The boy who danced with the devil

‘Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards’
– Søren Kierkegaard

I know I know, we are in 2022, so why am I choosing now to write my review of 2019? Well, now is as good as time as any. The world has basically been on fire for the best part of two years, so why not right?

When I first planned writing this post at the back end of 2019, I had a very specific direction I wanted to take it, which is how I came up with the title – I truly felt like I had danced with the devil. However, before we get into that, I wanted to focus on the positives of the year and talk about some of the exciting things that happened. After all, 2020 saw the COVID pandemic hit and it’s easy to let that suck us into a hole of negativity. So, following that, lets take look at some of my 2019 highlights shall we?

#49 – Sleep out under the Stars

“For my part I know nothing with any certainty,
but the sight of the stars makes me dream” – Vincent Van Gogh

There’s something special about a starry night, isn’t there? Calming, relaxing… little twinkles of light dancing against pitch black background.

Beautiful.

Light pollution has unfortunately lessened the stunning sight of a starry night sky over cities across the world, but there are still pockets where it can truly be marvelled at.

#69 – Watch the sunset at Uluru, Australia

“somehow you feel certain that this large, brooding, hypnotic presence
has an importance to you at a species level
–perhaps even at a sort of tadpole level–
and that in some way your visit here is more than happenstance” – Bill Bryson

It’s one of those that is a must-do for any want-to-be traveller who finds themselves in Australia. Ayers’ Rock – known to the Aboriginal’s as Uluru – is so much more than just a ‘bloody big rock’ in the Red Centre. Sacred to the indigenous people, greater knowledge and understanding is leading to a greater appreciation of the site by tourists who are coming to visit it, with the historical climb to the peak now closed for good as a result.

However, the major attraction that keeps people coming time and time again, is the sunset.

Callum’s 2017 Adventures: Fiji via Feejee Experience pt.1

‘No hurry, no worry; you’re on Fiji Time’
– Every Fijian ever

Fiji is an absolute gem of a country. Beautiful landscapes, sandy beaches, crystal clear water, rich cultural history, a laid-back atmosphere, and the happiest people you are ever likely to meet. Honestly, I cannot praise how wonderful it is enough, with the only drawbacks being the mosquitoes and some of the over-inflated prices.

There are a couple of different ways to explore Fiji, although the most popular means for backpackers is usually with one of the island hopping packages. Following the success of my time with Kiwi Experience I decided to opt onto the FeeJee Experience, which provides a similar approach despite being a separate company.

With just over a week available to me, I decided to get myself the Lei Low pass, with both the welcome and farewell packs. Included in the Lie Low pass is a tour of Viti Levu (the main island), an overnight stay on Robinson Crusoe Island, and an overnight stay on Beachcomber Island.

#19 – Live Abroad for a Year

‘Living in a foreign country is one of those things that
everyone should try at least once. My understanding was that it
completed a person, sanding down the rough provincial edges
and transforming you into a citizen of the world’
– David Sedaris

Living abroad. The big one. Tell you what though, I’d have to disagree with Sedaris, I think I’m still a  little rough around the edges. Not quite a “completed” person.

Still, it was definitely something.

All in all I spent thirteen months in Australia, thirteen quite brilliant months I may add. The majority of that time was spent roaming and exploring Melbourne, with the rest split between Sydney and Western Australia (the East Coast I travelled back in 2015 and can be read about in detail here).

#113 – Enjoy a “Day at the Races”

‘By a certain time in the afternoon, one ceases to remember details’
– Virgina Gay

It’s a contentious thing these days, the Races. Animal cruelty is high on the agenda of today’s society, with traditional sports such as fox hunting and horse racing their main targets.

Now, I won’t turn this into a political post, however I do want to put it out there that support neither of the aforementioned sports. Saying that I was, at the time, on the fence regarding horse racing. Or rather, my desire to enjoy “A Day at the Races” and all the glamour, mess and fashion statements that come with it.

#31 – Get a Tattoo

‘Our bodies were printed as blank pages
to be filled with the ink of our hearts’
– Michael Biondi

As the saying goes, you wait years for one to come along and two arrive in quick succession. Something like that anyway.

I was in my mid-teens when I first decided I wanted a real tattoo. I’d had plenty of henna tattoos picked up on various summer holidays by the beach before then, but it was really during my GCSE years that I made my mind up about wanting ink permanently etched on my skin. First it was designs in my workbook, then it was me drawing them on my skin, slowly working out and planning what I wanted and where I wanted them.

However, it wasn’t until 30th May 2017 that I actually followed through, an early 24th birthday present to myself. Rather than starting small though, I found a phenomenal artist in Eloise to complete pt.1 – my shoulders.

#18 – Drive the Great Ocean Road, Australia

They built the road as a war memorial
for their fellow soldiers and servicemen who had died in the war,
a road which took more than 10 years to complete.

Okay so technically I didn’t actually “drive” the Great Ocean Road myself, rather I was part of a tour group that was taken along it as part of a 2-day trip. Even still, I will consider this yet another completed action on my bucket list.

The reputation of the Great Ocean Road is that it is one of beauty. A twisting, winding pathway along the southern coast of Australia. Beautiful hillside landscapes on one side and a never-ending seascape on the other. The “must-see” sights include the 12 Apostles

The boy who came home

‘But there is room now in my heart for more memories,
carved by a letting go that I could find
only by coming home to a place I’d never been’
– Karen White

2018. Strange year right? Weird year to be honest, for me anyway. Football almost came home for the first time since 1966 in 2018. It didn’t though. However, in a plot-twist surprise to many, I did.

Like I said, 2018. A strange, weird year. Then again, when reflecting on my outline for 2018, I pretty much stuck to the script. After all, in my 2017 review The boy who strayed from his path, I wrote “January 2018 will mark 11 months since I last saw my Dad, so I am very excited to be spending his birthday with him out in Thailand at the end of the month. The exciting news is that, after spending 15 months away, I will be returning to the UK temporarily in the middle of February, before heading back to Asia in April. From there everything is up in the air as to what I do or where I go next, so I guess we will see what happens.”

Well, all of that happened. All of that and more. After all, I came home.

Irksome Media and “Us Against the World”

Anyone but Liverpool

I’ve calmed down since watching last night’s game and, in hindsight, I don’t think I have the boys in Red enough credit. Were we at our best? No. At times we were insipid and ponderous in possession, but we managed the game beautifully, undone by two costly lapses in concentration.

Anyone but Liverpool

If actions before, during, and after the game mean anything, it’s that City knew this was a must-win. Get a draw and stay 7pts behind Liverpool would mean an uphill battle, lose and fall 10pts behind would leave a mountain to climb. For City, only a win would do.