So, like last year, I’d like to just recap the year. But this year, there’s the first half covered now and the second half tomorrow, so there’s always something to read. I’m calling this little segment Raconteur in Retrospect because it kind of is, but also because it sounded cool.

So what happened on my blog during the first half of 2009?

The first thing blogged in this year was a rather mundane 5 Other Things post reminiscing about the good old times. Ahah. That New Year’s party. I wonder if Bates can top it this year?

Perhaps the one thing you’re expecting me to mention is the start of the 7 Things I Hate About You project, aren’t you. Ooh, you know me too well. I’ll let you know how that’s gone when we come full circle on New Year’s Eve. However needless to say, it’s not looking good. I mean, "I need a way to get money" hardly came true, did it… Ahem…

Matt Smith was unveiled as the new Doctor Who. Wow, this feels so much more recent than it actually was. I remember watching the TV when this came on, and the palava NSB made about it when it was announced. Ahh, that clip of MEV on Look East still amuses me. =]

I told you pretty much anything you could ever care about on the Galapagos Islands. But unfortunately all that effort amounted in me failing that test and having to resit it in the summer. Argh, so many wasted man hours I could’ve put into improving my Miley Cyrus goal. Well, I wasted them again when I posted about the Cairngorms, but hey it’s fun making those little images.

I attempted to follow the recommended 2 litres of water per day in my challenge. Now that was interesting… it’s both an easy and hard challenge at the same time. Easy because it’s not exactly hard to put water in your face, but hard because you need to be in easy reach of a toilet for a whole two weeks. Mental. But hey, it works, you do feel refreshed after doing it. Toxins and all that, innit.

The first Humans vs. Zombies Northampton game was played. Yeah, in February, just after it snowed loads (ahh, see, now you remember…). Who knew it’d spread to even more keen people than us? Well, I would have hazarded a guess, but not the people we found to exist. There was one on the 21st of this month – the first one since we were all back at uni, much to the delight of the Allenbys.

Sickipedia made the headlines for mocking Francesca Anobile and her daredevil car roof attempt. This still remains one of my top five visited blog posts to this date, mainly by people trying to figure out what Sickipedia is and why people keep mentioning it when their work colleagues tell a horrid joke. Well, I went on a bit of a rant, and it got picked up by Google. =]

I had my BU Post-offer day in March, where I talk about stuff I do practically every day now. I made friends with Steve, and even minus his hair, he’s still a legend. There’s plenty of people on my course who are legends, though. S’all good…

I met a bunch of people in Longtown for my Duke of Edinburgh Residential. Wow, that feels like yesterday to me. Although now you mention it, I remember being around Easter-time, because I smuggled a chocolate egg in my bag to eat there. I still occasionally see people I met on that day’s statuses on Facebook, but nothing more. Say, what’s happening with our D of E books, anyway?

Diversity won Britain’s Got Talent 2009, much to the joy of one commenter. Truth be told, I still have a soft spot for Susan Boyle (which certainly isn’t hard – interpret that how you will) and was glad when her album got to Number 1 pretty much everywhere in existence. Of course, we hadn’t heard of the Rage Against The Machine chart-jacking before this, so I could be happy for a reality TV show winner topping the charts.

Along with that, we had the guilty pleasure of Eurovision in May. Man, I hate to love it, but I do. We actually came fifth this year, and were leading at one point. I know! And there was me thinking Europe hated us. This bloke won it, and I think deservedly too. Take head, Norton, you’re going to have to find the next one (like you do with practically everything now). Find someone like this.

I left NSB for the last time as a student and just had to go back for exams and stuff. That day was rather fun and random. I hope everyone enjoyed their little fluff things! =]

Xbox released news about their Project Natal which blew everyone’s minds away in June. It’s going to become part of your home setup in late 2010, but we’re getting closer to trying it out as we speak. More and more people are having a go and they’re refining it to make it as kick-ass as possible. Here’s to you, Microsoft!

Well, that’s the first half done with. Stick around for a New Year’s Eve filled with excitement about the second half. Yeah, I can see your excitement already…

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Tags: Bates, blog, Book, Bournemouth, Doctor Who, Facebook, February, game, Jack, January, June, Mac, March, May, Microsoft, News, Rita, Sam, show, Steve, talent, YouTube