2012: How was it for you?

And we have made it to the end of the year. Another one down, and another year older and wiser. Apparently.

So what has this year brought me? Well, at the end of the year,; a new boss, more travelling and general uncertainty at work. Another year with many, many photography based trips around the world and into Europe. A visit to Germany and back to BFPO 43, where I spent three years of my life.

The thing I was looking forward to most in 2012 was the film, Prometheus. We went to London to see it on the huge IMAX screen in June, and we were underwhelmed. We watched it again a couple of weeks ago and its still a mess. Lots of exposition, not much character other than alien food or more exposition. 2/5. Sigh.

We also went to see Dredd; which was pretty good; apart from the 3d stuff. But it stuck pretty much to the 2000AD version, and he kept his helmet on the whole film. All in all, not bad, 4/5.

The other major film was The Hobbit, also in 3D, another film not too bad. Jackson treats the books well, and it is a feat for the years. Or will be in 2D. And seemed an hour less than the 2 hour 40 minute running time. 4/5.

I did not really buy many records this year, or enough to be able to pick out a favourite. That is the first time I can say that since 1978. I listen to the Radcliffe and Maconie show most weekdays, and love most of the stuff they play; some more than others. Outstanding track of the year was Public Service Broadcasting's Spitfire. Let's see if I can embed it in my blog:

As for the news; it has all been so very depressing this year. From America's latest presidential election, even more nasty than usual: more mass shootings in the US and the refusal of the NRA to accept change is needed, and the inability of either presidential candidate to come out and say that gun control was needed. The economy of Britain, Europe, The US and the World is still in a mess, and it seems that another recession is on the way next year. The demonisation of those on welfare, disabled, jobless or just plain poor continued apace this year by various government ministers. And yet most of them have been suckling from the public teat all their political life too, and fleecing the system out of thousands of pounds by posting fraudulent expense claims. Multinantional businesses from Google to Amazon to Starbucks have been shown to be tax avoiders. So it would appear that Starbucks makes us coffee because it loves us not because it makes any money. More and more High Street names went bust, as the deadly combination of online shopping and the economic downturn meant people stopped spending. And 2013 does not seem to be looking to be better.

We shall see.

As for sport; football compared poorly with almost every other sport this year. What with racism by players, violence and racism on the terraces. Cheating, diving, accusing officials of racism and the ever-increasing wages of the top players makes the whole sport just plain ugly and unsustainable in the current climate. Yet it goes on in its own way ignoring calls for cheaper tickets for fans or common sense in wages. On the pus side, the dam finally broke and justice began to be served on those responsible for the cover up after Hillsborough in 1989. An independent report exposed the lies, and other criminal actions carried out by the Police, local authority, Sheffield Wednesday FC, the Ambulance Service, the coroner, Kelvin McKenzie, various ministers, enquiries. Apologies have been made to the reletives of those not who just died, but were blamed for their own deaths, were drunk, urinated on and stole from the corpses. The coroner's report on all 96 dead has been anulled and now we wait for new inquests after more than two thirds of those who died could, and should have been saved.

For Norwich it was a bitter-sweet year. We began 2012 with hopes that City would survive, and survive they did, finishing well ahead of the relegation dogfight and rounding the season off with a victory over Aston Villa. But, all was not well. Manager, Paul Lambert did not say 'see you next season' he just wished the fans good luck. A few weeks later, in a fog of confusion he headed off to Villa Park, and City recruited Chris Houghton, and with a few hiccups, carried kn much as before and ending the season in 12th place.

Manchester City won the Premier League in sensational fashion, pipping United to the title thanks to two injury time goals in the final game to grab the trophy out of United's hands, whose game had already finished.

Chelsea won the Champion's League thanks to boring Barcelona to death over two legs of the semi-final and then beating Bayern Munich in the own ground on penalties in the final. But it did not thrill the same way as the Liverpool win did a few years back, it was more of a workman-like performance rather than a skilful one.

A British man won a major tennis tournament for the first time since before WW2, and Andy Murray won the Olympic title too. Another Brit won Le Tour de France for the first time in its 99 year history. A week Later Wiggo went to the Olympics in London and won gold again.

The main memoires I have of the sporting year is Wiggins punching the air as he crossed the line after winning the final time-trial knowing nothing could now stop him, and his speech after winning Le Tour, asking the crowd to get out their raffle tickets.

And what a pleasant change for the winner of Sports Personality of the Year to actually have a personality.

Yes, the Olympics: long expected to be a failure. An embarrassing failure, were a spectacular success; from the transport infrastructure, to the venues, to the BBC coverage to the performance of Team GB; it was wonderful. There are too many medal winners to list them all, but to be in Britain for the Olympic Games and Paralympic games was a privilege, and provided us with memories to last the rest of our lives.

Right from the opening ceremony which was stunning in its audacity and brilliance right to Coldplay performing during the closing ceremony of the Paralympic games, it was all a triumph. The thousands of volunteers who gave their time to help out, the Games Makers, were rightly treated as heroes too, and they made a visit to the Olympic Park and wonderful experience, despite the crowds.

Europe conjured the most remarkable comeback in Ryder Cup history to reclaim the trophy, England won a series in India to close an up and down year for them. Oh, and I am sure there is more stuff I could mention, but it was all glorious stuff. Well, even England did OK at the Euros, not spectacular, but made it through to the quarter finals before losing to Italy. On penalties. Of course.

So, from the best sporting year ever (with the exception of football) we bid you farewell and wish all my readers a happy and prosperous New Year.