A YEAR OF HIGHS AND LOWS!

As the end of 2012 approaches it's good to look back on the highs and lows and try to dwell on the highs. Don't forget the lows - and there have been a few - but concentrate on the high points, both personal and universal.

Universal highs -
1. The Olympics. Say no more really. Few people thought we could pull it off. Many thought Britain would fail dismally, both as an organiser and as a team, but Lord Coe and Team GB make it a Games to remember. Danny Boyle, Mr Bond and Mr Bean gave us a great opening ceremony and the entire competitor team did themselves proud.
2. The Paralympics. A phenomenal event on a par with the Olympics in every way, even though it had a much smaller budget.
3. Bradley Wiggens. The first Brit to win the Tour de France, only to follow it up with a gold at the Olympics and the Sports Personality of the Year trophy. Rumoured to be Sir Wiggo in the New Year.
4. Claire Balding. 2012 was Claire's year. She matured from being a horse race commentator, to becoming a past-master of most sports and a consumate linker.
5. The Diamond Jubliee celebrations. Only marred once when the BBC tried to dumb down the river pageant. Even the great Claire Balding dumber-down on instructions one suspects. The Queen and Philip and most of the Royal Family carried it off well.
6. Gaddafi was overthrown, though it remains to be seen what will fill the Libyan vacuum.
7. Felix Baumgartner became the highest skydiver.


Universal Lows -
1. Lonesome George, the last Pinto Island tortoise in the Galapagos Islands died, making the species extinct
2. Hurricane Sandy killed 209 people, though we only heard about the few in N.E America.
3. Greece imploded financially and the rich fat cats over there famously said that "only the little people pay tax".
4. A 20 year old in America took his mother's collection of guns, including an assault rifle and hand gun, and murdered more than 20 infants and some of their female teachers. More than 9,000 people were shot and killed in the USA in 2012. During the same period the next country had less than 100 killed. Hopefully America will learn.
5. Typhoon Bopha in the Philippines killed 1,020 people with 844 people still missing. Anyone heard of it?

I can think of a few more, but it would be interesting what other people consider univesal highs and lows.

Blog on, Dudes!