2011 Review

Happy New Year to you all. A bit late but better late than never, I say.So 2011, a good year? Or a bad year? For the world economy it was a poor year. For my economy it was a good year. The remortgaging saga was worth it in the end.

For the kids it was a mixed year.Son on his year abroad doing fine, daughter starting at college- didn’t quite get what she wanted- but enjoying it all the same and back with her boyfriend. For the wife, a frustrating year she delivered what she was employed to do but hasn’t enjoyed it. For me, Well here I am still sat at the same desk so in one way a poor year for me. But I did get a pay rise (!!!) after a lot of hassle and negotiation which for the public sector at this time is pretty good going.

The dog is now 9 but still lively as ever.

For music, it was an OK year- not outstanding but good. I particularly enjoyed Fleet Foxes' Helplessness Blues and Florence and The Machine’s Ceremonials. Brett Anderson delivered a solid new album in Black Rainbows. Adele’s 21 was a surprise for me. I sort of liked 19 but wasn’t struck overall. 21 is a brilliant mature (both musically and lyrically) album. Well worth owning. PJ Harvey’s Let England Shake was classic PJ Harvey.I have never been completely convinced by her but if you like her stuff its good. Haven’t bought or downloaded a lot of music this year but have really enjoyed discovering new music via Blogs and 6 Music and other places.

Looking forward, again we face uncertainty come the end of March with my wife’s contract ending. I am strangely not worried about this. I think we will be OK. The kids will continue to develop and grow into the good adults we raised them to be (here’s hoping)

In reality though , who knows what lies over the horizon. Nobody predicted the Arab Spring or Libya or the Euro crsis this time last year so I am not going to place any bets on what will happen this year to the world or me or the family.

One of The Best Songs Of The Year

Adele- Someone Like You (Live in Amsterdam)

This song has gone through my head lots this last few days. Something to do with the time of year.

The Friday Before Christmas

It’s the Friday 23rd December. I am at work although not much is happening. Even if something did happen I’m not sure I could summon up any enthusiasm for dealing with it. I am feeling mellow, and all pre Christmassy. You know when you are waiting for the Big Day and really are happy to let everything else slide (diet, exercise etc) until the New Year.


I’ve not run for almost a fortnight now- I hate running in the dark so have put a couple of pounds on. I am not worried about this. Come the end of January I am moving to an office 5 miles away from home. I can get a Bus straight there but I plan to walk/run/cycle/bus there and back. That should keep me fit.

Merry Christmas

It's not quite Christmas but we are nearly there. Our son is home from Bordeaux and asleep. Our daughter is, as I write this, on the train from Doncaster after spending a couple of days with Sailor Boy.

This song is by Cinerama.. Merry Christmas to you all.

Christmas Song- Cinerama 

Inspirational

After months of not featuring this series here I am posting two songs in a short time. This is what comes of having too much time on your hands and hooking up your turntable to your PC.

This song is a particular inspiration to me. When I fist heard it I was unemployed and living with my future wife in the cockroach infested concrete jungle of no hope council flats that was the Hulme estate   in Manchester.Times were so tough – even tougher than they are now- to paraphrase the song.  

I heard this song played, I think, by Janice Long, in late 1982 and Pete Wylie’s tale of rejection and refusing to accept it made me realise that I wasn't alone and that there was away through it all.  I still listen to this song often and it always moves me. I have on occasion found myself quoting it when speaking to people. This is not just pop music, this is proper art.

This song  also made me  read Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, which if you haven't read then you should.

The Story of The Blues (12") - The Mighty Wah