Currently listening to: 'Rasputin', by Boney M. Found an old CD during a post-Christmas clear-out...

It, of course, goes without saying that I don't assume that everyone reading this will have celebrated a New Year recently. Vive la difference des calendriers!

I thought it would be an idea if, in what is both my first blog for a couple of months and the first of what I think of as the year 2007, if I did a bit of a review of 2006. Specifically, I've chosen five memories of the year I'd like to keep and three discoveries I was pleased to make in the year (listed in no particular order)

Memory 1 (February): Mighty Boosh Live Show, Liverpool

It happens with decreasing frequency that my parents, my sisters and I go out the five of us together. One occasion we did in 2006, it was to see the above-named BritComic duo. I really like the Mighty Boosh, whether we're talking about their radio work, their telly programme or the live show and the trip to Liverpool was enjoyed by one and all

Memory 2 (March): Mass at St Edmund Arrowsmith Catholic High School, Whiston

One quite prominent aspect of my post-university life has been what could charitably be described as wandering in a professional wilderness. In the November of 2005, I reached what might be called an oasis (might as well continue the wilderness metaphor) in the shape of doing reception/admin work at StEA. I thought I'd been forced to move on from this particular oasis in the February of 2006, but a few weeks later they were a few people short in the office, a phone call was made and...well, work it out!

One of the things I've always particularly enjoyed about StEA is Mass on a Friday dinner-time. The first Friday after my return was also the first Friday after Year 10 work experience; the school chaplain made a point of saying that it was like being a full family again.

Memory 3 (March): Lent Ecumenical Discussion, All Saints Anglican Church, Sutton

On Wednesday evenings in the Lent of 2006, the churches in my corner of St Helens decided to stage a series of talks where each denomination would give a brief presentation of itself as a basis for a series of discussions. This was far too good an opportunity for St Anne's Faith Develpment Group to pass up, so we put our heads together and I put the results together into talk format.

It was fortunate that I did as our priest was poorly the evening it was the 'turn' for Catholicism. I know it's arrogant to say so, but I couldn't really fail to feel good about being able to hold my own in a room full of ministers, of whom one held a doctorate in theology. Lest their be any doubt, however, this was a success for the Faith Development Group as a whole; as the number of Catholic priests continues to fall, the laity will have to take a more active role and I'm of the school that this is no bad thing.

Memory 4 (October): Leon Pryce's try, Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester

One of my colleagues at St Edmund Arrowsmith has been watching St Helens rugby league since the 1960s and has been privileged to see some brilliant players and teams in that time. This colleague is of the opinion that the team of 2006 is the best he's ever seen. In this year's championship Grand Final, Hull threw everything they had at us in the first half and it looked as if, despite this, it would be six apiece at half-time. This was before Pryce darted through the tiniest of gaps to send us in with a lead. After that, there was no coming back for Hull.

Memory 5 (April): Slipper Chapel, Walsingham

At Easter, I participate in Student Cross, a week-long cross-carrying walking pilgrimage to Walsingham. 2006 was my seventh time on said pilgrimage and I couldn't really dodge any longer the responsibility of leading the group of pilgrims which starts out from London.

I'd been really worried about this for a variety of reasons and had spent many hours on phone and computer in the weeks leading up to the pilgrimage to make sure that everything would be in place. When we arrived in the Slipper Chapel safe and on time late in the afternoon of Good Friday, I allowed myself to relax about a job well done.

Discovery 1: Jazz/jazz-funk

For most of my life, music had been a peripheral interest for me and I'd been in the habit of listening to whatever anyone else in house had on. In 2006, I found, by chance more than anything, that I really, really liked jazz-funk pieces from the late 1970s and early 1980s. My fixation with Level 42 grew directly from this discovery.

Discovery 2: Composition

2006 saw me write my first piece of music. It received a public performance in September (all right, it was in my church, but still...). I hope there'll be more to come.

Discovery 3: Blogging

I'm not sure if any further comment's really necessary!