We're just coming to the end of our first year as the UK City of Culture, and I think most of us here think it has been fantastic, and really made a difference. I've always loved it here, but there is a distinctly different vibe about the place now. I can't praise the work of the people involved highly enough.
It has been good, hasn't it. Our daughter has had a lot of opportunities this year in connection with her dance, drama and singing - with one of the highlights being dancing at the New Theatre with the Royal Ballet for the grand re-opening.
My wife and I got to sit in on the dress rehearsal the night before and it was amazing watching the team do the show run-through. It's far more complex than you realise and by the end of the night, some four hours after the start (due to all the stops, retakes, re-cues of the dancer positions, lights, sound, set and backdrops) they were up to cue point 254. Big support team and crew, professional throughout and fascinating to watch the dancers perform. Such strength and grace. You can see where they get their reputation from.
She's also done lots of other gigs and was a wolf in the Macnas Parade through the town a few weeks ago. Been a great year, and much more interesting than we'd initially thought.