Final blog of 2011...

...a sort of review of what has gone before and what will be ahead!

So, another year is drawing to a close.  Its been hard.  Its been rewarding.  Its been...interesting.

GOOD THINGS:
Not only did I get another top 5 shortlisting in The Writing Magazine monthly competition but I actually won first prize for one of my poems in the same magazine.  I was very proud and it re-energised the passion and confidence my writing can sometimes lack.  It was also very humbling to read the comments made by the judge.

I have seen many amazing concerts this year - Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper and Devin Townsend to name a few - but seeing Roger Waters perform 'The Wall' with the most amazing stage show I have ever seen was simply stunning.  I truly believe that it was the best concert experience I will be privileged to see.

Having my poems accepted on The Erotic Woman website and seeing them gain so many reads was also very humbling.  Again, it really boosts confidence and pushes you to continue improving with every word written.

Devin Townsend's 2011 album 'Ghost' is a stunning, heartbreaking, gorgeous piece of work which brings his 4 album concept album run to an end in the most perfect way.  The music soars so high, his voice is so versatile and the lyrics are sublime.  Personally, I believe the man to be a genius - and the title track is probably my favourite song he has ever done.

The yearly holiday trip to The Lakes was another highlight - a Jazz band cruise, lots of Pitch and Putt, walks with stunning views and lots of chillaxing - perfect.

Work - yes, believe it or not, there was one good thing that came from work this year.  I work in a car factory as a Quality Technician - until April when our Quality Manager decided to move on and alot of the responsibility was put upon me.  So, I was Quality Technician, Quality Supervisor and Quality Manager for the last 8 months of 2011.  To actually be sitting here saying that I actually managed to do all that, regardless of being pushed to my limits not only as an employee but as a person, makes me feel very proud.

BAD THINGS:
Work - yes, despite what I have just said in the previous paragraph, having all that responsibility affected my relationship with my girlfriend, my commitment to the gym, my writing, my whole life.  To the point where I was having to live according to work - which of course is not the point of work (especially the 9-5 job).

The other holiday we had this year was to Paris.  To say I hated it, was, and still is, an understatement.  It is fair to say that city breaks are not my thing.

Personally and just because I am not a patient man, I wish I was further on with my writing than I actually am.  Yes, I have taken it to another level with my competition win.  But, I want to be doing it full time, as a job...a published author...which I suppose brings me to...

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012:
...by the end of January, I will be in the process of becoming a self-published author with my first book called 'Love Or Suicide and the life inbetween'.  This collection of poetry and short stories based on said subjects was written some years ago and just needed a tidy, front cover etc ready for self publishing.  I am not self-publishing for profit though, more wanting to get it out there.

The new Quality Manager starting January 3rd - pressure off.

The yearly trip back to The Lakes - hopefully to erase the memory of Paris.

Films, films, films.  Being a film buff and full time geek - The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, Prometheus, The Expendables 2 and The Avengers - are all at the top of my list of must see movies.

Entering more writing competitions and continuing to write for The Erotic Woman website as well as keeping my Facebook page more up to date as well as more blogging.

Lots more concerts - already lined up is Rammstein, Chickenfoot and Bruce Springsteen.

Anticipating what Devin Townsend is going to unleash next and counting down the days till he does!!

The unexpected - in all honesty, who knows what will happen in 2012.  Anything could happen.  So, I leave you, my fellow bloggers, with the image that will grace the cover of my self published book as described above and wish everyone a Happy New Year and prosperous 2012.  Thanks.

My week off work...

...is now coming to an end.  How did I spend it?  Well...

...I had the privilege of watching the Red Hot Chili Peppers at the MEN on Monday night and they were absolutely brilliant!  For me, the Chili Peppers peaked with the album 'Blood Sugar Sex Magic' with the later stuff not really doing much for me.  But, to see them live was always going to be interesting and upon buying the new album, 'I'm With You' (which is excellent), I was getting excited.  And believe me, they surpassed any and all expectations of mine with a blistering set full of energy, great songs, some cool big screen videos and effects and some brill crowd banter.  Song highlights were many, 'If You Have To Ask', 'By The Way', 'Blood Sugar Sex Magic' and 'Monarchy Of Roses' were excellent...but the absolute pinnacle of the gig was when they delivered an awesome version of 'Sir Psycho Sexy'...my favourite Chili Peppers song EVER!!!

Tuesday to Friday was spent in Paris on a city break.  One thing I realised upon returning on Friday night was that city breaks are not for me...I will not go into any more detail about the reasons why I hated it.  I did get to go to the 2 main Museums/Art Galleries though whilst I was there-The Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay.  The artwork was amazing, the sculptures were incredible, the buildings themselves were stunning.  Below are a collection of photos for you to enjoy: 

And to finish my time off work, I bought myself a new desk for my writing and the new William Shatner album was waiting for me when I got back...and stunning it is!!!  Next up for me is the mighty Deep Purple next Monday night at the MEN...good times!!!  Until then, best get back to it!!

It's Halloween...

...the night when all the ghouls and ghosts and witches and zombies all come out to play!!

When I was younger, we used to play Duck Apples and Apples on a string and eat lots of sweets and Toffee Apples...good times.  Of course the older you get, the more you turn off all your lights and ignore any knocks at the door for fear of being pelted or stabbed (joking of course!!).  Point is, it's different these days...alot different!

So, we usually just sit in the darkness and be as quiet as possible-we as in my girlfriend and me.  Tonight though will be slightly different and a bit more in the spirit of Halloween.  Tonight, Dominos Pizza will be ordered, lots of sweets and various drink will be munched on and a collection of scary movies will be watched in the blackness of the night!
Lined up, I have:  Poltergeist, Triangle, Rec, Rec 2 and Attack The Block with films such as The Thing, Paranormal Activity 1 and 2, and The Evil Dead all waiting in the background for extreme watching!  Of course, we still will be ignoring any stray trick or treaters that decide to darken our doors.

Naturally the perfect pre Halloween night last night was enjoyed watching Alice Cooper live in the Manchester Apollo.  And I gotta say, it was one of the best gigs I have ever seen.  Highlights were many: the New York Dolls supporting were amazing, a giant Frankenstein's monster joining Alice on stage was brilliant, Alice getting his head chopped in the guillotine was class, one of the guitarists taking a flying backwards slam was amusing, Alice spearing a photographer on stage was unexpected - whilst the whole show, song after song, was performed with such energy and tightness to almost defy belief sometimes; the entire band, especially Alice were that good!! 

But the crowning moment was during 'Schools Out', Alice and the band decided to throw in Pink Floyd's 'Another Brick In The Wall' and had every single person singing along...it now stands as one of the greatest gig moments I have witnessed!!

So, to everyone out there, enjoying Halloween, not enjoying Halloween, have a good night whatever you do, wherever you are!!  Lets get to it!! 

Its been a while...

...fellow bloggers!!!  But here I am, back and blogging free!!  So, whats been going on in the world of me...

I re-joined the gym...yes that's right, I enjoy the punishment.  Seriously though, I ain't getting any younger, my body isn't getting any slimmer...and I wanna keep going as long as I can because of all the enjoyable things I got to look forward too.
Concerts - well, I went to see the Queen musical 'We Will Rock You' which was absolutely brilliant and more importantly, a hell of a lot of fun.  Last night I witnessed the legend that is Bob Dylan...Bob Fu**ing Dylan!!  Supported no less by Mark Knopfler.  To say it was good is an understatement...it was a pleasure and an honour to see a living legend.  Coming up I got Alice Cooper, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Deep Purple and Lee Evans...nice!!
My winning poem, 'She', was published in the November issue of 'The Writing Magazine', which gave me a real sense of pride and hope...especially when reading the comments made by the reviewer.
My first book has been completed and sent off to a self publishing company for them to give a once over before giving me the OK to publish.  All that remains is the front cover - a rough sneak preview of which is below - and the back photo of yours truly...I haven't decided on arty moody photo or ordinary honest one!!
Work is still work - an evil necessity.  Christmas is just around the corner - 75 days away.  English weather is still as unpredictable as ever - rain, sun, rain, sun.  And the world continues to turn - thank god!!

So until next time, hopefully not as long this time...lets get to it!!