Where did November go? It seems like a few days ago it was October and still a couple of months left in the year and all of a sudden its December and life is dominated by mince pies and sellotape. Work got a bit busy so I ended up with a few late evenings running analysis of stuff, but I guess it is better than being unemployed.

Although November flashed past, I did manage to read another 9 books, and streamed 5 films, one of which was actually quite good, despite the clumsy title: Nandor Fodor and the Talking Mongoose (2023). Rather surprisingly, it is based on a true story. Chariot (2013) was a OK for a low-budget film. It certainly had an interesting premise. Unfortunately the other films I watched were mostly disappointing: Renegades (a Guy Ritchie wannabe), The Killer (David Fincher’s least gripping film) and Apex. The last of them was truly dreadful. It featured Bruce Willis as the goodie and Neal McDonough playing the baddie but was still terrible. The plot is just a rip-off of Hard Target, that promises to go somewhere but never does.

At least I had more joy with TV shows, finishing off season five of Brassic and starting season one of Bosch: Legacy. I went old school with Brassic, rationing myself to one episode a week instead of binging the whole lot in one go. I don’t know why Brassic is not better-known because it is absolutely hilarious.

Despite the weather, I managed to get out on the motorbike a few times. Mostly it was just going out for a five or ten mile poodle around to keep the battery alive, but I did have a trip up to Redhill hospital for a scan and a trip out to Horsham for the last record fair of the year.

I may have got carried away at the Horsham record fair though. Making the most of the last chance to binge on vinyl, I came back with 9 LPs, all from the 70s or early 80s. I was especially chuffed to get hold of Chris Squire’s solo album and David Essex’s first album.

In other news, I am still not a millionaire. My Premium Bonds did come up again, for the 5th month in a row, but only for a £100 prize, so retirement to Scotland or Wales isn’t going to happen any time soon.