So That Was 2011...

It has been a surprisingly eventful year, all things considered. Lots of stuff changed that I wasn't expecting, some good and some bad.

I got a new job. It's within the same company, but it's a lot better than the old one was and while I'm not singing and dancing on the tube ride in the mornings, I'm not cursing the world every day. Well, not as much anyway.

I split from my partner after 9 years and now live on my own for the first time. Wasn't a fun time and I'm sure it could've been handled with much more dignity than it actually was, but we all have 20/20 vision in hindsight. Being the ridiculously nice person I am I didn't go after her share of the debts (that's the last time I ever put stuff I don't want or use in my name!) and as such have been struggling a little bit more than I expected with money. However, I'm in a much better place now than I ever have been, thinking positively and being proactive about the things I want. Starting to date again was also weird, but I've been seeing a beautiful and charming woman for a few months and it all seems to be going well right now. We've been to Portugal, we've been ice skating, we're off to Somerset for New Year. Good times!

I got my driving licence back after an epic 18-month struggle with the DVLA. So that's improved my life enormously. As a result I was able to drive to Scotland and surprise my family for Christmas. And surprise them it did, since up to Christmas Eve I was telling them it was too expensive and so on. Insert evil genius cackle here.

The Albany Down album, South of the City, was finally released and you can now buy it via download or as a physical CD. You can get it from our website (www.albanydown.com) or from Amazon, Play.com or HMV. Well worth a purchase for the bargain price of £10. We're in the process of organising a festival tour of Germany next summer as well as a couple of weeks round Thailand at some point. The big old USA monster has reared its head too, but that is a huge gamble. But it's all getting better and better. I also had a go at a duo acoustic gig with a guy I went to school with and that was a really great experience which I hope to take up on a more regular basis.

So the year started off really shitty but is ending pretty great. I'm looking forward to seeing what 2012 brings. The Olympics in the summer and a zombie apocalypse in December. I know which I'm looking forward to more.

I hope you all got what you want for Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanza) and you get what you need next year. Have a great one!