I’m back. The trip up north was pretty interesting, but developments up there are going to take a lot of writing and editing before I’m ready to share them. So instead, perhaps I should take a look over the past twelve months.
This website (in its current form, at least) is one year old today, so let’s see what actually happened.
January
Essentially this was about establishing the site. I wrote a few tech articles, and reposted my travel writings from previous sites – probably my proudest pieces. Thailand 2004 was my first real attempt at writing about travels. I was so inspired by what was my first trip out there that I couldn’t help but try to describe the experience. I followed that up with Rome 2004, my summer break with Lois Ann in Italy.
February
Finally, something substantial about what was actually happening at the time. Thailand 2005 was my second trip to Bangkok, I’d picked up a little of the language and was much more comfortable in my environment. Okay, so I didn’t actually post this until May (which I can’t believe – sorry about that!), but I don’t want to leave February blank, and it’s my website! Also posted more tech articles, mostly whinging about my PC not working, and suffering a rather catastrophic hard drive failure.
March
Finally braved the ski slopes again, which I wrote about briefly. I also published the account of my previous trip to the ski slope, Wipeout. I passed my driving test, and posted more tech and geeky stuff.
April
Posted the first gig review – The Bluetones, at the Supernova club in Derby. I also posted a grumble about London, chiefly because I was unhappy at work (I’d been waiting for fourteen months for a contractual salary review at this point), and was considering moving to the capital. Needless to say, it didn’t happen.
May
Posted a review of the tragic movie adaptation of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. In other news, Liverpool won the European Champions League.
June
Put some songs on the website. Took them off again. Raved about Doctor Who, and then raved some more about the final radio series of The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. Wrote a few techie bits and pieces, and had an encounter with some wildlife.
July
Suicide bombers hit London on July 7. I posted a reaction, of sorts, later in the month, but really felt unable to add anything to the mountain of more informed and inspired opinion already out there.
I also posted a book meme – embarrassingly, I have to admit that I eventually abandoned both of the books I was reading at the time.
Finally, I posted the video footage of my drunken television appearance, and took some cameraphone pictures of a walk by the riverbank, followed by some photos of my trip to Ireland.
Offline, I had handed in (and served) my notice at work, took a week off to visit my mother in Donegal, before starting my new job on August 1.
August
I wrote a little about my new job, but do try to keep my professional life as far away from the website as I can. I wrote about the rejection letter I received from a company who I’d interviewed with in June – a company I had to resist the urge to name and shame…
September
I crashed my bicycle, ranted against Intelligent Design, went to see Alfie (not much of a review though!), and broke an IBM Model M keyboard.
After suffering more PC frustrations, I decided to buy a Mac, but not before ranting about screen resolution and websites. I finally wrote about the high school reunion I organised in August, and my trip to Donegal back in July.
October
I reviewed the long-awaited new Half Man Half Biscuit album, spewed verbal diarrhea, ordered my Mac, and gained a housemate – Sian moved in on the 23rd, the day my niece was born.
November
A pretty quiet month, in which I finally received my Mac, pontificated about life in general, wrote a book review, and attended the turning-on of the town’s Christmas Lights.
December
I finally reviewed the Babyshambles album, managed to get bitten by a dog for the first time, and then life essentially stopped for the Christmas/New Year break, when I went up to Liverpool. And then came back and wrote furiously, this being just one of several pieces I’ve been pounding out on my keyboard today.
It’s been a good year, all in all. There’ve been some sad times, and there’ve been some happy times. But then aren’t there always? I have a better job, I have more money, I have a full driving license (although I don’t yet have a car), and I have a live-in hippy chick. My football team are champions of Europe, I’m a lot healthier (but could still do with losing a little more weight), and I’m delighted with my new role as a Mac Zealot. In a month’s time, I’m off to Thailand for the third time in as many years.
Things could be better, but things could be a lot worse. Let’s see what 2006 brings. Thanks for reading.











