Best Of 2008

31 December 2008 By Matt 1 In General Blog

Well, it’s been a bumper ride this past year, what with the Credit Crunch, Duke of Edinburgh etc, but what’s it been like in my life?

Hectic is probably the best word to describe it. What, in this year I’ve learnt to drive, found old friends, made new friends, made better friends out of those I already had, moved into my new room, received lots of international mail, applied to university… basically, lots of stuff.

But what happened over the past twelve months specifically reported on this blog? Well, let’s cover them. Considering you’re at home on New Year’s Eve, you must have the time…

January
Beadle - This was back when I was still on Windows Live Spaces, which seems like an age ago.
- Jeremy Beadle died at the end of this month. That’s a shame, because he’s really a bit of a legend.
- The iPod Touch got the update to bring it up to speed with the iPhone, but costs £12.99 to do so. Even though I said I’d never pay to update it, I eventually did. That’s a shame.
- News at Ten made a comeback. Hoorah! Good old Sir Trev.

February
- I went off to Dorset for my Geography coursework. What an awesome educational trip that was. Half the time we were playing aeroball. Love it.
- Me, Simon, Jordan and Carl went to go see Jimmy Carr at the Derngate. Never drink Sprite through a straw.
- The first widely noticed flashmob occurred in Trafalgar square, where everyone froze. It was the inspiration for the Northampton flashmob further down the like.
- An earthquake was felt across much of the UK. It originated somewhere near Grimsby.

March
– I received my Project Airmail post from V. After TJ and Ian, mine contained some girly rubbers like the others did too. I’m part of a gang. Woo!
- We watched ‘Be Kind Rewind’ at the cinema, which was the start of our movie-style split between me and the rest of my friends.
- Pi Day was celebrated by Mr L getting all excited.
- The original Captain Birdseye died. What a legend! I don’t remember any Birds Eye adverts at all, now. Something about some guy in a massive house? I don’t know…
- Basil Brush was called a racist after a Gypsy fox sold Basil heather. Nothing really came of it, though, did it.

April
– Raconteurblog.net became the main place for my blog over Windows Live Spaces, although every post still gets copied there now, for people on the old MSN’s sake.
- Google’s annual April fools joke stated that Virgin and Google were going to make ordinary people the first inhabitants of Mars. Oh, you people…
- Oreos made their first appearance to the UK and were an instant success. I was addicted to them, Christy is still addicted to them, and the kiddies still crave them.
- My provisional driving licence came through the post. Even though I couldn’t use it just yet, I was already bricking it.

May
– Gladiators came back on Sky One. They changed the theme music, they changed the Gladiators, they changed everything. It looked like one of those mock-ups you see bored preteens recording and putting on YouTube. But you have to love it.
- A kid fell off of a bouncy castle and got brain damage, and the parents sued the other parents who were holding the party. I made a controversial blog post about it. The first of a few…
- The 6,666,666,666th child was born somewhere in the third world. Well, at least he or she’ll have something to be proud of in their limited life.
- The Eurovision Song Contest was held and Russia won. Andy Abraham sang for us, and came joint last. Here Terry Wogan pretty much announced he was stepping down from the job, but officially did it only a few days ago. Giving his throne to Graham Norton of all people.

June
- Obviously, the month of my birthday, and the month I started learning to drive. Holy Moses I was bricking it so much.
- George Sampson won Britain’s Got Talent. After writing a blog post about it, I was assumed to be him and got lots of blog comments assuming as such. To date, that post alone accounts for a quarter all the total comments on Raconteur.
- I had the start of a succession of failed job interviews. The first was for PC World and failed miserably. Obviously I’m not enough of a cock to work there.
- I took the Home Bargains Challenge and did my Silver Duke of Edinburgh expeditions on kit costing about £5 in total. It worked better than some peoples £40 sleeping backs, at least…
- Northampton’s water supply was contaminated by a dead rabbit in Pitsford Reservoir. Curses, you. Not letting me drink water in the summer!

July
- The UK bit of the Grand Prix will be held at Donnington Speedway instead of Silverstone. This sparked outrage by everyone, and numerous Facebook groups about the same subject were made and people forced to join.
- It was three years since the London bombings, and passed without anyone noticing…
- The iPod Touch and iPhone got its 2.0 update. It gave us the App Store, and basically a new way for me to blog, which is awesome.
- The world’s oldest blogger Olive Riley died aged 108. Her blog was called "The Life of Riley". Love it.
- The first Northampton flashmob took place in the Drapery. We had a massive pirate fight. I thought it was the best one, to be honest, but I know others who would disagree.

August
– The Northampton Balloon Festival happened. It was a complete failure. Surprise surprise.
- The Air Guitar World Championships were held in Finland. An American just had to win it, didn’t they.
- I made the Richy B game. Instant success, and now part of my portfolio…
- Nerimon got the Um Bongo campaign really underway. Even though it was already in Waitrose stores… and on Ocado.

September
– This month held the 7th Annual Official Talk Like a Pirate Day, although nobody really celebrated it like Jake did the year before.
- I started Year 13 work and have hated it ever since. Especially Maths. Why the hell did that get so hard?
- I started my UCAS application. What a load of fun that’s been…
- I outlined how you could have an entire Christmas lunch for five for £9. Bargain. I hope nobody actually followed that.
- I got Jack’s T-shirt in exchange for no more Strictly Come Dancing talk. Actually, come to think of it, he never actually stopped talking about it. Hmm. I’ve been robbed.
- We traded in Berlinda the Berlingo for a C3. She’s now on the big forecourt in the sky…
- Alex and Charlie did their BlogTV Birthday Marathon. It means nothing to anyone who isn’t a hardcore YouTube watcher like me, but screw you.
- Ian released ‘Overflow – What Love is Better’, which was the best song ever made. To date, nobody has beaten it. Or come close.

October
– Geraldine McQueen won Britain’s Got The Pop Factor And Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly On Ice. Enough said.
- I went on my gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition practice. Climbing up a scree slope with a heavy bag, while being scared of heights. Not fun.
- I ordered a new laptop, which consequently broke three days into getting it, and then got a new one.
- Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross insulted Andrew Sachs on his answering machine. Probably the worst decision they will ever make…

November
– The Poppy Appeal and Children in Need happened. Everyone raised a lot of money for some awesome causes and should feel good for doing so. I’d hope, anyway.
- We drew Secret Santa people. I got Jack, but everyone told everyone anyway, so it’s hardly a secret.
- I got the Lips game. Yes, everyone needs a little bit of homosexual in their lives…
- Someone dies in a stampede to get cheap deals from a Wal-Mart in America. They just stepped over the poor guy.
- Socialelement.co.uk was founded, and so far so good.

December
– I passed my driving test. Finally. I haven’t driven since, however, so I’ve probably forgotten how to do it. Uh-oh.
- Jake had a paintballing birthday party. Honestly, it rocked so much, especially the bit before it.
- I had my first ever university interview. Personally, I think it was a success, getting an offer. I just hope I can pull off the grades.
- Woolworths went bust, and the Northampton flashmob people held a candlelit vigil for it. We love you Woolies. Shame you have to leave us. It’ll be hard without you, but we’ll cope.
- Alexandra Burke got Christmas #1. I wanted Geraldine to get it, but beggars can’t be choosers.
- I took part in Plurk Secret Santa, and got some nice little graphics from Santa.