Years, Nutshells, etc - Sat Dec 31

And there you go. We’ve done it again. Made it through another barrage and survived to see the other side. (And long may that run continue!)

So... what will we remember 2011 for, when it comes to it? Charlie Sheen and his tiger blood? The riots of the summer, when London burned and I saw even the mean streets of Fishermead smoulder a little? The year the Premier League player called Matthew Taylor who I always wanted to join West Ham joined West Ham?

The year when the planet waved a final farewell to many figures, including Amy Winehouse, Pete Postlethwaite and Gary Speed? And a good riddance to Osama Bin Laden and just the other week Kim Jong-il. Regardless of whether, like me, you have some kind of hopelessly optimistic liberal faith in the sanctity of International Law (such as it is) which may still trouble me about the manner of the death of the former, I think we can all agree that neither will be missed as much as this dude.

Closer to home, maybe we’ll remember it as the year I got a smartphone. And was called a “hillbilly” by a man on a bike. These two things happened within a day of each other.

Vodka Boy played our 100^th gig – and typically of us it was one of our most pointless, least attended, who-gives-a-flip appearances of all those first 100 (supporting City By Dawn at short notice, upstairs at the Slug in June in front of pretty much no one). We also played at a wedding, which was much more fun! And then went on one last wee tour before Martin takes his maternity leave.

We did a Monkey Kettle-related exhibition at MADCAP this year too, curated by Diane back in January. Man, that seems like it was a few years back now, but no – 2011. Featuring (among other masterworks!) Phil’s tepee, MBS’ techno corner, and my own testament to our history and my monument to OCD: the woollen map of MK & MK.

And we did a Christmas album. Ludamus turned 20. Me, Simon, Lee and Danni did poetry at the Gallery again. I saddled myself with 101 tasks. Diane got a dog.

2011... The year it hailed at the Waterside? The year I officially gave up poetry? (for the foreseeable future, anyway. I don’t think anyone’ll miss it).

The year Rachel left to go and teach in China? The year MBS left MK and went back to Suffolk – which is definitely North of Milton Keynes? The year Grahame & Genevieve arrived and departed several times? The year Jim arrived in MK and explained to us how big cubes on the ceiling are good for studio recordings? 2011: International Year Of The Jim?

And so to 2012, and more questions. Will Milton Keynes receive city status? Will we get permission for a casino? Will the proposed developments to CMK get the green light despite the financial climate? You’ll hear it here first. Well... maybe fourth or fifth. If you hear it here at all. But you may! Ah yes, you may!

Rock on, warlocks! Thanks for tuning in!

MMTXXX