Grey Area

Music

A better year than expected. With The National finally cracking the UK after 10 years with the superlative High Violet - a moment of staggering beauty from Fleet Foxes, The Vaccines kicking up a storm unseen or heard since the Strokes broke and The Villagers writing a song that makes me fill up every time. Big highlight for me - a clever, dark and arch little number from British Sea Power - with their best work in years - from the exceptional and accessible 'Living Is Easy' - to the creative heights of 'Men of Arran' - based on the beautiful and harrowing 1935 film of the same name.

Politics

Out with the old and in with the shite. As Cameron finally achieves his ambition to emulate 'Milk Snatcher' Thatcher by becoming the 'Book Robber Baron' and canceling free books for schools and children ( although that's now under review... etc ). My own excellent MP lost out to A.A.Gill's X wife - which is as good a reason as any to hate her. She's only been our MP for 5 mins and she's already sold her Hastings house to retire to Pimlico. Hastings is apparently the biggest victim in the latest round of cuts - something she described as an 'exciting opportunity'. Fuck off.

I'm not going to appologise for repeating that I really liked and admired Gordon Brown - but I despised Blair ( still do ) and it was always going to end this way. History will be very, very kind to him. Also - Obama, who, despite a blip at the start - is beginning to find his feet and making real progress 'over the pond'.

Culture

Well, really - I have very little to say here. I thought Red Riding was astonishing ( I know it was technically 2009 but I've just watched it again and it's still 'up there' )... and Gordon Burn died, again in 2009... but it still feels like yesterday - which was a tragedy. It really depends on what you class as culture - I'm delighted that The Jerwood Gallery is slowly taking shape in Hastings Old Town, it's not been a 'bad' year... but probably not a very good one. I did get to see Lantana on the West End stage - and 'The Pitmen Painters' - both of which were brilliant. Personally, I'm having a low-brow episode. I actually love Frankie Boyle, his autobiography was excellent and sold deservedly well - his show on C4 isn't actually that good... but the furore his created by telling very bad, crude jokes reminds me of the early days of C4 when it still had balls. Also, my personal cultural highlight of the year is this.... I still feel a bit swoony afterwards. Looking back at the final of Strictly now - Tointon reminds me of the Video that Princes Diana filmed of herself dancing with Wayne sleep in a vain attempt to get her husband to fall in love with her... actually, I think Tointon might be barking up the same trouser leg... if you know what I mean... erhem...

A good thing about this years 'popular' cultural landscape was the death of Big Brother ( unless Desmond drags it kicking and screaming from the grave ) and the almost inevitable descent into self parody of X Factor.

By the way, I'm often slow on the uptake, on on Xmas Eve I watched Hot Fuzz.... only 3 years too late - loved it. I've still not seen a single episode of Misfits or Inbetweeners... but I have seen a single episode of Miranda, which was one too many. This Is England returned and was genius, as expected. Downton Abbey was shite. I like the new Dr Who - and I also liked Sherlock. A lot of other stuff happened - like Babs Windsor leaving 'enders... but I can't work up the enthusiasm to have an opinion, although I did watch an episode of Emmerdale that made me cry. There is a terribly contrived gay subplot, which several people I know have enjoyed for all the right reasons - but as usual the writers ran out of ideas and crippled one of them ( it's the same old story - gay characters are always destined for an early death of worse, 'cos that's the whole point of being gay 'innit - to be tragic and all that  ) but in the episode I saw, which was a rather well written tear jerker, I'd totally forgotten they were a same sex couple - neither being camp, affected or in a tight white T shirt, it just played as well written drama.... a triumph and a milestone for soap opera.

The Bill ended, which was an act of cowardice and stupidity - and Nigella came back to make me very angry. Masterchef The Professionals had me in tears ever week, but by far the best thing I saw was 'The Road To Coronation Street" - genius.

Sport

Whatever. Who gives a toss... but we will all become massive fans as soon as the Olympics start.

Me stuff

I took on a contracted job for the first time in 15 years, and it's going OK - even if I am skirting with insolvency as a result. I'm still single. Which is a fucking bore...  One of my better friends ( Christ, I don't have that many ) was in a similar situation earlier this year and said to me " I don't think I'll ever get to kiss anyone ever again" - and them met someone really nice within days. Urban Cynic entertained us all for months with her ruthless online dating diary... and then did exactly the same thing.... I think perhaps I should make some grandiose, hysterical statement about dying alone... and see what happens. ( actually... my online dating subscription thing ends soon and I'm not going to repeat the exercise - it was a total waste of time and very bad for my self esteem )

Other Stuff

We have had an armagedon style winter ( apparently ) - and we are still less than half way in. Actually... if I never see snow again I'll be delighted. Very little good news anywhere, unless you count the Chilean Miners rescue - which was fucking brilliant. I really don't give a shit about Wills and Kate, or anyone else in that department - but I'll enjoy the day off. I've met some really nice people this year, and some idiots... but I'm very good at giving them a wide berth. I've managed to survive on very little money... but it's a bit of a fucking bore and I'm not really enjoying it. having my Wisdom teeth fixed has made a huge difference and I like my jaw for the first time ever, I'm also sleeping a lot better now that my teeth don't grind at night.

Lots of things really made me angry this year, in fact - most days something really pissed me off... I must be getting old or mellowing, because I don't really want to talk about that stuff right night - except... I'm just going to remind you of something I wrote a few months ago.

Next year will be very busy, I really need to earn more money and do more stuff I actually like - I'm not getting enough out of work... or life, actually, to warrant the effort I have to put into it. I also need to resolve my 'situation' with the Inland Revenue... but lets not talk about that today.

I've stopped using my mobile phone, which is bliss - and was quite hard work at first, but I'm a lot happier without it. I'm trying ( and finally succeeding ) in putting on a bit of weight - I started getting a lot more exercise this year and I lost quite a bit - I don't like being too thin, I get tired to quickly - I need a bit of something on me, and my clothes fit better when I'm bigger.

So - 2010... could have been worse, could have been better. Grey Area might change a bit next year - I'm doing a Wordpress course in January - lets see how that goes. Thanks for bearing with me for this year ( and the previous 2 ) - I know I ramble and say 'cunt' a lot... but it's been appreciated.