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# What kept me going in 2021
- URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/whatkeptmegoingin2021/
- Published: 2022-01-03T09:35:10.000Z
- Updated: 2023-12-04T22:27:01.000Z
- Author: Matt
- Tags: Blog

I’m in no doubt that 2021 was a challenging year for many of us, multiple lockdowns, COVID anxiety, mental health issues, travel disruptions and the world seeming to lurch from crisis to crisis. As I did my end of year reflection, I made a list of the things that helped me get through a troubled year.

1. [Lavazza Rossa](https://www.lavazza.it/it.html?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- not just the coffee beans, but the morning ritual of a coffee before starting (or leaving for) work.
2. [Strava](https://www.strava.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- recording my ‘daily’ walks and holding me accountable for doing some exercise. I managed 1685km in 2021, which helped with both physical and mental health. Aiming to beat that target and consistency in 2022.
3. [Coal Drops Yard](https://www.coaldropsyard.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- a week back in the UK to see family and friends, and this place was a highlight of the trip. A shopping and food destination in the nightclub I used to work at.
4. [Bob Mortimer / And Away](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57513156-and-away?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- lovely autobiography by our new national treasure - I recommend the audiobook if you can, to hear it read by the man himself.
5. Vinyl Records from [Spindizzy](https://www.spindizzyrecords.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) and [VinylVinylVinyl.ie](http://vinylvinylvinyl.ie/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- two of Irelands finest vinyl shops kept me supplied with records for mindful listening throughout the year. Thanks lovely people!
6. [French Dispatch](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8847712/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- my favourite Wes Anderson film so far, funny, beautifully shot and a great cast.
7. [Janssen Vaccine (and all the vaccines)](https://www2.hse.ie/screening-and-vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- I’ve never been relieved to get an injection before, but my jab in May was a huge step
8. [Dune](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1160419/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- such a visual treat, with some superb acting.
9. [Stephen Fretwell / Busy Guy](https://open.spotify.com/album/37LJIGreiFrl0n7RyPpKly?si=-pd4QFOiQn-Oo7SPmBI3jQ&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- a constant companion in the summer of this year, looking forward to hopefully seeing him live in 2022.
10. [Mare of Eastown](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10155688/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- appointment TV starring Kate Winslet, kept us on the edge of our seats for 7 weeks.
11. [Chirpomatic](http://www.chirpomatic.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- Shazam for birds - downloaded this app to identify the many birds I can hear from our balcony, helped me identify a skylark in Phoenix Park. Uses AI to do magic on any bird that you can hear.
12. [Douglas Stuart / Shuggie Bain](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/aug/09/shuggie-bain-by-douglas-stuart-review-lithe-revelatory-debut?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- the best fiction I read in 2021, the Booker Prize winning story of a young man coming of age in 1980’s Glasgow. Brutal and touching, it’s a super story.
13. [Fesshole](https://twitter.com/fesshole?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- a random, anonymous confession tweetbot. Not for the fainthearted, but I have belly laughed so hard to this throughout 2021.
14. [The Times](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) / [The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/uk?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- my daily news reads, but more importantly my daily crossword fix. Both available on apps.
15. [The Power of the Dog](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10293406/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- standout performances from Benedict Cumberbatch & Jesse Plemons, a useful reminder of what great acting is all about.
16. [Clark - Playground on the Lake](https://open.spotify.com/album/6r3sWdrXNAhqOgGlM5ZKNY?si=GHPJfvr3SnuWL6SfgVC%5FYQ&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- my album of the year, electronica on a grand scale, gets better with every listen.
17. [Desert Island Discs](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- still the best radio show on the airwaves, a weekly check-in with all that is right about BBC Radio 4\. Highlight Shows in 2021 - [Jack Thorne](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0012fb4?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), [Michael Holding](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000zkyf?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), [Paul Costelloe](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000xlwj?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)
18. [Adam Buxton Podcast ](https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)\- getting better and better with every listen, funny and insightful interviews with interesting people. Highlight shows in 2021 - [Jim Moir](https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts/wmcgmfe7zj7chps-89fa4-2e48e-rwzy8-824b8-4mdjd-2hcs8-chrb2?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), T[ommy Tiernan](https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts/wmcgmfe7zj7chps-89fa4-2e48e-rwzy8-824b8?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), [Roisin Murphy](https://www.adam-buxton.co.uk/podcasts/7-bfk9m-4l8kp-blcga-jwabs-blbb8-b9mjx-fj3gr-j4lyp-9jlhe-a4bhm-c67yy-szhgm-m8pcd-l376z-zjb32-wh9dr-za87b-c8l3j-byyhb-segba-hlsc6-5m648-aef2d-2n3wg-tpcha-fsb4a-stlxm?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)
19. [Glen Hansard at the National Concert Hall in Dublin](https://www.nch.ie/Online/default.asp?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- my first and only concert of the year, felt really special to be back in a big space with live music.
20. [Evans and Peel Detective Agency Bar](https://www.evansandpeel.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- another good memory from our week in London, this very cool ‘speakeasy’ bar with live music and and a fun 1920’s vibe in Chelsea. Highly recommended.
21. [Scarfolk](https://scarfolk.blogspot.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- sometimes the fiction is closer to the truth than you think. Dark humour.
22. [Magnet](https://magnet.crowdcafe.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- simple Mac app that allows you arrange your windows, added to a bigger monitor = instant productivity gains
23. [The Ice Hotel in Ballina, Co. Mayo - specifically the Chill Spa](https://www.icehousehotel.ie/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Another short trip away, this time to the West Coast of Ireland, we treated ourselves to an unusual bathing experience - outdoors, overlooking the River Boy
24. [Gabriel Byrne / Walking with Ghosts](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/nov/23/walking-with-ghosts-by-gabriel-byrne-review-autiobiography-memoir-ireland?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- another autobiography, an excellent read about life and times of a fine actor.
25. [Taskmaster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taskmaster%5F%28TV%5Fseries%29?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- still one of the silliest and funniest TV watches.
26. [Eufy Robovac](https://www.eufylife.com/products/642/575/robovac/compare%7D?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- bought ourselves a robot vacuum cleaner, both convenient and FUN to watch as it stumbles around our living area like a drunken bear saving us a job.
27. [Succession](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7660850/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- essential TV, can’t wait for season 4 to drop in 2022
28. [Matthew McConaughey / Greenlights](https://greenlights.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- a third autobiography in my list, but this one coupled with some great self-help and motivation, also a lot of fun! Another one that I recommend on audiobook, read by the actor himself
29. [Another Round ](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10288566/?ref%5F=fn%5Fal%5Ftt%5F1&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)\- funny as hell, perfect pick me up for a dull winter evening.
30. [FX Buckley in Dublin](https://www.thebuckleycollection.ie/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- an impromptu lunch in the city centre was a milestone day this year, my personal favourite steak place in Dublin.
31. [Electronic Sound Magazine](https://electronicsound.co.uk/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- the only old-school paper magazine that I still read, this is my monthly insight into the music I love the most.
32. [Online Quiz League](https://quizcentral.net/league/oqluk/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- in the age of lockdown, the OQL has been a weekly sanctuary for quizzers the world over. My lovely team has been playing for a couple of seasons now, and we have a fun time every week. This is a great way to stay sane.
33. [The Random Restaurant Bot](https://twitter.com/%5Frestaurant%5Fbot?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- this lovely little Twitter account shares a random restaurant from around the world every hour, I love checking this.
34. [Off Menu Podcast](https://www.offmenupodcast.co.uk/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- simple premise, with maximum laughs each week. Listen to interviewees choose their favourite starter, main course, side and dessert in an imaginary restaurant, served by a genie. Highlights have included : [Miriam Margoyles](https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep120-miriammargolyes?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), [Bob Mortimer](https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep116-bobmortimer?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk), [Emily Atack](https://play.acast.com/s/offmenu/ep111-emilyatack?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)
35. [Writing my weekly newsletter](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/#/portal) \- the kick off to my week, and some amazing connections to new friends. I’ve loved it, and I hope you’ll join me in 2022.