Hello lovely peoples of the internet, film & BHAFC.

For those unaware as in previous years, this is a little different to my usual posts and reviews but this is the best place for me to spread my festive cheer (and sing out loud for all to hear). Its also the place i can write for a while & share on the rest of my platforms, so if your just here for the reviews apologies but this one is more about me than films. So thanks for being patient with me. Don’t worry the Popcorn for One Film Reviews Awards will be posted on here soon. Now that the generic disclosure copied & pasted with the dates changed from last year now lets type.

2017 will probably go down as one of my favorite years ever. Its been completely mad & bizarre & brilliant & i have loved every single second.

First off last Christmas our family dynamics changes as littleun moved up to the Hill with her other half. It was odd to start, but its still nice to face time, chat with them & send them memes all the time. Its nice to pop up there after work too. Papa got a new job which was the job he had anyhow, & mama is doing even more & more at work. Grandparents are all doing okay. Granddad turned 90 in the summer (told you hes going to live forever) & made his birthday last about a month.Good on him. Even our friends from Cornwall came up for it (they may as well be family). Littleun is being very brave & having everyone up for Christmas lunch. Good on her.

The new job, which people still ask me hows the new job going (even tho its not new anymore) is brilliant. I feel like I’ve been there forever & ever. It feels like a third family if that makes sense (my girls are the second obviously). I’m so happy to be working for them.

Friend wise we’ve had a very odd bonkers & weird year (so normal then). We decided to celebrate birthdays in different ways this year. We went to the zoo, a massive inflatable course, pottery painting, dinners, cocktail nights. Yea very random but very good. We’ve celebrated Christmas too yesterday with our own cook your own Christmas dinner feast (hence the hungover typing up).

4 of us went to Greece this year on holiday (& a day visit to Turkey thrown in). We went to a pure white beach, down a volcano, to an outdoor cinema, ate far too much Greek food & had too many drinks, but it was fun we all agreed it was our best summer holiday ever. Even the huge delayed fight home wasnt that bad. It wasnt by best holiday of the year tho.

I took (well he paid actually) Papa to New York for a week at the end of September. I could afford it & he could have the time off. So yea we hit up NYC & did everything. We walked & walked & sight saw & ate & laughed & went wow oh wow & had an amazing time. The best moment of the entire trip though was the look on dads face when he saw the city for the first time at night after going through that tunnel. Completely worth every penny & two hours in customs for just that one moment.

Event wise, not a very busy year cinema has taken over completely. But i did go to Wildlife Festival again Dizzy Rascal & Rudimental stole the show. Saw Mama Mia at the Brighton Centre & also saw the Jack Whitehall & Russell Brand at the Dome (protect the Quakers). But it was sport that stole the show.

The mighty Brighton & Hove Albion got promoted to the prem, yes they did. We are now living the dream in the upper east, & when last year we would be playing Burton Albion (no offence Nigel Clough) we are not playing Man City & Liverpool each week (love to the Klopp). Its been an amazing journey. Lincoln Citys adventure too was epic Papa & littleun went to the emirates to watch the FA cup dream & they ended up back in the football league too. What an amazing year of football it has been.

Dont think theres much else to report this year. The ankle is doing okay no real struggles so far. Did have the world slowest car accident but Harrison is now okay bless him. Also had a near death experience when the cupboards fell onto my bed about 5mins before i was about to get in it. Oh & we have a new bathroom too hehe.

So the real reason for this post is to tell you that again this year im not sending out Christmas cards. I haven’t sent Christmas Cards for about the last 9 years now, mainly because its quite expensive, especially with postage (and you know royal mail are on strike) and i try to see most people to wish them a Merry Christmas as well & if i cant i usually text or call them.

So instead of sending out cards i donate to Charity. This year i have donated to The Clock Tower Sanctuary. They support the young homeless people in Brighton & Hove & at least once a month there are people by the clock tower trying to raise awareness & get donations. I know how cold it can get in our city, & the idea of sleeping rough isnt a very nice one. I may sit here & go oh i want to move out & have my own place, but i am always grateful that my parents have never thought about kicking me out. A couple of weeks ago i was walking through town & there was a guy sitting there going any money or food dear. I was eating my left over biscuits & had one left so gave it to him & he went aww bless you my love. I know it wasnt much but it was my good deed for the day.

If you want to see what its all about heres the link https://www.thects.org.uk/ & if you want to go straight to the just giving page  Click Here

Thanks for reading this people it is really appreciated & i hope you & your family have an amazing Christmas & i wish you all the best for 2018. Lets make some amazing memories next year people. I know its going to be brilliant. Lets try to get it to match 2017.

Love to you all

E

xxx