As the end of 2024 is upon us I felt that I should spend some time and bring you all up to date on a few things in a new upbeat style still rooted in reflection. I actually find it harder to write down a happy update since I worry that it reads a bit like a “look at me” Instagram style shiny load of fake happy shite, which is nice, but I will give it a go. Picking up the thread of 2024 that was last reported on with my 2 photos post after the Green Day gig back in June, it has been quite a year indeed as Caroline and I complete a full calendar year together and one with so many happy events along the way. Most importantly though, 2025 is shaping up to be even better….

Abigail and Thomas started the year with their engagement, which I almost knew about before they returned from Florida in January but had to wait for confirmation that she had said yes and was wearing a ring when I saw them. The wedding was planned in Abi’s “get on with it” style for the weekend of my birthday in April and was a stunning family day, leaving me very emotional and so proud. The only negative on the day was that my Mum was still in hospital recovering from some major life saving surgery and therefore unable to join us, a fact that still makes me sad as I sit here writing this post. Standing to make my speech as the oldest member of our family in the room was a pretty sobering experience for me but since I had been writing that speech since January I was pretty well prepared.

In March, Caroline and I celebrated our first anniversary together with a holiday at a delightful Landmark Trust cottage in Wales, along with the dogs of course. Long wet walks, isolation and having a right bloody laugh with each other was a truly great way to reflect on our first year together. At the end of May, we got away for some much needed sunshine in Majorca, spending time chilling, drinking and enjoying the company of good friends. We didn’t explore the island very much but embraced everything that Alcudia and Palma had to offer. Readers of my previous post will already know about the gigs we attended in June seeing Foo Fighters and then Green Day in the space of a week, both gigs were amazing primarily because we enjoyed them together.

Sticking with the wedding theme of 2024 we had the absolute pleasure of sharing in the celebrations of Caroline’s eldest son Kane’s wedding to his beautiful bride Kate. It was a truly perfect day and night and yet another example of me being welcomed into Caroline’s family so warmly, we danced almost all night and proudly missed breakfast the next morning.

Of course the year hasn’t been without it’s sadness, loss and challenges, including Mum’s lengthy recovery process that saw her miss Abi’s wedding and spend far too much precious time unable to get out and enjoy life. We have lost some very good friends in 2024 and each loss serves as a reminder of lost family but also reminds us that we are the lucky ones, seeing the family of those lost friends dealing with the impossible emptiness of grief is hard and I can only hope that this happy little post provides a glimmer of hope that better times can lie ahead. Love and sympathy particularly go out to the families of Ian Andrews, Aileen Scott, Jane Kane, Mollie Cowan and the legendary Dick Dalton.

A further sadness for the year was seeing the gradual decline of the amazing border collie and best friend, Stardust, who we sadly had to say goodbye to just a day before we were due to add to our little canine family. So we welcomed cocker spaniel puppy, Lulu into the pack as we said our final farewell to perhaps the best sheepdog I will ever have the privilege to own.

Earlier in the year we had booked a lot of gigs for October and November and time flew by so fast that we found ourselves into that month or so of gigs before we knew it. In the space of just a few weeks we saw St. Vincent, The Corrs, Ezra Collective and Idles at venues around Manchester and Newcastle, many of these on midweek nights meaning some late nights and blurry mornings but never a moment to hesitate. My Gran used to criticise me for burning the candle at both ends but, sorry Gran, I have kinda made that a life motto these days. Although a quiet weekend or two chilling up in Lanehead is very welcome too.

Of course, I am teasing the big news of 2024 by leaving it to the end of this blog and deliberately trying to avoid this being a chronological tale of the year. On August 11th 2024 Caroline accepted my proposal in a special spot down by the river in Lanehead and we are now very happily engaged to be married. This has been an amazing year for us both and I could not be happier to be enjoying every day and making plans for the future together. The wedding is booked for March 2025 and will provide a lovely start to the year ahead as we finalise our plans to celebrate with family and friends. Although there might just be more excitement to report prior to that but some things have to remain secret for now.