A year of "In praise of" (part 1)

So, to the last three "in praise ofs" for this challenge.

All self-respecting American sitcoms and drama series, long after they've jumped the shark, like to pad out their season with entirely self-indulgent shows that are simply a collection of flashbacks and highlights, if you're lucky featuring Monica in a fat suit. Same here! Three shows celebrating a man with completer/finisher carved on his gravestone...

I did actually enjoy doing one of these every day, though it often didn't feel like it. The biggest problem was in not allowing myself repetition. I could have had a hundred happy moments in the day but still not something new to write about. Still, I did like:

a) The mind-trick of forcing oneself to be glass half-full at 9:30 every morning - it was much like having my own personal NLP-accredited soothsaying fuckwit whispering in my ear, and was a step up from the simple act of counting one's blessings in the shower.

b) Realising how much of my life is rhythmical, rather than just habitual. I was surprised how in tune I was with:
The four seasons; the weather; the night sky; migratory birds; the football season and the racing seasons; TV and film seasons; the veg growing season; the clothes my mannequin wears season, and of course seasoning.

c) The audience reaction and participation, worthy of its own in praise of on Friday, if only in thanks for the 10 or so friends who came along for the ride.

When I started I said it would be difficult because all I like is gambling and red wine. Well, my in-depth statistical analysis of the data suggests that is nearly right. 80% of postings cover 10 broad areas:

1. Television, film and radio 56 posts
2. Food and drink 50 posts
3. Sport 36 posts
4. Shifnal and Shropshire 34 posts (+ 5 for London)
5. Anne, friends, Bobby 28 posts
6. Books and writing 24 posts
7. Gambling 23 posts (top if combined with sport)
8. Vegetable gardening 22 posts
9. Wildlife - esp birds 19 posts
10. Travelling/memories 19 posts

Which hardly makes me a renaissance man...