So... here we are again, New Years Eve.  Not sure where that year went.

I did my music review last week, so what else did I get up in 2012?  Well in truth not much really.  Me and Sham went to Egypt and Jordan (fantastic) and Sunny Beach, Bulgaria (disastrous).  It goes without saying I haven't blogged much.  I've got no excuse, I've thought about posting a few times but then lost the moment.  You know what it's like.

Watched far too much television which made a big contribution to my inertia.  Watched some mainly credible (in my eyes) TV box sets and some real garbage. 

Not sure whether The Big Bang Theory is credible or not to be honest but it's definitely been my guilty pleasure this year.  The science is great and Sheldon and Amy are wonderfully eccentric and funny but there's an unpleasant undertone/nastiness to some of the humour that leaves me feeling a little uncomfortable.  I still watch though so by my usual measure I'll see you in hell.

Watched the whole 8 series of 24 (8 x 24 = 192 episodes) plus a 2 hour special - it was mostly gripping and The Sopranos which mainly took my breath away.  It was just the best.   I've long since given up Coronation Street but I caught bits and pieces of other soaps (I'm blaming Shamila) and lots of other crap, E4 etc.

Shamila and I have continued to walk and we'd done 50 walks by the end of October.  Definitely my exercise of choice. 

And that's mainly it.

So 2013?  Well hopefully better than 2012.  As I said my odd years tend to be better than my even years so fingers crossed.  In today's i they listed the top 10 resolutions according to a seasonal survey (which probably means they did a 5 bar gates poll around the office).  Anyway, it went as follows,

1.  Read more books
2.  Save more money
3.  Lose weight
4.  Re-decorate
5.  Take better photos
6.  I want to go travelling
7.  I want to sell old stuff I don't want on eBay
8.  Buy a tablet
9.  Organise photos - print/delete/save etc.
10.Do something for charity.

not bad.  So why not?  I'll give that lot a go.  Maybe I'll even let you know how I get on.

Happy New Year


 

  

Teesside

  

 

 

So this is Christmas?

Seasons Greetings all.

 It's certainly been a while and I'm not expecting any views for a while but somebody may eventually stumble along.

It's not been a good year to be honest but then again my even years never are.  Here's hoping for 2013.

It hasn't all been bad though .  Lot's of music which has been patchy to say the least but Beirut were immense, as were Explosions In The Sky.  No Direction Home was great without any individual act really standing out and part 2 of Wagner's The Ring was a wonderful spectacle.  I enjoyed a rousing performance by Elliott Brood at The Cluny 2 and BJH at The Westgarth and NDH.  Joshua James came along at the right time to raise my spirits but the best of all was saved till last and North Carolina's Crooked Fingers at the The Kids Are Solid Gold Christmas Party.  They were the stand out band on a memorable Westgarth night and for me the best band I saw all year.  Can't wait to see them again.

My Stockton Riverside Festival was spoilt by illness which lingered on for far too long. The Pogues headlined on Saturday (can't remember much) and I missed James on Sunday.

The local scene was pretty good this year, especially Shrug and Pellethead (free downloads - Pellethead, not Shrug).  Special mention for General Sherman who I think might do ok next year and the monthly Above The Parapet event at our favourite Working Men's Club and finally the pub kept me going.  Weatherspoon's are normally soulless god forsaken abodes but the spirit of The Empire looms large at The Swotters Carr.  It always feels right.

Cheers