Clear Your Heart: The Big Fat Massive Review of the Year

So, I've had a bit of time on my hands today and, more for my own benefit than anyone else's, I've reviewed my year, month by month. A pictorial journey through my year, if you will...

January

The year began with a bang. I was in Liverpool and very very drunk. The merriment continued into New Years Day night and I saw 2ManyDJs at the Warehouse Project with my two favourite Chris's. Marvellous. The rest of the month involved nursing a poorly man back to health, falling ridiculously in love and eating a lot of cheese and biscuits.

I started the year looking like this. Angel faced, aren't i?

February

This month included seeing Basement Jaxx, Simian Mobile Disco, The Whip, Mr Scruff and the Editors. I had exams to do which sucked the very life out of me. 5 in 5 days! Vile. I had the most perfect Valentines Day ever in the Lake District. There was a walk up a very big hill, a lovely picnic and pints of disconcertingly coloured cider in a cozy pub.

March

During March I saw the Guillemots, who were ace. James Zabiela and Danny Howells were also witnessed at Paradise Factory. March was not a good month. Lies were uncovered and trust was broken. But things were rebuilt eventually.

April

April was ace. I took the man to the Leeds Malmaison for his 30th. We ate in the restaurant and it was pretty much the nicest meal I've ever had. I had terrine to start and it was accompanied by chutney. In a copper pot. Cue much hilarity and Oswald Copperpot impressions. The Malmaison has the best selection of cheese in the world. Fact. April also saw a visit to Chester Zoo where I was dismayed to discover a distinct lack of hippos. Boo.

May

May was one of my favourite months of the year. We went to see Booka Shade and Sasha at the Warehouse Project and it pretty much blew me away. The night was followed by one of the most perfect weekends I've ever had. There was wine, laughter, breakfast at The Tavern and a lovely long walk in the park. I love a good long walk.

May also saw a visit to Dublin. Dublin was rainy, cold and so expensive I could have wept. But the flights were only £15 and we did have a delightful Indonesian meal. In fact, Dublin was all about the food. We went for less than 48 hours but managed to consume a McDonalds breakfast, a chinese buffet, the most expensive fish and chips in the world (17 euros!), a fry up and the aforementioned Indonesian. There was also a lot of cider and Jamesons drunk.

Other highlights of the marvellous month of May included seeing The Wombats, The Whip and discovering Star Wars lego on the x-box. It was also the month that saw me dye my hair black. I've not looked back. I love being a raven haired minx.

Dublin

June

June was also a fairly fabulous month. We had a truly perfect weekend camping in the Lake District. We cooked sausages, had a pub lunch, had scones with clotted cream and jam, drank gin and tonic and red wine and went for a fantastic walk up another big hill. It was beautiful and magical and the happiest I was all year. Glastonbury also took place in June and it goes without saying that it was amazing. Highlights included Jay-Z, Kate Nash, The Whip, the cider, the laughter, the sun and the pies. Oh, the pies!

Beautiful Ullswater

July

I got my Legal Practice Course results in July. I was shocked to say the least when I got a Distinction. I was not expecting that at all. I got bought champagne and dinner by the boy and I don't think I've ever felt more proud of myself. Other July highlights included going camping to Shell Island and my perfect Grecian holiday. I don't really have the words to express how wonderful it was. Sun, sea, sand, my soulmate. Nuff said.

August

August was the month of the festival. Bloom, V and Creamfields. Bloom was rainy, windy, small but lovely in every respect. Roisin Murphy, London Breakbeat Orchestra, Beardyman and Altern-8. Via pies, cider, hours spent laughing in the tent and fancy dress. V was as I expected, massive and very very commercial. But I loved it all the same. Mud, Girls Aloud, Muse, Maximo Park, mud, cider, wine, mud, lots and lots of camping stove cooking. Creamfields was loud, muddy and full of chavs. Quelle surprise. I got my purse stolen. But it was also ace. Fatboy Slim and Underworld were the main highlights for me.

September

The less said about September the better. I thought things were ok. He felt otherwise. Life as I knew it ended.

September doesn't deserve a photo.

October

October was simply the aftermath of September. I did see Dylan Moran, however, and that perked me up somewhat.

November

This was a better month. I started to get a grip of myself. I turned 27 and resolved to make some very big changes in my life. I finally got a job, started to laugh a bit more and realised that there's actually quite a lot to love about me. I had some good nights out, saw Roisin Murphy again and danced. Dancing makes everything better.

I ended the year looking like this. Goth.

December

And so, here we are. December has been a confusing month, to say the least. And I get the feeling the confusion will continue for a while yet. But it's been a good month. I am a lot more together than I have been for years. I have some very real, very personal goals to achieve in 2009 and I'm looking forward to getting started.