Happy new year to you all.
Much has happened since last we blogged, so this post is a quick recap of the end of the year, the year itself, and then a look forward… all very Samantha Janus.
The month of November started with an emotional but enjoyable trip to town and an epic steak at the Duke St Food Market. The long awaited couches finally arrived (tip: don’t use Sofology) and I was able to sit comfortably at last and watch three excellent Italian football themed productions: the Maradona docudrama (very true to what I imagine his life to have been like) on Amazon Prime; Paolo Sorrentino’s incredibly beautiful Hand of God (in which one character has to make a very difficult decision) and Road to Wembley, the fantastic Italy documentary which told the story of their Euros win last year. Oh, the last two are on Netflix.
Meanwhile, the Peninsularly theme continued with Gino’s family adventures across the country I love and miss dearly. The sunshine and beauty there contrasted with the drab weather and mood here, what with Omicron and masks returning in a whirlwind of fear. As for wind, one lowlight of Autumn involved that old cliche of waking up to find the trampoline had blown over the fence to next door’s garden, standing proud as if having achieved a full flip of its own.
What larks we had, getting it back over to its rightful home!
The less said for the football at the end of the year the better, too, and the smug arrogance was tolerated with ever growing concern that bigger worries were around the corner. Talking of corners, I spent what felt like a lifetime creating a skirting board for the porch… the angles weren’t perfect and I went through a lot of filler but I was still proud of my work. Anyway, onto the more positive productions, and the fantastic feeling of being able to attend the Wondrous Place opening with friends I’d not seen for ages and the pride of our creation being back on show.
I’m sure I will have written about this before but there’s nothing quite like seeing your work on display, especially in surroundings like this, and the free bar and interesting fellow attendees made it a real night to remember.
Taking the kids and L to see it last weekend was already one of the highlights of this, or any, year… but more of that later.
Which brings me to other viewing and, despite pre-Christmas workload ensuring late night viewing or stolen half hours in the iPad, I really loved Hawkeye (New York at Yuletide? What’s not to?) Joker, Stay Close and the much anticipated Book of Boba Fett.
There were so many other little nuggets over the festive period, including some we watched as a family such as the first theatrical performance by Belle in A Christmas Carol; Disney’s lovely Encanto (but we don’t talk about Bruno) the kids’ nativities of course, and we finally got to a cinema to see a grown-up film together as a couple for the first time in years and were blown away by the beautiful, breathtaking West Side Story remake. It’s always been L’s favourite – and it evoked memories of sitting under Natalie Wood’s dress at Planet Hollywood in Times Square on the same date, many years before – and this version was arguably better.
Then, back to real life and reality, there were the real life observations, especially the street lights switch-on which incorporated a street party and chance to get to know neighbours for the first time in eight years.
It made our home feel even more special in time for the festive season.
However, the most flourescent gem I witnessed over the last couple of months was the final series of Gomorrah which I managed to fit into ten days’ viewing, either after wonderful wife went to bed or I sat next to silently on the iPad with pods in, devouring every word even though I had no idea what it meant, and the double crossing causing confusion but overall embellishing, in my opinion, the best tv series ever: over my lifetime I would have once given that accolade to Rentaghost, Jossy’s Giants, Our Friends in The North, This Life, The League of Gentlemen, Flight of the Conchords, Teachers, Boardwalk Empire… but now, this Christmas, a new title took their crowns.
I sat watching the final episode of serie 5 on said sofa with a Negroni in my hand and tears running down my cheeks, heartbroken at what happened and upon realising that this was the end of a journey I had shared with Ciro and Genny since my first newborn was just a few months old, eight years (well, a lifetime) ago.
I’ve devoured the accompanying music, too, introducing me as it has to the delights of Mokadelic, Franco Ricciardi (whose song in the last episode really made me think of a modern version of Pavarotti’s Caruso) and random Italian rap; the myriad characters (‘O Munaciello and Pure’n’Simple were particular favourites), but also the culture, fashion, architecture, lifestyles, dialect, history, pathos… but now, it was ending.
As was the year: a funny old year, 2021, featuring many hours’ (and pounds’) worth of house changes; ups and mainly downs in football, but including a fantastic Euros, deepening my love of all things Azzurri; some sadness, which I needn’t go into now; memorably meeting Tyson Fury, and other unforgettable meals and special moments; spending loads on Trickett (no amount can ever be too much!) and a fantastic family holiday in Wales.
But most of all, it was all about spending more time than ever with these three (a picture taken on our first proper opportunity to do a walk to school together on a rare day off)
I started the year promising I’d theme it around Neil Sedaka’s Calendar Girl… I simply have to end it that way, too.
(November) I’ll give thanks that you belong to me
(December) You’re the presents ‘neath my Christmas tree.
Everything was beautiful, and nothing hurt… but fingers crossed the next one is better!
Again, happy new year to you all: I wish you hope…
Nuje vulimme ‘na speranza; Hope is all we need to live a better tomorrow.
