#aberlin

[jeiar22-blog]

Vamos Barça !!! Vamos chicos !! Vamo MESSI ♥ #aBerlin

[davemerritt]

Twenty Twelve

It’s New Years Eve twenty twelve and as is standard I’m going to go on about everything I’ve done this year, no matter how boring it is or was. So here we go, monthbymonth, what I’ve done.

I promised myself last year that I would enter a half marathon next to my brother. In January I applied for the Yeovil half and started Training and began to worry. January also saw a decent away trip to watch The Saints in Coventry as well as my car breaking down after a 3 quid piece of something got wet, one of just a few little fixes the Saxo has taken over this year, bearing in mind I drive a thousand miles a month just to work and back she has been a reliable old thing.

Twenty Twelve was a year that I went to so very many gigs. February included a sick set from Justice as well as Young Guns smashing it at Moles in Bath. I also saw We are the in Crowd and All Time Low in Yeovil, which saw my 8 week old iPhone get nicked by some wonderful character who pick pocketed myself as well as numerous others. Note to security staff, if there is some 40 year old bloke and his 2 mates at the front of a gig pretending to enjoy a pop-punk band with their hands inside others pockets, they aren’t there for the music. In February myself and a few good friends went on that group holiday we talked about. We spent just under a week in the stunning Gower (Wales for anyone that’s lost there). It was a really good break and I would happily go back, maybe next year. This month I also re-assumed my role as a stage hand (as well as prop maker and set painter) in the Strode College production of ‘Cabaret’. IT was a fantastic show and really good to be back in the Theatre. This month wasn’t all fun and games though, as in February after something like 38 years of happy life, my pet macaw ‘Spocky’ sadly died. He was an actual beast and I don’t think I’ll ever have a pet quite like him again. I (and my entire extended family) have known him all my life and you don’t get many pets that can talk and laugh, he has been sadly missed and can never be replaced.

In March I took a trip to London to see the production of ‘Shrek – The musical’ on Drury lane. Nice little theatre and a rather good production with some nice high profile names. The big bonus of the trip though was that I got to see my wonderful and bestfriendfromuni, Lindsay. She’s now off living in Asia as a teacher and I miss her a lot, but she is living a fantastic life and It’ll be so exciting to hear properly all about her adventures when she gets back. March saw me make the move from my parents to a new home, still in Frome, as a lodger. This made me poor, but meant that I could get back into cooking again, mainly with Chorizo. Events out this month included seeing You Me at Six as well as not going to see Derren Brown. The biggest thing in March this year though was that all my training came to fruition as I took part in and most importantly completed the Yeovil half marathon. It was hot, hard and painful, but my God was it worth it. One of the biggest achievements I’ve had to date and it was such fun, pushing myself to run non-stop next to my brother the whole way. My friend Ricky also completed the 13.1 miles with us, even after picking up an injury half way in. My time? Well I aimed for around 2 hours and came in at 1 Hour 39 Minutes, needless to say that just added to the euphoria of even finishing the thing.

April and another Gig, this time Deaf Havana in Cardiff. I actually went mainly to see The Swellers, but thanks to an out of date location on google maps, we ended up being late and missing the set. This time of year also saw the start of Euro 2012 in Poland/Ukraine and a thoroughly enjoyable tournament it was, I even finished the sticker collection just like when I was a kid. Brilliant. April also saw a fair old amount of flooding (and the rest of the year) April’s biggest news though was that two very good friends decided that they would pack their bags and leave to travel the World for a year. Naturally we had a leaving party. I can’t believe that they have been gone so long already, but they will be home soon and we can rejoice. Oddly where they are now, it’s already 2013, so a very happy new year to them both and I can’t wait to see them when they get back.

May usually means one thing and that is Slam Dunk. A brilliant day festival celebrating all that is pop-punk, rock and alternative. This year I decided to go to London where apparently the organisers had taken a year off and not bothered to sort out entry properly or to bother with making any sort of signs, still the whole thing was still brilliant, Hit the Lights smashed it and the acoustic stage was a small joy, naturally I’ll go again next year. I spent a small amount of time in May making a fake turkey and leg of ham for the production of Fantastic Mr Fox at the Strode Theatre, I never actually saw the show but trust that they were used to their full potential. The Olympic Torch really began this month and I was lucky enough to see one of the first legs in Street in gleaming sunshine. The streets were lined and there was a huge buzz around the whole event, I couldn’t actually wait for the Olympics and think that if you didn’t actually get involved that you really did miss out.

June was pretty busy as Liz celebrated by filling the Thames with boats as it traditionally pissed it down whilst I drank Pimms in a beautiful mug I got in Bath. The new house flooded thanks to some wonderful plumbing work ruining all the carpets and much more. I was also lucky enough to secure a Radio One Hackney Weekend ticket, which was actually great considering it cost like £2.50, it also meant I got to go and stay with my brother and his girlfriend again at their sweet apartment in London. There was also a little summer party this month that saw myself and James help Darren and his mav Sue get suitably drunk during a game of beer pong, Sue then asked if she could beat me up. Magic. June’s main event for me though was to see Frome FM go back live on an FM frequency. Our launch night was fantastic with a big outside broadcast with guests (including my friend Luke Leighfield who is now living the high life in Berlin working for soundcloud) and live music and in true Frome fashion, we had somebody swear about 20 minutes in. Beautiful. This month also saw the students leave college to go on to university. Again it was kind of melancholy to see them go, but they all went out on a high after another stunning End of Year show. It’s always nice to receive thanks and presents as they move on too and whether they went to uni, employment or just to travel the World they all deserved to succeed.

The wondrous summer month of July brought about a slightly low point for me this year as I was having constant blood tests and doctors appointments . Longstoryshort I have a low Iron count (always good for a runner) as well as anxiety issues, but that is a boring story. July always see’s the yearly (and ever growing) Frome Festival. This year I roped in a few friends to take part in the Festival quiz which was a right good laugh. My brother and Ricky also took part in the Frome Half Marathon in absolute searing heat. I didn’t. And finally I went on a nice little holiday down to Bude with the parents where I stayed in a rather cool cabin and eat fantastic food and fed some deer. Oh and don’t forget the tear jerking event that was Murray coming 2nd at Wimbledon.

*I’ve gone out now to eat something and break from this* *back now, I’ve Punchline on and wine ready to go mate, here we go*

I was fortunate enough to secure tickets to the London 2012 Olympic games in August and on a blisteringly hot day saw the mens Hockey semi-final, I bleddy loved it and was so lucky to be there. In other sport related news August saw the start of the new football season and Southampton were to start back in the Premiership. On the opening day there was a hella good match against champions Man City. We lost, but showed such promise. I went to the first home game of the season against Wigan which was another loss, but just so good to be back inside St Mary’s. August also saw some big talent come to Frome in the form of Mr Frank Turner. I was fortunate enough to meet and interview him with my Static Prevails radio show co-host Rob, he was a true gent and the gig was fucking brilliant.

September brought another birthday, the milestone of 25 (and Christ do I feel old) which was alright, but it was my gran who turned 80 this month and we had a fantastic party for her which I think she really enjoyed. September also saw the start of the new term at work. After a summer of working alone fixing, maintaining and prepping it was brilliant to have all the students back, some familiar faces and a lot of new ones, I still really do love my job, like properly love, it is the best thing in my life and without it I’d be lost, I mean I get to work every day with some of the nicest people you could ever meet and next to that I see new artwork created every day, my job just makes me happy, fulfilled if you like, thanks everyone. I photographed another wedding this month (I forgot to mention earlier that I shot two others this year in May and June respectively) but this one was a little closer to home. My beautiful cousin Cheryl and her lovely partner Paul married at the end of the month on a very sunny day. The whole event was one of my favourite weddings that I’ve had the pleasure of photographing.

As the Autumn months came closer more gigs came forth, this month being a sensational show from We are the Ocean in Cardiff, where a power cut led to an improptue performance of ‘Chin Up Son’. I also caught Mayday Parade in Bournemouth as well as securing my ticket to Glastonbury Festival 2013 (I hope you did too) after a year of no festivals it’s time to go back I think. Another month and another wedding, this time 2 friends tied the knot and it was a very lovely day indeed. There was a small stag celebration the previous week too which was good fun and involved a lot of us climbing into a bath in a store. I wish all the best for the future to both Mr and Mrs Kelly who now have a home together and are my new favourite couple. Minor notes for October were the release of the beautiful Taylor Swift’s RED as well as my good friend Lewis’ birthday party where he managed to get so ridiculously drunk that he was evicted from the pub after lobbing a glass at an Audi. Good lad.

Last month was literally packed. I took part in Movember with a few other people, it was good fun but might leave that one for a couple years though as I just looked a bit rubbish, well, more so than usual. Textiles cake Thursdays also began at work, this involved a weekly bake of a nominated student (and me) supplying the goods on a Thursday afternoon. It was well documented on Instagram by myself and has been enjoyed by everyone. As for gigs I saw Skylit Drive, Twin Atlantic, Deaf Havana as well as Moyles live (which was absolutely horrendous). Bonfire night was good fun too, although health and safety would have had a field day at the Beckington celebrations as the rockets were a little too close to some people as well as the old boys in charge of the bonfire thinking that plastics made good fuel. The nicest thing to end the month was that I returned to crewing at the Christmas production of Pinocchio at the Merlin Theatre, something I have sorely missed the past few years.

December then and this last month has been nothing short of wonderful. The return to the Merlin was one of the highlights of my year. I worked with some wonderful people, both old and new and crewed 11 performances over the course of two weeks working the gantry and being part of the stage crew. It really was a brilliant production and probably my favourite that we’ve ever done. Here’s to next years, maybe I’ll audition for that one... Besides the standard Christmas festivities there was a group outing to Za Za Bazaar in Bristol, an away trip to Portsmouth to watch the mighty Yeovil beat Pompey as well as doing the December edition of Static Prevails solo and playing Enter Shikari. December also saw the band ‘Futures’ end, Me break even at the Wincanton races as well as the cancellation of the Boys Christmas Lunch, which will hopefully return for an Easter edition or at least something early in the new year. Frome held the annual Cobble Wobble and the internet rumours of the World ending didn’t come to fruition and I spent a good few days reassuring a couple students at work that they weren’t going to be obliterated on the 21st, seeing a ton of people at the peak of Glastonbury Tor was something quite odd though, still, we’re all here now aren’t we.

So 2012 has been pretty busy with a lot of gigs, events and things to look back on and remember fondly, as well as being lucky enough to meet some fantastic new people, new friends like Lewis & Hoops have made weekends a joy. Resolutions for next year? Well I don’t really have any. I’d like to see the Northern lights next year (come with me?) as well as take another little group trip away, a boys holiday too would be great. I am fully looking forward to Reel Big Fish coming back to play the Cheese and Grain again next year too, as well as a few gigs I’ve already tickets for, including Sleeping with Sirens twice. There should also be a new Conditions album, as well as the new Me VS Hero record, which I am fully stoked for. As for new things I’d like to invest in a new camera, a new car, new friends and hell maybe even a new girl if there’s anyone willing to be so stupid. I’d like to photograph more weddings, I’d like to have a mental time at Glasto 2013, I’m praying that the Easter special of Jonathan Creek is at least half decent (nothing as shoddy as ‘The Judas Tree’ please) and I couldn’t be looking forward to the EOYS more as the current students at work are some of the best artists yet (sorry previous lot) and honestly, there has already been some incredible work produced and with some of the best personalities yet, I can only imagine what the EOYS has to offer.

Right as it’s the end of the year here’s stuff I liked. It’s only an opinion and you’ll disagree but anyway.

Album of the year: Anberlin - Vital / 2nd We are the Ocean - Maybe Today Maybe Tomorrow / Taylor Swift – RED There has been so much good music this year, but these 3 albums are just true highlights. Add to the list things like Young Guns – Bones and Don Broco – Priorities and 2012 really has been a year of fantastic sound. Vital takes it though as it’s just so anthemic and bold. Honestly, stoked to see the band live next month.

Game of the Year: Dishonored / 2nd SSX Dishonored is one of the most original and brilliant games I have ever played. I’m still going with it, but really it is a sublime effort and quite the swan song for the current gen consoles. I waited so long for the new SSX and this year’s release was brilliant, not quite the revolution that was SSX3 but nonetheless, a hugely brilliant game.

*EDIT. I've now completed Dishonored and it is simply an artistic and immersive gem that is easilly the most impressive game I've played, not just this year but ever.*

Movie of the Year: Avengers Assemble Okay so it’s no surprise I picked this and alright it’s a blockbuster but it was good wasn’t it? The reboot of Spiderman too touched right back on the cartoon of my childhood and was fantastic and admittedly I’m still to see The Dark Knight Rises but AA went above my expectations and therefore is the best this year for me.

Gig of the year: Me Vs Hero / 2nd Frank Turner Frank’s show here in Frome was outstanding and one that if you didn’t go to you really did miss out on and Justice in Febraury were brilliant as always, but it was the intimate show at the joiners with Me VS. Hero and With the Punches, that just ended the year on a complete high. There was like 5 bands for a £6 show, I made new friends in the crowd and even threw in a couple stage dives. The next day I was covered in brusies and ached like fuck but the boys put on a show and I certainly won’t forget it. Gig of the Year hands down.

So that’s it, 2012 (as much as I can remember off the top of my head anyway) I’m going to find the wine now and see what this New Years Eve has to offer. I’ll most likely get soaked with rain and attempt to touch Lewis but as troublesome as twenty twelve has been at times this year hasn’t been all that bad really. Here’s to 2013 and whatever happens, may you have a great one. To the future...

*There was pictures in this but basically Tumblr was being difficult and not showing them properly*

[lovecleanses]

Fez os meus pés apertarem e minhas mãos tremerem.

Anberlin

[starbar]

"I'm here for you she said, and we can stay for awhile. My boyfriend's gone and we can just pretend,"

[annabee303-blog]

If a picture's worth a thousand words, then your touch is worth them all.

[iamjackssmirkingrevengee-blog]

So let me get this straight

you say now you loved me all along. What made you hesitate to tell me with words what you really feel. I can see it in your eyes you mean all of what you say, I remember so long ago, see i felt that same way.

[takeoffyourclothesanddance-blog]

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