Season's Greetings & 2010 Review

NEWS.

Major news stories this year: the Pakistani floods, the Gulf Oil Spill, the Wikileaks scandal, the British coalition, Student fees, Obama's health care reforms, the Haiti earthquake. But my top story, simply because I found it so engrossing and heart warming was the Chilean Mine rescue in September.

SPORT.

It was a great season in F1. Wimbledon was very exciting, and the Ashes and the Ryder Cup were brilliant but of course the big sporting story of 2010 was the World Cup. Yet, I shall not simply focus on England's dismal showing in South Africa. In fact, the biggest sporting moment of 2010 was a moment of heartbreak for Ghana. Never had an African nation progressed to the semi-final stage of the World Cup. Cameroon in 1990 returned as heroes following their success in reaching the quarter-final stage. Ghana had a penalty in the last minute of extra time, the stage was set for Asamoah Gyan, to send his team through on African soil...

But what composure the striker showed, when after missing this kick, he slotted his penalty in the shoot-out, unfortunately it was not enough for Ghana, as Uruguay progressed to the semi final. Spain ultimately won football's biggest prize, for the first time in their history.

FILM.

2010 was the year in which 3D announced itself as a cinematic force. Avatar released at the beginning of the year broke all the box office records and ran riot at the Oscars. I personally thought it was a very disappointing film, which was utterly predictable over the 3 hours which it ran for. It relied on style and synthetics rather than substance of character development and plot. Of the other 2010 films I saw Toy Story 3 was fun, Devil was awful, Nightmare on Elm Street was just ridiculous, the Social Network was very good, Paranormal Activity II was surprisingly good, Due Date was very amusing and Saw 3D just made no sense. 3D films should simply be regarded as good simply because they're shot in 3D. My film of the year comes down to two films, both starring Leonardo DiCaprio - Inception and Shutter Island. I'm going to have to give it to Shutter Island simply because of Scorcese's directing. He is one of my favourite directors. Shutter Island is well worth watching twice and DiCaprio is brilliant.

MUSIC.

I can't even remember what music has come out this year to be honest. Rihanna has become huge, her duet with Eminem in the summer, Love the Way You Lie, was one of the most popular songs of the year. Example's Kickstarts was definitely a summer tune and more recently Duck Sauce with Barbra Streistand has become my winter 2010 part tune. Did Take That welcome back Robbie...? Oh well. Plan B announced himself on the scene in the summer with Prayin and Stay Too Long. King Blues released their third album in the summer, as did the Gaslight Anthem, both of which I can't get enough of. Florence and the Machine became THE band to like. Florence Welsh's rendition of You've Got the Love with Dizzie Rascal at the Brits was one of the highlights of the year for British music. Yolanda Be Cool & DCup had the huge hit, We Speak No Americano as well. Kasabian also hit the big time and headlined V Festival. 2010 was also the first time I went to Glastonbury, and it was fantastic. Probably the highlight set was Fatboy Slim to be honest. Either that or Shakira. I can't pick a song of 2010 so I'll just leave on this, it's such a sick mash-up -

On a personal level 2010 has been a funny old year. It started sober in a Wetherspoon's car park, has taken me to Barcelona hitchhiking, Cyprus, Middlesbrough, Brixton and Dawlish Road, all via Wilmslow. My 21st in June was a birthday to forget, but shit happens. This summer was fantastic, and things seem to be on track to graduate next June (touch wood). The Thursday Night Show has been great fun, as has playing football about 78 times a week. It's just a shame Ipswich are doing so poorly. But on a positive note, I couldn't have envisaged where I'd be now 6 months ago, so I must have done something right. Here's to a Merry Christmas and Happy 2011. More of the same please.

New Age Fun With a Vintage Feel!

I haven't done this thing for ages, so in theory I should have a lot to talk about, but I really don't.

Firstly - a shameless plug for my new radio show. The Thursday Night Show, every Thursday at 7pm on www.burnfm.com. We have a facebook group and our own show page. Check us out.

The only other thing I really want to mention is this. I was at a party the other night and I was trying to make friendly conversation with some people I'd just met. However, after about 3 or 4 minutes of trying to converse, I got the impression they just weren't interested in anything I had to say (this was either because I genuinely had nothing interesting to say or because I was very very drunk) so I just kind of wandered off. However, I think looking back these kids were just a bit too cool for school. You know what I'm on about, the whole why is life so hard look when smoking a rizla or the I can't speak any quicker than about 4 words a minute in a really depressing tone vibe. Yeah, this song is for you and it's complete and utter genius. I'm not a massive fan of deck shoes with no socks or 3D glasses with no lenses to be honest, although maybe I'm just jealous I can't grow a moustache.

Participate, don't spectate, Become the view.

When she kissed me it felt like a headbutt

I can't be bothered writing a lot for this blog. Current thoughts are as follows:

• The Rectory turning into a Steakhouse is just plain wrong. Working there this summer has been amazing.
• The taxpayer should not be funding the Pope's visit. Watch Richard Dawkins' "The God Delusion" for an insight into this opinion.
• C4, E4 and Film 4 are sick. This is England '86, the Inbetweeners, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands and the above mentioned Religion defying, Richard Dawkins' documentary.
• Times quick crosswords are a challenge, but do-able.
• Cyprus is really nice.
• The Sopranos is better than the Wire.
• This year is going to be carnage. I can't wait.
• The King Blues and Biffy Clyro are probably the two best British bands at the moment. Muse who?
• This summer I've earn't over £2500, of which I'm very proud. My overdraft is clear for several hundred, which is a good feeling.
• Ipswich aren't quite as good as their early form suggests.
• Philosophy and spirituality are both overrated. Sooner or later you've got to take a proper look at life. It is what it is.
• iPhones are very cool, but also quite pretentious. Blackberrys are better

This is the best song of the summer, in my humble opinion: The King Blues – Headbutt - Main Mix

This picture is from the first game of the Championship season between Ipswich and Middlesbrough at the Riverside. Ipswich won 3-1, scoring 3 goals in the second half. It was the 2oth league ground I've visited of the English League's 92 football grounds. Next on the list for this season are Gresty Road, Glanford Park, Vicarage Road, City Ground, Keepmoat Stadium and Loftus Road.

Here's a fun website to have a look at www.doingthe92.co.uk

Next summer I want to try and visit the gates of every single football league ground in the country in 72 hours with my general-up-for-anything mate Rick. Challenge accepted.

I'd rather go see Ipswich on a freezing, snowy January day at Bloomfield Road, not the best place to showcase the delights of football to your girlfriend (this may be a contributing factor to why I'm now single), than anything else.

Check out this new tune from the King Blues. Out on 29th August.

Female Vocals/Male Hip-Hop

B.o.B - Airplanes.



Eminem - Love the way you lie.

Glastonbury 2010.

After months of youtube videos and silly postsecrets, finally some actually reviewing of some music!

Well there's only one place to begin: the biggest festival in the world, Glastonbury Festival 2010 of Contemporary Performing Arts. It was an eagerly awaited weekend, all the more anticipated in light of recent personal events, as it allowed me 4 days of uninterrupted time with my 3 best friends, endless music and entertainment and that special feeling that only 175,000 people in a muddy field trying to use 30 toilets can bring to your psyche. It fact though, this year the field was not muddy, but dusty, it was the warmest weekend of the year so far and I actually made the brave move of leaving my wellies in the car, something which any Glasto veteran would argue was completely insane.

Following a 6am start cruising down the M6, the M5 and finally some A roads in the village of Pilton, me and my lovely travel companion arrived within the festival boundaries without a clue where to park. Eventually we found a spot, which inconveniently also happened to be the furthest parking spot from the festival available. It was closer to Bristol than the Pyramid stage. Anyway, after a good two hours were spent lugging our crates of beer, bags and sleeping bags from the car to the park we could relax, at least in the shade; it had turned out I had, in the first 2 hours of the festival, managed get myself sunburnt. I don't do sexy tans. At one end of my skin colour scale is ghoulish white, the other is beetroot.

That day/night was spent seeing acts such as Ellie Goulding (alrightish) and Florance and the Machine (good enough) before welcoming another of our crew to a smoking Barbeque. It was a great time, beers, clear skies, the five of us. Ah, I was finally experiencing the essence of Glastonbury; what all those hippies rattle on about and what cannot be experienced via pressing the red button; the simplicity in enjoying shared company and with no worries. It felt great to relax and to escape my thoughts and worries from home and from University.

I had no job, I did not know my second year result from Uni, my state of mind was not in the best of shape and I was feeling slightly depressed. It was good to relax and just think of nothing. No pressure, no responsibilities, no guilt, no pain.

Fatboy Slim was epic. The dance field was packed to the rafters and with a carton of 9 litre wine between 5 of us, it was fair to suggest we were all up for a decent time. Norman Cook was on fine form and the crowd wasn't lacking either. A great headliner and a great set.

The next day was spent wishing the world away and not doing a whole lot. An encounter with the old foe, Germany, was awaiting the England team in the World Cup the following day, and singing Three Lions, along with The Lightening Seeds on the Pyramid Stage was enough to stir some national emotion prior to the game. After exploring The Park and Greenfields we returned to the Pyramid Stage for Shakira (incredible), Scissor Sisters (bizarre) and Muse (out-of-this-world).

Sunday was football day. The cross of St. George was waving, England shirts were pulled over torsos and 80,000 supporters descended on a giant TV screen to watch the English beat the Germans. Except it didn't quite happen like that. It could have been the greatest party I'd ever been to, with more people watching the game in a field in Somerset than in the stadium itself. Alas, the players didn't show up, the officials forgot the rules and Heskey didn't score. There's something about football which means that holds you and stirs emotions which I'm previously unaware of. It is the only thing I've ever found in my life which will always be there. My love for football is probably the strongest emotion I will ever feel. It sounds sad in some respects, but my love for other things in recent times has failed to return any profit. Win or lose, in football there is always the next game, next season, some hope and eventual triumph. Stevie Wonder, Faithless and Jack Johnson followed in the evening. It softened the blow of England's exit to some extent, but it still hurt.

4 days with my 3 best friends, did me the world of good. I'm beginning to work things out, move on. Time (and Glastonbury) heals. They'll always be there for me and always respect and love me, for who I am and not who I try to be. That is a reassuring thought.