On a personal level 2016 was decent enough for me. The big life change was buying a house. Although that hasn't been plain sailing, I'm still very lucky to have been able to do it. Turning 30 wasn't the end of the world. I got a cool party out of it and I'm not falling apart yet. A whole load of great gigs and good times.
I can't say I'm bothered by the celebrity deaths. I'm sure someone influential to me will die eventually and I'll be a bit more sad but I don't know these people so it's just like any other bad news story.
Politically though it's been a real shit storm of a year. In the UK the Conservatives have continued their reign of terror and topped it off by introducing the most invasive surveillance laws in the Western World. The like minded people inside the main opposition party, Labour, have been hard at work attacking their leader for offering an alternative to business as usual. They also stole a fortune from voters.
Brexit was, is and will continue to be a shambles. The idea of leaving the EU isn't bad in itself and was worthy of discussion but that's where it ends. There was no plan either from the government or those campaigning to leave. No nuance for the voters to consider. No thought given to the legalities and practicalities of leaving. We're left in the ridiculous situation of hearing our Prime Minister state "Brexit means Brexit" and that we're aiming for a "red, white and blue Brexit" and passing those of as plans and acceptable answers to questions.
Donald Trump being elected into the most high profile position on the planet is a damning indictment of not just America but our whole species. During what should have been serious debates about the future of the country and by extension the planet he talked about the size of his penis. Possibly more than climate change.
2017 unfortunately promises more of the same. Now that it's been firmly established that lying is OK, cheating is OK and that campaign promises and manifestos mean nothing politicians really do have license to do as they please.