2006

1) DRINKING BUDDY OF THE YEAR

All of you.

2) LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD - LONGEST FRIEND(s)?
For quantity and quality, I'd have to go with H. Where as some of my old friends have fallen by the wayside thanks to various distractions and whatnot, H is always ready, able and down for whatever. He's done a lot for me this year and I can always count on him for honesty, support and good times. Long may they continue.

3) NEWCOMER AWARD - NEWEST FRIEND?

There's a glut of new pals this year and they've all brough something to the table (of life) but the main bunch consist of a group of lovely young party girls who call themselves 'The Three Amigos'. They're provided me with some of this years highlights either by themselves (gigs) or as a collective (Blast Off, The Canal Club, Ramshackles etc). I know that next year will feature more good times with the girls and that's three reasons why 2007 is going to rule.

3) HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR?

- DRTN Screening @ The Light House. You all know about it because I harp on about it lots but it was a small, surreal dream achieved.

-Meeting Kylie
- The Brighton Birthday Bash with Stephanie, Mark, Nick and The Steve.
- Seeing Ryan Adams TWICE this year after a couple of years of cancelled gigs and disappointments.
- Any evening with Aaron (The lmnop gig, 'Orange Wednesdays' etc). He's ALWAYS fun and a total hero. I worship that guy.
- The Moran Invitational and The Moran Gathering. Two great parties in the middle of nowhere.
- Creative: Bent Soul and Simplicity getting interest, flirting (but failing) with the BBC, getting referenced by Kevin Smith on his myspace blog, nice feedback from reputable people..
- Lester P. Mason
- Camden Craziness with Maja, Geezer and Stephanie.
- The many, many bands I saw this year and the few that I met. It was cool to chat to Great Lake Swimmers and I'm still sorry I was accidently rude to The Subways and the girl from Howling Bells. At least there wasn't another incident like last years verbal scrap with The Towers of London (If they've dropped off the radar of cultural importance then add that as a half-highlight, the no-talent posers)


4) LOW POINT OF THE YEAR?

There have been a few. Admittedly, I've created some of them by worrying and submitting to those dastardly downers. Ultimately, I've risen above a lot of the bad stuff and have been able to get some sweet from the sour.

5) BEST HOLIDAY?

The Wedding/Naish holiday was great because I got to have some much needed family time and play a bigger role as an Uncle. Seeing my cousin marry his soul mate was a great moment because, at that point at least, they seemed to a rare example of 'real life' love (By real life I mean 'not on Blogger')
I do plan to travel more in 2007 and see more strange places.

6) ANTHEM FOR 2006?

Just a few of the many songs that rocked my proverbial box this year:
'Shoot The Runner' and 'Empire' by Kasabian (I never thought I'd like Kasabian but they won me over), 'Lived In Bars' by Cat Power, '19-20-20' by The Grates, 'The Presidents Dead' by Okkervil River, 'She's Attracted To' by The Young Knives, 'That's No Way To Tell A Lie' by James Dean Bradfield

There have been many albums by cool bands this year and picking single tracks is always tough.

7) ANY REGRETS?

Not moving out this year when Steve left. Still, there's always next year. Aside from that, it's been pretty smooth.

8) BEST NIGHT OUT?

Too many. Kylie's first night at Blast Off was fun on the bun. Seriously, most nights out are quality.

9) WORST NIGHT OUT?

THAT night at Blast Off where I...had....A...scuffle. Stupid. Stupid. Mistakes, everybody makes them and it's one of the reasons that I hardly drink.

10) WHO DID YOU SPEND VALENTINES WITH?

No one THIS year. Next year however...

11) BEST RELATIONSHIP?

If someone would have come up to me and said: "Chris, by the end of the year you will not only be in a relationship but be in a completely amazing one" I would have called them a witch.
Along came Kylie...
For someone who wants to be a writer, I can't find the words to describe how I feel about her. Words like 'amazing' and 'awesome' always feature heavily. I really, really love her and, for those that know me, that's not a sentence I use often. She capped off my 2006 just by showing up.

12) WORST RELATIONSHIP?

I wouldn't say it really counts as the worst but I'd say that a couple of my good friends have let me down this year. One, in particular, has left me in the lurch many times this year and it's come with a price. He's now become an acquaintance rather than a best friend. Still, people change and I can adapt.

13) FIRST GIG OF THE YEAR?

It was 'The Go-Team' with Stephanie in Brighton. I was great, great fun.

14) Last gig of the year?
I think it was Ryan Adams at The Shepherds Bush Empire.

15) BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR?
To stick to my morals when things get tough and to say yes more.

16) WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR?
- Travel
- Finish Bent Soul
- Write more
- Join a band (good or bad)
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17) MOST STUPID IDEA WHEN DRUNK?
To try and stroke a bus? Pole dancing?

18) TWAT OF THE YEAR?
In my world? It would be signifity a jackpot for this person. I foolishly tried to mend fences and extend olive branches this year and earned myself a couple of emotional gut punches to prove it. It was a testament to my sometimes foolish notion of trying to be the better/nicer person with truly horrible people. Still, that's dirty water under the bridge now and things have changed.

19) MOST LOYAL FRIEND(s)?
All of 'Team Splendid' (Dom, Philly, Blair, Portman, Viking, Liz), 'The Sirs of Sirs' (Matt, Nick, David J, Truman) and 'The Three Amigos' (Charlie 2.0, Lindsay and Amy)

20) BIGGEST CHANGE OF THE YEAR?
I've most refined what I changed (And HAD to change) last year. The biggest one for me was changing my status from 'Single' to 'In a Relationship'