I'll try and make this straight and as tight as possible.
How I'll actually achieve so is impossible to even visualise but I'll
give it a good go.
2009 has been an amazing year, as expected it was split into two halves quite
simply one half spent at University, the other half not being spent there
but asides all the aggro, uncertainty, that needn't have happened
first time round there has been a lot of positive.
Getting the dissertation done with, and graduating were two main highlights
but if you were to nail one particular time period this year when
everything was on top form, it would be mid May-mid June.
This was my final week at Smoke Radio and as mentioned many times I got to leave the station how I wanted to but without making myself
the headline attraction and getting on with the show itself.
Having said that, in terms of content it contained just about everything
that I really liked in my own little "fantasy world" in terms of records played
pre-produced features, ad-libbed content and having the delightful Sami
with me to ease me through it all, and actually allowing it to be her
final show on Smoke as well.
Our final moments on the station can be found here, including a roll call
of the lovely people who had kept me on the station
over the last four years.
Not to mention a few noises, random babbling and other nonsense.
The week as a whole was amazing, so much effort put into the O/Bs
which won the station and award for Best Outside Broadcast at
The Student Radio Awards and just a friendly atmosphere throughout
with everyone wanting to be involved wherever possible.
Following on from that and in my Twilight Uni days, the booze kept on flowing as well as recieving a 2.1 mark for my degree as a whole, celebrating Chelsea winning the FA Cup, and relishing in hysterics over the furore over MPs
and their expenses.
The final week in London as a student was well spent with a boozy night early on with the BAMS Radio/TV graduates, and my last night in halls being a cozy night in with a journey to late 80s Saturday lunchtimes past assuring
a superb send off.
Canterbury as a whole hasn't been great and it probably looks as if we'll never click with regards to Everyone in my house Vs Me.
We just don't have anything in common, completely different senses of humour, interests, certain things just won't or cannot work, no matter how hard I try.
I'm hoping my room will be in a tidier state at least by tomorrow
but that's as far as cleanliness will go really.
Having said that, I've treasured my visits back to London,
and whilst any connections or loose ends with Uni I'd prefer to stay loose
a long term return to the Central Area will not go amiss.
There are options, they don't have to be radio related, but if it's stable,
and allows me to have a social life as well, I'm happy with it.
With the fucked up state of radio forbidding people to be entertaining, edgy, even engaging for goodness sake, I don't see the point in even trying
for a paid presenting job, as it appears that only the worst of the worst seem to be getting them.
Fearne Cotton anyone?
However with a stable show on Canterbury's CSR, I'm happy with that
now firmly in my calendar and when I get that back off the ground
after the holidays it will get even better.
2010 will be a special year, plenty of changes, just a case of going
through life steadily to make them come about.
To finish with though, some of my favourite photos that were taken either
with or by me throughout '09 and their probably no surprise as to what's included;
And I thought I didn't have the bottle.
Stewart gives me a lashing.
"Dev Patel - The Asian/Albino Snowman"
An entertaining night in front of "No Way Out"
Spinning the Wheels Of.... Rubber, I guess.
Diva Fever. I liked Nicola's hair when it wasstraight actually, quite sweet.
Taking the mic.
And I won't forget the radio station at it's heightas shown on the t-shirt.
Gone wrong viagra.
Squeezing with Caroline.
Centre Parcs abseiling apparel.
My last Happy Mondaze.(From left, Jake Franks, Oli P, Coral Dunlop,Sarah Williams, Me, JC)
I never caught onto that Muslim regime.
Taken after my last ever show at Smoke.
Jade and her shades.
"
Trolleyed"
With Pippa ST at Joey's 24th.
Living in mono would be worse than living without pasta.
If CBBC were to revive "But First This"this would be the top team of presenters.
Well I did want to have somewhere to stay in London.
Revisitng fellow Chelsea supporter Paul at this year's Lounge festival.
A Trinity night out with the Class Of '11
Post graduation groping.
What was going on here?
My last ever photo I took as a Uni student. What a bloody surprise...
Twenty Ten will be a good year. It's best to make an easy start on things,
not to overwork myself too much, and slowly develop some sort of progression plan.
Whether I'll stick to it, oh bollocks. It's more exciting when things
don't often go the way you plan them.
I may get a fair bit of shut eye after tonight's proceedings with Jools on television although radio wise I'm spoilt for choice.
Chris Moyles will be rounding up his highlights from the show throughout 09
for 12 whole hours, but in Northern Ireland there's competition as noneother
than Ross Tilley is stepping in to host the NYD breakfast show on Cool FM 97.4.
I know exactly where I could go with regards to both presenters being up
against each other but I'm not going to.
I dread to think how Chris Moyles would feel if he stumbled across the derogatory comments I make about him here.
Anyway joking aside, and let the drinking commence.
To all those reading, I hope you have just as if not more promising 2010.
I'll do my best to be less aggressive although with the 2009 BFQOTY on
Channel 4 tomorrow evening, immediate effect won't be the case.
Have a good one.
Especially you. xxx
I'm trying my best not to spend too much time on my blog looking
back on the decade as a whole.
I'm saving them for the radio show and audio downloads.
Having said that though, many years ago Radio 4's Today Programmme used to have a man/woman of the year and I thought it would be more than apt
for me to name a person of the decade.
Another bold move yes, but I thought it would be worth naming an individual
who has so much to his bow, but has managed to remain consistent
in whatever form right from the beginning of the last 10 years.
And surprisingly, it's not a musician or a singer.
I have no shame in revealing my person of the decade to be the one and only Charlie Brooker.
This goes back almost exactly 10 years ago when Charlie was a contributor
to Channel 4's 11 O'Clock Show alongside Iain Lee, Sacha Baron Cohen,
Marcus Brigstocke, and Ricky Gervais.
No idea know what happened to him.
All the way back in February 2000, Brooker was responsible for
a "rewind button" moment by writing a gag involving a spoof Daz advert
where Shane Richie doorstepped Dr Shipman's wife;
Shane Richie: "Ello luv! While you're husband's at work, would you mind trying out our new washing powder?"
Mrs Shipman: "No. OK?"
Shane Richie: "#You fucked a monster!"
I wouldn't be surprised if Charlie actually voiced the Shane Richie character
as you didn't see actually see him on screen.
In the early to mid half of the decade it was Charlie's writing that played a major part in his career with the spoof TV listings magazine "TV Go Home",
and the inauguaration of the Screen Burn section in the Guide supplement
of The Guardian every Saturday, which in a period where television was
at it's lowest, Charlie really knew how to rip into the large amount of
"un-tertainment" on offer.
Gags such as comparing Noel from Hear'say to Dizzy the egg,
from the Amiga/ST games being one such hilarious example.
Television soon came calling with the inaugaration of Screenwipe on BBC Four
which became a favourite with the fans and the viewers who were thinking
exactly the same but would never dare say such things in public.
Such as comparing Alexandra Burke's cover of "Hallelujah"
to "a song played at thick people's funerals".
Charlie's writing abilities didn't seem to get in the way either with the critically acclaimed "Nathan Barley" co-penned by Chris Morris, and the superb
"Dead Set" adding zombies and graphically revolting scenes
to the Big Brother house.
Not that it doesn't happen every series.
However 2009 definitely had to be the year where Charlie was at his highest
in terms of comedy, starting off with the brilliant and well observed "Newswipe"
which managed to highlight how many television stations have adapted
the habit of turning world disasters into showbiz events.
ITN being one major example, to the point it's hard to tell the difference
between that and Brass Eye which Brooker co-wrote earlier in his career.
Following on from Newswipe was Channel 4's "You Have Been Watching"
which divided opinions it has to be said, but for me it came to a point
where I looked forward to it more than "Mock The Week"
throughout this summer.
This was all down to the well chosen selection of programmes reviewed,
guest panellists, and best of all targets to rip the piss out of.
Not least Danny Dyer, who as a result of being unable to put up
with the stick, announced that he was quitting TV presenting.
Hopefully John Barrowman, Piers Morgan, and Ian Wright
will make identical moves in the New Year.
A selection of Brooker's lapses into the vernacular can be heard here,
in what I'd see as a warm up to the New Year audio downloads
I'll publish in a few days.
There's no signs of him stopping with a second series of Newswipe
due to start in January.
That more or less covers it I guess, if a bit rushed and rambling.
If I had to do a man and woman like Today used to, the woman of the decade, let's see, it would probably go to Jamelia.
Yes, you read right.
3 amazing albums, many a surprise throughout in terms of special releases, and an amazing personality good enough to pass herself of
as a television presenter and comedy show panellist.
Always has me laughing and she's really sweet.
If anything, the whole of the above has proved that when it comes to
being academic or cultured, the last 10 years have failed me.
Or I've failed as a whole.
There's no greater excuse of wanting to be put to sleep for the night, despite not being the faintest bit tired.
That being Piers Morgan's Review of the Year on ITV1 continuing to prove that he's just one of many people that ITV see as the future of TV presenting.
Because let's face it, he fucked up his preferred career earlier on in the decade.
The programme hasn't even finished yet, but from what I saw, those contributing in interviews were enough for it to perfectly define "cuntivision".
Fearne Cotton, Kelvin McKenzie, Christopher Biggins, Michael Winner,
Quite literally one after the other.
Roll on Friday, and much needed relief courtesy of Carr, Wossy, Brooker and Brand to hopefully provide a much needed irreverent take on the year
giving it the ribbing and ultimately the lambasting it deserves.
With regards to Pier's presenting abilities, in all fairness I reckon that what I want to come across from the heart comes into play a lot better on my blog
than it does on the radio, mainly because my blog's a bigger platform
with wider space to rethink opinions and what to say.
Not that it always comes across the right way but then again,
there's a lot of those reading with skin made out of foil.
On a more positive note Steven McIntosh has posted his 10 favourite albums
of the decade and an accompanying Facebook note.
Very music lead, as all the background is written on the note itself with
a lot of stuff from the earlier half of the decade.
Then again I suppose when it came to vocal R&B, 2000-2002 was a height.
The structure's slighty different to mine which is good, the audio highlights I'm putting together and about 1/4 of the way through is sort of
more an ego trip dare I say.
i.e. random sound and music clips wherever and inable rubbish
spoken over it all.
I hope to get my audio montage uploaded ASAP, just haven't recieved
the US liners yet.
Should have ordered them in December, I wasn't thinking.
Yes, I'm clearly still stuck two decades away, let alone the last decade.
It will be good fun though, I've had great fun putting it all together so far and save for the US liners, I should have the basic structure done before Jools'
Hootenanny.
I'm really looking forward to editing it all, so many albums from different years
and different situations throughout the last decade which dare I say
has been the best in allowing me to be me.
I.E. finding myself, letting me be me, no barriers getting in the way
and everything being open forto have a go at I guess,
especially radio.
Although the most meaningful thing I've learnt near the end is that
it doesn't have to end at radio overall in terms of overall bliss.
It's what more or less starts things off although I try to always
keep the happier times in mind.
Easy enough, always is.
The tosspots can easily be avoided.
For now.
I'm not drinking until tomorrow evening.
I can't even see fit to getting some grub down me, even if I've taken out one
of dad's dried fruit loaves out of the freezer for three days.
Last night was spent devouring the rest of my chicken wing stew
with a penne and peas overdose to the point that I felt far too full up.
Or possibly because they were waterfalled with pineapple Breezers.
I did that whilst watching the Mock The Week "Too Hot For TV Volume 2" DVD
which mainly consists of previously unseen bits from series 3-5,
around the time when University for me was at it's height,
and by series 5 a great height with a steep fall.
Whilst there's quite a few funny bits including the unaired trails, I thought the disc was a bit anti-climatic due to the lack of stuff from the most recent series
although I'm hoping that will be saved for a Volume 3.
There will be a demand for one, especially with Frankie's absence next series
and bloody Patrick Kielty as one of those in his place.
I won't give too much away but a personal highlight was some unseen suggestions for "Bad Things For A Teacher To Say", which anyone
will know has to be my favourite SWLTS done in the series.
Andy Parsons: "Hello, I'm Mr Glitter!"
I've yet to watch any of the extras in full but considering most of them
appear to be full versions of episodes in the main compilation I'm
not heavily excited about them.
Straight after that I proceeded to view the last of my classic countdowns
I have on DVD with an edition of The Chart Show from early May 1989
and a really good one at that.
The specialist chart this week was Indie with The Pixies at number 1 and
"Monkey Gone To Heaven", and the starsign profiled in the Star Chart was Aquarius with a video from Aztec Camera as lead singer Roddy Frame
was born under that star sign.
The other video played in that section was by little known band Bible
which I was disapointed with as the Amiga display halfway through
Aztec Camera mentioned that Roachford was an Aquarian which I would
much preferred to have seen.
Then again I've got quite quite a few episodes with Roachford on them.
As it was the first show of May instead of the Hot Shot was the Viewers Vote
for April '89 which was Madonna and "Like A Prayer".
The winning voter got 10 music videos and a Chart Show sweatshirt,
and if they are any knocking on eBay, I'm right there.
In Part 3, the Singles Chart had two highclimbers which didn't happen often,
and the overall number 1 was Kylie's "Hand On Your Heart", later covered
by Jose Gonzales.
There were also previews for new videos including one by Sirin Hassan,
I mean Neneh Cherry and the ever sweet "Manchild".
It was a full edition of the show without any credits getting cut off
near the end although it did cut off the animated Central presentation endcap due to it being recorded in that region.
They wanted to put their stamp on everything back then, but it was just as well as I didn't want to have nightmares that night.
That animation put me off watching Blockbusters and Family Fortunes
for 8 months until static endcaps were brought back later in the year.
Returning to the vintage chart rundowns, I've always thought that any of
MIA's videos would not look out of place on an edition of The Chart Show
from that era.
The front cover of "Kala" even looks like something you'd get in between the videos!
To be honest, without a Sky Digibox I barely know what 75% of videos
for songs this decade even look like and a lot of them have been uninspiring.
I'm starting to even wonder why performers even waste so much money
when they're only going to get seen (or heard) as background
in front room or pub conversation.
Creativeness has gone, crudeness and showing off fancy clothes and jewllery
has come in.
Best to look on the positive side mind and if there was a Best Video of 2009,
it wouldn't be a suprise. The plasticine playfulness of Paolo Nutini
and "Pencil Full Of Lead".
There's really no getting away from that song but I'm careful
with regards to how I have such things impaled on me.
So that's the rollercoasters and dodgems out of the way, no more drinks until
tomorrow evening but plenty more to be getting on with as
the "Chrimbo Limbo" nears it's end.
There we go, I've said it, that's the last time that tag will appear on my blog
until 2010 at least.
Oh my.
It really is pouring out there, just returned from Tesco to get
a few more booze bottles and noodles.
I also brought a few things with my Christmas money including
Andy Parsons' DVD "Britain's Got Idiots" and Charlie Brooker's book
"The Hell Of It All", some of which I may have read before
in his Guardian articles but it should make a train journey more pleasing.
As would an iPod actually, all those fucking children who won't keep their
gobs closed and insist on pissing off passengers.
I probably won't get round to reading it for a long while with other things
occupying me and has more or less made me think about buying
hard back copies of books, biographies etc.
Because quite frankly my bedroom shelves have run out of room
for any new books and it's not worth trying to show off or anything.
There's still a few unopened boxes on that shelf, including the
"Crappy Free Mug" I got from Galaxy at the 2008 SRA Conference.
May come in useful should I finally move into a house or room of my own.
Right now I'm listening to the first part of BBC Radio 1's countdown of
the 100 best selling tunes of the decade as hosted by Nihal.
I really don't understand why he gets so much stick, I've heard worse
people than him to infiltrate the airwaves.
He may be a bit over-enthusiastic at times but no false pretences whatsoever,
very real, even if he does support Spurs.
Not a good day yesterday mind, the White Bastards beat home team
West Ham 2-0 but Chelsea managed to knock Fulham out for 2-1
so I can gloat at Deller yet again.
Anyway Nihal will keep my listening engaged until 4pm and I'll get on with my audio searching and oh my it's embarrassing.
I actually make Ian Wright more than a capable presenter.
At least I've achieved something in broadcasting.
Still rather throaty and snotty so I'd best not make too much of a move
outside the house.
It's bloody awful outside too, I'm so glad I went to Herne Bay yesterday
when it was really nice there.
Late last night before going to bed I ordered tickets for Richard Herring's
Hitler Moustache tour which will be visiting the Leicester Square theatre, the
week after the Sunburst Band at the Jazz Cafe.
I may see if this time round I can crash over at someone else's, possibly
Barry's house in Clapham for the Leicester Square gig, although I'd prefer
to be nearer the North London area for Joey Negro's performance.
Well, he's not actually performing himself of course.
Lots more rummaging to be doing, and maybe yet another visit to
Tesco Metro as believe it or not, I'm still lacking on the soft fruity fizzy stuff.
I reckon that's the main source of hyperactive behaviour as it results
me being a physical form of a Paolo Nutini song as
"nothing's gonna bring me down" or so it seems.
Or possibly because I really am made of plasticine.
But no, not even the news of Heather Mills taking part in
the new series of Dancing On Ice can put a stop to
good things happening, as I keep saying, you just have to search
that extra further.
A Spotify search on a singer or performer you really like for instance,
you can sometimes find rare gems that you didn't know they'd even done
if you're lucky.
It's too easy to get distracted mind so it's best if I just publish this blog post.
As expected, Channel 4's rundown of the 20 best songs of the last 10 years
was another washout.
Only a pathetic individual with no respectable music taste whatsoever
would put "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol at number 1.
I guess that counts for a nation of housewives then.
I'm certain I've got my work cut out for Sunday's radio show although
at least I know that my list will be a washout because I doubt anyone
will have even heard of many of the tunes I plan to include.
The only issue is that the CSR website is down and if nothing happens by the
weekend I will be worried.
The station is scheduled to go back on air on either Friday or Saturday but
then again the guy who runs the website hosts a show on
Saturday lunchtimes, and due to his commitment will want to have it back
up as soon as possible.
We'll see what happens by Saturday but I'll get my 20 best tunes of the last
ten years unleashed sometime, even if it happens in 2019.
The plan for tomorrow apart from demo assembling is to hopefully enjoy some sort of meal involving Super Noodles at lunchtime, get down the remains of my wing stew with penne pasta later on, and have a gander at the
Mock The Week 2009 DVD which I am fully certain will have me cackling
if a lot of the content can't be shown on telly.
And as it's the last night before New Year that I'll have the whole house
to myself, I may as well use the widescreen television in the front room to
its full advantage, and what better way to do so by decorating it
with bright colours and pixellated lips and lorries.
Yes, I have just one more previously unviewed classic countdown, an episode
of The Chart Show from the 6th of May 1989 and that's the whole lot on DVD
that I own DVD completed.
It only took four years to do so but then again the bright animated
rollercoasters were primarily responsible for my whole life
leading to twists and turns which I suppose are still going to this day.
I'm guessing the Number 1 that week was "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles
as it certainly seemed to stay there for that long.
I'm still without the 87, 90, and 95 end of year specials in full
but it's not that important. I really don't want to see Denice Welch ruining
"You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" which earnt her
the Worst Video Of 1995.
An extra bottle of the juicy boozy stuff may be in hand as well, but I must
buy some soft fizzy fruity stuff too as I don't really like drinking during the day,
on my own here.
Who needs critics and smug disk jockeys such as Lammo telling us
what to enjoy?
This was another nice online application, well website that I found not too long ago.
FormSpring.me allows other people to ask random questions at your own user profile which you answer to and I've set up my own profile so others can do
just that.
Users can leave their name or post anonymous but if anyone chooses the latter and opts to be less than pleasant then their setting themselves up for ridicule.
That reminds me of the scene in The Office Christmas Special when the woman at the Blind Date do at the nightclub where Brent is performing at, throws a pint of beer into his face and David attempts to do so back only to get a second pelting.
And the hilarious line "joke's on her because I'm already wet".
Thanks again to Spike Godding for reminding me of that scene yesterday.
I doubt the website will catch on in the same way as Twitter and so on
but it's there just for a good laugh and I'm hoping more people will find it
a good way to pass time in the uneasy period between Christmas and New Year.
Well, to be honest I'm not actually doing anything special to usher in 2010,
so it will be another large bottle of the fizzy red liquid in front of Jools Holland.
I've sorted out my wing stew which is in the oven bubbling with a lot of mushrooms and bacon inside it and I'll start boiling the pasta in about an hour or so when Channel 4's rundown of records commences.
It won't be too exciting, but the booze and the grub will have me covered
at least.
There's nothing really spectacular on tomorrow, but I have the perfect plan
to cover that with a few DVDs as what I'd see as a treat after more constant
staring at Audition.
Whilst I'm trying to put the bad times of Uni fully behind me, there were a lot
of fun ones, a lot of them were on the radio and I may have a rummage
through various shows to see if there are any links that will sound good
on an audio demo.
You'll hear the result pretty soon to judge for yourself but there's
no better time of year to be rethinking things.
The visit to Herne Bay and the walk from there to Whitstable really was
as delightful as I expected it to be.
It didn't exactly cure my throat as I still sound like Marge Simpson's
mother when talking, but luckily due to there being no one here
I don't have to worry too much.
There was a very interesting article in the latest edition of the Radio Times
with noneother than Chris Evans who two weeks today will commence the first
of his new Breakfast Shows on BBC Radio 2 and mentioned that some of the
best broadcasters aren't that talkative or exciting when outside of the
environment of a radio studio, but when they're within their comfort zone
there's no stopping them and they can let their inner selves out.
Only that I'm fully assured that Chris won't revert into the state that he was
around this time 10 years ago.
I'm starting to see the importance of radio as part of a daily habit getting fewer and fewer by the year, although once again it's a time and place situation and
as there's a lot of of rubbish being infested on there, my DAB is more often
in an off position ironically.
Tonight's an exception however as there's a seasonal special of The Unbelievable Truth on Radio 4 later this evening with Stephen Fry as one of the panellists.
Returning to Herne Bay and I've had it in mind that rather than moaning about how bad it is to live in Canterbury and the Area, wouldn't it be a better idea
to invite individuals from London over one weekend and show them round including Herne Bay as it is really lovely, even in Winter.
I'd love to invite Sirin over but she's moving back to Cyprus next month so
that's that idea gone down the fountain.
There's plenty others from the Aladdin's Cave of current alumni however.
I suppose the loveliest part is near the pier itself where there's a Spoons
nearby called Saxon Shore and not too far from there is an
equally delightful fish and chip shop.
I'm more or less bottled up for booze over in Canterbury so I gave
the Shore a miss, but the chips were absolutely gorgeous, especially whilst
the sun was still shining walking across the front itself and I had Jill Scott's
"Long Walk" stuck in my head for the most random of situations.
It fitted in, sort of.
The visit itself gave me another idea and one that's planning ahead and all as in May when I turn 25, rather than go on a pub crawl around London, what does anyone think of a Birthday Beach Booze Crawl from Whitstable, to Herne Bay, going onto Margate and Broadstairs?
It can be done, I'd love it to happen and the next time I visit London to meet up with any of the good guys who'd potentially want to tag along I will attempt to have something sorted.
Nothing would really be planned, it's best to let things unfold on the day itself but the route's pretty much covered.
Expect the blog posts to get fewer over this week up to the new year as I'll either constantly be looking for more "hooks", or noting down timecodes from television downloads, ideas for links for the radio show and so on.
I've never done that before with regards to the latter but I'm dreadfully
forgetful and that becomes really irritating.
Then again it's better to be annoyed about yourself being forgetful,
rather than at other individuals who probably don't even want bad things
to happen to you even if it's going well for them.
I'd best continue cracking.
Then I'll get on with the audio stuff.
It was a night well spent, well almost.
The medium sized peperoni passion was on good form and the blue stuff
(drinks) was flowing but Channel 4's 20 Best TV Shows of the Decade
was more or less a joke.
Top Gear was at number 1 which I suppose I've got every right to be against
as it goes out on Sunday nights, but I've never let it get to me and there
are others who despise the show like insanity.
An even more controversial choice was an appearance of The Simpsons
in the Top 10 considering that there hasn't been a side splitting episode
of the series from what I've seen this decade.
A lazily compiled load of rubbish, yet I still feel the need to be tortured
further with tomorrow's rundown of the decade's best chart singles.
I may write a blog post sometime this week listing my favourite radio shows
of the decade which may be a struggle when the honest truth is that
I don't really make a habit of having the noise box switched on
every single day.
I'm also trying to stick to my rule of the shows having to have started in
this decade so that automatically cancels out The Now Show on Radio 4
as that began in 1998 even if it's changed a bit since then.
Speaking of which Outnumbered was on top form tonight with the youngest actress Ramona showing why she managed to win the female newcomer prize
at the comedy awards, and writer Andy Hamilton coming up with a really
good plotline and occasionally adlibbed dialogue.
With a new series starting soon into the new year, it may be a case
that things may not be looking bleak telly wise.
I keep using that description a lot; "telly wise" but I'll hopefully
grow out of the habit.
And here comes an analogy that's even worse; From telly to Tilley as
Ross Tilley made his on-air debut at Cool FM this evening hosting the late
show across Northern Ireland's airwaves including an item devoted to slow
late night love songs called "The Bedroom Session".
You can make your own jokes, although I'm fully certain that the host is no stranger to a bedroom session in more ways than one.
I really couldn't resist that.
90% of my time is spent on the top floor here in Canters anyway so
I'm probably no exception.
Tomorrow will be different however as if it's still lovely outside despite the
cold temperatures, I may make a visit to the lovely Herne Bay for a bit
of deserved beach escapism.
Again, it really is unrivalled bliss when wrapped up in many layers.
Asides from hopefully devouring "beach delicacies", I later on hope to enjoy
yet another chicken stew with whole legs within the sauce disguised
as chicken soup with expensive pasta possibly from M&S.
I'm not living the dream.
I'm pretty much living the life as I'd want it to be away from anxiety.
I couldn't have stayed away for too long.
Yes, I've made my way back early to Canterbury via a multi-layered journey involving two coaches, two trains, and a tube somehow sandwiching it all together.
Oddly enough so much has happened since my departure for the holidays, and it's made me think more about what I've done, what I can be doing, and
how things can be even better on a more positive angle.
Provided I keep facing from a positive angle of course.
I suppose one of the best things about the annual stay in South Creake
was not attending the Thursford Christmas performance which my Mum,
her younger sister and my Granny decided to attend.
They brought back a programme with them and a resume consisting of "The Drunken Sailor", "The Skye Boat Song", "You Raise Me Up", and a medley of songs from Mary Poppins.
Them complemented by dancing girls, ventriloquists and a Wurlitzer.
I immediately had to rush to the nearest bucket after reading the setlist.
To give you a more visual idea, a report taken from last year and The One Show of all shows so as if the idea of Thursford isn't enough to make you queasy, then the sight of Adrian and Christine at the beginning should solve or create problems.
The main reason I wanted to go there was to see all the mechanical instruments and old fairground rides, not knowing that they actually operate during the summer.
That would really be the nicest time to go up there, yet another "naughty weekend" on the North Norfolk coast.
That's another problem I'm having.
Because I'm not at University anymore, and away from others I really get on with, I start imagining really nice social situations that I would like to be in
that if approached them with would be turned down.
I was very rarely imagining blissful scenarios at University, I was living them.
Yes we've all got our own chosen paths (or whatever gets in the cash)
but surely once in a while it can happen.
And part of the reason I wanted to go back to Canterbury is that if things
get too much with those you don't really want to be with, it's best
to be back here on my own, where I've got full control of cooking, can use the large widescreen television downstairs, and many bottles of bright blue stuff will be sipped.
Or downed, I'd best get real.
Although it was sort of planned beforehand, I can't face any more nights
of sleeping on the landing being kept awake by Kate and my other
two femlae cousins wittering on so late into the night, or constantly
being asked consescending questions by my uncle.
He really should look into a career change as a primary school teacher,
judging by how he tries to make himself look like a jack of all trades.
I won't do the punchline though.
I feel a bit bad about returning as Dad's making his pizzas back at the house in Norfolk tonight which are normally spot on.
Not to worry, a pepperoni passion will have that covered back in Canters.
But asides that, after the Christmas dinner, no one barely makes an effort with cooking at all, and as I really enjoy doing so I don't want to be eating bloody leftovers.
Frankly, cold stuff (bar spicy pasta salads) has me retching and it comes to the point that even a chip butty or even a fish finger sandwich is more pleasing.
That's pretty much entering another parallel universe as a lot of people
wouldn't expect me to speak in favour of those "filling delights" but many
a University student would extoll the virtues of such hastily made meals
(if you can call them that) and just about had me converted as a result.
I've more or less got a set agenda, not just in meals but viewing as Outnumbered's on tonight, and Channel 4 are doing their "Of The Decade" reminisicing for TV and music respectively, today and tomorrow.
Meals will most likely involve pasta, stir in powders, or Super Noodles as I prefer not to endure butties as such when it's just me as opposed to being
with others who I enjoy being with.
And there's tons of audio to be sorting out mainly for the CSR show, but also for
my audio downloads.
I won't give too much away but a lot of it has made me question
why I haven't been trying to be more positive rather than making others worse.
It's made me a lot more determined to erase any negativity completely,
and I'm certain that what will precede the number 1 song on my "Top 20 Tunes
Of The Decade" next week will help illustrate this, put everything to the fore
and whatever....
Seriously though, if you can't put how you feel deep down into writing,
it's best to do it with music. Well music I've listened to.
I can't play an instrument for the life of me.
Although funilly enough, neither can the particular artist who holds
that mantle of producing my favourite record of the decade.
Seriously, if others understood where I came from then they would also
be more positive about everything around them.
Or looked into why they love a certain artist, performer, a well made dish
that they probably haven't had since an early age, I'm sure there's someone's mother who can nail the perfect raspberry jam roly poly.
I'd best get catching up with things, starting off with Friday's Gavin and Stacey.
After all the muddles and struggles as such, I've decided to give in
and make my way up to the holiday house in South Creake.
There may be a few changes this year however to make things
easier so it may not be that bad as expected.
But as it's my last blog post before I head back to 1955 for a week,
a warm up to my Review of 09 audio download with my favourite
LPs of the Decade from 20-11.
In no way whatosever do I view these as "generation defining" or whatever,
I've done my best to scour from the last 10 years, of what records
I've found hard to remove from my CD player or my audio application
of choice.
So much has happened, oh yes.
Numbers 10-1 will be revealed in audio form in either late December/early January but I hope it will give you an idea to the sort of stuff to expect.
And possibly an opportunity to give certain stuff a go that hasn't been
heard before, and you know what, I bet there's still a lot of stuff
I haven't listened to that I'll kick myself for not including here
in a few years time.
Nah, that goes for any decade really. Life's not long enough.
The rules I've set myself are no re-issues, no compilations, and no artists
to be included twice.
Will I stick to those requirements?
Let's get things going;
20: Justin Timberlake - "Justified" (2002)
One of the biggest surprise albums for sure.
You'd never expect something as superb as this to come from
an ex boyband member embarking on a solo career.
It's all down to the top producers Justin got to work with on this LP
with the overall standouts being a couple of fellas called Chad Hugo
and Pharrell Williams.
It was when "Rock Your Body" came out as the third single that I immediately
became well and truly obsessed with the album as a whole although
all the usual cynics kept on saying he was copying Michael Jackson.
That's because "Rock Your Body" was originally penned for Jacko's "Invincible" album and if he had gone ahead with that as the lead single as opposed
to the flat and uninspring "You Rock My World", that would have been
a comeback and a half.
And it wouldn't have dented JT's career in any way whatsoever
as tunes such as "Like I Love You" and "Cry Me A River" earned him
the status he's now known for.
I was just a tiny bit disapointed with the follow up LP as it appeared Justin
had ditched The Neptunes in favour of a full on Timbaland produced album.
And that wasn't a bad thing at all, they have been very prolific and distinctive throught this decade, even writing a couple of really good tunes on "Justified",
just a case of "Futuresex/Lovesounds" not meeting personal expectations.
i.e. lack of strings, fancy Rhodes piano chords and so on.
But whichever way, I had to include one of the albums by Justin
in this rundown of the decade, no questions.
19: M.I.A - "Kala" (2007)
How shall I describe this?
Chaotic.
But very creative at the same time.
One of the most underrated performers from our British shores
made a name for herself with her second studio album where
quite literally you had no idea of what to expect next.
Musically it covered several influences ranging from soca drums
and percussion on tracks such as "Boyz", Indian shades on "Jimmy",
and samples of eighties acts such as The Clash and New Order on "Paper Planes" and "20 Dollar".
Lyrically it's amazing too, promoting awareness of gun culture, and that of other cultures from places she's travelled; "I put people on the map, that have
never seen a map"
Overall the album's amazing.
Just don't play it or whatever if I've got a bloody headache.
18: The Coral (2002)
This was the perfect LP which was a refreshing change from other stuff
at the time, and instantly reminds me of a summer of just general anarchy
and messing about.
Well, to be honest it wasn't like that at all.
I barely did anything prior to my first visit to Venice.
But the tunes on the album will always remind me of the amazing weather
we got including the crazy "Skeleton Key", the trippy almost ethnic sounding
"Simon Diamond" and the dub influenced "Shadows Fall".
The album got quite a lot of exposure on the then newly launched
BBC 6 Music and fitted in well to proceedings singalling a return of
"indie becoming fun again" which acts such as Hot Club De Paris, Rumble Strips, and Skint and Demoralised soon caught onto.
One song from the album made quite a resurgence during my final week
at Smoke Radio that being "Goodbye" which was played by quite a few people
on their departing shows and matched the mood of not being overdramatic,
and just getting on with it and moving on to other things.
Best way to do so, and it will remain one of my most fun times at University.
17: Alicia Keys - "Songs In A Minor" (2001)
I first saw this woman performing on the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards
in September that year, quite a short while before she got any UK exposure.
The performance itself started off with a short burst of "Fur Elise"
joined by her backing band and the unexpected key changes
blended nicely into a superb live rendition of her breakthrough hit "Fallin".
Hearing the single release wasn't as good as the one at the MTV VMAs
but that goes for all live tracks on that scale to be honest, and I was
just amazed at seeing a young female R&B performer actually
singing and playing piano at the same time.
I finally got round to buying the album about a year later and there's plenty
of gems on there, some of which weren't even released as singles
including "Butterfyz", "Caged Bird", and "Jane Doe".
Best of all was that my album was a special edition copy with another amazing live performance and one that almost had me in tears when hearing her cover
of Donny Hathaway's "Someday We'll All Be Free".
I almost thought that she couldn't do any better than "A Minor" and was almost proved right until only recently when "The Element Of Freedom" was released
and for me has to be one of her strongest to date.
There will be plenty more of her to come, I'm fully certain.
16: Daniel Austin - "Confidence In You" (2004)
Unbelievably there haven't really been any male solo soul acts
who have blown me away this decade to a major extent.
This being an exception, Daniel Austin a little known musician
and vocalist from California who I was brought to the attention of
via Peter Young's Jazz FM show around the time of it's release.
This was amazing, sugar coated soul at it's finest, and it's not really cool
to use analogies or titles, but I'd see Daniel as a male Brenda Russell.
You just have to listen to his ability at providing catchy sounding tunes
even if they sound like they were composed on a toy piano or whatever.
Highlights include the nicely structured "Dreamers Know" and the ultimate
crush song "Something About You" with brass and a beat to match.
This was released around the same time as Incognito's "Adventures In Black Sunshine" album and actually reached a point where I was listening to this
more than Incognito.
I suppose it just had that unique special touch that I never saw coming.
It's synthy, full of sweet stuff (almost syrupy), but definitely one for those
who like it extra smooth.
15: Pink - "I'm Not Dead" (2006)
It was hard deciding which one of Alecia's albums to include but
in the end it was more or less a no brainer for this one as it was there
with me pretty much throughout 2006 over many turning points.
The title of which hitting back at the critics who assumed that this was
a "comeback album" of some sorts.
Which was pretty much rubbish as an assumption as that had already
been done with really with "Missundaztood" five years earlier.
This was probably one of the "non soul albums" that helped me through
pretty awkward times in the first half of my second year at University,
when I didn't really know which way to turn or whatever.
Especially the song "Nobody Knows" as I'm instantly back in flat 14B
on a rather dark winter night in Harrow Halls.
Other album highlights included the perfect "Bush bashing" song
"Dear Mr President" with The Indigo Girls, and one that should have been released as a single "Fingers", co-penned by the one and only Cathy Dennis.
There's a song writer who's been an unsung hero this decade.
As for P!nk overall, there really hasn't been as ballsy but ever delightful
female vocalist and performer this decade who's been ever-present throughout.
14: Foals - "Antidotes" (2008)
I thought I'd give this album a go to see what the fuss was about
a few months after the release and after listening to it in full
it all blends in together nicely.
Almost to the point where I feel as if I'm at a live performance
and the raw racousness instantly conjures up images of either a University
night out, or an epsiode of Skins.
That's what this music has all become insanely tied in with,
pretty much to the same extent as Gavin and Stacey.
"Cassius" was the first one that drew my attention and many of the
first 5 or 6 tracks do sound identical but the second half of the album
takes a more bizarre direction in unexpected places, not least with my
favourite "Big Big Love (Fig. 2)" the opening of which sounds almost
identical to that of the Grandstand theme.
Again, it's one of quite a few defining University albums.
13: Zero 7 - "Simple Things" (2001)This was one of the best escapism albums during all my four years at College,
whenever anything got too hard to deal with, and understandbly so
when having to deal with a load of others who simply didn't care.
Towards the end of my time there I soon found out that I wasn't
the only one who had a liking for the well produced offerings from Henry Binns
and Sam Hardaker.
My personal favourites include the almost rousing "Likufanele", "In The Waiting Line", and "This World" which sounds a tiny bit indentical to "Glory Box"
by Portishead.
Which in turn sounds similar to the intro to The Sweeney.
The album lead to an equally amazing follow-up in 2004 "When It Falls" with Sia returning to provide vocals, and Sam and Henry came up with
more soothing gems.
Just a shame they had to spoil it from their third album onwards.
12: Pipettes - "We Are The Pipettes" (2006)
Before Amy, Paloma, Adele, and so on started cashing in on
the "Wall Of Sound Revival" for the sake of it, this amazing well dressed
trio from one of my favourite places in the UK released an album
which at the time sounded like a standout, no doubting that.
This band from Brighton had balls and the rawness to make them one of
the finest yet underrated acts blending in indie, with classic 60s pop and
despite their manufactured formation, that's no hindrance whatsoever.
I certainly wouldn't have assumed it from my first listen due to the
superb arrangements with strings, guitars, basses and so on.
I like how most of the songs on there are under three minutes in length,
adding to the fast paced manner and changes in tempos when you least
expect them.
The standout song was of course "Pull Shapes" which brings back
many a happy memory of the 2006-2007 year at University which I've
probably established was the best year in terms of musical consistency
and having a good time, despite the ongoing rollercoaster, and
great big dip near the end.
It also instantly reminds me of another of my favourite girls
from University who I ended up graduating with, as I can instantly
imagine her singing that very song.
Or dancing like crazy to it at least judging by the record number
of live performances she's been too by other bands.
Also worth mentioning are "Dirty Mind" which ended up becoming a very
popular bed on television to the same sort of extent as "Chicken Payback"
by The Bees.
That being the fact that more people recognise the intro more than the song
as a whole.
Overall it's just a 100% happy guaranteed album throughout,
from who I'd consider to be the best girlband of the decade.
11: The James Taylor Quartet - "Hammondology" (2001)
Yes, I've broken one of my rules.
This is a compilation album, but without it I wouldn't have got
through a very awkward period in late 2001 of starting college
when there was no one else I knew, no one else really I could
talk to and like the Zero 7 record was really one that
could me to be me.
Musically it's nothing like Zero 7, it's a fantastically documented
selection of just about all phases of JTQ from the rough and action
packed cover of "Blow Up" with influences from Booker T and The MGs,
to the early 90s dance era with vocalists such as Alison Limerick and
Noel McKoy, the latter was partly responsible for the band's
1993 chart hit "Love The Life" which I can actually remember
seeing the video for on television on a Saturday morning
when I was very ill.
I discovered this album by accident to be honest, hearing it played
in the HMV in Canterbury and the delightful "Shelter" with
vocals by Rose Windross who had performed with Soul II Soul.
It definitely set the standard into going even deeper in the sort of
music I was really enthused about and that there was more to just disco
and it that sort of stuff didn't stop being made straight after 1986.
I've more or less been a fan of JTQ ever since with four studio albums
released since that compilation and superb live performances in Canterbury
proving that they're stronger than ever.
So from JT, to JTQ that's the discs of the decade from 20-11.
Expect the top 10 to come hopefully in the next week or by mid January
at latest if worst comes to worst.
Hopefully not, we'll all be bored of reminiscing by then.
I'm still uncertain about whether I'll actually leave the house today.
Best way to deal with any angsts is to try and think of more humorous
things such as spending last night in front of the television before
things got too hard to deal with.
Telly wise it was OK, nothing special.
The Mock The Week Christmas show was rather weak, as some of the anecdotes weren't great despite the bits in the Christmas questions
when the contestants knowingly attempted to pretend
it wasn't being recorded in September.
The best bits were Dara's bin collection outburst, and another
hilarious Christmas themed Scenes We'd Like To See.
This was obviously recorded on the final show, hence the absence of Frankie
but that doesn't stop it from being side splitting, to the point of it
having me crying at Andy's sock gag and Russell's response.
Good to see Milton Jones as well, I'm hoping we see more of him
in the next series, despite him telling jokes for quite a few years now.
He was even good enough to go into the late Bob Monkhouse's good books.
Charlie Brooker managed to give the year's telly a right ribbing into on
Screenwipe with a return appearance for the Barry Shitpeas character
sending up any idiotic talking head you'd get on reminiscing based shows.
It really was a good delve into the worst of this years telly including
the appalling "Live From Studio 5".
Never before was there a programme on television that could actually
make me appreciate the Loose Women.
Seriously.
It's billed as a news programme, and yet it's chosen three presenters
who clearly don't have brains, let alone chemistry.
Other mediocrities included Michael Jackson's seance, masterminded by
Derek Acorah, which proved that there really are people who need
to get a fucking life.
And I write this blog of course.
Make your own jokes...
Anyway, the worst show that was included was one that I'd heard quite
a bit about but I'm so glad I didn't see it in full.
Fearne And... Peaches Geldof, transmitted on ITV2 this Autumn was a fine
example of one of the dimmest interview subjects interviewed by an even
dimmer interviewer.
Only as Brooker pointed about Peaches was pretentious and stupid,
whereas Fearne was completely incapable overall.
Trying to looked shocked when Peaches revealed she followed
Scientology and Fearne obviously had no fucking idea.
For me, Fearne Cotton's the perfect example of a presenter who should
know their limits.
She's not the first however as Anthea Turner, and Katy Hill weren't too successful
when trying to prove themselves outside of children's television.
That's why presenters like Kirsten O'Brien and Michaela Strachan stuck at it
for years and were still good at it, even after they went over 30.
Back to Brooker and another programme that went under intense scrutiny was
"The Execution Of Gary Glitter".
I'll try not to give too much away but I liked how Charlie referred to the
setting as a parallel universe "where television news graphics had
obviously had their budget cut".
It would probably be the case if I took control that there would be
pixellated on screen icons with either lips, lorries,
or one with a green and red triangle.
It's inescapable I tell you.
The part of the Glitter dissection that had me laughing was Charlie
anticipating the verdict, and the fantastic use of a musical sting
when it was actually announced.
Really funny stuff.
Overall it's more than perfect sense that television doesn't look set to
get any better into 2010, with the only thing I'm really looking forward to
being Shane Meadows Channel 4 drama following on from This Is England
due to be transmitted in the Autumn.
And quite possibly Matt Smith's debut story in the lead role as the Time Lord.
There's hope, and of course Charlie Brooker himself will be present
to rip all the rubbish to shreds so we can laugh at it as always.
Again I've ended up removing the content of the planned post as I'm fed up with things.
My brother is holding a bedroom party in his room making noise more unacceptable than anything that happened in halls, and now I'm been hurled abuse by people who are too scared to reveal themselves, via a comment
on one of the blog posts I made yesterday.
It may be a revenge for what happened yesterday on Twitter and for that
I sincerely apologise, it was just a joke and what I wrote on there was
not mean to be taken in any offence whatsoever.
If I knew who it was that posted the comment, I would probalby
take it in jest but to post anonymously, then you must have
some sort of problem and too much fucking time on your hands.
In fact from now on, I'm only allowing users with Google accounts
to post comments so I know exactly who wants to vent their spleen.
If you do reveal yourself, you'll probably be automatically forgiven
anyway.
I'm taking it that there may be issues with those still at University
after sending out my biog of my University time which explains fully well
in the introduction that it covers a lot of issues, isn't intended to upset
people, and was only going to be sent to people I knew I could trust.
The majority of responses I've received are fully understanding,
but then again they were there when what happened happened,
why I ended up going spare and how not knowing those who started Uni
after 2007 lead to a lot of misunderstandings.
Especially when they decided to revamp Smoke Radio behind our backs
which I know a lot of good things came out of, but to be so
anal about it at the time left a lot of ill feeling with some of us.
I obviously had to return to that in the biog and the fact that
it was written before receiving gold in the Student Radio Awards
and it's painful for me to even bring it up again here.
I want to forget about it, there were a lot of good things that happened
at University and good times only happen if you make them that way.
But you know what, I'm not going to blame any students for this whatsoever.
It's the bullshit structure of the University Calendar that's overall responsible
not just for the station, but for the amount of teaching over so much
spaced out time, for too much bleeding money, in fact a lot more
than some of the lecturers fucking well deserve.
Because there's such a long break between teaching from May until October
(or even longer) it makes it easy for people to lose contact,
and when others who have stayed out of proceedings return from holiday
it can be disheartening to see how much they have changed.
I've had the wool pulled over my eyes for too long that if I'm not at University,
I have to be back in Canterbury and it's come to a point where it's gone too far.
I've come to the conclusion that I may not even go with the rest of my family
tomorrow, it will be Christmas spent solitary which you know what,
I'm quite happy with actually.
The only meal I'd have on Christmas day would be soup, with a few slices of deliciously baked bread from the Goods Shed or wherever, and many a bottle
of WKD would keep the liquids flowing in front of the television.
Or maybe to balance it out, a diced turkey stew with the most expensive
obscure pasta I can find in Canterbury.
And everyone else would be happy too, as they wouldn't have their holiday
ruined by my constant moaning as it would only make them unhappy as well.
But overall I feel as if I'm ruined, relationships within University have been damaged without me knowing.
I can't spend four hours travelling feeling uncertain, and certainly not
a whole week with no internet access.
In defence of my biog, I wanted to give a fair account of how bad things
lead to good things.
Why others can't take that direction in life I've no idea.
They want bad things to happen in whatever way possible.
In fact as a career, radio is bollocks.
It's impossible to find exactly what I want 100% as the limited hours
give me little time for a social life, due to finding another job
such as a waiter or theatre usher for example that I could never
see fit to undertaking without screaming under worse stress than
that in the radio environment.
I'm quite happy with the show on CSR as it allows me to do exactly
what I want on there and to let it build over time.
But apart from two hours on a Sunday night (them being taken from me
this week and all), there's barely anything worth being enthusiastic about
socially here.
Again if anything I wrote did upset people, again I apologise but I can't
apologise for being unhappy myself when things weren't so good.
I was very ill, things take time to recover, and when other goings on
aren't so good it's difficult to raise a smile in those circumstances.
And throughout life, because I have a disablity, I found it extremely
hard to establish long term bonds with people.
It's not fair to name favourites I know, but those from the 2006-2009
BAMS Radio class (who were there from the start) have always been understanding and there for me more than any close circle of people
I've ever known.
The fact that just about all of them can get on with each other is also special
and to be back in London would mean I get to see them more often than now.
I'm more than open to talk about it in whichever way possible or preferred.
I'll have reached a fuller decision on whether to stay here by
tomorrow morning but as I'm feeling now, it will be Christmas in Canters.
I've managed to get everything wrapped up and sent and my preparation for Christmas is pretty much sorted.
I've even sent my special present to that special someone who a few people know I'm referring to, and to give you some extra clues, the parcel had to be labelled fragile.
I'll lighten up possibly after the day itself, although I won't actually be blogging until the 30th due to the house we're staying at being stuck in the 1950s.
Tonight in terms of telly viewing I'm more or less spoilt as BBC Four and BBC 2 have some great offerings.
BBC 2 has "The Funny Side Of Christmas" and the Mock The Week Xmas show which I'm guessing will be in the same vein as last year with balls ups and specially recorded Christmas rounds like including some more seasonal
"Scenes We'd Like To See".
BBC Four meanwhile have what looks like an amazing documentary on
Oliver Postgate, and the much anticipated (well for me anyway)
Screenwipe Review of 2009.
I'm hoping to get my own audio review of the decades best albums off the ground soon although my "bits to go in between" haven't arrived yet due to the e-mail server of the V/O artist being a pain.
As is probably the case, when it happens in the end, I doubt it will be worth it.
I wouldn't want to let that Wednesday morning spent in the CSR studio last week go to waste however.
It comes to a point when things are going too far that they even get inside your head when lying down.
I had a really awful dream involving another ex station member and has had
me feeling really downhearted about it even though it wasn't real.
Basically I launched into an outburst at them for a presenting relationship
with another station member was going too far and I was knocking chairs
over, screaming, and almost everything negative and bad about such instances.
It's an extremely awkward time of the year I must admit, even more so
now that University has finished, but I probably didn't make myself clear
that I'm also unsure about the idea of having to share the same bedroom
as my parents.
Partly because of the fact I have to sleep on a fucking mattress that keeps deflating, and their insistence on having the radio switched on at midnight and first thing in the morning when I'd much prefer a lie in.
Again, you'd think we're in a crazy parallel universe,
but when it comes to radio overall, there's a time and a place.
I don't want to be woken up by a fucking church service or any of that crap,
I'm better off using the bathroom as a bedroom in that instance.
And even when listening to what I like in the presence of others makes
me feel awkward but I suppose that's a natural cause.
Well that's only really music, if it's comedy such as The Now Show,
or ISIHAC for instance that's different.
Believe me, in real life there are worse things than the idea of Susan Boyle
singing the theme to the next Bond movie.
This image has caused quite a stir, brought to my attention by Steven McIntosh.
Renowned artist Banksy has created a graffiti mural with the sentence
"I Don't Believe In Global Warming" reflected in the water below.
An amazing visual concept yes, but I'm fully certain that he got the idea,
from this iconic image which will alienate anyone born after 1988.
Yes, you could see it coming.
Compared to London mind, there's not been a single flake of snow in Canters and although I'm reading status after status of individuals struggling through
the motorways, I'm hoping Wednesday won't be chaotic ahead of
our journey to Norwich.
I really should have bought a fucking iPod, the perfect opportunity to listen to a record you've never listened to before, extra large headphones to separate myself from the idiotic goings on within the rest of the vehicle, and many an extra layer.
This really is the final year I'm putting myself up for this.
I'm fully determined to make sure that I'm clambered up in London with a nice little earner by the end of 2010, so that all the travelling I need to undergo
is a simple train journey to Norwich on Christmas Eve, possibly travelling back
on Boxing Day.
You'd ask how I could manage a whole week without internet.
If it's a holiday with your best mates, that's different, this is one whole week
of bugger all happening.
I'm not knocking the idea of reuniting with the family, but in all fairness
all I really do is spend time in my room going through DVD-Rs and such,
whilst my elder cousins only really spend time there between Christmas Eve
and Boxing Day due to their jobs as well.
One of them actually living in Manchester.
More Xmas albums have been at my listening pleasure, as I type I'm having a listen to an offering by Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra, which pretty much meets expectations.
I never realised until now that "What A Wonderful World" is practically the same tune as "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and I love how "Deck The Halls" has been turned into a tune similar to Ramsey Lewis's "The In Crowd".
A jazz classic adapted by Jimmy Savile as the theme tune to his Record Club.
I've dug out some seasonal stunners it has to be said.
Well provided I don't have to be subjected to them all the time,
that would be pretty crazy.
