2008, an interesting year

2008 is nearly over. Lots of things have happened this year in the world of Loon, but mainly towards the end.

The beginning was the usual mix of non exciting stuff, work, drinking, MNIPN, TNIPN and alike. Some high points and some very low points. Good friends and good times outweighed the bad points, which is the best way.

From September everything started falling apart. First of all the Alfa GTV died in a pool of steam and decided to leak all of it's electricity into the atmosphere. Then Her Holyness decided to eat her clutch slave cylinder, and (as of now) she is sitting in my garage awaiting the arrival of the new year and the new workshop. Which brings me nicely to work (that's the new workshop).

November 6th 2008, thats a date to remember for the Gibraltar export trade. What was looking like a quiet day in the office, one trailer outside, puppy running around the office. Then Customs & Revenue appeared, stripped the office of all the computers and the company of the General Manager.. Two days later, I was confirmed as the new General Manager. Now at the end of December, I have a company van, no fuel bills, a full warehouse, a large Christmas bonus and awaiting the confirmation for having the office redecorated and refurbished!

I also have been looking after a mad 2 year old cocker spaniel by the name of Sadie. God she is mad!! Loveable and well behaved (90% of the time). She has just left today, after I felt guilty about keeping her in a two bedroom flat, a long way from a garden that she has been used to for the past 18 months.

After nearly four years of waiting..... A week after getting my new job, the phone call came;

"Hi, this is the Appalause Store here, I see you have been on the waiting list for Top Gear for a while now, and we would like to offer you some tickets for the next filming."

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! So after picking myself off of the floor, and a phone call to Bella (I usually keep my promises), we went off to the secret studio of Top Gear (Dunsfold Aerodrome, next door to Cranleigh Freight Services). A great four hours spent with Clarkson, Capt Slow and Hamster! God Hammond is tiny. And after seeing the filming from the stuido, and being glued to the TV on the Sunday following, did I see myself.... NO! But I saw Bella! Happy Loon!

Not forgetting Madness! What a concert. Malc and myself disappeared off on an adventure to the O2 to rekindle my Christmas parties of the late 90's of Baggy Trousers and One Step Beyond. Apart from becoming (forever) known as "Pizza Crack Man", a full two hours of dancing and enjoyment, as well as a few beers and lots of Doc Martyns! I'm still listening to Madness on full blast (+12 on my NAD amp) as well as the Stereo MCs (support act... excellent!!). BOUNCE BOUNCE!!!

As for Christmas, well it's been quiet and enjoyable (mainly because I have been taking Sadie for walks to get out of the way for most of the day!). My sister made Sadie ill (well I'm blaming her) and I spent last night sitting up with the poorly puppy... Poor puppy. I think she got drunk (Sadie not my sister).

So to finish, I've enjoyed this year. Good on Malc for finally settling down (a few times), hopefully some good news for puppy when she finds a loving caring home with a big garden to bury all her evidence of evilness in, and to Bella, I miss you lots..

To everyone out in Blog land, I hope you have had a good festive season and happy new year.