New Year's Resolutions.

Half New Year's resolutions, half goals for the year I suppose.

1. Continue to be a 'non-smoker'.

2. Actually see how studying works out for me and try and get a 2:1.

3. Start reading.

4. Move away from Wycombe permanently.

5. Find a reasonable boyfriend. I'm totally lying: be single for the rest of my life.

6. Take myself a little more seriously.

7. Become a master cake maker.

8. Meet Lil Wayne.

9. Actually write my book consistently.

10. Get a job.

11. Quit Tesco :(

12. Stop drunk texting/ tweeting/ Facebooking.

13. Stop thinking I am funny.

14. Stop thinking it's acceptable to wink at people - I just look like I've got something in my eye.

15. Give up on diets completely.

16. Bomb Stamford Bridge.

17. Win the lottery so I can action my World Theme Park Tour.

18. Have 52 burrito weeks.

19. Stop dancing in public.

20. Join a band.

21. Audition for X-Factor... and win.

22. Date all of One Direction.

23. Marry Justin Bieber.

24. Continue hating Gareth Bale.

25. Make friends with my arch-nemesis.

26. Marry Michael Cera.

27. Become a little less insufferable.

28. Learn to text.

29. Appreciate my grandma every single day.

30. Hate Sandi Toksvig a bit more.

31. Start wearing considerably less make-up.

32. Avoid karaoke nights.

33. Pass my driving test.

34. Stop prank calling people.

35. Grow-up.

This list is entirely pointless. I am incorrigible.

Everything Everything was everything I could have dreamt of, and more.

I was completely stuck for what to get my mum for Christmas this year. She, like me, just tends to buy herself the things she wants, as and when she sees them. I was browsing gig listings in London this week and saw that Everything Everything were playing at the Union Chapel in Islington. Of course it was completely sold out but, not being one to give up at the first hurdle, I found a paid of tickets on eBay. Sure, I paid 80 quid for them but, my goodness, it was 80 quid well spent.

If you've never been to the Union Chapel before, it's a church that's currently in use. It's actually the really nice element about it, as they only put gigs of a certain type on there, where they'd expect a certain audience, which is great as everyone's very respectful of the venue and the artists. My mum was not the oldest there by a long way, we got seats at the front with relative ease and there was no being shoved around by sweaty teenagers and having, what you hope is, water poured over you.

Everything Everything and the Man Alive ensemble were supported by James Blake. If you haven't heard his stuff, definitely head here and give him a listen. His set was incredible; majestic doesn't even begin to describe how good it was. I don't really think my mum 'got it', as she whispered over at one point, "that man isn't even hitting those drums". My favourite song was definitely 'Limit To Your Love', if only because his voice is so mellifluous.



After a brief interlude, which gave me the opportunity to pay NINE QUID for two glasses of, essentially, non-alcoholic mulled wine - bloody church had burnt all the alcohol off hadn't they - Everything Everything and the Man Alive ensemble took to the stage. The gig was the first of its kind, with respect to the fact that the band released an iPhone and iPad app for fans to download, which enabled them to access a live stream of the show. It was also accessible online live, and the edited version will be uploaded at some point today here. Definitely definitely check it out, if you haven't already.

I can honestly say that I have never heard a man sing live as well as Jonathan did. His voice was absolutely enchanting and, while the quality was almost as good as the album, his stage presence and the entire performance only served to highlight why seeing music performed live, as it was written to be experienced, is not a quality that can be reproduced by any other medium.

I don't have the words, or the technical knowledge, to encapsulate exactly what it was that made this so fantastic. I recently heard someone say "nothing can make you feel something as quickly as music can, it's the most immediate shortcut." I guess that's what we all love about music really; that inexplicable quality that gives us ownership over a song where the artist left off. That's great music.

As ridiculous as this is, I have kind of decided I'd like to join a band. I'm definitely going to start singing lessons again, but stay away from X-Factor at all costs... until 2011.

All the things I would do if I had a little money...

Unfortunately for my brother, and thousands of other prospective students, this will not include paying £9,000 a year in tuition fees.  Matthew deserves to go to university: he is much harder working than I am and, if I am honest, he is much brighter than I am, yet today marks the day that he was priced out of the education he has the right to receive. I spoke to him a few months ago about whether he was planning to go to university, he said he would be if it wasn't going to be too expensive. It really says something quite alarming when a then fifteen year old boy is having to weigh up his future against undertaking debt in excess of £35,000. Of course, Matthew is not alone and of course, after today he will certainly not be alone in having to make such a decision. For me, going to university was a given - and I'm an idiot, for Matthew, I am hoping it won't be a luxury that he decides to give a miss.

The NUS, and the countless students who have campaigned and peacefully protested, are a credit to the hundreds of thousands of students, and prospective students, they were representing and defending.  I am proud to have supported the action against the increase in tuition fees and, for those of you who have criticised me, would have done so even if it had been a proposal made by my own party. The arguments have been made and the vote may have been lost, but the admirable determination of thousands of students certainly hasn't been. There's little else to say except, this is not over, in any way.

I suppose the only bittersweet comfort I have from today is that the Lib Dems can finally stop banging their "Labour introduced top-up fees despite a manifesto pledge stating they wouldn't" drum. Yes, we may have introduced top-up fees, but we certainly didn't financially cripple generations to come in one fell swoop. Cheers, Cleggover.

Hunk of the day.

Top 20 Christmas Songs.

So, this morning, I decided it was high time I made my Christmas playlist on Spotify. Generally I hate Christmas, but I do love the food, the drink and the amazing music that comes with it. Which brings me to my Top 20 Christmas Hits. There were no real criteria for this list; originally I was going to insist that they had to directly mention the festive season, but I broke my own rule. Obviously you probably won't agree with this list, and there are a multitude of reasons why these tracks have made the cut. Go write your own list if you're that bothered. Don't judge me for #1 - I genuinely believe it is the best Christmas song EVER written.

20. Lonely This Christmas - Mud

19. White Christmas - Bing Crosby

18. 2000 Miles - Pretenders

17. Walking in The Air - Aled Jones

16. Driving Home For Christmas - Chris Rea

15.  Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - John Lennon and Yoko

14. Maybe This Christmas - Ron Sexsmith

13. Step into Christmas - Elton John

12. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey

11. Wonderful Christmastime - Paul McCartney

10. Last Christmas - Wham

9. Merry Xmas Everybody - Slade

8. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday - Wizzard

7. Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses

6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Choir of King's College, Cambridge

5. The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

4. Stay Another Day - East 17

3. Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid

2. Fairytale of New York - The Pogues

1. Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens

More of what I want for Christmas.

So last Christmas and birthday I couldn't think of anything I wanted. I ended up asking for the money I'd have spent on me being donated to charity.  I know what you're thinking, what an idiot. This year there will be no such mistake.

I want to be glowing, even when it's icy cold.

These Jimmy Choo for Hunter wellington boots. A ridiculous, yet necessary defence against the snow.

If I'm to grace the Labour doorstep it's imperative I do so in a comfortable, yet cool, manner.

I want to smell like Sienna Miller.

I want to use more creative and colourful language.  Malcolm Tucker is.

I want this, but only if Eric Northman or Jason Stackhouse is January.

Bon Temps represent.

I want to be able to live my life like this.

For casting spells and that.

This nail varnish is UNREAL. Out of production, but I can dream.

I'll never play it, but I like the idea of it.

Wheels and Dollbaby clothes are perfection.

Disney Couture castle pendant.

I genuinely plan to use this on nights out.

Vivienne Westwood's take on wellies.

Mac's limited edition tartan collection.

Alexander McQueen knuckle duster.

Greatest tattoo EVER.

Practical yet trendy: Hat FM.

If you don't know what this is give up now.

Tatty Divine for Penhaligon's.

Orange county drum kit. I want to be Mike Portnoy.

I still want a skateboard. I still want to learn to skate.

Next level.

Before I start I just want to say, Boy Better Know all day!

My second favourite member of Young Money.

Ceiling flex.

I want everything in the entire world.