The Ebb and Flow

As it’s gone New Year, I decided to have a quick look over my shoulder and see remind myself what was good about 2009. I have to admit, but won’t dwell on, that finding a top ten took some thinking. A couple of happenings were obvious but then I got to about no.7 and it seemed the well of good fortune was drying up.

Still, here it is and they are all positives. I think each speaks about different aspects of me. Have a butchers after the break.

1. New Hero / It Is Still 1985

New Hero used to be called Lavish and prior to that Club New York. It was an OK place but not somewhere that could be considered a top 3 choice places to go on a Saturday night in Brighton (looking back though, the alternatives weren’t really that great). Then around spring time this year a couple of us ventured there for an 80s night we’d heard good things about. That ended up becoming a regular haunt for most of the year until I realised I’d been going there a bit more than I should. OK, so this is a bit of a superficial highlight but I had some of the best times in here with some good friends, singing all manner of classic 80’s hits at the top of our voices. It’s a great place, check it out.

2. The Night Marchers

The Night Marchers is the newest musical venture of former Hot Snakes musicians John Reis, Gar Wood and Jason Kourkounis. I had the pleasure of seeing them again in 2009 after having my mind blown by them in 2008. They didn’t disappoint and upsatirs of The Prince Albert pub seemed fittingly swish for such a band. My enjoyment of their performance may or may not have been aided by the not insignficant man-crush I have on John Reis but there you go. The night ended, as all good gigs should end, with a discussion about bass guitar tone with the bass player, Tommy.

3. UFC

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/deskounlmtd/3627975489/

UFC has gripped 83 Brading Road this year. Thanks to Setanta (and then ESPN), we’ve watched most of the UFC events of the latter half of the year. Admittedly, staying up til 6am to see the main event has been a slug but generally worth it. Just remember not to go out on the town prior to the viewing as you’ll fall asleep and wake up as Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan are saying farewell. My top five fights that I watched live would probably be (in no particular order),

1. Stephan Bonnar vs Jon Jones @ UFC 94
2. Frankie Edgar vs Sean Sherk @ UFC 98
3. Diego Sanchez vs Clay Guida @ The Ultimate Fighter 9 finale
4. Josh Koscheck vs Anthony Johnson @ UFC 106
5. BJ Penn vs Diego Sanchez @ UFC 107

Now go and support UK fighters, Dan Hardy and Paul Daley.

4. Star Trek

Fuck yes! I’ll admit, I’m a borderline Trekkie. I watch Star Trek whenever it’s on TV and know most of the plots and characters from The Next Generation onwards. Not actually too much of fan of the original TV series though and I’ve never been to a convention and don’t own any merchandise. Even still, I was excited to see what JJ “Lost/Cloverfield” Abrams had done to the Star Trek franchise. It was pretty much film of the year for me. Visually amazing, narratively smart (thanks to a nifty application of time travel which I don’t think has worked in movies since Back to the Future).

5. Denial of Death

I eventually finished reading Denial of Death by Ernest Becker (I won’t say how long it took but let’s just say, I don’t read too much). I love this book. It really opened the door to a number of existential ideas and spelled out a certain truth to me. In a nutshell, fear of death drives people to do insanely stupid things.

6. Juretic Media surf trip

I talked about this earlier this year but this was a lovely highlight. All the Juretic team of the time, together under one roof and out amongst the waves. I still think I’ve got the best job I’ve had for a long while. Can’t rest on that thought though. 2010’s the year I step it up a notch (that mean’s actually stand up on a moving surfboard).

7. Abandon Ship Reunion

Photo courtesy of Matt White

Matt Devine came back from his trip abroad and we got the band back together for a jam in our old practice rooms. Invited some select bods and had a right laugh. It was also Andy Devine’s birthday so double celebration (plus Andy in full-blown drag later that night). Such a good day.

8. Phillies

Photo courtesy of Bravo Whiskey

Oh Yes! 2009 was the year I became a Phillies fan. ESPN, as well as broadcasting UFC and the odd Premier League game, also inundated the UK audience with as much US sports as they could get the rights to broadcast. I generally ignored the baseball until one evening in September when I sat down with my tea and decided to have the baseball on in the background. A Rocky George look-a-like called Pedro Martinez was pitching and shut out the NY Mets over 8 innings. It really was a “wait, that’s actually REALLY good” moment. I started following the Phillies from then on all the way to their run in the World Series (the loss of which actually got to me more than Watford being relegated to the 2nd division). The more I watched, the more I learnt. Turns out Pedro’s display is a rare throwback to his heyday at the start of the last decade. Phillies 2009 was all about Cliff Lee as pitching goes. The man was ice cold throughout the playoffs and World Series. Staying up until 4 in the morning on a school night never felt so good. If you want the lowdown on the Phillies, read The Fightins blog (they also have a sideline in sweet custom Phillies merch).

9. Pen Yr Fan

Pen Yr Fan is the highest peak in the UK south of Snowdon. In November, accompanied by Smallface, her infant daughter, her parents, and her ever faithful hound, Dylan, I walked up that there mountain and beheld a view of the world I’d never seen before…Well, I beheld a hell of a lot of mist and what seemed to be the end of the universe but the descent did offer some amazing views of the Carmarthen Fans in West Brecon. Despite the fact that I am acquainted with a disproportionate amount of Queen scouts compared to anyone else in the country who’s never been involved in the Scouts organisation, I’ve never taken to the active life and along with the surfing, I’m not sure why. It’s taken me until I’m 32 to realise this.

10. She’s back in my arms

Save the best til last. I let her go in 2007 and I count that as probably the worst decision of the last decade. Come 2009, after and eventful year for her and a somewhat frustrating one for me, we found each other again. Fairytale stuff, I tell thee!

So 2009, not so bad. I intend to have a lot more shenanigans occur in 2010 though. Fuck the quiet life.