I've had some great years in my lifetime, but this topples them all... I think. Let me quickly run through why, through the medium of awards.
Sports
This category accounts not just for the obvious, but for my personal sporting life. At University, it was my humble duty to report for footballing services in the DIGS league. Having being snapped up by newcomers Aberzaijan, the 3rd years took me under their wings and along with my fellow freshers and some 2nd years, I've had a blast on and off the pitch, scoring on both turfs (WHEYO). Onto the serious stuff, London 2012. Sadly my ability to cover all of the Olympics was hindered by my summer job, but I was still able to catch many key moments, and with updates flying around the office, I was kept reasonably up to date. This year more than any has made me proud to be British, with the unity of the country coming together through smiles and cheers, and the Team GB athletes of the Olympic and Paralympic games could not have done us more proud. Another moment that meant a lot to me was Andy Murray winning the US Open, gaining him his first major trophy as a tennis player. Supporting him all the way from Salou for his Wimbledon final was special too, and it's a shame he didn't win that match with Federer. Unfortunately for my local football club Wolverhampton Wanderers it has been a dire year, absolutely dreadful. As if being relegated from the Premier League wasn't bad enough, if we don't pull ourselves together it could happen again in the Championship, but that is the pessimist in me, we'll be fine. Along with the rollercoaster ride of Euro 2012 for England, football has been near the bottom and at the very top of my list of moments of 2012.
Moment of the year: This award goes to Sergio Aguero for his goal on May 13th, in the 95th minute, and the Etihad Stadium erupts like Vesuvius, and Manchester City, a team I don't even support, win the Premier League title. That whole game was just... absolutely incredible. If the last day of the 2013 season is even half as dramatic as the one this year, then I think most of us will be happy. Watch that special moment again here.
Music
While the first half of 2012 was relatively quiet for me following music, the second half of the year was certainly eventful, with gigs and albums aplenty. Whilst the summer had me tracking the progress of Muse's upcoming album 'The 2nd Law', and autumn had me basking in it's glory along with a gig from said band, plus gigs from Lostprophets (...a moment of silence for them) and Feeder. With my obvious joy at a new release from my favourite band, their gig at the LG Arena lived up to the hype, and was easily one of the best gigs I've seen from them. Next year I can look forward to seeing them again, this time at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester straight after my exams. Albums from Pulled Apart By Horses and Green Day also particularly caught my attention, with albums from Biffy Clyro, Queens of the Stone Age and The Prodigy to look forward to in the upcoming 2013.
Moment of the year: This award goes to Leeds Festival and the people I shared one of the best weekends ever with, and they are as follows:
- Oliver Butler
- Danny Curtis
- Jack Griffin
- Reece Jacques
- Luke Nicholson
- James Potts
Shout outs also go to the following bands for putting on stellar performances and making that weekend ten times better than V Festival could possibly have been this year:
- Foo Fighters
- Kasabian
- Pulled Apart By Horses
- Enter Shikari
- Foster The People
- The Hives
- Twin Atlantic
- The Black Keys
University
Only being able to include the second and third semesters of my life as a Fresher, plus my first semester as a Sophomore, I think I can still safely say that my decision to come to Aberystwyth University has been a fruitful one. Adapting to life was not difficult at all, with a friendly community and a GODDAMN BEACH being part of the Aberystwyth service, it's no wonder it is regarded highly as a University not just for research and teaching, but crucially for experience. Living in the student village on campus as a Fresher allowed me to make friends quickly, with all of my housemates in PJM sharing different interests with me, and still to this day, House 39 rules. Spending drunken nights out at the Union became a formality, and when I was mature enough to realise that the Union had run its course, I moved onto the big leagues: town, and the delights of Yokos and Pier Pressure, partying regularly with my housemates, The Biz and Aberzaijan. Moving into 2nd year, and life got even better, living in town and hanging out with the Biology Society I have made some great friends that I will be sad to see go when we all eventually move on from Aberystwyth and we are no longer just a stones throw away from each other. As much as I love coming home every now and then, as I type this right now I do miss University and all it has to offer, and the following semesters are ones I look forward to very much.
Moment of the year: This award goes to House 39 for providing countless moments of hilarity, so I guess the award is 'Moments of the year' you pedantic reader.
Shout outs also go to:
- Cwrt Mawr Bar for hosting many fun days out, including the intense Six Nations match between Wales and England, which provided a whirlwind of emotions and strong signs of togetherness
- Yokos for being worse than Mainers
- Penglais Hill for giving me a challenge
- Bierkeller for being the best thing the Union will ever do
- Whoever invented pub golf
THAT JUST ABOUT BRIEFLY SUMS UP WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE, SO TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO READ THIS BLOG THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, I THANK YOU.
HERE'S TO 2013!
