Best of the year, with salt.

MUSIC/SINGER/WOMAN/VOICE/BAND/ALBUM OF THE YEAR.

Without question (Beth Ditto)/Gossip for "Standing in the way of control".
What an awesome voice. Strong, clear, gorgeous. And she's a gloriously fat, feisty beauty. The whole sound is stripped down, bare of frills and unnecessary twiddles. The songs all have unbelievable hooks and a sing-a-longa quality too. One track even has anthemic pauses for one to clap along with! Perfect.

Oh yeah, thanks Matt!


BOOK OF THE YEAR.

This is difficult. There have been books that I have really enjoyed reading this year, but I honestly can't think of one that outshone the rest. There are 4 books that I eagerly waited for so I'll list them instead;

Helen Simpson "Constitutional"
Derren Brown "Tricks of the mind."
Courtney Love "Dirty Blonde."
Yehuda Koren, Eilat Negev "A lover of unreason."

I have yet to read the Derren Brown one, having received it for Christmas, but it looks fascinating. Helen Simpson I have raved about previously. Courtney's book is an arty scrap book of jottings and pics. It is a fan girl buy as opposed to a biography in which one will learn anything. I will attempt a review of the Assia Wevill bio soon.

TELEVISION OF THE YEAR.

Soprano's.
Ace as a very ace thing. From the opening episode I was, cliche style, sat on the edge of my seat. I can't wait for the next batch of this last ever series, but I want it to go on forever. Christopher Moltisanti remains my telly crush, I mean who wouldn't go all wibbly at the sight of a crack addicted murdering misogynistic alpha male like Chris?

Veronica Mars.
I was delighted to be advised to watch this by the very fab team over at http://lowculture.proboards34.com/index.cgi? They said it would be gripping and it was. Teen snappy wise cracker Veronica assists her private eye dad solve the many layered mysteries in her home town. It rocks.

Neighbours.
Always Neighbours. It's my safe place, my chill out and mellow zone. With added morality tale too!

POET OF THE YEAR.

Les Murray has published "The Biplane houses" this year. It is astonishing, simple, truthful and wondrous.

FOOD OF THE YEAR.

Marzipan has made a comeback for me. Having not eaten much of it for a few years I have rediscovered the almondy squishy joy of it.

Toast is always great, usually I have it with marmite.

CUSTOMER OF THE YEAR.

I am going to award this prestigious accolade to the man who on the 23rd December (ie/ the frantic busy Saturday just before Christmas) pointed out that the book he was buying said "£6.99 in the UK only" on the back.
Our exchange went something like this;
"Yes, that's the price."
"But it says in the UK only?"
"Yes?"
"So what happens when I take it to the States? Will they confiscate it?"
"...Erm...no."
"They confiscate all sorts though, food, drugs, liquids."
"It's just a book, it refers to the price that you have to pay here when you buy it. It won't affect anything in the U.S."
"ARE YOU SURE? IS THAT FACT OR JUST YOUR OPINION?"
"Fact. I think..." goes red and feels a bit strange and unsure.
"Ahh, thanks for your help."
"K, Bye."
AAARRRGGGHH etcetera.


That's all folks...

I wish you a new year full of love, light and happiness.