The Top Ten of 2009 Part 1

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been producing a short 15 minute video for the folks back home in New Zealand, which basically narrates what I've been up to abroad, my experiences and the 2009 year in general. A script was written, which I recorded in the most natural way possible. And I filmed both static images and movie clips to complement the narration. I was very pleased with the end result; I might have a future as a movie maker!

At the end of the video I highlighted my Final Five, where the idea was borrowed from Rove, the Australian talk show programme, which unfortunately met its end just recently. Instead of guests answering random questions in Rove's final five, my final five listed my top five experiences of 2009.

Here in this exclusive two-part entry, the lucky reader will not only read about my final five experiences that I included in the video. They'll be getting twice the number, which I've labelled my Top Ten of 2009.

So without any further ado, I'll start the countdown, starting at number 10.

10: Getting a front row standing position at the BBC Proms
In order to secure a front row standing position near the stage, I queued up 9 hours before the concert started. A great use of my time! The concert itself was stunning, it featured one of my very favourite classical works, and standing less than a metre away from the stage was unforgettable. And, being in the front row, I got plenty of screen time on live BBC TV on a Saturday night.
Would I do it again? Absolutely not! I may be a classical music fan, but I don't think I'd spend 9 hours waiting in a queue again. Maybe I'll have a different view when I've aged a little.

9: Appearing in the Reading Evening Post
In the lead-up to the Reading Half Marathon, I was featured in an article in the Reading Evening Post as the runner who travelled further than most to compete in the Reading Half Marathon. The article was inaccurate in reporting that I was a gap year student. That would make me the oldest gap year student around! Oh well, what do you expect from a tabloid?
The article raised my profile both in Reading, and back home in NZ! And this event has taught me the finer points of public relations. Would I do it again? Absolutely! I'm doing the Reading Half Marathon again in 2010, the reporter has my email address, so perhaps I might feature in another article? Hopefully they won't call me a gap year student again.

8: Visiting Paris
A romantic city, but my trip there was not for romantic reasons. Though, visiting Paris did remind me of that ABBA song, Our Last Summer. Activities included climbing the Eiffel Tower, visiting the Louvre to see the Mona Lisa, walking the Champs-Élysées, cruising on the Seine, checking out Moulin Rouge, and so much more.
Drinking red wine, which I am a big fan of, in a swanky French restaurant was also a plus! Eating baguettes and pain au chocolat - yummy! Drinking coffee in a French cafe and watching the world go by - magic! Would I go back again? Oh definitely, but I'd have to bring a date next time. I do have a few names in mind!

7: Setting a personal best in the Reading Half Marathon
The event that made me believe that I could go faster. I shattered my half marathon personal best time by over 10 minutes, which went over and above my personal expectations for the race. After a pretty average 2008 in terms of my running, I think I found an extra running gear within me this year, and my running has improved in leaps and bounds since.
The RHM was the first event I did in the UK, so it was pretty special for me. Also, the RHM is the second biggest half marathon event in the UK in terms of participation, and it boasted an elite field, so this wasn't just a casual Sunday fun-run. What was great to see was the large number of participants taking part. Whether they were seasoned runners or first timers, it was great to see people having a go. Would I run the RHM again? Well I've already signed up for RHM 2010, so yes! And after that? Well, I'll see what kind of time I'll manage next year.

6: Living in Reading
As ridiculous as it sounds, living in Reading makes it into my Top Ten of 2009, as high as number 6. It's a small town with not a lot going for it. But it was also my first UK town, and that, to me, makes it very special. I was also very fortunate to live in such a nice house, which made me stay in Reading a lot longer than I planned. My housemate, Tina, is such a wonderful person. I learned so much from her, and generally enjoyed living with her. Check out this picture, I was very impressed!
Tina is German, so in the process, I managed to learn how to speak German, and appreciate the German traditions surrounding Easter (hence the Easter bunnies above) and Christmas. I'm also very privileged to have met her parents and sister who have travelled from Germany to visit her for a time. And since her parents speak very little English it was an opportunity for me to practice my new found German. It was an interesting experience, but not without a couple of embarrassments and laughs at my expense. Sometimes I can't help thinking about that end scene from the movie Love Actually to see how my attempt at foreign languages comes across to the other person! Will I live in Reading again? It's hard to say. I can only hope that our paths will cross again in the future.

That's all the time I have for today. Stay tuned for the second half of my Top Ten of 2009, which brings us to my Final Five.