January

Since my phone died on the stroke of 12am, I didn't party on (as I had no way of knowing the other parties)...but at least on new years day, there was Field Day - and what a good day it was going to be.� Miguel Migs, Meat Katie + Lee Coombs (YES), De La Soul and Ian Pooley all providing fabulous music for the day.

Back at work and it was the post xmas rush: busy as all hell.� But at last, I actually had my own department, selling video cameras!� It meant I had to work weekends though, so I missed out on some pretty good parties, like the first 3/4 of the Big Day Out, or the first 3/4 of Ally's 21st down at Shelly Beach.� I was late to these and it wasn't even my fault!

Scott and Alicia came up from Melbourne for a late month visit as Alicia had her Highland Dancing to contend with!� There were some big nights out with some crazy nights thrown in, especially while they went to see Slipknot and I passed time at Ryan (aka Paddy)'s place, say no more!� Eventually we met up but I was pretty much off the planet when it came to anything, and they were off the planet with glee.

February

More weekend work meant more weekends that I missed out on parties, like Zihni and Lisa's Superparty (1.5/5, but that was a party I probably wouldn't have minded missing out on full stop!� Stamatia was in Sydney that night as well, but since I opted for this party over something else decent (and without Shan telling me how good of a Dj he is), I paid the price by not seeing her at all.

Scissor Sisters were in town, and this was at least one party/concert/do I was there early for!� The D*A*M*N Djs played support, playing uber cool music like Daft Punk's "Robot Rock" (before their album was released), but Scissor Sisters didn't do a bad job at all, filling up The Metro and making sure everyone walked out of the place with huge grins on their faces.

Work was beginning to shit me a little - just working weekends, i didn't get the chance to do what I wanted to do.� But i had next month to look forward to - two away trips on the JBWS tip!

March

This month was just wall to wall with activity!� I got to see the lovely Jennybop - no wait, she MADE me see her and the band she recommended, Dreamshifter (Aussie band now taking over the world).� The night itself wasn't too bad as I got the urge to kick on, but we lost everyone else and I met up with Mitch, an old friend/aquaintance of mine, and some cool other dudes to hang out with.

The next weekend was wild as the Wild West - first I had to negotiate Party Angie's 20th (which was alright), as it was one of those parties where I was so tired, I just wanted to get out of there ASAP.� The next day, I'd be flying out for "Australian Idiot"; in Perth!� Thanks to the time difference, I was in Perth 9.30pm WST.� I tried to get drunk and pass out on the plane, but all I did was hype myself up for a big night out!� It never came but I was up until about 6am EDST drinking while Brooke and Alex were out on their cruise!� We all had to back up the next day as we went to the Rockit concert festival, with Green Day and Simple Plan co headlining.�

It was just two weeks after that the backpack was ready for more baggage tags to be tied around it as Robbie and I were two men on a trip as we did "A Mad Pair of March Hares", our third trip together north of the border!� We were mainly there for Bec's 21st in Ippy, but try telling that us as we did some serious self harm to our livers in Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast!�

In between the away madness, there were weddings to be had at home.� Zihni and Lisa got hitched!� In a ceremony only for a select few, the pair got married just before easter.� Rumours started about Craig being "outrageous" with Corin, but they were nothing more than that.� Just rumours..

April

We were definitely the fools on April Fools Day when we were on our way to Ippy, as both Robbie and I were severly hungover but nonetheless we had a party to be at and more people to meet.� After all, we were here for Bec's 21st which was a stunner of a party, seeing that we'd been dying for a night out with these Ippy gals ever since that awesome night in 2003!

I had lots of work training nights to be at like Canon, Crest and JVC, where I got my grubby hands on the latest in camcorder technology!� These new kids on the block dont even use tape or a disc to record, but an internal hard drive, all the better for booty reconnisance missions!� This was at the same time someone made an offer to me for a new job, even though it was a stupid pyramid scheme.� What a waste of time.

Important parties to make note of was Naomi Z's 21st (3.5/5), Colleen's Housewarming and the ever trusty Anzac Day Anarchy!� of course, all these events had me thinking about them while I was stuck at work, which was a little silly.� Missing out on ADA shitted me the most, as I had to work on Anzac Day (which I thought was unethical) and to top it off, most people were in there just browsing and not even buying.� What a waste of time.� By the time I got down to Shelly Beach, most people had gone, like Grant and Danielle as she had broken waters.� Not too soon later, Jessica Emily Sommers was born, weighing in at 3.510kg or 7 pounds!!!� It was an easy birth too.

May

Harvey Norman may have shown me the door, but I'd have no hesitation in saying that this was a mutual decision.� I really had enough of working with shitty hours, shithead customers and dealing with other people's shitty fuckups!

For three weeks, I lived like a king.� I went to karaoke nights, answered heaps of emails that everyone had written to me, stayed out all night with Party Angie + co and spent days on the couch watching Mythbuster Marathons, even after I'd wake up at 11am.� But sooner or later I'd have to get a job.� I gave Canberra a bit of a thought for moving there and getting a government job, but I think I made the right decision (and a lot of family and friends happy) when I told them I would be working for...Tooheys, selling beer!!!� It was a tough week of interviews but once I passed the tests I was thrilled!

I had finally made the corporate world, but without a tie and with a few beers, soon I was everyone's best friend!

All best friends would meet up at Weekly Trivia down at the Regent Hotel, Kensington.� Robbie finally got his act together and organised a night of trivia, and even though the pub was only a block down from where he lived at College (lazy bastard), it would have to be the pub that serves the best stakes in town, at the cheapest price of $5...damn nigger!!!!� Mind you, there were six of us that had our steaks paid for 10 weeks in advance when we won the jackpot for $300!!!!!!!!� We thank T.A. Scott for founding the town of Tascott.� And we have Chris to thank for suggesting such an absurd answer.

We had our second JBWS leg of the year when Cat came to town to see Rod (Rocket in ACF) and his band Wyshbone in a band comp at Seven Hills/Toongabbie RSL.� The band played some awesome tunes and some of the other bands played absolute rubbish, but somehow Wyshbone didn't even win!� Cat didn't leave empty handed though, as the next day we took her out to sizzler's and had a really long lunch there.�

June

Casual Fridays were the best as I could just go home and just swap a pair of trainers and I'd be good to go to the pub, like when I hit up Libity's birthday party at Boogie Down, or Pawla's birthday night at Karaoke World!� it ended up being a demolition job at Karaoke World as when we finished in our room, we went and hijacked ANOTHER karaoke party in ANOTHER room!� Who knows what happened after, other than that I found myself on the main dance floor at Sublime at 2am, going off to hard trance.� How fucking random!!!

I started working on 100: Image Sound and Text, which was commissioned by Jennybop.� The first 151MB was very easy to pick up, but then there were pictures from years gone by that were taken with film, not a digital camera.� Now began the challenge to get them scanned..at the same time, I was busy passing on copies of "The Spencer House Project" and "H*O*B*O THE BEAT QUENCHER"; mix CDs, both recieving excellent feedback!

There were some random nights to check out, like the Chinese Laundry, Colleen's Birthday Party (3/5) but the trashfest was on the 18th of June...Finished off 2x 6pks of Tooheys Extra Dry at Corin's birthday party, and just rocked on up to Steve Hardie's 21st (a guy that still works at Harvey Norman Bondi), and then his after party at his place!� I got a hero-like welcome at his party (as I hadn't seen these guys since I left), drank like a king and passed out on a deck chair at the after party!

We were playing away at Weekly Trivia but hadn't gotten to anywhere near our former Jackpot glory...however we consistenly won free beers every week!

July

Every Saturday Night in July was BOOKED OUT!� A great result, considering that winter is usually the time for staying at home and drinking hot chocolates!� We had ten pin bowls nights, teppan yaki nights, engagement parties, H*O*B*O gigs, slammin nights @ The Albion in Parramatta, baby naming ceremonies, football games, big nights out on the town...sometimes all in one night!

Its usually a lean time for my personal finances as my sisters and brother have their birthdays around this time.� So you could understand what sort of damage all these big nights would do to my wallet, let alone a musical scavenge!� The night I scavenged for was for my cuz Jorge's 30th Bday @ Jovanotti's on Norton St.� Mind you, the H*O*B*O Double CD had been completed abd tonight they flew out like witches on Halloween, as some of the mixes from the CD were reproduced to drunken effect.� The last song of the night was Colour Me Badd's "I Wanna Sex You Up"

There was definitely sexing up whtn Ryan (aka Paddy) and I went into town on another two man pub crawl.� Somehow, we ended up at the Eros Theatre to some stripshow/lap dance thingy with terrible, terrible beer.� If it wasn't for that crap beer, that whole night would have been alright!

August

My older sister had the awesome idea of putting my parents on a plane to the Gold Coast for the weekend, while we repaired the bathroom (unknown to them)...the job started on friday afternoon and went on thru until my parents returned, with them being pleasently surprised at the result!

I was pleasently surprised myself at the potential of a meetup at a V8 Supercars raceday, as there is nothing better than sitting on a grass hil at 7.30am in the morning for a day of watching motorsports, and you've just cracked open your first beer.� Forget the hangover that came on Monday because Weekly Trivia made sure that there was a hangover to last thru til Thursday!

Red Dakota from the USA put the world back in JBWS as the Schoolies crew all got together (what's left of the crew anyway) at The Orient, in The Rocks.� This too was a random night, as the schoolies left (some of them reported being picked up by guys young enough to be their sons!!!) and I stayed on, chatting to some girls in the place.� Somehow, I ended up at the Albion in Parramatta with Party Angie's girl crew!� How the hell did I get there!!� I just had no idea, but I was on the dancefloor in Parramatta at 3.30am!

More randomness came from Ashley's 18th - especially when I got hijacked on the sound system by some of her schol friends!� They all got the tunes they wanted to hear and then started dancing on the outdoor furniture...dancing on chairs, tables, anything!� My philosophy was if this is what they came for, let em have it!

A girl who shared the same philosophy was Brooke, here on a tour of Sydney!� She was so ready to go for the "Battle of the Booty", that it only took her two minutes inside The Albion for guys to start coming over and pick her up and get with her!� Party Angie's girl crew were furious and while there were some initial threats of girl violence, an encore round was organised in the city...but alas, none of the girl crew showed...but Brooke did...oh yeah that's right she did show ;)

September

The month started off with MxPx playing at the UNSW Roundhouse, but the better band out of the whole line up was Motion City Soundtrack!� They played an awesome set, which even had Brooke Chookers tapping her toes as she joined Matt and I for the concert.

My beloved Geelong Cats were the only football team representing for me when it came to finals time, but they were trounced by the Sydney Swans in a nailbiting finish at the SCG.� Good on the Wests Tigers for providing some good entertainment when it came to weekends in front of the box with a few beers, spending time with the boys!

Another punk concert came along and it was Millencolin at Luna Park.� Not bad, as Matt got right into it and got into the mosh, but had to get out when someone stepped on his foot and he thought he broke it.� I did plan to go to Luna Park with Brooke when she was here earlier, but we ran out of time...but at least the Harvey Norman guys from Bondi had time, when they invited me down to their night at Luna Park!� Getting on a lot of body bending rides was a top way to see these guys again!�

The next day at Millencolin, i turned up to work late and blamed it on the trains but everyone knew i went out on a "school night"  because it was my birthday.� And it was pretty uneventful, probably as there was no party to go with it.� But Lesley turned another year older and had Ally, her new partner Andre and I down at her work for a long lunch.� If only I found it first!

October

With the venue booked, the sound system in check, all that was left for me to do was to send out the invites to...Johnny*s Belated Birthday Block Party!!!� All of my birthday parties since 2001 had been on a Saturday night, so it was a huge gamble taking it on the Friday night.� But off i went about it selling in the idea to the masses, so that maybe we were going to put the beats together for the block party!

Viv was in town from Perth, and it turned out that she might as well come to this awesome party.� We spent a friday night going out about town, generally catching up and getting her ready for when I was returning to Perth next month!� she even managed to drop in for Weekly Trivia, helping the team to defeat the evil Unit 54!� We were beating them consistently, and it meant that we were up there when it came to rankings.� I also tried to get my girl Libby JAG to come to my Belated Birthday Block Party, but she wasn't sure what Mandy was doing for her 21st, so she opted to stay with Mandy and see what she was doing.� At least I got to see Libby and Nath at their new place - i haven't seen it full stop until she invited me over!

The party was a huge success - whether it was the unofficial, last minute (or first minute of the party) bar tab, the awesome music, or the great party people that came - invited or uninvited, everyone walked out with a smile on their face, pleased to be part of such a great party!!!� The location was a bit of a gamble but it paid off!!!� Probably my best party of all time!!

Grant got heaps trashed at above party so luckily for him it was on a Friday night, as on the Sunday we were all off to the zoo with his son Justin.� A little bit hot, but I had a decent camera to take shots of all the lovely animals there.� Quote of the day had to be the kid who just said really loudly, "I HATE BIRDS"!� Everyone around him laughed.

I sent a message to Stamatia to wish me happy birthday and then she greeted me with a "ill be in Sydney in a few weeks", fancy that!� But no time to waste on the JBWS tip as my good friend Geoff Vivian from Halls Creek (WA) was in town visiting his daughter and I had to sit down with him and drink a few beers.� We had a lovely chat about things in general, and Geoff wants me to go to Halls Creek one day and be on his radio station, werd!� I'd have to learn not to swear on air though.� I was such a potty mouth when Matt G finally got his act together and decided on a night out in the city with his sister Naomi and all of her work mates.� What a great night that was, starting off at the shithouse Arthouse, but then it picked up all the way to Bar 333 and ending up on a train home at 6am.� Classic!

November

This month was WALL TO WALL with JBWS action as we had someone every week!� Candy from Ipswich was in town, dropping in on us for Weekly Trivia then we took off for Perth as part of the "Johnny Bones and the Temple of Boom" tour.� It was the first time I had ever met Danni, fitting since I was there for her party!

That Perth trip was probably the best I've had in a long time, but when I came back to Sydney, there was no rest as Stamatia wanted to catch up and party!� I hadn't seen her for three years but she was still the ample same!� Speaking of ampleness, Danni D had flown all the way from Perth the week following!� So think of the chaos I faced when i saw Stamatia in Parramatta, joined up with Grant and Danielle + co for Ashley's formal afterparty, and then went into town to pick up Danni and Rhett for a good night out on the town!� Even Robbie came down for a few and there were 7 of us left standing at 7 in the morning!

Danni helped out at what could have been not only my last Weekly Trivia apperance for the year but maybe for a while.� I decided to give it up (after about 7 months) because i didn't like showing up to work on a Wednesday slightly seedy! Anyway, I broke that rule the week after at the Mo'Vember gala party!� I tried (PAINSTAKINGLY) to grow a mo that really didn't grow, but I still was eligible to go to the party (even after making a total fool of myself), all in the name of charity.� My work mates and I managed to raise about $1000 for prostate cancer, but there was no way anyone could raise me out of bed the next morning!� I was so goooone that I had to call in sick but it was a very good party, probably a contender for "Best Night Out" right here!

December

Straight after seeing them the week before, Danielle had her long awaited 21st with the theme of "What I want to Be When I Grow Up";...now the girls were desparate to see Nurse Johnny make a comeback but instead I went for the safe option as a doctor.� I even had my own stethiscope and even Rinnie provided the medicine!

My work xmas party was the week after and I didn't think that I have had such a better xmas party than this one!� A live band, girls in school uniform and did i mention the FREE ENDLESS BOOZE?!!!� I was walking away from the bar with 4 drinks at a time, and then I'd have to go back and get my brother some drinks too!!!!

Matt G tried to get me to come out on a Sat night in town, after a pretty good night at the Hillside Tavern and then he wanted to try his luck in town.� He wanted a repeat of that awesome night in town 2 months ago, but it was disasterous as soon as we stepped foot into the Arthouse.� Party Angie was with me and she feigned sickness, while I had declared myself suffering from cirrhosis and vowed never to drink again.

Work was getting a touch busier and with everyone getting their orders on, I was kinda under the pump myself.� But there was no better place to relax after the stresses of work than working in the Tooheys Tap Room bar!� After watching Party Angie pour beers the week previous, i thought i'd give it a serious go, only to pour a beer that well..."more head than a hooker in a whorehouse" was the best metaphor i heard!� But once I got things going, I was even pouring up two beers at a time!

Xmas was spent at my brother's house with his huge arse high definition plasma, a carton of Pilsner Urquell beer (finished now), great food and playstation games.� At 9pm, I got a message from Steve Hardie (Harvey Norman Bondi Junction) telling me he was having some drinks at his place, so at 2am on Boxing Day i went to check it out, and there were still a few people there!� What a great day for xmas drinks!!!

Futurethoughts

This year was a great year for the JBWS: 3 away legs, 1 international visitor and a healthy stream of interstate visitors, some first time to Sydney (for the JBWS), some we haven't seen for a bit, others are our regulars.� Nonetheless the JBWS is great for proving that friendships shouldn't be limited to geographical physicalities!� Watch out next year when Brooke and Danni are in Sydney at the end of January, things will definitely be hotting up then!

I've changed jobs but now for the future I hope I can keep on working at Tooheys because i just want to go out there and do what I do, and I LOVE what I am doing now...you have to admit I love what I am selling!

One thing that I have noticed is that the social gatherings on the calendar are becoming more reason based; I've decided that its better for me to go to a party/be at a party because there is a reason behind it, not just a random meetup. �In the past, we were just meeting up just for the sake of it, but now I feel that there has to be something more to it.� Birthday parties, engagements, weddings - all special occasions by themselves, but all keeping me socially active.

Also, all the "kids" (that we used to be) are now growing up, and this is the new theme among us.� There might be new faces to what we might know as The Gang from time to time, but the most dynamic change is the "new generation"-our kids, and a challenge that not only a few have accepted but also championed.�

But bring on the new year I say!� Whether its a big NYE I got lined up, interstate visitors in the first month or the long awaited overseas trip, I'm all up for it!!!!� I have to say 2005 has been one of the best years I've had in recent times.� Look forward to seeing you all in 2006, in whatever capacity it may be.

-Johnny*