The Viewing Files 2024

Another year of watching over and once again it was a sluggish year viewing wise with not a lot around that caught our eye.  Still that doesn't mean it was a complete disaster as there were still a handful shows that saved my sanity and some that were just down right swoon worthy.

 

Queen Charlotte 

 

There's just something about historical TV shows that's so addictive so it's always good when a new one comes along.  Queen C fitted the bill perfectly and meant that I watched the entire thing over just a couple of nights.

Bridgerton

 

Totally swoon worthy.  Think Barbara Cartland but a whole lot more racier.  Riveting stuff.

Vikings Valhalla

 

Be still my beating heart.  Hot guy running around with a sword and being all manly.  I am so there.

The Tourist

 

Quirky, funny and exciting, why yes it's a thriller show with a difference and so very Irish.  Watched season 1 and 2 back to back which is the only way to really watch a show.

The Gentlemen

 

The drug business has never looked so sleak especially when headed by Theo James in all his rough voice glory. 

Black Doves

 

Quirky seems to be the thing this year with this thrillerish but different spy series that was so good.

Vera

 

14 seasons and Vera is finally hanging up her mac.  Of course I just had to watch it but now what am I going to watch each year for my TV detective craving?

Shetland

 

It's back and just as good which more murders going on.

The Rig

 

An OMG sci-fi thriller with a environmental message.  Sounds crazy but actually works thanks to some great actors and an interesting and surprisingly believable storyline... well for the most part.

Slow Horses

 

Pretty much my fav show of the year.  Grimy, gritty, snarky behind-the-scenes spies and their goings on.  Seriously under rated and seriously good.  It deserves all the awards.

Book Talk 2024

My lowest reading total yet.  Who would ever believe that was even possible.  I blame the shattered leg and the ton of drugs I was on which meant that any kind of concentration seriously went out the door.  Still despite the many months where reading was impossible I still managed to squeeze 159 books so I can't complain too much.

And the stats for the year were...

66  Chick Lit   

28  Audio books 

21  Non fiction 

10  Crime  

8    General fiction 

6    YA

5    Thrillers

3    Contemporary romance

3    Graphic novels 

2    Fantasy 

2    Apocalyptic fiction

2    Science fiction

1    Historical fiction

1    Paranormal fiction

1    Children's fiction

 

Chick Lit and Audio books stayed about the same while non-fiction went up but crime went down.  On the plus side I managed to add a few genres by reading some fantasy, paranormal, apocalyptic and historical fiction which I'm pleased about and hoping to continue reading at least 1 book in each of these genres during this year.

As for favs...

All The Plans 2025

You know the saying... man plans... and well disaster strikes derailing those plans big time.  And by big time I mean come to a complete stop.  All I can say is never break your leg in 3 places or break it so badly that you have to have surgery to fix it.  On the plus side I am now at least part cyborg courtesy of the metal rod that is now inside my leg.

 

But it's a new year and a new start so plans are once again on the table. We'll just ignore the year that was 2024 and yell out yay for 2025.

And the plans are...

Reading

 

One that never goes away which is just as well considering how many books I keep finding to add to my ever increasing To Be Read pile.

Gardening

 

That year that we won't talk about sadly saw my lovely garden become an utter disaster zone with more weeds than plants.  Luckily I have so far managed to almost catch up with the endless weeding and pruning and it's starting to once again look like an actual garden rather than a serious hazardous site.  As you can imagine the plan is to carrying on with the tidying and hopefully get some fruit and veg from it this year as well as getting it ready for the winter.

101 Things in 1001 Days

 

I seriously need to make a start on this because at this rate nothing is going to get crossed off.

Writing

The one thing that I have actually managed to do.  Would you believe I written almost 10,000 words in the past few months.  I know right?  Even I'm amazed at that one.  Definitely staying on the list and hoping like anything I can actually finish a story.