Top 5 - Films of 2008

WALL-E
Juno
No Country For Old Men
Quantum of Solace
Mamma Mia! (I know, I know, but I'm with Kermode on this one)

Top 5 - Albums of 2008

The Age of the Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets
Consolers of the Lonely - The Raconteurs
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
Glasvegas - Glasvegas

Time to Pretend

Back in England and back in Blogland. It feels like a long time and I guess it has been looking back at the date of my last post. I've returned to Blighty, Christmas has come and gone and now it's nearly the end of the year.

Although I generally tend to sneer cynically at all the new year resolutions and associated traditions (it's somehow not as wholesome and as heart warming as Christmas), I'll be trying to constructively reflect on what's been and what I plan for the future. Having said that, I won't be so naive as to make any resolutions. One year I resolved to learn to play guitar and run the marathon. I eventually did achieve both (although neither with style it has to be said) but it took me the best part of four years to do so.

Of course the plus point of New Year's Eve in particular is the carte blanche it gives people to get absolutely off their face. Yes, it is a plus point. For every boozy thug that sees it as an excuse to get hammered and cause a bust up with a bouncer, they'll be some genuinely hopeful that 2009 will bring a changing of the winds, an escape from tragedy or a reversal of fortunes.

Whatever the reason, I guess the true importance of the new year celebrations might be that for some it's an excuse to hope, a time to pretend, regardless of the reality that after all it is just another day come the 1st January.

It's still a precious pretense.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I finish work today. Ahead are two whole weeks of annual leave and tomorrow I'll be jetting off to Cologne for three days, sampling the delights of their famous Christmas Markets before returning home just in time for Christmas Eve.

I'm not trying to brag, I'm just looking forward to it more than Noddy Holder to his annual Christmas royalties. It's funny, Germany seems to be something akin to the centre of my universe in recent times, what with this trip and the now legendary World Cup expedition back in 2006, it's becoming a regular haunt. Maybe my Aryan qualities stand me in good stead or perhaps more to the point, Boris Becker doppelgangers can't fail.

Auf Wiedersehen, pet.

Top 5 - Christmas Singles

Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade
Last Christmas - Wham!
Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon
Mistletoe and Wine - Cliff Richard
White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Mark and Mayo

I listened to "Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo's Film Reviews" podcast for the first time yesterday. Amazing! They sound like they hate each other.

Obviously I'd back Kermode over Mayo any day but the mix of the latters radio friendly timbre and the formers histrionic ranting make for a firecracker show - I do love a good rant.

That's all besides the content itself which was sharp, insightful and witty. I particularly enjoyed the review of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" - sounds like another Keanu masterclass!

Here's an example of their work. Kermode slags off Quantum of Solace. Just watch the first two minutes. Genius.

Bobby Charlton - "Our Bob"

I can't imagine the Neville's like this in 30 years time.

Lifetime achievement award for Bobby Charlton

I wish I'd seen him play.