2009: The Things I Did

At the start of the year I rather dramatically sold about 400 DVDs, I thought this would be a tough decision, but it was surprisingly easy. In short shift thereafter I gave notice on my job as a baker and my flatshare in Cardiff so I could move to Brighton. This was an unexpectedly sudden move on my part, though I had been accepted onto a MA at Sussex University it wasn't due to start until September and I thought I'd move later in the year. However, I found a house that appealed and took a risk...

So, on the 24th January I moved to Brighton, and on my second night there got extremely drunk and fell asleep in the pub. Drunkeness would be a large part of my time in Brighton. In the first week of living there I got a job in a coffee shop, started going to the University's creative writing society, began assisting at after school writing classes for primary school children and saw a gig by the excellent Cardiff based band Threatmantics; bumped into then guitarist Ceri whilst walking back from buying some shoes and thus went straight to a pub and I had to spend the evening with a pair of shoes tied to my belt. It was a good look.

The following week it snowed a lot, and me and some housemates had a snowball fight inside and outside the house. I got very drunk as well. I went to my first poetry night (Hammer & Tongue) and saw the film Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, which resulted in me having a school-boy crush on Kat Dennings. I nipped back to Cardiff to bare witness to Attack + Defend's one and only gig of the year and do some goodbyes.

On the day before Valentine's Day I had my first ever piano lesson (I only had nine in total due to financial issues), the following day I attended a very hippy-ish poetry and music night at the wonderful raw food cafe Manna. It was a nice evening but I felt quite out of place and very self-conscious when we all had to hold hands and make a group poem...

I felt a bit more shamefully self-conscious after a house party I went to the next Saturday, as I don't have a complete memory of the evening, but I have a memory from the party that I may have dreampt, and if it's true I apologise! I blame the vodka jelly. With very little hangover I went to Brighton Zinefest the next morning with some copies of my ill-fated film-zine Seat 13, we sold out at the fest and I can't remember if I collected the money, which may explain why the magazine didn't get a second issue!

March 10th, I had an interview with Jean-Paul de Claite Rosse, who offered me the role of a bartender who finds himself homeless and alone in a short film he was directing. I also met with Gary Mepsted who was directing a play celebrating the works of Alan Bennet and then on the 5th April, two days before Jean-Paul's film began shooting, I had an audition for Henry Scriven's zombie-comedy To Let and discovered that Henry was to be the A.D. on Jean-Paul's film. Later it transpired that Gary Mepsted's house was used as one of the film's locations.

In amongst attending a few gigs, rehearsals and filming days I had a short story published in an anthology and went to London to be part of the audience for Q.I. (the episode airs in March, I think?!). I then had a press pass for the Great Escape festival in May, which coincided with an auditon for Boot Camp theatre's production of A Few Good Men. Then out of the blue on June 17th I accidentally discovered I had a ticket to Glastonbury, so had to make some desperate last minute lift blagging and - squeezing in rehearsals, a day of filming on Broken, a house warming in Canterbury, the filming of To Let and an ultimately life-changing interview for a position at the Job Centre - went to the festival and got to see an incredible array of bands I dearly love live.

On the way back I was asked to come back to Cardiff and shoot a music video for Los Campesinos!'s new single, which I then edited the following day. Finally on the 8th July we did the last day of filming on Jean-Paul's Broken.

August was a quiet month until performances of A Few Good Men on the 20th, 21st and 22nd; after which I went to London for my birthday and to see my friend Kirsty for the first time in a year or so. In the middle of this birthday treat week, on my actual birthday no less, I had to dash back (thanks to my good friend Carl driving) to Brighton to find out the status of my dormant job at the Job Centre, which I had got and been CRB checked for, but had not yet received a start date. After milling around for three or four hours I was told that the Head of the Job Centre, that very morning, had decided not to take on any new staff. This suddenly put my personal financial and housing situation in to no small degree of turmoil, and meant I had to make some snap decisions. So, on the 31st August I gave notice at the house in Brighton and three days later moved to East Dulwich where I had a nice comfy sofa to squat on.

A couple of weeks into my time in London I went down to Dorset to the magnificent End of the Road festival, and in the following weeks got to see a few plays such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Title of the Drama About Ante is Written Here... and Kurt & Sid. I also had the most bizarre job interview request of my life when a franchised donut company (that shall remain nameless) based in a well known London department store in Knightsbridge asked me to provide a stool sample. Fortunately two weeks later I began work in the retail department of the Natural History Museum and didn't have to give anyone my poo poo (thought I've kept the collection kit for a potential Christmas gift).

At the start of October I met up with Joel, formerly of the band Muarena Helena, who I had begun talking to via Myspace under my 'band' guise. Whilst I was in Brighton, Joel and I had collaborated through e-mail on seven songs and he'd given me some degree of confidence in the 'music' I was making, this eventually led to me, Joel and bass player Andy even having a jam session; which is something I never imagined I'd have the guts to do at this point.

I also had a press pass to the Times BFI London Film Festival, and though work commitments stopped me from seeing as much as I would've liked, I did get to see advance screenings of Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Men Who Stare At Goats, A Single Man and The Road.

Once again Los Campesinos! drafted me in to come down, to Oxford this time, and film a live performance for them, I also provided some photo montages for their album artwork ('Romance is Boring' out in February).

In all I reviewed 139 demos and records over the year, saw 53 films at the cinema. The 10 best of each are as follows:

Best Records of 2009.

1. Monster Island - The Anchor
2. Untied States - Instant Everything, Constant Nothing
3. Animals + War - Self-Titled
4. Them Squirrels - Them Scribbles
5. Cate Le Bon - Me Oh My
6. Das Wanderlust - Horses For Courses
7. Attack + Defend - Theme
8. The Keys - Years Are Made Of Seconds
9. The Victorian English Gentlemens Club - Love On An Oil Rig
10. Colourmusic - Yes!

Best Films of 2009.

1. Up
2. Synecdoche, New York
3. District 9
4. Star Trek
5. Moon
6. Pirate For The Sea
7. Coraline
8. Fanastic Mr. Fox
9. Where The Wild Things Are
10. Knowing

To be totally honest 2009 has been an odd year, and a turbulent one in a mild, buffeting kind of way; not like a full on seastorm, but it hasn't been smooth sailing. Saying that, my year ended on a positive note, well, a positive ellipsis.

The first Quack Spout of the year will be online very soon. But until then I hope you've had a great end to 2009 and a wonderful start to 2010...