Best of 2020
From our team at The Good Life Society, Hawarden Estate Experience, Glen Dye Cabins and Cottages and Some Good Ideas; here is a list of some of the good things we have enjoyed in 2020.
Best Album
India Price says... Folklore by Taylor Swift.
Felix Gladstone says... Mordechai - Khruangbin, Fluids of Emotion - Eris Drew, Rap Story Vol. 1 - Compilation.
Phoebe Thomas says... Phoebe Bridgers - Punisher. No Phoebe bias… just a bloody brilliant album.
Will Merrison says... Matt Berninger, Serpentine Prison. Caribou, Suddenly. The Avalanches, We Will Always Love You (scrapes in having come out last week).
Tara Gladstone says… WIMPII Pt 2. Haim or Earth by EOB.
Jimmy Sandison says… Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, Gorillaz Song Machine.
Rachel Sedgwick says… Continuum by John Mayer.
Caroline Gladstone says… Serpentine Prison by Matt Berninger.
Charlie Gladstone says… Caribou, Suddenly. Fontaines DC, A Hero’s Death. The Avalanches, We Will Always Love You. Matt Berninger, Serpentine Prison.
Vicky Gladstone says… On Sunset by Paul Weller.
Fern Merrills says… Folklore by Taylor Swift.
Tom Cronk says… Gender Roles - Prang. Released in the summer of 2019, sure, but one the the best gigs I’ve ever been to. My go-to house-work anthems.
Seamus Monaghan says… Bottle it in by Kurt Vile. Kurt Vile, ain’t so vile.
Xanthe Gladstone says… Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia.
Best Book
India Price says… American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins.
Felix Gladstone says… The Second Summer of Love.
Phoebe Thomas says… The Testaments, Margaret Atwood.
Will Merison says…Caravaggio, A Life Sacred and Profane, by Andrew Graham-Dixon - it didn’t come out this year but loved it nonetheless.
Tara Gladstone says… The Beekeeper of Aleppo or Where the Crawdads Sing.
Jimmy Sandison says… The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, first published between 2012-2015 but I read them this year and completely fell in love.
Rachel Sedgwick says… The Lying Lives of Adults by Elena Ferrante.
Caroline Gladstone says.. American Dirt, Where the Crawdads Sing.
Charlie Gladstone says… Kiley Reid, Such a Fun Age. American Dirt, Jeanine Cummins. William Boyd, Trio. Rumaan Alam, Leave The World Behind.
Vicky Gladstone says… The Short Novels of John Steinbeck.
Fern Merrills says… Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner (2019 release but read this year).
Audrey Dykes says… Brew it yourself by Two Thirsty Gardeners Nick Moyle & Richard Hood. Unfortunately, I’ll have to wait till next year before tasting most of my creations!
Tom Cronk says… Jamie Oliver - 7. Genuinely never used a cookbook more than this one.
Seamus Monaghan says… Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson. Hands down the best series, of all time, ever.
Xanthe Gladstone says… Flavour by Ottolenghi and Ixta Belfrage.
Best Film
India Price says… The Gentleman.
Felix Gladstone says… This is England, JoJo Rabbit.
Phoebe Thomas says… The King of Staten Island.
Will Merison says… Parasite.
Tara Gladstone says… Dark Waters.
Jimmy Sandison says… Little Women.
Rachel Sedgwick says… Little Women!
Caroline Gladstone says.. The Biggest Little Farm, The Secret Garden, A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood.
Charlie Gladstone says… JoJo Rabbit and The Gentlemen.
Vicky Gladstone says… 1917.
Fern Merrills says… 1917.
Audrey Dykes says… The Gentlemen. I can’t believe how fab Hugh Grant was!
Tom Cronk says… Black Box. I haven’t watched many great films this year, weirdly. But this is worth a watch.
Sarah Hellen says… Honey Boy.
Seamus Monaghan says… The Platform (on Netflix).
Xanthe Gladstone says… Fantastic Fungi.
Best TV
India Price says… The Undoing.
Felix Gladstone says… Boiler Room’s Streaming from Isolation series on YouTube.
Phoebe Thomas says… The Haunting of Bly Manor.
Will Merison says… Once Upon a Time in Iraq (BBC 2) This Country, series 3 (BBC Three) The Rise of the Murdoch Dynasty (BBC 2).
Tara Gladstone says… Schitt's Creek. Every time.
Jimmy Sandison says… Cheer!
Rachel Sedgwick says… The Queen's Gambit.
Caroline Gladstone says… The Queen’s Gambit, The Undoing, Schitt’s Creek.
Charlie Gladstone says… The Queen’s Gambit. Undoing. Long Hot Summers. The Story of The Sale Council. The End of the F**king World.
Vicky Gladstone says… Des.
Fern Merrills says… The Crown. Particularly for the costume design.
Audrey Dykes says… Giri/Haji. Something a bit different from what I'd normally watch but really enjoyed it.
Tom Cronk says… Taskmaster. Devoured 10 series in the space of about 6 weeks. It’s great.
Sarah Hellen says… Normal People.
Seamus Monaghan says… Handmaid's Tale. Watch it.
Xanthe Gladstone says…Schitt’s Creek.
Best Podcast
India Price says… Second Life by Hilary Kerr (and Mavericks, duh).
Felix Gladstone says… Song Exploder.
Phoebe Thomas says… Grounded, Louis Theroux. Specifically, his episodes with Helena Bonham Carter and Rose Mcgowan.
Will Merison says… That Peter Crouch Podcast.
Tara Gladstone says… I haven't listened to many this year, but I listened to Girl Woman Other on audiobook and it rocked.
Jimmy Sandison says… The New Yorker Fiction Podcast.
Rachel Sedgwick says… My Dad Wrote A Porno.
Caroline Gladstone says.. Mavericks, Truth & Lies, Desert Island Discs, Fake Heiress.
Charlie Gladstone says… Sodajerker. The Hollywood Con Queen. Song Exploder.
Fern Merrills says… Heavyweight by Jonathan Goldstein.
Tom Cronk says… Adam Buxton. Not a particularly original choice, but he’s the best.
Sarah Hellen says… Grounded with Louis Theroux, the Adam Buxton episode.
Seamus Monaghan says… The Tommy and Hector Show. If you like to laugh, find it on Spotify.
Xanthe Gladstone says… Farmerama, Farms To Feed Us
Best Small Shop
India Price says… Content Beauty & Wellbeing.
Felix Gladstone says… Peggs & Son.
Phoebe Thomas says… Apart from Hawarden Estate Farm Shop, It would have to be The Gift Box in Hoole, Chester.
Will Merison says… HEFS (obviously).
Tara Gladstone says… Sonara. A cafe/bakery/shop two minutes from my flat.
Jimmy Sandison says… Yardsale Pizza, their pizza, values and marketing are just too good.
Rachel Sedgwick says… Thistle & Clay, Aboyne.
Caroline Gladstone says… Yeadon’s Book shop, Lon Store, Orange Bakery, Aran Bakery, Lutyens & Rubenstein.
Charlie Gladstone says…. Labour and Wait online. Hadeda online.
Fern Merrills says… All Blues Co (in Leeds Corn Exchange).
Tom Cronk says… Constantine Stores. A completely inconspicuous and brilliant booze shop not too far from Falmouth.
Sarah Hellen says… ExSqueeze Me, in Chester, a teeny tiny veg shop.
Seamus Monaghan says… Philip Normal.
Xanthe Gladstone says… Gather & See.
Best Human Being
India Price says… The Queen.
Felix Gladstone says… Favourite beings*, my whole family this year.
Phoebe Thomas says… My son, Ossian, who this year kept me both sane and completely mad - in the best way.
Will Merison says… Jurgen Norbert Klopp!
Tara Gladstone says… Charlie Richards. My boyfriend of 11 years and the most understanding person I know.
Jimmy Sandison says… My sister, Lottie.
Rachel Sedgwick says… Captain Tom Moore.
Caroline Gladstone says… Charlie Gladstone (am I allowed to say that?)
Charlie Gladstone says… Kamala Harris.
Vicky Gladstone says… Captain Tom Moore!
Audrey Dyke says… Neil Strachan. Builder of all things fabulous at Glen Dye and my life partner.
Fern Merrills says… We're all best!
Tom Cronk says… Bob Mortimer. A proper hero. He’s funny, he’s warm, he falls over a lot while trying to fish. I love him.
Sarah Hellen says… TOUGH (If it’s not too lame I would say Charlie) Patrick Grant has done some great things this year, and the old guy who walked loads - Sir Tom!
Seamus Monaghan says… My favourite of all favourites, my partner, Nicole Owen.
Xanthe Gladstone says… Hugo Ross