Things and stuff I’ve enjoyed this year
Books
The Meaning in the Making: A Philosophy for the Creative Life, Sean Tucker.
Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide to Happiness, Bill Bailey
A Little Book on Photography, Thorsten von Overgaard
Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, Adam M. Grant
The Descent of Man, Grayson Perry
Build, Tony Fadell
TV shows
Obi-Wan Kenobi, Disney+. I’m a big Star Wars fan, so there’s no surprise that this is on my list. However, I was really pleased with how this series was delivered, as it could have been easily ruined.
The Ipcress File, ITV. While the trailers suggested a corny, retro-styled take on a classic story, the actual series was greatly entertaining. The cinematography, casting, and directing were all on-point, delivering a show that was more Mad Men than Michael Caine.
Trigger Point, ITV. A tense thriller based on a London bomb squad.
The Thief, His Wife and The Canoe, ITV. Base on a true story of fraud. Both Eddie Marsan and Monica Dolan give outstanding performances throughout.
Only Murders In The Building, Disney+. A simple, easy watch ‘who done it’.
The Walk-In, ITV. Stephen Graham delivers another superb performance in this British political drama series based on a real story, both shocking and engaging.
Taskmaster, Channel 4. The team are still delivering a thoroughly entertaining show. No thinking is required. Highly entertaining, with basic humour at its best.
The Devil’s Hour, Amazon Prime. It’s brilliantly disturbing, chilling and intriguing all at the same time. However, I’d suggest not watching before bed.
SAS Rogue Heroes, BBC. This series may dramatise a real story, but it’s bloody brilliant. The characters are portrayed so well, and the music choice is well suited to each scene.
Andor, Disney+. No surprise that I’ve added another Star Wars story. It starts off pretty slow, but stick with it. The story is excellent. Visually it delivers a contrast between clinical Empire and the gritty real world. Oh, make sure you take advantage of the after-credit scene of the final episode.
Films
All Quiet on the Western Front, Netflix. Felix Kammerer delivers an outstanding performance as 17-year-old Paul Bäumer as he joins the Western Front in World War I. Like Sam Mendes’ 1917, it does not hide the grim reality of life in the trenches. It’s a brilliant portrait of the senseless disregard for the soldiers’ lives over gaining a few feet of land. This may be my film of the year.
The Batman, Matt Reeves. I was treated to see this by my son as a birthday present. Initially, walking out of the cinema, I wasn’t overly excited by what I had just watched, but as I thought through what I had witnessed, things became clearer just what a brilliant movie The Batman is. The cinematography is outstanding, the direction is spot on, and the acting is exactly what it should be for a Batman movie, dark, gritty with a little humour thrown in.
Who are you, Charlie Brown? An excellent documentary covering the life of Charles “Sparky” Schulz. The film has been curated exceptionally well, and Lupita Nyong’o voice creates a soothing narration. The documentary interweaves a great animated story following Charlie Brown’s quest to discover himself.
Soul, Disney Pixar. A beautifully told story, superb animation and brilliant voice casting make this a must-watch.
Cry Macho, Clint Eastwood. This was an in-flight choice, cowboy hat and Clint Eastwood I was in. Following a simple plot, this is a slow-paced film and is all the better because it provides a sense of real life rather than the usual squeeze as much as possible.
Don’t Look Up, Adam McKay. The impending doom of a meteor heading for the earth isn’t original, but I enjoyed this take on the story.
14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, Torquil Jones. I don’t like heights, but I’m intrigued and captivated by climbers, especially the Sherpas.
Savage Waters, Mikey Corker. A tantalising passage in a 19th-century treasure hunter’s journal inspires modern adventurers to find and surf a spectacular wave in some of the Atlantic ocean’s most remote and dangerous waters.
People
Jeffery Saddoris – Mixed media artist, podcaster and writer.
David Hieatt – Co-Founder of The Do Lectures and Hiut Denim Co.
Thorsten von Overgaard – Danish photographer
The Real Hackney Dave – Artist and Jaffa Cake enthusiast
Podcasts
Creative conversations from Jeffery Saddoris. Super value as you get three podcast flavours. Process Driven; conversations with creators from a wide range of disciplines. Deep Natter; conversations between the host and Sean Tucker exploring the philosophical and practical sides of creativity and art making. Iterations; The hosts’ observations and reflections, mostly around visual arts and their creativity.
The Nod is a mindful motorcycle podcast that is entertaining and enlightening. Occasionally, they even talk about bikes too.
Random links
What went right in 2022 — the top 25 good news stories of the year
VanMoof V — an exquisite take on the electric bicycle.
Real-world desk inspiration — for everyone working from home.
20 useful Google search tips — to help you get the most out of your next Google session
17 hidden Google tricks you probably didn’t know.
Virtual icebreakers — 42 fresh activities from top facilitators.
A community power station — from an ordinary, east London terraced street
A Manifesto by Ai Weiwei — the artist’s 10 rules for life and creativity.
5 Things You Should Always Block Time For In Your Calendar.
Habit tracking — for the Notion users.