MAY --- I went to see Pendulum at Southampton Guildhall with Hugh and Griff. It was the second time I'd seen them live and they were once again fantastic. They brought out all the singles and best tunes from their first two albums while premiering some of the new material from their forthcoming new album, Immersion. Hearing the drop in The Island pt 1 for the first time was a pretty epic moment. On the 20th I had my big summer term hand-in at uni- as per usual I finished my essays the night before! Was a MASSIVE MASSIVE relief to have it all over and done with though, and be finished for the summer. I celebrated with a lovely night out in Brighton, good old spot of Thursgay at Revenge!
I also started working on Saturdays. Nothing spectacular, just a washing up job, but enough to tide me over during the summer, providing my much-needed night out funds every week! Also made my weeks feel that little more productive.
Had my first Emsworth wanders and my first trip to The Fleet of the summer, and my first dip in the sea- chilly to say the least! Had a night out to Kaos in Southampton and also watched the very last episode of Lost- pretty emotional stuff!
JUNE --- Celebrated my Mum's birthday with a meal at Chimichangas, which I LOVE. Met up with Dan in Havant for a nice Spoons beer and burger! Watched a lot more people make fools of themselves on the new series of Britain's Got Talent. The line-up for the final though, was genuinely full of talent and the winners Spellbound were, well, pretty spellbinding. Poshed up for Griff's Mum's wedding reception in Emsworth and managed to stay fairly respectable. Unlike Gemma. Enjoyed a great cocktail night at Que Pasa with Tasha- Cosmopolitan, Purple Rain, Sex on the Beach and my personal favourite MOJITOOOOO! Me and Tasha also discovered the pure joys of Happy Hour at Pizza Hut- pizza, a side and a drink for £4, can't say fairer than that! Took advantage of that on several occasions. Enjoyed some Chichester shopping and some Priory Park with Phina. Got the football boots back on for a few games at the park. Had the first Liquid Monday of the summer on the 14th and it was also undoubtedly one of the best of the summer, setting the path for a succession of really good Portsmouth nights out.
After 4 years of huuuuuge anticipation, the World Cup in South Africa finally got underway on the 11th June. While the disappointment with England was of course massive, the tournament itself was entertaining as always, full of some great football but also some great shocks and surprises. The poorness of France and Italy, the awesomeness of a previously unfancied Germany, the misfortune of Ghana, the steadily growing power of Spain, the much-talked about Jabulani ball, the Lampard goal that wasn't- it was a month of great football and great talking points.
Played tennis with Tasha. Enjoyed a couple of lovely film nights at my house, in which such joys as Superbad, The Departed, Gone Baby Gone, Anchorman and Memento were viewed. Helped make a fabulous boob cake for Griff and helped celebrate his birthday with an epic night out to Fleet and Liquid. I started work on my summer film, shooting some stuff with Tasha, Wigsy, Taylor and Hugh at various points.
JULY --- Took in some trips to Portsdown Hill for Mick's quite fabulous cheesy chips. Went to the 'Help The Heroes' event at the White Horse with Taylor, which got particularly entertaining when the next door neighbour decided to throw a hose over the fence and soak all the guests! Took in some further emo vampire loving with Twilight:Eclipse at the cinema. Met up with Emma and enjoyed a drink and some World Cup round at the pub. Had an AMAZING holiday in Crete with Tasha. Not a lot left to be said about it, but I had a really good week in the sunshine and cannot wait for my next holiday abroad (hopefully it'll be real soon!). But yeah, definitely the summer highlight and well worth the wait. The day after our return to dreary old England I went to Chichester with Hugh, Taylor, Kieran, Phina, Bayliss, Ben and Toby to see my film of the summer- Inception. Just such a great cinema experience, I'd have seen it more than twice if I could! While on the cinema side of things I also enjoyed a trip to see Toy Story 3, another fantastic film and a fitting end to such a magical series. And I saw The Ghost at New Park, which was a strong enough political thriller with Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan.
On the 26th I had possibly my best night out of the summer, which took in the usual Fleet V Bar and Liquid spots with an added bit of Spoons thanks to Toby's not so tactical Fleet chunder. It was gloriously messy, everyone, literally EVERYONE was fantastically drunk and not much was remembered in the morning. Totally the way it should be. Did some filming with Taylor and Griff and then a couple of days later had a nice filming day with Tasha and RT, taking in Stokes Bay, Fareham Spoons and Portsdown Hill.
AUGUST --- Had a nice little film night round Kieran's, taking in a spot of Phone Booth and Liar Liar. Enjoyed a really good pub trip with a good size crew for Hugh's last night with us before his six weeks in Kenya. He was missed! Took in quite a few trips to Southampton with Tasha- lots more shops and Pizza Hut! Discovered I'm not too shabby at Scrabble. Played some mini golf at Gosport. Enjoyed some McDonalds drive-thru at Chichester with Phina. Went to a house party with Tasha's friends which was most fun. Had plenty more Emsworth wanders in the sun, and did some more filming with Kieran, Taylor and Griff. Caught the Gosport ferry over to Portsmouth with Tasha and had an amazing lunch at Water Margin. Took in some more football. Went to Charles Dickens' Birthplace for the first time which was pretty damn interesting! Enjoyed some drinky-poos in Taylor's garden. Got a fair bit of scriptwriting done. Went to MONKEY WORLD! Which was, of course, amazing. Saw numerous monkeys poo, and what else could you want from a day? Got to go back to Durdle Door where I spent many a weekend in my youth, nice little nostalgia trip! Went to the cinema with Tasha RT and Luke to see Scott Pilgrim, which I've already reviewed but I'll just say again, was awesome! Another house party, this one in Gosport. Went round the Emsworth Bank Holiday Show with Griff and Taylor, which brightened up when we saw some rather cute owls, followed by a sheepdog rounding up a load of ducks, as instructed by a hilariously Welsh man. That evening we all hit Liquid for Phina's birthday.
SEPTEMBER --- Became a proper country lad for a couple of days, picking apples from my garden and going blackberry picking along a lane near mine. Watched England begin to get their act together again in the first couple of Euro 2012 qualifiers. Read Frankie Boyle's autobiography, which was quite the amusement. Drove to Hayling with Tasha, looked around the fair and walked along the beach. Went to pub quiz at the White Horse and came 5th- not too bad really! One day we'll win it. In about 40 years. Had a night out to Tiger Tiger with a few people- the club was far too big and busy, but an enteraining night was had nonetheless. Crashed at Bayliss' place afterwards and shared some fabulous drunken banter. Enjoyed some more Mick's. Had the last Liquid Monday of the summer on the 13th, and it was a fitting end to the summer Mondays- great fun had by all! Went to see Wicked in London with Tasha, which was amazing. Celebrated our 2 year anniversary! Laaaavely meal at Bella Italia for it. Had a wander with Taylor who was back from Oxford for a few days. Went in Emsworth Museum! with Griff, Taylor and Emma Bailey, was quite the experience. Caught up with Hugh upon his return from Kenya. Watched the first few episodes of the new series of The Inbetweeners. Had 3 nights out for Tasha's freshers week in Southampton, to Audio, Kaos and Bliss. After returning from Southampton I enjoyed/suffered in equal measure my 4th night out in a row, going to Fleet and then Liquid for Gemma's birthday. The following week it was Freshers' Week at Sussex so I went to stay in Brighton at Kieran's new house for a few days which was great- had a couple of great nights out there too, one to Digital and then a foam party at Honey Club. Had a nice man-date wander round the pier with Wigsy, had an awesome Mexican meal and bought my (very expensive) course readers for uni.
All in all, a quite amazing little summer. 10/10!
