Another cup final, another release of a brilliant movie franchise, no this isn't a repeat of 2005, this is 2006 folks.

2005 saw Liverpool FC overcome all the odds in the Champions League Final against AC Milan in Istanbul. The same month, Revenge of the Sith was released. Could 2006 top that?

Well, let me dissect the year the year in Rogueish terms, for different things mean different things to different people, do you know what I'm saying?

Here are the ups and downs of 2006 for me, in a nutshell:

Marriage falls apart, a new assignment away from the military, another cup final, bought some CDs, bought some dvds, bought some comics, moved overseas, got some new friends, could no longer buy comics, reunited with daughter.

Thats about it.

Let me try and expand on some of that, and concentrate on some of those aspects that may interest some of you.

At the turn of the year, and after having alluded to things to look forward to at the end of the
2005 review, the first thing I was eagerly anticipating was the debut album from the Arctic Monkeys. So January delivered this CD and it did not disappoint. It was huge, but coming so early in the year, I often wondered whether it would sustain the moniker of best CD of the year for me. At times, I'd chop and change my decisions, based on airplay in my household(s). At the Q Awards earlier this month, it was indeed voted album of the year. I'm undecided, I'll make my decision at the end of this entry.

Another thing I said I'd look forward to was the novel Triple Zero, which I haven't read or purchased. So why did I say I was looking forward to it? Mainly because it was the only novel that I knew about I guess.

What I did buy however, were the three Legacy of the Force novels, the latest, Tempest, I finished just this morning. I also purchased Path of Destruction, easily my favourite Star Wars novel of the year.

So why didn't I get Outbound Flight and Triple Zero?

Simple; I'm not Zahn's biggest fan so I am happy to wait until it's released on paperback, as for Triple Zero - I'm in no rush for books about soldiers. I'll get it when I am stuck, bored, and it's cheaper, like free.

I'm enjoying the Legacy of the Force novels so far. I'm sure there are doubters, but I'm sure there are none about the Legacy comics. See how I did that?

Myself, I've just read the first two issues, and they certainly impressed me. When Dark Horse announced this ground-breaking series early in the year, it seemed like a hundred new members joined the Dark Horse message boards to discuss. There were definitely plenty of doubters (myself not one of them - when has Dark Horse ever let me down?), but I hope those same doubters have since changed their opinions.

Knights of the Old Republic was another comic series that hit the shelves in 2006. I managed to get "Commencement" bought and read before I moved to a country that doesn't sell Dark Horse comics in English. The series gets a big thumbs-up from the Rogueish corner, and I can't wait for the trade paperbacks of the rest of the series, as well as the Legacy, Rebellion (I managed the first arc of that too) and Dark Times.

And finally (with comics), we saw the return of Tag and Bink. Need I say any more, other than hilarious, stupendous, and crying out for more?

Didn't think so.

So what else happened in 2006? Going back to music, I didn't manage any concerts/gigs this year, (I chickened out of seeing Iron Maiden in Helsinki, cos no one would go with me!) but I do hope to at least hit the Eurovision Song Contest in 07, as Finland are the hosts, thanks to their surprise package, Lordi, winning it this year. Here's a list of what I bought:

The Foo Fighters - In Your Honour (I know it's a 2005 album, but I only got it last month, ok?)
The Killers - Sam's Town (it isnt Hot Fuss, but then again, nothing is)
Kasabian - Empire (great)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones (not Fever to Tell, but brighter, and less raw)
The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers (this is what Jack White sounds like with a proper band - simply brilliant)
Wolfmother - Wolfmother (so much energy, reminiscent of Led Zeppelin, Hawkwind and Black Sabbath. It so rocks)
The Zutons - Tired of Hanging Around (brilliant 2nd album from the scousers)
The Automatic - Not Accepted Anywhere (brilliant debut, proving that they can provide more tunes than just Monster)
Gnarls Barkley - St Elsewhere (not really my thing, but it came recommended, so I went for it, and was impressed)
Razorlight - Razorlight (the 2nd album, turning the collegeboys into stadium fillers, hopefully)
And my favourite album of the year award goes to...

...Snow Patrol - Eyes Open. These boys have been around for 12 years and it's taken them 5 albums to get this far. These Northern Irish (mostly) boys will definitely fill stadiums. You heard it here first.

Albums I regrettedly missed out on:

The Chillis
Muse
The Strokes
Lost Prophets
Boy Kill Boy

Ok, so whats next? Well, fellow pop-pickers, you may recall my long lost sister - Brooklooineghost's recent EU dilemma. I experienced something related to this - in that I discovered a new love.

The name of this love? Damali Richards.

She's the heroine of L.A. Banks vampire huntress novels. She's better and sexier than Buffy, kicks butt better than Blade, and her team mates, mentor, lover and enemies are so memorable. There hasn't been such a good series in my life since C.S Lewis wrote a book about some kids called Lucy, Susan, Peter and Edward.

Speaking of which, when's the next Chronicles of Narnia movie coming out? If at all?

This conveniently leads me into the movies that I saw this year. In no particular order, I saw The Omen (pointless remake), Superman Returns (ok), Eragon (Star Wars rip-off that's just the same as any other sword and sorcery film with instantly forgettable characters), Over the Hedge was simply hilarious (and the only animated film I saw this year), then there was Casino Royale, which rocked and put James Bond back ahead of Jason Bourne and XXX as the leading spy in the world today. And my film of the year (and probably everyone else's) was of course Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest. Savvy?

SO thats it folks, the year according to Rogueish. A few personal life-changing things also happened, but I wont bore you with those details.

Oh wait, did I forget my beloved Liverpool Football Club? Well, they spanked West Ham United (on penalties!) in an entertaining Football Association Cup Final - THE best club competition in the world. I'd rather not talk about the World Cup, although well done to Italy, deserved winners.

So what will I look forward to in 2007?

Well I may go out and purchase the music I missed out on for starters. Then there's a few movies to look forward to: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (saw a great trailer for it at Eragon yesterday) and of course, the third instalment of Pirates of the Carribean.

Oh, and there may be some Star Wars thingies to look forward to, but most of all, I'm thoroughly looking forward to sharing my thoughts and dreams with my fellow bloggers. You know who you are.

And remember...

...You'll never walk alone.