It's really difficult to live in London without feeling at the very centre of the cultural universe. I know that New York suffers from a similar sense of superiority and yet, when I think of London, I really do think that everything happens here all the time, a feeling that is compounded by the good fortune of living in Chelsea which, itself, is regarded as the pinnacle of London living.
I couldn't wait to leave behind 2015 because, even though I rightly claim that my own year starts on 1st September, my birthday, there's no escaping that it is January which heralds a new, big number on calendars, diaries and computers everywhere. 2016. Gosh, 16 years since the millennium, I cannot quite believe it. When the London Olympics were announced in the distant 2005, 2012 seemed such a far, far, far away year and look at us now... The past twelve months have been full of disappointment for me, from every which angle. I sincerely hope that 2016 won't be any way near as hard-nosed as its predecessor.
I am very much looking forward to Monet to Matisse, which will be the first super-exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts this year and is due to open imminently.
I also cannot wait for a celebration of Vogue's 100 years, which will open in February at The National Portrait Gallery.
There's also Delacroix coming up at The National Gallery as well as Georgia O'Keffee at Tate Modern. The V&A will also stage an underwear exhibition, Undressed.
Kenneth Branagh will bring Romeo and Juliet back to the theatre in one of the most anticipated adaptations of recent years, while I cannot wait for The Caretaker with Timothy Spall at The Old Vic.
In 2015 I did my very best to watch as many movies at the cinema as I could manage, something that is rather easy as I live within walking distance of two cinemas, heck I can see one from my living room windows. But can I top this record of 78? It seems like a long shot at present, but I am going to give it a try. As per usual, pre-award season, January and February, is expected to drop a ton of great releases, as is the July/August stretch. But right now, I cannot wait to see the following:
The Revenant
Ghostbusters
Assassin's Creed
Ab Fab
Zoolander 2
Florence Foster Jenkins
Doctor Strange
X-Men Apocalypse
Most of all though, I truly cannot wait to see Creed which, for all intent and purposes, qualifies as the seventh Rocky movie. And I am lucky on this one because it's out very soon at last and I've got a preview ticket for next week! Onwards to 2016 dear reader!
