Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in armin miewes' LiveJournal:

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Sunday, November 13th, 2005
11:45 am	Hibernation time I wish I could sleep through the winter and wake up when the weather gets warmer. Last month I went to Vienna to meet up with my sister and mother. My sister had accidentally booked a double room rather than a twin room for me and Mum, which meant I didn't get much sleep as Mum sprawled over the bed and I ended up on the edge trying to push her back onto her side without waking her up. The first few days were fine- we saw some sights, ate loads of food and generally enjoyed ourselves. Then the inevitable happened; the big falling out. We were off to the Salvador Dali gallery and my sister made some flippant but (I thought) fairly innocuous comment about my Mum walking too slowly when we were trying to get on to a tube which was leaving shortly. Mum took offense and proceeded to ignore the both of us, which we responded to by chatting amongst ourselves to try to ward off the frosty atmosphere, while she pointedly walked a metre behind us. Mum then takes this as proof that we are both completely heartless and don't care that she's upset, and states that she will sit on a bench in the street while we go to the gallery, and that we should pick her up on the way back. My sister tries the conciliatory approach, apologising profusely for any inappropriate comments, with little success. Then I lose my temper and take Totally The Wrong Course Of Action by claiming that she's trying to guilt-trip us, throwing a few choice swear words into the mix. At this point Mum starts crying, and I realise that I have fucked up a situation which might have been salvageable. As it happened the Salvador Dali gallery was no longer there, and after we'd had a bit of a laugh at the futility of the whole trip the situation seemed to rectify itself to some extent. A few days after returning from Vienna I was off to Alton Towers for my friends birthday, which was absolutely fantastic. I particularly liked Rita, Queen of Speed- the closest you will ever get to the feeling of being shot out of a cannon. Then to Star on the next Friday. It's been a while since I've felt that old, and confirmed my belief that my clubbing days are behind me. Some of the music was pretty good; going to work the next day was not. I can't be arsed to write anymore now, so I'll leave last Friday's jaunt to Cabaret Heaven till next time. (Comment on this)
Sunday, October 2nd, 2005
8:50 pm	Hook arms, geetars and comedy writers I did this online supermarket shop so I could have all the heavy stuff delivered in the absence of the necessary muscles to haul it from the local supermarket. The delivery guy turns up and he has a false arm with a hook on it. I expected him to use the hook to carry bags, but he just used the other arm instead. I am pretty skint at the moment, which wouldn't matter except for the fact that I'm going to Vienna on 19th for a few days. I should really have said I'd go later in the year, but it'll be nice to be there for my sisters 21st. Besides now I'm on part time hours I'll be even more skint in the run up to Christmas. On the same note, my lives-round-the-corner friend wants to go to Alton Towers for her birthday at the end of October, so my overdraft is going to take a bit of a battering this month. Not that it matters really, I don't mind hauling my ass into work on Saturday for time and a half till December. I've been trying to save pennies for the holiday so haven't been out for a while. A swift drink on Friday after work, then last night went round to a mates to watch a DVD I'd been lent (loaned?), Requiem for a Dream. Depressing stuff really, watching the inevitable (and sometimes surreal) deterioration of four characters into insanity, drug addiction and/or prostitution. But I've missed out my second guitar lesson. I wasn't the last person to arrive this time (only second to last), and my rosy-cheeked, easy-going young gunslinger had been replaced by John Shuttleworth's older, thinner brother (some problem with the original guys paperwork apparently). He enthused that in a few years some of us might consider 'playing some rock and roll' and related his years spent in 'various dance bands'. I don't think he was talking about Basement Jaxx somehow. Homework is to practise three notes, the names of which I have forgotten. I'm going to try to cook some new things this week instead of living on beans on toast and veggie sausages. I made my trademark stew tonight, and I'm going to get supplies for a vegetable curry and attempt some kind of vegan cake later in the week. I really have done fuck all today apart from a bit of cooking and reading. It was great. * Edit- the 'comedy writer' bit was just because I'm reading a Hugh Laurie novel. Current Mood: content Current Music: Pulp (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, September 18th, 2005
8:18 pm	Burglarisers When the postman or meter reader comes to your house and you're not in they leave you a little 'we called round but...' card. I found out this weekend that the police have these too. Seems the couple opposite, who moved in about 3 weeks ago, were burgled on Saturday morning and the police wanted to know if I'd heard/seen anything. Poor sods. Current Mood: mellow Current Music: radio 4 (Comment on this)
Saturday, September 17th, 2005
5:01 pm	Overheard in town..... Conversation between two young girls: "Where's your Shanice then?" "She's with my Mum. I've got another one on the way now aswell" "Aw, is that with your Frank?" "Yeah, he got out in July." (Comment on this)
Friday, September 16th, 2005
8:38 pm	So then, I started guitar lessons on Wednesday at St Barts. I was ten minutes late because I couldn't find my fucking glasses anywhere, and of course I couldn't see that well to find them. Oh the irony. Is that irony? I don't know. But I made it and blustered into the room where the guy was halfway through the ground rules (like punctuality for example). During the coffee break I managed to fall out with a kitchen tap and had to sit through the second half with wet splodges on my clothes. We covered some basics like how to tune our guitars and my homework is to practise three chords. What have I learnt? 1)You can't play guitar with long nails 2)It's bloody murder on the tips of your fingers after a while 3)If you're left-handed, it's probably a good idea not to buy a right-handed guitar.... I'm liking the mix of people in the group though, and the teacher is a nice guy. In 'other news' my mate rang and asked if I wanted to go out tomorrow night, since her boyfriend has plans and she's at a loose end (very flattering, I know). I suspect this will mean Wendy House. I'm having an early night tonight and working tomorrow, so it'll be good to go out and let off a bit of steam, plus it's an amazing place to indulge in a spot of people-watching. Then Monday I've got a fun-packed day of taking some papers to the college I'm volunteering at, then a meeting with a mortgage advisor to sort out what ridiculous rate I'm going to pay from October. I can hardly wait. Oh yeah, and I've agreed to go to Bingo with some girls from work. But why?? Current Mood: content Current Music: Deejay Punk Roc (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, September 12th, 2005
7:25 pm	Aaah.....bisto I've just had me tea- carrots, little potatoes and dodgy soya sausages all smothered in onion gravy. Very nice. The move to this new team has worked out better than expected. Now I've got to know my new colleague (known in the office as 'tiny tears') I quite like her, and she seems to be less prone to emotional outbursts with the judicious dispensation of inane chatter (a particular strength of mine) and words of encouragement. There were a few tears after the bollocking we both got over sales figures mid-week, but otherwise it was all good. My night out at the wanky wine bar turned out okay too- Turnout wasn't massive, but I did see five people I used to work with. One of them was off travelling round Oz last time I saw her- but now she's back and working in insurance again, depressingly. The cocktails were all 2 for 1 and since they just tasted of fruit I drank far too many. A guy I used to get on well with at my old job asked for my mobile number and I tried several different incorrect combinations of the correct digits before he had to ring himself on my phone to get it. After Mononi we went to somewhere else I can't remember the name of and I sat talking bollocks to one of the temps (I vaguely recall that he is a big fan of The Clash). We've arranged to have a veggies lunch at Roots and Fruits soon, which is good because it's the only sit-down place I know serving a range of vegan food. Talking of which, I somehow acquired food on the way home and woke up fully clothed the next morning next to a small plate, from which assorted courgettes and peppers had escaped onto the duvet. I felt a bit groggy at work the next day and had every intention of going straight home and sleeping. Instead I went to the Scarborough Taps, sticking to soft drinks this time. Got home about 9.30 and decided to check my e-mithers before hitting the sack, but instead got sidetracked by a forum and then was talking to someone on MSN until 1 a.m. The rest of the weekend was pretty quiet, housework, went round to a friends for a few hours, read a bit more Hunter Thompson. Which brings me to today. I had an interview with a woman at the college where I'm volunteering. She showed me around the place and I briefly met the tutor I'd be working with. The only slight spanner in the works is that I have to have a police check done because I'll be working with 'vulnerable adults' and that could take 6 weeks. The people seemed nice enough though, and they were very encouraging. Then I came home and sat on the doorstep in the beautiful weather, reading and trying not to look at the guy across the road washing his car with not many clothes on. Enrolled for a Wednesday guitar class last week at the centre down the road & I've picked up a 2nd hand guitar fairly cheap. God, this is the first time I've had a hobby (bar computer games and the pub) since my student days. I've spent all my other available funds on a plane ticket to Vienna to see my little sister- it's her 21st in October so me and Mum are going out there to spend a few days. I can't really afford it, especially now I'm on less pay, but I've sold a load of stuff on amazon and ebay and put my name down for Saturday overtime this month. Ooooh, Vienna! Current Mood: cheerful Current Music: Bloc Party (Comment on this)
Tuesday, September 6th, 2005
9:10 pm	Is that all there is? As the song goes (Peggy Lee?). I'm in my late twenties and I have a small house, a boring job, two cats, a small group of friends. No discernible talents, no hobbies as such. That doesn't really depress me, though maybe it should. I was talking to an old school friend about the 'early life crisis' the other day, and how most people of our age seem to go through an intense period of self-analysis. I'm expected to be in a serious relationship at this age, or at least aspire to being in one. I'm expected to think about having children, or alternatively climbing a career ladder. I'm expected to know what I want. But what if you don't. What if the longest relationship you've ever had was 18 months, and you spent 12 months of that trying to escape. What if pregnancy and childbirth bring to mind the scene from Aliens where the creature bursts out, leaving its host body inert and lifeless. What if you sit around waiting for things to happen. What if you keep people at arms length because not having that distance from another person is just too claustrophobic. What do I want? Tomorrow I'll get up and go to work and speak to people and come home and listen to the Radio and eat my tea and phone a friend. Then on Thursday I'll repeat the process, except this time I will be in a wanky wine bar with work colleagues laughing and making conversation. Maybe I'll go to the pictures or to the pub on the weekend. The cycle will carry on until about 6 months have passed and I next find myself in a silent room with no noise to distract me, mulling these same ideas over. One of my cats has just jumped on me and stuck her butt in my face. I'm going to go and have some tea and read a book. At some point in the week I'll re-read this and it will look like bollocks and I will probably delete it. Current Mood: contemplative (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, August 31st, 2005
8:14 pm	Double plus ungood This morning on my way out of the house I contemplated taking my brolly. It's one of those compact things that takes up HARDLY ANY FUCKING ROOM AT ALL. No, I thought, it's going to be a lovely day. And so it was until the moment I stepped out of the office. I got so wet just walking down to the bus stop that every single item of clothing was sodden right down to my pants, and my shoes made squelchy noises when I walked. I stood on the bus dripping little puddles onto the floor, then someone slipped while walking past me on the way out and I felt bad because I was convinced he'd slipped on a rivulet of my making. Daft, I know. But now I'm sat in my dressing gown and slippers in the warm, so it's all good. I can't remember when I last updated...think it was before the Leeds Fest. Went on Friday with an old mate from Uni who was up for the weekend. We got in as Turbonegro were finishing and pootled around for a bit. Watched Alkaline Trio (not my bag really), then Funeral for a Friend, who I wasn't that familiar with but really enjoyed. NOFX were shite, and it started pissing it down after ten minutes of their set so we ran for the cover of the packed dance tent. Some guy going under the name 'Fourtet' was storming it. I can't say I'd heard of him, but I might have a snoop around for more of his stuff. Hooray for accidental music finds! Made it back to the main stage for Iggy, who threw himself around the stage with gay abandon, at one point getting on all fours and doing dog impressions. I was convinced his trousers were going to fall down as they kept slipping further down the crotch with every leap, but the crowd were spared the sight of a flashing Stooge. Braved festival food, which in my case was an excellent falafel with all the trimmings. Mmmm...falafel. Then a meander back to the main stage to catch the end of a distinctly average performance from Incubus (I'll stick to the CDs I think). I know it's not cool to say this if you're over 15, but I love Marilyn Manson. I love the look, I love the attitude, I love the music. And I loved his performance on Friday; sporting a fetching suspenders-and-military-jacket combo, he gave one rendition atop stilts and crutches. Unfortunately the crowd weren't feeling him and half left before the end of his performance. But they're wrong....so very wrong. Which left the headline act, Iron Maiden. I can't say I've ever been a huge fan of theirs, and I don't own a single album, but they were amazing to watch. How can Bruce Dickinson dash around for two hours while belting out 'Ruuuun for the hiiiiillls, ruuuun for your liiiiiiiiiiife'? (well, obviously he wasn't singing that line for the whole two hours, but you get the idea). Conclusion- I'm still not going to go out and buy the Maiden back catalogue, but I'd pay to see them live again. I was quietly amused by an animatronic 'devil' which rose out of the stage at the beginning of 'The Number of the Beast'. It looked pretty spectacular at first, scanning the audience with its red eyes blazing, but when I'd watched it move rhythmically throughout the whole score it started to take on an alogether more comedic appearance, like someone's Dad nodding their head slightly out of time to the music. I need to piss now, so I'm wrapping this up. Not much else happened anyway- went to festival.....had girly night in on Saturday watching DVDs with friends... went out for lunch....swapped some books with guy off Raw Nerve site....made banana cake.....got rained on. Yeah, that about covers it. Current Mood: content Current Music: Radio 4 (Comment on this)
Tuesday, August 23rd, 2005
10:04 pm	Back once again with the renegade master That's the first lyric I could thing of with 'back' in the title. Apart from that Take That song, and I'm damned if I'm having their like taint my blog. Been offline for a couple of months now due to computer shitness. So, to sumarise, since I last posted I have: - been to Spain for two weeks with a couple of friends - had a massive argument with the woman who I rented the villa from - put a claim in the small claims court against said woman - been posted back to Lytham St. Annes for a stint - asked to work four days a week at work - been down to Devon to see the folks & visit the Eden Project - er, some other stuff Spain first off then- we get to this rented villa (which is pretty damned remote) and the 'pool' is a manky green pond of slime, the barbecue is completely surrounded by undergrowth to shoulder height (if you're an Oompa-loompa like me that is), the place clearly hasn't been cleaned before we arrived and the video recorder is missing. So basically we spent a good portion of the holiday driving to the internet cafe to harrass the owner (in London) via e-mail and phoning the Spanish agent to try and get things sorted. Unfortunately the combination of his English and my Spanish rendered communication with the poor sod near impossible. Then, to add insult to injury, a guy turns up with a van to measure up the windows and doors for security grilles following the 'recent break in' (which explained why some items were missing). To cut a long-winded story short, the owner seemed perfectly willing to give us some money back until we got home, whereupon she totally changed her tune and laughably claimed that we had been disappointed with 'Spain's lack of culture', and not her villa. I am so fucking livid at this woman's nerve I'm taking her to court. But more on that at a later date. What else....went to Wendy House in June. Haven't been for ages and it was an ace night. Sort-of pulled two random individuals, but although both seemed kinda nice, neither looked over 20. I would feel like a paedophile getting up to anything with someone of that age. Still, I suppose it's always nice to know you're not considered repulsive...even if it is in dim lighting. One of my favourite songs has just come on- Flat of Angles- so I'm just going to close my eyes and listen for a while. Okay, it's finished now. To continue, I don't think I did anything of note in July, apart from broaching the subject of more flexible working hours. I asked my boss if I could do 4 days a week but work extra time on those 4 days so I didn't lose 7 hours pay (in view of the fact that I usually work more than 7 hours a day anyway). They thought about it and advised that I could indeed drop a day, but couldn't make up any time on the other days. Some bollocks about it being 'difficult for HR' if I work over. Since I more or less told them that losing 7 hours pay would be a struggle, I reckon it was a cunning ploy to appear fair, knowing I probably wouldn't take up the offer. So I thought 'fuck em' and am officially part-time from September. I need an extra day away from that place more than I need new CDs and crap. Decided to buy a guitar with my last decent pay packet- should keep me busy on those long winter nights when I have no money. Popped down to Devon for a few days last week. Eden Project awesome but quite pricey- I got to see that 'weee man' sculpture made out of the electrical items the average person will throw away in a lifetime. Scary stuff. My family were all squabbling away as usual. The British Fireworks Championships were randomly being held in Plymouth while I was there too, so me and my sister checked it out from the fantastic viewpoint of the City Council office roof top (she's temping there). The atmosphere was made that bit more special by my sister's chav work colleague amusing us all with videos of dog porn and happy-slapping on his mobile. How I laughed. Last weekend went on the cliched office outing to Jongleurs. Much enjoyment was had by all (no sarcasm this time) and I'd had a few, so ended up dancing to cheesy shit until chucking out time. MC Hammer anyone? Off to the Leeds Festival on Friday for a big ole rockerama. Someone at work lent me a British Sea Power CD today because I mentioned they were playing and I couldn't remember any of their stuff. Suffice to say I now realise why I hadn't remembered any of their stuff. I am unbelievably excited about the prospect of seeing Marilyn Manson live. I know he's not considered cool among the over 14s, but I love the guy as an entertainer. Plus Iggy Pop! The Maiden! Incubus! Queuing for hours to get in and out of the place! But...now....so.....tired....must...go...to....bed. Current Mood: chipper Current Music: The Fall (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, May 5th, 2005
9:50 pm	Election fever It was a choice between wasting some time on t'interweb and doing the washing up. So here I am. Voted half an hour ago, after some initial confusion over the whereabouts of 'Charlie Cake Park' where my polling station was situated. I wondered who Charlie Cake was- sadly the internet could not elucidate. Then I got back to my place and promptly ended up in a dispute with some guy trying to get me to sign a petition against a proposed takeaway. He went on at some length about how this would lead to 'groups of kids hanging around in the evenings' and 'mounds of litter on the streets'. I pointed out that a) there were already kids hanging around at night because they have nowhere else to go and b) there were already piles of litter on the street because the council doesn't bother to clean them up properly. And besides, I'd actually prefer a takeaway there to an empty boarded-up shop. He wandered off muttering darkly without my signature, and I wondered if maybe I was missing the point somewhere along the way. Why were other people so wound up about this when I wasn't bothered? Have I become completely apathetic? Rang my Ma quickly to let her know I'm still alive- she's been out canvassing for Respect down in Devon, which was a bit of a revelation. My youngest brother, able to vote for the first time, went on the piss and didn't bother. I can remember being quite excited the first time I was eligible- I think I was slightly disappointed when I emerged from the polling station and there wasn't a 'CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST VOTE!' banner and a brass band. I'm off on some activity day next Wednesday, quad biking and the like. Unfortunately this will also involve schmoozing with some brokers, but at least I'll be out of the office and away from the mountains of paper which threaten to swamp me on a daily basis. Then on Thursday I've arranged to go for a meal at Roots and Fruits with a couple of friends from work, one of whom turned veggie recently. And then.....and then......HOLIDAY. I cannot wait to have two whole weeks chilling out, sitting in the sun, seeing some sites and catching up with my old uni mate. It's going to be fab. Then back to blighty and a serious think about my future. I've been listening to the songs of my youth a lot recently, and it makes me nostalgic for those days when I thought anything was possible and I saw my life stretching out like the pages of a 'choose your own adventure' book. Now it seems to stretch out more like a prison sentence. This job has got to go, even if it means a pay cut. I'm going to listen to some of the election coverage on the radio now with a lovely cuppa. Current Mood: sleepy Current Music: Mazzy Star (Comment on this)
Sunday, May 1st, 2005
7:09 pm	Home on the range Well, I think I was off to Lytham St. Annes last time I updated. Not a bad week, though I came home completely knackered after being dragged out every night until some ungodly hour and then having to haul my ass into work for up to ten hours. Still, the other guys drafted in from various branches were a laugh and we had some good evenings out at various pubs and restaurants, including a pub quiz night where we won some money on the 'play your cards right'. Which did make up for the odd looks we'd been getting from the locals for being both young and not from the area........shocking behaviour. Got my polling card on Friday- my polling station is Charlie Cake Park, which is close by according to the card, but damned if I've heard of it- it doesn't even sound like a real place to me. I'm not entirely sure which way to vote, though to be honest it doesn't make any difference in this constituency. The Labour guy could probably admit to taking part in the occult ritual sacrifice of children in his spare time and still get elected. I was thinking about it while walking down Tong Road to work the other day when I noticed a Unison poster exhorting everyone to vote anything but Tory. Then I started thinking about how the spelling of 'union' would be better suited to the pronunciation of 'onion'. But then you'd have to spell union 'yoonion', and that seemed wrong. I wish I could concentrate on one thing for more than two minutes. My PC is slowly dying on me. Only 3 years old, but I suppose that's defunct by computer standards. Sadly all the dosh I've saved so far is going on household improvements and the holiday. Thought again about getting a tenant. Dismissed the idea as I quickly realised I've got so used to living by myself that a housemate who was around all the time would drive me insane. If I could get one who worked evenings maybe......hmmmm. Er, well apart from a work do and a few trips t'cinema to see mediocre films, not a lot else has happened. I'm off to Spain in two weeks today, so not even the prospect of horrendous office stress levels can piss me off (someone else handed their notice in on Friday). In fact, I laugh in the face of impossible workloads. Ha! Current Mood: content Current Music: The Fall (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 10th, 2005
9:04 pm	Yawn I'm a bit tired, but thought I'd update this as I'm off to work in Lytham for a week doing some systems testing (needed the extra dough for my holiday). Went to see Robots the other day- pretty cheesy, but entertaining if you're a kid I guess. There was a leaving do on Wednesday for a girl at work who is up the duff, so I sat around in Henry's for a few hours chatting to various colleagues. I got a call from some recruitment guy asking if I would consider moving and would send him a CV to hawk around. I'm still thinking about that one. I'm bored where I am it's true, but I want to get out of this god forsaken industry once and for all, not carry on job-hopping in the vain belief that one of them will be mildly interesting. Today I've spent largely washing and ironing afer it suddenly hit me that I would in fact need a weeks worth of clothes before I set off. Then my mate came round to check the key she'd dug out was actually my house key (she's looking after the cats). Watched Brighton Rock while eating my tea, and now I'm off to finish packing and read in bed as I'll have to get up at 6.30 tomorrow. Current Mood: sleepy Current Music: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Comment on this)
Sunday, March 20th, 2005
9:39 pm	Brazil nuts That's what I'm eating now. Washed down with a mixture of apple juice and sparkling water, because it tastes like Appletise but is cheaper. Have discovered eating tofu on two consecutive nights is a bad idea flatulence-wise. Hmmm. Am also somewhat overdrawn after posting off the villa deposit. However, it's my birthday on Wednesday and my Ma will be sending me a card with 25 quid in if past experience is anything to go by, and it's also payday on Thursday. It's a fine balancing act between saving the money I've squirreled away for the gutters and actually having a decent time away. Bloody gutters. I'm going to have pigeon spikes fitted on them (it stops them landing, it doesn't actually impale them sadly), cos I'm fed up of pigeons crapping on my windowsills and then sitting smugly on the guttering, mocking me. I think I may have whined about pigeons in a previous post though, so I'll let it go...... Work is still a stress. I'll be hitting the sack soon just to get in to the office earlier. What's more depressing is that there's always someone who's been there a good while, even if I'm in for 8. Still, on the upside it's flexitime, so at least I'm working up a heap of time off (a day a week at the rate I'm going). Bought a few DVDs t'other day (possibly not helping the overdrawn situation there), so watched 'O Brother Where Art Thou' last night. Enjoyed it, but not as much as the Coen brothers' other offerings maybe. Friday night went to the pub. Same old. Current Mood: lethargic Current Music: Radio 4 news (Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 9th, 2005
7:36 pm	Tired, tired, tired As you may have gathered, I'm a little tired at the moment. I've been getting into work half an hour earlier than usual and leaving an hour later just to keep my head above water. If I didn't I'm worried my desk would collapse under the weight of paper on it. After my holiday I'm seriously going to look for a new job.... An old uni friend rang asking if I wanted to go away somewhere with her this year. We make these elaborate plans every year to go away which never materialise, but we've got our arses in gear and booked a villa and flights this time. Christ on a bike, it's actually going to happen. The Haunted gig was pretty good. The first support band (Death By Fall? Dead At Fall?) were shite, Martyr AD gave such a top performance I wanted to run out and buy all their albums and The Haunted weren't bad either, though why do metal bands always feel like they have to intersperse their songs with tired phrases like 'You fucking rock Leeds!' or 'Are you having a fucking good time?' Red Nose Day approaches, and of course the office has to engage in some kind of 'whacky' activity. This year we are all dressing in different eras- I'm the 60s. I have a minidress and boots lined up for the occasion, but I'm not sure whether to go on the bus dressed up like a twat, or change when I get there. I'm baking a cake for the occasion too, which is cool because I quite enjoying a baking session accompanied by some good tunes. I have absolutely nothing else to report at this stage. Current Mood: sleepy Current Music: depeche mode (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, February 19th, 2005
8:49 pm	The sack race Well, someone at work got sacked for sending inappropriate e-mails or something. I thought about all the dodgy e-mails I've forwarded on to people at work, but then realised that getting sacked would probably be a blessing. So, the upshot is we've gone from being chronically understaffed to....er, yeah. And then some wanker phoned up and demanded I do something for him that day which I was pretty sure I wouldn't have time to do, and then ranted that 'someone's ass needs to get kicked' when I said I couldn't promise anything. It cheered me up in a bizarre way, because I felt that I could quite legitimately be rude to someone. That aside, I am off to see the Haunted next weekend. This weekend I just did the usual pub-on-a-friday-night routine. Tonight I'm both bored and skint so I got a very unhealthy chip and mushy pea tea to watch in front of a Beavis and Butthead film. Anyway, there's something on the radio I'd like to listen now, so I'm signing off at this point. Perhaps I'll have done something remotely interesting by the next time I update. Then again..... Current Mood: cheerful Current Music: none (Comment on this)
Monday, February 7th, 2005
8:01 pm	Dream Theatre I seem to have spent a siginificant proportion of January watching The Prisoner, to the point where I dreamt one night that I woke up in the morning to find my furniture subtly rearranged and my neighbours changed. Went to Jumbo today to get some tickets for The Haunted at the end of Feb. I've got a couple of other do's to go to this month so the overtime money I've earned is not going to go quite as far as I'd hoped- damn those leaking gutters. Made one nice meal with tofu and brocolli on the weekend, and another disastrous attempt at dhal (note to self- following a recipe is NOT admitting defeat). Stripped one bathroom wall of wallpaper. Sadly this wallpaper was put up in the 70s (mottled yellow flowers.....mmm) and was reluctant to be parted from the wall. Work is still crap, but I'm beginning not to care. This is a bad thing, and leaves open the possibility that I'll be there in 20 years time like some of the guys I work with saying, "well, it's not that bad....and there's the pension to think about". No. Um, still haven't found a gym, but I've been walking to and from work most days which works out about 6 miles. That ain't too bad really. I phoned my mother last night- she is stressed and thinks my brother has a serious gambling problem. Then some strange guy knocked at my door saying that he was supposed to be meeting someone in my street, but didn't know who it was and only had a mobile number for them and could I ring them? Fortunately I saw some guy down the road looking around expectantly and pointed my new pal in his direction. Didn't bother to watch any transactions that were or were not taking place. Reread some of my old posts before I wrote this. Yeah, don't blog after reading Will Self bcause you write like a tosser. Fucking introspections of singularities indeed. Twat. It's 8.30 and I have done nothing with the evening besides listen to the radio and eat toast, so I'm going to make a tape to listen to on the way to/from work tomorrow. I'd love an MP3 player to replace my battered walkman with sticky tape holding one of the wires in place, but the new gutters need to take priority now that I'm a grown up homeowner and all..... Current Mood: cheerful Current Music: radio 4 again (Comment on this)
Monday, January 17th, 2005
7:49 pm	America, fuck yeah! I went to see Team America on the weekend with a mate. I thoroughly enjoyed it, though the fact that everyone was the object of ridicule meant it didn't make any point as such. But then they probably didn't intend it to, and why does everything have to have a point anyhow? There were some interviews for a promotion at work. I didn't go in for them- I don't want to climb the greasy pole in an organisation rank with nepotism and corruption and I wouldn't have got anywhere if I had tried. Two out of the seven were knocked back at the first hurdle, one given the feedback that 'technically you were excellent, but....er....' and the other the equally constructive 'frankly, I lost interest in your presentation half way through'. There's still an uneasy atmosphere in the office....all those who applied feel that the results were decided in advance, and the newly promoted are guilty at having won their prize on the basis of being management darlings. I think I was for a few months when I started. Hell, they even gave me a pet name. But then I opened my mouth and it all went horribly wrong..... Anyways, work aside I feel quite contented in my little house with my little thoughts. I'm not sure if this is a good thing. I have slight hermit tendencies and can quite happily spend every evening on my own for weeks. I've been reading a lot without the TV, writing more, but not doing up the house as I should be. P'raps I should take a few days off and do it. Hmmmm. Found some nice vegan recipes on t'internet. I'm getting into the trap of eating the same old things- sausage, beans and mash or pasta or fasolatha. Always one of the three. So I'm going to make an effort to try some of these things out, even if the first recipe is a sort of cottage pie made with, erm, sausage beans and mash. In the background is a R4 programme about Native Americans and I can hear seagulls cawing. Sounds like that always make me pine for the sea, and the days when I could walk from my house to the seafront and stand by the defunct lighthouse watching fishing boats bob on the waves like toys. Then I would walk to my Nan's house, stopping to look in Robert Lenkiewicz' studio window for a while. Everyone said he had about 10 kids by different mothers, because he slept with his sitters. They also said that he kept dead bodies, which he had embalmed himself. So, even though his door was open when he was there, I was always too scared to go in. And now he's dead so it's too late. I need to do some boring domestic things before I can go to bed with my book (it's The Lovely Bones at the moment), so I think that will be it for now. This is usually the point where I click update and the computer errors. Hah, but not today- for once I've had the foresight to cut'n'paste somewhere else. In your face t'internet! Current Mood: happy Current Music: Radio 4 (Comment on this)
Monday, January 3rd, 2005
5:48 pm	Peed off with my pooter This will be the fourth time I've tried to update this crappy thing and every time my computer errors. It's almost as if it's trying to tell me my diary entries are shit or something..... So, a short note to recap my doings since last month- a weekend in Lincoln to see an old Uni mate, a trip to Manchester to see my sister, a couple of work outings, one of which was pretty damned good and the other where by 10.30 there was just me and one other guy gatecrashing a black tie function at the Queen's Hotel. Spent my Xmas money on a 'Prisoner' box set, which was just aswell cos the TV schedule was abysmal. Made a New Year's resolution to sell the TV and find a boxing gym nearby. Off to watch the Simpsons now while I still can. TTFN Current Mood: pissed off Current Music: Timo Maas (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 1st, 2004
8:24 pm	From grrrrrrr to eternity Well, I wrote a monologue and a half on Monday, but on pressing the update button my computer decided to error and send my entry sailing into the ether.....hence the grrrrr. To recap, on Friday 'leaving dude' left, went for a few drinks. Nowt spectacular. Saturday went to the talkies to see The Incredibles. Enjoyed the little pre-movie animation about a sheep who gets depressed after being shorn more then the main feature, but it was all good fun. Got dropped home and was still quite awake so watched some random German movie about a girl who seeks out the guy who saved her life. He turns out to be the cliched emotionally scarred ex-soldier. Sunday....I can't even remember what I did. Monday took time off work to receive a parcel that never came. 'Grrrrrr' again. Tuesday went to the Machine Head gig with a mate. If I'm honest I enjoyed the God Forbid set slightly more than Machine Head, but it was a fantastic night in general. What was strange was that I recognised people who've posted their pictures on Raw Nerve, so I knew who they were but they didn't know who I was. I like people-watching, being the outsider looking in on proceedings, and probably spent as much time from my vantage point watching the people in the crowd as I did watching the band. The security guy yawning halfway through the opening set. The two tiny emo guys, one of whom appeared to have modelled himself on Vince Noir, being sucked ever closer to the whirling vortex of the mosh pit. The plethora of 'Ghost World' style girls. The little boys in hoodies, their babyfaces as yet untouched by razor. I was bored today at work, so googled my first and last name together. This came up with no namesakes at all, so I just googled my surname which came up with one website, which ironically turns out to be my biological father's latest venture. I sometimes wonder if I should reestablish contact with some of my family, but then I remember that contact with them comes conditional on contact with him. And that ain't gonna happen in the foreseeable future. On that maudlin note I shall conclude tonights entry, because I need an early night and I have a Will Self novel calling. Current Mood: tired Current Music: Jeff Buckley (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004
6:40 pm	Timewasting I found myself watching 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' on Sunday, against my better judgement. And I enjoyed it too, although I'll never understand why the Hugh Grant character chooses both an insane woman and a wooden American over the delightfully mordant Kristin Scott Thomas. I mean, would you really? I did shed a tear at the funeral scene with the poetry reading....but that's just because I like Auden of course, not because I'm the type of person who gets weepy at the slightest cinematic pretext. You'd never find me in paroxysms of tears over the sight of the ghost bunnies in Watership Down flitting over the valleys, accompanied by the mournful strains of Art Garfunkel. Oh no. Last night I went round to my friend's house and played PS2 all evening, only halting the proceedings to make pizzas- hers with mounds of cheese and bacon, mine with the less appetising looking 'scheese', peppers, mushrooms and red onion. It was lovely. I made my excuses at a reasonable hour (11) and came home to bed...... Now, I have a slight problem, if problem is the right word, with sleep paralysis. Sometimes when I wake up in the morning I can't move for a couple of minutes, other than opening my eyes. Although I am not consciously worried by this, my subconscious on occasion seeks to remind me of situations where this may be an issue. Last night I had a vivid dream where I woke up to find a burglar rifling through my belongings. They looked over to see me staring and began walking over menacingly; of course I was completely paralysed and couldn't move or make a sound. I woke up at that point fortunately, with full functionality. Last time I dreamt the house was on fire, and I was laid there petrified and inert, like a human sacrifice awaiting their fate on the pyre. I was quite tired at work today. One girl phoned in sick with a headache and the dude who is leaving understandably didn't seem too bothered about doing any work. The scond leaving dude is on 'gardening leave' and has already cleared his desk, which I can't imagine he's too disappointed with. I had my review, or whatever ridiculous title they give it, in which I was told that I was fairly average at my job, but they didn't want me to leave the company. This implies that a) they are desperate or b) the majority of the workforce is below average, thus rendering me a good prospect by default. Both are true, but I probably shouldn't have pointed it out all the same. I should learn to filter my thoughts before speaking them, as I do when writing. Or perhaps I should filter my writing less? I know I would much prefer to read about the singularity of another persons introspections than the minutiae of their daily existence. Got the bus home, and was cheered by the graffiti on Town Street. For months the side of the chippy has borne the legend 'Dale is gay'. Today I see it has been joined by the rebuff 'Good for him!'. As Dylan once sang, the times they are a-changing. Current Mood: contemplative Current Music: Slayer. Bring on the paaaaiiiin mofo (Comment on this)