Hello. So, have you had a good year?
My answer’s in the comments. Would love to hear about yours.
So, how’s 2015 been for you?
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Musings on the byways of popular culture
Musings on the byways of popular culture
Hello. So, have you had a good year?
My answer’s in the comments. Would love to hear about yours.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
A busy year. Again. Took on a new job in January, which means I’ve been working three part-time job all year, and that’s why I’ve barely posted on here recently.
Also, I spent a lot of time this year chasing divorce paperwork. My divorce finally came through in the Autumn. I was expecting to feel sad, or at least reflective, but in the end it was just a huge relief.
Life is good. My nearest and dearest are happy and well, for which I’m grateful, although I wish my mum were in better health. My grandmother’s becoming increasingly frail, but she’s 94 so that’s hardly surprising. Thing is, I’m incredibly lucky to still have a grandmother at my age. I turned 40 this year and she still nags me to get my daughters’ hair cut, to wear a scarf in the chilly weather and to wear slippers lest my feet get cold on the kitchen floor. It’s a bonus that I’m thankful for.
Yes, I turned 40 this year. Happy to leave my 30s behind (they started with my dad’s death and didn’t improve much from there), and excited to see what the next decade has in store. The older I get, the more confident and happy I feel.
Highlights of the year:
Seeing a play featuring a character based on me. Very strange. I had to check with my boyfriend if I really do speak that fast, and apparently I really do.
David McAlmont dedicating a song to me, the day my divorce came through. Thanks to @dogfacedboy for that one.
Being surrounded by my favourite people in the world on my 40th birthday, thanks to my splendid boyfriend.
How was your year?
T’was a moment indeed. Will sort you out the complete recording when I get 5mins
https://soundcloud.com/33andanerdpodcast/fingersnap-grapefruit-moon-hannah-version
Dedication 1minute in / surprised throat clear from @Hannah @ 1:05
Began with death.
Ended with death and separation.
There were one or two good bits in-between.
Happy New year everyone.
The only good thing with years like that, is that the following year can only be better. Sorry to hear your news and hope that 2016 bring you better things.
Still 15 hours to go, so wouldn’t like to venture an opinion as yet.
Weird. A lot of mental shifts. Started having therapy for the first time ever, and would recommend it to anyone. I’ve learned a lot about myself this year and one of my New Year’s resolutions is to learn to forgive myself a little and to try to live more in a way which feels like me, not some version of me I construct for other people.
(I know, I know. Sounds like bullshit. But it means something to me.)
@badartdog All the best, old chap. Sounds like a rough one. Hope 2016 looks up a bit.
@disappointmentbob cheers, Bob – glad things are on the up for you, keep smiling.
Decent.
Been working in the same job for 2 and a half years. Not my perfect one, but can’t complain really.
Suffered the winter to end most with 45 consecutive days below -15C with frostbite warnings etc This one has been a breeze so far, but signs of extreme cold returning.
In July my ex and my daughter moved to be 1 hr away instead of 4. This has been extremely helpful. Not divorced yet, but we reached a separation agreement at same time which has also made life easier.
Musical highlight of the year was the Wilco curated Solid Sound festival in North Adams, MA. Simply life affirming.
Also, spent most of the year hardly drinking because of some meds I was on. Probably a good thing.
All the best to all for 2016
I turned 60 in March with a big meal out for 50 family & friends.
In April I became a granddad for the first time with the birth of Jamie Stephen Harris. I spent part of Christmas day with him. Seems he was developing chickenpox at the same time. Now I am worried about shingles.
Very little happened in the year apart from my growing addiction to bad records found in charity shops and auctions. It feels like it’s all downhill from here but I intend enjoying the bumpy ride. There are days when I don’t want to get out of bed but my 2 dogs make sure I do by licking my head and sneezing all over me.
Oh and saw Stackridge twice on their final ever tour. We shall not see their like again.
Nah, Beans, you don’t catch shingles from c.pox, tis the other way round, if you haven’t already been exposed to c.pox.
Shingles is a reactivation of the c.pox you had as a child, the virus lying dormant in your spine until beckoned forth by bad luck or circumstance.
(Rarely the bad luck or circumstance is re-exposure but this is rare and unusual.)
I’m not risking it. I read somewhere that drinking copious amounts of alcohol helps stave off the infection. In the meantime I still give the young chap plenty of cuddles when I get the chance.
A very mixed year.
The bad:
An old friend of mine died, and myself and other friends are still living with this and other earlier bereavements. A lot of my close friends are having some very hard times indeed. Seems unfair, somehow.
I trundle on fairly aimlessly, all ambition spent, but that’s by no means the worst position to be in.
My sister and mother are in declining health, and it will only get worse from here on in.
The good:
I made new friends this year! And had more fun. So this is hugely good and very cheering.
Work continues to be its predictable self which is good, kind-of: I don’t need any new challenges at the present moment although I will need something different before the end of the year, I suspect.
My son is making progress with his confidence and anxiety and takes small steps every day. No big breakthroughs; just little triumphs. 🙂 He continues to be equal parts delightful and frustrating (mostly delightful, to be honest).
My anxiety is becoming controllable- or at least it is something I observe rather than being caught up in daily psychodramas and panics. Thanks, mindfulness.
I’m fitter than I was at the start of the year and physically don’t feel too bad at all, despite chronic insomnia (must sort that out).
2016 will, I suspect, be a year of huge changes on a personal and professional front, where I finally sort very big stuff out. . *girds loins*
Best wishes to all those who have had sadness, difficulties and unwelcome change. I hope this year brings more peace.
Hey RB
Wish you a happy year ahead. Just to say, my anxiety has improved HUGELY since I started meditating. Finding the Headspace app in particular to be excellent (they have a specific anxiety pack). Anxiety still there occasionally, but is now something I’m aware of rather than something that totally dominates.
My sleep’s also improved too since I’ve started meditating. Hope yours does soon.
x
Hi Hannah,
Thanks- yes, I am a convert to Headspace! It was the anxiety pack that helped me so much. The sleep one is next. Very glad to hear you’ve had success with it; I know how wearing anxiety is.
Happy New Year to you and the family. x
Up and down really although more up than down.
A bit of a rough patch at home for no real reason I could work out apart from the stress of modern life getting on top of us. We seem to have got past that fortunately. Mother in law will be 92 in the new year and is drifting away due to dementia. She was unable to write Christmas cards this year, just couldn’t remember how or what to write. My dad will be 87 soon and has finally admitted he can’t cycle any more, a big deal for him but is otherwise in good health for his age.
On the plus side: we’re still on business, despite endless job cancellations and budget cuts. Our two main clients are both undergoing huge change so we just keep going and try not to worry too much. Overall, 2015 was up a bit on the previous year, it just felt like harder work. We will probably have diversify a bit in order to not have too many eggs in one basket, difficult while trying to stay small and not increase overheads.
Our children are really coming into their own now, really good company, bright and witty. I never really understood why people liked the baby years, they’re much more fun now and we are able to get out a bit more and do things we want to rather than just doing kids stuff.
I feel like I say this every year but we really do have much to be thankful for. Wishing you all a good 2016.
After three traumatic years in a row, nothing much happend in 2015, for which I am truly grateful. I’m hoping for more of the same in 2016.
Happy New Year, everyone.
A happily uneventful year.
The kids got a year older, which means we exited the sleep deprived hell hole known as Babyville. 7 hours of solid, unbroken kip make a big difference to how you see the world, as I’m sure many will attest.
The littlest Little is now two and a smidge, so much of the year was spent trying to work out who this tiny person is who’s been taking up so much of our time and energy. As it turns out, he’s loud and muddy-kneed and has a twinkle in his eye that family friends have told me recalls my own boyhood. He’ll be trouble.
My daughter started school, which brought home to roost the terrible realisation that she is going to insist on growing up, interacting with the outside world and eventually leaving.
Beyond that, I flirted with changing jobs, but opted against and instead found ways to expand my role into interesting new areas. I read some fantastic books and saw some great movies. I also returned to video games for the first time in a long while, and sunk a hundred or so hours into Bloodborne, which is hands down the best game I’ve ever played and a work of genius as far as I’m concerned.
One of my resolutions for the year was to improve my surfing. It’s not an easy hobby to pursue when you’re based in London, but I discovered that if I paid attention, kept a close eye on the wave forecasts and wasn’t afraid to jump in the car in the wee small hours, then life and my job were giving me plenty of opportunities to find a working break and indulge. As a consequence, many of the year’s best moments were spent in the water.
My wife and I spent much of 2015 bemoaning busy lives which left too little spare time. In the last few weeks we’ve had a bit of a think, and realised that we are very lucky to live near friends and family, and to have so many lovely people around who are always ready to fill our diaries with fun and adventure.
The only real dark cloud in an otherwise very pleasant 2015 came with my grandmother’s descent into dementia. Absolutely, resolutely and remorselessly horrible. Even in my darkest moments, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
I set out to lose some weight, I’m now 50lbs lighter, so I suppose that it’s been quite successful in that respect, still a way to go though.
That’s quite something Neil. I lost about 20 but have restored 7 or so over Xmas. Back to the low carb diet from Jan 4th. Congratulations.
That’s great going, Neil. I plan to lose a stone or so in ’16…
Really crap. Crashed me car. Worst thing ever. Had to give up gym and pool (too far) and take up walking and cycling instead. Hope 2016 brings me a new car. Still, at least something happened. Which is more than can usually be said.
May your wheels be restored soonest. My lovely Subaru was written off on December 17th, through no fault of my own; so I know how it feels!
Thanks very much, Double V. (My crash was completely my own fault unfortunately. Fortunately no one else was involved. I’ve since finally got round to getting a long-needed pair of glasses!)
Mainly crap. Two deaths; one of them a suicide. Career on life support. A birthday I was in no mood to celebrate (way past 40) and was forced to spend much more time with family than I would ever have chosen.
However… I learned that my family are much better people than I’d previously thought, that I’m very lucky to have them as my family, and that sometimes its not them, it’s me. I learned that a lot of my problems have been down to me, which isn’t a nice thing to discover but unless you find out where the fault is, you can’t do anything about it.
Within the last week I got a couple of good “leads” work-wise, so I’m going into 2016 with a bit of momentum and optimism. I’m old enough to know that crap times aren’t terminal; I’ve had them before, then looked back and laughed at them. As Winston Churchill said; “If you’re going through hell, keep going.”
All the best to everyone for 2016 and to the folks who keep this site going. Much appreciated. Here, I consistently re-discover that lots of good music is still being made and like most people here, that’s very important to me.
Not too bad would be the summary. Work wise spent the first half of the year at a fairly lovable but hopelessly incompetent client, had 4 months off (more below on this) and then picked up some other quite interesting work which may end mid Jan or go on for a long time – we’ll see.
4 months off spent on enjoyable pursuits – mainly making music, and riding motor or mountain bikes. Last time I had a break I basically wasted the time but this time I made an effort to do good stuff and felt emotionally nourished for it. New Twang album on the launch pad – the world waits.
Mrs. T and Twang Jr remain my inspiration and source of all that is stable and good. She is doing brilliantly in a dismally paid but valuable job…TJ went up to senior school which has been a big shock to his system but all is going well other than the odd area where he isn’t interested and can’t be arsed. So getting him to be arsed is a priority for the spring.
Looking forward to 2016 – I like New Year, with the passage to something new, clean sheet etc….off to see Gretchen Peters in Feb with @feedback_file, planning on new motorbike purchase in early spring and my old Mum is 80 in October. And another musical project should land, if my highly talented and equally low output partner shifts himself
And thanks to all here for another stimulating year. Good here, innit!
2015 has been a long, slow journey through grief. This time of year provides a useful opportunity to look back and I can see that- though it often doesn’t feel like it – I’ve come a long way in the last year. I’m looking forward to 2016.
After a number of years feeling the stress of the financial meltdown that led to basically losing the lot (House, car etc) and owing money on loans taken to prop up the business and my family, I have actively tried to not stress about these things…there was nothing left to take lol
I started 2015 by trying to get fitter, drink less and be a happier chap all round and it has in the main worked! I run 4K three times a week after work and have lost 36lbs so far and have more energy than for years. I now working in accounts for a successful company and the positivity of success after years of none does work wonders .
I applied for the PPI repayments thinking that nothing would come of it and got a windfall mid year that covered the cost of a newish car three days after my old one gave up the ghost…what timing!
My eldest boy went travelling round the world this autumn and I miss him lots but seeing him on Skype obviously having the time of his life brings me great joy. The youngest lad has transformed himself in the last year into a hard working young man who loves his sales job and is really rather good at it. He used to be a pot smoking , lazy layabout who gave a damn about nothing and nobody…the transformation is astounding!
Just before Xmas I had my yearly work review and performance bonus meeting and kerchingg all boxes ticked and bonus paid,which was very pleasing .I then went home all happy to open a letter from my PPI company containing a cheque that pays off all the credit card debts I wracked up.
I admit that I wept with the joy and relief of seeing an end to the majority of the debt misery once it had all sunk in. So really it has been the best year for many for me after the previous 9 or so being very poor…literally lol.
To top it all, my beloved Arsenal lead the race for the title, just, from the magnificent Leicester City and although we will probably implode with further injuries and badly timed sendings off, we might just might do it this year, I can but hope.
And I know that hope is all you need to keep going and enjoy things a bit (Ok a bit of love is needed too as a small Liverpool band once sang)
Happy New Year , I hope 2016 is good for all!
That’s brilliant Razor, glad to hear things are on the up.
Cheers Twang !
That was really lovely to read (especially the stuff about Arsenal).
Whatever good fortune you enjoyed in 2015, it sounds like you well and truly earned it. Keep at the running, regular exercise is the basis of all sorts of other good habits in life, and the endorphin rush is tough to kick.
Thanks Bingo,I am going to up the regime in 2016 to keep the running interesting, although a few Afterword, NPR, Arsecast podcasts keep me going when I am breathing through my arse on a run!
So many thanks for the Afterword ‘casts to those concerned with putting them up, you keep me running guys!
Absolute joy to read, Razor. It’s great when misery gets turns around. Happy New Year!
Ace! I love it when the good guy gets the break he needs, and especially when it’s at the expense of the money grabbing bar stewards we are all obliged to turn to for “financial services”.
All the best for 2016 Raze!
A year that started with hope is closing with despair.
The only aspect of life that gives me any comfort as I face 2016 is that my faith in the importance of friendship has been confirmed time and time again in recent months. For that I am grateful.
My work continues to throw up both challenges and consolation and to that I cleave. A determination to continue with my painting is as close as I am prepared to go as far as resolution is concerned. If the events of this year have taught me anything it is this. Life is randomly cruel. Friendship and painting are my refuge.
For those of you that have experienced that random cruelty my sincerest hopes are that 2016 will be kinder to you.
For those who have not I pray you stay lucky.
Happy New Year folks.
Happy new year, pencil. Very well said, and I hope 2016 brings some respite for you.
One more small thing. I found out yesterday that in February I will become eligible for a bus pass!
Finally I will be able to travel to Rhyl for nowt and far more importantly leave it for exactly the same amount.
Colour me chuffed.
Bus passes are one of the great benefits of being old. Enjoy it.
I’m genuinely pleased about it.
I’m sixty years young on the 1st February. I shall apply for my bus pass on the 2nd. It should save me about £20 a month. Marvellous.
Y’owd bugger.
Takes one to know one Gramps.
We have a tradition at my house at Christmas. Everyone at the table must raise a glass and give a toast to “absent friends”. This year Pencil, my toast was to you.
Stay strong old pal, and lay off the sauce, you hear?
xx
Thank you @vim-fuego. That was very kind of you. I’m genuinely touched by that.
I must admit that I have hit the bottle a fair bit in the aftermath of losing my cariad but I haven’t touched a drop for the past couple of days. I’ll have a couple of wee drams tonight when I’ve finished ny days painting then I intend to return to my usual drinking habits of only on a Saturday night.
Happy New Year to you and yours brother.
Hey Pencil, your local council obviously much kinder than mine. I reach 60 in November yet apparently Staffordshire county council doesn’t give me a bus pass until by official state pension age of 66. Shall I tell them to stick their council tax up their arse? Bastards.
Happy New year mr Squeezer and don’t listen to the affront of beany.
Yes tell them to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine or alternatively move to The Land Of Soggy Sheep.
If it’s any consolation at least Beany will ALWAYS be older than us.
There you go. As I regularly say to Twang Jr, mid homework, you have to look for the upside! ☺
Great resolution, Pencil. Your painting is a gift that keeps on giving. I wish you all the best in 2016.
Feeling blessed and happy to be entering my 56 year on the planet. Domestically my family, friends and I seem to have experienced 2015 in much the same way as most people. A fair share of triumphs and tribulations but overall, all doing our bit for the greater good.
Musically 2015 was an awakening for me. Having left my band of 37 years standing I’ve learned to actually listen again. I’ve discovered that music can be fun, challenging and absorbing. I knew this in 1973 but for some reason forgot. There are some great artists out there of various ages who I am really enjoying. (Got Steven Wilson tickets for Christmas, which is the best present ever). I’ve also got to perform in a duo with the love of my life throughout the year which has been brilliant. (Highlight being on the same bill as Bad Manners on stage in the summer)
Career? I’m lucky to work for a big institution with strong ethical principles. It’ll do me for a few more years if they’ll continue to have me. Starting to think seriously about how best to occupy my time when I do move on.
Healthwise? As I just read somewhere online. I set myself the target of losing 10 lbs this year. Only have 15 to go.
Just moved to Cornwall.
Two huge benefits are immediately apparent.
1. The local football team win every game. The local football team in East London lost every game (until I moved, when they bizarrely started to win!).
2. Heard the words ‘Boris’ and ‘Johnson’ mentioned yesterday and realised that I hadn’t heard that name for a full month.
Determined to spend most, if not all, of 2016 in about 1963. So I will.
I have to admit it’s getting better, it’s getting better all the time.
I’m lucky.
Have most of my health, a loving partner (3rd time lucky?), both kids secure currently in employ and relationships, a job that repays more part-time than it ever did full (and I don’t mean dosh) and enough to indulge in my musical obsessions of recorded and live music.
Who a year or 3 back would’ve thunk it!?
O, and 2 of my pieces for http://www.covermesongs.com were in their top 3 of the year, hitwise, astonishingly, and a piece in next weeks BMA News Review, I learnt today, is being published, an entry for their writing competition (that I didn’t win)
Cut back work to 3 days a week, decided too much time was being spent stuck in the office to the detriment of mental and physical health.
Tried to reactivate/reinvigorate social life after several years of neglect following death of ex shortly after our divorce.
Made a concerted attempt to play more sport, esspecially squash, tennis and badminton, and got involved in coaching local junior football and cricket teams.
Rediscovered the joy of long country walks followed by pub lunches.
Tried to get to the theatre, cinema and gigs more often – although concert wise there seem to be fewer and fewer that appeal as the years pass.
Got involved with a bit of charitable work.
Discovered the joys of therapy.
To be honest, I’m glad to see the back of 2015.
It’s been a tough year at work, perhaps the toughest I’ve ever had. I’m lucky, I love my job, and there have still been some great moments, but for various reasons it’s been a really challenging and stressful year – we’ve had a huge project to deal with, and the financial challenges everyone is struggling with at the moment, as well as a lot of change. I hope for better next year, but fear it may be more of the same.
Mrs BB’s parents have got really frail this year and that’s difficult when they are at the other end of the country. Her Dad was really ill in the summer but has made something of a recovery, but it’s been a worry.
Above all, my dear Dad died in the Spring. He was in his 80s, had lived a good and fulfilled life, and was ready to go. The illness which got him thankfully was relatively quick and painless, and when he went he was still living at home, and still had all his marbles up to the day he died. So much to be thankful for, but I miss him every day, and Christmas without him or Mum who died a few years back hasn’t been the same.
But some good too. Our two daughters both got jobs they really wanted this year, and new flats, and are making their way in the world. One has had health problems which have been a real worry for us but she seems to have turned a corner in the last couple of months which is great.
And there have been the small day to day pleasures – listening to a great piece of music; reading a book which hits home, a brilliant gig, a walk in the country on a beautiful day, sitting by the coast and enjoying the sea, a great meal out or at home, a good pint, an occasional trip away (Turin was a discovery this year). Time with friends, time above all with Mrs BB. It’s in those day to day pleasures and memories that the real consolation and meaning of life is found.
Best wishes to all for 2016.
A pretty good year all in all. Mum and Mum in Law still going strong if not stronger at 84 and 81 respectfully.
Still married after 27 years to the same wonderful woman who makes my life a million times better and amazingly still puts up with me!
Still in the same job and same company for 26 years and I’m now after quite a few retirements this year the third longest serving person there!
And I turned 50 this year and celebrated by being at a cottage in the middle of nowhere in Lincolnshire with just my wife. But it is our favourite place in the world. Plus I’m not really a party person!
Lots of walking and photography this year and finally discovered the beautiful Peak District after driving through it so many times without stopping.
But best of all with only a few hours to go it is the first year for three that I haven’t had a operation and the first for about 25 without a trip to A&E. I do have a daily procedure that I won’t describe but it seems to be keeping me on the straight and narrow.
A very Happy and Peaceful New Year to everyone on here. (Yes everyone!)
Bumbling along in usual haphazard manner, friends and family have had to cope with far more challenges in the past year than me and they seem to be ok with it so that’s good. Work was looking quite bright up till November 13th, but I have concerns for the upcoming year which hopefully will not come to pass. On the plus side, I have had to use my French and Italian a lots more and it’s not been as bad as I originally thought. Musically, I have retreated into a comfort zone which doesn’t seem to allow space for anything new. Must put a stop to that, though reading-wise it’s been a good year, especially in fiction which I had given up on. My crocked knee has made what seems like a full recovery which is great, and basically I have a lot more to be thankful for than moan about. When I start feeling a dose of self-pity, I bring to mind what my parents had to put up with and give myself a slap. I think this is the year I finally gave up on football, can’t bear to see what’s happening to my club – Leeds United- there must be sensible owner somewhere out there ?
Though I tend to be more lurker than contributor, this site continues to educate, entertain and annoy and am grateful to the work of the mods who got this site back up and running.
Happy new year to all.
In a word: ‘Orrible!
Year started with my new lighter breaking, quickly followed by the death of my car, my garden fence, and the inside of my head (not literally, but something inside became detached).
Other highlights (lowlights?) include a screaming fit in the middle of Brussels, and the knowledge that my role at work was at risk of redundancy.
The re-building has started, helped by a new car and NOT being made redundant, and will continue apace in 2016.
Fatuous comments on Facebook continued, as did posting daft, pointless and (usually) Punk related statements, and getting over-excited when posting Youtube clips on those “Stuff about xxx” threads on here. on here.
Basically, not a great time, but it is getting better, and somehow I’ve stayed (sort of) sane.
The Afterword as Therapy
(potential T-Shirt?)
Cheers you lot, and all power to you all
(I have an urge to post “Get Better” by Frank Turner, but I’m not going to)
If the slogan was “The Afterword as Therapy?” it would be a slogan so clever that it would slowly disappear up the wearer’s arse.
Started the year off by having two and a half months off from work, due to an ongoing medical condition, which has affected my right leg and my general well-being. Had an operation in October for the sciatic pain in my left leg, so finished off the year with another two months off work.
In September announcement at work that there would be redundancies, decided to go for it as couldn’t be bothered fighting for a job I had become more and more disillusioned with. That will be next year when I return to work, just written some notes for the new job I am applying for, part time coupled with company pension means I should be OK.
This seems to have been a year of too many funerals ( six) three of them all younger than me.
Hopefully next year will be a better year, Best wishes and a Happy New Year to all on the good ship Afterword.
Second year of retirement which just keeps getting better – still amazed how one can get comfortably by with relatively little money once you stop buying stuff just for the sake of it: for example, counted 23 linen shirts in the wardrobe accumulated in my former life – will I ever need to purchase another shirt again? I very much doubt it.
Now looking out of our hotel window over Nice Bay with only a possibly fatal case of man-flu to dampen Hogmanay festivities.
Downsides have been two friends getting the Big C – just reinforces the “live for today” mantra and the “be kind” attitude to life in general (be kind does not obviously include bloody Sufjan Stevens).
Other bummer is my continuing disappointment with new music: I fear this too is fatal and I will continue to listen to Ella Fitzgerald more than anyone else in 2016.
My huge thanks to one and all on here, especially the Admins. Please keep recommending new music, at least music new to me, despite my weary old cynicism.
All the Best Everyone!!
A strange year where nothing dramatic happened. My wife is still my best friend by some distance, she really is special. My mum and dad still around and at 87 and 85 in the coming year I can see the dimming if the day for them sadly. Both relatively fit but reliant on an increasing number of tablets to get them through the day. My daughter is enjoying college and is beautiful even though I say it myself. She does however give us some palpitations on a thankfully less frequent basis than a year ago. At work my company is having its best ever year in its 145 year history yet despite enjoying my job I cannot dispel the thoughts of retirement in a few years time. I have really enjoyed my music this year and have been lucky to see some splendid gigs notably Calexico back in March and Danny and the Champions of the World later in there year. The Who were a major disappointment and if I am honest large venue gigs are far less attractive to me than they once were. Have met a lot of lovely people throughout this site and this year a few more were added to a hopefully continuing trend. On the health front my type 2 diabetes has remained stable, blood pressure and cholesterol levels fine. Few more aches and pains which I guess are to be expected. In my 60th year I intend to reduce my sugar intake, walk a section of the Pennie way and party like a motherfucker in November when that peak is reached. Happy New Year one and all.
Professionally this year was a disaster. I took a shitty job for a total bastard for the right reasons (the hours weren’t bad, young family) but I gratefully went self employed again in October and have been busy since.
My two year old is a sunny, friendly ebullient wee soul who has immensely added to my joy of life.
My wife is a wonderful, lovely person who makes me happy.
Babygeddon 2: Shit Just Got Real is scheduled for June
So the important stuff has been good. The rest, less so.
Congratulations, lovely news!
Great news. Congratulations!
2015? An extremely lucky year for me…three holidays, in Spain, Portugal and a recent three week trip to Thailand but the stand out event was I retired from work on November 20th. Apart from a flirtation with high blood pressure my health is good as is my wifes. My kids are grown up in full time employment and living in their own homes. This afternoon I visited my sprightly 83 year old Mum who god bless her is still going strong. What on earth could I possibly ask for? well it would be nice to see a goal in the first half at Old trafford sometime soon……
All the best to everyone who takes the time to post on the site. your collective writings are always a pleasure to read. Happy 2016 to you all.
Personally with job mostly great and demons fairly quiet it’s been a good year.
My high points are all to do with other people.
David McAlmont making @hannah ‘s day
Surprising @pencilsqueezer with his Christmas Pressie from various friends
Seeing @steven-c and @drj either side of the Irish border
Too many gigs to mention with various lovely people
Meeting Peter Capaldi and walking around two TARDIS sets
Giving my pal a custom made Tank Girl hoodie for her birthday.
Hearing @ganglesprocket enthuse about The Unthanks before asking them loudly “what was the one about the pigeon?”
Sometimes I think I do too much and expect too much from other people but I’m OK with the first half and working at getting better at the second
The ‘pressie’ has seen a bit of action today as it ‘appens.
Makes me smile every time I look upon it.
Arf! If anyone’s curious this is “the one about the pigeon” and it might be the best song I’ve heard all year. The line “I can’t fly, but me pigeon can” has me welling up every time…
Top tip: King of Rome works brilliantly as a lullaby.
Think someone else on here tipped me off to it, but it’s been sung to both my nippers at bed time, and the bigger one now sings it to the littler one in heartwarming fashion.
Just try getting through the line “you’ve made my dreams come true” without a wobbly lip.
And if that doesn’t get your kids to sleep, might I also recommend “Rollin (Air Raid Vehicle)”?
Oddly enough I’ve been using Pink Floyd’s The Gnome as a lullaby. Sprocklet really likes it…
The King of Gnome?
I had two or three very bad years in the late 2000s, with one thing and another, but I left the public sector at the end of 2011 and the healing began.
I can now see 2012 to late 2015 as a ‘phase’ – three books researched/written/published (amazingly, two within one month, September 2015), a couple of new qualifications achieved, involvement with a few nice archive CD projects (‘The Eve Folk Recordings Story’ and ‘Turtle Records’ box on RPM, Chris Spedding’s ‘Songs Without Words’ on Hux, Wishbone Ash’s ‘Road Works’ box on Talking Elephant) and the completion of a new album, ‘Sunset Cavaliers’ – very much tied in with the process of working on the above projects, to my mind, with various collaborators linked therewith – which is out in February 2016.
I ran out of funds, temporarily, in late 2014 and took a few weeks work as an admin person at a local university department, which was actually good fun, because I knew it wouldn’t be permanant. I met some very nice people and I owe one of them, Olwyn, a great deal, because she suggested I ought to try my hand at academic proofreading when the two books I was working on were completed.
I took her advice and became accredited with an international agency in August and it’s been a real shot in the arm. I COULD have started exploring another book project, but three in 3.5 years felt like enough for a while (writing books is a tricky business financially and can be all-consuming mentally), so it was the right time to take a new direction.
Just this afternoon I was working on some branding and promotional material with a designer pal for a new academic proofreading venture, under my own steam, which I’ll launch early next year. We also worked on a PR sheet for ‘Sunset Cavaliers’. If I can keep that kind of balance between the serious and the fun in 2016, I will be blessed indeed.
Musically, at the moment, I’m excited by my Wookalily friends’ progress in the BBC4 competition/series I’ve posted about, and I’m excited about the Quintessence archive CD project I’ve also mentioned before. And just 10 mins back Jude Shiels emailed to say that one of the occasional but rare resurfacings of his dad’s band Skid Row will be happening in Dublin on Saturday 2nd January. Hurrah!
I forgot… one real highlight of 2015 was accompanying Carol From Luton to the Albert Hall (courtesy of her generosity) to see Steven Wilson in September. I’m not an SW fan as such but I’d never been to the RAH and I found the ashow quite emotionally powerful, without being able to put my finger on why that was. Seeing more of my friends has to be a resolution for 2016.
And can I say Colin that the Turtle records booklet is spiffing!
In the main good. I discovered Parkrun in February and am fitter as a result. I joined a band https://soundcloud.com/fred-mcdonald-collective/sets/hitfactorylive and have greatly enjoyed hanging out with them and doing the odd gig. Workwise, I’ve taken on a new role and cut to 2 days a week, so I’m gliding gracefully into retirement. My good lady wife worked her last salaried shift today and officially retired at 5pm
My younger son married a lovely lady in late July. As a result our 4th grandchild is due in May
The downside is that my best friend of 42 years standing passed away on Dec 8th, 37 months after being told he probably had 12 months to live. For a lot of that time he was in very good nick and I spent as much time with him as I could. We saw a stack of gigs. We made a CD together. We played a one-off gig (his first and only proper live performance. He got to meet Emmylou Harris, his all-time favourite artiste. He’d been in decline since August, and even though I knew it was coming his death still hit me very hard. I put a little tribute to Dave Hadden on my soundcloud here. https://soundcloud.com/martinrasmith/sets/dave-hadden-1954-2105
I’ll miss him something rotten
Best wishes for 2016 to all Afterworders
8 out of 10 ?
All kinds of good, some weird and some less good.
The good …..
Ms Nog and I have accumulated 4 boys between us and they’re an absolute pleasure – despite the many occasions when they’re not…
The eldest two are at University where one claims to be studying Art, the other Sports Science. My hopes of a dotage in one of the finest care homes which money can by, are frankly limited.
Nogkid 3 is ploughing thru’ A levels and University beckons.
Nogkid 4 is firmly focused on achieving a hybrid Ozil / Giroud quiff whilst keeping his irritating mum and dad at bay as they hover around him with homework questions.
Work – I teach – is slightly weird at the moment as I’m fronting the process of introducing a new assessment system which I feel is doomed to be an inferior version of the – admittedly flawed – national Curriculum level system as this has been deemed by some policy wonk somewhere advising a government who don’t use the system anyway, to be no longer fit for purpose.I occasionally ask myself how as teachers we’ve managed to get ourselves into a situation where our view is neither sought, nor given a fuck about. Discuss !
Other really goods – there is SO MUCH of everything which is great -I got up this morning, climbed out of bed like a crab, necked a million painkillers, went for a run and generally did what I need to do to keep my grisly old body functioning..
An hour of the best of Steve Miller on vinyl, whilst I ploughed further into the Marlon James book, the rest of the morning oiling worktops whilst listening to football podcasts, now listening to Daniel Knox on Spotify as I type this having just added a Daniel Kitson / Bridget Christie Refugee benefit gig and the Tame Impala show, just a hunderd yards up the hill at Alexandra Palace, to the calendar.
(Incidentally, the Palace is currently home of the darts and the best fun on earth at the moment is on the W3 bus which serves the Palace. How many of your bus routes have passenger groups of Smurfs / Milkmaids and superheroes ?)
More good ?
I manage Nogkid 4’s football team along with my mate James.We’ve done it for three years and when we began, the boys would routinely be murdered, 7- 0. That’s a tough post-match motivational talk.
The lads are now bigger, better and we’re unbeaten so far this season – in our league. It’s great fun and wet weekends without a match are very grumpy indeed.
I’m enjoying the Premiership – yes I know, come back. 3 of the Nogkids support the Woolwich Wanderers, whilst Nog 1 and I follow the mighty Spurs.
I’m enjoying how both teams are playing although I understand that Spurs are an injury to Loris away from an 8th place finish.
Prediction for the season ?
The wretched Arsenal will fail to demonstrate their legendary choking skills and win the bloody thing, Spurs will be 4th and Chelsea will win the Chumps league, thus knocking us back into the Europey league. Domestic and work-based misery beckon.
I hope to retire soon and am exploring the poss of buying a place in Valencia and am learning Spanish.I could probably be understood by the average Spanish 3 year old.Never mind.
Xmas has been fun.We’ve done all of the usual thing, but it’s been the first in which I’ve properly noticed the absence of my parents.
I don’t believe in the afterlife, but in the true spirit of cake and eat it, I like to think that the absent folks would approve of the Nog family and how it all shapes up – I know I do and I’m massively grateful for it !
The best of all possible New Years to Afterworders everywhere !
Looking forward to your brightening up my life again in 2016, as you have in previous years.
I was worried that I hadn’t accomplished much this year, but then, right at the death, I made a TIE fighter out of two tortilla chips and a pickled onion, so I think we can call 2015 another triumph.
http://i1058.photobucket.com/albums/t407/maggieloveshopey/tie_zpsdlbjxwbu.jpg
That aside, an uneventful time. No astonishing highs, but no desperate lows either. No weddings, no funerals. I read a lot of books, listened to a lot of music, went to quite a few gigs. Workwise, @rubyblue‘s comment about all ambition spent struck a chord as another Christmas came and went. I did sell two short stories, which is more than I managed last year, but really I just tried to be a good dad and not to act like a dick to others.
Interesting year.
Returned to the company I left in August ’14, and the break did me nothing but good.
Minor health bumps – a hernia that went undiagnosed for over 6 months before getting a good diagnosis and much needed surgery. Was at the stage I couldn’t walk half a block. That was followed by lithotripsy for kidney stones. Not recommended.
Moved in, over three months and the surgeries, with Dearly Beloved, at more or less the same time I took out citizenship. It’s the two of us and our much loved 19 month old pup, Hope. Can’t speak for DB, but I’m content and happy in a way I don’t think I remember. Better to find it late than not at all, I think. I’m in a good place.
I’m thankful that my year has been uneventful after 54 years on the planet, and still seemingly healthy, unwealthy and not very wise. I became more disillusioned with work, but at least I’m lucky enough to have a stable job, and although the lure of retirement keeps tugging at my heart, my head still tells me it would be a mistake. Mrs Bungliemutt and I got engaged in October (she’s not really a ‘Mrs’, but then she’s not really a Bungliemutt either), which was just about the best moment of the year – God knows why, but she said ‘yes’.
Other highpoints? Well we went on our hols, I read some books, listened to some tunes and watched some flicks. What more can I say? Apart from wishing each and everyone on here a happy and peaceful New Year.
Hearty congratulations to you both.
Thanks Pencil. I do hope 2016 is a better one for you.
2015 had to try hard to outdo the pits of 2014 and thankfully it failed. Mrs Phil’s cancer responded well to treatment and whilst there is only one ultimate prognosis she is ridiculously well for now. We celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary by returning to our honeymoon destination of Guernsey for a few days in July.
Live musical highlights came from unexpected corners as I luckily saw JD McPherson, FFS, Punch Brothers & Sarah Jarosz for the first time, thoroughly enjoyed the Decemberists, Bellowhead, Moulettes, Richard Thompson and Public Service Broadcasting, and reacquainted with Renaissance and Steve Hackett after over thirty years.
Poor self esteem and a job I’m increasingly resenting are areas to address in 2016. And you never know I might even start contributing more here rather than just lurking. No, wait … come back
Happy new year everyone and I hope the hurdles that lay before us are easily crossed.
Turned 50 in August. Best year of my life. Back on 5th January, Lydia Harmony came into our life 8 days late. My first child and an absolute delight. Day by day, week by week month by month I’ve loved it all. This evening I reached the realisation that I’m not looking at her in terms of how like one or other of us she is, it’s all about her own unique personality. I can’t wait for work to finish to get home to her. Her mother has given up work so will be a full time mother from the new year. We have two mortgages and might struggle but I’m 100% on board with the plan. Totally worth it. Recently found out we’re due another in July or August. Couldn’t be happier. We saw in the new year dancing together to “our song”, looking to the year ahead.
In other ways, it’s been great to see West Ham transition from Allardyce to Bilic. We have our team back! Especially beating Liverpool away for the first time since 1962.
I’ve also got my golf handicap down from 12 to 9 which seems like a minor triumph but feels good.
Still playing football to a decent standard is an annual booster.
Aha, a fellow golfer! I Suspect the Afterword golf society would be a fairly exclusive club…
Me too @vim-fuego but it’s a great game and Lloyd Cole plays it so it must have some credibility. 2015 was the first year I achieved the goals I’d set since I started playing in 2002. I aimed to win a Major at the club (May Medal – sorted), to get my handicap down to 10 (exceeded – 8.7 my lowest ever) and to break 80 on the course I play (smashed it with a 77 in September, having screwed up earlier in the year when 3 over with 3 to play). Very satisfying and largely down to upgrading my irons, hybrids and sticking with one putter for the year ~ second hand Mizuno MP60s, Ben Ross Rip Speed Hybrids and a Wilson 8882 – all courtesy of big wins on football bets involving Cheikou Kouyate scoring first.
Reading your posts below, it’s a wonder golf got a look in. Everyone told me when we had the baby in January, the golf would go out the window but thanks to an understanding and organised wife and the extra 20 yards regular baby-lifting has added to my drive, it was a good season. I find the golf a great oasis, time out and restorer of peace of mind – though not always. May the wind always be at your back!
Actually I put the clubs away at the end of 2014 (my last round was with some great blokes at Dunstanburgh links in Northumbria) and haven’t touched them since. I got a bad case of the chipping yips and that was the end of me. I managed to get down to 4 largely due to a good short game, so when that went I was in trouble!
Where do you play Bamber?
4 is very impressive Vim. I’m not sure I’ll get any lower than I am now but I’ll set myself 8 as a goal for this year. Hope you can rediscover your game. There certainly must be more working well than not. The most (or only!) Afterword-friendly aspect of golf for me is that I try to have a particular tune going through my head as loudly as possible when taking a putt, particularly a long lag on the basis that the less I’m actually thinking about, the more effective the muscle memory will be. I don’t need to do this all the time but when I do it works well for me. For years it was “Get Up for the Down Stroke”, by Funkadelic (or Parliament) but then I saw a documentary on BBC4 and found that having a visual for the tune ruined it as a golfing aid. The tune I use now is “Come in Out of the Rain”, by Parliament – the sound of success.
I play at Balbriggan in Dublin, my local course and a lovely one it is too.
2015? Not bad all told (it’s all relative).
I’m not one for self disclosure on here as a rule but, hey, it’s late, I’m pissed, and it’s a time of reflection.
New Years day 2004, my son died…a still birth.
4th January he was delivered – no words can describe that experience, so I wont attempt it here in my muddled state.
I’ve struggled to make sense of this loss for so many years, but 2015 was good for me in that I unexpectedly found myself in a song writing work shop (it’s a long story), where I was expected to write a song (I only thought I was there to make up the numbers).
This was sooooo far out of my comfort zone, I was in a panic – but they say life begins where your comfort zone ends.
So, I wrote about my Charlie.
I wrote about the day his mum and I scattered his ashes on a beach in Wester Ross.
I wrote about how difficult/life affirming/liberating this experience was – and I felt a huge weight lift from my shoulders as I finally faced up this loss.
Now, since then, my wife and I have had another child (she’s just turned 10) and she gives me endless joy……..but what fucks with my head is the thought that if Charlie had made it into this world, my daughter would never have been born, and I can’t imagine life without her.
This year I turned 50. My wife and I didn’t last.
For what it matters, I’ll add this anecdote (it’s true, and I don’t care how incredulous it sounds) .
On day two of the aforementioned song writing workshop, it was expected that participants would present their songs to the group.
I was crippled with fear at the thought of sharing – plus, I have a voice that would curdle milk, and the thought of singing/sharing in front of people terrified me.
As I was trudging my way across the bridge over the Kelvin river at Queen Margaret’s Drive in Glasgow, a feather fell from the sky. A pure white feather drifted to the pavement right in front of me. I took this as a sign to be brave, and I knew Charlie was with me in that moment.
To cut a long story short, the song was well received and it was even recorded for posterity by someone who had a far better voice than me. My wee song has been played at a couple of gigs now, and every time I’ve heard it I’ve always blessed that feather that gave me the confidence to finally open up.
I’m going to regret this post tomorrow, but God bless the anonymity of the internet (plus, where else can you say this stuff if not here?)
A happy new year to you and yours, carabara.
@carabara – it doesn’t read like a pissed post, it’s very moving. He gave you a song that wouldn’t have existed otherwise. It’s not Charlie…but it’s a song and songs can live and breathe too. We all know that.
Indeed. A measured and moving post, carabara. It seems to me that Charlie has blessed you with at least three things; your daughter, an inner strength you didn’t know you had and a song. I’m sure there is more. Happy New Year to you.
@carabara I can only echo the sage words of our brethren above.
Happy New Year.
Like pencil, I echo what others have said. And I’ll add that just after reading it earlier I took the dog out for her walk. On the home straight, just before we turned back into our street, I was musing on the poignancy of this post and how to respond to something so revealing and personal, and, I swear to God, a white feather fell out of the sky in front of me.
Sod 2015, I’ve just been informed that a couple of hours into 2016 I became an aunt for the 7th time, with the birth of my new baby nephew, rather teeny at 4lb 2oz, but doing very well. Happy New Year indeed!
That’s marvellous Aunty Mini. I was informed last week that all being well I may become a Great Great Uncle this year.
I’m beginning to feel like Methuselah.
Great Great – how is that even possible for a sprightly youth such as yourself? Wonderful news.
The arrival of my nephew is bittersweet, as he had a twin sister who sadly didn’t make it full term. It’s been a hard few months for my little sister and her husband, but hopefully now they can look ahead and enjoy all the happy stuff.
That is bittersweet indeed.
Becoming a Great Great Uncle is easy. It’s involved absolutely no effort on my part. My Sister is eleven years older than I and started having children when she was quite young. Hence my being lumbered with having to buy yet another piggin’ birthday card. Some people have no regard for the feelings of us venerable ancient ones.
A tough year. Worked too hard: sleepless nights, mainly midweek, trying to pull a dysfunctional team together and build something substantial to support a business that’s been in steady decline. A fabulous challenge but utterly draining, physically and mentally. Then home to a three year old boy who behaves entirely like a three year old boy, and an adorable daughter. Trying to keep work and home life together. Challenging, and no time for one’s self. This I will see too in 2016, hopefully, despite the onset of #3 who is due mid-year.
What’s been good? Guitar, some team sports, Friday night cocktails, long Saturday morning jollies down Beah Road here in Melbourne, travel to San Francisco, friends and family all hale and hearty for the time being. So, taking the overall view, little to whinge about.
I reckon even-numbered years are better anyway. Here’s to you and yours.
A year unfortunately dominated by my sister’s diagnosis with breast cancer towards the end of the year. She has her fourth session of chemo on Monday and I am finding the whole thing very stressful, as is mother. How my sister is seemingly able to put on a brave face all the time is beyond me. My only wish for 2016 is her return to good health.
Got a promotion at work but it’s been a tough six months since working long hours for six or seven days a week most weeks. I shall give it another year and re-evaluate.
Had a fabulous holiday in western Ireland in the summer. It’s the third time I’ve been over there and I love the place and the people.
Joined an action group in the village which, as a planner by trade, has the potential to turn into a busman’s holiday if I’m not careful. However, it has resulted in me making some new friends which, having moved into the village about three years ago and not got to know anyone particularly well in that time, is a real bonus.
Speaking of friends, the continued friendship of Bobness of this fair parish continues to be a great blessing. He’s a top bloke you know.
I hope you all have a great 2016 and thanks for your continued enlightenment and entertainment on this site. I only wish I was capable to contributing more myself.
Sorry to read your news about your Sister @smudger. Travel with hope brother. Every finger crossed for your Sister, you and your family.
Happy New Year.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply to my post……I was very touched.
All the best for 2016 x
After reading all of these wonderful posts about the highest highs and the lowest lows of life, I don’t really feel I have anything interesting to contribute to the thread. But it has never stopped me before, so…
Thankfully, my memory is quick to throw the bad stuff in the trash, I vaguely remember having a bad time in the spring sometime, but it’s all hidden in the mist by now.
Things turned around when summer came along, had some wonderful holiday weeks, went to two wonderful festivals and saw some really memorable gigs, spent time with friends and family and got rid of whatever it was that was bothering me in springtime.
Then my finances got considerably better. First my living expences got cut down by more than a third, and then my lovely dad gave all of his kids a nice lump sum in advance of our inheritance, so he could see us enjoy the money while he’s still with us. Apart from giving me a small cushion in the bank I could give myself a few treats, like a new camera to replace the useless one I had. This has made me take ten times as many photos as before (not to mention ten times better photos…)
Yes, my dad is still with us, and next year he’ll be a young-looking, healthy, fit 90 year old man! My sister’s jaw dropped this summer when she watched him use our younger sister’s kids’ trampolene…and he still plays his beloved bass every day for hours.
Mum’s still healthy and young as well, turning 85 this summer, I can only hope that I’ll be as energetic and fit when I’m their age (if I’m lucky enough to get to their age).
I’m a mere 48, but several friends of mine have had severe health scares this year, so I won’t take anything for granted, even if I seem to have drawn the jackpot in the genetics lottery. Shit can still happen.
The year ended with my computer crashing for good, I lost a few things, but almost all of the really important stuff had been backed up, thankfully!
Work…well, some weeks are great, others are awful. I don’t feel that my boss appreciates me as much as he should, but I work with some lovely people. I’d quit tomorrow if I had a good alternative (or better still; won the lottery!) Still, work is just the way you pay your bills. I’ve never thought of it in terms of a “career”, or I would have taken one of the plush offers I was given Before I started this job. But those were jobs you couldn’t do without treating them as careers, and making work your priority. No thanks.
The political situation around the world is at a horrible tipping-point, and I hope things stop veering to the far right in 2016. It makes me want to vomit. I feel rather pessimistic about it, unfortunately, but maybe my mood is informed by the fact that I had to yell at a customer at the store yesterday, after he’d spat at the beggar sitting outside. What kind of person does that?
Pretty good, thanks. I’m not much of a one for melancholy or over-analysis really. We had deaths in the family like everyone, but taking my dad to Ohio for his sisters funeral gave me four days alone with the old man that were probably really important to both of us. Her parting gift.
Work is stable and occasionally fun. I can say that this year the organisation I work for changed the law on a couple of things that will help a lot of people. That’s enough reason to get out of bed on a Monday morning and trudge off to the station.
Mrs Chiz and I don’t have kids but we have each other, and great holidays.
I’m not religious or superstitious and I believe you have to seek the opportunity in every setback. But then you have to appreciate luck when you have it too. I’ve been lucky this last year.
2014 ended with Crohn’s diagnosis, after years of being ill, so 2015 has been a year of major change.
Cons: more hospital visits than gigs (only 3, I did the sound, but all were fab) and more knowledge of intestines than anyone should ever know.
Pros: I’m much healthier now than I have been for years, and no longer clinically underweight. Having stuck with the same job for 5 years I’ve reached elder statesman status and much professional respect (I think they miss me when I’m away). And I met an Afterworder.
2015 was the year I was given a list of things I can never eat and drink again (think: anything tasty, booze) so 2016 will be all about finding out what I can tolerate, building up my fitness, and getting to more gigs. And negotiating the purchase of some bigger speakers.
good for you Steve – here’s to a healthy, happy 2016.
Ta.
It’s not as bad as I might have written – I’ve never been a big drinker (2 pints, 3 tops) so being able to say “I can’t” is somehow easier than “no thanks”. After the third dry month I stopped missing it.
Now I need to concentrate on what I can do, rather than what I can’t any more.
A year of pluses and minuses
Pluses: I’m living in Australia. The weather’s fantastic, so’s the food and the people (hoons in utes excepted), and the snakes haven’t come for me yet.
I’m living with Mrs thep whom I love dearly even though she’s completely unsound on Beatles Band. We bought a house in the ‘burbs and got a mortgage, which will be paid off when I’m 92. The bank are obviously pinning their hopes on the GLW, who is a fair bit younger than me. We’ve been renovating – thanks to a great extent to her uncle who died at a convenient moment – and making a garden where none existed before. All terrifically absorbing and great fun – and we’ve nearly finished.
My daughter announced just before Christmas that she’s getting married. I thoroughly approve of her intended, despite his love for Coventry City, so all good.
Minuses: only one really – the old prostate, which has been keeping itself to itself for the last 8 years, suddenly decided to make itself felt, and I’m having radiotherapy 5 days a week for 8 weeks, and that’s after 6 months of hormone treatment to shrink the bugger. Hot flushes, Jesus…Mrs thep has trouble keeping a straight face, of course. To lengthen the odds I’ve given up drinking, which is both a plus and a minus. Overall, having felt fit as a flea 6 months ago, I’m now feeling exhausted, unfit, putting on weight – and old. Plus I’ve just been hit for the first time ever with sciatica, for Christ’s sake. Could really do without that. But nobody seems to be panicking, so I’m not either.
Back to the bright side, I’ve made some sensationally good chilli sauce this afternoon while listening to Lyle Lovett on our new because-we’re-worth-it Sonos Play:5. Doesn’t get much better.
A strange year for me. I was coaxed back to the Afterword by my very good friends @h-p-saucecraft (who then mysteriously buggered off shortly thereafter) and @ianess who remains steadfast and true.
I’m loving it back here so far and intend to bore the arse off one and all in 2016 with more of my “regular and lengthy essays”, no doubt based around that well documented and/or despised “60s obsession” of mine. So look out you rock ‘n rollers.
Christmas in Australia continues to feel like a foreign land after all this time. 100 degrees Fahrenheit on Xmas day will never feel right if I live to be , er, 100.
On the personal side I retired from work this month and closed my record store of 30 years standing. So now I’ll have even more time for those “regular and lengthy essays” you all love/despise/are indifferent to.
And I should add @junior-wells was also involved in the coaxing.
You keep doing your thing, Johnny. This place would be all the poorer without the regular and lengthy essays documenting your 60s obsession ; )
Thank you Bingo. You’re a good man.
Your triumphant return has definitely been one of the major events of the AW year.
Who else could start a thread about a 50 year old copy of the Beano and generate something so very entertaining?
Respect!
The great mystery of the last couple of months is the mysterious disappearance of @h-p-saucecraft. If you’re reading this H.P. I hope you are alive and well and merely taking a rest. Another blogger who can take a small feather and transform it into a whole, magnificent flock of seagulls.
Thanks so much KFD, another great man. As niceness goes, you make Michael Palin look like Saddam Hussein.
I’m with you re. @h-p-saucecraft. The Afterword’s finest writer is sorely missed by some.
Hey keep up the 60s stuff. My obsession too. My childhood. My music
I will Mousey, I will. I was just being a bit sarky, that’s all
Stick around, Conchmeriser – we need you!
Thanks Colin. I’m so glad you’re back in the saddle and producing those great books we love so much.
Remember in 2014 I sent you this picture after picking up your wonderful McLaughlin book at, where else, Foyles in Charing Cross Road.
http://i.imgur.com/qnB3PeD.jpg
2015 is a year I’d like to pack away and forget about, mainly because of that horrible thug old age violently assaulting my mum, my dad, and my mum-in-law, and coming back on a regular basis to give them another good kicking. The fucker.
But if I shelve 2015 then I mothball a whole load of good times, too. Writing my blog kept me sane again. Music was the medication that stopped the crazy coming back. And my family and friends made me love and laugh. Irritated the hell out of me, too, obviously.
I hope 2016 brings some light to those of you who have been sucked into the dark this year. Let’s stock up on candles and torch batteries and keep the blackness away, people.
2015. Generally OK.
We managed a small amount of foreign travel together for the first time since our daughter was born 10 years ago. It was good to get of the island and be amongst Europeans.
Our daughter is also coming into her own. A bright little bookworm in glasses who asks the most naive questions and comes out with malapropism that knock me flat. She is wonderful.
Work, though, is a fucker. A series of Hobson’s choices have deposited me in a role I do not like, do not enjoy or feel remotely suited for. And it’s busy and pressurised. Others in my area of the same grade but with slightly less workload have admin help. I don’t. As a.consequence I’m expected to make strategic decisions and manage a large budget whilst also taking the minutes and booking the fucking lunchtime sandwiches.
This is of course up to me address practically before very much longer with my superiors. Bleating with self pity here is actually quite cathartic, but I shall desist and sort it out with those that could and should help. Nonetheless that has dampened my year, which ended with some unexpected sudden deaths among some old friends from my early years in London.
I give my 2015 6 out of 10.
Ups and downs for me! Got so down in February that I made a good fist of trying to check out. Ended up getting sectioned and put in a brain scanner.
Have just realised that I have only bought one single piece of recorded music this year.
On the upside, I fell in love. Totally and properly. I met and won the most beautiful girl you could ever hope to meet. Clever clever Vim.
So, I rule.
HURRAY VIM! Nice one.
(But what was the one piece of recorded music?)
Lambchop – Nixon. Great, but not as good as “Is a woman”. Cost me a quid in the charity shop.
Reading this thread has been one of the most wonderful things that I have done this year. Thank you to everyone single one of you.
For myself. It has been a strange year. I have written some stuff that has made me very happy, which, increasingly, is my raison d’etre.
On the other hand, I have realised that I suffered a breakdown, several years ago, which my therapy has covered up. The therapy was something I did years ago but, wonderfully, it gave me some tricks, some mental exercises that I could use to help me. I realise I’m not making much sense, so let me elaborate.
My friend, Des (some of you will have read my piece about him, recently, ) called me. It was a Friday, around five o’clock. This quiet, tired, plaintive voice began to speak. I stood looking out at my small back garden, unfussy, no plants, tidy, as my friend of 40 years told me that he intended to kill himself. Tonight.
“Okay” I said. He continued to talk, cry, plead, bleed, but I was already immune. I think I told him I loved him but, if he was sure, then it was the right thing to do. He rang off.
Around ten minutes later, my wife, Jan, came home. She could tell that I was in a bad way and, bless her bones, bullied, cajoled and shook me until I gave it up. She was so angry. Rightly so. Me? I now know that I had suffered a major breakdown.
We phoned 111. Crap.
We went to bed. No sleep.
We got up, early, next morning, and drove into London. We parked outside the flat he was sharing and I phoned his mobile, tears streaming down my face. He answered, but was angry. He came out and got into the car, behind me. He was livid that we’d come.
We took him to The Flask, Highgate. We sat outside, drinking, eating, crying, laughing for hours. My gorgeous, wonderful wife drove us back to his flat, to drop him off, and say goodbye. Des and I hugged in the street. Jan hugged him, crying uncontrollably, convinced this was the last time she would see him. Me? I had turned in on myself. I now know that trying to protect him from himself was just too much, that I would harm myself (God, that sounds so simple) if I did anymore. As we drove away, my wife in tears, turned to me,
“How can you just let him go?”
This from a woman who has lived through my mental health issues, my therapy, my madness. I don’t know, is the truth of it. I just don’t know.
Des survived.
We kept going back, kept doing all we could. To be honest, I was on autopilot. It was Jan.
That was four years ago.
This year, as you might have read, I got hold of myself. Des’s alcoholism became apparent and I decided that it was just too much for me to deal with. It has been the toughest decision I have ever had to make. I did it for me. For my own sanity.
I love my friend, so much.
I have a wonderful life, a wonderful wife. I have a job I like, a good salary, a company car, phone, all the things that you would think should make me happy. And I am happy. I just wish that this black dog would fuck off. I just wish that my friend will be okay, without me having to help him anymore. I am so tired of the whole thing. Fourty years is a long time to hold things together.
Great stuff @niallb. It may not help with the black dog, but you have a real gift.
Apologies to @vim-fuego. Your post is so uplifting. My blinkers just stopped me seeing it.
Until now.
Love to you and yours.
Niall
Cheers Niall!
@niallb @vim-fuego I hope you both enjoy a happy New Year filled with life, laughter and light.
*fist bump*
I have really enjoyed reading this thread, only now that all my family have buggered off home can I seriously write something.
It was a great 2015 for me, even though I lost my Dad in July. That might sound strange but the old boy had been stuck in a hospital bed for 4 1/2 years with dementia, he didn’t know who he was let alone who I or my Mum were, couldn’t talk, needed 24 hour care. The only thing that kept him alive was his very fit body from years of regular exercise, and his genes – his Dad and uncles all lived into their 90s. Mum and I had done all our grieving over the last 4 years so when he finally went it was mainly a relief, albeit an inevitably sad one.
I released 2 CDs of my own music, one by my band of 30 years The Umbrellas, and a solo piano album which I rather gauchely posted about here. After not putting out anything of my own (apart from a bunch of kids’ CDs) for a long time I’m now really enjoying playing the piano again, performing, and looking forward to gigs and concerts both solo and with my band.
Mrs M got her first full-time job in umpteen years so we are maybe even going to knock of the mortgage in the next couple of years which will be the most unbelievable relief.
Anyway Happy New Year everyone. Goodness me is that the time? 2016 is three days old already!
Great stuff Mouse! Point me in the direction of the Mouse music thread…
Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck, talk about humbling. I have the nerve to post how good life is, forgetting the flip side. Power and praise to those still fighting the fight, their fights and the flights of circumstance. Don’t give up, never give up or the badness wins.