bad Sisters.

38.  Loved the recent series of Taskmaster.

39.  I get things wrong at work, but I’m still grafting. My dad believed in graft and so do I.

40.  The Conservatives disproving the notion that they know how to govern.

41.  Boris Johnson being cast off into the wilderness. He said, “I’ll be back.” Unfortunately, I wouldn’t bet against him.

42.  My mum renewed my Radio Times subscription.

43.  My brother bought me an Audible subscription for my birthday and it’s allowed me to listen to classics I wouldn’t have had the time to read: Jane Eyre and Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

44.  BorrowBox is a great App. This year I’ve listened to Where The Crawdads Sing, Shuggie Bain, Adam Kay: Undoctored and Elton John: Me. All you need is a library card and you get all audio downloads for free.

45.  Our local library is wonderful. It is more than a book borrowing service. They provide free computers and internet for people that otherwise couldn’t access them. They provide daily craft activities and weekly play sessions for babies and toddlers. It is a children’s centre, social service and cultural hub. The library is very special.

46.  Having a cup of tea whilst doing my writing.

47.  I’ve really got into peanut butter and banana on toast because of Kit. It wouldn’t have been a combination I would have contemplated if Harriet didn’t do it for Kit. Now, I love it.

48.  The run-up to Christmas.

49.  We’re a mid-terrace and are bordered by very kind neighbours.

50.  Seeing Kit’s face when he jumps in a muddy puddle.

51.  Harriet’s mum and dad kindly treated us to a trip to Centre Parcs in November – Kit still talks about it.

52.  Laughing at one another’s incorrect answers when we play a game at Christmas.

53.  The homespun charm of Ted Lasso.

54.  Kit plays football on a Sunday. He is all over the place. A maverick without the mercurial talent. The coaches there are so kind with him though. Despite his incompetence, they enjoy his company. Seeing other people smile at him makes me feel unbiased about his qualities. I think he’s got the potential to be a very lovely boy and man.

55.  Finding the time to read.

56.  I did do a 10k in October, which although stupid, given I got up early to train for it, did give me a feeling of satisfaction.

57.  Belfast was the only film I saw in the cinema this year. Given it was the only one, it was a pretty good one to see.

58.  I listened to Sweet Bobby at the start of the year and was utterly gripped by it.

59.  My brother didn’t have a drill when he moved in, so I hung his memorabilia up for him. They’re still hanging. This shouldn’t be something I’m proud of, but power tools and me go together like oil and water.

60.  Getting to see Mark Rylance as Johnny Rooster in Jerusalem.

61.  Watching Mackenzie Crook on stage. Detectorists is my favourite sitcom of the last ten years, so to see him in person was great.

62.  I work with incredibly dedicated people.

63.  At the end of the school year, a student’s parent got me a crate of beer to say ‘thank you’. I’m not someone who gets given gifts by students and parents, despite my letter writing campaigns in the run-up to holidays; this therefore was a real treat.

64.  Kieran and Zoe.

65.  Taking myself out of my comfort zone and trying to do crafts with Kit.

66.  Watching my boys play in the water.

67.  Seeing Emma’s print in an art exhibition.

68.  Jill Scott winning I’m A Celebrity.

69.  Hamza and Helen getting to the final in Strictly made Harriet happy.

70.  An Allyson Woodhouse buffet.

71.  Harriet’s dad putting up with my limited practical skills.

72.  I saw Alan Partridge this year.

73.  Maxine Peake being interviewed on Desert Island Discs.

74.  Richard E Grant on Adam Buxton’s Podcast.

75.  Kermode and Mayo seamlessly made the transition from the BBC to Sony.

76.  Simon Mayo is a great interviewer.

77.  James Joyce’s Ulysses on Radio 4. I tried to read it at uni and failed. This was an abridged dramatisation and I loved it. Admittedly, the Dedalus parts weren’t to my liking, but the Bloom bits were great. I haven’t got the patience for the text; however, I think I’ll give the audiobook a go one day.

78.  The BBC turned 100. It is so important to me. It is where I get my education from. Whether it be a play on Radio 3, a book on Radio 4, TV reviews on 5 Live or a live set on 6 Music; I need it. And that’s just the radio.

79.  The England men and women’s football teams are fantastic role models.

80.  Rashford and Saka’s poetic dribbling was a rejoinder to the racist graffiti of online trolls.

81.  Ian Hislop challenging Gary Neville on Have I Got News For You.

82.  Joe Lycett taking ‘national hero’ David Beckham to task.

83.  Claire Keegan’s Small Things Like These chronicles true heroism in crystalline prose.

84.  Having dinner with my mum, Kieran, Harriet and the boys on Fridays.

85.  Teaching has made me more confident at dealing with tricky situations. I recently had a standoff in a mobile phone repair shop. I don’t like confrontation, but I didn’t blink. I gave them the full Eastwood; they gave me a full refund.

86.  My brother always gets me some nice ales on my birthday.

87.  Dec and I saw a bill at The Comedy Store. Troy Hawke headlined it. We had no idea who he was at the time. He’s now massive with his Greeter’s Guild character. It’s great when you see people before they become huge. It makes you feel smug. “I saw them before you heard of them,” you think, but don’t say.

88.  I made some cakes to thank mentors for their hard work this year. The cakes weren’t disastrous.

89.  One of the senior leaders in her assembly week has each student write a thank you note to a teacher of their choice. She then puts these messages in staff’s pigeonholes. I wasn’t inundated with notes (I didn’t have to apply to the site team for an extension for my pigeonhole), but the few I received were a fillip, a feeling that the effort is worth it.

90.  I just heard Grayson Perry got made a Sir. Personally, I would turn down an Honour, given my republicanism (unlikely I’ll ever have to have that difficult conversation with a Royal emissary; I don’t think they reward Services to Radio Times reading) but I’m pleased Grayson got recognised.

91.  A sell-out crowd at Wembley to watch The Lionesses roar.

92.  The time I’ve been able to spend with Jude. He’s coming up to five months. Through school holidays and paternity leave I’ve been at home nearly half of that time.

93.  Having a second child is less scary than having a first child. It’s busier, but less daunting.

94.  I think Kit has got a sense of humour. My dream of turning out one comedian need not be a pipe dream. I just need to be like Richard Williams and train him relentlessly to hit joke winners. And if my hunch is wrong and Kit is humourless, then his younger brother might have some jokes in him. I’ve doubled my chances now.

95.  Lionel Messi lifting the World Cup.

96.  My cousins who got married this year.

97.  My cousins in Sri Lanka and Canada who conformed to the stereotype of Sri Lankans being hardworking. Well done on your excellent qualifications.

98.  Matt and Sarah are doing so well in their respective professions.

99.  Allyson’s operation appears to have go well.

100.                 I have the most amazing partner in my life. Harriet is a wonderful mum, wife, teacher and friend. I have two beautiful children. I may ask myself, “How did I get here?”