It’s the last day of the year, and this is the time when people start making New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t tend to do that anymore, instead working from a broader Life List instead.

When I set about thinking of this annual round-up, I felt a little disappointed about how much (or how little) I’ve achieved this year. Looking back can be useful though, as I hadn’t quite realised I’d been to so many places!

Alphabet Adventure

When 2013 dawned, I was frantically searching for a Q to visit in my alphabetical trip around the United Kingdom. Somehow, I managed to cross six letters off the list this year, with some brilliant visits.

• Quarry Bank Mill
• Royal Pavilion
• Snowdon Mountain Railway
• Tyneham
• Uffington White Horse
• Valley of the Rocks

The end of the alphabet is in sight, and I think I have plans for each of the remaining letters. Maybe 2014 will be the year!

Film Watch

We managed to watch the most films ever this year, mostly because by taking on heaps of studying, I had plenty of evenings where I couldn’t think to do anything else but watch moving pictures on the big screen.

Film Watch also has a nice new home, and I’m really excited about how it looks. Keeping it separate from the main blog helps filter out the noise for anyone that isn’t interested in the film nonsense, and also makes it feel just a little bit special.

Some of the highlights this year include Skyfall, Crimson Tide, Pitch Perfect and Star Trek. Meanwhile, more than a year later, I am still not over the horror that was Prometheus.

Doctor Who

Just as in last year’s Life List roundup, I’ve managed to keep up with all the new episodes, but haven’t made much progress on the backlog. I did write about The Girl in the Fireplace but most of my attention was on the new - particularly as we have a brand new Doctor to worry about!

Live sports

One of the highlights of the year was a trip to Eastbourne to see my very first tennis at the Aegon International tournament.

I didn’t plan very well, and only saw a couple of junior players and some doubles matches, and it was hideously windy, but it felt like I learnt a lot about what to do in the future. I definitely want to see more tennis up close.

Big Read

The Big Read Bonanza list didn’t get a huge amount ticked off this year, but I did catch up on a few of the more classic entries that I had been leaving until last. A couple of Charles Dickens novels, The Count of Monte Cristo (which I mostly loved), and harder things like Anna Karenina, they were all reviewed this year.

I’ve been reading just as much as ever, but I suddenly realised that focusing on the list was seeing my digital stack of unread books was towering in a worrying fashion, and probably needed some attention. I’m hoping to switch my attention back to the list again this year.

Other items

The Panorama Party is up and running, but the page needs a bit of work to it. The trouble with panoramas is they are quite big, as photos go, so sharing them well on the web can be tricky. I have been learning what makes a good and bad panorama though, particularly when it comes to landscapes - I took one that mostly seemed to be a field, whilst a view over the Ilfracombe town was much better.

The bread/tea/new foods items have not had very much attention. I’ve gone off fancy teas at the moment, preferring the more standard tea bag and milk combination. Baking has also dropped off my hobby list for now, due to a lack of time, and a lack of inspiration from the Great British Bake Off. And I was never any good at the trying new foods one. Experimental, I am not.

Added items

As recently discussed, I have put the Backstreet Boys concert back on the list and soon it will be happening in the same year, which is pretty scary. I also added something about completing 30 day challenges, because I love the idea but have little in the way of commitment. I got a bit obsessed with walking after my trip to Snowdonia, so added “Walk on each of the UK National Trails” and “Climb a mountain.” What I can’t figure out is why I haven’t put climb a mountain under Grand Ambitions, because I think it counts as one of those!

So looking back, it hasn’t been the worst year in terms of Life List excitement, but I’m ready for 2014 to be just that little bit better.