As is the tradition, at this time of year, I take a look back at the best blogs of the year. First a few numbers. This year, I posted 303 blogs, which is slightly more than the past three years. I was actually surprised when I checked this, as I felt I'd been less busy. The blog had a huge number of hits
As to the most read individual blogs, according to Google stats. Annoyingly. Google no longer lists the published date. These stats are slightly misleading, as they do not show blogs that are accessed by a general view of the blog, or by a search on a tag, but these are the ten most shared and revisited blogs for 2025
Donald Trump will not end the Ukraine war on day one of his presidency as promised.Spot on 10/10
Keir Starmer will raise taxes on businesses by even more in the next budget, as well as nicking more cash off pensioners. Spot on 10/10
Nigel Farage will continue to be the bloke most invited onto #BBCQT whilst claiming that the 'mainstream media' gives him a hard time. Spot on 10/10
Sir Sadiq Khan will continue to annoy people of the right and will raise tube fares again for ordinary Londoners. Spot on 10/10
Sport Not so hot 3/10 Mind you, you can always rely on Arsenal!
Manchester United will not finish the year with their current manager - Wrong 0/10
Manchester City will win their case with the Premier League - Who thought it would still be unresolved 0/10
Arsenal will win nothing Spot on 10/10
The Weather - Spot on 10/10
Winter will be cold and miserable and at the end of it, we'll be told it's the hottest winter on record. Spot on 10/10
Summer will be wet and miserable and at the end of it, we'll be told it's the hottest summer on record.Spot on 10/10
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My new years resolutions - 7/10 not bad
1. To lose 14kg by April Nearly - I lost 10kg - 7/10
2. To get back running on the treadmill by April - Nearly I was on it in July 7/10
3. To release a new album by The False Dots in November - It was recorded, but we delayed it until 2026 as we wrote three new tracks that we wanted to include 7/10
However, this wasn't my favourite blog in January, this was
I often re-read this blog when I am feeling down. When I write blogs like this I get in a mental zone I rarely explore. Re-reading it takes me there. It is a good place in my head.
This one was quite a hard read for me. I had a very strange experience and it sort of confirmed to me that I probably suffered a bit of PTSD when my Mum was being treated for cancer in 1970. I've often thought about it, but this really crystalised what I've felt for a long time. I think it is good to confront such things, if we are strong enough
A bit of nostalgia made me smile from the August selection. A reminder of happier, more innocent times. I don't recommend children to play on the M1, but I wouldn 't have missed this.
Just in case you thought we'd given up completely on sticking up for Barnet's residents, had to pick this one. We exposed a council cock up. We saved Barnet Council from a potentially expensive lawsuit. Did we get any thanks from the administration? Did we f.... Barnet still needs its bloggers! Sadly Both John Dix AKA Mr Reasonable and Theresa Musgrove AKA Mrs Angry have only managed one each. Derek DIshman AKA Mr Mustard has published a fair number, mostly about parking. The useless adminstration in Barnet needs scrutiny. Sadly, there is far too little. Of course being a blogger is an unpaid role, I am not criticiising other people, who have done enough to warrant an OBE IMHO in the past, but bloggers are needed.
Strangely, or perhaps not, none of my personal favourites were in the most read list. I was pleased that my April fool blog made the top ten! Since lockdown, I've changed the style of what I write. I have realised I am not as angry and vitriolic as I was. That is a good thing. It is also a good thing that people are still taking an interest. When I started the Barnet Eye in 2008, I never imagined it would still be going in 2025 or would have had over 7 million views.
I'll leave you with a song. It's new years day, so there is only one thing I could possibly play! We all love a party
Are you sitting comfortably, you might not be by the end of this blog, but I genuinely believe that blokes need to talk about these things. I was listening to BBC Radio London this morning. A guest on the morning show was saying she'd directly saved four lives through her work raising breast cancer awareness. That is a great thing and I am proud to say that this series of blogs has saved the lives of six people, who have taken the trouble to get in touch and tell me that it inspired them to get checked out, and the checks uncovered symptoms that required treatment. They will not be joining the 12,000 men a year killed by prostate cancer, making it the second biggest killer. I've been saving sharing this story until now, but at The False Dots gig at the Dublin Castle on the 21st, a stranger came up to me, introduced himself and his wife. They were from up North. They had come down specially to see The False Dots. Why, eight years ago, he'd read my blog, had a PSA test and found he had prostate cancer. It hadn't spread, but he had to have it removed. The Doctors told him that it had been caught just in time. They thought they'd 'got it all' but weren't sure. After five years, with a zero PSA reading, he was declared clear. They fancied a shopping trip in London and decided to watch the band and say thank you. He then said "Can I buy you a pint, I can't really ever repay you, but its the least I can do". He then said "It was great seeing you up onsateg doing your music, life goes on, doesn't it?".
We had a pint, discussed football, music and life for ten minutes. Although we only spoke for ten minutes, he felt like a brother. Just before he left, he went to the loo, his wife turned to me and said "You don't know what it means to me that he read your blog and had that test, the thought he wouldn't have seen his Grandaughter is too horrible to contemplate". She then said that he was doing a lot of work in his home town with a Prostate group and often pointed people at my blog. When he left, we gave each other a hug and wished each other luck.
Eight years he's been clear. Dull and boring. Not words that will excite you, set your heart racing or make you lie back with a cup of tea and think "Thank you Lord" (or other expressions of gratefulness as appropriate as to your beliefs). However, when you have had surgery for cancer and you are having your annual review, the the duller and more boring it is, the better. In August 2023, I had surgery to remove a cancerous prostate. At the time, I felt like my world was ending. The side effects of my operation are infertility (100% guaranteed as the seminal vessels are removed), incontinence (maybe for about 50% of men in the first six months, dropping to 10-15% after a couple of years) and erectile dysfunction (50-60% of men). I had nerve sparing techniques that markedly improve the outcomes with regards to contenince and erectile function. These technioques were only available if you went private at the time, although I believe that NHS trials are now underway. I found the prospect daunting. My outcome was pretty good. I am continent, I was almost immediately, and have a degree of sexual function, which is markedly improved with cialis. I have days when the cup is half empty and days when the cup is half full.
It took me a week to fully process this meeting. We'd just finished our gig and I was buzzing. I was elated to hear his story. I never really think of myself as one of the good guys, but for a moment, I felt that God had put me here for a purpose and I was living up to his plan. I don't want to come over all religious, but it is the only way I can describe that feeling. The guy wasn't slushy or sentimental. He was a proper bloke, who just felt saying thank you was important. But afterwards, in a sober, quiet moment, I realised that it wasn't meeting him that really made an impression. It was his wife's words "the thought he wouldn't have seen his Grandaughter is too horrible to contemplate". When people have said to me "I can't bear the idea of not being a whole man", I've always struggled to find the words to give a serious response, which might persuade someone that it will be OK. She didn't have to say anything, but in one sentence she cut through all of the waffle, bullshit and everything else. For that I will be eternally grateful. His Grandaughter is two. I never knew any of my Grandparents. I always felt robbed and a tad resentful. All of my siblings were born before my maternal grandmother passed away. They all have memories and would talk in hallowed terms of 'Nana'. There is a little two year old girl, who will know her Grandad, because eight years ago he read my Cancer blog and got a PSA test.
We don't always realise our value and worth to those we love. Life isn't perfect, we are not perfect, but when we go, we leave a massive hole in the lives of people we love. A hole that cannot be filled because each of us is unique. So if you are over 50 and especially if you are deemed at risk (close blood relatives have had prostate cancer), please consider a PSA test. It ain't perfect, but six people have read my blog and caught the bastard disease before it spread, so it is not a waste of time. Just consider, in sixty odd years time, when I am long gone, a lady may just be telling her grandkids tales of how she spent time with her lovely grandad and how much she loved him. Why? Because he had a PSA test.
It's not been fun for me. But that short chat on the 21st made me realise that the cup isn not half full, it is overflowing, but with a very different brew to the one I thought I ordered at the bar.
2025 has been a difficult year for me in many ways. Having said that, it has been an absolute classic year for me as a musician, a festival organiser and a gig go'er. I can honestly say I've seen some of the best gigs and my band The False Dots have also played some absolute belters. The Mill Hill Music Festival was amazing, as was the East Barnet Festival, with some amazing performances. So here is my pick of the year!
January.
The year got off to a great start with Carroll Thompson, queen of Lovers Rock at Ronnie Scotts. I have always been rather partial to a bit of reggae and lovers Rock. Carroll is a regular customer at the studio and is a lovely lady. A great way to kick off the year!
In February, I went to see Bilk. From Essex, one of the best new rock and roll bands on the scene. Tom our trumpeter introduced me to Bilk and I am very glad he did. I saw them four times during the year, all of the shows were brilliant. Check them out if you like proper rock and roll.
Also on the 16th February - The False Dots celebrated our 46th birthday at The Dublin Castle- with Pete & The Lovehearts and The Colours. It was a great way to start the gigging year.
March.
In March there were a few brilliant gigs, this is my pick, Rockabilly/Rock and Roll legends The Delta's at The Boogaloo pub. I love the gospel lunches there. It's free as well, although if you want a table reserved, they charge £4. I'd recommend The Delta's to anyone. They had a hot back in the early 1980's and have lost none of their energy.
The big highlight in April was the London International Ska Festival. My personal Favourite gig was Jah Wobble at the 100 club. I think Jah Wobble is one of the UK's most interesting and innovative artists.
Also on the 12th April the False Dots played at The Builders Arms, Barnet. It was the first of a couple of gigs. It was nice for us, as we could do two sets, giot paid decent money and could play two sets, so got to play some of the songs we don't usually play. It was a wonderful evening
May.
May saw a very special gig, The remaining Pogues got together for a show, for the first time since 2014. It was a brilliant night, lots of great guests.
Also on 25th May the False Dots launched our 2025 single Groovetown at The Dublin Castle with Dubvocaliza and Niall Logue in support. It was a great night and the single has been really well received, getting loads of radio coverage. It has been a central part of the set.
June
In June we had the Mill Hill Music Festival, which was amazing. Check out my festival diary here! It would be hard to picka personal favourite, it was all pretty brilliant.
As for other gigs, it has to be John McKay's Reactor. John was the original guitarist of Souixsie and the Banshees. It was amazing to hear the tracks with him on guitar.
We also had some storming False Dots gigs. 5th July - Jester Festival - Fortune Green, West Hampstead and the 12th July at The Builders Arms, Barnet.
August
August saw a few good gigs of note, not least The Healthy Junkies at the Butchers Arms in Barnet. A cracking set from a great band, not bad fo free in a Barnet pub.
On the 30th August, we had my Birthday party at Mill Hill Music Complex, where the False Dots put in a cracking set and we partied until the early hours.
September
September saw the rather good Crossroads festival in Cricklewood. It was great to be able to support the event and there was some amazing World music on display
For the band, we had some great fun at Maddies party on 10th October - Mill Hill Music Complex. A great night for all.
November
This was an easy one. The Saints at The Electric Ballroom. The first punk band I saw, back in 1977. The Aussie proto punks wewre back playing music from their first three albums. Ed Kuepper on guitar is IMHO a legend
And on 2nd November we were back at The Dublin Castle. We were previewing the tracks fromn our new album, it was a spiffing show. We got to play a bit longer at the Headliners failed to show up, which is always a laugh!
December
It was really stiff competition for the best gig in December. We had Madness, The Pogue Traders, The Deltas to name a few, but the one that will live with me was the Rock and Roll Rescue fundraiserfeaturing Knox of The Vibrators. The first punk album I ever bought was Puremania by The Vibrators and to hear the songs again was amazing. Knox has not been in best health, so to see him back on stage was a bit special.
