2019 wrapped – My Spotify

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Spotify has let me know which artists and songs I listened to most this year. I’ve been VERY protective of my algorithm, so it’s delightful to note that neither Ed Sheeran nor Taylor Swift made it anywhere onto any playlist.

My top five were:
Death Cab For Cutie, Seafret, Dry The River, New Order and First Aid Kit.

Reasonable.

My top genres were:
Indie Rock (obvs), Electronica, Britpop, Chamber Psych (eh?) and Rock.

Ok.

And my top five songs were:

Atlantis by Seafret
Song for a Seagull by Teleman
Time by Angelo de Augustine
Please Don’t Die by Father John Misty
and this: Apocalypse by Cigarettes After Sex

This is a very fair representation of my 2019.

First used words

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Dictionary guru and all-round lovely lady Miriam Webster (yes yes, I’m joking) has a very cool time-traveler feature whereby you can find a number of words that first appeared in any given year. I had a look at my birth year (because why would you look anywhere else?) and here are a few examples from that amazing 12 month period.

They range from the technical like: “ACE inhibitor”, “bunyavirus”, “cDNA”, “neuropeptide” and “somatostatin”.

To the interesting: “Watergate”, “affluenza”, “global positioning system”, “pro-choice”, “duct tape”, “automated teller machine”, “magstripe” and “LCD”.

Via the outright bizarre: “Antarctic Toothfish”, “dinger”, “sea monkey”, “quango” and “Joe Six-Pack”.

And the inevitable childishly amusing underwear, sex and general innuendo stuff: “autoerotic asphyxiation”, “radical cleavage”, “bralette”, “underwire” “nonorgasmic” and “deep throat” (which obviously has more to do with the above Watergate than… ag… never mind).

Insta game not strong

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My overall photography stuff wasn’t too bad this year.

But if my Best Nine on Instagram was anything to go by, my Insta game was poor. So poor.

2 iffy sunsets, a beagle and a drone shot. Meh.

Nothing to be proud of here. Especially when compared to 2018’s amazing work. That said, it should be noted that these were the most liked photos on there. Personally, I don’t think that they were the best photos on there, but still…

Lots to work on in 2020. Follow me here and see how much better I can be.

I do this every year

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I do this every year. Booooooring!
But I do it because I genuinely mean what I say.

I’m not a religious person. But I don’t mind if you are.
I won’t try to force my opinion down your throat, and I’d very much appreciate it if you’d afford me the same courtesy.

I do understand that this is a very special day for many people around the world, and I hope that whatever it means to you, you enjoy a peaceful, safe and happy December 25th.

Buy A Bed

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Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, there’s no harm in helping others out at this time of year. Or at any time of year. But generally, people seem more predisposed to being generous around the festive season.

So how about buying a bed for a homeless person in Cape Town?

We’ve been here before, but here’s what they do and how they do it.

5 nights for R60 ($4.20, £3.21). Click here or just Snapscan if you can.

Thanks for your support.