Of course there was a lot more to 2013 than that but it makes for an attention grabbing post title... and I do like my attention grabbing post titles.
To say 2013 was an eventful year for me is something of a slight understatement - it's true to say that when I look back on the last twelve months, I find myself asking "that was only last year??". But its true; 2013 seemed to be a year of travel - albeit all in the United Kingdom - clocking up Belfast, Liverpool, Brighton, Newtown, Glastonbury, Oxford, London, Bristol, Manchester (for Pride), Edinburgh (for the Fringe) and Derry, where I had the most fantastic Hallowe'en ever. Quite an experience.
Talking of experiences, these took on a broader aspect too - from dining at the Liberal Club in London to being shot at with paintballs in a field near Tenby. The latter was part of my first ever 'stag weekend' for my friend Rhys, which was great fun, even if I was slightly disappointed at the lack of traffic cones being inserted into orifices and emergency visits to A&E. (Does it really count as a stag weekend if this doesn't happen at least once? Mind you, we did get the stag into drag which was an alarming sight. Particularly for the locals.)
A lot went on at the Cardiff Players in 2013 in which I was involved, from Robin Hood in January to A Christmas Carol in December. The majority of this was involved in creating trailers and video backdrops for productions, but also included painting props and flats numerous shades of grey for their production of Amanda Whittington's The Thrill of Love and operating the lighting for the one-act production and fringe festival. And also acting in the latter, in Jon Wheeler's comic sketch 'Captain Carruther's Arse'. Not exactly Tolstoy, but was great fun nonetheless.
It was a good year for new and re-acquantances too. Meeting talented local (and now International!!) artist Chris Langley (plug for his site here) led me to have my first exhibition of photographic works alongside his paintings at The Gate in Cardiff in November. A small opening but an opening nonetheless, ooer missus. And over the pond my friend Michael Swinford opened his acclaimed one-man show 'Rough Sex and Other Bad Words' at IndyFringe, where it proved so popular it has subsequently been booked in Chicago and other places. I created a trailer for the show, which can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpgsxNAnOfg
And of course, big love and thanks to the wonderful Michael Deery who introduced me to his home town of Derry (City of Culture 2013!) and showing me round the vibrant city of Belfast. Michael's involvement volunteering for the City of Culture events and particularly for Captioned Culture Derry has been amazing and inspiring - he is a truly dedicated and energetic individual!
So, 2013... a busy year, yes, that necessitated a quiet Christmas at home - Stu and myself, Zucker (new dog), ChiChi and the cats (good name for a band!) roast duck and prosecco infused trifle.
Most indulgent - but then after a year that had been this eventful, I felt like celebrating it.
So I finished the whole bottle of prosecco.
Happy New Year! Hic.
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