The hills are alive...

So challenge numero uno technically started towards the back end of 2011, having moved to Gateshead I really wanted to get myself involved in something musical. I always loved music as a child, despite my ability to stick with any instrument for a decent amount of time. You name it and I've had a go...violin, descant, treble and bass recorder, flute, trumpet, piano, keyboard, clarinet, the ocarina and I even attempted and failed to get a set of bagpipes to make any sound that didn't resemble a dying swan...So you can see why I was so keen to resurrect this amazing talent again.

Anyway, as fate would have it I happened to be walking past the monument in Newcastle city centre one sunny Sunday afternoon where I came across a samba band doing a street performance, the guy I was with at the time had previously been a member so we stopped to watch the show. After being utterly enthralled and having a good old boogie (I should probably point out that there may have been some alcohol involved) I nipped to grab a coffee from a nearby Starbucks only to find upon my return that I had been "volunteered" to join for a performance on New Year's eve.

This naturally lead to many weeks of me learning to master the bells, yes even hitting things in time with a stick provided a suitable challenge, I even managed to get so carried away that I broke a drum stick mid performance. The rehearsals lead up to the grand finale of us dressing up like crazed Viking types (super sexy look by the way) and parading our way through Newcastle city centre on New Year's Eve. I have to say even though I was home by 9pm, alone, with a chinese takeaway and a bottle of wine, I can happily say it was one of the best New Year's celebrations I've ever had.

If you would like to view (and laugh at) the videos from the performances on the day they can be seen on YouTube here.

Despite the eccentric oddness of it all when New Years Eve was over and done with and life returned to normal I found myself missing the adrenalin rush that you only get from being a part of something special, so the search for my first proper challenge of 2012 began...