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CHECK OUT this week's edition of the North Wales Weekly News (out tomorrow, January 15th) to read more about the Mini adventures I've been up to.

More than 200 owners of Britain's best-selling classic arrived in Llandudno last weekend as part of the Wirral to Llandudno Mini Run, and thanks to owning a Mini myself and being a reporter I was allowed to gatecrash the normally invite-only bash.

From glorious Mini Coopers of the 1960s to today's BMW-backed cars, the lineup on the town's promenade really was something to behold...

UPDATE: A Mini-tastic video I made featuring the event is now available here. Watch and enjoy!

IT'S BEEN a corking year for culture even if the sky seems to be falling according to just about everyone else.
World economy about to implode, Ross and Brand in radio sex scandal, millions still unaware that Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who; 2008's been a bit of a weird year. Yet there were still plenty of things to keep Culture Vulture amused:

1) Albums that grow on you

Annoying when you've just reviewed them but better musically. For the record, I'd like to add at least one star to Travis' Ode To J Smith because on balance it's a great album. Song to Self is the best track the lads have put out in years.

2) Wales' Got Talent

Or rather, Ysgol Glanaethwy has. Bangor's best choir have been given a massive boost this year after starring in Last Choir Standing and now getting the recognition they deserve. A five star act in all senses.

3) The Rock Project

The Denbigh-based music maestros who earlier this year expanded across North Wales. I worked with them earlier this year on a story and really admired their Pop Idol for Welsh youngsters strategy.

4) Feeder

For spectacularly slamming the entire British record industry in an interview I did with drummer Mark Richardson earlier this year. I like a band that has the balls to say it.

5) Ashes to Ashes

Not as good as Life on Mars? Rubbish. Even after the questionable ending where Bolly Knickers stayed in 1981, I was still lusting after an Audi Quattro and some Human League on the cassette player.

And a few less impressive bits of 2008:

6) C**p comebacks

Specifically Oasis, The Verve, and Led Zeppelin for marking their return with albums that were good but could have been so much better. Whether Blur can pull off the same trick will be one of 2009's big questions...

7) The Welsh language

Which I think is great, even though I can't speak it. Yet proposals by Richard Brunstrom to have all North Wales police cars run in Welsh-only livery angered more than it delighted. A risky move.

8) Paunch dancing

The Rhyl Visitor's rather-misguided attempt at sending me to a belly dancing class. The resulting video should be banned for fear of scaring small children.

9) Australia

Baz Luhrmann's epic has epic production values but is also epically annoying; who uses Elgar to illustrate a poignant moment in the Outback? They'll be using Vaughan Williams in Lethal Weapon soon.

10) The credit crunch

Need I say more?

Culture Vulture wishes all of its five readers a happy New Year.