Goodbye 2008 – thank goodness it’s over.

Is anyone actually going to miss 2008? I don’t know anybody who actually had a nice year and unfortunately a lot of people are entering 2009 not knowing what the year is going to bring. For me personally I am entering the new year as a published author and a car owner, two things I didn’t really think I would be this time last year. I do actually feel as though I’ve achieved a lot in 2008 but it’s been exhausting and to top it all my NYE is going to be spent recovering from the flu and a migraine.

So, enough of the doom and gloom, I thought I’d do a totally irreverent review of the year. All are my own personal opinions and I’m sure a lot of people will disagree.

The Karen Mason Awards for……

MY GOD PLEASE GET OFF MY TELLY – Myleene Klass; Does this woman ever say no to anything? Last Choir Standing, Saturday Night Divas or whatever it was called, Miss Naked Beauty, those irritating Marks and Spencers adverts, Loose Women, Newsnight, The Worlds Strongest Man, Animal Cops Houston (okay I might have made a few of those up). She is everywhere and it doesn’t help that she’s so bloody smug and annoying – ugghhhgh!

Runner up : Take That

TV SHOW OF THE YEAR – Ashes to Ashes; Anyone familiar with this blog knows of my love for this programme. Yes it was implausible, yes Gene Hunt’s been castrated somewhat and yes even my beloved Keeley Hawes (yes there is a bit of a girl crush going on there) was irritating in parts, but A2A was fun and colourful, had a fantastic soundtrack and filled me with memories of when I was an innocent 10 year old and my little world consisted of school, Jackie magazine and listening to the Top 40 every Sunday evening.

Runner up : Come Dine with Me & The Wire

HERO OF THE YEAR – Cesar Millan (the Dog Whisperer); I wish I could control my dog by just going ‘shshh’ and dazzling her with my brilliant white teeth.

Runner up : Barack Obama

FILM OF THE YEAR – The Dark Knight; yes totally predictable but this was a stunningly fantastic film and it’s rare for me to watch something and not want it to end and but that was now I felt first time I saw this.

Runner up : Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian

DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE YEAR – The Quantum of Solace; Casino Royale was such a fantastic film that Quantum had a lot to live up to. Unfortunately it didn’t and was barely any more entertaining that any of the other hum drum Bond films which normally happen at the end of someone’s tenure and given that it’s only Daniel Craig’s second outing, that’s pretty worrying.

Runner up : Remake of Survivors

HYPOCRITE OF THE YEAR – Jordan aka Katie Price; the woman who sells stories every time one of her children falls over and grazes their knee has the cheek to criticise Jade Goody for publicising her cancer plight which has actually increased awareness of cervical cancer.

Runner up : No one matches the vileness of Jordan.

MOST RIDICULOUS SOAP OPERA STORY OF THE YEAR (possibly the century) – Lauren Branning running over her father Max in Eastenders. The child is 14, has never had a driving lesson and normally wouldn’t say boo to a goose but had the nerve to drive a car in a straight line, run her father over, drive off, park the car, come home and let her mother take the rap – purleasse!

Runner up : Anything that happens in Emmerdale

MOST ANNOYING TV SHOW – Deal or No Deal; I’m sorry but all that whooping and walking round and telling people they love them is so schmaltzy it makes my ears and eyes bleed. There’s something terribly staged about the whole thing and it’s turned what was a good idea into something completely irritating.

Runner up : Big Brother (sorry Ange)

MOST UNDERTATED SHOWBIZ PERSON IN THE WORLD (aka you stole my act award) -Alison Goldfrapp. All I’m saying is that I’m sure if AG started buying Marmite flavour crisps in Iceland, suddenly you’d see Kylie and Madonna buying them too.

Runner up : Simon Cowell (yes I’m talking to you Craig Foxtrot Tango and Jason Gardner)

YES I’M BORED WITH YOU NOW – Fern Britton; When she was fat she was funny and happy and amusing. When she first lost weight you rooted for her, then we found out she was cheating and we were intrigued. Now it’s just boring. She looks old and haggard and fed up. Move on. I’m sure there are celebs out there doing worse things.

Runner up : Cheryl Cole & Gordon Ramsay

Finally, my predictions for 2009

Music – I see a return to disco. People’s lives are going to be miserable enough. I think uplifting music is going to be required. (I actually think Crying at the Discoteque by Alcazar should be made the National Anthem)

Television – the death knell of reality TV. There have been too many scandals and allegations of fixing for it to survive much longer. Late entry - Sean Pertwee to be named new Doctor Who.

Books – the rise of self published authors. I’m not just saying that because I am one but publishers are just taking on rubbish celebrities to ‘write’ novels and aren’t investing money in anyone with actual talent. The world is now the oyster for writers to create their own work and I think it’s going to flourish.

So there it is. Happy New Year everyone. I hope 2009 is peaceful and if not prosperous, perhaps it will give people the chance to reassess what is important in life.

Thanks to everyone who’s followed my blog and bought my books or borrowed my books or even said they’d read them and then just ignored me. At least people out there know my name now.

Remember Two Become One will be out soon – quick plug!

Ciao for now and Happy New Year!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUUq0lVylgE&NR=1

The British media sucks sometimes

In continuation of my occasional non-book blogs, I thought would write about something that has astounded me in recent weeks. I never thought I would write a blog defending Jade Goody. The whole ‘woe is me, I’ve done a fart’ publicity seeking is quite annoying and people like her have brought the cult of celebrity to a whole new low. But since she has been diagnosed with cancer, the sheer hypocrisy of the British media has just knocked me for sideways.

Last year when the whole Shilpa Shetty thing blew up, all the celebrity rags turned against Jade in such a venomous way. I think the only one that dared let her state her point was Heat, I can remember her giving an interview with them. All the others treated her as though she was daughter of Hitler or something. IMHO I don’t think Jade’s comments were particularly racist, just ignorant. And I’m sorry, when Shilpa accused her of being common and she instructed her to go and visit the slums of India to see the ‘common’ people who had put her where she was now, she had a point. Anyway, Shilpa was a stuck up madam and while Danielle, Jo and Jade did act like bullies, I think even someone more articulate may well have got fed up with Shilpa’s Miss Perfect veneer.

Anyway, back to the point Now! Magazine in particular just rendered me speechless (there goes any chance of my book being reviewed by them). Jade used to have a page in the magazine where she gave her opinions on things. It was obvious that it was ghost written, we all know Jade is not exactly the brightest button in the box. Then when it happened, suddenly Now! Turned on her, severed all ties with her and wrote horrible stories about her.

Now Jade is ill, suddenly their writing stories about how they wish her well and her brave struggle etc etc. Now! Isn’t alone, all the gutter girl’s rags are doing it. Putting her on the cover, knowing that it will sell copies. Fair enough, they’re in it to make money. But the hypocrisy is just amazing. They either hate her or they don’t. Last year they despised her, so why not ignore her now? No, because she guarantees sales. It all stinks.