Friday, April 29, 2005
A Pocket Full Of Mumbles
Well I've been getting by... I have two employment agency 'regtistration' interviews which as many of you know are an awful bore - but I'm off work for the afternoon to do it, can't complain really.
On a positive note it seems I'm getting a redundancy payout of a months wages plus bonuses, but must stay here untill the end of May to qualify. It's a sum not to be sniffed at so I won't shift till then - not bad for just two months at work here!
I've ran out of books to read and have been meaning to have a go at Paradise Lost by John Milton. I found it on the net at work, then cut and pasted it and printed it off - it's two hundred pages long so should keep me busy for a while. I have the feeling though, that I'll have to have Google at hand to look up some of the references that it makes as I'm not fully versed in Bible references.
The Rugby DVD arrived! It's better than the old style BBC releases that followed the Triple Crown in 1988 and so on but could have been better, it has tempered retrospective match reaction not the spontaneous or next day soundbites. It doesn't have any of the contempary media at the time which would have been interesting and gratifying as many of the doubting pundits slowly changed their minds and eventually saw the light, if reluctantly. My 'Big' Brother, Gwilym, even makes an apperance in it being picked out in the crowd wearing his 'Cat In The Hat' style headware. He's obviously drunk, but so was I a quarter of a mile away outside City Hall as it rained cider for a couple of minutes.
I popped out last night to Sale as Anna's house mate, Anthony a brash Aussie was moving on after a few months in Manchester to the States, he's a funny guy and turned out to be the person that left obscene messages on the chatbox before they were deleted (by me) - if you missed them... Tough!
I spent a lot of the night chatting to a bunch of Aussies about, sport, demographics & Kath and Kim. Handily being away from the main group I missed the Vodka, Tequilia & Mustard Chasers that they were downing... I was in a sensible state of mind but John (from work), Anthony & Anna were wholly wasted - despite my insistance that I had to go I was dragged to a seedy nightclub the like of which I haven't seen for a long while - that was thankfully the end of the night.
On a positive note it seems I'm getting a redundancy payout of a months wages plus bonuses, but must stay here untill the end of May to qualify. It's a sum not to be sniffed at so I won't shift till then - not bad for just two months at work here!
I've ran out of books to read and have been meaning to have a go at Paradise Lost by John Milton. I found it on the net at work, then cut and pasted it and printed it off - it's two hundred pages long so should keep me busy for a while. I have the feeling though, that I'll have to have Google at hand to look up some of the references that it makes as I'm not fully versed in Bible references.
The Rugby DVD arrived! It's better than the old style BBC releases that followed the Triple Crown in 1988 and so on but could have been better, it has tempered retrospective match reaction not the spontaneous or next day soundbites. It doesn't have any of the contempary media at the time which would have been interesting and gratifying as many of the doubting pundits slowly changed their minds and eventually saw the light, if reluctantly. My 'Big' Brother, Gwilym, even makes an apperance in it being picked out in the crowd wearing his 'Cat In The Hat' style headware. He's obviously drunk, but so was I a quarter of a mile away outside City Hall as it rained cider for a couple of minutes.
I popped out last night to Sale as Anna's house mate, Anthony a brash Aussie was moving on after a few months in Manchester to the States, he's a funny guy and turned out to be the person that left obscene messages on the chatbox before they were deleted (by me) - if you missed them... Tough!
I spent a lot of the night chatting to a bunch of Aussies about, sport, demographics & Kath and Kim. Handily being away from the main group I missed the Vodka, Tequilia & Mustard Chasers that they were downing... I was in a sensible state of mind but John (from work), Anthony & Anna were wholly wasted - despite my insistance that I had to go I was dragged to a seedy nightclub the like of which I haven't seen for a long while - that was thankfully the end of the night.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Mind Your Bees Wax
Viernes:
Adam & I had a half day as we were off to Bristol for the weekend. I finished an hour before him and got some supplies – sushi, GM chicken, scones & yoghurt smoothies. In that hour however Adam had stuffed himself so I had to get through as much as I could by myself. In the warm car the blood rushed to my stomach and the inevitable happened I drifted off as I tried to read. Adam did his best to keep speaking to me but after a few minutes with no response I was prodded to at least nod in agreement…
The traffic was shocking and was at a complete halt most of the way, and after a slight wrong turn (resulting in a four mile detour)we got to Cara’s the same time as Cara getting back from work and Hannah & Ingrid getting there from Cardiff & were still on the doorstep deliberating.
Pretty much we went straight back out for some food which also turned into a few pints… (why did I get a snakebite again?)
We all got given badges to wear for the weekend.. Last time it was bindis, they each had a message supposedly appropriate to wom they were allocated: mine was, 'I'm so horny even you have a chance', preposterous!
It was near to St Georges day and I was apprehensive about talking to pissed locals, one started to mumble at me from the bar – I ignorned it but when I ordered he looked up and mostly co-herently asked where I was from… he was from Pen-y-Bont-ar-Ogwr (Bridgend) and after talking about Rugby I tried to palm him off onto Hannah as she lived near to there - but thankfully he stumbled off back to his table for a nap.
We popped home and shot almost straight out to town proper. Cara’s house mate Daz was in the Prince of Wales (*spits*) pub, hammered and barely able to maintain consciousness. Geff from last time also made it along, and also knew Adam from somewhere…
They had a funky beer garden, obviously used to rain it had a flimsy translucent canopy and outdoor heaters and was almost too hot. We moved onto somewhere closer to town and went to a funky jazz club, it suited The girls and me but Adam was not impressed and up for a big one – so we had to up sticks and go to a vodka bar – Revolution (they have a hammer & sickle in their logo). This is where it started to go wrong maybe mostly so for Bling.
Suddenly shjots of Tequila (not a Mexican bar – pseudo Russsian) and flavoured Vodka’s started appearing from all sides. It was finishing me off too, I was pretty merry but so very tired. We went home after that and I burnt my nose hair lighting the fire then immediately curled up into a ball infornt of it and passed out… attempts to revieve me were apparently fruitless despite numerous blows to the head.
Sabado:
I was up early as normal, and had a book with me for that reason but didn’t need it - Hannah got up pretty early too and we had to wait for quite a few
hours before we saw another face, that was Cara, we didn’t see Adam until we popped out or Bling at all that morning, early afternoon.
Adam emerged just as we were leaving leaving his phone momentarily unattended, quick as a flash Hannah grabbed it and we left along with Cara & Daz to retrieve Cara’s car from the night before and have something to eat.
We ate in a coffee shop so was expensive, but as we left we were discussing getting supplies for the Bar-B-Q when we spotted almost dead opposite a butchers… The Sausage King! What an awesome selection of sausages! We were slavating over them and ordered a few of each: South African Wurst, Toulouse Sausages, Smoky Bacon sausages – the list goes on and was only £10.49 for 28 sausages – sensational! We got some steak there too – but the sausages were rightly the centre of attention!
Bling had to leave for some wishy washy excuse and
The sausages were indeed awesome – they rocked, only thing was that after about five hotdogs I was totally stuffed, and so was everyone else. There was barely room for the fantastic pasta salad that Cara knocked up.
I made for a quiet night as everyone was tired – we played Monopoly, as soon it was clear that I wasn’t going to win I threw the game off balance by trying to get bankrupt as quick as I could. It came to a showdown between Cara & Hannah, where eventually Hannah slapped Cara down… She knew her place.
Pictures on the HYPERDOOPELATOR.
Domingo:
I was up early yet again – Adam and I headed off in the afternoon to meet Adam’s Ma, Pauline, we had a coffee in a Moroccan Coffee shop then headed back north – I finished the book on the way. Deception Point by Dan brown: it is so similar to the other two books I’ve read by Dan Brown - almost allegorical and very formulaic – entertaining yet disappointing as it seems that he’s just changed the names places and particulars – like Hollywood films, which he’s achieved with the Da Vinci code. He just twiddles with the story and eventually had a huge hit and it’s dragged the other books with it, they’re all well researched but I’m almost feeling let down.
I popped for home made soup at Anna’s that evening and that’s about it really
Lunes y Martes
Supposed to be doing a major Spanish revision session( which I'm calling espagbol at the moment), but it didn’t quite transpire, well you know how it can be!
A possible update on the Turkish courts - but I'll let you know when I know more...
I was recently reminded in work:
Taffy was a Welshman,
Taffy was a thief,
Taffy came to my house
And stole a piece of beef.
Adam & I had a half day as we were off to Bristol for the weekend. I finished an hour before him and got some supplies – sushi, GM chicken, scones & yoghurt smoothies. In that hour however Adam had stuffed himself so I had to get through as much as I could by myself. In the warm car the blood rushed to my stomach and the inevitable happened I drifted off as I tried to read. Adam did his best to keep speaking to me but after a few minutes with no response I was prodded to at least nod in agreement…
The traffic was shocking and was at a complete halt most of the way, and after a slight wrong turn (resulting in a four mile detour)we got to Cara’s the same time as Cara getting back from work and Hannah & Ingrid getting there from Cardiff & were still on the doorstep deliberating.
Pretty much we went straight back out for some food which also turned into a few pints… (why did I get a snakebite again?)
We all got given badges to wear for the weekend.. Last time it was bindis, they each had a message supposedly appropriate to wom they were allocated: mine was, 'I'm so horny even you have a chance', preposterous!
It was near to St Georges day and I was apprehensive about talking to pissed locals, one started to mumble at me from the bar – I ignorned it but when I ordered he looked up and mostly co-herently asked where I was from… he was from Pen-y-Bont-ar-Ogwr (Bridgend) and after talking about Rugby I tried to palm him off onto Hannah as she lived near to there - but thankfully he stumbled off back to his table for a nap.
We popped home and shot almost straight out to town proper. Cara’s house mate Daz was in the Prince of Wales (*spits*) pub, hammered and barely able to maintain consciousness. Geff from last time also made it along, and also knew Adam from somewhere…
They had a funky beer garden, obviously used to rain it had a flimsy translucent canopy and outdoor heaters and was almost too hot. We moved onto somewhere closer to town and went to a funky jazz club, it suited The girls and me but Adam was not impressed and up for a big one – so we had to up sticks and go to a vodka bar – Revolution (they have a hammer & sickle in their logo). This is where it started to go wrong maybe mostly so for Bling.
Suddenly shjots of Tequila (not a Mexican bar – pseudo Russsian) and flavoured Vodka’s started appearing from all sides. It was finishing me off too, I was pretty merry but so very tired. We went home after that and I burnt my nose hair lighting the fire then immediately curled up into a ball infornt of it and passed out… attempts to revieve me were apparently fruitless despite numerous blows to the head.
Sabado:
I was up early as normal, and had a book with me for that reason but didn’t need it - Hannah got up pretty early too and we had to wait for quite a few
hours before we saw another face, that was Cara, we didn’t see Adam until we popped out or Bling at all that morning, early afternoon.
Adam emerged just as we were leaving leaving his phone momentarily unattended, quick as a flash Hannah grabbed it and we left along with Cara & Daz to retrieve Cara’s car from the night before and have something to eat.
We ate in a coffee shop so was expensive, but as we left we were discussing getting supplies for the Bar-B-Q when we spotted almost dead opposite a butchers… The Sausage King! What an awesome selection of sausages! We were slavating over them and ordered a few of each: South African Wurst, Toulouse Sausages, Smoky Bacon sausages – the list goes on and was only £10.49 for 28 sausages – sensational! We got some steak there too – but the sausages were rightly the centre of attention!
Bling had to leave for some wishy washy excuse and
The sausages were indeed awesome – they rocked, only thing was that after about five hotdogs I was totally stuffed, and so was everyone else. There was barely room for the fantastic pasta salad that Cara knocked up.
I made for a quiet night as everyone was tired – we played Monopoly, as soon it was clear that I wasn’t going to win I threw the game off balance by trying to get bankrupt as quick as I could. It came to a showdown between Cara & Hannah, where eventually Hannah slapped Cara down… She knew her place.
Pictures on the HYPERDOOPELATOR.
Domingo:
I was up early yet again – Adam and I headed off in the afternoon to meet Adam’s Ma, Pauline, we had a coffee in a Moroccan Coffee shop then headed back north – I finished the book on the way. Deception Point by Dan brown: it is so similar to the other two books I’ve read by Dan Brown - almost allegorical and very formulaic – entertaining yet disappointing as it seems that he’s just changed the names places and particulars – like Hollywood films, which he’s achieved with the Da Vinci code. He just twiddles with the story and eventually had a huge hit and it’s dragged the other books with it, they’re all well researched but I’m almost feeling let down.
I popped for home made soup at Anna’s that evening and that’s about it really
Lunes y Martes
Supposed to be doing a major Spanish revision session( which I'm calling espagbol at the moment), but it didn’t quite transpire, well you know how it can be!
A possible update on the Turkish courts - but I'll let you know when I know more...
I was recently reminded in work:
Taffy was a Welshman,
Taffy was a thief,
Taffy came to my house
And stole a piece of beef.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
So What Are You Waiting For?
Friday Revisited
Reloaded Revelation
When I received a call before nine in the morning from Ul-Haq (Kamran) I expected his call to be a revelation dispersing the haze from the memories of the previous night’s memories. But he was none the wiser, he remembered putting Sarah in a taxi (at that point I also recalled it) but then enquired as to whether we’d shared a taxi home. I did recollect getting a taxi but had no memory of any others in the vehicle apart from the driver of course.
It also seems that some of my gifts are now A.W.O.L. Sarah had accepted responsibility to look after the rugby ball and my card are I had the other gifts ‘on my person’. But she was in such a state that she was oblivious to responsibility or normal standards of decency for a lady!
Saturday
Saturn Is In The Fourth House Of Aquarius
I was reading for most of the day, with Adam being in London there wasn’t too much distractions apart from Dawn & Sarah ‘doing their hair’, and a nagging that I should be pro-active with the job situation. I finished reading Angels & Demons, it’s an enjoyable read and would make a great film I have no doubts. It was though similar in structure to its sequel and ended lacking closure, some of the twists were expected even if I didn’t totally work out the true nature of them.
In the evening I popped out in Sale with Anna to the Kings Ransom, we had a drink in the beer garden, even though it was cold it was rammed inside – and at least we could hear each other. We did almost got chucked out - a couple sat right by us to get the effects from the ‘garden heater’ (why not set fire to a pile of pallets like in the old days?), the beer garden was otherwise empty. But in retaliation to what must have been associates mooning them from the other side of the canal the bloke decide to face the culprits and urinate into the canal, as you do… some of the group on bouncers that descended onto him were in favour of chucking out the whole group out due to our proximity to them, out pleas were heard and they just chucked out his girlfriend who was most embarrassed.
Sunday
Uuyrrgh
Spencer called round, with a DVD, Shaun of the Dead and for a chat, it’s all change all ‘round it seems, a new job for him too.
I had to pick up Adam from the Airport in his car, he had a top weekend it seems in London.
I started on Deception Point also by Dan Brown - I tried to read in bed but was nodding off but tried to persevere - but i fell asleep and ended up losing my place - d'oh!
Monday
Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket
I applied for the displacement jobs but will look elsewhere too, note to self must update CV(Resume).
Tuesday
No Me Gusta
I got a lift from Sarah & Steve (Pilling)
Spanish lesson – I got my homework just done on time, but I’m coming down with something, the glands in my neck swelled during the lesson and I had to talk through clenched teeth, and then I nodded off to sleep. I’m pretty rusty on the old Espanol at the mo and will have to fit in a major revision session at some point around the increasingly important job hunting…
I got back and hammered the supplements and ‘cold cures’ to sort myself out on top of an early night – again I fell asleep and lost my place in my book. I realised when I woke up as my bookmark was stuck to my face and the book was sprawled next to me...
Wednesday
Chopper Lewis
The boys at work arranged some Five a side, I don’t have the twinkle-toes of the soccer fanatics, but I had the measure of speed over them, so I wasn’t totally useless. It was good fun although I was ill, I was feeling loads better than the day before and have been wearing a scarf in work to keep my neck warm. Blah Blah Blah really…
Thursday - Z Z Z
Messages:
Steve (Abs): Cheers Steve - i'll look flward to reading it.
YL: Ta! Yeah I'm sure something Will turn up...
Kayla: Thanks too, i miht even get a better job.
Curly: Ah yes... RUGBY!
Po: I know your tricks!
Sasquatch: Are you ever in?
Reloaded Revelation
When I received a call before nine in the morning from Ul-Haq (Kamran) I expected his call to be a revelation dispersing the haze from the memories of the previous night’s memories. But he was none the wiser, he remembered putting Sarah in a taxi (at that point I also recalled it) but then enquired as to whether we’d shared a taxi home. I did recollect getting a taxi but had no memory of any others in the vehicle apart from the driver of course.
It also seems that some of my gifts are now A.W.O.L. Sarah had accepted responsibility to look after the rugby ball and my card are I had the other gifts ‘on my person’. But she was in such a state that she was oblivious to responsibility or normal standards of decency for a lady!
Saturday
Saturn Is In The Fourth House Of Aquarius
I was reading for most of the day, with Adam being in London there wasn’t too much distractions apart from Dawn & Sarah ‘doing their hair’, and a nagging that I should be pro-active with the job situation. I finished reading Angels & Demons, it’s an enjoyable read and would make a great film I have no doubts. It was though similar in structure to its sequel and ended lacking closure, some of the twists were expected even if I didn’t totally work out the true nature of them.
In the evening I popped out in Sale with Anna to the Kings Ransom, we had a drink in the beer garden, even though it was cold it was rammed inside – and at least we could hear each other. We did almost got chucked out - a couple sat right by us to get the effects from the ‘garden heater’ (why not set fire to a pile of pallets like in the old days?), the beer garden was otherwise empty. But in retaliation to what must have been associates mooning them from the other side of the canal the bloke decide to face the culprits and urinate into the canal, as you do… some of the group on bouncers that descended onto him were in favour of chucking out the whole group out due to our proximity to them, out pleas were heard and they just chucked out his girlfriend who was most embarrassed.
Sunday
Uuyrrgh
Spencer called round, with a DVD, Shaun of the Dead and for a chat, it’s all change all ‘round it seems, a new job for him too.
I had to pick up Adam from the Airport in his car, he had a top weekend it seems in London.
I started on Deception Point also by Dan Brown - I tried to read in bed but was nodding off but tried to persevere - but i fell asleep and ended up losing my place - d'oh!
Monday
Don’t Put All Your Eggs In One Basket
I applied for the displacement jobs but will look elsewhere too, note to self must update CV(Resume).
Tuesday
No Me Gusta
I got a lift from Sarah & Steve (Pilling)
Spanish lesson – I got my homework just done on time, but I’m coming down with something, the glands in my neck swelled during the lesson and I had to talk through clenched teeth, and then I nodded off to sleep. I’m pretty rusty on the old Espanol at the mo and will have to fit in a major revision session at some point around the increasingly important job hunting…
I got back and hammered the supplements and ‘cold cures’ to sort myself out on top of an early night – again I fell asleep and lost my place in my book. I realised when I woke up as my bookmark was stuck to my face and the book was sprawled next to me...
Wednesday
Chopper Lewis
The boys at work arranged some Five a side, I don’t have the twinkle-toes of the soccer fanatics, but I had the measure of speed over them, so I wasn’t totally useless. It was good fun although I was ill, I was feeling loads better than the day before and have been wearing a scarf in work to keep my neck warm. Blah Blah Blah really…
Thursday - Z Z Z
Messages:
Steve (Abs): Cheers Steve - i'll look flward to reading it.
YL: Ta! Yeah I'm sure something Will turn up...
Kayla: Thanks too, i miht even get a better job.
Curly: Ah yes... RUGBY!
Po: I know your tricks!
Sasquatch: Are you ever in?
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Why Are You Being Like This?
Holy Crap!
Everyone else knew except me it seemed, I've only been working there two weeks, so that's why I suppose. And they haven't set me up on the e-mail of course, so I didn't get the official mail.
Somebody mentioned to me at four thirty on Thursday about a big meeting the next day - apparently rumours were abounding but the meeting would quash them...
But no.
Six weeks and then I'm being made redundant, and about fifty others too - all from the same department.
There are jobs 'upstairs' but with just two weeks behind me - you wouldn't put money on it...
I'll apply of course, and I've been in worse situations I think.
Anyhow after that I had to go out for my Lex leaving do in Sale, Manchester...
It was good to catch up with quite a few of the peeps, they got me gifts of: matching red head and wrist bands, a 'Cymru' rugby ball (I was allowed to unwrap it but then it was taken off me as apperently 'things' would get broken or I'd have someone's eye out - it's round for gooness sake) & a replacement red thong! Crotchless!
I didn't have a big night, but am a little sketchy on how I got back.
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...
Everyone else knew except me it seemed, I've only been working there two weeks, so that's why I suppose. And they haven't set me up on the e-mail of course, so I didn't get the official mail.
Somebody mentioned to me at four thirty on Thursday about a big meeting the next day - apparently rumours were abounding but the meeting would quash them...
But no.
Six weeks and then I'm being made redundant, and about fifty others too - all from the same department.
There are jobs 'upstairs' but with just two weeks behind me - you wouldn't put money on it...
I'll apply of course, and I've been in worse situations I think.
Anyhow after that I had to go out for my Lex leaving do in Sale, Manchester...
It was good to catch up with quite a few of the peeps, they got me gifts of: matching red head and wrist bands, a 'Cymru' rugby ball (I was allowed to unwrap it but then it was taken off me as apperently 'things' would get broken or I'd have someone's eye out - it's round for gooness sake) & a replacement red thong! Crotchless!
I didn't have a big night, but am a little sketchy on how I got back.
Some things in life are bad,
They can really make you mad,
Other things just make you swear and curse,
When you're chewing life's gristle,
Don't grumble,
Give a whistle
And this'll help things turn out for the best.
And...
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Is It Cos I'm Shaved?
Well I am and I'm certainly not liking the unsullied breeze that whisks across my face... Back to the perma-stubble.
Today is the day that I’m was due in court in Istanbul, If you’ve seen Midnight Express then you’ll understand why I’m not going. I haven’t heard anything so I reckon that I’ve probably got away with it… I'm still none the wiser as to what the 'maintenance' might be for!
Brick Lane: I’ve finished this book, it was okay and more of a social commentary – it wasn’t wildly entertaining though. If it had had more relevance to me then it may, who knows, have been particularly profound. I suspect that the eldest daughter is the author. Not a book that I’d really consider reading again.
I’ve started on Angels & Demons another book by Dan Brown who wrote the Da Vinci Code, and Dawn & I also brought Deception Point by the same author.
I forgot to mention, Jonathan ‘Broga’ Llewelyn is engaged and his stag do is in Bristol on the 2nd of July, we’re getting the on the first which is a Friday. I dpn’t know when we’re coming back! It’s coinciding with the second Lions test and looks to be an interesting weekend, apparently fat & ugly strippers cost more than normal girls, due to supply and demand reasons (as I remember from Economics classes at school). So I really must remember to take the camera…
Tomorrow night I'm due out after work for my leaving do from my last place of work, Lex. O-Bombs are banned, but I suspect they may try to get me drunk, but I'll hold out... Have a good weekend Peeps!
Today is the day that I’m was due in court in Istanbul, If you’ve seen Midnight Express then you’ll understand why I’m not going. I haven’t heard anything so I reckon that I’ve probably got away with it… I'm still none the wiser as to what the 'maintenance' might be for!
Brick Lane: I’ve finished this book, it was okay and more of a social commentary – it wasn’t wildly entertaining though. If it had had more relevance to me then it may, who knows, have been particularly profound. I suspect that the eldest daughter is the author. Not a book that I’d really consider reading again.
I’ve started on Angels & Demons another book by Dan Brown who wrote the Da Vinci Code, and Dawn & I also brought Deception Point by the same author.
I forgot to mention, Jonathan ‘Broga’ Llewelyn is engaged and his stag do is in Bristol on the 2nd of July, we’re getting the on the first which is a Friday. I dpn’t know when we’re coming back! It’s coinciding with the second Lions test and looks to be an interesting weekend, apparently fat & ugly strippers cost more than normal girls, due to supply and demand reasons (as I remember from Economics classes at school). So I really must remember to take the camera…
Tomorrow night I'm due out after work for my leaving do from my last place of work, Lex. O-Bombs are banned, but I suspect they may try to get me drunk, but I'll hold out... Have a good weekend Peeps!
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
The Truth Is Not Determined By Majority Vote
Well work seems to be going well, but I think I shouldn't talk 'shop' here anyhow...
Aarti mentioned this, and as I'd seen it before, I thought I'd add it to the blog. I suppose it may well be not too interesting for most of you but I find it funny to see where some 'passers by' are from. But as you can see there is a pattern so I've fitted a 'line of best fit', but quite what it indicates I don't know.
I've been asked about Goldberg's name. It is quite simple acyually, his colour and his facial hair likens him to one time Atlanta Falcon, and former wrestler Bill Goldberg. So it all seemed to fit...
Here's a preview of the latest Ask Goldberg comic strip in the pipeline.
RoadBrawler2
Loopy Juice
Those who were in school with me back out in West Wales may well remember the Home Brew Bitter, many considered it to be rocket-fuel. And I recently heard a rumour passing around the village which apparently originanted from twenty years ago and recently resurfaced. A man apparently after a night on the afforementioned beverage commited suicide. The most surprising thing is that people have made light of this situation. In fact the guy it sems was depressed only had a pint or two of the stuff and did it a few days later. Shocking though and I was taken aback by it doing the rounds.
Gwilym is quite right - the Rugby DVD of the year is out soon and if purchaes from PLAY.com is 25% cheaper from the WRU official shop.
Reshma has turned up in Australia, I and an e-mail back at last and has got a place and I expect has already sorted out a job, so it all seems to be going well for her.
Friday
YOU WANT IT BECAUSE YOU ARE WEAK (beer that is)
I had my first do at my new work on Friday. The so called 'R&R' (Reward and Recognition) night. I was held in a suite of the Palace Hotel in the middle of Manchester, one of it's few landmarks. I was good to mix with my new team members, or the ones who turned up, Anna & Spencer, and many others. A few mayhve been upset with the hole in the nether regions of my jeans, but I was wewaring boxers so what's the problem?
For the present ations there was a mircophone so everyone one could hear and they didn't drag out proceedings so as to let people mix. A few hours later I discovered that the microphone was left out and without proper supervision.
I launched into reditions of Elvis, Tom Jones & choir favorites until I was asked to keep it down by senior management. We then hit a few bars in town, andsome headed back to the all night bar in the hotel but I ended up crashing out in Sale.
Henry & Anjam - the only photo I managed to take.
Apparenly these nights are a goldmine for ensuing gossip, as many people stay in hotels for the night. But there were thankfully no revelations on Monday morning
Saturday
Non descript really, breakfast & more beer (oh-no!) in a Wetherspoons pub in Sale then a chill out in the flat. Vanilla Sky was on later and that was about it.
Sunday
THE GOLDEN MILE?
We headed to Blackpool in the afternoon, pictures below. What a dump! The part we wandered along was called the golden mile and was very nasty and tacky. We're pretty certain thatwe won't be heading back there again soon...
Yes that is a 'Flake' up my nose
Adam Notices Blackpool's Phallus
AJ Owz
Anna & Owz
We got back to find Dawn had returned from her week in the Sun, with quite a tan and bearing gifts, I got a mini drum. Great fun but I could tell Dawn regretted it and Adam was starting to fray at the edges.
Monday
JOBS FOR THE BOYS
The Lions Touring Squad was named today. The mind boggled at some of the selections & ommisssions, the cardinal sin has been committed and there is an obvious bias toward Clive Woodward's former charges, who are now, frankly past it. We'll see how things progress on the tour but the Lions are very much a secondary concern, if at all. And It's not just me that thinks that, See here.
It was a busy day as we had to get some shopping done and it was far too busy and bare in the old supermarket. It was a very sensible shop although Dawn did eye up some luxury items...
Dawn Recommends Dimpled Rubbers
Closely Followed by 'Featherlite'
Tuesday
Espanol
I made it to Spanish this week, I've only missed one lesson but it did make a difference, but I'll cach up soon enough. Only Sarah made it along this time, as we got there early she started a blog, there nothing on it as yet but it's on the links on the side.
Wednesday
Just blog research & admin tonight - which seems to make people laugh in bewilderment... well it doesn't write itself!
Messages:
Dylan: Congratulations Dude!! Are you helping out with the homework yet? When's he getting his first Tattoo?
Boks: merci beaucoup, heureux vous allez bien. l'Espagnol vient le long, mais lentement. trop occupé! c'est possible mon Français est meilleur maintenant!! Baisers
Curly: Close call dude!
Aarti: Crashing is much more fun surely!? Why no babies?
Gwilym: Mae'ch penbwlydd yn dod... dyna pam nes ti sylwi ar y DVD?
Sasquatch: I'll try and check out the phone post... you and you're naisas!
Aarti mentioned this, and as I'd seen it before, I thought I'd add it to the blog. I suppose it may well be not too interesting for most of you but I find it funny to see where some 'passers by' are from. But as you can see there is a pattern so I've fitted a 'line of best fit', but quite what it indicates I don't know.
I've been asked about Goldberg's name. It is quite simple acyually, his colour and his facial hair likens him to one time Atlanta Falcon, and former wrestler Bill Goldberg. So it all seemed to fit...
Here's a preview of the latest Ask Goldberg comic strip in the pipeline.
RoadBrawler2
Loopy Juice
Those who were in school with me back out in West Wales may well remember the Home Brew Bitter, many considered it to be rocket-fuel. And I recently heard a rumour passing around the village which apparently originanted from twenty years ago and recently resurfaced. A man apparently after a night on the afforementioned beverage commited suicide. The most surprising thing is that people have made light of this situation. In fact the guy it sems was depressed only had a pint or two of the stuff and did it a few days later. Shocking though and I was taken aback by it doing the rounds.
Gwilym is quite right - the Rugby DVD of the year is out soon and if purchaes from PLAY.com is 25% cheaper from the WRU official shop.
Reshma has turned up in Australia, I and an e-mail back at last and has got a place and I expect has already sorted out a job, so it all seems to be going well for her.
Friday
YOU WANT IT BECAUSE YOU ARE WEAK (beer that is)
I had my first do at my new work on Friday. The so called 'R&R' (Reward and Recognition) night. I was held in a suite of the Palace Hotel in the middle of Manchester, one of it's few landmarks. I was good to mix with my new team members, or the ones who turned up, Anna & Spencer, and many others. A few mayhve been upset with the hole in the nether regions of my jeans, but I was wewaring boxers so what's the problem?
For the present ations there was a mircophone so everyone one could hear and they didn't drag out proceedings so as to let people mix. A few hours later I discovered that the microphone was left out and without proper supervision.
I launched into reditions of Elvis, Tom Jones & choir favorites until I was asked to keep it down by senior management. We then hit a few bars in town, andsome headed back to the all night bar in the hotel but I ended up crashing out in Sale.
Henry & Anjam - the only photo I managed to take.
Apparenly these nights are a goldmine for ensuing gossip, as many people stay in hotels for the night. But there were thankfully no revelations on Monday morning
Saturday
Non descript really, breakfast & more beer (oh-no!) in a Wetherspoons pub in Sale then a chill out in the flat. Vanilla Sky was on later and that was about it.
Sunday
THE GOLDEN MILE?
We headed to Blackpool in the afternoon, pictures below. What a dump! The part we wandered along was called the golden mile and was very nasty and tacky. We're pretty certain thatwe won't be heading back there again soon...
Yes that is a 'Flake' up my nose
Adam Notices Blackpool's Phallus
AJ Owz
Anna & Owz
We got back to find Dawn had returned from her week in the Sun, with quite a tan and bearing gifts, I got a mini drum. Great fun but I could tell Dawn regretted it and Adam was starting to fray at the edges.
Monday
JOBS FOR THE BOYS
The Lions Touring Squad was named today. The mind boggled at some of the selections & ommisssions, the cardinal sin has been committed and there is an obvious bias toward Clive Woodward's former charges, who are now, frankly past it. We'll see how things progress on the tour but the Lions are very much a secondary concern, if at all. And It's not just me that thinks that, See here.
It was a busy day as we had to get some shopping done and it was far too busy and bare in the old supermarket. It was a very sensible shop although Dawn did eye up some luxury items...
Dawn Recommends Dimpled Rubbers
Closely Followed by 'Featherlite'
Tuesday
Espanol
I made it to Spanish this week, I've only missed one lesson but it did make a difference, but I'll cach up soon enough. Only Sarah made it along this time, as we got there early she started a blog, there nothing on it as yet but it's on the links on the side.
Wednesday
Just blog research & admin tonight - which seems to make people laugh in bewilderment... well it doesn't write itself!
Messages:
Dylan: Congratulations Dude!! Are you helping out with the homework yet? When's he getting his first Tattoo?
Boks: merci beaucoup, heureux vous allez bien. l'Espagnol vient le long, mais lentement. trop occupé! c'est possible mon Français est meilleur maintenant!! Baisers
Curly: Close call dude!
Aarti: Crashing is much more fun surely!? Why no babies?
Gwilym: Mae'ch penbwlydd yn dod... dyna pam nes ti sylwi ar y DVD?
Sasquatch: I'll try and check out the phone post... you and you're naisas!
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
A Solar Rotation & Other Stuff
Today marks one year since I started the blog! I'm surprised. Surprised that it has lasted and what the year turned out to have in store, I'll probably read back over what I've done in the next few days... Was it worth it though?
luni
I walked to work, but had a lift home off the birthday boy Adam, who'd just got back from a weekend in Cardiff. He had no plans as such so we ordered pizza, had a beer or two and just chilled out, I was certainly shattered, and wouldn't have been able to handle hitting a few bars.
marti
Thank 'Evans. My debit card arrived at last, I had to pick it up from the branch which meant my lunch hour was written off and I had to take out £200 to pay people back straight away. Another night in eating what was left from our feast from the night before (we'd eaten too much to even start on the cake). and we watched Kath & Kim series 3...
I missed Spanish for the first time tonight, the excuse is a little lame, the lift fell through last minute from Warby, and as I was tired i didn't arrange an alternative mode of transport. But I'll definately attend next week.
miercuri
Right it's offical, I have no external work email!!! It sucks alright, it's internal only - the other way around to many creams and lotions. Also no internet leaving me in the dark on the latest rugby news back home from the Western Mail.
Today I caught the bus... £3 return, I'd rather walk. If only It hadn't been raining I may well have done, and the bus is hourly on the way home leaving at five past the hour... I finish at quarter past. Goddamnit!
Recently: The Pope has passed on - I may not have agreed with his stance on many issues but at least he seemed a sincere person. That's more than be said for Charles *spits* , you've got to laugh at the wedding being postponed - not that I really care.
Election - well it's been announced and it turns out I did register to vote in Manchester, I did a bit of research and it is a safe Labour seat and there is no point in voting, even if you wanted to spite Blair. The Labour guy, Tony Lloyd, who's seat it is however doesn't seem outwardly a Blairite and has rebelled on many votes so good on him, see here.
Jeez I'm tired, not too sure why, just don't seen able to totally re-charge!?
Messages:
Gwil/Aarti/Curly: It sounds lame indeed - but get tanked and who cares? Then we can gate crash Aarti's party!
luni
I walked to work, but had a lift home off the birthday boy Adam, who'd just got back from a weekend in Cardiff. He had no plans as such so we ordered pizza, had a beer or two and just chilled out, I was certainly shattered, and wouldn't have been able to handle hitting a few bars.
marti
Thank 'Evans. My debit card arrived at last, I had to pick it up from the branch which meant my lunch hour was written off and I had to take out £200 to pay people back straight away. Another night in eating what was left from our feast from the night before (we'd eaten too much to even start on the cake). and we watched Kath & Kim series 3...
I missed Spanish for the first time tonight, the excuse is a little lame, the lift fell through last minute from Warby, and as I was tired i didn't arrange an alternative mode of transport. But I'll definately attend next week.
miercuri
Right it's offical, I have no external work email!!! It sucks alright, it's internal only - the other way around to many creams and lotions. Also no internet leaving me in the dark on the latest rugby news back home from the Western Mail.
Today I caught the bus... £3 return, I'd rather walk. If only It hadn't been raining I may well have done, and the bus is hourly on the way home leaving at five past the hour... I finish at quarter past. Goddamnit!
Recently: The Pope has passed on - I may not have agreed with his stance on many issues but at least he seemed a sincere person. That's more than be said for Charles *spits* , you've got to laugh at the wedding being postponed - not that I really care.
Election - well it's been announced and it turns out I did register to vote in Manchester, I did a bit of research and it is a safe Labour seat and there is no point in voting, even if you wanted to spite Blair. The Labour guy, Tony Lloyd, who's seat it is however doesn't seem outwardly a Blairite and has rebelled on many votes so good on him, see here.
Jeez I'm tired, not too sure why, just don't seen able to totally re-charge!?
Messages:
Gwil/Aarti/Curly: It sounds lame indeed - but get tanked and who cares? Then we can gate crash Aarti's party!
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Mmm... Swine!
The picture is of no real significance, I may have seen pictues of food on other blogs recently however (YL's springs to mind). I was really just practicing with the new phone handset - I will have to re-do all the phone numbers again which is a real gip as it will take a few hours. Damn.
I'm all out of books at the moment but I found one on a shelf here that I haven't read (most likely another that was given to Adam and hasn't been read) and was apparently shortlisted for the Man Booker prize 2003. It's called Brick Lane by Monica Ali and is about the arranged marriage of an eighteen year old monoglot girl from Bangladesh who gets sent to London to conform to expectation. Okay, I know what you're saying - sounds like 'Chick-Lit', but I'll give it a go...
Spencer tells me that the lastest update for Ask Goldberg is almost complete.
It a Street Fighter 2 spoof, provisionally called Road Brawler II.
The photos from the photo-shoot (Me & Andy taken by Helen) are on the HDP. They don't make much sense as they are but will cut & pasted and over laid et cetera, but they're there anyway...
Well alrighty then...
This is from Faceanalyzer, it's funny due to the anomalies it throws up. Subsitute Anglo-Saxon(?-that would upset so many people, why?) for Western European but it's still way out... Don't take it seriously - it's just a bit of fun.
Mo's been rounds but not much else going on, which reminds me - Emails sent to my old work email address obviously won't now get to me... mail me if you want the new one as soon as I get it. Owzyo@hotmail.com
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Everywhere Is In Walking Distance If You Have The Time
I started work on Friday and it went okay, however I did walk in(the car is bust at the moment), and it took me 65 minutes, but I left at ten past seven (I was due in at nine) to give myself a decent margin of error in case: it took longer than expected or for getting lost (like on the bike where I ended upon a motorway) or even a natural disaster... It's possible.
It's not so bad when it's dry... and light. When I was in university I had a part time job stacking shelves at the nearest supermarket. Starting at five in the morning. I used to get up at three and walk in (took sixty minutes at first but I got it down to fifty minutes (one way) after a while). I gave my self a generous margin of error, so that I didn't have to rush and could have a few cups of tea. The weather on Friday was nice, however I can assure you that in the middle of winter at four in the morning in Pontypridd that is certainly not the case, to the extent that I invested in waterproof over-clothing (It pretty much just rains non-stop as other I'm sure will attest).
I does stick in my mind how on occasion I'd just be leaving when some of the boys would just be getting in and still naturally under the influence and I be shattered from lack of sleep but heading off to work before then walking back and heading to lectures
When I had jobs previously I often walked home early on just so I knew how long it would take just in case I had no other means to get in. I used to use markers and time myself so I'd know if I was behind schedule and had to speed up - which might mean breaking into a jog for a few minutes to get up to speed.
I could have caught the bus this time I suppose but the buses in Manchester tend to radiate from the city centre so I'd have to travel the two wrong sides of an isoceles triangle to get there. It isn't actually that far, only a ten minute drive on clear roads, more like fifteen plus during the mornings.
So the walk wasn't that bad (my foot is still bad from Sunday night's climb over a spiky fence - but I wore daps and had my shoes in a bag) and cuts accross a park, (Thomas Mann: Thoughts come clearly while one walks(O: Maybe to clearly... come to think of it when you're waiting for any prolnged period for anything, doctors, a train whatever - your mind tends to wander doesn't it? your just bored sh/tless I guess)) but I imagine regular repetition would be decidedly mundane. But I also find driving the same way the same. It's obviously good for your health too, except for the part where you follow the roads and are subjected to all the fumes.
I walked back as well in a slighly quicker time but still over the hour but I out this down to popping to a pub with two new workmates (Rob from weekend & Steve met once breifly before) where they instisted on getting me a pint, hence the quickened pace toward the end as once I'd got beyond the park there were no convienient private secluded hedges.
I got back to an empty flat, Adam had gone away for the weekend, and Dawn must have gone to a pub, well it is Friday after month end after all.
But waiting for me was my box set of Six Of The Best: Welsh Rugby, The Seventies Eighties & Nineties. Ther were a few conterversal inclusions and omissions, but it had to include the occasion in '99 when crash ball centre Scott Gibbs danced like he never had before... or ever would again!
Later that evening Dawn, Kamran & Marc tried to persuade me to come out as I dropped the off in town but I stayed in as I am again tonight.
I finished The Da Vinci Code, it's a ripping yarn alright. I'm still not sure if the ending is a cop out. I'm also sure that the notion of pagan origins and symbolism was a jaw dropper for many but much of it was old hat for me. Still gripping stuff a few inconsistencies, but such is the way with intricate lies, which is what fiction is after all. But gloss over that if I were you, don't get me wrong, do read it if you can.
Damn Couriers! Nothing but effing trouble. I still don't have my debit card (that's two weeks without now), i should have had it Friday but looks like Tuesday now.
Tonight I've stayed in again, nothing to report apart from meeting Dawn's brother, Dan, who's staying the night as they're flying from the airport tomorrow to Spain. We only had a quick chat but he's a top bloke and a drummer, starting a band but without a vocalist... Hmmm - nah it's too far (to Plymouth) for that!
Messages/TMI
Nicci: You have a point, but that's why it's called punch I suppose!?!
Aarti: Actually thought I'd go for Angels & Demons next. I actually did guess who the Teacher was in the 'code'. But if decpetion point is good I'll get a copy of that too.
As for work... it serves you right!!! So there!
Angel: that's not too far from Glasgow(checked on Multimap) Did Dylan end up there after a wrong turn by Pontardawe?
Steve: Cool, call 'round if you can.
Paul(Mr. Daydream): Cheers mate, to be honest I don't remember conciously putting on an accent - maybe I was just making sure that I fully pronounced every vowel? Stil these things must happenI suppose and It is a shame. And I'm sure Mr. Tickle will be back at Xmas!
It's not so bad when it's dry... and light. When I was in university I had a part time job stacking shelves at the nearest supermarket. Starting at five in the morning. I used to get up at three and walk in (took sixty minutes at first but I got it down to fifty minutes (one way) after a while). I gave my self a generous margin of error, so that I didn't have to rush and could have a few cups of tea. The weather on Friday was nice, however I can assure you that in the middle of winter at four in the morning in Pontypridd that is certainly not the case, to the extent that I invested in waterproof over-clothing (It pretty much just rains non-stop as other I'm sure will attest).
I does stick in my mind how on occasion I'd just be leaving when some of the boys would just be getting in and still naturally under the influence and I be shattered from lack of sleep but heading off to work before then walking back and heading to lectures
When I had jobs previously I often walked home early on just so I knew how long it would take just in case I had no other means to get in. I used to use markers and time myself so I'd know if I was behind schedule and had to speed up - which might mean breaking into a jog for a few minutes to get up to speed.
I could have caught the bus this time I suppose but the buses in Manchester tend to radiate from the city centre so I'd have to travel the two wrong sides of an isoceles triangle to get there. It isn't actually that far, only a ten minute drive on clear roads, more like fifteen plus during the mornings.
So the walk wasn't that bad (my foot is still bad from Sunday night's climb over a spiky fence - but I wore daps and had my shoes in a bag) and cuts accross a park, (Thomas Mann: Thoughts come clearly while one walks(O: Maybe to clearly... come to think of it when you're waiting for any prolnged period for anything, doctors, a train whatever - your mind tends to wander doesn't it? your just bored sh/tless I guess)) but I imagine regular repetition would be decidedly mundane. But I also find driving the same way the same. It's obviously good for your health too, except for the part where you follow the roads and are subjected to all the fumes.
I walked back as well in a slighly quicker time but still over the hour but I out this down to popping to a pub with two new workmates (Rob from weekend & Steve met once breifly before) where they instisted on getting me a pint, hence the quickened pace toward the end as once I'd got beyond the park there were no convienient private secluded hedges.
I got back to an empty flat, Adam had gone away for the weekend, and Dawn must have gone to a pub, well it is Friday after month end after all.
But waiting for me was my box set of Six Of The Best: Welsh Rugby, The Seventies Eighties & Nineties. Ther were a few conterversal inclusions and omissions, but it had to include the occasion in '99 when crash ball centre Scott Gibbs danced like he never had before... or ever would again!
Later that evening Dawn, Kamran & Marc tried to persuade me to come out as I dropped the off in town but I stayed in as I am again tonight.
I finished The Da Vinci Code, it's a ripping yarn alright. I'm still not sure if the ending is a cop out. I'm also sure that the notion of pagan origins and symbolism was a jaw dropper for many but much of it was old hat for me. Still gripping stuff a few inconsistencies, but such is the way with intricate lies, which is what fiction is after all. But gloss over that if I were you, don't get me wrong, do read it if you can.
Damn Couriers! Nothing but effing trouble. I still don't have my debit card (that's two weeks without now), i should have had it Friday but looks like Tuesday now.
Tonight I've stayed in again, nothing to report apart from meeting Dawn's brother, Dan, who's staying the night as they're flying from the airport tomorrow to Spain. We only had a quick chat but he's a top bloke and a drummer, starting a band but without a vocalist... Hmmm - nah it's too far (to Plymouth) for that!
Messages/TMI
Nicci: You have a point, but that's why it's called punch I suppose!?!
Aarti: Actually thought I'd go for Angels & Demons next. I actually did guess who the Teacher was in the 'code'. But if decpetion point is good I'll get a copy of that too.
As for work... it serves you right!!! So there!
Angel: that's not too far from Glasgow(checked on Multimap) Did Dylan end up there after a wrong turn by Pontardawe?
Steve: Cool, call 'round if you can.
Paul(Mr. Daydream): Cheers mate, to be honest I don't remember conciously putting on an accent - maybe I was just making sure that I fully pronounced every vowel? Stil these things must happenI suppose and It is a shame. And I'm sure Mr. Tickle will be back at Xmas!
