10 Random Reasons to be Cheerful in the UK in 2014

(and even slightly proud and pleased)

1.  'The Bridge' is Back

Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia
as Saga Noren and Martin Rohde

From 4 January 2014 on BBC4 another 20 episodes of the Danish/Swedish/German funded police procedural, 'The Bridge'. The British love watching people in woolly jumpers clutching torches in their teeth, gun in hand, staring glumly through a perpetually dark, rainy drizzle. Other than the gun (replace with wellies) it is much like attending any summer music festival in the UK.

The title music from The Choir of Young Believers ‘Hollow Talk’ is magical as well.

2.  And the Weinstein Company have Bought Peaky Blinders

So I have two more seasons of staring into Cillian Murphy’s eyes wondering what non-Englanders will make of a ‘brummy’ accent. I’m hoping Sam Neill returns too as his Northern Irish accent was superb, as was his portrayal of a sadistic policeman.





3.  Chiwetel Ejiofor and Steve McQueen may win Oscars/BAFTAs/Golden Globes for '12 Years a Slave'

Opening here on 10 January 2014. I have never seen a 96% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes! I'll be up until the early hours in party frock and dangly earrings cheering them on during the awards months. In fact why not wear the outfit permanently (once again adding those wellies). Both actor and director so mightily talented.




4.  And Talking of Awards ... the MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) are Being Held in Glasgow

The MTV EMAs will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2014 at Glasgow's brand new, state-of-the-art venue, The SSE Hydro.

Plus the BAFTAS open up to programmes watched online in the UK, and we will have the first year of the Man-Booker opened up to all English speaking nations ...bring it on.


5. The Vikings are Coming (and not just on TV!)

The new exhibition at the British Museum will open in March - and is on loan from its home in Oslo - the 37 metre remains of the largest warship ever found.


6.  The Very Lovely ‘The Minimalists’ Joshua Fields Milburn and Ryan Nicodemus

Are touring America-and arrive in the UK in October. Being an Organisational Goddess I already have my ticket booked!! You can ‘buy’ tickets online (they are free, you are simply saving a place) and Joshua’s new book 'Everything that Remains' is published on 14 January 2014. They also have a FABULOUS blog out on - 'How to Start a Successful Blog Today'.

The 'Mins' are funny, obviously love and care about what they do, are far less saccharine than most American bloggers and give masses of sound help and advice for free.

If you can like people just from their writing then these boys seem to have a very giving sensibility, alongside sound common-sense. I honestly can’t wait to go to their talk.


7. English Common Law Will be Used by Children from Colorado

As the basis for their legal fight against fracking in one of the most heavily fracked states in the USA. Children from all 50 states, under the auspices of +Our Children’s Trust, have become plaintiffs in a class action suit against their state governments. A petition was delivered in November in Colorado and will be considered on 27 January 2014. The legal principle is that water (and air) are within the public domain and not 'owned' by anyone.

A small digression ...
English common law is amazing! The most obvious example is the 'common-law wife'. It you have lived with, given birth to children and supported each other in a way that an average person (terminology; a reasonable standard person) would assume was a marriage - then even without the license you are regarded as a common law wife.

Not as well know is the 'moron in a hurry' terminology first used in 1978 and gradually gaining credence. So much so that Apple computers used it in 2006 in a trading standards dispute with Apple records - see full explanation here.


8.  The National Curriculum in the UK

From September 2014, the UK Government implement their new curriculum with rudimentary coding being taught to children from age 5 upwards.

The hugely inspiring +Code Club, a voluntary-led organisation of children’s after-school clubs aid 9-11 year olds in coding. They have grown from 700-odd clubs six months ago to 1608!! Which makes the UK world leader in teaching computer science to kids (yey). Find your free club here.

We also still teach our children cursive writing, whereas most states in the USA no longer have this as a national standard  ...

Last but by no means least:


9.  The ex Mayor of NYC and 10. the soon to be wed Kanye/Kim and baby North West will be moving to Londres in 2014.

Watch that tabloid space ...

Happy New Year and have a great 2014 everyone.

The Organisational Goddess
www.organisationalgoddess.com
organisationalgoddess.blogspot.co.uk