Let's Pry Into My 2010

Hello and welcome to the New Year; it is the first day of 2011. Enjoying it so far? I hope you are. I hope you're not suffering too much for your deeds of New Years Eve to celebrate the coming of a New Year. Mind you, it is your own fault, so just suck it up.

Anyway, only one paragraph into this blog and I have already drifted off topic. This is an uninteresting blog about the past year; or more specifically, my past year. I spend the whole year blogging about events which happen throughout the world, on television, in politics and maybe a tiny bit about my life. This is my one time, each year, to share with you my year and its events - good and bad.

In conclusion; my 2010 hadn’t been that great. In fact, and I don't wish to sound melodramatic, but it has actually been the worst year of my life thus far. I remember blogging in 2008 that was the worst year of my life, but I was just in negative mental place when typing. I now look back and consider 2007/2008 to be my best years of my life. However, I don't think I will look back upon this year and think 'You know what - I was too negative'.  I may look back and think 'It was the year which helped shaped my future' and 'if that hadn't happened, imagine how bad it would be now', but I won’t look back with joy.

Within the first week of 2010, I failed my driving test. I should have taken that as a sign that it wasn't going to be a great year, but I didn't. I didn't see it coming, and that was my fault. However, a few months later, I passed my driving test, and the first few months of the year, where actually quite good. I felt good about the upcoming months. Then Easter happened. I claim that my year went downwards from then. I broke my iPod earphones. They were on the floor, and then my size 11's stood on them. I couldn't listen to my music for days!

Yeah, I'm not that shallow to be that upset at breaking earphones. However, it was like an elaborate domino effect. It starts off as a small domino being pushed, but then it ends up knocking over a huge skyscraper. Now, that is melodramatic my dear readers.

Anyway, the few weeks which followed were the ones that ruined the year for me. My camera broke, which again sounds pathetic, but it isn't when put into context. I had a photography exam in two weeks time, and the camera actually (in what I now see as irony but at the time was annoying) broke while preparing for the exam. Anyway, I went out and brought a new, better camera and took better pictures in preparation for the exam. I then, three days before the exam I had spent two months preparing, got Chicken Pox.

It carries on. I wasn't allowed to resit the exam. Ahh, bugger. Then that is where it starts snowballing and just getting worst. Me not being able to sit the exam meant that I wouldn't get enough grades to get into University. Therefore, getting Chicken Pox ended up in me not being able to go to University and essentially put my life on hold for an entire year. Talk about timing. Geez! Out of all the weeks in my life to get Chicken Pox, it had to be that one. Not only that, but I have a Chicken Pox scar on my face. It just gets worse.

A few weeks later, I became 18. I was looking forward to that, but I found out I shouldn't have. That was pretty rubbish really. I had a big party against my will. I didn't particularly want it, and I was right, but since when has my mother listened to me? I just think most people who attended, played a part in ruining the evening. Plus, I really hurt my back that afternoon, so I was already in a bad mood.

Then the rest of the year ended up being very quiet. People came and went from my life for reasons no-one has actually explained to me. September came and I returned to school, while my peers went to University. Even the most happiest of people could not have been depressed during those few days. Also in September, I witnessed a suicide. To anyone considering suicide - don't. It's the most selfish thing you can do, and even by thinking about it, you're a bit of a self-deprecating bastard.

A man jumped off a bridge just moments before I drove under it and got hit by a man driving an Audi TT at half 11 on a Saturday night. I was out picking my Mum and two of her intoxicated friends up. I have never seen three middle aged woman sober up so quickly. But yes, so when you commit suicide like that, think about not only how it will affect all the people in your life that you care about, but also those who have to see your body laying in the road; or worse - the person driving the car you fall in front off.

I didn’t exactly have the best luck with my 'motor' either since I passed my test. Broke down in August, then took about 6 weeks before it was properly repaired with a new Throttle Body costing a fair few hundred of our English Pounds. Then, with its MOT a few weeks later, they discovered rust on the frame holding the engine in; so nothing important. I was told that running a car was expensive, but I had no idea about how much. So, that hasn't exactly helped my year.

However, apart from those things, nothing else dramatically bad has happened. The Chicken Pox and its aftermath is the event which has ruined the year for me. I should actually be writing this blog in a rare break from doing University work, but instead doing it amongst doing very little Photography work due to me doing it all last year. Since May, this has been a rather unproductive and boring year, and made more depressing due to the fact I have spent yet another being single.

Wallace, Gromit and The Were Rabbit at Canterbury's Anifest

It wasn’t been bad though. I have made the most of this year long quiet spell in my life and doing things I want to be doing and relaxing before I have three years of going into massive debt and having little in the way of free time. I mean, lots of bad things have happened this year, but the odd good thing had happened. I did pass driving test. I taught myself how to whistle. I even learnt the basics of riding a horse. I have ridden a horse. I never thought that I would have done that in 2010. I have seen Wallace and Gromit in their tiny existence. I have even sat feet away from one of my Childhood heroes - Ardal O'Hanlon. How amazing are those things?

2010 has been a bad year, but there are plenty of good things which have happened, but surely the good things are not as interesting to write about. I still feel negative and I still stick to my statement of 2010 being the worst year, but this is the time of year for reflection; and it's surprising how much better when you look upon everything that happened other than just the main things which stay in your head. The people who have stayed in my life are obviously the best people on the planet.

What will 2011 hold for me then? I have absolutely no idea, but hopefully this time next I will be writing blogs in between University work and maybe even writing them from the comfort of an apartment in London. It could just be an amazing year. A year of huge changes it is sure to be. I bet I'm still single though.

Anyway, this is enough self-orientated blogging, I hope you all had a great 2010, and that 2011 is a great year for you filled with love, laughter and health.

Edit:
This year I also went to see some pretty amazing fireworks, where I also met a Dalek. Yes, a Dalek. So that is another two positives for 2010!

And here is the proof: A Dalek pimping out women in florescent jackets...

Let's Rummage Into My 2009

2009 has been an average for me really and when I look reflect upon the year which has past, I am quite content; it's not been a fantastic year which I'm going to remember for the rest of my life, and it's also not been a crap year in which nothing positive has happened. It's been quite a straight forward year. Last year’s blog which reflected on 2008 was quite a negative and depressing one because I focused on the negative - making it sound much worse than it was. This year’s blog will be an unbiased blog in which the positive and negatives are discussed.

Positive One - Jade Goody died. Not much else to say really; I always feel guilty when I say bad stuff about her now, but when I remember how much she irritated me when she was alive, I feel better and not as guilty upon realising she won't bother me again.

Negative One - Bad A-level results. In August the White Envelope didn't contain good results, including me getting an E in English. This has in turn affected my confidence ever since and my motivation to do anything has been affected also. I now have to work hard to make sure I do well in retakes as well as making sure I get good, well deserved results next year. Those bad results probably were the worst thing to happen to me this year.

Positive Two - Twitter. May seem stupid to most people, but to me it's a good thing. I started Tweeting in February and since then (apart from the two months where I stopped Tweeting) have Tweeted numerous times a day, with it becoming an addiction for me. My popularity has increased throughout the year and I've broken the 1000th Tweet barrier. I have become rather hooked on Tweeting the dullness of my life. I quite like the mission of putting your point across in 140 characters; it's a good skill to build up.

Negative Two - Love Life. I say 'Love Life' - it probably should be 'Lack of a Love Life'. I have now gone over 18 months of singleness. That doesn't bother me too much; I'm quite content only having to worry about myself and not having the hassle, but it kind of gets to you when you have friends which are happy and giddy about being in love with 'The One' as they often refer to them as and declaring how hard it would be to survive without them. I'm quite the cynic in the realms of love which probably is a good explanation as to why I'm single in the first place.

Positive Three - Driving. Again, quite a silly thing to put as a positive of my year, but then I am sad like that. I've waited years to be able to drive, and now I've reached the age in which I can. I've enjoyed my lessons - all 32 of them with my instructor making them more enjoyable. The hope that early next year I will be able to drive on my own is a positive of this year. People should be on the lookout for a boy driving an orange Nissan Micra soon in the future (Hopefully).

Negative Three - Depression. Something I've suffered with badly and quietly this year. One obvious observation I've had of depression is that it's not very nice and can be quite lonely. This again has caused a loss of confidence, but it's something I'm aiming to change in 2010; let’s just hope it works out so I can spend next year being happy and smiling.

Positive Four - Maturity. Despite still being relatively immature a majority of the time (something which adds to my 'charm'), I have become much more mature this year - maybe as a result of all the negative happenings in the past year, but who knows. I've certainly given 'my' life more direction with me setting goals to achieve and deciding that I'd like to get into Journalism - whether I end up working in a supermarket remains to be seen however.

Negative Four - Doctors. I've spent a lot of this year being in and out of the Doctors Surgery and they are not the happiest moments of my life. Literary on the 1st January I went deaf and was for two months before I finally had my ears syringed. Been to the doctors for problems with my feet, continuous headaches and then recently - deaf again and having ears syringed, so a nice full circle. Hopefully I'll be better next year though.

Positive Five - Scrubs. Another silly little thing which in some way has improved my year. This time last year I'd never watched one episode, and now I've watched them all at least twice - that's commitment. Every evening before I go to bed I watch and episode or two which I've recorded. Those digital recorders are very good you know!

Negative Five - Money. My God, I've gotten through some money this year - and I don't even have a job. A few thousand on car-related stuff, the odd hundred here and there buying stuff for myself (latest one a new Hi-Fi for my room), buying stuff for school (Photography isn't a cheap subject) and now Christmas - I'm refusing to work out how much I've spent for Christmas because I don't fancy a heart attack really. I'm praying I pass my driving test because petrol is cheaper than lessons and another test...

Positive Six - Comedy. Can't beat a bit of comedy to cheer yourself up can you? Seeing Milton Jones, Sean Lock and Lee Mack in a space of just over a month certainly is a big highlight for me. I'm not going to go through it again, because I've already written a blog about it, but it's a good experience and something you have to make sure you do! Who'll I see next year I wonder?

Negative Six - Media. I don't mean the subject which I dropped in May, I mean the newspapers and television and everything else. Being constantly informed of Katie Price's life, Kerry Katona being drugged up, Tiger Woods playing away, Jedward annoying the nation, Susan Boyle having a mental breakdown or Lady Gaga being a hermaphrodite - they're all things I don't care about and have made this year hell for me and every other sane person in Britain.

Positive Seven - Advertisement. It was good to have Mr Karnavas mention my blog at the end of his speech at the Presentation Evening. Mind you, I don't know what he said about it because I wasn't listening - I perked up when he said 'Stuart' and missed the beginning of it. I'm not sure advertising to a room of 300 bored people was the best form of advertisement, but as they say ‘Any publicity is good publicity’. Something for you to try if you get bored though: If you go on Google and search 'Phil Karnavas Murder' my blog comes up first. It's the small things in life...

Negative Seven - Time. I have no time to myself really, which everyone needs a bit of. If I'm not at school I'm usually doing school work. Occasionally you'll see me with friends, but even that's not time to myself. I like time to myself just listening to some tunes and writing a blog like this. I'm writing this blog instead of attempting my mountain of English and Photography work for example...

Positive Eight - Friends. The best positive of the lot. It may have been a relatively rubbish year for me and I'm not exactly expecting 2010 to be a better year, but I know my friends will always cheer me up, like they have this year; unless they get fed up of trying, but I doubt they will. Anywho, I thank them.
Well, sorry for the long blog; went on longer than I anticipated. That's my year in 1,215 words anyway - hope your 2009 has been good and hope 2010 is another great year for you!

Remember to continue to read The Blog Of Stuart: It's the only blog mentioned by Mr Karnavas at this year’s CHS Presentation Evening.

Apology 01/01/10:

My comments about Mr Karnavas's speech being boring (in Positive Seven) is actually false. I and my fellow classmates in no way found it boring. It was an enlightening speech about our schools achievements. I apologise now to Mr Karnavas and anyone else offended by my comments and for any upset caused. This was an unfair representation of a man who is full of life, witty and a generally good guy.

Let’s Delve Into My 2008

So 2008 is soon nearing its end, and as I’ve been ill lately, I’ve been reflecting over my year. It’s the time of year when we stand back and look at the year we’ve had and reflect on it so we can learn, and not make the same mistakes next year. So how has my year been? Well it varies.

Overall, I guess it has been a rather good year, but I still think 2007 was my favourite year to date. This year had had its up and its downs. I’ve been ecstatic and depressed, busy and bored, in and out of love, confused and intelligent, annoyed and cheerful, betrayed and trusted and also accomplished and disappointed. Also I missed out some great chances, which I will regret for a long time to come.

This year is full of things I regret. Things I regret saying, or not saying. Things I regret doing and more often – not doing. If I had a time machine I would defiantly go back to January 1st 2008 and start the entire year again. I do feel that this has been a waste of time, as I am going to end it exactly the same way I began it. If anything I’m actually ending the year worse than I started it. It’s those niggly bits that make you think ‘What If?’ ‘What If I hadn’t let myself be manipulated’, but then that leads to the question ‘What If I never found out they were all lies?’ ‘What if I had appreciated the things I had, when I had them, rather than miss the chance?’ ‘What if I wasn’t such a bastard?’

That’s another thing, this year I can conclude (all that an obvious conclusion) that there are a lot of liars about. Actually, not only liars, but bad liars. I mean if you’re going to lie, at least try and do it properly. I have been lied to on a number of occasions throughout the year, but then found out they were lies, without even trying, people make it all too easy these days.

This year did have the potential to be the best year ever, until next year, and I did pretty much stuff it up on every occasion I could find. Possibility of an argument, I’d be there. Potential opportunity to do a bit of bitching behind someone’s back, I’d participate and that is how the year progressed. Not the best way to go about your life.

There have been good things about this year, before you go thinking it was all bad and start feeling sorry for me. This year I discovered who my real friends are, and the people I can trust. This year I passed my GCSE’s, although that means nothing these days. This year I had a lot of fun. This year I discovered my full potential, for now at least. This year I actually haven’t told many lies, only the lies you do to protect someone. This year I got real close to people, but then also drifted far away from people, some of the people that meant the most.

You see, for me it was a year of many contrasts, and have been up and down so many times. Which is why it doesn’t beat 2007 as my best year. 2008 to me will be known as year I regretted.

Coming closer and closer is 2009, and I think it could be a rather good year. Next year see’s me turn 17 you know, which means the age of driving is approaching. Also next year, some other stuff will happen hopefully, which will make it more interesting. Maybe I’ll fall in love, or maybe I’ll win the lottery, or maybe I’ll just spend the year listening to my 120GB iPod, and look back at it this time next year and think how boring it was. I guess we’ll have to wait and see.