There’s a penchant at this time of year for summarising your blogging year by posting the first sentence of the first post of each month. This year I’ve made an effort to write punchier (first) sentences, and in writing generally to tighten up my rather prolix prose style. The following demonstrates that I “could do better”. Here is my contribution …

January. Yes, you read it right!

February. Going to the dogs is what a lot of children in Shropshire might be doing today.

March. I’m still working through the photographs I took on holiday in German a few weeks ago.

April. In the Barber’s Shop. (One in a series of a self-portrait a week.)

May. “Sitting quietly, doing nothing, / Spring comes, and the grass grows by itself.”

June. Albertine. (Photograph of a rose from our garden.)

July. We’ve not done a Friday Five for a long time, so here’s this week’s.

August. The “Feedback” column this week’s New Scientist contains this item.

September. Is it my imagination, or is the wheat harvest about a month late this year?

October. “I moved to London in 1973 to study Chemistry at University College, London.”

November. I’ve no idea now where I found this, but it struck a chord.

December. Anti-Haircut (Another in the series of a self-portrait a week.)

The Verdict? Keep taking the tablets!