Friday 2 January 2015

Happy new year!

Happy new year everyone! I cannot believe that it's 2015 already and that the Eurovision season is already under way. Last week Albania and Belarus chose their respective entries for Vienna and in the coming weeks the season will really kick off - and of course all eyes will turn to Sweden and to Melodifestivalen next month.
 
2014 was a bittersweet year in many ways. In terms of Eurovision work, it was a really successful year for me; I was busier than ever and I finally published my book. It hasn't exactly set the charts on fire but it was only ever intended as something for my CV and I'm glad to have finished the damn thing. On a personal level, 2014 was especially challenging with illness in my family and re-locating to London. I am now looking forward, with optimism, to 2015 and all that lies ahead.
 
2015 will see the 60th Eurovision Song Contest take place and there are various rumours currently going around about what is planned to mark the occasion. I think it's fair to say that the plans will include a little more than the montage shown at the start of the 1995 contest! More details to follow soon once they are confirmed.
 
I'm currently undertaking Dry January which is a campaign led by Alcohol Concern. I wanted a challenge and anyone who knows me will know that this is a challenge! Hopefully it'll help me with my marathon training which has now begun. I'm going to be running London, Edinburgh, Reykjavík and Dublin. If that doesn't help me to shed the lbs then I don't know what will! I'm looking forward to attending Eurofest at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern on 23rd January - stone cold sober!
 
Thanks for reading and I wish everyone a happy 2015 - let the Eurovision countdown begin!