Xmas.

I have decided, after giving it a good 6 years of trying my hardest to enjoy it, that I do not like having two Christmases. Not one bit.

I am exhausted, after having to suffer;

Two lots of greeting (i.e. kissing and hugging - note that I do have a personal space issue) old people who I only see annually,

Two rounds of awkward non-conversation,

Two long, tedious board games (to pass the seemingly endless amount of time in between lunch and present opening),

Two silly cracker hats,

Two Christmas dinners,

Two present handing out sessions (whereby you realise that you did not distribute the value of your presents very well at all - sorry, Great Auntie Mabel),

Two rounds of tea and coffee making for completely random relatives (even though you don't drink the stuff yourself),

Two Christmas teatimes (i.e. cold Christmas dinner),

Two drawn-out goodbyes,

Two French hens, and a partridge in a pear tree! (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

In other news, my boyfriend is amazing. I am now the proud owner of a pink (!!!! /girlyness) Nintendo DS Lite, which hasn't left my hands since this time yesterday. Thank you, George.

Wrapping.

I challenge you to think of one task which cannot be carried out using a machine.

I now challenge you to think of one good reason why a machine has not yet been invented to perform the most boring, tiresome and often difficult job of... wrapping presents.

It's Christmas Eve and I should definitely be doing something better with my time than sitting up to the table, knee-deep in wrapping paper and balls of sellotape.

That said, how gutted would you be if someone gave you a present-wrapping machine for Christmas?

Kweller.

On Monday, George and I went to see Ben Kweller.

In Birmingham.

Two days before my law exam.

Three days before my first deadlines.

The gig was worth every second of last-minute panic felt as I sat in the newsroom at 11:50pm on Wednesday, trying to put together a decent edited interview clip.

Despite only arriving at the Glee Club fifteen minutes before doors opened, we managed to grab a spot in the front row at the centre. I literally could've stuck my arm out and hit Ben in the crotch. (I didn't, of course.)

His new album is set to be far more country than his last, which I am a little disappointed about, but nonetheless he played a great set (dobro and all) which made up for the fact that the Travelodge we stayed in was... pretty naff.

Promo Packs.

A few weeks ago I became co-presenter of Silver Sounds, a show on the local Uni-based radio station SIREN 107.3 FM. I can't believe I haven't mentioned it until now, but, well, I just haven't.

Anyway, the show broadcasts every Monday night between 9 and 10pm. I was only ever meant to be a guest on the show (my good friend Calum got me an interview slot and some airplay for The Balcony Club) but I somehow ended up becoming a permanent fixture, and have since been reaping the many benefits of being involved in a rock show; one of which is promo packs.

The idea is simple - you write to/ e-mail/ phone up a record label/ band and get them to send you stuff in the post. On Friday I received a lovely package of CDs and badges from an unsigned Colchester band, The City Joy Cons. Excitement!

My Mother also decided to send me a wonderful pre-Christmas package containing the best advent calendar I have ever seen, ever (Thorntons... personalised... gosh I am spoilt) and some cute little snowmen to decorate my room.

New Years Resolutions.

A little while ago I got reading my big brother's blog about new years resolutions, and how temperamental they often are.

The post really got me thinking about what I hope to achieve in 2009. I looked back at my last year's resolutions, which I shamelessly blogged about here (lose weight... failed. Drink more water... failed. See Nahko more often... FAILED) and realised that I am yet another one of those terrible people who break their resolutions a month in.

My train of thought then went something along the lines of DOH, argh, why bother, huff, grrr, HANG ON A MINUTE.

If we break new years resolutions a month in, then why not start a month early?!

By starting a month early, then surely you have time to discover which resolutions are achievable and which ones need some tweaking. If you have time to alter and perfect your resolutions, then maybe you're less likely to break them.

For this reason, I present to you: my New Years Resolutions. On December 1st.

Resolution 1: Take more photos.

Resolution 2: Drink at least 2l of water a day. (I will do it! I WILL!)

Resolution 3: Exercise for half an hour a day.

Resolution 4: Write to one person every week.

Resolution 5: Blog at least once a week.

What are your resolutions? Answers on a postcard. Or... comment.