So, what’s 2017 been like? Well, about this big as James Stewart might have said in that dark example of Film Noir that bizarrely seems to everyone’s favourite feel good Christmas movie … And on the mystery front? Well … I managed to participate in both the Golden and Silver Vintage Mystery Challenges set by Bev at My Reader’s Block as well as Todd Mason’s Tuesday’s Overlooked Film meme and Patti Abbott’s Friday’s Forgotten Book celebration over at Pattinase – special thanks to all of these fine folks for looking after us. But who else has helped make this a memorable year?
As ever, special thanks to Colin of the fab Riding the High Country for being such a good bloke; to the Puzzle Doctor and Curtis Evans of The Passing Tramp for flying the flag for GAD so tirelessly; Mike Ripley for the scabrous off-site conversations – hope you get better soon mate; Karen’s wonderfully entertaining ramblings; Elgin’s Dark Times; Steve and his Puzzles for helping me get the ball rolling; the ultra prolific Margot Kinberg of Confessions of a Mystery Novelist for her tireless support; the super-industrious Brad and his Sweet Mysteries and JJ and his Invisible Events; John F. Norris of Pretty Sinister Books remains a massive source of enthusiastic information and we are all in his debt; John Grant, he of Noirish and much more besides; and the world would be much less fun without the blogging of Moira of Clothes in Books); Admiral Ironbombs of Battered, Tattered, Yellowed and Creased; Carr aficionados The Green Capsule and Dan keep warning readers; Prashant at Chess, Comics and Crosswords; TracyK of Bitter Tea and Mystery; Jeff (aka Kenji’s Dad) of The Stalking Moon; TomCat of Beneath the Stains of Time; Matt’s Crime Time; Neeru of a hot cup of pleasure; and Yvette and her evergreen in so many words … have also all been incredibly supportive – I salute you all.
Happy Holidays
Tipping My Fedora 
Thank you for the kind words, Sergio – and for your friendship. Also, thanks for your excellent blog. Buon Natale!
Merry Thing, Margot!
Thanks – and to you as well! 🙂
😀
🎄
Thank you Margot – have a great Christmas
I’ve just learned (dunno how I missed it earlier) that Il Trumpe is boasting he’s managed to make “everyone” say “Merry Christmas” this year. Normally, as an atheist, I merrily say “Merry Christmas” — in the same way that I happily say “Happy Hanukkah” to Jewish friends, etc. — because who exactly gives a flying unmentionable at a rolling donut over the religious origins of an expression of goodwill and friendship?
This year, however, it’s different. HAPPY SOLSTICE, Sergio!
He really is the worst of the worst – happy solstice and Buon Natale matey
I still tend to see him in a continuum…he hasn’t yet been able to kill as many people as Dick Cheney, but he is certainly trying to sprint to depriving as many of public support as either Reagan or Bill Clinton…and a happier new year, even if we find ourselves Fedora-less…(reconsider, sir).
Very much his own brand of “ugly american” sadly – let’s hope the Senate elections really make a difference
Happy Holidays to you too, Sergio. That is a lovely list of entertaining and educational blogs, and thanks for including me.
Always Tracy 😀
Happy holidays Sergio and many thanks for a year of interesting posts and reading suggestions!
Thanks chum Aidan – have a great holiday.
Dear Sergio
Thank you so much. Always a pleasure to visit your informative and very enjoyable blog. Buon Natale.
Thanks Neeru – all the best.
Happy Christmas to you and yours Sergio – keep up the good work matey 🙂
I’ll be leaving Fedora at the end of the year Mike, you know how it is. Hope you have a lovely break.
Sorry, what did I miss something back there?
I will be hitting the pause button this season, not sure if / when play will be resumed …
Fair enough. I know as well as anyone about taking a break from it all, but hopefully the bug will return at some stage (just like it does for me).
Had a good run either way – thanks for all the support over the years.
Merry Christmas to you too, Sergio, or Καλά Χριστούγεννα (as I’ll probably be repeating many times today!) if you prefer. Have a great holiday!
All the very best matey
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to you and your loved ones, Sergio, and many thanks for including me here.
Of course Matt – all the best chum.
Never have I felt more like a member of a community, Sergio, or of a fine old club, where the members walk in whispers, and the stuffy old Major pontificates endlessly about bagging elephants in India, and Lord Abercrombie lolls in his favorite leather armchair, his head thrown back, an empty snifter of brandy at his side, from which emanates a whiff of bitter almonds . . .
In other words, I’m honored to be included. I’ll try to be more industrious in 2018, as much by reading what this illustrious company has to say as with my own blathering, and I hope to match wits with you all for years to come.
The merriest of seasons to you, Sergio, and the happiest of New Years!
We should all have leather surged won’t chairs in a proper club, with a fireplace too! Have a great 2018 – I won’t be around much I’m afraid but it’s me, not you 😉
leather surged won’t chairs
Okay, I’ve been trying to work out what this was before your autocorrect got hold of it, but no luck. I think the Grauniad Prize Crossword may be an easier option . . .
I think it was “leather wing chairs” …Gosh, what a mess – and I don’t even drink, John
“leather stuffed wing chairs”, perhaps?
That sounds right – phew, thanks for that. And I’m the sober one here …
Oh, sobriety doesn’t necessarily ensure coherence, as I can attest…(diabetic meds don’t play well with alkie, so no fermentation for me).
I get incoherent at the best of times 😉
A very Merry Christmas, Sergio.
And the same to you Jack 😀
Happy Holidays, Sergio.
Thanks Michael – same to you 😀
Awww, thanks for your kind words, Sergio! And a very Merry Christmas to you and yours – I trust it’s been a good one, and I’ll forward to more interesting and criminally bookish posts in 2018! 🙂
Have a great break Karen. I won’t be blogging much next year but hope 2018 is a really good one for you and yours.
Thanks for the kindness and continuing support of a meme that’s hanged fire for too long…always glad to see what I’ve sparked in others…
Thank you Todd, made all the difference
Sorry for the late response, Sergio, but had been away from the blogs around the Christmas days. Anyway, I hope you had a great Christmas and all the best for 2018!
Thanks TC – and the same to you 😀🎄
Gee whiz, Sergio, thanks for all the salutes above. Happy Trails and smooth sailing (if I am permitted a mixed metaphor) as 2018 approaches these stormy seas of Life. Like I said before, I sure am gonna miss you. You are truly one of the rare birds flying out there in the blogosphere. Though I’ve only been typing back and forth these past seven years sure felt like I was making regular visits to a local bar and talking movies and books and all the rest of it with you and the gang. As they used to say in old British movies, “Here’s to absent friends!” Best of everything to you, mate!
I hope 2018 is a great year for you guys – I will indulge in a further farewell day after tomorrow but you have made all the difference. Thank you John.
I am proud to be mentioned in such company! Thanks for the shoutout, and all best seasonal wishes to you and to your happy company of friends, who are my friends too.
All the best chum.
All the best. Will miss your blogging
Thanks Steve – all the best.