So that was 2025 then. Already.
Gaming
From looking back at the blog seems I ran 15 sessions of D&D and 5 sessions of Brindlewood Bay.
In my two gaming groups I played lots of D&D, a few sessions of Dr Who, quite a bit of Pathfinder 1e and a couple of sessions of Starfinder. Also a session of Troika. At the start of the year, we also got to a pause in the ongoing Space 1889 saga with us planning to take out several war-of-the-worlds-type Martian bases.
I also managed to get play through one scenario of the Arkham Horror Card Game and one game of Gloom of Kilforth.
On the video game side of things I managed to finish The Excavation of Hobs Barrow. Good folk-horrory, cosmic-horrory game.
Visual Media
I managed to go to the cinema once this year (actually the first time this decade) to see Weapons, which was… well it’s a fine line between clever and stupid (RIP Rob Reiner). Anyway Weapons was highly enjoyable.
I can’t remember if I watched anything on streaming that was new this year apart from the new Knives Out film which was quite good.
It wasn’t a great year for TV really. Severance series 2 had some good bits (goats, ORTBO). Adolescence was technically brilliant but as I don’t have kids I kind of didn’t get the same emotional punch that other people got. The new series of Stranger Things is… well just more Stranger Things but has at least continued the Derek renaissance started by Shrinking.
So my actual favourite TV show of the year was Dept Q, the dark Scottish crime show based upon a dark Scandi-noir book but also quite funny and with MVP Akram, the ‘civilian’ assistant.
I’ve also had a subscription to National Theatre At Home this year as we’re stuck inside for… reasons. I’ve watched some good stuff on too - a sweary play about the Bronte sisters starring Gemma Whelan, one about Nicola Walker teaching Welsh Miners and London Tides, based on Dickens with some epic music by PJ Harvey’s.
Audio media
This year I have almost exclusively listened to 80s bands - Propaganda, The Cardiacs, Half Man Half Biscuit, Swans, Nine Inch Nails (they count just) - and Doom Folk (Lankum, John Francis Flynn)
I’ve listened to a fair few podcasts too. I noticed that my backlog was up to 324 hours so I’ve made an effort to get through them. And now it’s only… 377 hours.
Anyway, I’ve listened tti lots of good stuff - actual plays of The Between and Brindlewood Bay, Grizzly Peaks Radio (Cthulhu) plus the usual monthly smart party/grognard files/Jackson Elias.
However, I think the best thing I listened to this year was… The Silt Verses (which finished a year ago I know). Truly excellent nasty horror satire. The river rises!
Books
I’ve managed to read quite a lot this year. I’ve already blogged about Tana French.
I managed to read a variety of stuff - some of the British Library tales of the weird series. Some Alan Moore and M John Harrison weirdness.
Also, more conventionally, the children of time books by Adrian Tchaikovsky and some books by Emma Newman (who also do a rather interesting podcast together about books and things they like).
Bargain of the year was probably the Raymond Chandler book I got from poor dead WH Smiths for £1. Look out for this guy - he can write.
I’ve also picked up a few graphic novels/comics this year. The Power Fantasy by Kieron Gillen was pretty good as was In the trees where nobody sees. I also liked Helen of Wyndhorn and Supergirl Woman of Tomorrow by Tom King and Bilquis Everly.
Other stuff
I signed up for another OU module on Statistics. Sort of wish I hadn’t now but slowly working my way through it.
I ought to have compared what I blogged with predictions for the year ahead with what actually happened I suppose. Maybe next time but that’s probably enough for now.
