Well 2008 is coming to an end... I can’t say it hasn’t been an exciting year. A lot of things have happened since the moment when 2008 was rang in. I got through my mocks, then I got through my Irish and French orals, I got through the ACTUAL leaving cert, I started my first job, I got my ACTUAL leaving cert results and did way better than I could ever have expected, I moved away from home and I started college. And what is even better is, I did all that stuff without getting really sick from the crohn’s! But even though all that stuff is amazing (well to me anyway- I am a nerd after all) all that stuff is on the academic side of things. What I’m trying to say is... I have no social life. So that is my New Year’s Resolution... to get myself a social life!
So on to other things of note in 2008, mediawise. We had another amazing series of Strictly Come Dancing. Many people were convinced that the crown was going to go to Austin Healey but when he got knocked out in the Quarter Finals, the competition was knocked into disarray and no one knew who was going to win. But the crown was finally handed to the very deserving Tom Chambers and Camilla Dallerup after they danced a most amazing showdance in order the get their hands on that coveted glitterball trophy!
Padraig Harrington won not one but TWO more majors. He is now, most definitely, Ireland’s greatest sport’s m an. And if anyone says otherwise, I will hurt them. First he retained his British Open title and then he went on to win his third major in the US PGA! YOU ROCK PADI!
The Pork Scare! A typical example of the Irish media’s scare mongering, as thousand’s of perfectly edible cuts of meat were thrown out and wasted. It was a crime. I was particularly distraught during this time as I live on bloody pig meat- ham, rashers, black pudding, sausages... it was a horrendous time for me and everyone who had to live with me!
Poor Bertie was forced to step down as Taoiseach after much speculation about his finances (frankly, I don’t care where he got his money as long as he wasn’t stealing it for the taxpayers!) I’d say he is thanking his lucky stars that he got out when he did. Brian Cowen has really been landed in it!
Probably the biggest and best story of 2008 is that of Barack Obama. The first Black Man to be elected president of the USA! It’s about time! Also, isn’t great to have yet another left handed man in the White House? Now there’s a man you know you can trust to run a country! CHANGE HAS COME TO AMERICA! AT LAST!
Well, that’s my round-up of 2008. I know there is a lot of stuff I didn’t mention but I have talked about what mattered most to me... now on to books. I have read 3 books since my last post.
The first book is “Captain Fawley’s Innocent Bride”... it was my first experience of a Mills and Boon novel... and let me tell you it won’t be last. The mother told me that I would probably be able to guess the end as soon as I read 1 page but there was a few twists in the tale which kept me guessing! I loved it!
The next book I read was “Driftwood Lady” by LD Tetlow. It was a Western. It was ok, definitely not the greatest book I’ve ever read. At times, it felt like a ten year old had written it. Plus, there was too much repetition in it. It did my head in a bit if I’m honest.
The last book is absolutely wonderful! Another Mills and Boon, but this one was ten times better than the first, and that is saying something! It was called “Marianne and the Marquis” by Anne Herries. It was just brilliant. First of all it was set in Cornwall and Secondly, it involved smuggling... love it!
Happy New Year
Later
Sal
PS: I'm so excited, Grey's Anatomy is starting back on Monday! WooHoo!
PSS: I'm going out for the traditional Family New Year's Day Meal tomorrow so I shall let you know how it goes!
“The Teahouse on Mulberry Street” by Sharen Owens. I have to say I wasn’t expecting much from this book. But it turned out to be a really pleasant and light read. It could also be quite amusing in parts, particularly with the “Creepy Crawley’s”.
Of course, it wouldn’t be my blog if Meg Cabot wasn’t mentioned. I read “Airhead” by Meg Cabot. I have to say it wouldn’t be my favourite. It appeared to be unfinished to me which is very unlike Meg Cabot. I know it’s the start of a new series but the ending could have been a lot better.
I have also read two more Jeffrey Archer books, one which was far superior to the other. “A Prisoner of Birth” was a very good story but it couldn’t have got more farfetched. However, the courtroom scenes were savage!!! The other book was “As the Crow Flies”- typical Jeffrey Archer. It had me hooked from beginning to end and the ending was so sweet! I absolutely loved it!
Probably the most tragic story I have ever read is “The boy in the striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne. I did not see the ending coming and it is absolutely heart breaking. I couldn’t recommend this book highly enough!
Oh my God! I saw The Killers in concert in August. They were absolutely amazing! The only thing that stopped me enjoying it to the full was the fact that I had to stand for 5 hours... my back was in absolute agony. But it was an amazing concert. They sang all the classics- Mr Brightside, Read My Mind, All These Things That I’ve Done. I love ‘em! I just bought there new album Day and Age... It’s not near as good as the first two but it’s still a good record! 
Woohoo! It’s Christmas... don’t you just love the holidays with the smell of pine needles and Christmas pudding and the strains of “Fairytale of New York”? I’ve got all my presents bought so I can just relax and eat until the 19th January when Semester 2 begins.