Firstly, I'd like to wish all readers of the Barnet Eye a Happy New Year!
How did you see the new year in? As with most years, we went away with friends and celebrated. This year we rented a mansion near Stratford Upon Avon between us and partied to the early hours. We've been doing this for the best part of 35 years. When our children were small, it was a great way to have fun and still be responsible. For as many years as I can remember, Jools Holland's Hootenanny has seen us in. This year was no exception. We've seen Jools morph from being an edgy young musician to a National treasure. It is one of the few things constant in a year of change.
One tradition I am keeping this year on the blog is my list of predictions for the year. At the end of the year, I revisit these and give myself a mystic meg mark out of ten. Last year I did well, sadly too well in some areas.
Here is this years predictions.
January
The year starts as the year ended. We have the funeral of Pope Benedict. In some ways, this draws a perfect line under a terrible few years. The Weather starts mild, but by the 21st we are back to freezing temperatures, snow, ice and train strikes. Normal politics returns with Labour leader clobbering Rishi Sunak at PMQ's on a weekly basis. Tory MP's, especially those on the right start making noises. We see the start of Nigel Farage's return to front line politics, with his land grab for that area formerly known as UKIP.
February
Cold weather continues, petrol prices soar. To celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Ukraine Campaign, Putin announces a new offensive in Ukraine. This starts with a massive bombardment of Ukraine, but peters out as half trained conscripts decide that death in a futile war is a bit silly.
The False Dot's perform the Burnt Oak Boogie live in Burnt Oak at the Bacon Lane Club on Saturday the 11th February, seeing the most exciting night of the year so far in the Borough of Barnet.
March
In March we have Jeremy Hunt's first proper budget. Hunt is stuck between a rock and a hard place. He knows that the Tories are doomed if he doesn't do something to boost their popularity, but are even more doomed if he spooks the markets. He opts mainly for economic sense, but cuts tax on beer, wines and spirits, with measures to help the hospitality trade, on the basis that this can be sold as boosting the economy and is always popular. Labour clobbers him, whilst privately agreeing a Knighthood for him after they take over, as he's just about single handedly saved the UK's reputation for sensible management of the economy. He will have bequeathed them a basically functioning economy. After months of disruption, deals are struck with transport unions, as the Tories try and fix the problems before the council elections in April.
March also sees The False Dots Triumphantly return to The Dublin Castle on the 15th to celebrate our amazing drummer Gray Ramsey's 60th Birthday!
April
Good weather arrives, just in time for local elections. The Tories suffer swinging losses. Labour takes a swathe of never held before councils. A few Tories resign and a series of by election follow in seats that the Tories would have lost at the next election anyway. They are clobbered and Rishi Sunak's regime is on life support. Boris Johnson is making noises that he needs to return to save the Tories and Nigel Farage is stating that he is now the soul of the 'Real Tory Party' with is new incarnation.
May
Better than expected trade figures give a brief period of respite for Rishi Suank, he claims the hard work is paying off. Mortgage rates have stabilised and the continuing good weather makes the mood in the country better. Petrol prices drop as the oil price stabilises. In a big shock move, having had a wonderful season at Arsenal, Mikel Arteta departs to Real Madrid, causing tears across North London. Patrick Viera replaces him.
June
In June we have a wonderful Mill Hill Music Festival. However the bad news at By Elections continues. Tory MP's start putting letters into the 1922 commitee. Boris is on manouvers and Nigel Farage is claiming he is the saviour.
July
Rishi Sunak resigns. Boris Johnson is crowned king once more and The Tory party celebrate. Their poll ratings improve from 20% to 30%. The pound falls as Boris sacks Jeremy Hunt in his first action as PM and appoint Jacob Rees Mogg as Chancellor. He re-appoints Matt Hancock as health secretary as he's the most popular Tory politician in the UK. Boris announces that the Tories are back.
August
Temperatures break records in the UK. Beer sales soar, the UK feels more like the Costa Brava. The SNP announce that they will hold an illegal independence referendum, as they hate Boris. Boris gets an injunction to prevent the Referendum.
September
Boris stuns the world by calling a snap general election. The pound plummets. Boris announces that it will give the whole UK a chance to decide whether they want to keep the Union, claiming that Sir Keir Starmer will destroy it and give in to the SNP. The Tories edge up to 34% in the Polls with Labour on 40%.
October
Five days before the election, Dominic Cummings releases his memoirs. This is a horror show for Boris. A soft pack between the Lib Dems and Labour see's the Lib Dems take 30 seats from the Tories in the South of England. Labour achieve an 85 seat majority, which Boris claims is a victory for him. Many Tory MP's breath a sigh of relief that they still have a job and it wasn't as bad as seemed likely when Sunak was in charge. Jeremy Hunt is knighted and Boris resigns. We are faced with yet another Tory Leadership contest although no one really seems that bothered.
November
Sir Keir Starmer gets Rachel Reeve to make and Autumn financial statement. This is fully costed and placates the markets. Labour also announce a Royal Commission to come up with ideas for a replacement for the House of Lords.
December
After nearly two years of fighting, Ukraine and Russia make a peace agreement. Part of the deal is the lifting of sanctions on Russian products. Vladimir Putin claims a great victory as some territory is permanently ceded to Russia, but the world see's it differently. Oil and Gas prices plummet. Jurgen Klopp leaves Liverpool to take over at Barcelona, as Real Madrid start to run away with La Liga.
The Barnet Eye holds it's first annual awards ceebration party since 2019 and the world starts to seem just a bit more normal.
And it finishes with a White Christmas, and I hope we are all still hear to see how much of this came true!
That's all folks!
But hey, ho what do I know.
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