2008 with pictorial stimulation

January washed up the now infamous Riverdance ferry in Cleveleys, about 100m from Raine's mum's house.

It became a major visitors attraction, much to Pat and Gordon's annoyance - since it stuck around for a long while (the last pieces have just been removed).

February I scored a job interview with a big company, but decided with some gentle persuasion from my lecturers' to follow my dream, and take the road to academia. Which meant MA and AHRC (funding) applications, alongside the small task of finishing my BA. We also went to Belfast, with my dad, to see Nanci Griffith at the Belfast Nashville songwriting festival, a great festival which has become an annual event for us three, and in 2009 we'll be dragging Paul along.

In March I took Raine on a surprise break to the most wonderful La Rosa: Campsite Extraordinaire - a camp of gypsy caravans in the middle of a national park.

I finally finish my BA in April, and on my birthday in June I find out I got a First - wahoo!! Much partaying surrounds results day, and graduation.


The summer is filled with rain - lots and lots of rain. I take up my job at the Students' Union full time, while Raine works for a vehicle hire company. We receive some very sad news - our young lecturer: Paul Fletcher (who became a father for a first time in February) dies suddenly at a conference in Australia. He was my second MA and AHRC reference, and at the end of August I hear I have received full funding (in a year when the already highly competitive funding was made even more competitive) - I'm at work when I hear, and jump (literally) around with joy, before containing myself enough to pass the news on. I take Raine out in Blackpool that night, to our favourite Tex-Mex restaurant.

Throughout the summer we were planning for our September wedding - which fell on Raine's birthday (our third anniversary). While most of my (extended) family struggled with the idea, and chose not to attend, our closet friends and relatives were there for a wonderful day.

Unfortunately our BBQ was moved indoors, because the unprecedented amount of summer rain had waterlogged our reception location's lawn. Still, we had a brilliant time - everything we wanted and more - it was chilled out and 100% us - we refused to do anything just because it was meant to be that way.


We went to Newquay for the honeymoon - where we lived for 6 months at the start of our relationship. We had a brilliant time revisiting old haunts, meeting up with friends, and taking up surfing - which we now have the bug for. We can't wait until it gets warm enough to get down there and on the board again.


Unfortunately days after our return from Newquay we lost Austin, our beloved Mini. On a country road we ended up in a collision with another vehicle, although I'm still hurting it could have been a lot worse. People on the scene were amazed there was a passenger walked out of there (though walked is a bit optimistic - limped clutching various appendages, is more accurate...). I now have a slightly bent nose, which goes wonderfully with my scar and has led to much mocking (even from people who shouldn't even be qualified to mock me - it's that irresistible, apparently) whenever there is any chance I might fall over - e.g., "be careful out there, there's ice, you might fall on your nose".

We now have a very safe and sturdy VW Polo: Claus; with his dedication to efficiency and safety he's fought his way into our hearts.

I started my MA in October, and although it's very hard work, I'm really pleased with the course. Raine also started her new job, for an exam board in Lancaster - it's not the most exciting job in the world, but it's well paid with good conditions, and it means we get evenings, weekends, and expendable cash!

As a condition of my funding I've had to give up my job, but I've become more active in my non-paid activities - I helped fundraise for breast cancer awareness in October:


We went on a protest against the BNP in Blackpool:


In November I was elected by the student body to be Student Trustee of the Students' Union. Not quite as exciting as Barack Obama's election as President, which we watched unfold through the night, alongside our American Themed party night, but it's a start.

December we went to London on holiday. We stayed in a wonderful hostel: Palmer's Lodge, which has made London affordable for us - so expect us back there very soon! We went for Santacon - an event Raine has wanted to attend for years. We dressed up as Santa, along with 1000 other Santas, and went on a magical mystery tour of London, spreading Christmas cheer.


Christmas was spent in Blackpool. We cooked for both sets of parents and hosted at Raine's mum's house, it went really well - we cooked a great meal, and everyone had a brilliant time. The year went out with a fizzle, though, as I ended up stuck in bed with Sinusitis. We celebrated New Year at home, toasting new year as it came around at key places in the world - Australian lunch time, chinese food for tea, and some exciting beverages from around the world.

2009, I have to go through the application process again for my PhD and funding. I'll be staying at Lancaster for the PhD, I was going to apply to Oxford, and went for a visit with a potential supervisor, but I decided that I'm in a very privledged place in Lancaster, and it's here that I'm going to stay. We'll be moving out of the back water of Galgate, although it's been good not to move for a while, this house now has more problems than it does advantages. We'll either move into Lancaster City Centre, or to Manchester or Preston. I want to get fit, I have my gym/swim membership, and the surprisingly good Wii Fit. We also want to surf a lot, here and abroad (getting abroad is top of our to-do list!).