2013 - that was the year that was

So we're fast approaching the end of another year. 2013 has been an eventful one. We've lost some of the world's most iconic historical figures in Thatcher and Mandela, a Brit finally won at Wimbledon and Wolves sunk to new depths with a second consecutive relegation.

But for me 2013, without sounding too X Factor-like, has been a journey. I've clocked up thousands of air miles, scored at Molineux, went to Wembley, took a dance class and survived the Oldham Half Marathon to name but a few.

I can't believe it's been twelve months since I set myself the challenge to complete 30 new things before I hit 30. With just eight months to go until I wave a final goodbye to my 20s it seems like an opportune time to look back and reflect on the journey thus far...and think ahead to how on earth I'm going to complete the rest of my challenges.

I've taken a look back over the year and picked out my top five moments (it's still December so I wonder if Noddy Holder will do the countdown for me; he seems do all the others at this time of year)...so here are just some of the highlights of what's been a year to remember:

I'm not sure this was in my new job description

Coming in at number 5: New job

It's been eight months now since I said a fond farewell to South Staffordshire Council. My professional home for nearly six years, leaving Codsall was actually one of the most daunting experiences of 2013; but ultimately it's proven to be one of the most rewarding. The time was right for change, and professionally, I couldn't have made a better move.

Number 4: When a non-stag doo stag doo is better than a stag doo

It might not have been on my list of 30 things to do but what should have been my stag doo turned out to be one of the best weekends of the year. Munich now holds a special place in my heart. Its architecture, its cutlure, its beer halls. Seeing the Olympic village, Dachau, the Allianz Arena and of course Rogers the Spaniel and 'Des Lennis'.

Number 3: The Golden Gate Bridge

My trip to San Francisco was incredible. Some great people, some wonderful places - but for me, taking an early morning stroll over the Golden Gate Bridge as the fog sweeps in from the ocean over the 'Frisco Bay was just incredible.

There was something cathartic about that walk, with my ipod playing Bob Dylan and with me inadvertently wandering into the middle of a 'Free Tibet' demonstration.

Number 2: Down Under with Rich


New Zealand is an incredibly beautiful country. The views are spectacularly stunning - and I got to spend some quality time with one of my best mates who I haven't seen nearly enough in the past few years. I also managed to take a trip on the 'Vomit Comet' ferry, get bitten to buggery on a beach and watch an England test match in Auckland (back in the days when we were good at cricket).

Number 1: My biggest failure

My inner-child still chuckles at this

We didn't manage it up Snowdon

I feel like I've done and achieved so much this year - but strangely enough, my only failure to-date has arguably been my most enjoyable. Coming in at number 24 on the list is to climb Snowdon. On 4th April (what would have been said wedding day) me and my entourage of misfits set out to conquer Wales' most famous mountain. Sadly, the snow scuppered those plans. But it turned out to be one of the best weekends I've had for years. Surrounded by my brothers and closest friends we had a great time full of laughter and fun. A walk - an on-going battle between Rogers and Becs over his inappropriate choice of footwear and a late night sing-song. It was a nice reminder that it doesn't really matter what you do, or where you do it, it's all about the people you do it with.

It's impossible to predict what lies ahead in 2014 - but I'm hopeful it will be as eventful and fruitful as 2013. I've got 8 months to get back in the swimming pool and prove my doubters wrong; my plans for a TV debut have taken a big leap forward - and it looks like I'm going all Samba in June!

I've been incredibly fortunate to have the love and support of some very good people throughout 2013 - I hope you all have a great 2014.

365 days to go until 30...a look back on the challenge so far

New Zealand was incredible...
but hopefully I'll clock up a few more
air miles before I hit 30

Well, tomorrow will be 1st August 2013 and there are now 365 days to go until I wave goodbye to my 20s and welcome in my 30s.

Ten months ago or so I ended up on a different path to where I thought my life was heading. Having had things mapped out quite clearly, all of a sudden I was a man with no plan. So, having set myself a challenge to do 30 new things before I'm 30, I find myself in the final year of the challenge.

So far I've seen a Maori in a mobility scooter singing Sam Cooke songs in New Zealand; I've been accosted by a hooker in San Francisco and I've written this blog.

I've totted up a few other achievements too:

• crossed the Golden Gate Bridge
• visited Alcatraz
• watched England play at Wembley
• seen England beat the Aussies in the Ashes at Lords
• scored a goal on the pitch at Molineux
• scaled the top of the Shard (via the lift of course)
• got a new job
• ate seafood overlooking San Francisco Bay - and of course I hate seafood.

And there are a few things which I'm still chipping away at:

• learning to swim
• 9 new football league grounds left to visit
• 5 music or comedy gigs left to go

By my reckoning that's 11 things done, three started and 16 left to go. It could be a busy year!

I've met some great people along the way - and I hope there'll be more great people to meet in the next 365 days too.
Well, tomorrow morning I'm off to do something which I've never ever done before; work on my birthday. As a kid my birthday was always in the school holidays and up until now I've always booked it off. But this year I didn't really have anything better to do. Plus, I'll need to stockpile my annual leave if I'm going to achieve some of the things left on my list!
Well, my 20s - they've been interesting, and I've got 365 days left of them. So, for the final year I can feel as if this song is relevant: take it away Jamie...

A fishy tale - #6 - my tastebuds go somewhere beyond the sea

A fishy tale - my tastebuds go somewhere beyond the sea

I've never really considered myself to be a fussy eater. Like any child I went through phases of not liking things - in particular, at one family meal with my grandparents, I vividly remember refusing to have anything on my plate apart from Yorkshire Puddings and gravy. I'm pleased to report that my tastebuds and pallet have matured somewhat since.

However, there are some foods which I still can't stomach the thought of eating. Cauliflower being one - cheese being another - and of course, when the two collide in a gloopy gastronimacal monstrosity, my stomach lining skips a beat.

I think my dislike for cheese stems from the time my brothers pinned me down as a child and force-fed me cheddar. It was a tough and lonely life growing up as the youngest child in 1980s WV4 - but I'm getting through it.

But the one food type I've never been able to stand is fish. There are of course the odd exceptions to this rule; a 1970s-inspired prawn cocktail at Christmas (if doused in enough cocktail sauce) is of course a delight. And Captain Birdseye did his bit to help too - I have fond childhood memories of Birdseye fish fingers being dished alongside shrivelled Birdseye peas which had been boiled-to-within-an-inch-of-their-lives, and a slightly anaemic looking Birdseye Potato Waffle.

But, at the age of 28, I've decided my aversion to eating weird looking things from the sea should come to an end.

I think a lot of this mostly stems from the smell. You see, us Angus's are notoriously good sniffers - and if something honks, we'll generally look to avoid it at all costs.

I think my dislike for seafood emanates from the pungent smells that would often waft through my childhood home on a Saturday lunch time. The smell would be from some horrifically processed fish paste sandwich filler - either salmon, tuna or, at its worst, sardine. Lashings of orange, flakey tinned salmon would also be dished up on occassion which, to me, resembled the look and texture of cat's vomit, doused in vinegar.

And then of course there were the kids at school who'd have tuna sandwiches as part of their packed lunch. The grey, mushy slop which had reached an unhealthily high temperature after sitting at the bottom of their school bags for five hours before they'd come to consume it. The thought of it to this day makes me gag.

But in recent years, thanks to Gordon, Jamie, Hugh and the plethora of TV chefs now adorning our screens - coupled with the smell of fresh fish, marinated in garlic and herbs, particularly from sea-front restaurants abroad - have generated a slight stir in my now maturing tastebuds. So - on this trip I was on a mission to overcome my seafood aversion and complete (and enjoy) number six on my list of things to do before I'm 30: eat seafood overlooking San Francisco Bay.

 

In preparation for my final challenge, I decided to do some warm up attempts...I tried, for the first ever time, sushi.

You see, in New Zealand, and particularly Auckland, there's a huge Asian (or Far East if you like) influence so sushi bars are far more commonplace than here in the UK. And not a sign of a ropey, barely warm 'all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet and the food poisoning comes for free', in sight.

With more than an element of trepidation, I set about trying sushi - but only after ten minutes of trying to figure out how to use chopsticks.

Dare I say I was not completely repulsed by it. It reminded me of a line from the Lion King when Simba tries a grub -  'slimy...yet satisfying'.

And my fish-themed day didn't end there. I really enjoyed tucking in to fish and chips with Rich and his housemates Pedro and Kylie at Mission Bay later that evening. There's something about that aroma of fried batter, salt, seaweed and sand at dusk which brought childhood memories of Weymouth harbour or Borth seafront flooding back.

So - after flirting with the whole seafood thing in New Zealand, it was time to complete my challenge.

On my final evening in San Francisco I headed straight to Fisherman's Wharf, just a block or two from the famous Pier 39. It was there I stumbled upon the famous (and somewhat expensive) Scoma's restaurant overlooking the harbour and the 'Cisco Bay. Hey, if I was going to do this then I was going to do it in style. In hindsight, my choice of wearing my battered old Puma trainers and jeans may have been a tad out of keeping with the ambience of this particular restaurant but hey ho.

My waiter, Nicolo, came to my table. I explained to him my challenge. In hindsight, going alone to a high-end seafood restaurant in San Francisco and opening with the line 'I'm from England. I don't like fish' probably explains the very odd look he gave me. I ordered a Sonoma Valley white wine (after a half day wine tasting session the day before, I of course now consider myself an expert in all things wine). It came, it was clear, full bodied, with depths of fruity and spiced flavours which tasted like....well, grapes and alcohol really. I'm more of a cultured Blue Nun or Hock kind of guy.

I ordered the clam chowder for starters (sorry, entrée) and, at Nicolo's recommendation, I ordered the shellfish platter. That's it - I wasn't messing around with tuna or salmon or swordfish; I was going for the jugular - I was headed straight for the shellfish family.

The clam chowder, somewhat of a local speciality here, arrived. I was pleasantly surprised. Thick, and creamy with potatoes, celery and mushrooms with the texture of rice pudding. I was pleasantly surprised.

And then came the main event. It arrived. A plate full of prawns, scallops, crab legs and petit lobster tails all sauteed in a garlic, herbs and mushroom jus on a bed of steamed vegetables (including bloody cauliflower!), pasta and rice. To some this would seem heavenly. To me - it was my Everest. But here I was, overlooking San Francisco Bay attempting to broaden my culinary horizons - and what better place, aside from Grimsby obviously, to achieve it.

Did I enjoy it? Well - sort of. The presentation was excellent, the smell was appetising, the textures weren't too repulsive and the flavour...well, it was actually quite nice. It was the anxiety of each mouthful - wondering if this would be the unfortunate fishy mouthful which would leave me gagging. But it never came - I'd even come Rennie-prepared just in case.

I survived. I was pleased I did it and I'll definitely order and cook more seafood at home now. I'm sure I've been missing out over the years - but I think I'll have the fish without the side order of anxiety next time.

Number 6 on my list - done. And what's more, it goes to show any fin is possible if you put your mind to it. In fact, I'd say I was a prawn again convert. Ok - fish puns end here. Honest, they reely do.

Couldn't think of any fish-related songs so I chose this musical scene from the film Beyond the Sea. A fine voice from Mr Kevin Spacey and the closest connection to fish I could think of...

Time Travel, Otis Redding, #2 and #4 on my list

#2 - Visit the United States of America

I've always wanted to go states-side. It probably stems from my dad's love of 1950s Rock 'n' Roll music - but there's something about America which has always fascinated me.

 

So - on my way back from New Zealand I thought I'd tick another number off my list and take in a few days in the good old U.S of A.

 

My destination: San Francisco. Home of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and, of course, hippies.

 

But before I arrrived, my brain had to navigate its way back through time. I set off from Auckland at 7.30pm on the 26th March. I arrived in San Francisco at 2.30pm on the 26th March. Somehow I'd managed to land before I'd even taken off. Crossing time zones really messes with your head. To give you some idea as to how long that day was - I'd woken up 13 hours ahead of the UK - and went to bed that evening 8 hours behind it.



It's midnight, I'm drunk - let's play Chuck Berry

 

My first evening was supposed to be a quiet one - it turned out to be far from that, far from that indeed.

 

I left my hotel and bumped into a woman who said "hi". I said "hi" back - she engaged me in some brief small talk before asking "do you like girls?". My response was typically naive and British..."it's been known in the past" I said. She then said "'cos I've got some girlfriends who are working in the area". Brilliant, the first woman I speak to and she's a hooker. Well done James, well done.

So I made a quick getaway seeking refuge in a nearby bar. After an hour or so I got talking to two guys: Ryan and Josh. They were friends from Nashville. Ryan had lived in San Francisco for a couple of years but Josh had only been there a few days. We got talking - music, sports a bit of politics for good measure - they were really cool guys. Turned out they'd both been through a break-up process too so soon enough they'd bought me a drink with the obligatory tequila chaser. We drank some more then headed to a few more bars. Note to self; tequila is a bad idea...always a bad idea. Come midnight we were all fairly sozzled and a bit peckish. Now, back home it would be ropey kebab with a side serving of salmonella - but in San Francisco...oh no. It was Mel's 1950s diner. A Jukebox, 1950s Rock 'n' Roll and meat. It was bloody brilliant!

 

Now my midnight snack had potentially taken years off my life expectancy but the hangover in the morning could have shaved at least a decade off too. Still, I had more sightseeing to do and no time to waste. So I hopped on a sightseeing bus, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time (more about that later) and headed to the small marine town of Sausalito - just on the otherside of San Francisco Bay.  

 

Despite the sun failing to make an appearance - the views looking out over the bay were incredible. To see the famous landmarks of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the famous San Francisco skyline was breathtaking.

 

And it was here I found out my favourite fascinating fact of my entire trip. One of the most iconic soul tracks of all time, Otis Redding's 'Sitting On The Dock of The Bay'  was penned in Sausalito. And there I was, sitting on the dock of the bay too - not so much wasting time - more nursing a hangover and meat sweats. But nonetheless, I could empathise with what Otis was saying. But that wasn't my favourite fact - no. One tour guide explained that the whistling which you hear at the end of the song wasn't suppossed to be on the final track. Otis had recorded the song but whistled where a final verse was to go. Apparently he'd written to a friend in Georgia telling him he'd recorded this song but that he thought it needed more soul and he'd re-record it later on. But there was to be no later on. Otis Redding perished in a plane crash just weeks later. The track was released posthumously, whistles and all.

#4 - Visit Alcatraz

#4 on my list - visit Alcatraz, the world's most infamous prison.

 

I have to admit, although I've always thought it would be a cool place to go - I've never really known a huge amount about it.

 

But what struck me the most was how close it is to the mainland. The ferry crossing takes less than 10 minutes and that thought must have been excruciating for the prisoners; knowing freedom was so close - yet so far away.

 

I spent a good few hours going around the island, taking in a really interesting audio tour and finding out more about Al Capone and 'the Birdman'. What I found really peculiar is that prison officers and their families used to live on the island - what a strange place to raise a family.

 

Really glad I got chance to go there - it was a really interesting place with a fascinating story to tell.

I ended that day with a walk along the famour Pier 39. Now that's a strange place. A bit like a pimped-up Llandudno pier, minus the Welsh teenagers menacingly hanging around the slot machines.

 

With my hangover subsiding and jet lag kicking in - I headed to bed before, what would turn out to be, a very eventful day.

 

My final blog on my travels will see me achieve #3 on my list, ending up on the wrong side of the tracks and a German Brian Blessed.

 

In the meantime - I'll leave you with this...