I HATE NEW-YEAR’S

The turkey bones are now residing in bins, the Christmas tree is starting to shed it’s pines, there’s no presents left to open, no beer in the fridge and all the shops are closed. This is New Year’s Day and the Christmas anti-climax is starting to kick in, along with the hangover.

Last night’s telly was full of Jools Holland trying to be hip and trendy (although it was good to see Dave Edmunds still rockin’) with his over-tried/over-tested Hogmanay celebration. Like chewing stale meat. Holland’s New Year’s Eve TV show is as annual an event as the Queen’s speech or the Leopardstown races and this writer is bored rigid with the feeble attempts to push the boundaries. A recent review of The Damned’s latest album stated that it was about as ‘Punk’ as David Cameron. Well Jools’ efforts are probably as cool as Gordon Brown strolling on a beach, whilst on holidays(?), wearing a suit – a total turn off. Come on BBC, do something different for a change and send Holland packing to MTV.

Over on RTE we were subjected to a casual wearing Ryan Tubridy (that means not wearing a tie). Mr T never seems to dispense with a blazer/suit jacket and, on this year's effort, he looked no different. People either warm to, or are supremely irritated by the Dalkey Dad and my feelings fleet between the two emotions. He comes across plummy and posh yet he’s sincere and after a while you can relax to his shtick.

Leo Sayers was one of Tubridy’s guests but I couldn’t retain my interest and switched over to Channel Four where a group of comedians and TV personalities were displaying their humorous talent on The Big Fat Quiz of the Year. Hosted by the uber polite Jimmy Carr, the laughs were a little saucy in style but they still got me cackling (not a pleasant sound to be around, according to my mother). The programme featured: Davina Mc Call (Big Brother), Dara O’Briain (Mock the Week), Michael McIntyre, Sean Lock, Claudia Winkleman and, rising star James Corden (co-writer of Gavin & Stacey). This show was my port of refuge on a night of anti-climaxes. Holland’s show has no future but this, even for Channel Four, was worth viewing.

It’s now New Year’s Day and, as bombs and missiles are exchanged in Gaza, the famous Vienna concert is being performed. Each year TV networks around the world beam the music onto our screens and guess what? 2009 is no exception. This year the main conductor is Daniel Barenboim, who has lived in Israel even though he was originally born in Argentina. The music is joyous but tinged with sadness as Barenboim’s adopted homeland is at a dangerous ebb right now. Greater efforts will have to be made to end hostilities in the Middle East and the famous conductor will be aware of the turmoil there as he leads his excellent group of musicians.

The Christmas/New-Year season is drawing to a close and people who’d never be seen out of their cars are now ‘Power Walking’, desperately trying to lose weight gained during the festivities. Someone once said that the Ulster Fry killed more people than over 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland and the guilt of excessive feasting can be seen on everyone’s faces, not to mention the bellies. Maybe it’s not that bad that Christmas only comes once a year.

2009 a note: As the year progresses I hope to continue to blog and by year's end I hope to start to get some recognition as a writer/journalist and to get stuff published. Of course if the women of Dublin get any better looking I'll probably end up dying of a heart attack and then all my problems will be solved. That's not the plan though. Best wishes to all my viewers and please stay tuned!