<SYSTEM_TASK:>
Solve the following problem using Python, implementing the functions described below, one line at a time
<END_TASK>
<USER_TASK:>
Description:
 def defaults(default=None):
 """ Catches any exception thrown by the wrapped function and returns `default` instead. Parameters default : object The default value to return if the wrapped function throws an exception """

    def _f(func):
        @functools.wraps(func)
        def __f(self, *args, **kwargs):
            try:
                return func(self, *args, **kwargs)
            except Exception:
                return default
        return __f
    return _f