To be honest, I’m not sad to see 2023 go. It’s hardly been the best of times so this blog’s going to resemble the proverbial Curate’s egg – good in parts!

Admittedly, 2023 started well for me as I spent the first couple of months of it indulging my lifelong passion for travel by wandering solo through haunts old and new in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. It was a joyous experience to get away and spend time in a part of the world I’ve loved for over 30 years, although at times it made me realise how much the UK is slipping behind other developed countries. Watching Singapore investing billions in continuing to improve it’s public transport infrastructure whilst hearing that the Conservatives were continuing to prune back HS2 construction in Britain was a classic example. The same story was playing out in Malaysia and Thailand. There was new construction everywhere I went – and long-term planning too – another thing absent in the UK.

Returning to the UK in March I got back into the swing of things and recording and reporting on the UK railway scene, which was mixed to say the least. Beset by industrial unrest, a lack of a rolling stock strategy and what must be the most anti-rail Government and PM we’ve seen for decades, it was a torrid time. However, I feel enormously privileged as a railway journalist to have the access I have to people, places and events – such as covering the continued construction and progress on building HS2. Well, the bits that Rishi Sunak hasn’t stymied for now – but more of that later…

Other bright spots in the year were several holidays. A group of us (‘the 5 from the 6’ – a reference to our local pub, the Big 6) had a break in Istanbul at the beginning of May. It’s a city and country I’d never visited before but I’d certainly return. The people were welcoming and entertaining whilst the city has a fascinating history and a real vibrancy – as you’d expect from somewhere that straddles both Europe and Asia. Back in the UK, Dawn and I (along with her parents) had holidays in North Norfolk and also Cambridgeshire – an old haunt of mine but virgin territory for the others so it was fun showing folks around towns they’d never explored before like Cambridge and Ely. They were wowed by the Cathedral whilst pretty St Ives became a favorite location. Remarkably, we had gorgeous weather for both our UK breaks. Sadly that wasn’t to be the case for the rest of the year. As regular readers of this blog will know, the weather’s one of my preoccupations due to being an outdoor photographer. It often governs what I can and can’t do.

Now to politics. See, I said this would be a curate’s egg sort of blog! What can I say, other than what an utter shit-show 2023 has been on the domestic front. The Tories seem to have become a death-cult, drifting further and further to the right whilst displaying their utter contempt for ordinary voters as they try and cling on to power. They’ve given up all pretense of governing the country for the benefit of the populace and made it clear they’re only there to enrich each other. Just when you think they couldn’t get any worse in their choices for PM, the next one comes along and says ‘hold my beer’…

After the lying, lazy incompetence of Johnson we had Truss, who was so dogmatically batshit even the financiers and bankers of the City of London rejected her, leading to the economic crash that saw her off within a few short weeks. Then along comes Sunak, the ‘also ran’ who got a second chance. A man with no political antenna and no connection or empathy with ordinary people. A man who promised ‘integrity’ in government then spectacularly failed to deliver it. Billed as a ‘details man’ by his supporters he displayed all the recall of someone with Alzheimers during his questioning at the Covid enquiry. His contempt and disdain for the democratic process and accountability was obvious. A millionaire autocrat who’s chosen the most ridiculous political hill to die on (Rwanda) because he hasn’t the acumen or common-sense to stop making impossible promises he can’t deliver, yet who scraps a project he could (HS2) that has had over a decade of cross-party consensus and support. And for what? The ridiculous ‘Network North’ which even a fag-packet would be insulted to have been used to draw it up on? Sunak is so tin-eared he can’t even see how a boastful tweet about scrapping HS2 sent from a private jet looks. It’s that level of disconnect.

Thankfully, 2024 will see a general election called. Personally, my money is on May although I suspect even Sunak (a man who shows no attempt to think things through) really knows when he’ll call it. His impulsiveness and ability to listen to bad advice means it could be called anytime. Only one thing’s clear – the Tories inability to move the electoral needle. Barring a miracle (or disaster, depending on your political viewpoint) Labour are favorites to win and Keir Starmer to be our next Prime Minister. OK, he’s not the most inspiring politician. He certainly doesn’t have the charisma or power of oratory that Tony Blair had, but I really don’t care. Right now all I want to see is a Government run by adults who actually care about the country, not this bunch of right-wing, swivel-eyed loons who’re more concerned with feathering the nests of themselves and their friends.

Right, enough of politics. There’s going to be plenty of time for spleen-venting in 2024, beginning next month when the next Brexit fiasco kicks in at our ports as the Government finally starts checking food imports, having delayed this five times before.

On a more personal level. January promises to be an interesting month. Having been bedevilled by a series of minor injuries this year which have meant my fitness levels have dropped but my weight hasn’t I’ve decided to begin the new year with a reset, giving up alcohol (yep, the infamous ‘dry January’) whilst boosting my exercise regime – whatever the weather throws my way. Please God, all I ask is – don’t let Sunak call an election in January!

On other fronts 2023 has seen me blog on 308 days. I’m amazed and humbled that these and older blogs have been read 78,400 plus times this year whilst over 265,000 people have popped in since I started blogging in 2015. Thank you all for your support – especially those who’ve contributed towards the costs of running this blog by clicking on ads or buying me a coffee via Ko-Fi. It’s greatly appreciated.

I’ll do my best to keep you entertained with stories of travel, the railways and politics throughout the year. 

Of course, a lot of what I’ve achieved couldn’t have been done without the love and support of my incredible wife, Dawn. I’d just like to pay tribute to her for all she’s done – despite the grief I sometimes cause her!

So, all that remains is to wish you all a prosperous and peaceful New Year and hope you all have a great 2024. See you on the other side. Right now, we’re off to the pub for a couple of hours…

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