Out with the old...

In with the new...

So here it is, the end of 2010; a year I renamed "Starting Again" because it rhymes. 2011? Heaven? We shall see.

This time last year was quite a big deal for me. It was one of those few occasions where the end of the year was huge. Usually I say 'it's just one second of time sweeping into a new year with no significance other than that'. Last year however was very much a case of being so glad to see the back of my annus horribilis and although that sounds like a painful condition of the rectum, we all know thanks to the Queen's Speech from a few years back it isn't.
2009 was a shocker and I hugged in 2010 and hoped it would hug me back.
2010 was a year of men. I know how that sounds but it was. I didn't fall in love with any but I dated, I snogged, I gave my number out and embraced singledom for the first time. It was fun.

I had highs and lows but reconnected with old familiar feelings and did an awful lot of soul searching. I have ended the year in a much more positive place than 12 months ago. Don't get me wrong, last new year's eve was spent with friends and was unexpectedly great but there was sorrow and tears; it couldn't be avoided.

I am now looking forward to 2011 and all that it throws at me. Let's face it, life tends to throw stuff at us so it wouldn't feel right for me to ignore that 'stuff' but hopefully I'm ready for anything.

I'd like to ackowledge some of the curveballs my nearest & dearest had to contend with too and admire their courage and bravery in the face of diversity. Oops I mean adversity. In fact adversaries. Anniversaries. All of it!

I have used this quote already today but it's a fitting end to the blog I feel and I mean it to myself also:
"May you be happy in the life you have chosen"

Happy New Year to one and all. Given it's day 2 of blogging, I suspect it's just one...
x

Looking back before going forward...

So, I moved back to London for the 4th time in my life back on November 28th 2009 with hope in my heart.
The previous times I'd lived here were mostly filled with work related fun and so I promised myself this time would be different. I was to become a tourist in my own town. I recruited my friend Stephen and we embarked almost immediately on a year of culture. The plan was to do something each week of cultural value. Neither of us deemed it impossible and yet I don't think we enviasged how amazing that trip would be.
Of course we didn't always accompany each other but still had our own journeys of discovery. Culture covers many entities: art, film, music, media, comedy etc. Given it was such a success, I decided to continue the cultural visits and to blog each one in 2011.
Here's a brief look at last year with some omissions I am sure (and Dec 2009) to ease me in...
The first exhibition - Thu 3rd December:
I am thankful that I went with a good friend to this as it was more than a little risque and I wasn't entirely sure we should continue!
Pop Life Exhibition @ Tate Modern. Giggling school trips amid tits, fannies, arses and penetration galore! Porn Life would have been more appropriate but it was pretty cool nonetheless.
Fri 4th
Soulwaxmas @ Brixton Academy
Mon 14th Comedy night at my local (The Stag) and all for charity.
Tue 15th
Lost Levels @ the Social
Sat 19th
Coldplay @ Exeter castle - charity gig for MENCAP - I actually ended up working this show rather than watching it.
Thu 7th January 2010
An Education
Wed 13th
cinema (?)
Thu 14th
Beatles to Bowie @ National Portrait
Thu 21st
Gallery ??
Mon 25th
Van Gogh
Tue 26th
The Little Dog That Laughed
Wed 3rd Feb
Counterfeit exhibition @ V&A
Mon 8th
Un Prophete
Thu 11th
Caveman - Mark Little
Mon 15th
The Heavy @ Barfly
Wed 17th
Billy Childish exhibition @ ICA


I was lucky enough to tour Latin America from 22nd Feb - Fri 12th March and so there was rather a lot of culture there!


Mon 15th March
Comedy night @ local
Wed 17th
Highgate Cemetary (well, one half)
Wed 24th
Josh Rouse @ Forum
Tue 30th
British Library (not for the first time)
Mon 19th April
Comedy night @ local
Wed 21st
Celebrity Juice tv filming
Thu 22nd
Blood Brothers feat. Melanie C
Wed 28th
Kick Ass
Tue 4th may
39 Steps @ Criterion
Tue 11th
Westminster Abbey
Wed 12th
Roadie book launch party


Took a holiday to The Gambia 14th may and can't say that was cultural at all.


Tue 25th May
Flight of the Conchords @ Wembley
Sat 12th June
Snow Patrol, Editors @ Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
Tue 15th
Keane @ Roundhouse
Wed 23rd
Black Keys @ Roundhouse
Fri 25th June
Pearl Jam @ Hyde Park
Sat 26th
Stevie Wonder @ Hyde Park
Sat 3rd July
Wireless festival @ Hyde Park
Sat 10th
Prince in Belgium
Wed 14th
Chief @ Barfly
Thu 15th
Latitude festival
Wed 21st
Inception
Tue 3rd August
Donegal Wake @ Irish Centre, Camden
Sun 8th
Welcome to Thebes @ National Theatre
Wed 11th
John Rylands Library (Manchester)
Mon 16th
Unrelated @ Jermyn Theatre
Mon 23rd
Danton's Death @ NT
Wed 25th
Gainsbourg
Fri 27th
Picasso - Mediterranean Years, Gargosian
Sat 28th
Scott Capurro @ Camden Head


(Wed 1st - Fri 3rd September, Brighton)


Sun 5th Sep
Secret Cinema (Alexandra Palace - Lawrence of Arabia)
Mon 13th
Comedy night @ local
Wed 15th
Secret Dining Club
Tue 21st
Mark Morriss @ The Enterprise
Fri 24th
Daniel Sloss @ Soho Theatre
Thu 30th
Xfm book launch @ Proud
Tue 5th October
Badly Drawn Boy @ Rough Trade


Thu 7th- Sun 10th Paris pour mon anniversaire


Wed 13th
Breakout @ Proud
Wed 20th
cinema (?)
Thu 21st
Art by Offenders @ Southbank Centre
Thu 28th
Badly Drawn Boy @ Bloomsbury Theatre
Tue 16th November
Secret Cinema - One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Thu 18th
Legally Blonde (& I admit, I loved it!)
Thu 25th
Christmas Lights video shoot and Thames boat ride
Fri 26th
BBC Philharmonic - Barbican
Sun 28th
Anish Kapoor exhibition @ Serpentine
Tue 30th
Ruffled @ Etcetera Theatre, Camden
Wed 1st December
Potter pt I
Mon 13th
Charity @ local
Tue 14th
British Museum
Sun 19th
Coldplay @ Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool
Tue 21st
The Woman in Black
Wed 22nd
The Museum of Everything, Primrose Hill
Mon 27th
Film music of John Williams @ Barbican


Phew! I know I have missed loads out and will fill in the gaps when I have time.
Looking forward to next year!