I emigrated to the USA in June this year, as my wife and I decided our future lay on this side of the Atlantic. It’s been a wonderful transition for me personally as I’ve only ever lived in England - and let me just say, the contrast is vast, this is a fantastic country with a real sense of community, the lack of which in England could so easily explain many of the social problems being experienced there.

We’re currently living in Missoula, a mid-sized city in the state of Montana
- here’s a particularly nice photo from Flickr of the city and it’s impressive scenic surroundings:

Now that we’re settled, I intend to get back to blogging - so if anyone’s still reading, I’ll be back real soon.

I really thought it was April… yet this was the sight that greeted me at about 6 this morning:

I just found out that England cricketer Monty Panesar went to Loughborough University at the same time I did and studied Computer Science. Not that I knew him or anything, but that was surprising.

Can you post a “best of 2007″ list in mid-January 2008? I’ve no idea, only you can answer that. I, however, can defy convention and do so. Note that in each category, these are things that were new to me in 2007 and not necessarily created this year. Comments welcomed - and share your picks!

Movies

Superbad, Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium, The Ex, Bee Movie, Rendition, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Hot Fuzz, Layer Cake, Stardust, Shooter, A Christmas Story

TV Shows

Pushing Daisies, The Office (US), Kid Nation, The Amazing Race, Dog the Bounty Hunter, Chuck, Aliens in America, Grey’s Anatomy, House M.D, Private Practice, 30 Rock, The I.T. Crowd, Dragon’s Den, Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, Top Chef, The F-Word, Soccer AM, Location Location Location, Fonejacker, 24, Prison Break, Over there, Beauty and the Geek

Music

Interpol, The Shins, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, David Bazan, Pedro the Lion, Arctic Monkeys - Teddy Picker, The Twang - Push The Ghosts, The Hoosiers - Goodbye Mr. A, Kate Nash, Reverend & The Makers - Open Your Window, Cardiacs - Ditzy Scene, Walking Concert, Staffraen Hakon, Small Snails, Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, Flaming Lips

Discoveries

Being Married, Wordpress, Abercrombie & Fitch, Skype, ThisNext, Xbox 360, American Cars

Food & Drink

Baby Back Ribs, Anything prepared on a George Foreman grill, Taco Time Tacos, Jessi’s Pizza, Buffet, Homemade lasagne, In ‘n’ Out, Wendys, Meatloaf, Pie, Elephant Ears, Watermelon, Mountain Dew, Lucky Charms

I’m not one to let the internet influence my life, no sir. However, from time to time a site will come to my attention that requires my strict adherence. Kind of like an epiphany - “you are not doing as you should, change your ways”.

One such occasion occurred a short while ago when Jessi showed me this epic pizza.

Could I, with a clear conscience, deny such divine inspiration?

No, no I could not.

There we go, a Large Tesco Cheese & Tomato Pizza, liberally covered in Bertolli Lasagne Sauce. What next?

Ah yes, a cheeseburger and six chicken McNuggets (I skipped the fries… wasn’t in a potato-product mood), arranged for presentation’s sake. Hungry? Yea, you should be.

In to the oven, post-Mozzarella-drowning. 12 minutes at 220 degrees (C). We’re on the verge of greatness…

Have you seen such wonderment in one kitchen in Southern England? No! But you have now. Having enjoyed half of it straight from the oven (epic) I finished the rest the next day (one slice of which was enhanced by a fried egg on top) and all I can say is that if you haven’t already started putting on your coat to fetch supplies to replicate this, do so now - you’re missing out every second that you don’t.