New Year, New Everything... by Tom Beasley

I don't really go in for New Year's resolutions. I spend the whole year telling myself to lose weight and exercise more – before completely failing to do either – so I don't feel the need to confine that sort of sentiment to January. The whole idea of a resolution seems like a setup for disappointment and self-flagellation. But this year, I'm feeling reflective about the year we're saying goodbye to and excited to start thinking about the year ahead.

If you're a regular reader of these pages, you'll know that my 2025 has been a turbulent 12 months full of ups, downs, and everything in between. In March, I lost my Dad to cancer after he had spent several years bravely battling the illness. Then I welcomed twin sons at the end of June, firing the starting pistol on a six-month period of immense challenge and immeasurable chaos. For a lot of this year, it has felt like all of life has been happening to me all at once.

But as I look to the year ahead, I am filled with optimism. I will see in the New Year with my fingers crossed that the chaos and sleeplessness of the twins' newborn months will be mostly behind us. I still don't feel even remotely prepared for the many tribulations of bringing up twins, but it's all worth it when I see the way that they smile at each other and interact in a way that makes it clear they're going to be the best of friends forever. That unique twin bond really is something special.

As for Dad, I take comfort in the knowledge that he would be proud of the parent I have become. I will make sure that the boys are regular visitors to his memorial bench over at The Lake at Barston, so they know how important it is that they think of their Grandad with the same fondness that I do.

After all, they'll have to tell their Grandad all about what his beloved Coventry City have been up to this season. As I write this, Frank Lampard's team are unbeaten and firmly planted at the top of the Championship, eyeing a first return to the top flight since 2001. I'm still a few years away from being able to take the boys to their first match in person, but I hope they can be treated to something as good as the game I saw in February 2002, when Dad took me to Highfield Road to watch the Sky Blues demolish Barnsley 4-0. I got to witness a goal after 14 seconds, so it's a tough act to follow.

I'm also excited for another year of working with Voice Magazine, helping young people to appreciate the arts and enter the world of journalism. There's no doubt that this is the most rewarding job I've ever had and it's a delight to see so many passionate and talented young people wanting to write about the cultural landscape, in a world where the arts are so frequently under attack. They'll be putting me out of a job before long.

But most of all, I'm excited to start another year with a clean slate. 2025 was a whirlwind and it feels as if the dust is settling just in time to come up with some fresh ideas for a fresh year. I'm not calling them resolutions, though. I still can't bring myself to do that.

© 2025 Tom Beasley

Tom Beasley is a freelance film journalist, Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic and podcaster
now living in Coventry. He can be reached at tomjbeasley@gmail.com.