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Karen Mander's avatar

This is a difficult one! If you’d asked me in January to write down my favourite films, albums etc it would probably be a totally different list. Here goes: tv series: celebrity traitors and I really enjoyed the one about the celebrities making each other laugh.

Album: according to Spotify I’m a big pink fan so I’d have to say her but I have also listened to Alex Warren a lot this year.

Movies : that’s an easy one for me, Jurassic world:rebirth

Podcast: I can honestly say that I haven’t listened to any podcasts ever, but I’m going to put it on my New Year’s resolution to start.

Book: I really enjoyed the housemaid series, I’ve read too many books to remember but all fiction and mostly female authors.

Article: nothing that sticks in my mind.

Sporting moment : got to be the women’s rugby.

Politician or public figure : no comment

Tech invention :  for me it would have to be Gemini because the impact it has had on reducing my workload has been fantastic.

Monday meno: 28

Nicky M's avatar

: TV Series: Shrinking (Apple TV)

2: Album: Now that's what I call music 2025

3: Movie: The Long Walk

4: Podcast Diary of a CEO

5: Book: Here one moment by Liane Moriarty

6: Article:

7: Sporting moment: Winning the Women's world cup

8: Politician or Public Figure: James Blunt

9: Tech Innovation: it's not new but I finally got a fridge that makes Ice. I love it

10: Monday Memo All of them

Gary Mander's avatar

Series

My initial thought was Succession, but after [spoilers redacted], I lost interest, so I would say, Apollo 1:Destination Moon. This documentary concentrated on the early days of the Apollo program and specifically the lives of Gus Grissom, Roger Chaffey and Ed White, the three astronauts who lost their lives in the tragic capsule fire during a pre-launch test. Their deaths probably contributed more to the success of Kennedy’s goal of sending a man to the moon and returning him safely within the decade and the safety of all future space flight than any other individuals.

Album

I didn’t buy an album this year, and I can’t remember the last time I did buy an album. So, for my favourite album I will look to Spotify who reliably, and I confidently accept, tell me that my favourite album was Pet Shop Boys Discography.

Movie

Tron: Ares. It’s corny and predictable, but it’s Tron.

Podcast

The Rest is Entertainment. OK, so I don’t listen to podcasts. I have no commute or long drives to customers and struggle to concentrate on anything else when I’m working. But, the algorithm has spotted that I find these snippets of the podcast in Reels interesting and fascinating, and serves them up on a regular basis.

Book

Nuclear War: A Scenario, Annie Jacobsen. As a child of the seventies and eighties and having the pamphlet and TV adverts thrust in our faces during the Cold War, the process and thinking behind a nuclear attack has always held a fascination. This compelling, second by second (literally) account of the decisions, procedures and agencies is captivating and also terrifying.

Article

Nothing stands out. Apart from, of course, the insightful and varied, Monday Memos.

Sporting Moment

Lando Norris securing the F1 drivers championship 2025 - the 11th British driver to win the title. Considering there has only ever been 35 different winners, this makes the UK the most successful country in F1 history.

Political Figure

Has to be Gavin Newsom. He has taken on Trump at his own game in spectacular style. The only high profile politician it seems who is prepared to point at the self-proclaimed emperor and declare he has no clothes. He is my tip for the Democrat nomination for 2028. Watch this space.

Tech Innovation

AI. Yes. Next.

Monday Memo

The series of manifesto articles. Insightful and thought provoking. The author is another one I’d suggest watching for a possible future in politics.