The 11th Annual Review of a year in the life of Ben
2016
Introduction:
2016 was a lot of things but it was never boring.
It is in general agreement that 2016 was a pretty bad year for planet earth, world politics are cancerous. Lots of childhood heroes died. Hatred is rampant.
On a personal level I had a pretty good 2016, it wasn't without its challenges or low points but overall I have lived learned much this year and have spent much quality time with friends after adopting a 'say yes more often' philosophy to doing things.
Good Times.
After bringing in the year with Biffy Clyro and Idlewild at Edinburgh's hogmanay celebrations then followed swiftly by a re-binge of Twin Peaks, the usual doldrums of January and February kicked in where nothing much happened. March brought a trip to London to see my most wanted-to-see-live band since seeing Rage Against the Machine in 2008 - At the Drive-in! They're a bit older and a member down but still put on a helluva show.
In early May me and Clare travelled to Switzerland to see unwashed loveable wanker Craig Gudmundsson and his lovely girlfriend Carina and awesome pooch Skye! There we embarked on a road trip through south Germany and a little bit of Austria taking in some brilliant scenery and booze. A trip to Neuschwanstein castle was the highlight of the trip.
Later in May I, along with a bunch of very talented sexy people shot my magnum opus - 'Nutcracker'. If you've read my previous reviews of the year you will know how long this film has been in the works. It feels so good to finally get it in the can. It was a film I was hesitant on making due to the subject matter and the step up in ambition from my previous short films. But I had a great crew who believed in it and an empty bank account that paid for it.
The 5 day schedule was tight and gruelling with us shooting on up to 3 cameras but we got it down and I couldn't be happier with the film which is very near completion. I hope 2017 is kind to it.
Want to take a moment to especially thank Clare for letting me do it when we should have been focused on buying a house and Alkistis for believing in me and the project.
In June, Clare and I travelled to Chippenham for the best wedding we have ever been to - the wedding of long-time friend Sarah Winstone and Wil Hodgson. Before you kick off about how good your wedding is I will sum up why the wedding was so good in one sentence and I hope you will be more understanding: They were married by Batman pledging their love on a first edition of the Dark Knight returns.
July brought a childhood dream to life - a trip to Star Wars celebration. As a Star Wars geek since childhood it provided an amazing experience. Clare was a champ getting up early so we could queue and get wristbands for all the panels which paid off. We managed to get into the Rogue One panel with all the main cast in attendance, we saw Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher (RIP - Gutted I had to edit an RIP in here), Ryan Johnson talking about Episode 8 and the introduction of Alden Ehrenreich as the new Han Solo. I definitely foresee a return to a Star Wars celebration in the future - wherever it is in the world.
With September came the stag of ginger god Alan Dewar with a trip to Albufeira, Portugal. Despite still suffering from health issues (see bad times) a good time was had by all as we all became wrestlers for a night. Highlight was Chen spewing on the flight on the way to the stag. The wedding of Alan and Laura happened in October and much rejoicing was had to the sound of a Limp Bizkit moshpit on the dancefloor.
Bad times:
After a trip to London in early 2004 I returned home to find an abused yellowed springer spaniel in my family home. My parents had rescued him from ill-treatment and he was a timid shy thing. My parents had bought him to replace the hole the premature death of another springer Kyle had left the previous year. We called him Sam. Sam grew into a loving and attention-seeking dog in the best possible way. Despite having 3 dogs Sam would rush to greet you as you entered the house first and then proceed to sit on your feet for the rest of the day. Sam passed away this year and he is very much missed. He is survived by his bitch - Molly and his surrogate sister the Jack Russell Cara.
This year I have had increased problems with migraines, however they usually stick to a 4/5 month pattern. For some reason I had 2 back to back in August. The after effects of migraines can take a while to leave so to get 2 back-to-back left my head swimming and in pain. Soon after the 2 migraines I awoke one morning to find the back of my head in severe pain, I was dizzy and finding it difficult to stand up. I rushed myself to hospital where they did every test under the sun. I was kept in overnight (on a ward with a guy with tourettes, not much sleep was gotten) for a lumber test/ spinal tap the next day. It's as awesome as it sounds. This left me with headaches and low energy for about 2 months. Luckily the results were clear and I got better. But this has left me with questions about my migraines - do they come in patterns or is something setting them off? Time will tell.
Other than that the other bad shit just comes from world politics and where we now find ourselves facing the coming year with a racist, sexist bigoted tyrant running the USA. Oh and we also left the European union and crashed our economy for shits and giggles.
Other notable incidents of 2016:
Me and Ben Probert getting turfed out of the abandoned Bangour Village Hospital by security.
Seeing ET with an orchestra.
Me & Clare being extras in a hip-hop music video.
Seeing John Carpenter play his film musicography live.
Me and Clare went as the Wet Bandits for Halloween.
Met writer Joe Hill.
2016 Goals and how I did:
Keep on perfecting the balance between saving money, having fun, creating memories and spending time with people. - Achieved beautifully!
Stop counting the days and start enjoying them. - Mostly achieved.
Make a film. - Achieved
Clear debt. - Getting there but still got a bit more to go.
2017
Unlike previous years I have no goals for the coming year. I want 2017 to be a blank slate with nothing planned, nothing scheduled (well other than a few concerts). I certainly have things I want to achieve but don't want to put a time limit on it.
That's not to say I have some things planned, got some concerts booked - Deftones/AFI, The Wonder Years, Creeper & Blink 182. Me and Clare will be celebrating our 5th Wedding Anniversary with Guns N Roses (Axl, Slash & Duff together at last) in Prague.
Me and Clare will also be celebrating 25 years since we first met and 15 years since we first started going out next year.
Conclusion:
2016 has been at times a difficult year with many challenges, however it has also provided me with some cherished moments that I won't soon forget. Strong Friendships have been bonded, I don't think I've hugged as many people in any other year as I have in 2016. I leave 2016 behind with a stronger and happier feeling of who I am as a person and that I am less fearful of any challenges coming my way.
Wishing all my friends the best for the new year and I hope we all survive 2017.
Ben xxx
2016 Awards!
Photo of 2016:
Alan Dewar during a nadir of his stag do dressed as Pamela Anderson.
My 10 Favourite Films of 2016:
10 - Eye in the Sky
09 - The Neon Demon
08 - The Nice Guys
07 - Your Name
06 - Room
05 - Creed
04 - Hell or High Water
03 - Rogue One - A Star Wars Story
02 - Captain Fantastic
01 - Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Least Favourite film: (tie) Batman V Superman, Zoolander 2.
My 10 Favourite Television shows of 2016:
10 - The People Vs OJ Simpson (minseries)
09 - Black Mirror (Season 3)
08 - Daredevil (Season 2)
07 - The Get Down (Season 1)
06 - Better Call Saul (Season 2)
05 - Westworld (Season 1)
04 - Stranger Things (Season 1)
03 - Rick and Morty (Season 2)
02 - The Night of (Miniseries)
01 - Game of Thrones (Season 6)
My 10 Favourite Albums of 2016
10 - Biffy Clyro - Ellipsis
09 - Blink 182 - California
08 - Moose Blood - Blush
07 - Jimmy Eat World - Integrity Blues
06 - Deftones - Gore
05 - Pup - The Dream is Over
04 - Brian Fallon - Painkillers
03 - Creeper - The Stranger
02 - Thrice - To be Everywhere is to be Nowhere
01 - Touche Amore - Stage Four
Favourite Television / Film Soundtrack:
Favourite song of 2016:
The Menzingers - Lookers
Concerts / Gigs I attended in 2016 ranked.
18 - The World is A Beautiful Place and I am No Longer Afraid to Die - Glasgow ABC2, 14th February
17 - Limp Bizkit / Korn - Glasgow Hydro - 14th December
16 - Alien Ant Farm - Edinburgh La Belle Angelle - 19th October
15 - Dear Hunter - Edinburgh Electric Circus (RIP) - 12th March
14 - The Xcerts - Edinburgh La Belle Angelle - 29th January
13 - Moose Blood - Edinburgh Mash House - 22nd April
12 - The Front Bottoms / Kevin Devine - Glasgow Garage, 7th February
11 - Jimmy Eat World - Glasgow Barrowlands, 9th November
10 - Pup - Glasgow King Tuts - 6th September
09 - Brian Fallon and the Crowes - Glasgow ABC, 6th April
08 - Creeper - Edinburgh Mash House, 23rd February
07 - Coheed and Cambria - Glasgow ABC, 22nd August06 - Clint Mansell - Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 29th March
05 - Biffy Clyro / Brand New - Glasgow Hydro, 29th November
04 - John Carpenter - Edinburgh Usher Hall, 22nd October03 - The Menzingers - Edinburgh Teviot Underground, 14th October
02 - At the Drive-In - London Roundhouse, 27th March
01 - Refused - Glasgow Garage, 22nd March
My Most anticipated Pop Culture of 2017:
Movies:
Star Wars Episode 8
Alien Covenant
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
La La Land
Silence
Baby Driver
Logan
Kong: Skull Island
John Wick Chapter 2
Trainspotting 2
War of the Planet of the Apes
Kingsmen: The Golden Circle
Blade Runner 2049
Dunkirk
Free Fire
It
Thor: Ragnorak
Television:
Twin Peaks (Season 3)
Game of Thrones (Season 7)
The Defenders (Season 1)
Rick and Morty (Season 3)
American Gods (Season 1)
House of Cards (Season 5)
Better Call Saul (Season 3)
Stranger Things (Season 2)
Fargo (Season 3)
Video Games
Shenmue 3
Red Dead Redemption 2
Resident Evil 7
Zelda: The Breath of the Wild
The Nintendo Switch (Really hope I can afford/ get my hands on one!)
The Brand New album that will never come out
The Tool album that will never come out
At the Drive-In
System of A Down
Creeper
AFI
The Menzingers
The Xcerts
The Dropkick Murphys
Dave Hause
To Conclude:
This photo of Chen for no reason.
