Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

It's hard to believe that we are just days from the end of 2015. This year seemed to fly by with disturbing speed; more so than any other for me at least.

Personally, it's been a year of ups and downs. However, let's concentrate on the positives.


1) I got to explore more of Japan this year - from far-flung Okinawa (very different to mainland Japan, for the record) to World Heritage Sites in Kyoto and Nara; and even the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Osaka's Universal Studios Japan.

2) After years of putting it on my Resolutions List, I finally ticked off Open Water scuba certification as an acquired adventuring skill. In turn, I drew on the underwater experience to write this standalone Tomb Raider fic.

3) A huge one: I wrote a novel - well, a novel-length piece of Tomb Raider fan fiction.

4) On that Lara Croft note, 2015 saw the release of a highly acclaimed new Tomb Raider game... that like 50 people have played due to timed Xbox exclusivity. But hey, PC and PS4 owners will get their chance to Rise in 2016 at least. Between the AAA sequel, a pair of hit Lara Croft mobile games (Relic Run and the App Store's Mobile Game of the Year, Lara Croft Go), two comic series and a new one starting this coming February, it's been a great year to be a Raider. 

5) I haven't been able to watch as many movies in 2015 as I usually do, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been an unusually strong period for blockbusters. Mad Max: Fury Road, The Martian, Spectre, Jurassic World and Star Wars: The Force Awakens are just the tip of a well-received iceberg. And although I personally found Avengers: Age of Ultron disappointing, Marvel comic characters have wowed on the small screen instead this past year. Agent Carter, Daredevil and Jessica Jones stood out in a stellar year for smart well-written TV series.

6) In terms of this blog, 2015 was definitely one of the quieter years of its 10-year existence. However, I hope the quality made up for the lack of quantity. I was especially proud of the 4-part Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Queer Icon post, which many fantastic fans around the world contributed towards.

So, just to wrap up by saying thank you for still popping by. Happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Here's to an amazing 2016 filled with opportunities... and much Pop Culture goodness of course.


Comments

Fruitbat44 said…
I enjoy reading your blog, and I'd take quality over quantity any day. (Though quality and quantity combined is always nice. -g-) Congratulations on your Open Water scuba certification. As a non-swimmer I am seriously impressed. So here's wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Peaceful and Prosperous (& TROTTR on the PC) 2016.

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