"Calling all units..."

Hello readers and welcome to a Wednesday blog. I would have done it yesterday but I was a little hurried after work. Anyway, enough excuses, lets crack on with it.

Last Monday I went to see Julie over in Sutton. We went for a quiet drink to pass the evening in another local pub (seriously, there are loads in Sutton!) before we had to call it a night at about 11:30pm when I dropped her home.

Tuesday. I went over to Adam/Carl/Johns where we had a go on Tom Clncy's Endwar. I had downloaded the demo the week previous and had shown Adam. he was so impressed with it that he had gone and bought the game. A bold move, and yet I knew that I was going to end up buying it myself as it is a very good strategy based battle simulator.

Wednesday. After work I came home and decided that Buying Endwar was inevitable so off I went to Solihull to purchase it. I came back and got stuck in to it. It's one of those genre-defining titles. The game can be played using voice commands and it is brilliantly done. Tactics are key, and knowing when to use certain resources to your advantage is vital. I love it! After an hour or so playing I went down to Fathers as usual before dropping in on Donna and co' in the Swan for the final leg of the quiz.

Thursday. After work I came home to get to grips with Endwar and emerse myself in all its futuristic fighting goodness. In the evening I went to the Swan as usual and drank some Guinnesses!

Friday. After work I came home to shout at my xbox before going over to Adam/Carl/Johns for another Lads night in... Though Adam wasn't there as he was at a works do.

Saturday. Right... Saturday morning was spent in a place that is almost alien to me. A place that fills my puny, podgy little body with dread... Thats right...

... a Gym!

Me and Kieron went to Ironworks in Cotterige, and for those of you that know the area, as you go up the long hill towards Cotterige island, you pass a Toby Carvery (opposite the junction to the trading estate) and a BP garage on your left . Well between the two is a little driveway and it lies down there, tucked away. I never knew it existed and I have been up that road hundreds of times on the way to see my nan! We spent an hour doing cardiovascular exercises before moving on to the weights. Now I will pont out that Kieron used to go to Ironworks regularly, and his job involves moving big bits of metal around... Usually bits of a forklift! So his arms are bigger than mine, and he knows what he is doing. I decided that rather than look like a complete wimp and take weights off the machines I would try to match him in weight and times lifted...

... That was a silly thing to do.

To my credit, and this is me trying to grasp at least the slightest glimmer of a positive outcome, I surprised myself at the amount I can lift. I got up to 8 reps' of 80kg (just short of one-tenth of a tonne) but I reckon I could go heavier... By the time we got on the big thing that lets you attempt such a feat, we had already been lifting weights on a smaller thing. Anyway, we left at mid-morning and went back to Selena/Kierons for a bit before I came home as they were off up the Villa. I ended up going over to Adam/Carl/Johns but Carl and John weren't in as they had gone to Plymouth for the weekend! Me and Adam played Endwar for a bit and then got something to eat before watching some TV with a cold beer. Proper lads night in!

Sunday. I woke up and I couldn't move... My arms and shoulders were killing me from the day before. I concluded that I must have pulled the muscles in my shoulders and arms because they felt like lead weights. I went to the legion and afterwards, went to nans for tea. Watched the last of the current series of TopGear, came home to bed.

Right. I will leave you there readers.
TTFN!

You push your fingers in to your what?

Hello readers and welcome to this weeks update. Well, I say "readers" but I'm not sure who reads this anymore. Readers? Are you out there? My aim when I started this was just to jot down what I had done, but that has changed. As John pointed out I sometimes get days mixed up, but it doesn't matter because what I want this to be is a general space where my readers can feedback, host little conversations in the shout box, and really input to make my blog bigger than the sum of its parts. I might sit here typing it, but it doesn't count for much if it is a static entity. It needs to grow and... And...

Oh, bollocks who am I kidding?

Anyway, enough of that. Lets blog.

Monday. Monday evening was spent round Adam and Carls and Johns. We ended up playing some Carcassone and Catan (if you don't know what they are, you didn't click the links in my previous posts) until finally breaking out RockBand! Yes! The Mothers of Destruction were reunited! We played until about 12:00am and then I had to get going.

Tuesday. Work passed quite quickly and I was home for 4:30pm. In the evening it was back over to Adam/Carl/Johns and Marcus and Jenny joined us for some TV/xbox

Wednesday. The evening was spent at Fathers and then at 10:00pm I made my way down to the Swan to meet up with Donna and co'. Now I always help them with the last couple of rounds of the quiz, though I usually don't get many answers in. This Wednesday though I didn't have to! Rent-a-crowd (The team name of Donna and co') came joint first! Well done to them! They won some cash and the respect of everyone in the Swan!

Thursday. After work I came home and nodded off for a bit! In the evening I walked up to the Swan (Lank was at the Villa) to meet the usual suspects plus Paul and Jess who have recently moved back to Wythall! A warm welcome to them both, and I hope to see them out and about more often!

Friday. (You'll notice I'm doing these quickly. I'm off out in a bit!) I went to......?

... Yes, you've guessed it! Solihull to meet upwith the lads. We ended up ordering Chinese...

... Which was nice!

Saturday. I went to HMV to take my copy of Guitar Hero back as it had gone the way of the Dodo. I got my cash back and glad that I don't have to mess about with it any more. in the evening I went, yet again, over to Solihull.

Sunday... Ah, Sunday... I finished the Legion at 6:00pm because I was going, with Jason and Gemma to the NIA to see Slipknot in concert! I had seen them years ago when I was at college on the "Iowa" tour. Gemma hasseen them at the Download Festival, but Jason was a Slipknot Virgin.

We got to the venue in good time and had a couple of drinks. We then went in to the arena to catch the first band "Children of Bodum" who play some good old "simple-riffs-and-a-lot-of-shouting" kind of metal. We headed on out after they were off stage to refill our glasses. We came back in to see Machine Head. They were awsome and did a really good set. After an hour or so Slipknot came on stage to much rowdyness... As is the way at these events! (well who ever heard of a quiet gig?)

They did all of the crowd pleasers and then some! I have a couple of photos for you...

The black smudge in the middle is Corey Taylor

Band members with the glorious "Tribal S" logo.

These photos don't do them any justice.....

So here's one I half-inched from the website!

Yep. That's sort of a better quality, isn't it?

Anyway they left the stage after one encore and I honestly thought they would come back on and do "Wait and Bleed" which was their first ever single and the song which they are known for... You know what I mean... "Wait and Bleed" is to Slipknot what "Rockin' all over the world" is to Status Quo. But alas! They did not reappear! I was a bit gutted and I think Jason was too. Still Jason is happy he can say he's seen them live!

Afterwards we went to Macdonalds. We sat inside and ate our grease-pots before climbing in to the nearest availiable taxi to come home!

phew! Right. I'm off out in a bit so I will eave you there.

TTFN!

Yawn...

Hello readers and welcome to a half-arsed blog. I'm tired, hungry, and have to go out later so this is going to be brief... Well, I'll try and put a little effort in for just for you.

Monday. Work went well and in the evening I went over to see Julie. We went for a drink in the local Apres' bar where Guinness is regarded as something only your great grandfather might drink, and all the lights are flourescent because anything else "just wouldn't do"

We sat and chatted for a few hours before deciding to head on back. I only stayed a short while before coming back to Wythall for about 12:00am

Tuesday. The evening was spent round Carl and Adams and lo-and-behold John was there! Yes he is back from Plymouth and currently staying in the Sambourn residence. We had a number of games of Carcassonne which is another of Carls many board games...

... Though we were playing the Xbox version!

Click the link to see what it's all about. Or, for those of you with an interest in history, click here to learn about the real city of Carcassonne in France!

... Did you click the link? if you did, I can say that my vlog is being used for educational purposes!

Anyway we played until about 12:30am and then I decided that I should go and get to bed, so I left.

Wednesday. Work = Good. Went down to fathers as usual and then went off to the Swan to see Donna and her family.

Thursday. The evening was spent in the Swan with the usual crowd. A good time was had by all until 11:30pm when we were out of drinking time and had to leave.

Friday. Work came and went and I was free for the weekend. The evening was spent back over at Carl and Adams (and Johns!) playing Guitar Hero and watching TV... However. Disaster struck when my GH drum kit (that had to be fixed before) suffered a heart attack and partially died on me! The left pad and symbol were refusing to work (so actually, a "stroke" would be a better description) I was livid! we continued with Johns RockBand drum kit but it just dodn't feel the same...

saturday. I went back over to Carl And Adams as the plan was to go in to Birmingham. We took one look at the weather and thought "blow that for a game of soldiers" so we stayed in. More Xbox, films, snacks etc... I thoroughly enjoyed it! I didn't leave until about 1:00am!

Sunday. Normal one. Legion. Nans. Tea. Home. Bed.

I will leave you there for abnother week readers. TTFN!

Heeeeey!

Hello readers. Welcome to another thrilling update. Let me dive right in with last Monday...

After work I came home to watch some TV and then head on over to Sutton to see Julie. We headed over to the pub and had a good natter. I enjoyed it. After dropping Julie back home I made my way back to Wythall.

Tuesday. Work went quickly and I was out of the door and back home before I knew it. In the evening I went over to Carl and Adams. I took Guitar Hero with me and we had a good old jam session before I decided to call it a night at about 11:00pm

Wednesday. The evening wasn't spent down at fathers as he was attending a "meeting" for Ladies Night (more of that below) so I met up with Carl and Marcus in the Greville for a swift pint.

Thursday. Work went well and the evening was spent in The Swan (as always!) though our numbers were dwindled. Still, we all had good fun and at 11:30pm lank dropped Nicola and me home...

... Hang on, I will clarify that...

Lank dropped Nicola at her house, and then me at mine...

There we go. Thats better.

Friday. At 3:45pm I shot out of work like the building was on fire. I wanted to get home and kick-start the weekend, since I had a busy but enjoyable one planned! In the evening I went back over to Carl and Adams and we ended up playing a board game called "Settlers of Catan" which is a trading and city-building board game, though it is relatively simple to play. (Click the link to view the wiki article) I enjoyed it and might look in to aquiring one of the many variants and expansions that the game has spawned.

Saturday... During the day, not a lot happened. But the evening.... Ah, the evening. It was Ladies Night at the Chateau Impney in Droitwich. The Tuxedo was pressed and pin sharp! I arrived at Fathers with Selena at 6:15pm ready for the taxi at 6:30pm. We, along with some of dads neighbours, were at the Chateau for 7:00pm and imediately started mingling and saying hello to people. We went in to the meal which was a 5 course bonanza (all of which was fantastic) and then the entertainment started...

Basically, every year the lads put something together, last year they did a hula routine. This year they did a "Husbands military-style drill, with deckchairs" (seriously!) I hoped that by the time I sat down to write this that the video would be on youtube but it's not. I wil post it when it is though!

Anyway, to tide you over here is a still photo of said drill...

I must commend them on the choreography. The rifle drill with the deckchairs was most impressive!

After the entertainment the disco started. I have a few photo's though they aren't mine. They are "borrowed" from Sophie's facebook album...

Selena. The Minnie Mouse ears appeared at some point throughout the evening and she ended up wearing them!

Now, before any of you pass judgement, let me explain that I had been drinking WINE. You can see the glass in my hand. Secondly, why has no one ever told me that when I smile I look like a younger CAPTAIN MAINWARING! for Christs sake!?

I mean lets compare that, shall we?

Me, aged 50? You decide...

Anyway. At 1:00am the taxi returned to take us home. I was ready to drop. I got in and went straight to bed.

Not-very-many-hours later I awoke, Sunday morning. I got up and headed over to Adam and Carls as we were off to Memorabilia at the NEC. We got there for about 12:00 mid day and were soon wandering around all the geeky goodness that makes up the show. We spent time looking at all the...

... Oh sod it...

... Sod the lot of it. You know what? All this is completely pointless. I could witter on about film props, movie posters, and people dressed up as daleks... But it's all for nothing....

Because whilst there I saw the king of cool, himself. The one and only....

Can you tell who that is?

It is non other than Mr. Henry "The Fonz" Winkler! Oh yes, people, lap it up! There he is.

He did a talk on stage about the first ever interview he had at the studios. He is naturally funny and, as I realised when he was asked a question from one of the crowd, a really nice bloke! I wishe we had hung around to see if we could have got an autograph but we decided to press on. It must be said that this years Memorabilia seemed smaller than previous ones. It was in the same hall, and filled it no problem, but somehow there didn't seem to be as much happening. Anyway we saw everything that there was to see and left. We went to The Greville for lunch and then back to Carl and Adams for a game of Settlers of Catan. I didn't go to my nans as the driving, walking round the NEC and the large lunch had made me sleepy so I lounged around until it was time to come home.

Right. I will leave you there readers. TTFN.

Ding-Ding. Round 1...

Hello readers and welcome, yet again, to my little piece of the internet. I will start blogging for your viewing pleasure...

... Now!

last Monday is where I will start, and a good Monday it was, too. After work I came home to relax for a bit before heading over to Sutton to see Julie. We went for a drink in her local and ended up playing on one of those games machines that eat all your money for the chance to answer a hundred questions so you can win a pound of it back. However, the games machine we were on seemed rather more forgiving... We were playing guess who and, after a couple of wins I won (sorry, "we" won) £5.00! I was rather pleased with myself (sorry, "us")

Afterwards I dropped Julie back home and came home myself to go to bed.

Tuesday. Work went quite quickly and I was running out the door before I knew it. In the evening I went over to Solihull and took Guitar Hero with me. We played for a few hours before it was time to pack up and come home.

Wednesday... After work I came home and in the evening, went down to Fathers as usual. We watched a bit of Laurel and Hardy before I came home. I didn't meet Donna at the quiz as she wa a bit knackered and hadn't gone.

Thursday... After work I went over to my sisters as it was her birthday. I had bought her Bill baileys new DVD "Tinselworm" which we actually saw live at the NIA. I came back for about 7:30pm and was picked up by Mr. Thomas to be whisked off to The Swan at 8:00pm. I drank some Guinness... And then we came home for about 11:30pm... Seriously, there isn't much else to tell.

Friday. Ah, I could smell the weekend. I finished at work and went in to Solihull to pick up my Guitar Hero Drums and Microphone from HMV so now I had the whole set. I spent most of the evening playing them and I am now officially naff at drumming!

Saturday... I awoke and played Guitar Hero for a bit before Selena, Nan and Grandad came up as usual. In the evening I had tea before getting out the ol' tuxedo for a night out. Basically, there was a night of Boxing in Birmingham, organised by the gym that my dad attends. It was a "black tie" type of shin-dig, with a meal and non stop wine. There were 6 bouts of boxing from various weights and classes. The evening went on until 12:00 midnight. We were picked up by our taxi and were all dropped home.

Sunday. I awoke late, as my head was full of Cabernet-Souvignon, and had dinner. Went to the Legion, then afterwards I DIDN'T go to my nans for tea, instead everyone went round Fathers as he had made tea. By the time I got there everyone had eaten so I sat on-my-one-dot-com and had my chilli con carne alone... Tasted good though! At about 10:00pm everyone left and I came home to watch a bit of TV before going to bed...

... Right. I will leave you there readers. Next Saturday is ladies Night so thetre will be piccies for you next week! TTFN!

"Overkill" live, and then on the xbox?

Hello readers and welcome to another little update.

I will begin last Monday, and after work I went home for a bit and then got dressed in my bset rock-togs because Father, Mr parlett and I were off to see Motorhead at the Civic! We set off at about 6:00pm and were there for 6:45pm. We parked in a nearby car park and walked over to the Hall. Saxon were already playing when we got in, so we got some drinks and found our seats. It wasn't too long until Motorhead were out in full force! The concert was brilliant, though the only peeve I have about it is that one of the lights had no filter on it, and it was aimed straight at me, so everytime it flashed, my eyes melted! I overcame this problem by closing my eyes every beat to miss the searing flash that it emitted. Apart from that slight hiccough though I enjoyed myself. The last couple of songs were "Overkill" and of course "Ace of Spades" The latter of which I videoed...


See what I mean about that sodding light?

Anyway...


Tuesday, and work passed quickly. I came home to blog and then went over to Solihull to pick up a couple of jumpers. Well the colder weather is settling in, and I don't want to catch a sniffle now, do I readers? No, no I don't...



In the evening I went back over to Adam and Carls (I do a lot of driving, don't I?) to watch some TV (Star Trek Voyager was on!) and to chill out... Well, home is generally boring, isn't it?



Wednesday... Now Wednesday was interesting. After work I came home and got changed because Father and Mr. lake were having a fireworks evening. Dad picked me up in the van and we set off. We set up the bonfire... An old oil drum filled with scrap wood and things and with a few holes in it to air the embers... It's what I like to call a "Hobbo Fireplace"



The family Lake arrived soon afterwards, followed by my Aunt and cousins. We had some good fireworks and, of course, sparklers! Whilst the sparklers wer lit I decided to "do a John" and "paint" with the light by using a slow shutter speed on my camera... Something I haven't really done before... The result is sort of like I imagined, but by no means David Bailey standard...

See what I mean?

Anyway. After the fireworks and the mulled wine had run out, we decided to call it a night. We finished off by fueling the fire and watching it for a bit before leaving (with the Hobbo Fireplace still lit!) Father dropped me off and I watched a bit of TV before going to bed.

Thursday. After work I went to Tescos to buy myself a gentlemans scarf. Now I have had scarves in the past and I don't really like them, but Tescos had some in that looked nice, and were made of soft wool. So off I went. I got a chocolate brown one (that goes with my jacket perfectly) and left.

The evening was spent in The Swan. I walked up, (wearing my nice new scarf) as Mr. Thomas wouldn't be joining us until later. I arrived and quickly started the important business of sampling the Guinness... It was good! After the merryment and the laughter t'was time to go. Lank dropped me back home where I went to bed.

Friday... Ah Friday. I shot out of work like a Bat out of Hell, into Solihull to pick up my copy of Guitar Hero: World Tour. I left HMV and high-tailed it back home to have a go... IT IS BRILLIANT! The new features on the guitar controler are awsome, and the game is as good as the other 3. I then got bored of playing solo, so I went back over to Solihull to Carl and Adams to share the musical wonder that is Guitar Hero.

Saturday. I don't remember much about Saturday... Strange, considering it was only 3 days ago, as I sit here typing this thing... My nan and Grandad came over. Then I think I went out... somewhere... Possibly back over to Carl and Adams. Sorry.

Anyway. Sunday. Normal one. Dinner. Legion. Nans. Home.

Right. I'm off. TTFN

I know it says it is, but it just isn't a Penny Farthing!

Hello readers and welcome to another little blog... So let's begin.

Last Monday was the start of the half term week so I was not at work. I woke up at about 10:00am and sat playing Fable 2 for most of the day. In the evening I went over to Adam/Carls as usual to while away the evening so as to stop me being a lonely recluse.

Tuesday... Fable 2 all day and then I might have gone somewhere other than Solihull during the evening... I might have met up with Donna... I can't remember. Sorry.

Wednesday. Sorry, but Fable 2 ruled the daytime hours. In the evening I went down to Father and then we went down to my nans as my Auntie Molly and her daughter "Auntie" Betty had come over from America... Actually when I say "Auntie" it's more like "Great-second-cousin" (I think... Since Aunt Molly was my Grandads first cousin) and "Great-second-cousin-once removed for betty (Have I got that right? Geneology isn't one of my strong points)

We stayed for a couple of hours before leaving. I dropped father off and then met up with Donna in the Swan for the end of the quiz.

Thursday was an interesting day... I stopped playing Fable to turn my hand to something I hadn't done since I was little... I was going to carve a pumpkin! I had got the idea a few days before and had purchased one with the intent of carving it out, cutting it, and making pumpkin soup. Now I didn't want to do a traditional "angry face" pumpkin, I wanted to do something different, but still cool... So I did! Want to see the results? Check out below!

Oh yeah! Thats right! Decepticons forever!

I thought it wasn't bad for half-an-hours work.

In the evening I went with Mr Thomas to the Swan for a drink. Whilst there Leigh and Donna turned up for a drink or two (unusual for a Thursday)

Friday. Ah, now then Driday was good. We all went to Coventry Motor Museum! I had never been before but Adam had. He drove, following my trusty tomtom and we were there and parked for 2:00pm (we didn't get an early start, but we didn't really want one so it was ok.)

There were many different exhibits: old cars, new cars, fast cars, even faster cars, the fastest car ever, famous cars, not-so famous cars, and, to top it off, bikes!

Naturally, I have piccies for you...

Adam on a "Penny Farthing"... which it quite clearly isn't despite being labeled as one.

The fastest car in the world!!! Thrust 2, which went supersonic!

And a Metro... Not just any old Metro though, no... This one was Princess Diannas!

Anyway we left at 5:00pm and went back to Solihull for a bit. I then came home to get ready for my cousins birthday! She waas having a curry down at my aunts house so I went down for 8:00pm... Though we didn't eat until 9:30pm by which time I was starving!

I stayed until about 11:30pm and then called it a night.

Sunday. Ah Sunday.... At the Legion I caught the end of the F1 and watched Lewis become the youngest ever F1 champion... Well done, sir, I say!

Afterwards it was nans for as usual...

Right, I will leave you there readers. TTFN

Appologies...

Sorry readers. I know this blog is 3 days late but I haven't really had chance to sit down and type it. I will start with Monday 20th October... Which, for one reason or another wasn't the best Monday I have ever had. But I wont bore you with details, I will just crack on with it.

So Monday after work I came home and sat about on the internet, checking Facebook and reading Emails, as usual, then in the evening I went to the Swan with Donna, and we were joined by Jason, Gemma, Nicola, Julia, and lee... Which was nice!

Tuesday. I finished work and had to fight my way out of the carpark, and then fight my way round the island, then fight my way through Moseley... Seriously, there must have been some sort of diversion nearby because the traffic was twice the intensity that it usually is at 3:30pm. Anyway I got home and sat about watching TopGear before going over to Adam/Carls for a drink in the Greville.

Wednesday. Work seemed to pass quickly... Which I suspect no-one complains ever complains about, and was home for 4:00pm. I spent an hour looking at the reviews for Fable 2 and thinking that in less than 48 hours I would be sampling all it's gamey-goodness... Now at this point I expect that your expecting me to say that I went down to Fathers house... But no! I actually had a far more cultured evening planned... I went to the theatre! Yes readers, the Theatre. the TA's from Woodrush and I were going to see Fame!: The Musical at the Old Rep as Craig Hall, who teaches drama at Woodrush was in it as Joe Vegas. We got to the Old Rep for 7:15pm and the curtain went up at 7:30pm we had a good laugh as craig is quite comical anyway, but the charecter of Joe is the typical "class-clown" (something I can relate to!) It was about 2 and a half hours long, with the interval, so after a natter and the goodbyes we were back on the road for 10:20pm and back to wythall for 10:40pm. I got dropped off and came in to watch some TV.

Thursday. I went to work in the knowledge that I wouldn't be needed the following day, so this was my last day at Calthorpe. Work went well and I was out for 3:30 so I came home and played about on t'internet before walking up to the Swan. Mr Thomas was otherwise engaged... He and Mr Bennett were off in Aston, watching some men in shorts fight over a ball of air... All sounds dodgy to me. Anyway, I enjoyed the Swan as everyone had a good laugh. Mr Heales gave me a lift back with Gem' and Becky, saving me from the cold. I came in and had a bite to eat before going to bed...

... Friday morning I sprang out of bed, into my clothes, jumped down stairs and was in my car less than 10 minutes after waking up! I shot over to Solihull and picked up my limited edition of Fable 2 from GAME. I then came back and got to grips with it! In fact I was on it for most of the day. In the evening I went over to Adam/Carls as Adam had got his copy after work that day. I stayed until about 11:00pm then came home to play more Fable 2!

Saturday... Guess what I played all day? In the evening I may have gone out but I can't quite remember... Sorry readers.

Sunday. I had a normal one... Dinner, Legion, Nans, Tea...

Right. I will leave you there readers. TTFN

I'm a compulsive gambler...

Hello readers and welcome to another little blog.


I will begin with last Monday, as always. I went over to Solihull to see Adam and Carl in the evening. We spent time watching TV until about midnight and then I left.

Tuesday. Whilst at work I did something rather peculiar... I chipped my tooth on a Twix! Yes. You read that right... Well actually I had chipped my tooth a couple of years before and my dentist put a surface filling over it. But eating a twix dislodged it and so I now have a little bit missing off the edge of one of my front teeth.

I went to see Julie in Sutton. We went for a drink at one of the many locals she has near her and we sat chatting until chucking-out time when we left.

Wednesday. After work I went over to Solihull to pre-order a copy of Fable 2 from HMV for when it is released on Friday 24th of October. I did that and then popped round the shops and bought some new togs before coming home. In the evening I went down to fathers as usual before meeting up with Donna in the Swan.

Thursday. I came home and watched TV before Going over to pick Lank up as he was returning to the Swan after his leave of absence and I wasn't prepared to let him drive. (It didn't seem fair somehow.)

Friday. In the evening I went back over to Sutton to see Julie. We stayed in watching TV before I left at about 12:30am

Saturday. I phoned Adam up to see if he was doing anything (since I was bored) and during the conversation he mentioned that his pre-order of Fable 2 was the Limited Edition disk that came with a bit of extra content... Which I didn't know about. HMV had run out of places for LE-disks so I had the basic one on order... I wanted to sort that out because the LE-disk is only about a fiver more, and I would rather have the "full game"than miss out (purely because I am a big Fable fan) so I headed over to Adams, and we walked in to Solihull. Now adam had pre-ordered his copy of Fable 2 from "GAME not HMV so I went in to GAME and enquired about preordering the LE Fable 2... Which they did for me right there and then... And as a bonus they gave me a redeem code for the Xbox:live Arcade so that I could download the "Fable 2 pub Games" which allow you to start earning money for your charecter before you get the game... If this all sounds rather geeky, well, it is but hey-ho.... Anyway I then went to cancel my pre-order with HMV before walking back to Adams.

In the evening Me, Carl, Adam, and Marcus went for a bite to eat at The Black Boy in Knowle. I had Lamb in Redcherry and Rosemary sauce which was excellent, and Fruits of the Forrest Cheesecake for dessert. Also excellent! We left and went back to Adam and Carls for a bit before I left at about 11:00pm. I got home and downloaded my free Fable 2 Pub games and started betting (not real money, you understand) and betting, and betting... Seriously it's addictive. My favorite game is "Keystone" It's a cross between roulette and what the Americans call "Craps". You basically bet on which of the outer stones will be removed, which you do with the dice. Check it out here... Clicky!

Sunday. Normal one... Except while I was at the Legion I got bored... Maily because there were very few people in. I decided to "decorate" the Calendar on the wall......




Presenting "Kitty La Forge!" Sorry about the quality of the photo.

Anyway, I then Built a little Blu-Tac monster and put him by the sink with a note...

I want to know how long he lasts! (probably not long though)

Anyway. I left at 7:00pm before going down to my nans for tea as normal...

Right. I will leave you there readers. TTFN!

I tried to do handstands for you. Everytime I fell on you...

... I've still got that bloody song stuck in my head... DAMN YOU, iPOD COMMERCIAL!!!

Sorry. I got carried away there.

Anyway, welcome yet again to another blog. Lets begin...

Monday. I finished work at 3:30pm and came home to mess about on the computer for a bit. I discovered a little gaming gem' tucked away on the internet called Fantastic Contraption. The game levels consist of a red object and the goal in which it must be transported to, and you are given wheels and rods to literally build a contraption to do the job. Seriously addictive... Give it a go by clicking the link provided..... Clicky!!!

In the evening I went over to Julies.

Tuesday. Work was again completed by 3:30pm but I was unable to leave because someone had blocked my car in! It turned out to be some random parent of a child that had decided to park her mega-off-road-earth dwelling-land moving-super-thunder-commander 4x4... (because you really need those in moseley!) right behind my car... not in any sort of car parking space, or indeed, in line with any other cars whatsoever. I told the school who checked the visitor register (that notes your vehicle reg') and lo and behold... she hasn't even bothered to sign in! so she was somewhere within the grounds wandering about. Fortunately as I was checking to see if she's moved, after going in to the office, she was walking back to her tank as I was walking away from my car. Now at the very least she could have said sorry, but she glanced at me, shoved her child in to the back and drove off.... Stuck-up bitch. If I ever see it on the carpark again I will deliberately block it in out of sheer spite, with a note on the windshield saying "f***ing annoying, ain't it!"

Anyway... In the evening I went to meet up with Donna, since it seemed like ages since I had seen her. We had a chinwag in the Swan before leaving at 11:00pm

Wednesday. I got out of work to find..... Yes. You guessed it... I was blocked in again! Only this time I was more sympathetic... I discovered that it was the school nurses car and she had to move it out of the way of a school bus. She had then gone in to attend to a child who had broken himself on something and hadn't had chance to move it back. I came home and in the evening went to fathers as usual. We watched a Laurel and Hardy Classic: Block Heads. It was one of the earliest "talkie" feature films and it involves Stan guarding a trench in WW1... and then found still guarding it 20 years later! It is a masterpiece of comedy writing, slapstick gags and visual jokes. After watching it I went to the Swan to help Donna (and Leigh!) and her folks to lose the quiz.

Thursday. I left work with no trouble at all and was in for 4:10pm I lounged about for a few hours before getting ready to go to the Swan with the usual gang. Carl picked me up and we were there by 8:30pm.Everyone had a good-old natter and there was amusing banter when the lads started flicking through the collection of girlie-mags the women had bought along! At 11:30pm we were booted out and set off for home.

Friday. I left work and came home, switched on the computer, logged on to the inter-web and stayed there for most of the evening! I played through Contraption. Checked my emails. Logged on to Facebook. Watched all sorts of funny things on youtube and pottered around on Digg.com before watching some TV and having something to eat.

Saturday. During the day I didn't do anything except go to Solihull and pre-order Fable 2 for the xbox. In the evening I went to Highgate Hall in Moseley with Julie for her friends wedding party. It was also Gemma and Woodys wedding party that evening in the Red Lion so I will say my congrats' here (as I'm pretty sure Gemma reads this occasionally)

CONGRATULATIONS GEMMA AND WOODY!

MAY YOUR FUTURE TOGETHER BE ONE OF HAPPINESS!

phew! It's not often I get all sincere like that. Well I got to the hall by taxi for 7:00pm. Julie and her mum were already there as they had been to the service. There was a disco and a guy singing as well at one point. It was a really good shindig and the food was great. At about 12:30am it was decided that we should all be going. Now I could have ordered a taxi back to Wythall, but Julie and her mum were getting a taxi with another couple back to Sutton and suggested that I get in with them, split the cost, and Julie could bring me back the following day. I agreed and so hopped in to the taxi/minibus... After a 20 minute wait. We got to Sutton for about 1:20am and I almost immediately nodded off.

Sunday. I awoke and was offered breakfast, which I ate and before to long me and Jules were on the M6 heading back towards Wythall. It was the first time she had driven on the motorway but she did fine. After a short stay at my house she was ready to leave before the traffic built up. I lent her my Tomtom so she would get back ok, so after setting it up and saying goodbye I went back in and got ready to go to the Legion. Afterwards I went to my nans before coming home to bed!

Right. I will leave you there readers. TTFN!

Go for it Blackpool, Go for it Blackpool, Go for it!

... Seriously, does anyone remember that advert from the early 90's?

Anyway. Welcome once again dear reader to my little blog. I will begin with last Monday.
The phone rang at about 8:40am and Select Education had a job for me! WOOHOO! I could start earning money again! I was to go to Calthorpe School in Moseley, but obviously I wasn't going to get there for 9:00am. I set off and was at the school for about 9:30am. I was there until about 3:40pm and then came home. During the evening I went out with Julie for a drink.

Tuesday. Back to Calthorpe, and a different class. It was good fun and I left at 3:30pm feeling quite relieved that I was earning some cash again! In the evening I went over to Carl and Adams.

Wednesday. More work at Calthorpe and then down to fathers as usual. I popped in to the quiz to see Donna and her folks before coming home.

Thursday. Work during the day went quickly... I don't know why. In the evening I got a lift down to the Swan where I sat drinking with the usual crowd... Except Lank... there is a lonely space where he should be... Come back Mr. Thomas. We need you.

Friday. After work I came home and started packing for Blackpool, since we were going the following morning. I popped in to tescos to grab some much needed items and went over to Adam and Carls. We sat watching TV and then got an early night. I kipped on the spare bed.

Saturday! I awoke, got showered and dressed and rallied the troops for our trip. We piled in to my car at about 8:00am and set off towards Sutton to pick Julie up. I arrived at about 8:40am. She put her things in the boot and we set off. I stopped at a services at about 10:15am to grab a bite to eat. We then set off on full stomachs and before too long we were cruising around the Northshore end of Blackpool. Jenny, Marcus, Kate, and Ben were a few hours behind us so we decided to check in to the hotel and then go and have a look along the seafront and the pier. The hotel was cheap... And basic... And crap. We set off for the seafront just to get out again! The weather was a bit crap but I took a photo of the Tower anyway.

Check the colour of the sky!

We had a go on the Waltzers (which lasted ages, and did something to my head because I got off and couldn't focus properly for a few seconds) We had a wander through the arcades and ended up in the bar on the pier. By this time the others had arrived and had checked in to the hotel.. And checked out again! They were so put off they had decided to switch. They were going to get some food, but we had eaten so Me, Julie, Adam, and Carl went round the sealife centre... Naturally I have a couple of photos.

A starfish (or a "patrick" as Julie calls them!)

A dogfish doing that thing that stingrays usualy do!

A funky white dogfish! I decided that due to his colours he was the pimp-daddy.

Not that you can see very well but this is actually a photo of Carl! (The strangest deep-sea creature of them all!)

Afterwards we met back up with the others at the hotel where they were just checking in to their new one just round the corner. It looked a bit nicer but I couldn't be bothered to shift all the luggage so Me Adam, Carl and Julie stayed where we were. The staff were friendly and we were only spending one night there anyway. Everyone went into their respective hotels to get changed for dinner as we were booked in to an italian restaurant. We walked round to the nicer hotel and got a taxi as one big group. We got there for 7:30pm and were soon enjoying our starters (I had chicken liver with some fancy sauce!) and then the mains (I had Veal with another fancy sauce!) and then for dessert we had Jenny's Birthday cake! By this time I was quite tired and the heavens had opened and it was pouring down with rain. After the meal we walked to a taxi company and ordered a taxi back. I went straight to bed as I wanted to be as fresh as a daisy for the Sunday as we were heading to the Pleasure Beach!

Sunday! I awoke quite early but didn't actually get up until 9:30am. Me and Julie checked out of the hotel, being beaten by Adam and Carl by a good half-hour, and met up with the others. We walked along the seafront towards the Pleasure Beach in glorious sunshine....

Oh, you want proof do you.... ok...

Mr. Blue Sky! (please tell us why, you had to hide away for so long... )

We joined the short queue for the pleasure beach and got in quite quick. The first thing people had a go on was a big swingy-thing that I bottled. I did get a video of Adam, Carl, Jenny, Marcus, and Ben on it though...

We wandered round and basically did every ride there was. We stopped for a breather around lunchtime and I took a photo of marcus and Jenny...

HEY! Thats not Jenny! Marcus you fool, thats a plastic cowgirl you're groping!

I also wanted to take a photo of me and Julie, but she's a bit camera shy... This is the best I could do...

It looks like we're both amputees...

Anyway we finished off all the rides by going on "The big one" several times before leaving to wander back to the car. By this time it was 7:00pm and I wanted to start the trek back home so I did...! We set off and no sooner had I hit the road my tiredness caught up with me! I drove for an hour before stopping off at a services for a triple esspresso and a can of Relentless: Inferno (it's like Tango mixed with nitroglycerine... it's quite nice!)

While sipping my esspresso, the Fishbourne posse wandered in! Randomly they had decided to stop off at the same services. I continued my quest and dropped Julie off at her house for about 9:40pm. I then continued on to Solihull and dropped Adam and Carl off for 10:10pm and then got home myself for 10:30pm where I went straight to bed!

Right. thats me done for now. TTFN readers!

Nothing amazing happened last week, so I'm struggling to come up with a title.

Hello readers and welcome to another little update. I will begin, as always, with last Monday...

I got up and posted a reference for Select Education, which they wanted, and then lounged about playing Spore for most of the day until the evening when I went over to Sutton to see Julie. We went for a drink at one of the local pubs until chucking-out-time when I dropped her home.

Tuesday. Again, Spore took up most of the day and in the evening I went over to Adam and Carls.

Wednesday. I actually completed Spore! This was bad news because now I didn't have anything to occupy my time with. In the evening I went to The Swan to meet up with Donna and the quiz team... Except that the quiz team was Donna, her mum, and me! It is only one of the few times I have sat with them through an entire quiz and, don't forget there was just the 3 of us, was pleasently surprised that we came 7th! Afterwards I came home and watched some TopGear before going to bed.

Thursday. I awoke to the sound of my mobile. Select was calling me... DID THIS MEAN SOME WORK!!!?...

.... No. They were ringing me to thank me for getting the reference to them which apparently arrived the day before. But now they wanted 2 passport sized photographs for my ID card... This was a bit annoying because they could have told me that when they asked for my reference. So I spent the day trawling around trying to find one of those photo-booths... Sainsburys? No. Tescos? No. Post Office? Wasn't working. Aldis? No. Homebase. Wasn't working. Morrisons? YES! they had a working photo booth... so after paying FOUR GOD-DAMN BASTARD POUNDS!!!! for 2 mini photos I left to post them... Then I had an idea! I decided that I could save time by taking them straight to the office, so I phoned Select and explained that I would pop in. So off to Brum I went and got there for about 4:00pm. I went in and said hello to 2 girls that weren't there in the easter term when I signed up. They told me that the guy who was there left, along with 2 staff, so they were the replacements. They did my ID card and after a chat and a laugh I made my way back home. That evening I drove to The Swan since Lank was "temperarily out of action" See Lanks blog for details... (Gorey, gorey details.) At 11:30pm I left the swan and made my way over to the airport as I was picking dad up from his trip to Lanzarote which he went on with his gym mates. After waiting at Arrivals for 10 mins he showed up and I dropped him back home before carrying on home to bed.

Friday. I did nothing during the day but in the evening I went over to Sutton to pick Julie up and bring her back to the Red Lion in Shirley as Marcus and his dad's band were playing. In fact they do some very good stuff. They are called The Blighters and you can check them out here. Carl arrived, then Jenny, then after a while Kate and Ben showed up. We watched the music until chucking-out time and then started the long trek back to Sutton to drop Julie off. I was exhausted when I got there so she suggested that, rather than risk driving back to Wythall I should kip there and go back the following morning.

Saturday. I awoke with a start because I forgot where I was and it took me a second to realise! After some brekkie we sat watching Spongebob for a couple of hours before sitting in the garden since it was sunny. At about 3:00pm I left for home. I got back just as my nan and grandad were leaving. I lounged about for a bit before going over to carl and Adams for a chinese takeaway.

Sunday. Normal one. Legion, Nans, Home...

Right, I will leave you there readers. TTFN

Saturday

We all want to be a big rockstar...

Hello readers and welcome to yet another little blog.

It's late so I will be brief.

Monday evening was spent with Julie in the pub... And McDonalds... Somewhere I havent been in years! After a lazy drink and a bit of TV I made my way home.

Tuesday. During the day I blitzed through Spore, and came away with square eyes! In the evening I went over to Adam and Carls for some xbox-related mania.

Wednesday. Again the day was spent playing Spore but I did take time out to go and buy Metallicas' Death Magnetic from HMV. It's a good album with the reintroduction of the long-forgotten guitar solos. It's an album much more in the style of their early stuff, which is no bad thing. In the evening I went to Fathers and then we went to my aunts to have a look at why her new doors weren't hanging straight! The answer is because they are warped!

Thursday. During the day I did sod all, but in the evening I went, with dad to the NEC to see Nickelback! We got there to find that Stain'd were supporting, which was a bonus. Naturally I got some photo's:







And of course I got a video of them singing Rockstar... Listen to the bit where he references a certain "sofa commercial"... It's classic.

Anyway, the show was great and I had a good time.

Friday evening saw me back over in Sutton. I took Julie out for a drink before dropping her back home.

Saturday. During the day I went over to selena and Kierons after dropping mum at the station as she was off to London for the weekend. In the evening I went to pick Julie up because we were having a barbecue at Adam and Carls. We spent a good few hours scoffing hotdogs and playing RockBand (note: The Mothers of Destruction are now called Leviathan Seed). When it was time to go I dropped Julie back home before coming home myself.

Sunday: normal.... Legion, nans, home.

Right. I'm knackered. TTFN

So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, adieu...

Hello readers and welcome to a shorter blog this week. As you might remember I blogged up until last Wednesday so I only have 4 days to blog about...

Ah, but before I start I will show you something I said I was going to do at the end of the previous posting...

I had finished creating Voyager on Spore and said I was off to do the Defiant from DS9... Well I did it...

I put the original there for comparison. I then ran out of things to build. Fortunately Kieron hadn't and had been hard at work creating a Klingon Bird of Prey...

I couldn't find a good "on screen" picture so I got this die cast model as a comparison.

I then decided to do a ground vehicle. Now as a teenager I was mildly obsessed with the "Mechwarrior" series of games. Now in Mechwarrior 3, one of the biggest accomplishments was to pilot a "Mad Cat mk II" which looked like this...

pretty cool.... But I thought "hmm..... I wonder if...?" and set about building... The result? look below!

Tadaah! I think it looks quite niffty.

Anyway, in the evening I went down to fathers as usual. We watched some Laurel and Hardy!

Thursday. During the day I didn't do very much and in the evening I went to the Packhorse.

Friday. Again during the day I didn't really do anything except play Spore. But the evening was quite entertaining... I went to pick Julie up from Sutton and bought her back over to this end of the world, stopping off to pick John up along the way. We then made our way over to Solihull to meet Adam, Carl, Jenny and Marcus in Woks Hall for a chinese buffet! I had several courses of various meats and sauces (hey! that rhymes!) topped off with some chocolate covered marshmallows for dessert. After spending an hour-or-so in there we paid the bill and went back to Jenny/Marcus' house to watch a bit of Family Guy before everyone left and I dropped John home and then took Julie back to Sutton.

Saturday... Was interesting. Me and John met Adam and Carl in Birmingham in the afternoon outside the Carling Academy as we had tickets to see "The Chairmen" compete in the Battle of the Bands. We got in and found a spot to stand. Now we knew Gemma, Woody, Jo, and Paul were in there somewhere, and that they would most likely be at the front, so we waited until The Chairmen had finished there set and went to look for them. Sure enough we found them at the front. We watched a couple more bands, one called "Strangle Kojak" though one fan had tried to unsuccesfully write it on his T-shirt and had written "Stragle Kojak" by mistake... Idot. We decided that food was in order so we set off towards pizza hut. We were told that there would be a half hour wait to be seated, despite half the restaurant being empty, so we decided to go somewhere else. On the way out I tripped over a chair...

We ended up in Weatherspoons and ordered the grub. I had a burger and decided that it would be better if I ate it with a knife and fork. Something that everyone else ridiculed me about! Anyway we left and discovered that everyone was queing up outside the Academy for some reason. We decided that we weren't going to bother going back in so Me, John, Adam, and Carl left for Solihull where we had quite a moving experience...

You see John is going (or rather, as I sit here typing this "has gone" would be more accurate) to live in Plymouth with Selina (his fiance, not my sister! notice the spelling) in her student flat. So that meant that our RockBand band: The Mothers of Destruction, was losing it's vocalist. We decided to play one last time...

Then, at a reasonable time, Carl dropped me and John home.

Sunday. Sunday was a normal one, though it was the day John was going to Plymouth. I went to the Legion and left for 7:00pm then went down to my nans for tea as usual...

Right. I will leave you there readers. TTFN.

Faites-le vous-même

Hello readers and appologies for this late arrival. I have been kept busy with a new toy, but more of that later...

I begin with Monday the 1st of September, and the last week of the holidays. During the day I did nowt, but in the evening I went over to see Julie in Sutton. We went for a drink at a nice Toby Carvery pub. We grabbed some comfy seats and sat chatting until chucking out time, then I dropped her home and started the drive back to Wythall.

Tuesday. I had a lazy day but decided to go for a wander round Solihull. I bought Slipknots new album "All hope is gone" It's a good album with a nice variety of styles. Yes, there are what I call "typical growly Slipknot songs" on there but also some slower, more heartfelt tracks as well, where Corey Taylor really opens up his voice (I dare anyone to listen to "Snuff" and not be moved by it) Anyway. In the evening I went over to Adam and Carls with John.

Wednesday... Now Wednesday was a bit different. Iwas having a very normal day, when at around noon Father phoned me to ask if I would accompany him on a little trip...

... To France!

Yep. We would be going to Lille to make a drop-off. But I'm getting ahead of myself...

We started out at about 2:30pm and had a 4 hour blast down to Dover, made easy because of my tomtom, where we caught the ferry. Now I don't know what kind of ferry it was but it wasn't like any other sea-going vessel I'd ever been on. it was a labrynth of corridoors with no obvious sections devoted to the public. Everyone got out of their cars and lorries and disappeared! We found a lounge with about 10 reclining chairs so we grabbed a couple and got an hours sleep. We got to Calais for about 9:30pm local time where we set off, again following my tomtom, towards Lille. Now in Lille they have a Cadbury's factory... I mean it's nothing like Cadbury's in Bourneville, no this place looks like a prison, but our mission was to deliver 5 tubs of raw Glucose to this factory...

... Yes. You read that right.

We were technically "couriering" as it was an ordered delivery, but anyway we got to the factory for about 12:00 midnight local time where some geeky security guard.. Sorry, I mean "Guarde de securite' a la geeky" (I think) signed for the goods and then we turned around and started the journey back home... Now readers, for your amusement, a little game... Can you guess the name of the road that the factory was on?

Scroll down for the answer....

It's not "Cadbury Road" so stop thinking it...

It really is quite inspired...

Someone obviously put real effort in to coming up with a name that would grab peoples attention...

Can you guess?

Yes! It's the good old "Rue De La Chocolatierie" or "The road of Chocolate"..... I mean seriously!? How long did it take for someone to come up with that?

Anyway. We started back home. We got to Calais and hopped on the ferry (after some "pilloque" of an attendant directed us to a part of the port that we weren't meant to go to) which was much more aimed at being inhabited by humans. There were shops, a bar, arcade, etc. We got off the ferry for about 3:00am GMT and started back for home which we got to for about 7:00am where I went to bed! I awoke at about 2:30pm and started pottering about until the evening when I went over to Adam and Carls, I think.

Thursday. Ah Thursday was a good day. It was the 5th of September... At the begining of this blog I said how I had been kept busy with a new toy and it was Thursday that I went to get it. Now unless you have been sat in a cave... On the moon... With your fingers in your ears... You will have probably been caught in the marketing blanket of a certain PC game that goes by the title of "Spore" well I went to get it and bought it home... And I will say right now that it is BRILLIANT! it is the first PC game I have bought in about 5 years (the last one being the expansion set to Warcraft 3) and it has saved PC gaming! Basically, the game starts with a little itty-bitty tadpole-type creature breaking out of a meteor that has crashed in to a planet. you then control the creature, eating food and mating to produce new generations... But for each new generation that comes along, you get to evolve your animal with new parts, different body shapes, etc. You have complete control over everything. When your creature has enough "brain power" it grows legs and crawls onto land, where it must survive, again mating to grow new offspring... when more brain power is achieved your creature discoveres fire (in a tribute to 2001: a space odyssey) and starts a tribe. When your tribe has dominated the land, a city is formed and technology is developed, culminating in the building of a spaceship where your species begins space exploration. It is truly epic with some good in-jokes and fantastic animations. It is the reason my blog is late this week.

I played it right up to when Lank collected me to go to the Packhorse!

Anyway. Friday. During the day I played Spore (what else?) and then in the evening Adam, Carl, and John came round to mine. Adam started his own Spore save on my PC and the rest of us played RockBand.

Saturday. More Spore! and in the evening, Adam and Carls.

Sunday... NOT a regular Sunday though! oh no. After the legion I had to make my way over to Wroxall Abbey. Julie was attending a wedding party and I had been tagged on to the guest list as her partner for the evening. So off I went, only getting partially lost along the way, and got there for about 8:30pm. There was food, a disco, all the usual things you would find at a party. At about 12:20am It was time to leave. Julie and her mum were staying in the hotel for the night so I said goodbye and came home.

Now at this point I usually sign off, but I'm feeling frivolous so I will carry on blogging....!

Monday, the day I officially started working as a supply teacher... But didn't as there were no calls! So I played some Spore until the evening where I took Julie out to the Queslett pub. We had a good night out and I got home for about 12:30am.

Tuesday, still no work, so, again, I played with Spore until the evening where I went down to Fathers like I do on Wednesdays. We watched a few Laurel and Hardy's before I came home.

Wednesday. I was playing with the creator tools on Spore and discovered that I could make just about anything I wanted. Kieron then phoned me to ask me what spore was like, and while I was decribing the spaceship creator he said: "could you build the Enterprise?" It sounded like a challenge so I set to it...

Want to see the results?

Ta-daaah! The enterprise in all it's glory! I then got the bug and continued....

... With the Enterprise D! But I wasn't finished.... oh no...

Because we now have Voyager! woohoo! I then ran out of doable 'Trek ships and moved to 'Wars... (last one coming up)

yeah! Imperial star Destroyer.

Im going to go away and build the defiant...

Anyway it is there I will leave you as i'm sure you're sick of reading now

Spider-Carl.

Hello readers and welcome to that time of the week when you sit down to read another installment of the life of yours truly...

Actually this is the second time I have written this. I wrote it all out then buggered up my "Word Verification" that blogger makes me type in before it lets me publish my blogs and so it discarded it for me... Bloody stupid system if you ask me.

Right, I will crack on with last Monday where Me, John, Adam, and Carl went to Ragley hall. We walked round the lavish house which, as carl pointed out "didn't have a plasma TV" and round the gardens and the maze... A maze which involves ropes, slides and overhead walkways... We had to negotiate a rope-haul and while Carl and John went for the traditional approach, Adam adopted a much more "unique" method...

Ah, yes... Feet first!

After we had found our way out, we came across some rock-climbing walls... It was then Carl decided to show us his niffty skills.... Though my battery was low, I managed to film his endeavour, put to a possibly recognisable tune...

I appologise for my singing.

Anyway. After we left we decided to go and have a barbeque at Adam/Carls.

Tuesday. During the day I didn't do aything. In the evening it was back over to Adam/Carls with John and Rockband, though we actually ended up playing Lego Starwars.

Wednesday. Again, during the day I didn't do much. In the evening I went down to fathers where we watched some Laurel and Hardy. By the time I had wiped the tears of laughter fron my eyes it was getting late so I didn't pop in to the Swan as usual.

Thursday. Daytime was filled with a big bunch of sod-all.... In the evening we went to the Packhorse where we all sat outside in the warm night air. But, as with all good things, time came soon enough to leave, at around 11:40pm.

Friday. During the day I worked the lunchtime shift at the legion as Tony and Val had gone away for the weekend. I did my 3 hours and came home. I wached some TV and had something to eat and before long it was 6:30pm and I was back out the door to work the night-shift at the Legion. Although it was a bit of a drag, we had a laugh and afterwards, just as a spur of the moment thing, I drove the staff down to Millenium Balti for a curry.

Saturday. Lunchtime came and it was back to the Legion... It was dead. Seriously, I counted the total number of customers... In the 3 hours I was there I had 16 people in. And some of those only stayed for a quick pint before going again! In the evening I went back over to Adam/Carls with John to play Rockband.

Sunday. Lunchtime = Legion. Evening = nans. As per usual...

Right. It's getting late. I'm going to actualy publish this draft and hopefully not stuff it up again!

TTFN...

It's a nice day outside... I think I'll have a bath

Hello readers. welcome to a short blog this week... I'm going out in a bit.

Last Monday I didn't do much. In the evening I went over to Adam and Carls with John to play a bit of Rock Band.

Tuesday was much the same. I'm getting bored of the holidays. I want to start work again so I can get back to my routine.

Wednesday... Was boring. In the evening Iwent down to fathers and then popped in to the Swan to see Donnas family (Donna wasn't there as she was, and as I write this still is, on holiday)

Thursday was ever so slightly more interesting... I went out in the day to Solihull and bought myself a new wallet from Next, as mine was falling apart. And I also got myself a sat-nav' from comet. I got a "TomTom One Europe T" Im not sure what the "T" stands for, but I'm sure it makes all the difference! In the evening me and Lank joined the frivolity in the Packhorse. Katie Wren dropped in to see us, which was nice, but time came when we had to call it a night.

Friday. I spent the morning doing nothing, but in the evening I had to use my tomtom! Remember last post when I said I was at a party in Great Barr? Well while I was there I got talking to my dads-mates-next door neighbours-daughter. her name is Julie and we ended up dancing... And I had arranged to meet up with her for a drink. So I programmed her address in to my little TomTom and I set off. It works like a charm and I was at her front door in no time. We went for a quiet drink and a chat in a local pub and then I dropped her home

Saturday was interesting. father, me and a few of the skiiers went over to another fellow skiiers house to build him a water feature... Except that:

a) he was on hoiday and didn't know we were doing it, and
b) the "water feature" was an old bath and a water pump!

I was on "camera duty" and filmed the "Laurel and Hardy-esque" performance. We filmed all the messing about and the jokes, but then we had to set the bath up for real. It didn't take us long to rearrange part of the garden, and set it all up... In fact I think it looks quite professional! See for yourself...

Looks lovely doesn't it!? And look below for proof that we got it all working.........

You see! an excellent service!

Anyway we left and in the evening I went with Jess, Paul, Benji and Lank to Birmingham for Jess's birthday. We all met in Wetherspoons on Hurst Street. We had a few drinks and then moved on to Reflex for a dance... At some point Benji left us, but I didn't notice when that was. Anyway our Saturday Night soon became Sunday morning and as it was Jess's party we let her decide what we should do next... So she suggested we go to Legs 11! (apparently she loves it there!) so we went. I played it "low-key" obviously but time soon came to go home. paul, who had driven, dropped me and Lank off close to a taxi rank a few miles closer to home to save us a bit of cash. I eventually got in at god-knows-what-time-O' clock and went to bed.

Sunday... I got up and had dinner, then went to the Legion, afterwards went to nans for tea, came home, and went to bed!

right. I will leave you there readers. TTFN.

To me, To you, To me, To you.

Hello readers and welcome to yet another "5 minutes to read but an hour to wrtite" update. Right, I will waste no time and begin with last Monday. I got up and went out to Solihull to see if I could buy "Afro Samurai" on DVD. Now for those of you that don't know what Afro Samurai is let me explain...

It is a 5-part anime set in the past-but-somehow-the-future of Japan that follows the revenge killings of a warrior called Afro... Samuel L. Jackson does a couple of voices, and the main baddie is voiced by Ron Perlman. It is ultra-violent and can get a bit weird... Actually, let me show you what it's like via Yotube:




You may draw your own conclusions but I'm a fan. End of.

anywho, I couldn't actually find it in Solihull so I had to come home and order it online, which I was a little peeved about. In the evening I went over to Adam, Marcus, Carls as is now the law.

Tuesday. The day was a cacophony of bad TV, Boredom, and Chicken Pies (that I have taken a liking to) In the evening, I may have done something different... I can't remember.

Wednesday. I did sod all. In the evening I went to Fathers as usual. At about 10:00pm I payed a visit to the swan to see Donna and Leigh who were going on Holiday the following morning.

Thursday. I spent the day watching Afro Samurai and in the evening went to The Packhorse as usual.

Friday was a big day. Jenny and Marcus were moving into their new house and I had offered the services of my Mondeo. I went down to Jenny's where her Ka was full of things, her mums car was full of other things, and my car was loaded up with even more things. We set off in a convoy to the house, which is past Solihull Ice rink, and unloaded al the stuff in the livingroom. After a sit down on the new couch Marcus arrived. Jenny and her mum then had to go to a friends wedding which left me and Marcus to do some hauling. After putting some things in the loft, and messing with the alarm system we did about 6 runs to-and-fro' hauling cupboards, bikes, shelves, music equipment, etc. until finally, at about 8: we all went to Woks Hall in Solihull for a meal. Afterwards everyone went back to Marcus and Jennys for a couple of hours before heading on home.

Saturday. The day was a bit empty but in the evening I went, with Father and Selena to a party at the Great Barr Hotel in... 'er... Great Barr. We got there for about 7:45pm and stayed until the end... at about 1:00am.... There was cake!

I had a really good night actually.

Sunday.... You know the drill: Dinner. Legion. Nans. Bed.

Right. I will leave you there for another week readers.

TTFN

I'll let you all make up your own title this week

Hello readers and welcome to a fuzzy-blog.... I say fuzzy because all the days are bleeding in to one and I dont know how im going to remember what ive been doing....

... That would make a perfectly good Slipknot lyric...

... Anyway. Last monday.... 'erm.... I didnt really do anything until the evening when I went to Adam and Carls with John to prat around on the xbox.... I think we ordered a chinese as well.

Tuesday... Again, nothing happened. In the evening Adam, Carl and John came over to Wythall for a change... We sat playing the xbox though...

Wednesday. Still nowt happening in the day. I went to fathers in the evening to sort out his computer before going to the Swan to meet Donna.

Thursday... Nope... Sat doing nothing until 8:15 when Lank came to collect me to go to the Packhorse. Actually I had a good time there, but sadly at 12:00am-ish it was time to leave. Lank Dropped Nicola home first and then me

Friday... I actually had to be up early! yay! I had to take father to Birmingham international Station as he was off to visit our relatives in the south of France for a long Weekend (actually as I sit here writing this he is actually on his way back and I have to go and pick him up in an hour)

In the evening I went over to Carl and Adams... I was actually invited to the Red Lion by Jo (bless her) but by the time I was ready to go out it seemed a bit late.

Saturday. Ah, now during the day I went over to Selenas where Kieron had bought "Eye of Judgement" for the PS3. If you havent seen it, just give this video a look...



Funky isn't it? It's a bit nerdy... but in a kind of "geek chic" way.

Anyway I sat and had a few goes before heading off to pick Kate up. We were going in to Birmingham, for an arts show organised by one of kates friends. We were told that there would be a "performance element" to the show but we didnt know what that would be...

... As it turned out, everyone was going to "perform". There were hundreds of little objects and trinkets around the room and we were told that we could choose any of the little trinkets and objects to keep. We were filmed so that the artist could watch it to try and draw narratives between the choices made and the route people took around the room... It was all very conceptual and exactly the kind of thing Carl finds annoying! (don't you Carl.....)

Anyway. Afterwards we got a drink in a near by pup before going back to Kate's house where she made toasties. At about 1:00am I left to come home for bed.

Sunday... Whilst at the Legion, Donna and Leigh decided they would pay me a visit. They stayed until 7:00 so I dropped them home after I had done my shift... Oh and before I forget I must mention that Donna earned her keep by helping me Bottle up the fridges! (thanks Donna!)

After that I went down to nans for tea as usual before coming home....


... Right. I will leave you there readers. TTFN.

Why so serious?

Hello readers and welcome to another update.

I will jump right in with it by begining with last Monday. I spent the day decorating in Beoley (see last post for reminder on why I was doing that...) and finished for about 6:00pm. In the evening I, along with Kate, Adam, and Carl went to see The Dark Knight in Solihull. I picked Kate up from hers and we waited for the others in La Tasca. We got our tickets and went in...

The film is amazing and quite frankly, if you haven't seen it I don't want to know you...

(the late) Heath Ledger is indeed a brilliant Joker as everyone was suspecting, though this leads me to ask one simple question... If he could act that good all along, why did he waste his time and ours with the likes of "A Knights Tale and Brokeback Mountain? (not that I went to see Brokeback Mountain)

Anyway... Tuesday. More decorating and then in the evening it was over to Solihull as usual to have a jam on Rockband where we effectively completed it... Yes, we finally cracked it.

The Mothers of Destruction are:

Mr Adam "Turbo" Turbitt on Drums,
Mr Carl "The Jackal" Notman on Bass,
Myself; Mr Gareth "Garth Vader" Evans on lead guitar,
and of course Mr John... [insert hastily made-up nickname] Robinson on vocals.

he band would like to thank: Mr Marcus Wheatley for providing back-up guitar/vocals and for being the band technician in providing us with a better foot-pedal. Also, Jenny Fishbourne for providing back-up vocals and for being the bit of crumpet that any good rock band needs to be seen with...

Anyway. Wednesday. MORE decorating and then in the evening, down to fathers. I called in at the Swan as usual to see Donna and help them lose the quiz.

Thursday... Thursday there was no decorating so I sepent the day just trawling the internet and watching TV... It was really fun! In the evening I went, with Lank, to the packhorse. We had a merry-old time chatting and joining in with all the mirth. Sadly, at about 12:00ish it was time to go... so we did.

Friday. More decorating. In the evening I may have gone out... Sorry folks, I cant quite remember.... Could have been back over to Adams with John.....

Yeah, actually, I think it was.

Saturday... I didnt really do anything. Mum was out with friends and was staying over until Sunday so I had another day of trawling the internet and watching TV!

Sunday... A regualr one... Dinner (which I made myself!) Legion. Nans. Home. Bed.

Right... I will leave you there readers as I'm off out in a bit...

TTFN

I'll have a Pina Colada, shaken, not stirred...

Hello readers, and yes, it's update time once again! And as you may remember I left you with Monday evening meaning that this little post will begin with a Tuesday...

Last Tuesday it was my mums birthday! We had lunch at my nans and then we went shopping in Northfield. I waited for mum to pick some skirts from Bon Marche (a shop dedicated to freaks and old people) I was stood there so long that one old lady thought I was a security guard and asked me if she could try on a top...

I ended up buying her <-- (my mum, not the old lady) a handbag that she wanted. Afterwards we went home!

In the evening I...

... Can't remember what I did! I might have gone over to Solihull. Anyway, shortly after coming back from wherever I went, mum and some of her friends came home from a meal they had treated her to... You see Mother chats (and chats and chats!) on UKChatterbox, a simple no-nonsense chatroom. Once in a while some of the regulars (yes, there's regulars!) meet up. Mother first organised this a couple of years ago at Becketts where everyone who turned up had to have a badge with their online name on it so people knew who was who! Well a few of them decided they were going to take mum out for a meal on her birthday so off they went... Oh and one of the ladies drives a black-cab so it can seat about 6 people! They came in for a chat, though in person, not online... Though one of them did suggest that they turn the computer on to see who was logged in to the chatroom....

... Is it just me, or do you find that a bit weird?

They were there a while, discussing all sorts of things (mainly the internet and the wonderful chat facilities it provides) before another friend turned up. Then they sat discussing more things... (like chatrooms and the people in them!)

Eventually they left and it was quiet enough for me to get to bed. So I did.

Jump to Wednesday. During the day I didn't do much except take my car to Becketts to get the tyres fixed... You may remember last post I told you about Quick-fit trying to charge me £140 for 2 tyres when all I had was a slow puncture and a loose valve. (scroll down to last week and it will be there) Well I took it over to the place at Becketts and they did the job for £13.50!

Bargain!

In the evening I went with kate to see Hancock. We had a drink in La Tasca first before going in to the cinema. Hancock isn't a bad film. Will Smith plays it well but the writing seems a bit "off" somehow. There are major plot-holes and questions left unanswered. Also the ending isn't what I would have expected. There is a perfect opportunity to end the film, (and leave it open for a sequel) but they dont... They drag it out for 20 more minutes trying to tie-up all the loose ends (and fail) and then create the typicall "fairytale-happy-ending" where as I would have liked a grittier, darker alternative...

... Anyway. Afterwards I dropped Kate home and then went home myself.

Thursday. I went with mum and Selena over to Broadway in the Cotswolds. I drove, since my car has Air-con'. We parked and wandered round the little shops for an hour-or-so before stopping at the pub for a cold drink. After that it was back home. ]

In the evening I went to the Packhorse as usual. A few of the TA's were in there so I said hello and joined everyone outside in the beer garden. Quite a lot of fun was had by all but at 12:30am we left for home.

Friday... Friday was interesting. I got a call from Father saying that he was in Beoley and needed a hand painting... Fair enough... So I went down to meet him at a fishery centre that also had some warehouses on it's land. I discovered that the "painting" that he was talking about was in fact the redecoration of a showroom and office of a company that sells sports equipment (though mainly golf stuff)

So I got stuck in...

At 4:30pm we called it a day and went home.

In the evening I stayed in and watched a lot of TV... Something which I haven't done in a while. It was nice, actually, to zone out for a bit.

Saturday... Nan and grandad came over as usual, but Selena was out so she didn't come for her usual intake of red wine and a doughnut! In the evening I went with a couple of the TA's over to another TA's house for her 30th birthday. It was advertised as a "cocktail party" so I found a couple of old bow ties (don't ask) and stuffed them in my pockets. When we got there we had food and music, and the promise that the cocktails would be mixed shortly. When the ONLY OTHER male TA arrived (guy called Tim... nice chap!) I gave him a bow tie... We then disapeared and put them on (they were clip-on so we just put them round our necks!) and got a laugh from everyone when we reappeared. The night went on and we had music and dancing... Sadly, at about 12:00midnight we called it a night and went home.

Sunday... Ah, you must all know how Sundays work for me by now... I go to the Legion, then go down to nans for my tea and to watch TopGear... Which is exactly how it went!

Ok. I will stop there and resume as normal next Tuesday.

TTFN readers!

Thanks for the memories...

Hello readers and welcome to this little update.

Well. I have finally left Woodrush and am now looking forward to 6 weeks off before starting as a supply teacher, but more of that later.

I will start, as ever, with last Monday. It was the begining of my last week at Woodrush and in the Evening I went with Kate out for a drink in Solihull. We started off in Wetherspoons and after a brief pint, went in search of cocktails (since that was what Kate was in the mood for!) we ended up in Lloyds bar where I ended up swapping Guinnes for a bright red drink with vodka and lemon in it! Afterwards I dropped kate home and came home to bed.

Tuesday! The evening was a fantastic affair because myself and the TA's, plus office staf from school went to Hall Green dog track for a meal and a flutter on the doggies. Whilst there Sky Sports were covering the races. After the main derby the cameras came in to the restaurant and came straight over to us! WEEEYY! we were on Sky Sports TV! (I've never been on TV before!)

The staff also decided to give me my leaving present! A HMV voucher for £20 and a rather nice watch. I was chuffed!

Wednesday. In the evening I went down to fathers as usual to watch a bit of TV. I then went up to the Swan to meet with Donna and co' for the last hour of the quiz. (not that I'm a lot of help!)

Thursday was a bit of a disaster... I had picked up a puncture on my back car tyre. I have never known anyone get as many punctures as me... Ever! I really must write to The Guinness Book of World Records and see if I can enter. In the evening I went to the Packhorse for my weekly quota of booze.

Friday... My last day. At the staff party in the staffroom I got handed my big card, signed by everyone, a cheque for £60.00, and a bottle of wine. I was then told that I would be missed, and that they hoped I would be coming back to do some suply for them next year... Which is technically possible, since the agency I am with are one that Woodrush use! In the evening I went with John over to Carl and Adams to have a Rock Band session. Adam was at his parents so the "Mothers of Destruction" (Rock Band profile Band Name!) were a three-piece. Whilst there we ordered in a Chinese takeaway which was nice, before calling it a night at 1:00am. I dropped John home andcame home, myself.

Saturday. After nan and grandad had been up with winr and cake (as is the Saturday tradition in the Evans family household!) I played through some Warcraft II before getting ready to go to Nicola and julias birthday barbeque. Lank drove myself, Mr. B. and Donna. At 7:00pm-ish Lank and dan left to watch the Villa match and I had to pop in to a Engagement party in Kings Heath for one of the TA's. I only stayed an hour or so before coming back and spending the rest of the night at Nicola and Julias. It was a good party with music and steaks! We finally called it a night at about 12:45am. Lank dropped Donna home first followed by me and Dan.

Sunday. I got up and had dinner, went to the Legion, went down to nans after a brief stop off at Donnas house, then after leaving nans, caught up with Jason, Gemma, and Becky (sorry, she prefers "Bex") in the Packhorse for the last hour before coming home (only after Jason had used his electric pump to reinflate my tyre... bless his little cottons!)

Right now it's usually here I say "TTFN" but because i will forget the start of this week by the time of my next post, I will blog it now...

Monday... I.E yesterday, I went down to Quick Fit in Shirley to see ift hey could fix my tyre. I needed the punctured one plugging and the one in the boot (with my 4th alloy attached to it) needed a new valve since that keeps deflating... Now the grease-monkey at the garage was adamant that:

a) the tyres were down to the wear-blocks
b) they were split
and c) would therefore need replacing at a cost of £70.00 per tyre thankyou very much...

(oh, and he came to these conclusions without taking the tyre off or even looking at them for longer than about 30 seconds.....)

PISS OFF!!!!

£70.00 per tyre???? So a loose valve and a slow puncture was going to cost me £140?

I think not!

He said "bring it back in an hour" so I said "yeah, mate, will do..." then came home with absolutely no intention of going back...

... EVER!

Ok, let me just take a moment to add this so I can google-bomb it later:

"Quick-Fit are a bunch of bastard con-artists"

Thats better!

So I popped over to Donnas (after making sure I wasn't driving on my rims) to assist her in creating some certificates for the kiddies in her school. I spent an hour doing that but had to take them home with me to cut on my guillotine (yes, I actually have one!) as Donnas printer was printing at a cock-eyed angle...

In the evening I went with Adam, Carl, and John over to Rubery for a night of Bowling! Carl kindly drove us there and we imediately payed for 2 games. Adam won the first with a not-bad 118 and I won the second with a mighty 156! After the games we played in the arcade for a bit where I was beaten on Mario Kart Arcade GP.

After Adam nearly walked out with his bowling shoes still on, we left for home, and Carl dropped me off. After watching a bit of TV I went to bed...

Right. I will leave it there readers. TTFN...