Category: Let's talk
Okay I have borrowed this idea from the Telegraph but think it would be rather fun: how about a zoners' review of the year? Pick your top five highlights, and top five disappointments of 2004 from the world of news, current affairs, sport, entertainment, music or whatever. Personal milestones should be excluded, however, as they wouldn't figure in a review such as this. I've also tried to make this light-hearted, even the disappointments! my top five highlights would be:
1. England's cricketing year as a whole, but particularly the bowling of Steve Harmison at sabina Park, Jamaica, and andrew flintoff's 167 during the summer.
2. the British sprint relay team coming away with an unexpected gold medal in the Athens olympics. I'll never forget Mark Lewis Frances outrunning Maurice Green of the USA on the home leg!
3. Robert Kilroy-Silk, the former chat show host turned politician for the UK Independence party which campaigns for withdrawal from the eU, being attacked with farmyard slurry on his way into a radio debate. That was just hilarious!
4. Tony blair being hit by a condom containing purple flour while he was speaking in the House of Commons. The missile was thrown from the public gallery, and Mr Blair quite literally didn't know what had hit him! Come to think of it, nor did anyone else so the building had to be evacuated.
5. charles Kennedy wearing cheap shoes at the Liberal democrat party conference during his televised address, and most amusingly, forgetting to remove the price tag! £9.99? Not the sort of shoes that someone aspiring to be prime minister should wear eh?
And now for the disappointments:
1. Paula Radcliffe. Enough said.
2. The whole david Blunkett affair in all senses of the word. How an entire department can suffer collective amnesia is still beyond me. His resignation was, admittedly, the silver lining to a complete shambles.
3. Britain's swimmers at the olympics: we always expect great things of them, and any other competition usually sees them sweeping the board. Give them the olympics, however, and they're useless! Thank god for Steve Parry and david Davies who won our swimming medals, but as for Melony Marshal, Katie Sexton, James Gibson and all our other alleged stars, someone should hold their heads under next time they're training.
4. david Beckham's useless performances at the 2004 European championships, an Sven Goran Erikson's even worse tactical naivety. We have learnt nothing from the 2002 worl cup, have we?
5. The American presidential campaign as a whole. two candidates, one thick, one uninspiring, a lot of voter apathy and debates whose quality was abysmal. Even Mr bush's earpiece didn't help! Are you guys sure he was listening to his advisors prompting him in the background, and not a music channel or something?
It doesn't have to be one of the rules of the game, by the way, that you need to come up with as many as five disappointments, although it's more challenging if you can, really makes you think.
or, for that matter, five highlights.
I was going to do it but I don't know enough about the news and I'm afraid mine would just make me look stupid.
Caitlin
News and entertainment, my friend, anything you like.
Okay okay, I'll try, then, but remember, I forewarned you!
Highlights
1. The new CD releases from Vannessa Carlton, Avril Lavigne, Kristin Chenoweth, etc etc.
2. The musical "Wicked" in San Francisco and New York, which was very good.
3. The propositions for more readily available online books from many different sources
4. The attempts everyone is making to help out in Asia
5. The attempts at dealing with other world issues, such as the war, etc, on behalf of the populace
Disappointments
1. WHat happened in Asia
2. Paula Danziger (children's author) passing away
3. Christopher Reeve passing away
4. The still ever-present war
5. ?
I can't think of another sorry.
Caitlin
Michael Schumacher's 7th world F1 Championship and his 5th for Ferrari...who also clinched the Constructors title in some style.
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The British Wheelchair Basketball team clinching the bronze medal in Athens in a brilliant nail biting game..incedently they also trashed america!...
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The birth of Alasdair who has single handedly turned my life upside down in the best possible way.
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hmmm losing a close friend Danny to a terrible illness that nobody should have to suffer
************************************************************Being warned that my Brother may not walk again but thankfully the Doctors were wrong.
the odd seizure here and there just a few nothing really...eh almost dropping Alasdair whilst hurtling towards oblivion for 5 minutes....
Oh come on does the price of Mr Kennedy's shoes really matter in the scheme of things hmm would you be more upset if they had cost £99.99! How much does Mr Howard spend on his suits for some unfathomable reason Saville Row just popped in to my mind.
I'd like to see a wheelchair basketball game. But i suppose since I'm totally blind that would be kind of hard. I guess there's commentary though. That would be so cool!
Caitlin
RE Mr Kennedy's shoes: it was very very funny! that's all! Especially as we all know that Mr Kennedy likes a pint or six, and is on forty a day by his own admission. I have no idea where Michael Howard gets his suits, but he earned his corn as a barrister and then queen's counsel so I don't begrudge him that.
Aah, good topic (and yes the wilde brew is back) I am somewhat jet lagged (actually very jet lagged) and suffered numerous snow storms and pints, miexed drinks and long party nights during my vacation so I will have to beg leave to postpone my thoughtful summing-up of the highlights and (lowlights) of the year for approx 24 hours stay tuned. ;)
Caitlin so am I and the only time i know the ball is coming is a slight breeze or when another player who i is trying to reach it rams into me...you'd think they'd look after their equipment..smile its hard work tiring and frustrating but also a great laugh and being in the middle of a crowd of ball hungry hooligans all yelling "pass the damned ball Alex!" Has to be experienced to be believed.. grin
If you ever get the chance don't say no.
Ah ha Charlie takes a bucket does he the next time he's in Glasgow if ever we'll take him to Failte just for the craic
Yeah charles is a true man of the highlands. i bet he fought really hard to be his party's candidate for Ross, Sky and Inverness, the part of the country where they pour the whisky and just keep pouring until the pint glass is full.