Through Christmas is now over, the memories it has created are not. Among those are a tradition for every year, played, I’m sure, around the country after the turkey has been cleared away: board games. Normally with a glass of something to hand, these provide fruitful entertainment in the run-up to, and aftermath of, Christmas, and, yes, the occasional conflict.
Of course, the classic games exist: Monopoly, Cluedo, Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble. Such is their popularity that multiple versions of each game exist, pumped around the world for the pleasure of individuals to keep their brains whirring over the festive season. Long term readers (I cannot thank you enough for sticking with this blog) may recall two years ago I reviewed some board games, a blog idea I feel sprung into my mind only yesterday. Over the Christmas season however, my family opted for the board game edition of the afternoon Channel 4 programme Countdown. Hosted by Nick Hewer, formally of the Apprentice, it is popular viewing both because of the similarity of the format and an ethos based on intelligence. The only things that change are the contestants and Susie Dent’s Dictionary Corner guest. The vowels, numbers, constants and rules remain absolute. Indeed, despite the millions of solutions over 35 years, the show has hardly changed at all. To hand, we had our pads of paper and, of course, the iconic Countdown theme lasting, though it seems far shorter, precisely 30 seconds. Looking back on our efforts to find the greatest number of words or tackle a seemingly impossible conundrum, I realise how that game is a metaphor for so much of 2019. It is a year squeezed with events. The first half will be taken up by revision for my A-level exams before taking all eight of them. These seem far more significant than my GCSEs – there was pressure for those, but it wasn't to the same bar as today's undertakings. Strangely, the revision process can be quite pleasurable. It is something to do, a way to fill the mind and recall a memorable topic that had escaped my memory up to that moment. When revising for my summer mock exams, the local library became the perfect space to escape to, mainly because the tables were a convenient size to bung all my revision notes on. That is coming up again, a large chunk of my future – university, employment, my own sense of self – determined by the results I attain this August. Before the real things however come mock exams. Just hours away, they appear another chance to practice exam papers and still see what I am yet to learn. I’ll admit, my revision over the Christmas break probably wasn’t the greatest – expectation management and all that? My priority, throughout the Countdown ahead, is making sure I don’t run out of energy. That would be a true disaster. Though, with all the food I’ve consumed over the last couple of weeks (my body weight as I keep telling people), I think that is unlikely. Of course, given the new year has arisen, you may be wondering what my New Year’s Resolutions are. We count down to them at the start of every year, seeking to renew ourselves and the things we do. You may recall I wrote some out on this blog. However, from this year, I have decided to stop making them. This is partially due to a lack of time with imminent mock exams, but also because so rarely are they met. This is a universal failure on us all. Fundamentally, they can prevent development throughout the rest of the year, people assuming that to simply seek a change at the start of the year, even if it is not met, is enough to believe they have advanced as an individual. Every time I hear how many days are left until our departure from the EU, I always panic, not just because of the complete absence of any clarity, but in the knowledge that, just a month and a bit later than March 29th, my exams will be commencing. Let us hope that in the event of a no deal, there is enough paper to ensure every student can write as much as they would like. Even after we have counted down to departure, Britain doesn’t stop talking about Brexit. On the contrary, the next countdown of 31st December 2020, the end of the implementation period, then kicks into action: negotiations about the shape of our future relationship and what sort of country we become, likely to dominate the discussion. For all those who thought Brexit Day would mean a return to discussions of domestic policy, you were mistaken. Such a discussion about what Britain is after Brexit will – and must – take place. We were always counting down to some events. Apart from the odd holiday away, no cares in the world to distract our mind, we are always becoming (to quote Michelle Obama’s autobiography, which I eagerly plan to soon read) instead of just being. There is always more to do, more to develop. For most of us, all this will be on top of juggling domestic chores, bills, jobs, engaging with culture and family, being healthy, exploring the world and just being happy. All part of the permanent countdown that is modern life. Happy New Year.
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