2017 - shite

I don't think it would be unreasonable for me to describe 2017 as being shite.

I didn't think 2016, 2015, 2014 or 2013 could be topped. But they all were.

In the interests of being cheery on Hogmanay, here is my list of five things that made me happy in 2017 ...

5) Selling The House

Very double-edged sword this one but I was quite relieved when Bro and I closed on the sale of the family home. That relief collapsed very quickly into depression, for a number of reasons, but we closed it. Binning people's lives is hard, but we did it.

4) The Edinburgh Festival

My love for the Fringe is well documented and this year didn't disappoint. I was over-ambitious, injured myself on Day 1 and ultimately limped away half-way through it, but it was wonderful to be a tiny part of the largest arts festival in the world. I had hoped to take a show to the Festival this year ... maybe next.

3) My Niece

Hard to believe she turned 18 this year, left school, moved out and started Uni. But she did. I was never a part of the day-to-day minutiae of her life but I was proud and privileged to be standing on the sidelines, cheering her on.

2) Anya Anastasia, Alice Fraser and Bananarama

My love for young Ms. Fraser is well documented and I will get to that in the next section. However, in the absence of m'beloved Ms. Lili La Scala at this year's Fringe then I had an enormous cabaret-shaped hole in my heart, which was adequately filled by Ms. Anastasia. The last show of my 2017 Fringe, although I didn't know it at the time, and the best. She was simply wonderful.

The 'Nanas gig was just brilliant.

Joint 1) The Kincaid

M'beloved local has been something of a lifeline this year, moreso than previously. John and Morag (Mr. and Mrs. Owner) kept me grounded, Chef Robbie indulged me, and the regulars, many of whom are now firm friends, provided exactly the sort of banter I needed.

Joint 1) My Companion

In all the shite of the year, it would be hard to underestimate the impact of my Companion. She was always there, virtually or in reality, while forging her own career or raising her family.

I had a sudden and brutal attack of the shitters after seeing Alice Fraser (it wasn't causal). My Companion patiently waited outside the venue while I died in the loos at the Gilded Balloon. Young Ms. Fraser emerged, de-costumed after the show, and happily chatted away to her. My Companion told her how we had seen her earlier before the show, how she had wanted to take me and introduce me to her, and how I had said, "No, don't annoy her. She's preparing for her show ..." Alice said, "You should just have come over ..." I'll know next time.

Conclusions

It was a truly shite year. Frankly I'm amazed I'm still alive. 2018 has to be better. But there were moments in 2017 that made me smile so that's at least something ...

Happy New Year everyone.