| Sunday blues |
[Sep. 6th, 2009|09:09 pm] |
Strange sort of weekend.
Back is on the mend, not been having to take painkillers like sweeties all the time. Which is a good thing.
Out on Friday night to see Splinter at O'Neills in town with various TAHers. Dont know if it was all the lemony water or something else but I didnt feel the need to eat before heading out. Which was erm a bit of a mistake.... Got very drunk on an empty stomach and hoping that I didnt do anything untoward. Have spent most of the weekend recovering, Off to Suzanne M's BBQ on Saturday afternoon but sadly still running on emergency power. Chirizo and bean stew helped later.
Today I finally got to tidy up the garden so not looking so much like a bombsite. And now its Sunday evening, the weekend is coming to an end and I have a vague sense of dread about heading back to work tomorrow and what the week will hold in general.
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| Ouch |
[Aug. 23rd, 2009|10:17 am] |
My back is still hurting. A lot.
Not helped by the fact I had to go down south to Cambridge and do a load of stuff for my Dad but I had to do it. Consequently when I came back last monday and two days attempting to be on a training course did for me. Ever since then I have been very much in the horizontal position.
It is really, really frustrating.
So I am following doctor's orders. Rest, painkillers and anti-inflamatories. Walking a bit seems to help but any form of sitting certainly doesnt.
Need this to clear up, got far too much stuff to do!
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| Cambridge |
[Aug. 13th, 2009|06:16 pm] |
Am down in Cambridge looking after ill father. Got the train down yesterday, fortunately had cheap first class ticket so could be in pain in luxury.
Today I have taken a journey into the past. Got the 118 (now called the 18) into town. Went to the Fitzwilliam museum where they had a Darwin exhbition on. He came across as a bit crackers to be honest but I liked the coffee and cake in the cafe. Then it was a trawl of the shops. As usual got a load of books from Galloway and Porter, few bits from Fopp, punctuated with further coffee and smoothies. Lunch at Tatties was a bit disappointing especially as it now seem to be run by some strange crime syndicate.
Bus back and after a brief snooze have started attacking the garden. Now very hot tired and sweaty/sweary. Plus Im doing roast chicken so I am extra knackered. Right, where are those frozen peas.. |
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| Calm before the storm |
[Aug. 9th, 2009|07:27 pm] |
I had a very quiet weekend.
A few drinks on Friday night someone deflated by me sitting on my sunglasses later on. Hmmm.
Due to general knackeredness from work/back etc and my impending trip down to Cambridge on Wednesday I didn't do anything of great importance. Apart from cut grass/cook/read/watch films etc. Very paranoid about my back completely going just when it is on the mend so was being cautious. The walk recce on Saturday was postponed and I decided against the Clapham walk today.
Main triumph, today? Getting the Vocoder on Logic to work properly. I will get those damn songs finished soon!
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| Back to back |
[Aug. 6th, 2009|07:20 pm] |
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Tut, tut tut. All those promises of getting back blogging and then an embarassing silence. So here we go with an update.
My back is on the mend. Thank God for Codeine. Am at work and as long as I don't stay seated for too long things are ok. Also need to think about getting another car as me and the Clio are not the best of partners.
As for last weekend went to see Splinter on Friday night. Started off at Sandinista, then A Nation of Shopkeepers before arriving unfashionably late at O'Neills. Was odd and good seeing some old faces. A good night was had and much drink consumed. Splinter very good. On saturday morning I woke up to find a) I had lost my voice b) I had ordered my bodyweight in pizza. Spent most of the day feeling sorry for myself but cheered immensely by watching the highly enjoyable Role Models.
In the evening we were taken out for a meal by Clare and Duncan in thanks for looking after Chun-li whilst they were on their megahoneymoon. We ended up at Anthonys Piazza in the Corn Exchange. Had a great night, although somewhat tempered by crap service, average food and back pains.
Sunday was walk day. A ten-miler in the Dales from Grimwith Reservoir. Slightly unnerving that there was 40 people on the walk- always the thought that groups that size are a bit unweildy. I guess in an ideal world there would be two similar sized walks to choose from to keep the numbers down but still have a fair bit of member activity. On the whole the walk was good, blessed by good weather and great scenery. I now know a lot more about David Icke, Stan Collymore and the Spanish Civil War amongst other things. Final treat was fish and chips on the way home from the usual place in Rawdon.
Things are a bit up in the air at the moment on the family front. Next week travelling down to Cambridge to see Dad and make myself useful. This weekend I am planning to recce my Gargrave walk. Am currently thinking 12 miles is a tad optimistic but we shall see.
ps now Thursday night. Knackered. Roll on a weekend of erm rest and erm running about. |
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| Cautious |
[Jan. 14th, 2009|04:03 pm] |
After a long long break I've deciced to post...but ostensibly to say that I won't be posting....
Not for a while anyways.
I've decided that its high time that I kept my life private for a while. A number of things have happened recently (read as "mind your own fucking business ;-) " ) so I don't feel like airing my dirty (or clean) laundry in public.
I will still be on facebook a bit but don't believe anything I write on that. Either.
"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story...."
Be seeing you. |
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| Is it that time already? |
[Dec. 24th, 2008|09:34 am] |
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Christmas Eve. Still not feeling that Christmassy. Presents bought, tree up, parties attended, hangovers endured but something still lacking.
The last couple of weeks has seemed like a bit of a blur. High points and low points. Work has continued to be hectic. In general it is getting better but I am still still kicking myself when I get things wrong. Been a fair amount of going out and getting royally pissed. Part of it stems from the "Festive season" and part is coping with whatever stresses have been coming my way.
Finish at lunchtime today. Meeting up with ![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) fishwink this afternoon to do some post-shopping unwinding. This may well involve lying about at home and watching a DVD whilst upsetting the cat. Tonight will be my final bout of present wrapping and then an early night. Tomorrow, set off earlyish and get to brothers for about 11. Get to meet Alfie for the first time (yay) and take him for a walk in the woods. Then back to Abington for a drink and then food, food, food. Presents after that and general vegging out. Hoping that no huge family arguements erupt. In the evening it wil be Doctor Who (dont laugh) and more vegging. Boxing Day I get thrown out with no great ceremony and then back up to Horsforth. And then I get to rest. And sleep. Sleep is good.
Here's hoping for a better 2009. I've really not had a great time this year. |
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| You'll tide |
[Dec. 10th, 2008|03:43 pm] |
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Tis the season to be...quite behind on updating their blog. More cold-related shenanigans of late. On Saturday the 29th I went Nordic Skiing in Wetherby of all places. Really enjoyable and seeing as it was at a place that was described as a "Christmas Adventure" it was a very nice place to spend a few hours and didn't look like the Somme. As I had never done any kind of skiing before I made sure I was first to get my gear on so that I could go and practice/make a fool of myself before any of the others so me. As it turned out I wasn't too bad at it (if I don't say so myself) as the action was someone similar to that of Rollerblading. The first problem that hit me was that as the weather got colder the ice on the matting/dry skislope became icy and bloody lethal. However, the biggest challenge was not knocking children over or swearing loudly in their vicinity. I nearly succeded. Anyways I think I won the award for most energetic skiing as I did the most laps. When I went to take my gear off in the portacabin there was steam coming off me, much to everyones amusement. It was the next day that I woke up and found that I had succumbed to a particularly nasty bug. What compounded it was general knackeredness from work and also a painful part of my past coming back to haunt me. And so it was that I pretty much spend the next 5 days in bed being consumptive and wishing I had someone to mop my fevered brow. Salvation came in the form of the Telegraph Crossword Club which meant I could print off that days cryptic and attempt it from the comfort of my bed. In order to do this it also meant finally installing the printer and sofware that I got for xmas, well done me on the organisation front there. So last week was a lot of crosswords, cups of tea and lying in bed. It was quite enjoyable. For Friday I crawled out of my coffin for Sharons Viva celebration meal. We ate at the Corner House on Burley Road, really good food. Not too sure about the pub next door, the Queens. It made the Black Bull look like the Ritz. For ease of ordering we had a selection of veggie and meaty dishes, both very tasty indeed. The only downside was I ended up sweating like a councillor and my cold decided to make a final stand. I made my excuses and left early. Handily there was a bus stop for the 50 just over the road so I got back in no time. Not so great was when I got off the bus I put my foot down and buggered over on some black ice. Ouch. Saturday I had the misfortune of going shopping. As the Horsforth Morrisons resembles a Minataurs maze at the moment I headed to Asda at Owlcoats. Bad Idea. It seemed to be international stupid persons day. In what must have been just a matter of minutes I felt myself turning into that Michael Douglas character in "falling down". I escaped and went home for a little lie down. The lie down was needed as I was out again on Saturday night, this time for the TAH Xmas party. As with the Summer party we had Sam Foleys all to ourselves and it was suitably fun, boozy and riotous. I managed to completely miss the buffet so got royally pissed in due course. Became dangerously generous and found myself buying myself buying loads of drinks each time I went to the bar...which turned out to be quite often as I kept forgetting where I had left my previous drink. I still retained some sense if not dignity. When the party finished I got a cab home rather than drinking any further. Odd cab, seemed to take me home via Instanbul. Back at the ranch I was in dire need of food so consumed a big gloopy plate of macaroni cheese. Then passed out. In the morning, got out of bed and managed to step into the cold remains. Sums it up really.....
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| Black Dog |
[Nov. 17th, 2008|11:09 pm] |
Today was a total right-off. I stayed at home and hid from the world.
I crawled out later to watch the latest Bond film. It was bloody rubbish. I think I will watch Moonraker tomorrow night to cheer myself up.
(which also stars another french baddie, Michael Lonsdale, fact fans. Who appeared in Munich with Matthiew Almawhatshiface...and Daniel Craig) |
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| Uphill work |
[Nov. 10th, 2008|07:41 pm] |
The new job seems to be going well, but I'm sure having to work for my promotion. Got back today after spending the day at my desk writing visual basic.
Had Thursday and Friday off last week. Thursday was a round of doctors appointments and clinic visits. With the rare appearance of the sun on Friday I took the opportunity to recce my January walk. Like my previous reccies I raced round in doublequick time and then realised that the walk wasnt quite long enough...Will pop back at some point soon to add a few extra miles. After that I had the dubious pleasure of going to the White Rose Centre to pick up a few things. Not fun.
Now orignally I had been planning to go on a walk on Saturday. One look out of the window at 6am to see wind and rain made me decide that it would be much wiser staying in bed. As it turned out I think I needed it. Must try and stop myself from becoming a hermit though. Managed to sit down and do some music but it gets pretty knackering. Still I am making slow but sure progress.
This week...tons of work again. Tomorrow night walking around Harewood and Thursday maybe out in Huddersfield for an Orange juice. Apart from that, just trying to save money in the run up to Christmas and keep the cat entertained. The TAH party is on the 6th December so not far away at all..Have also just been invited to a do on New Years Eve so it looks like I wont be tucked up in bed by 10pm as I originally imagined. It is quite scary to think that I have been up in Leeds for nearly three years now. To be honest I will be glad when this year is over and hope that 2009 will have better promise. |
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| Settling down |
[Nov. 4th, 2008|08:57 pm] |
No posts for a while so here goes.
The week after Ingleborough it was Whernside. The weather wasnt quite as beastly but tried to dampen the enthusiasm nonetheless. Still I had the rest of the weekend to dry out. The following week at work was busy. Still on the great learning curve and my head is close to exploding sometimes with the effort required to concentrate. Good news is that I got my car back, the repairs came to a whopping £2,300 of which the third parties insurance should be sorting. Last Saturday I paid a trip to the Leeds City Art gallery and pretend to be a Grown Up. On the Sunday it was off Swinsty for a relatively dry walk.
Short week this week. Tonight I was meant to go for a walk on the Chevin but got the wrong car park. All the others had parked round the corner at the Royalty. I thought something was up when the only other people in my car park where a couple of shifty chavs having a sly toke in their car. The joys of youth... |
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| Aches and Pains |
[Oct. 19th, 2008|07:18 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  anxious | ] |
Sunday night
Well, my first week in the new job went fairly well. Managing to stay on top of it all. Biggest hassle is still the ongoing business with the car. At least now I have a courtesy car so am mobile, although driving painful.
A few celebratory drinks on Friday night as way of reward for getting through the week. Still having trouble getting over the JM business. Saturday morning it was up early to get my lift from Guiseley. Arrived an hour early so could have spent more time in bed. We set off from Clapham at 10.30 and had a very very wet walk. The conditions on Ingleborough were terrible. Everybody soaked to the skin and I had left my overtrousers at home, not a good idea. Finally got home and then it was a shower and change before heading out. Bus failed to materialise so it took twice as long to get into Leeds. When I arrived at Tampopo everyone was finishing their food so I nursed a Coke in order to wake myself up. The original plan had been to go to Wetherspoons after but such was the scene of horror that we hotfooted it to Sam Foleys. Managed a couple of drinks before tiredness took over again and my bed beckoned. So it was that I was all tucked up by midnight instead of dancing the night away in Hifi.
A rare long lie-in for me this morning before Fishwink arrived. She did her half-yearly healthy eating shop with me and I now have far more veg in my fridge than I have ever seen. Had lunch at the Town Street Tavern before heading home and digesting the papers on the sofa. Still tired and achy tonight. A bath and book beckon along with an early night. A new week approaches and outwardly I must try and appear like I know what is going on. |
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| update |
[Oct. 9th, 2008|09:09 am] |
Spent most of yesterday on phone to insurers/solicitors/police/taxi company/garage. Took car to garage in the afternoon and it turns out that the boot floor is cracked, oh fuckity fuck. This means techincally the car is not roadworthy so I am now carless, not that I feel like doing much driving at the moment because of the back pain. I am just crossing fingers now and hoping that the insurance company does their job from here on in.
Even thought the shunt wasn't at great speed it still did enough damage to the car and has buggered my back up. My back has been fine for ages and ages but a nasty case of whiplash has not down it any good at all. Am in quite a bit of pain, Sciatica etc and am living off painkillers at the moment.
So I am pretty much stuck here at home at the moment. Pissed off that I cant get out walking or even spend long periods of time on the Mac to do my music. NOT HAPPY.
Will drag myself out in a bit to get a paper etc but apart from that its all very quiet. |
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| Crash |
[Oct. 7th, 2008|12:29 pm] |
Well, a funny old week. Some good stuff followed by a bad thing...
It was my last week in the old job. Lots of stuff to finish off and then drinks on Friday. Started off at the Taps before heading on to Sandanista and Mojo. I am rekindling my love of coctails, favourites being the Mojito and the Rasperry Collins. Staggered out of Mojo about 10 and headed home.
Next day was off to Ilkley and then back home to have a visit from a friend with Dog. It did not go that well...Dog was a bit too overexcited and promptly chased Holly up the stairs, oh dear..Later on I went to Morrisons for a few things. On the way out, waiting at the junction I was rearended by a taxi behind me. Boot all smashed up and now have the hassle of going through the insurers for the first time, oh joy. Further to that I got some whiplash so neck in pain and back trouble flared up badly. Thankfully I am off this week so lots of tea and painkillers. Arse.
No real plans for the immediate future. Apart from trying to finish the crossword. |
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| Wobble |
[Sep. 24th, 2008|09:33 pm] |
No updates for a while. Things are ticking along here and there.
My past has come to haunt me again a bit so had to cook something nice to take my mind off it.
Last week I came down with the coldthing that is doing the rounds. That meant I was in bed Thursday and Friday. Saturday went to Harrogate on the train. So used to going the other way into Leeds it was a bit of a novelty going the other way. Half wondered if I would bump into trainwoman (because its such a small place...) but quite glad in the end that I didn't. She confuses me. When I see her whilst commuting she either acts like she wants to set me on fire and throw me out of a window or take me to the Queens Hotel and ravish me. I will never quite understand women. Anyways, Harrogate. On a whim I ended up having acupuncture on my back which was really good. What wasnt so good is when they tried to flog me about £700 of other stuff so I politely told them where they could stick their needles.
With the Sun blazing on Sunday I did the walk at Dovestone Reservoir. In classic style I arrived late and nearly smashed into a car when parking. Then remembered that having a large curry the night before is not the best thing to do when going on a very long walk. The walk itself was very good and I was impressed that my body held up without any bits failing or falling off. Lots of new people, felt a real veteran. (I don't mean I fondled a pensioner). Got hopelessly lost on the way back and took twice as long getting home via Barnsley.
Had already booked the Monday off so lazed about, watched Movies and read stuff. Back to work on Tuesday was a shock esp as it was my day on the new job. Managed to cock something up royally so not the best of starts. The rest of this week is going to be very very busy getting things finished and documenting my former life. |
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| Richard Wright RIP |
[Sep. 15th, 2008|08:19 pm] |
It was great sadness to hear that Richard Wright, keyboard player with Pink Floyd, had died today. He had been battling Cancer for sometime and things had deteriorated quickly. He was 65.
Having an older brother meant that I was subjected to his record collection and in time access to said vinyl Mecca. My brother introduced my to a number of artists (Clash, Bowie, The Fall, er Mike Oldfield) and one of the early entrants was the Floyd. Long trips driving him to and from Newcastle University gave us great opportunity to work through a number of albums and some of the lengthier Floyd tracks helped pass the miles. I do remember though that he was quick on the fast forward when Roger Waters sings "You fucked up old hag" on the Animals album so as not to give father a turn.
Anyways, I digress somewhat. Rick Wright was a great musician. One of his great talents was knowing what not to play and letting a song as a whole have room to breath. In a time of Capes, Revolving Pianos, Knife Throwing and Inflatable Dinosaurs to accompany the finger theatrics of Wakeman, Emerson et al, Wrighty prefered restraint and providing more textured and orchestral sounds and sparser arrangement. I remember once at a practice when I was pounding away some chords at the piano and Ed came over and said they sounded "Very Floydian". I was so chuffed.
With the benefit of my ipod I had been revisiting my Pink Floyd albums, the trigger being the wedding in "Saint Tropez". So after the wedding on the Saturday I was there on Saint Tropez beach listening to the track Saint Tropez with the Wright plinky plonk piano solo at the end. Not technically amazing or anything but suitably fitting for the surreal atmosphere that pervades in that area of France.
So anyways, I am going to listen to Radcliffe and Maconie and their little tribute now.
A |
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