At the start of 08 I spent new year at a family friend's house round the corner. Not the worst thing ever but next year I'd like to spend it with friends and/or Lorna, neither of which were there.  I spent most of the hour 12:15 - 1:15am trying to convince Lorna I wasn't good enough for her because I wasn't with her. She forgives me though :).

Skip forward to January the 2nd, and it's my first ever time in London. Everything is so immense, so...intense, so impressive down there. I was basically your typical tourist - photo's of everything, open-mouthed-awe at each landmark. Absolute joy at being on the Eye. Things like that. It was also the first time me and Lorna had been away on a sort of mini-holiday. We had fun. :). On the evening of Jan 2nd, I fulfilled what probably was a lifelong dream - I saw the Spice Girls live in concert. I don't care if you think that's pathetic, but I grew up listening to that sort of music, so I really don't see a problem with reliving a little of my earlier years. They sang live, sounded great and it was a total fan moment when they came on stage. Although I only did half the "Stop" dance. I didn't want to look too gay, but as Lorna put it: "Matt you're at a Spice Girls concert - you already look gay". Haha. Pictures of this day are on my other computer so I'll add them later.

Lot's of stuff happened in 08. Here's a collection of photomographs that will perhaps explain it better than I can :):

My theory is hardly new or exciting.
Here goes.

Life is fun.
But not because it's easy and full of good times.

Instead because of the curveballs thrown at you.
The fun part is solving them, dodging them.

Enjoying the good times is the boring part.
So how do you solve it? Dodge it?

Encompass it? Deflect it?
Nope.

Or yes.
Yes. Yes I think yes will do.

Solve the problem, become bored.
So maybe you should never solve the problem?

Maybe that would give you endless fun.
(and the least possible amount of boredom).

You take in these curveballs and harbout them.
Let them fester (it helps).

Dodge them and its boring.
But let them hit you in the face and the party has started.

Pour a drink.
Watch and learn.

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I started writing this as a month by month thing, but I forgot some of the months, so I'll write it as a big thing.

Here goes.

2007 was a great year for me on the most part. You'll probably read this and think "that was distinctly average", but you're probably someone who does bungee jumping every day or something. I dunno.

2007 started with Adam catching a taxi to my house at like 1am, which was very nice of him (i wouldn't catch a taxi to his house when taxi's are that expensive lol :P - but he knows thats because I don't have as much money as him :P) and pretty much just us having a drink or two, a talk and falling asleep lol.

I think, last year, I became myself. I'm not gonna get all deep and slushy about it, but it was the year I realised who I was and what I'm about. Several factors contributed to this, and I'll get round to them all in a minute ;).

I'm more confident after last year. I'll dedicate this one more to starting university - having to make new friends because I didn't know anyone basically forced me to become more confident. I can talk to pretty much anyone now and I don't really care if I make a fool of myself any more.

University, speaking of which, is a great experience, and one I'd really recommend to anyone - forget the debts, it's well worth it in the long run. Come to Nottingham Trent though, we rock!

2007 was a big year for gigs. I'd never been to a "gig" as such before 2007. I'd been to stuff at arena's, like the Pop Idol tour and Will Young and stuff, but they're more concerts than gigs. So yeah, this year, I saw Elliot Minor (twice) who (if you didn't guess) are my favourite band. They're amazing live, and really nice people to boot. I also saw Foo Fighters (I was on front row!) at Nottingham, and I'm on the foo fighters website on one of the pictures if you look carefully! I also saw Bowling For Soup and Bloodhound Gang - definately the two funniest bands I know of.

Really, I've met lots of new people this year. I met Lydz' crew - Ree and the two Sam's. I met Uni crew - Paul, Shane, Nicola, Fay, Emma, Cheryl etc. It's really good to know that not only do I have the friends I've had since school and college still there, but I can make new friends as well (something I have trouble doing sometimes).

But my pinnacle of 2007 was getting to know my baby. I already knew her back in 2006 but 2007 was the year we talked, confided, and became best friends, and then she pounced on me on a bus (funny story - "thank you".) 11 days later, we were going out. We managed to keep it secret for a couple of days but I blurted it out at college and then left her to pick up the pieces haha! So anyway, its now 10 months later and we're still going amazingly strong. We've not had a single argument and I doubt we will anytime soon. We're so perfect together it makes many people feel sick. All I can say is there's not enough of that kind of perfection in the world. It's the best kind. I truly love her with all my heart, an I feel able to open up to her like I can't to anyone else. I can just sit with her and say nothing for an hour and I feel better. She's so great, and she deserves so much more than life is dealing her lately - but she know's im there for her and that makes everything OK. She's "the one" for me.

Originally this blog was longer, but it deleted itself.
(Myspace hates me haha).

2007 has been an ace year, and 2008 so far is giving it a run for it's money. Tune in next year for another indepth look at my year :).

xxx

P.S - Jo Skinner!

Are absolute twats that neither deserve what was once theres (and finally grew a pair of legs to walk away - whether by choice or by force does not matter) nor the attention the aftermath brings.

Some people are absolute twats that make an ass out of themselves but not u + me, although all they do all day is assume.

Some people are twats, and even though they wont admit it - they know deep inside because they strung along with a game plan that never was intended to come to fruition. They charmed and delighted and talked and drank and laughed and pretended.

What if I say I'm not like the others? I can see through your shallow exterior to that decrepit interior you like to hide away. I have nothing against what you are but rather what you do and stand for.

Some people are twats, because plain and simply they don't realise how lucky they were and how hated they are now in comparison.

Twat.

Tomorrow, headstart.
Oct 1st, induction.
Oct 8th, full start.

Wow, it's close.

x

I figured since I read so many books and enjoy doing so, and need to practice writing (and indeed analytic reading) for my course at Uni, I am going to start reviewing the books I read. So I don't overload you, I'm not gonna post each one individually, that would mean too many blogs. No. I'ma lump em in a monthly blog, like "Book Reviews August" or summit.

Probably wont mean a thing to most of you, but for those who like to read, or would like to know my taste in books, or just love me (:D) it might be an interesting read :).

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Yes. That's right. You heard me. It is my opinion that Myspace is becoming more and more a modern day representation of an antithesis. For those of you who don't know what it means, its basically someone or something that says it is or does one thing, and then is or does the opposite.

Myspace, I'm sure, was created as a way to meet new people and keep in touch with those you already know. Discount that last one, and you have a website that is there purely for the purpose of meeting new people on the internet, which you may have things in common with. (or not).

So...if Myspace is here purely for making new friends (in a world where face-to-face keeps you in touch with people you already know bare in mind)...doesn't it strike you as completely redundant in some ways?

Let's take someone who changes all the default security settings:

Private profile: Sure, for people under 16 I could understand, but anyone else is being pretty stupid. Why make a profile that nobody can see?

Add verification: You know, where you have to know their last name or email. What especially annoys me is when I see a bulletin that says "ADD MY FRIEND THEY WILL TALK" and then you actually CAN'T add them. Contradiction in it's purest form.

Private blogs: Sure, have a couple of blogs private, this is for those that set ALL BLOGS to private. Just don't write them ok?

Comment, picture comment, and blog comment approval: Seriously, the point in this is barely there. I could possibly see the point if theres certain people you dont want commenting you...but in that case just delete them?

Block: Blocking people. Duh.

Taking all this into account, if the aforementioned person took every above action - they would have a profile which nobody can see, nobody can add, nobody can message them to ask them to add, and if they choose to add you, they decide what you can and cant see, and decide what you can and cant say on their profile.

For a website dutied to connecting new people and allowing communication, it sure seems against its own objectives.

Thanks for reading.

I just want to jot down a few things that are on my mind at the minute, randomly at midnight :/.

First of all, I need to point out just how happy I am lately, and anyone who knows me will have noticed this. Why? Everything is just pulling into place. Apart from losing my wallet. Meh.

I have the best girlfriend I could ever ask for, and more than I ever expected. I remember when we first started "courting" (as her grandmother put it) and we were talking about how we'd have to carry on being friends if it didn't work out. I honestly thought I'd mess up more times than I've had hot dinners, but jusqu'ici tout va bien...or if you don't understand that reference, so far so good. I'm honestly on cloud 9 right now, and I'm sorry if this is the last thing you wanted to read when you clicked on this blog, but I'm well and truly loved up.

I have amazing friends. One person who has been there for me through EVERYTHING over the past 10 months is Adam. It's weird to think how much I think of him in a relatively short space of time. In ten months he's helped me grow up - he probably doesn't realise this but without him I'd still be a hermit who never leaves the house. I don't do enough for him, in my opinion, and I totally effed up when I forgot his birthday, but he is the best friend I could possibly ask for. And he loves pokemon. Can't argue with that.

College is almost over. I'm actually scared. I'm gonna miss everyone, and keeping in touch out of local education is gonna be pretty tough for me (I tend to forget to keep in touch) but I hope I can because I've met some at least semi-decent people at college in the past 2 years.

University. One of the reasons I'm scared of ending college. It's a totally new start for me, basically (i know one person already there, and 2 going and that's it) and I'm gonna hate having to make a whole new bunch of friends, and then balance them with all the ones I have already. I also don't know whether I'll suit University...I'm hardly the most outgoing of people, and without confidence I just don't know if I can do it.

Upcoming Things to look forward to
>> Weekend at Lorna's
>> Holiday
>> Nights out for people's birthdays
>> Elliot Minor gig (my first "real" one :O)
>> Getting paid (always helps).

So. I hope this is more useful than my usual drivel. Feel free to comment me or this blog to continue dicussions :).

x

I stole this from Becky...the italicised bits aren't my words :). I will update this as I think of more, this is just here to remind me to do it. I will try and give a reason for why each album is here also.

So yeh, everyone love a good bit o' music. Music can make us laugh, it can make us weep, music takes us through the good times and the bad times. But, I was wondering, what is 'amazing' music? Now, if you know me at all you shall know that I can't abide when a band or piece of music is deemed "crap".
So, I was wondering, what are everyone's 'essential' albums? Which albums make you want to cry (in a good way), laugh, dance, want to get down?
I'll start with some of mine. 

Aqua/Hanson - Aquarium/Middle of Nowhere
Why? Because they were my first two albums I got on a christmas a long time ago. They represent my 90's pop roots, and they are two albums which are actually quite good, with the Hanson one actually being musically talented :D

Will Young - From Now On/Friday's Child/Keep On.
I know I cheated because this is three albums, but all three have been a heavy influence on me, and I have no problem admitting it - even if some people might have a problem respecting it. Will is a very talented singer and songwriter, and his songs can be fresh and uplifting one minute, and spine-tinglingly haunting the next. His songs infuse multiple styles under one banner, which actually broadened my music taste a lot. "Over You" is Swing/Jazz/Pop, while "Fine Line" is a String driven epic. And those are just the first album. I bet many of you have heard "Switch It On". Compare that with "All Time Love" and see how different they are. Honestly, you may not like him, or some of the singles, but if you ever get the opportunity (cheap or free) to listen to his albums or b-sides, then take it. I promise you won't be disappointed.

hellogoodbye - Zombies!Aliens!Vampires!Dinosaurs!
I have Becky to thank for this one. Basically, after I heard Call 'n' Return on Becky's profile I wanted to hear more from them - so she sent me the album and every song has it's own charm, it's own personality. "Touchdown Turnaround (Don't Give Up On Me)" is one of the most infectious songs I have in my possession, while songs such as "Two Weeks In Hawaii" and "Oh, It Is Love" make you listen to the lyrics and think. The synthpop underlying with a powerpop/rock coating makes for a great blend, and the (sometimes) altered voice of Forrest Kline is a perfect compliment, as heard on everyones favourite track at the minute "Here (In Your Arms)".

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Off the top of my head. Ok, so they aren't genre-breaking masterpieces... well, some are actually. But anyway, I love them.

Your turn!

My blogs are really boring. I'll try and fix that soon.

x