Heef

15/01/25 86 The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again 60 David Bowie - Starman 54 Derek & The Dominos - Layla 45 Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You +3 41 Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar 40 Carole King - It's Too Late 40 Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side +1 38 Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye -6 27 Elton John - Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting 18 Golden Earring - Radar Love  11 Fleetwood Mac - The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown) 10 Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

15/01/25 27 Public Enemy - Fight the Power +2 26 Eminem - Lose Yourself 26 Lauryn Hill - Lost Ones 25 Grandmaster Flash - The Message 24 Cypress Hill - Insane in the Brain 24 Run-DMC - It’s Like That 23 Missy Elliot - Get Ur Freak On 23 A Tribe Called Quest - Check the Rhime 23 The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper’s Delight 23 N.W.A. - Fuck Tha Police +2 22 De La Soul - Me Myself and I 22 Little Simz - Woman 22 50 Cent - In Da Club 22 Kendrick Lamar - Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe 21 Nas - N.Y. State of Mind 21 Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full 20 LL Cool J - I Can’t Live Without My Radio 20 Boogie Down Productions - Stop the Violence 20 Ice Cube - No Vaseline 20 2Pac - All Eyez on Me 20 Dr. Dre - The Watcher 19 Outkast - B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) -6 17 Post Malone - Rockstar 15 The Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck 15 Kurtis Blow - The Breaks 12 Kanye West - Runaway 04 Rae Sremmurd - Black Beatles 

14/01/2025 82 The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again 58 David Bowie - Starman +1 51 Derek & The Dominos - Layla 43 Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye -6 42 Carole King - It's Too Late 41 Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar 39 Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side  38 Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You +3 33 Elton John - Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting 26 Fleetwood Mac - The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown) 20 Golden Earring - Radar Love 13 Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough 10 Alice Cooper - No More Mr Nice Guy

14/01/25 25 Eminem - Lose Yourself  23 Cypress Hill - Insane in the Brain +1 23 Run-DMC - It’s Like That 23 Outkast - B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad) -6 23 Public Enemy - Fight the Power +2 22 The Sugarhill Gang - Rapper’s Delight 22 Grandmaster Flash - The Message 22 Lauryn Hill - Lost Ones 22 A Tribe Called Quest - Check the Rhime 22 Kendrick Lamar - Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe 22 N.W.A. - Fuck Tha Police +1 21 Missy Elliot - Get Ur Freak On 21 50 Cent - In Da Club 21 Little Simz - Woman 21 De La Soul - Me Myself and I 21 Eric B & Rakim - Paid In Full 20 Kurtis Blow - The Breaks 20 LL Cool J - I Can’t Live Without My Radio 20 Boogie Down Productions - Stop the Violence 20 Ice Cube - No Vaseline 20 The Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck 20 Nas - N.Y. State of Mind 20 2Pac - All Eyez on Me 20 Dr. Dre - The Watcher 20 Post Malone - Rockstar 18 Kanye West - Runaway  14 Rae Sremmurd - Black Beatles  10 Tyler the Creator - Yonkers

No Jurassic 5 is a damn shame. Their first album is one of my favourites of all time. Concrete Schoolyard is superb.

Exactly this: 14/1/2025 60 Bobby Vee - Take Good Care of My Baby 54 Freddy Cannon - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 47 Billy Fury - Halfway to Paradise 43 Jimmy Jones - Handy Man +4 42 Clarence “ Frogman” Henry - But I Do 10 Elvis Presley - Stuck on You -6

10/01/2025 50 Bobby Vee - Take Good Care of My Baby 43 Billy Fury - Halfway to Paradise 40 Jimmy Jones - Handy Man +4 39 Elvis Presley - Stuck on You -3 39 Clarence “Frogman” Henry - But I Do 38 Freddy Cannon - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 31 Emile Ford & The Checkmates — On a Slowboat to China 25 Petula Clark - Romeo 21 Helen Shapiro - Don’t Treat Me Like a Child -3 14 Anthony Newley - Strawberry Fair

09/01/25 63 The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again 44 Derek & The Dominos - Layla 42 David Bowie - Starman 39 Carole King - It's Too Late 38 Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You +2 37 Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar 36 Lou Reed — Walk On The Wild Side 31 Golden Earring - Radar Love 31 Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye -6 30 Mott the Hoople— Roll Away The Stone 30 Alice Cooper - No More Mr Nice Guy 30 Fleetwood Mac — The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown) 27 Elton John - Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting 25 Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough  22 The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me) 20 Rattles - The Witch  20 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 19 Suzi Quatro - The Wild One  14 Nazareth - Broken Down Angel  10 10cc - The Wall Street Shuffle 08 Jimmy Cliff - Wild World +2

09/01/25 46 Bobby Vee - Take Good Care of My Baby 39 Billy Fury - Halfway to Paradise 38 Elvis Presley - Stuck on You 35 Petula Clark - Romeo 34 Jimmy Jones - Handy Man +2 34 Emile Ford & The Checkmates — On a Slowboat to China 34 Freddy Cannon - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 33 Clarence “Frogman” Henry - But I Do 25 Helen Shapiro - Don’t Treat Me Like a Child -3 19 Anthony Newley - Strawberry Fair 15 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rocking Goose +2 12 Connie Francis - My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own 00 Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Nine Times Out of Ten -3

Apologies. A luddite-esque fail from me. I've gone back and edited my post to make it not a quote and can only apologise profusely for my internet inadequacies!

8th January 47 The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again 40 David Bowie - Starman 40 Derek & The Dominos - Layla 38 Carole King - It's Too Late 36 Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar 36 Alice Cooper - No More Mr Nice Guy 34 Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You 31 Golden Earring - Radar Love 31 Lou Reed — Walk On The Wild Side 30 Mott the Hoople — Roll Away The Stone 30 Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye -6 29 Elton John - Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting 28 The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me) 25 Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough  23 Rattles - The Witch  22 Fleetwood Mac — The Green Manalishi ( With the two prong Crown) 21 10cc - The Wall Street Shuffle 20 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 19 Suzi Quatro - The Wild One  19 Nazareth - Broken Down Angel  18 Jimmy Cliff - Wild World +2 14 Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin And John 14 Neil Young - Heart Of Gold  10 Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 +2 07 Deep Purple - Strange Kind Of Woman

8/1/24 38 Bobby Vee - Take Good Care of My Baby 34 Emile Ford & The Checkmates — On a Slowboat to China 33 Elvis Presley - Stuck on You 31 Petula Clark - Romeo 31 Billy Fury - Halfway to Paradise 31 Jimmy Jones - Handy Man 30 Freddy Cannon - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 29 Clarence “Frogman” Henry - But I Do 29 Helen Shapiro - Don’t Treat Me Like a Child 20 Anthony Newley - Strawberry Fair 20 Connie Francis - My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own 18 The Shadows - The Frightened City 13 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rocking Goose +4 12 Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Nine Times Out of Ten -2 12 Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Theme for a Dream -2 09 Cliff Richard & The Shadows - A Girl Like You -2

7/1/25 47 The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again 40 Carole King - It's Too Late 39 Derek & The Dominos - Layla 38 David Bowie - Starman 35 Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar 35 Alice Cooper - No More Mr Nice Guy 33 Golden Earring - Radar Love 33 Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You 32 The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me)  31 Fleetwood Mac — The Green Manalishi (With the two prong Crown) 30 Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye -6 30 Lou Reed — Walk On The Wild Side 29 Elton John - Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting 28 Mott the Hoople — Roll Away The Stone 25 Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough  23 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 23 Rattles - The Witch  21 10cc - The Wall Street Shuffle 18 Nazareth - Broken Down Angel 17 Suzi Quatro - The Wild One 16 Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin And John 16 Neil Young - Heart Of Gold 15 Deep Purple - Strange Kind Of Woman 12 Chicago - 25 or 6 to 4 +2 12 Jimmy Cliff - Wild World +2 06 Status Quo - Paper Plane 

Shame I missed this one. I'd have been doling out the minuses to Just a Girl. Awful dross. Would have given a bit more love to the wonderful Youssou N'Dour. Or pretty much anything that wasn't No Doubt.

06/01/25 37 The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again 36 Derek & The Dominos - Layla 34 Carole King - It's Too Late 34 David Bowie - Starman 34 Fleetwood Mac - The Green Manalishi (With The Two-Prong Crown) 33 Thin Lizzy - Whiskey in the Jar 33 Queen - Seven Seas of Rhye -3 31 The Temptations - Just My Imagination (Running Away From Me)  31 Golden Earring - Radar Love 31 Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You +1 27 Alice Cooper - No More Mr Nice Guy 27 Neil Young - Heart Of Gold 27 Elton John - Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting 27 10cc - The Wall Street Shuffle 25 Mott The Hoople — Roll Away The Stone 25 Diana Ross - Ain't No Mountain High Enough 25 Chicago- 25 or 6 to 4 +2 24 Jimmy Cliff - Wild World 24 Lou Reed — Walk On The Wild Side 23 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Travellin' Band 23 Rattles - The Witch  21 Nazareth - Broken Down Angel 20 Suzi Quatro - The Wild One 19 Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin And John 18 Deep Purple - Strange Kind Of Woman 14 Stevie Wonder - He’s Misstra Know It All +1 12 Jo Jo Gunne - Run Run Run 11 Status Quo - Paper Plane -3

6/1/2025 25 Jimmy Jones - Handy Man +2 23 Bobby Vee - Take Good Care of My Baby 22 Helen Shapiro - Don’t Treat Me Like a Child 22 Anthony Newley - Strawberry Fair 22 Freddy Cannon - Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 21 Emile Ford & The Checkmates - On a Slow Boat to China 21 Elvis Presley - Stuck on You 21 Clarence “Frogman” Henry - But I Do 20 Connie Francis - My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own 20 Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Theme for a Dream 20 The Shadows - The Frightened City 20 Cliff Richard & The Shadows - A Girl Like You 20 Billy Fury - Halfway to Paradise 20 Petula Clark - Romeo 20 Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rocking Goose +2 18 Cliff Richard & The Shadows - Nine Times Out of Ten 18 Cliff Richard - When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart 17 Nina & Frederik - Little Donkey -3 17 Tommy Bruce & The Bruisers - Ain’t Misbehavin’ 17 Johnny Burnette - You’re Sixteen 17 Perry Como - Delaware 15 The Avons - Seven Little Girls Sitting in the Back Seat -3 14 Matt Monro - Portrait of My Love I mean, Rocking Goose is no Reveille Rock, but Johnny and the Hurricanes were ace!

A year on, and I've not read all the nominees from 1969-2012 and read a total of 35 books in 2024. There's 54 in total left to read, but only 15 from 2013-17. Currently reading 4-3-2-1 by Paul Auster, which will take a while. It's fair to say that the Booker list changes significantly when the limitations to Commonwealth countries were removed. I still find it unnecessary to extend the remit when American books in particular are covered by a host of America-centric prizes. And the style of the selections changes significantly as a result. I suspect there's some really decent literature that would have made the list in the past which now remains unread because it no longer makes the shortlist. Not many 5-star books over the past year, but the couple I did have were Cloud Atlas by the other David Mitchell and The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng. The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida, Jamrach's Menagerie and Half Blood Blues were also decent. Umbrella by Will Self was a contrast in that the use of language, the way the plot line shifted eras mid-sentence and the general awful pretentiousness of the style were somewhat offset by the story - based on the Oliver Sachs memoir of patients with Sleepy Sickness being brought out of their long-term stupor by L-DOPA. Snowdrops by Andrew Miller was the only book I gave 1-star this year, and that was mainly because it seemed like stereotyped Russian-set slop.

I did enjoy his satires of the university system. Unsurprisingly, they're still utterly relevant today - 40+ years later. Nice Work and Small World are decent reads, even if you've never worked in the system. Really, they're so close to the reality, it's a bit rude to proffer them as satirical.

If you need someone to square up the draw, I'll have a go, but I can't guarantee that I'll be online at the right time every month in order to submit a fresh team, so you might just have to rollover the remaining picks from the previous month.

Shame to have missed out on this. I'll still be keeping an eye out for the genocidal maniacs amongst my 2024 team, however.

Shame. It really would have been nice for a good number of people if a few more of my selections had died. Ah well, I've been picking Šešelj fruitlessly for years.

New Zealand may be included in the Australian constitution, but despite his close mateship with Malcolm Turnbull, I'm certain our former PM John Key will agree that we pursue a thoroughly independent set of policies, despite the huge Kiwi diaspora in the East of the West Island. As such, I thought it was about due to have a new thread for us. I mean, no self-respecting Kiwi says 'Hooroo mate'. It's all 'chur bro' and 'aaaah, she'll be right' and 'oi'll hive sex scoops uvv fush and chups, cuz' So, without further ado, here's some of the NZ great and good to keep an eye on: Former Prime Ministers Geoffrey Palmer QC, 33rd PM (21 April 1942) Mike Moore, 34th PM (28 January 1949) Jim Bolger, 35th PM (31 May 1935) Dame Jenny Shipley, 36th PM (4 February 1952) Helen Clark, 37th PM (26 February 1950) Sir John Key, 38th PM (9 August 1961) Bill English, 39th PM (30 December 1961) Jacinda Ardern, 40th PM (26 July 1980) Governor-Generals Dame Catherine Tizard, 16th GG (4 April 1931) Sir Michael Hardie-Boys, 17th GG (6 October 1931) Dame Silvia Cartwright, 18th GG (7 November 1943) Sir Anand Satyanand, 19th GG (22 July 1944) Sir Jerry Mateparae, 20th GG (14 November 1954) Dame Patsy Reddy, 21st GG (17 May 1954) Dame Cindy Kiro, 22nd GG (2 July 1958) Order of NZ Dame Miriam Dell, Women's welfare campaigner (14 June 1924) Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Opera Singer (6 March 1944) Sir Miles Warren, Architect (1929) Jim Bolger, 35th PM (31 May 1935) Ken Douglas, Trade unionist (15 November 1935) Mike Moore, 34th PM (28 January 1949) Cardinal Tom Williams, Emeritus Catholic Archbishop of Wellington (20 March 1930) Jonathan Hunt, Former Speaker (2 December 1938) Lloyd Geering, Heretic & theologian (26 February 1918) Sir Kenneth Keith, Judge (19 November 1937) Sir Don McKinnon, Former Commonwealth Sec-Gen (27 February 1939) Sir Murray Halberg, Olympic Runner (7 July 1933) Helen Clark, 37th PM (26 February 1950) Sir Bob Charles, Golfer (14 March 1936) Albert Wendt, Writer (27 August 1939) Sir Ron Carter, Engineering Businessman (17 June 1935) Sir Peter Gluckman, Chief Science Advisor (1949) Richie McCaw, Master of the Dark Arts (31 December 1980) Joy Cowley, Writer (7 August 1936) Michael Duffy, Former Attorney General of Australia (2 March 1938) Dame Catherine Tizard, 16th GG (4 April 1931) Sir Brian Lochore, Rugby legend (3 September 1940) CK Stead, Author (17 October 1932) The Duke of Edinburgh, Loon (10 June 1921) Dame Margaret Bazley, Public Servant (23 January 1938) Sir Peter Jackson, Hobbit (31 October 1961) Dame Malvina Major, Opera Singer & Retirement Home (28 January 1943) Sir Shridath Ramphal, Former Commonwealth Sec-Gen (3 October 1928) Sir Mason Durie, Academic (4 December 1938) Dame Anne Salmond, Anthropologist & Writer (16 November 1945) Dame Silvia Cartwright, Jurist & Governor-General (7 November 1943) Sir Tipene O'Regan, Kaumātua (1 January 1939) Rugby Captains Sam Cane (13 January 1992) Kieran Read (26 October 1985) Richie McCaw, Master of the Dark Arts (31 December 1980) Tana Umaga (27 May 1973) Reuben Thorne (2 January 1975) Anton Oliver (9 September 1975) Todd Blackadder (20 September 1971) Taine Randall (5 November 1974) Sean Fitzpatrick (4 June 1963) Gary Whetton (15 December 1959) Wayne 'Buck' Shelford (13 December 1957) David Kirk (5 October 1960) Andy Dalton (16 November 1951) Graham Mourie (8 September 1952) Tane Norton (30 March 1942) Andy Leslie (10 November 1944) Ian Kirkpatrick (24 May 1946) Sir Brian Lochore (3 September 1940) Cricket Captains John R Reid (3 June 1928) Barry Sinclair (23 October 1936) Graham Dowling (4 March 1937) Glenn Turner (26 May 1947) Mark Burgess (17 July 1944) Geoff Howarth (29 March 1951) Jeremy Coney (21 June 1952) Jeff Crowe (14 September 1958) John Wright (5 July 1954) Ken Rutherford (26 October 1965) Lee Germon (4 November 1968) Stephen Fleming (1 April 1973) Daniel Vettori (27 January 1979) Ross Taylor (8 March 1984) Brendan McCullum (27 September 1981) Kane Williamson (8 August 1990) Tim Southee (11 December 1988) Oscar Winners Anna Paquin, The Piano (24 July 1982) Russell Crowe, Gladiator (7 April 1964) Jamie Selkirk, Return of the King () Sir Richard Taylor, Return of the King, Fellowship of the Ring & King Kong () Ngila Dickson, Return of the King (1958) Sir Peter Jackson, Return of the King (31 October 1961) John Gilbert, Hacksaw Ridge () Fran Walsh, Return of the King (10 January 1959) Bret McKenzie, The Muppets (29 June 1976) Grant Major, Return of the King (1955) Dan Hennah, Return of the King () Kim Sinclair, Avatar (10 July 1954) James Lucas, The Phone Call () Michael Hedges, Return of the King & King Kong () Hammond Peek, Return of the King & King Kong () Christian Rivers, King Kong (1974) Dan Lemmon, The Jungle Book () Dame Jane Campion, The Piano (30 April 1954) Philippa Boyens, Return of the King () Booker Prize Keri Hulme, The Bone People (Winner) (9 March 1947) Eleanor Catton, The Luminaries (Winner) (24 September 1985) Lloyd Jones, Mister Pip (Nominee) (23 March 1955) Olympic Gold Medallists [s]Yvette Williams, Women’s Long Jump, 1952 Helsinki (25 April 1929)[/s] Peter Snell, Men’s 800 Metres, 1960 Rome (17 December 1938) Men’s 800 Metres, 1964 Tokyo Men’s 1500 Metres, 1964 Tokyo Murray Halberg Men’s 5000 Metres, 1960 Rome (7 July 1933) Earle Wells, Sailing - Flying Dutchman, 1964 Tokyo (27 October 1933) [s]Warren Cole Rowing - Men’s Coxed Four, 1968 Mexico City (12 September 1940)[/s] Ross Collinge Rowing - Men’s Coxed Four, 1968 Mexico City (21 November 1944) Dick Joyce Rowing - Men’s Coxed Four, 1968 Mexico City (1 May 1946) Rowing - Men’s Eight, 1972 Munich Athol Earl Rowing - Men’s Eight, 1972 Munich (1 October 1952) John Hunter Rowing - Men’s Eight, 1972 Munich (8 November 1943) Tony Hurt Rowing - Men’s Eight, 1972 Munich (30 March 1946) Gary Robertson Rowing - Men’s Eight, 1972 Munich (12 April 1950) Wybo Veldman Rowing - Men’s Eight, 1972 Munich (21 October 1945) Lindsay Wilson Rowing - Men’s Eight, 1972 Munich (15 October 1948) John Walker Men’s 1500 Metres, 1976 Montreal (12 January 1952) Mark Todd Equestrian - Individual Eventing, 1984 Los Angeles (1 March 1956) Equestrian - Individual Eventing, 1988 Seoul Shane O’Brien Men’s Coxless Four, 1984 Los Angeles (27 October 1960) Les O’Connell Men’s Coxless Four, 1984 Los Angeles (23 May 1958) Conrad Robertson Men’s Coxless Four, 1984 Los Angeles (27 December 1957) Keith Trask Men’s Coxless Four, 1984 Los Angeles (27 November 1960) Rex Sellers Sailing - Tornado, 1984 Los Angeles (11 November 1950) Russell Coutts Sailing - Finn, 1984 Los Angeles (1 March 1962) Ian Ferguson Canoeing - Men’s K1 500 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles (20 July 1952) Canoeing - Men’s K2 500 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles Canoeing - Men’s K4 1000 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles Canoeing - Men’s K2 500 Metres, 1988 Seoul Paul MacDonald Canoeing - Men’s K2 500 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles (8 January 1960) Canoeing - Men’s K4 1000 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles Canoeing - Men’s K2 500 Metres, 1988 Seoul Alan Thompson Canoeing - Men’s K1 1000 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles (14 June 1959) Canoeing - Men’s K4 1000 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles Grant Bramwell Canoeing - Men’s K4 1000 Metres, 1984 Los Angeles (28 January 1961) Bruce Kendall Sailing - Tornado, 1988 Seoul (27 June 1964) Barbara Kendall Sailing - Women’s Lechner, 1992 Barcelona (30 August 1967) Danyon Loader Swimming - Men’s 200m Freestyle, 1996 Atlanta (21 April 1975) Swimming - Men’s 400m Freestyle, 1996 Atlanta Blyth Tait Equestrian - Individual Eventing, 1996 Atlanta (10 May 1961) Rob Waddell Rowing - Men’s Single Sculls, 2000 Sydney (7 January 1975) C Evers-Swindell Rowing - Women’s Double Sculls, 2004 Athens (10 October 1978) Rowing - Women’s Double Sculls, 2008 Beijing G Evers-Swindell Rowing - Women’s Double Sculls, 2004 Athens (10 October 1978) Rowing - Women’s Double Sculls, 2008 Beijing Sarah Ulmer Cycling - Women’s Individual Pursuit, 2004 Athens (14 March 1976) Hamish Carter Triathlon, 2004 Athens (28 April 1971) Valerie Vili Women’s Shot Put, 2008 Beijing (6 October 1984) Women’s Shot Put, 2012 London Tom Ashley Sailing - Men’s RS:X, 2008 Beijing (11 February 1984) Nathan Cohen Rowing - Men’s Double Sculls, 2012 London (2 January 1986) Joseph Sullivan Rowing - Men’s Double Sculls, 2012 London (11 April 1987) Hamish Bond Rowing - Men’s Coxless Pair, 2012 London (13 February 1986) Rowing - Men’s Coxless Pair, 2016 Rio Eric Murray Rowing - Men’s Coxless Pair, 2012 London (6 May 1982) Rowing - Men’s Coxless Pair, 2016 Rio Mahe Drysdale Rowing - Men’s Single Sculls, 2012 London (19 November 1978) Rowing - Men’s Single Sculls, 2016 Rio Jo Aleh Sailing - Women’s 470, 2012 London (15 May 1986) Polly Powrie Sailing - Women’s 470, 2012 London (9 December 1987) Lisa Carrington Canoeing - Women’s K1 200m, 2012 London (23 June 1989) Canoeing - Women’s K1 200m, 2016 Rio Peter Burling Sailing - Men’s 49er, 2016 Rio (1 January 1991) Blair Tuke Sailing - Men’s 49er, 2016 Rio (25 July 1989)

It looks like this seat won't exist in the next general election, so it'll be a bit of a strange by-election. The area in the constituency at the moment will be split over 3 constituencies with perhaps the biggest share going to Bristol North-East, so I assume the winner will transition to that seat. As for Andrew Rosindell, I used to live near Romford and wouldn't be surprised to see a defunct greyhound wearing a blue rosette get up there. One of the bigger shocks in 1997 was that Labour won there with a 16% swing. He really is a contemptible little oik though, so hopefully good riddance.

No specific comment on Richard Osman as I've not read any of his books yet, but this growing trend of celebrities writing novels or books for children and using their profiles to achieve sales that writers can't hope to achieve without marketing support is quite annoying. I don't want to hear constant drones about what celebrity has managed to churn out a novel Hmm. That's a decent idea. When I think of something of interest when reading, I'm rarely near paper and pen. Most of my reading is done on the daily commute when I'm on the train.

One of my regrets in this process was in not making a few small notes as to what I liked or disliked about each book. I've been trying recently to reflect back on each year's shortlist to see what I can remember about each one and sadly some of the ones I read a fair while back I only have vague memories of (I started in 2016). With The Master, I'm not a fan of fictualising around real people and I'm not an expert in Henry James able to distill the complete fabrications from the fanciful from the reality or enhanced reality. The delivery of the novel conveys a real sense of the internal workings of the narrator's mind (whether it's a reasonable representation of Henry James or not). I recall some reasonably amusing moments - particularly with the narrator's aversion to conflict and his inability to fire his two house-staff who have become - shall we say - not fit for purpose due to alcohol consumption. I see on Goodreads, I give it a 3/5 score, but there's no finesse in that!