2023. What about me?

My two greatest moments, three biggest achievements and four favourite books.

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2023. The year that saw Penny Mordaunt hold a sword, Rishi Sunak in a car without a seatbelt and Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield leave This Morning. But what about ME? What about MY 2023? Here are my two favourite moments, three biggest achievements and four favourite books.

My two favourite moments of 2023

1. Probably my greatest moment of the year came when I was signing into a website with a two-factor identification security. I got sent a verification code and was all set to memorise it when I saw it. The greatest verification code ever. It was 345678. What are the chances? Actually, considering there are probably trillions of these codes generated every day, maybe it’s not that weird. But it happened to me! What a moment. What a year. I’ve used up all my numbers luck now so won’t win the lottery but I don’t do the lottery so that’s fine.

2. This was a close second. I was sitting in the doctor’s surgery waiting room opposite a man engrossed in his phone. The doctor came out to get her next patient and said his name. On hearing it, he looked up and accidentally said, “Speaking!” like he was answering his phone. He was mortified. And it was one of my favourite bits of the year.

My three biggest achievements of 2023

1. We stayed in a chalet on a French campsite over the summer. It was this one if you’re interested. And I loved it all. Apart from the growing dread I felt as the holiday progressed about the chalet cleaning inspection. It had to be left how it was found and I am not any kind of Mrs Hinch. The idea of being judged for my cleaning abilities was terrifying. And I was going to be judged by a cleaner. An expert! I was very much imagining her running her finger along a mantlepiece and disdainfully revealing a thick layer of dust. Even though we didn’t have a mantelpiece as it was a chalet on a campsite.

But instead, she had a look around and then looked at me and said, “Super!” Super! So I’m now thinking of setting up an Instagram account about how to clean.

2. I have a very cheap bike, which is great as nobody ever steals it. The less great thing was when the brake pads became misaligned and started constantly rubbing on the wheel. This made a very loud constant grinding sound but more annoyingly, it also made it very hard to cycle. And I mean very hard. It was like it was a constant uphill journey but I just saw it as a metaphor for life and did nothing because it felt like more of an effort to get it repaired. You would not believe me if I told you how long I put up with it and how often I used my bike during this time. Actually, you probably would. Several months and at least twice a week.

Finally, just as my calves were threatening to burst through my jeans, I’d had enough. I took it to a cycle repair shop, where the man took one look at my bike and burst out laughing. He then fixed it for £48. The only downside of this huge achievement is the shiny new brakes make me paranoid that someone will steal it.

3. Last Christmas I asked for an air fryer even though I knew deep down I’d use it once and it would gather dust like every other kitchen gadget I’ve ever got. And yet, 12 months on, not a week has gone by that I haven’t used it. If I’m honest it gets used most days. I cook everything I can in there even when I probably shouldn’t. My oven cries itself to sleep most nights from neglect. (Probably.) So I’m extremely proud that my air fryer did not go the way of the spiraliser, electric steamer, Jamie Oliver Flavour Shaker, slow cooker, pressure cooker etc etc etc.

My four favourite books of 2023

To be clear these are my four favourite books which I read in 2023. They were not published this year. One of them came out in 2009. If you’re into reviews of books which were published 14 years ago, you’ve come to the right place. Although I’m using the word ‘review’ very, very loosely.

1. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld

This is based on the life of Laura Bush and I absolutely loved it.

2. I’m Sorry You Feel That Way by Rebecca Wait 

I was so distraught when I finished this book that I just started it again so I could carry on hanging out with my dysfunctional friends.

3. Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny

This is very funny and follows a polar opposite New York couple and their neurodiverse, origami-obsessed son.

4. Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

I had been resistant to the books of Maggie O’Farrell as my ex-husband had once worked with her and she wasn’t very nice to him and I’m very much one to hold a grudge. But the moment those divorce papers came through (slight exaggeration) I devoured her back catalogue. I read Hamnet this year, which is her imagining of the life of Shakespeare’s son. It’s beautiful and fascinating and sad.

Enough about me. What about you?

Please tell me the best books you’ve read this year so we’ve got a list to get through in 2024. And what were your incredible achievements and newsworthy moments? I’ll see you in the comments section.

RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK’S POLL

I asked what kind of Christmas tree you prefer.

44% said a real one.

41% said an artificial one.

15% said that homemade clothes horse one.

I’m a bit weird!