A salute from Whether Idle to all those contenders who've congratulated me on attaining the crown for 2016, and for attaining a cumulative error of 5.99 degrees c - the all time record thus far in this competition.
If you look at GWs excellent analysis he published yesterday you will see that I was lying around 32nd/53 by around April. A word of encouragement or two to all 2017 contenders is to be found in a selection of lyrics from ol Blue Eyes:
That's life (that's life) that's what people say
You're riding high in April
Shot down in May
But I know I'm gonna change that tune
When I'm back on top, back on top in June
I said, that's life (that's life) and as funny as it may seem
Some people get their kicks
Stompin' on a dream
But I don't let it, let it get me down
'Cause this fine old world it keeps spinnin' around
I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate
A poet, a pawn and a king
I've been up and down and over and out
And I know one thing
Each time I find myself flat on my face
I pick myself up and get back in the race
Good luck to all and keep trying. 2017 will be a real test and I will try and avoid a hubristic fate.
WI
Dover, 5m asl. Half a mile from the south coast.