An hour before 2012

It’s an hour or so before midnight on New Years Eve, 2011.

Fireworks are going off somewhere down the road. My stomach is reeling from the over-indulgent cheese plate I insisted upon at the tail-end of our now traditional celebration early evening dinner.

The year is nearly over, so too the holiday.

More than that, one of many moments in the year I always look forward to is fast approaching. The chance to draw a line under one year’s events and experiences and the opportunity to look forward to the next twelve months.

Some people poo-poo the artificial meaninglessness of New Year. Instead, I see renewal.

Not only that, I resist trying to persuade any naysayers I come into contact with on this rather odd night. New Year’s Eve is what you make it. There is absolutely no expectation on the shoulders of anyone. It’s entirely down to you.

This isn’t a moment for resolutions. Resolutions suck. Resolutions are almost always followed by failure, dissappointment, bitterness and resentment.

Instead, this is an opportunity to look forward with hope. Hope comes laden with sympathy, understanding and forgiveness if things don’t turn out right. There are no lofty expectations with hope. Hope is – and should – reasonably low-key. We might as well look forward with hope. Noone should feel too disappointed if hope fails to be transformed into something real.

Here are the ten things I hope will happen at some point over the next twelve months:

1. I will – somehow – end up feeling proud that London is hosting the Olympic Games in 2012. Right now that seems like an impossibility. But at some point I expect – possibly even wish for – something which will scoop me and get me enthused about an event which on paper I shouldn’t really be interested in.

2. Somebody in media land will commission – who knows, even produce before the year is out – a groundbreaking TV adaptation of a much-loved, highly thought of piece of musical theatre (say for example, A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim), film it live and then broadcast it to critical acclaim.

3. I will exercise regularly, be it at the miserable gym at work or on my bike.

4. I’ll manage to get through the 2012 BBC Proms without making a video, writing a blog post, tweeting or uploading an AudioBoo.

5. I’ll go (maybe) go to Eurovision 2012 (pending unfolding Azerbaijani politics & personal financial situation).

6. I’ll get asked back to do something/anything a second time. (Like the second novel or second album, getting asked back to anything a second time is often a difficult thing to make happen).

7. I’ll blog less about myself.

8. I will start podcasting again. (Maybe.)

9. I will relax more at weekends.

10. I’ll quit worrying about Twitter and stop relying on Facebook.

Check back here in twelve months to see whether any or all of these things have been achieved. Clearly, the first two are terribly worthy. The remainder are – predictably – quite self-obsessed. Still, you never know. Stranger things have happened. Maybe 2012 will see me finally turning things around.

Between now and then is the vast expanse of twelve months. Chance, coincidence, fate and the results of finely tuned planning. It’s all too delicious a possibility to overlook.

Best of luck. Have fun. I hope it goes well for you.

Happy New Year.