Lack of updates
April 25, 2009
My apologies to all you loyal fans!
I know I’ve not updated this blog in almost a month but I’ve been very busy preparing for my exams. I promise that once they’re all out of the way, there’ll be plenty of Pooki for everyone!
Home is where the heart is…
March 29, 2009
Hurrah, I’m back in Reading!
I’ve come back in order to meet a professor at the university here on Tuesday morning regarding the MA that I mentioned not so long ago. I’m hoping that it’ll be a worthwhile experience!
It’s nice to see my little sister again. She very kindly picked me up from the train station, which not only saved me time, but also a good £1.70 (are you happy now Timmy!?!?) that would have otherwise been spent on the extortionate bus fares here. Of course, £1.70 won’t buy you much in these times of inflation, but I suppose it’s a mediocre pint down the pub or only 2 Birdseye chicken lattices. Why I’m talking about lattices, I don’t know! Tomorrow, I’m hoping to do something fun with her, which probably means we’ll end up stuffing our faces with all sorts of junk, followed by a round of insulting each other as we try to drive each other off the track in Mario Kart Wii.
I promised my friend Danskin that I’d come round his place tomorrow and cook him dinner. There’s only one problem: I’ve got no idea what to cook! I’m sure a browse through Asda’s finest wares will give me some inspiration tomorrow. I hope he’s not expecting anything gourmet and that a Birdseye roast dinner could be a very serious possibility. Again, I don’t know why Birdseye is on my mind, it must be all the excellent deals that I got the other day when shopping, 30 chicken dippers for £2! It’s better than finding a bar of gold in the street! Well, almost.
"Lattice" have another one!
Talking of Birdseye though, I do recommend that everyone tries their lattice range. They’re exceptionally good. They come in two varieties that I know of, chicken with Cheddar cheese & broccoli and chicken with Cheddar cheese & bacon. You’ll probably find that they’re on offer at most supermarkets in the UK at the moment.
And on that note, next time I’ll try not to be so pastry…I mean hasty and think before I write such garbled nonsense.
Until the next time, amigos!
Terrible news my fellow amigos.
My N64 is dying. This is not good!
Last night it started acting very funny. I played a couple of games in which, the graphics began messing up (the polygons completely fell apart – a poor description I know) and this dreadful sound could be heard.
I’ve had my N64 for almost 12 years now, if it weren’t for my wonderful parents then it probably would have been this thing that raised me…kinda glad the parents did though…
My friend’s Xbox 360 console suffered from the infamous “Red Ring of Death” last night. He wasn’t amused to say the least. He’s had the console 3 years and has given it his own paint job and therefore he’s got no manufacturer’s guarantee whatsoever. I do find it interesting how a console that is 8 years older than what is a very advanced piece of machinery, can outlive it, despite it’s age.
The only other gripe I’ve got at the moment, is the game Body Harvest. I was enjoying this wonderful little game, having completed the third level, gunning down aliens in true hero form, only to realise that I now can’t progress to the next level. It won’t let me get any further, although I’m sure I’m supposed to be able to. The games pops up with a screen now telling me to try the harder difficulty mode. However, it doesn’t make any sense as there is no conclusion to the storyline! I have no desire to start again – it’s taken me almost 9 bloody hours just to get where I am at the moment!
So, a “bad” start to the day. In all fairness, it’s not really that important, but the N64 is a most cherished possession, let’s hope it lasts a little bit longer!
Until the next time amigos!
A new week, a new blog post for me to share!
March 23, 2009
So Bob came and went (and it was pretty good fun for the short amount of time he was here) and the weekend passed. Not too much has happened really.
I had the joy of being stuck at work on Friday and Sunday – we’ve got a new till system and therefore it’s been a bit of a bumpy ride since it’s installation. It’s relatively easy to use though and most folk seem to have adapted to it. I had the pleasure of being able to use it during the trial stages well over a year ago now and therefore it was all easy for me! It also made the boss happy as it meant I could come in and give everyone a hand (and earn some lovely mullah at the same time!).
Bob’s visit was alright. We didn’t get up to too much, just had a chinese buffet for lunch followed by a couple of beers. Most of the afternoon/evening was spent gaming. Gaming with Bob is always good fun – he’s a big fan of going to pubs but it’s really one of those things I have to be in the right mood for. However, gaming with him is always a good laugh and he still seems to enjoy it. We make a pretty good co-op team and therefore we can blitz our way through the likes of Halo with relative ease. Of course, if he dies, then naturally it’s all my fault. Nob. I kid. We played perhaps my favourite N64 game, Mystical Ninja 2 Starring Goemon, which is a quirky, 2.5D platformer from back in the day. It’s interesting because it mixes up platforming, RPG and “Power Rangers Megazord-esque” robot fights all into one very bizarre game. Plus the two player mode is good fun, except Bob always gets to play as Goemon and therefore I’m left to pick from his god awful companions.
Yes. It really is that fucked up.
We shared one of those heavenly Chicago Town Takeaway pizzas for dinner – they cost a mere £3 and yet, they taste better than Pizza Hut and even Domino’s. It’s as if God passed a pizza pan to Chicago Town and told them to properly fuck the aforementioned competitors over in style. The pizzas come in a variety of flavours, and what’s better is that Iceland have a couple of exclusive lines, one being something along the line of BBQ chicken. I still need to try it!
Bow before the makers (of great pizza)
It really does make sense to buy these over your traditional takeaway pizza though. The amount of money you save is astronomical. For example, at Danskin’s birthday a couple of weeks ago, if we had gone to Domino’s and ordered 3 large pizzas, it would have set us back a whopping £30. Instead, 5 of us were fed for a mere £9. That saved us (well saved Danskin more than anybody else) an incredible £21 and we were more satisfied than we would have been with a takeaway equivalent. Now that Wetherspoons are offering a pint of real ale for 1 quid, that technically could have bought us 7 pints each (seeing as one friend didn’t come into town and another no longer drinks). Our livers were grateful however, for we only settled on a grand total of 3 drinks each. It really does make you realise how much money we throw down the pan sometimes…especially when you’re like me and you tend to think with just your belly!
Tonight I’m supposed to be doing weights with my friend Helen from uni. She wants to get into shape or something so I said I’d be happy to help with my equipment and limited advice. I believe the whole gang will be around, which is always good fun but I hope it doesn’t serve as a distraction. Concentration is required if one is to achieve!
…And now I sound like an idiot. On that note, I think it’s time for me to leave! A rant is long overdue and I know just the thing to kick off about – hopefully that’ll leave you in some sort of suspense! Until the next time, amigos!
So I received some rather interesting news the other day from my parents. They’ve told me that if I were interested in doing an MA next year, they should be able to support me financially, provided that I stay at home. It’s opened a new door for me and it’s one I feel the need to go through. Of course, more often than not, such doors require keys and I need to get through this degree first if I’m to advance.
I spoke to my personal tutor today and she seemed very positive about the whole affair. I intend to steer my academic life in a new direction: no more will languages be the bane of my life and rather something along the lines of International Relations will take centre stage. However, this, as I hope most of you will agree, would go quite neatly with my current degree whilst broadening my expertise at the same time.
I just need to make sure I get a 2:1 Bachelor’s degree at the end of the year now – my tutor gave me the impression that I shouldn’t worry too much, as long as I keep pumping out some good work, I should hopefully be on track for the necessary qualification! I just gotta keep working!
The other MA that interested me was Strategic Studies which offers “a comprehensive education in both the theory and practice of strategy”, that being the use of military force and defence planning. It sounds interesting but I do have my doubts, primarily because the course is still relatively new (and therefore might not be entirely “fleshed out” just yet) and that it seems to be quite specific, perhaps even a little too specific. Still, if it means I get to pretend I’m playing Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds again and work out new ways to destroy the Galactic Empire, then it might be worth doing!
Not quite the forefront of military planning...
Speaking of Star Wars, lately I’ve been enjoying the new Clone Wars CGI series. To cut a long story short – it’s superb! The animated film that they released last summer was alright, a bit average really and you could tell that it had been made with kids in mind. However, the series that follows thereafter does appear to adopt a much more mature feel. The storyline are still quite basic, usually focusing on a particular Jedi or prominent Star Wars character in which they’re pitted against an enemy or need to resolve something. The characters are the most interesting aspect. As you can imagine, there’s a hell of a lot of clone troopers but the show’s writers have made it so that they do possess something of a personality, despite their ironic status of being a clone. For example, clones without helmets often have different haircuts or they might have a certain interest, such as one trooper who eerily collects parts from the droids he’s destroyed and attaches them to a chain, something that struck me as being very similar to collecting dog tags. The animation is also excellent – when I first saw the movie I thought it looked a bit budget but as a TV series it really is striking just how photo-realistic it can be at times. The season finale is this Friday/Saturday and I can’t wait for it!
Anyways, it’s getting late and my stomach is calling out loud for some dinner…time to go and cook a mighty fry-up! Until the next time, mes amigos!
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
March 12, 2009
It’s been ages since I posted last! My apologies my most faithful followers, your master has returned with yet more words of wisdom for you to take in!
I’ve been up to a hell of a lot. Starting off with last weekend, I went down to Reading to stay with my friend Danskin as we were due to be celebrating his birthday then. It was nice as a group of us were able to meet up and go and have a night on the town. I really enjoyed the evening – pints of ale and Guinness, topped off with some good company and a cheeky Subway along the way. The evening ended in Reading’s illusive Purple Turtle bar which was actually the worst part of the night. It’s just such a rubbish place nowadays – sure it’s open until the early hours of the morning and it’s free but it just seems like it’s become a place of congregation for all those who are too stupid or drunk to have bothered going home (myself included). I think in future it might be worth heading home and hitting up a few spirits or cracking open a bottle of wine. It’d be a hell of a lot cheaper that’s for sure! I spent £17.30 on a round for 3 people in this place! It’s ridiculous!
Let's go another round!
Staying with Danskin was good fun though – we were “temporary roomies” once again! We had a joint workout session on the Saturday, which had been preceeded by a Morrison’s English Breakfast (for energy reasons of course!). The funniest moment of the weekend without a shadow of a doubt was when Danskin managed to drop a piece of cheese on toast on the floor, only for me to hear this loud plop followed by an eloquent expression of “shit” emerge from his mouth. We’re a good team in regards to living with each other – sure I’ve only ever spent a few days at his place but we always have something to talk about and while he’s the good host, I’m also the good guest and I reckon that’s something which could transfer nicely across into an actual living arrangement. I’d love to move in with him next year when I get the cash, it just depends on whether he finds someone else first and whether he’d want me too! Having my “own” place would be much better for when the girlfriend comes to stay if you know what I mean… 
I managed to lose my debit card just before leaving Reading on Saturday night which wasn’t too helpful! Thankfully, Mr. Danskin found it for me (whatever would I do without him!) – I’d left it in Mcdonalds, after having bought us some dinner – very careless and unusual of me! I then managed to sneak aboard a different train (I’d missed the one I had intended to get and therefore my ticket was no longer valid) and made it all the way to Bath unpestered!
Otherwise this week has involved mucho catching up with work (due to being away all weekend) and socialising with the uni folk. On Monday, some of us went bowling in the evening which was good fun…even if I was absolutely dreadful at it (usually I’m at least good enough not to embarrass myself but this time was quite the opposite!). I love small events such as these though – it’s not long before it’s all over and we all begin to start our transition into the real world and therefore making the most of now is most certainly a good thing!
Not my strongest game...
Anyways, it’s getting late and the information in this post is gradually getting more boring. I promise I’ll start posting some more interesting topics soon…tiredness is really just getting the better of me as of late!
Until the next time my fellow amigos!
“I know just how frustrating it can be when you’re tired and exhausted, but you still want to draw something.”
March 3, 2009
How true the title of this post is. I’m exhausted this evening, I have no idea why. I suppose today was quite a heavy day in comparison to my usual workload on a Monday. The thing is, I still feel the urge to do something. I have lots of work to do but I’m too tired to focus. I wanna stay up and have a few hours to relax and enjoy myself but I’m just too tired to really want to do anything!
I suppose I should just go to sleep. Sleep is usually the cure to any form of problem, even world hunger.*
Until the next, hopefully semi-decent post amigos.
*May not be entirely true…
Adventure is just bad planning…
February 28, 2009
So there’s quite a lot on my mind this evening, which would make a change as of late – it felt as if my thinking capabilities had somewhat diminished. I’m glad to see that they’re still intact.
I’ve experienced yet another top-notch week at university. Everything is so enjoyable, mainly because of the company – we always have such a good laugh in most of my classes. Laughter is by definition healthy. It certainly does help make the gruelling task of getting some sort of degree a lot more bearable!
Because it's awesome...
Lately, I’ve fallen in love with my Powerball. It’s just so addictive! For the uninformed, a Powerball is a gyroscopic exercise tool: in other words, you rotate your wrist while holding it and it magically increases the resistance as you do, therefore giving you a low-impact form of exercise that encompasses all of your arm. It’s a very clever little item. It also glows white when you spin it and what’s more…it gets brighter the faster you go! I’m such a dweeb I know…but if you suffer from the likes of RSI or arthritis, the powerball supposedly helps to reduce the inflammation that these nasty conditions are known for. Personally, I use it because I have weak wrists in comparison to the rest of my arm muscles and hopefully this way I’ll gain a tad more strength that’ll go a long way when I’m benchpressing or bicep curling.
I’ve also become addicted to ebay unfortunately. Not good. I’ve had the urge lately to start buying old Nintendo 64 games, mainly because the console itself is my favourite video games console ever. The games are relatively cheap so it’s not too much of a problem. Regardless, I could do with saving a little bit of money this month! I picked up two classics today (by which I mean “won”) which should arrive sometime in the next week – I can’t wait to get stuck into them!
Now you're playing with power...bee-octh!
On Thursday, I strangely enough attended an LGBT presentation. My friend, who is gay, wanted to go along. He bugged me all morning about it. Apparently it was also somehow related to one of our German modules. Seeing as I had nothing else better to do, I finally gave in and went along with him. It was actually really interesting and was certainly a worthwhile investment of time. I learnt quite a lot about how our laws (and the laws in the US) really are “two steps forward, one step back” in the sense that they are slowly offering better rights to homosexuals, yet a certain level of persecution nevertheless remains. It’s a shame really. The speakers were very engaging and although it’s not an issue that directly affects me, I did feel like I had much to say about the issue. One of the speaker happily let everyone in the room know that I was gay (he referred to me specifically when discussing some form of homosexual scene from Skins). Just to reaffirm to those people: I am not! I say this, not for fear that you might think I’m gay, but rather, to avoid any potential queues of strapping young lads appearing at my door (I do doubt the likeliness of something like that actually happening…).
It’s a shame such discussions aren’t made more public…some people really do need to change their views and quit with all the hating. I’m sure it’s one of these things that’ll slowly happen over a gradual period of time…or should I say, I HOPE it’s one of these things…
…until the next time my fellow amigos!
“Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.”
February 24, 2009
This week has been rather enjoyable thus far! I seem to have spent most of it laughing, mainly at the stupid jokes Chris and I make all the time. We’re on the same level. Seriously, we actually believe we have some sort of telepathic link because we always seem to be thinking the same thing at exactly the same time.
Chris’ friend from Canada has come to visit and I have to say I’ve liked having her around. She’s louder than a fog horn but she’s a nice person and always up for a chat about stuff. Last night, my housemate Luke, she and I stayed up until way past 2.30am just talking about everything and anything. It’s times like these when you’re glad you went to university – living away from home, talking to new people and just enjoying yourself.
Continuing on from the other day, my friends at home and I are all (well most of us) still making an effort to keep in touch or just communicate at a basic level. I tried playing an old game with my friend Booth over the Internet yesterday but unfortunately we couldn’t get it to work. It’s a special game because it’s most definitely one thing that we all truly have in common. One friend denies this and claims there are bigger more important things but I would be tempted to argue otherwise (as sad as it is). So playing it again would appear to be a very good way in which we could all get back into frequent communication with one another. The only drawback is that not everyone has the game and playing it over the Internet nowadays is difficult because you can’t get it to run via a router without a hell of a lot of messing around with settings. It’s a shame but hopefully some friends will make the effort. All we need to do is get one game going again and that’ll hopefully trigger a chain reaction and get everyone else playing!
Why I’m typing about old PC games I don’t know. I guess I just miss my other friends and playing a game with them would sort of bring back the old days…
