Claude Sonnet 3.5:
Looking back at 2005, it’s been quite a packed year living in London and documenting my experiences through 259 blog posts. Breaking down the content, the major categories were:
- Restaurant & Bar Reviews: 78 posts
- Technology & Gadgets: 52 posts
- Entertainment (Movies/TV/Theatre): 45 posts
- Aviation & Airshows: 15 posts
- Travel: 12 posts
- Home Projects: 10 posts
- Miscellaneous: 47 posts
Living the London Life #
This year really saw me embracing life in London, with a particular focus on exploring the city’s vibrant food and drink scene. I visited numerous notable establishments, from Gordon Ramsay’s flagship restaurant in Chelsea to trendy spots like Yauatcha in Soho. The Michelin-starred dining experiences were particularly memorable, including meals at The Square in Mayfair and Angela Hartnett’s at The Connaught.
The London pub culture became a regular part of my social life, with frequent visits to historic establishments like The Jamaica Wine House and newer venues like The Gallery in Bank. These posts paint a picture of London’s evolving hospitality scene in the mid-2000s, when the city was really cementing its place as a global culinary capital.
Tech Obsessions & Home Projects #
2005 was a year of significant technological advancement, and my blog reflected this through detailed posts about various gadgets and home technology projects. A major focus was on the emerging VoIP technology - I spent considerable time setting up and documenting my experiments with Asterisk PBX and various SIP providers, which was cutting-edge for home users at the time.
The blog also chronicles my early adoption of various technologies that would become mainstream:
- Setting up home automation systems
- Experimenting with Bluetooth presence detection
- Building a media center PC
- Testing early broadband improvements (moving from 1Mbps to 2Mbps)
These posts provide an interesting snapshot of home technology in 2005, just before the smartphone revolution would dramatically change the landscape.
Aviation Enthusiasm #
My passion for aviation was evident throughout the year, with highlights including:
- Attending the Paris Airshow to see the new Airbus A380
- Covering AirPower05 in Austria
- Visiting the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford
The A380’s development was a particular focus, with multiple posts tracking its progress from prototype to first flight. This was a significant year in aviation history, marking the emergence of the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
Entertainment & Culture #
2005 was an interesting year for media consumption. I documented my thoughts on numerous films and TV shows, with a particular focus on the resurgence of science fiction television. Notable observations included the rise of Battlestar Galactica as a serious drama and the return of Doctor Who to British screens.
The London theatre scene featured prominently, with visits to various West End productions including Christian Slater in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” at the Gielgud Theatre.
Travel Beyond London #
While London was home base, I managed several memorable trips:
- Multiple visits to Scotland, including exploring Glasgow
- A relaxing break in Crete at the Elounda Bay Palace
- Attending airshows across Europe
Looking Back #
Reading through these posts provides an interesting time capsule of 2005 - a year that saw significant technological change, with broadband becoming faster, digital cameras becoming mainstream, and the early days of what would become the smart home revolution. My documentation of London life also captures a city in transition, with the financial district booming pre-2008 crisis and the cultural scene evolving rapidly.
The mix of posts reflects my varied interests but also paints a picture of a particular moment in time - when blogs were becoming mainstream, digital technology was transforming daily life, and London was reaching new heights as a global city. The posts about the July 7th London bombings also serve as a somber reminder of the challenges the city faced that year.
In many ways, 2005 feels like a transitional year - both personally as I settled into London life, and technologically as we moved towards the mobile and social media revolution that would define the latter part of the decade.
Looking Forward to 2006 #
As the year closes, my blog hints at plans for 2006 - more airshows, continued tech experiments, and further exploration of London’s endless offerings. The groundwork laid in 2005 with home automation and media projects suggests an exciting year ahead as technology continues to evolve.
This recap was generated from 259 blog posts published throughout 2005, providing a comprehensive overview of my experiences and interests during this significant year in London.