It is customary at this time of the year to take a look at some of the major happenings of the past 12 months. This past year has been rather unusual in that it marked a host of significant 50th anniversaries. In fact the year was almost as much about 1969 as 2019. So to kick things off, let's just recall a few of those events 50 years ago.
It began with Richard Nixon being inaugurated as the 37th President of the United States. The biggest event of the year was Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin becoming the first humans to walk on the Moon. Staying airborne, it also marked the first test flight of Concorde. Another notable anniversary was that of the Woodstock festival, when an estimated 400,000 turned up at Yasgur's Farm to listen to an iconic array of groups and singers including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Crosby Stills and Nash, Santana and Joe Cocker.
Unfortunately, 1969 was not all good news. There was the shocking Manson Family murder of Sharon Tate, the bizarre Chappaquiddick accident featuring Ted Kennedy, while Judy Garland and Rolling Stones musician Brian Jones died far too young.
After that, 2019 seems a trifle on the tame side. But there were a few things worthy of note:
Why do they do it? In a turbulent year around the world you wonder why anyone sound of mind would aspire to be prime minister, president, dictator, despot, tyrant or whatever. How do they get any sleep?
Here, there, and everywhere: Love him or loathe him, you couldn't escape US President Donald Trump. Switch on the TV news any day and he's there in all his hyperbolic splendour.
Expression of the year: "Quid pro quo", a fancy way of saying "You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours." In fact Latin could be making a comeback, so brace yourself for a severe outbreak of "bona fide", "de facto", "per se", "carpe diem" and "et cetera".
Periscope down: A Thai government minister berating reporters for daring to mention the sacred word "submarine". For the time being we'll settle for "submersible".
Yummy Yummy: A report that Thailand is the world's largest producer of edible insects with an estimated 20,000 insect farms. But beware, grasshopper legs and beetle feet tend to get stuck in your teeth.
Boys will be girls: China, unhappy with the number of young males wearing earrings, blobbing out any bejewelled male lugholes on television.
Going for gold: Encouraging to see the North Korean bodyguards had not lost their touch at the Hanoi summit. If there was a "Synchronised Jogging in Tight Suits" event at the Tokyo Olympics, we know who would win the gold.
When will we see you again? The Songkran holiday seemed to go on forever this year. Thousands of city people slipped away for a "quick break" and haven't been seen since. Not a bad idea, really.
Honoring the "F" word: The Collins international Scrabble Dictionary announcing that "farang" is so internationally known it is now an acceptable word in Scrabble. Also making the cut was "sriracha" the hot Thai sauce
Justice at last: Two mushroom pickers, held on dubious charges of illegal logging, released after serving several years of a 15-year sentence. A classic case of how social status may still control how people are treated by the law.
That old black magic: The leader of the quaintly-named Thai Civilised Party upsetting his former school which promptly put a nasty curse on him, burning dried chillies and salt, accompanied by prayers that did not wish him well.
Literary breakthrough: The prime minister reportedly recommending Thai people read "Animal Farm". All a bit puzzling as George Orwell's works have been frowned upon by Thai authorities and students arrested for reading "Nineteen Eighty-Four" in public. Maybe the premier had a soft spot for the grandfatherly figure of Old Major, despite the pig being bit of a rebel.
Cable news: The Bangkok governor claiming with a straight face that the tangled mess of overhead cables which plague the city streets, will be gone in two years. He has become a leading candidate for the new post of Minister of Wishful Thinking.
Flower power: Orn, the 15-year-old krathong seller from Korat who was victim of sneaky shakedown by nefarious persons. Her sorry tale struck a chord with the public and she went on to enjoy bumper krathong sales. Unsurprisingly, little of consequence has yet happened to perpetrators.
Super sleuths: Those dedicated officials, less than affectionately known as the "cigarette cops", who still fearlessly pounce on fiendish foreigners discarding cigarette butts while the locals look on with some amusement.
Sign of the year: In a veterinarian's waiting room: "Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"
Ouch! A report that more than 700 gentlemen a year in England suffer "serious zip-related mishaps". Fortunately they spare us the grim details, but one suspects an element of pain could be involved.
Well, that's progress: Seeing the glum faces of passengers at On Nut BTS station not even being able to squeeze onto a train and dreaming of those halcyon days when there were actually things called seats.
Tasty menu: Udon Thai restaurant serving up a tempting "flied ponk". A must for all "ponk" lovers in the kingdom.
A Happy New Year to all readers and let's hope 2020 is not too amazing.
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