2011

When it all gets dark again,
The whole thing falls apart I guess,
It doesn't really matter 'bout the rain,
'Cause we'll get through it anyway ..

Another year gone.

My New Years Eve was spent in Amsterdam trying not to get killed. If you are Dutch, and you have a firework, set it off wherever the hell you like. You seem to gain bonus points if you kick a firework over towards a crowd of people.

I spent most of New Years Eve in a coffee shop. We sat for five minutes just kind of shaking uncontrollably post near-death experience, until the guy who owned the place came over looking pretty grumpy and told us if we weren't gonna buy anything or smoke, we'd have to leave.

We told him truthfully that we'd bought from him the previous night. Suddenly he was very friendly. It was the best kind of friendly; he just raised his hands and said, in that genuine tone that you'd expect from David Attenborough or Morgan Freeman, "No problem guys" and walked behind the bar.

The Dutch are ok.

There's nothing else to report. After New Years Eve I think I have some new lease on life after witnessing near-death in all its red, green and sparkly rocket glory.

Oh, and don't go to Paris. Or do, but do it better than I did. Ooh, and run amok in train stations, the guards carry rifles but no ammunition whatsoever. And don't speak to anyone.

HAPPY NEW YEAR