Wednesday, 31 December 2025

2025 - The year review in blogs

As is the tradition, at this time of year, I take a look back at the best blogs of the year. First a few numbers. This year, I posted 303 blogs, which is slightly more than the past three years. I was actually surprised when I checked this, as I felt I'd been less busy. The blog had a huge number of hits


As to the most read individual blogs, according to Google stats. Annoyingly. Google no longer lists the published date. These stats are slightly misleading, as they do not show blogs that are accessed by a general view of the blog, or by a search on a tag, but these are the ten most shared and revisited blogs for 2025

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but......

Posted by Rog T                                                      623
Posted by Rog T
And finally, my favourites, month by month

January

I always start the year like this. 

So how did I get on?

Politics - Brilliant 10/10

Donald Trump will not end the Ukraine war on day one of his presidency as promised. Spot on 10/10

Keir Starmer will raise taxes on businesses by even more in the next budget, as well as nicking more cash off pensioners. Spot on 10/10

Nigel Farage will continue to be the bloke most invited onto #BBCQT whilst claiming that the 'mainstream media' gives him a hard time. Spot on 10/10

Sir Sadiq Khan will continue to annoy people of the right and will raise tube fares again for ordinary Londoners. Spot on 10/10

Sport Not so hot 3/10 Mind you, you can always rely on Arsenal!

Manchester United will not finish the year with their current manager - Wrong 0/10

Manchester City will win their case with the Premier League - Who thought it would still be unresolved 0/10

Arsenal will win nothing Spot on 10/10

The Weather - Spot on 10/10

Winter will be cold and miserable and at the end of it, we'll be told it's the hottest winter on record. Spot on 10/10

Summer will be wet and miserable and at the end of it, we'll be told it's the hottest summer on record.Spot on 10/10

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My new years resolutions - 7/10 not bad

1. To lose 14kg by April Nearly -  I lost 10kg - 7/10 

2. To get back running on the treadmill by April - Nearly I was on it in July 7/10

3. To release a new album by The False Dots in November - It was recorded, but we delayed it until 2026 as we wrote three new tracks that we wanted to include 7/10

However, this wasn't my favourite blog in January, this was


A look at some of my favourite pub venues to play, which have closed. Very much a personal favourite of mine.

February

In February, I had another episode of my London Symphonies series. A subject very close to my heart...


March

My selection from March is a very personal and nostalgic one for me.


In April, we had a great guest blog from Chris The Mill Hillian. A superb slice of hyper local history. This is very much the sort of thing I love


I often re-read this blog when I am feeling down. When I write blogs like this I get in a mental zone I rarely explore. Re-reading it takes me there. It is a good place in my head.


This one was quite a hard read for me. I had a very strange experience and it sort of confirmed to me that I probably suffered a bit of PTSD when my Mum was being treated for cancer in 1970. I've often thought about it, but this really crystalised what I've felt for a long time. I think it is good to confront such things, if we are strong enough


In July, I wrote what I think is an excellent episode in the Rock and Roll Stories series. It details my approaach to songwriting through the decades. 


A bit of nostalgia made me smile from the August selection. A reminder of happier, more innocent times. I don't recommend children to play on the M1, but I wouldn 't have missed this.

September

The choice for September is a reflection on phobias and dreams and what it all means.


October

I rather like this blog. One of my tips for resetting your mood.


November

Just in case you thought we'd given up completely on sticking up for Barnet's residents, had to pick this one. We exposed a council cock up. We saved Barnet Council from a potentially expensive lawsuit. Did we get any thanks from the administration? Did we f.... Barnet still needs its bloggers! Sadly Both John Dix AKA Mr Reasonable and Theresa Musgrove AKA Mrs Angry have only managed one each. Derek DIshman AKA Mr Mustard has published a fair number, mostly about parking. The useless adminstration in Barnet needs scrutiny. Sadly, there is far too little. Of course being a blogger is an unpaid role, I am not criticiising other people, who have done enough to warrant an OBE IMHO in the past, but bloggers are needed.

December

And finally.....

I actually think yesterdays blog is an absolute cracker. Cancer is an important subject for me


Strangely, or perhaps not, none of my personal favourites were in the most read list. I was pleased that my April fool blog made the top ten! Since lockdown, I've changed the style of what I write. I have realised I am not as angry and vitriolic as I was. That is a good thing. It is also a good thing that people are still taking an interest. When I started the Barnet Eye in 2008, I never imagined it would still be going in 2025 or would have had over 7 million views.

I'll leave you with a song. It's new years day, so there is only one thing I could possibly play! We all love a party


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