My word, so very many cobwebs. How quickly they gather.
Well, soon dealt with.
In that spirit, I return to document my travails and exploits, plucking the jewels of iniquitous revelry from the placid sea of monotony that constitutes my life in general.
Going back a long ways indeed, to the end of January, I saw Dragonforce with Lucy. They were playing Leeds Met with Edguy and another power metal band. I've not been much of a fan of these band's particular brand of breakneck, cheesy metal, but it was a nice night overall. Aided by a few delightfully cheap glasses of Jager and coke, we watched the bands throw super-metal poses and quivering screeches from both lung and guitar in full ROCK mode. Fans waved plastic swords and axes, people whirled their (inevitably) long hair around, beer was quaffed and songs of battles and orcs were sung. While I didn't have the stamina to last the night and ended up leaving early, I vow not to look down on such artists in future. Herman Li, one of Dragonforce's guitarists, was incredibly impressive. If you see their video for "Through the Fire and the Flames", a good chunk of the video is simply him soloing, with a handy close-up of his fretwork. Stirring stuff.
My lectures this semester are remarkably absorbing, probably due to the fact I'm paying massive amounts of attention and taking copious notes, a practice I should have started long ago. Revisiting Freud and exploring issues of identity and power discourses in public movements is really much more fascinating than it sounds, and I'm grateful I am closing my tenure at Leeds with the finest lecturers in the department. Richard Kilminster's voice, as Eve and I have decided, is the kind perfectly suited to reading gentle, rolling epic on audio cassette.
I went home for a long weekend on the 9th of February, as well as the fact it was Tamzin's 3rd birthday. That thursday evening when I made it home, mum and I watched Question Time and talked for a great while about politics and some issues of family history, where along the way I learned a few more illuminating details about my parents relationship during the years before I was born. It was an education, and an insight into the often troubled course of love and long-lasting partnerships.
The friday saw me rolling up my sleeves (metaphorically, as I was wearing a t-shirt) and helping mum to cook a wonderful French casserole called Chicken Auvergne. I sliced and diced, washed and peeled, and surprised myself in realising that it was all really quite fun! I took notes on the recipe for future use (as you will see) and when it formed the main course of our family meal with James, Brit, Tamzin and Brit's parents, it went down really well. It's amazing what a sense of pride can be derived from knowing that others enjoy something you produce, even if it's as simple (!) as a meal.
The next day was Tamzin's birthday party and after trying (and failing) to help James set up a climbing frame that seemed to require an Engineering degree, we found the house swamped with about sixteen 3-4 year olds and attendant family members. I think it certainly kept us all on our toes in watching over them, but I cheekily tucked myself away in a corner chatting to a fellow Uni student who lived over the road. There was a chocolate fountain and pancakes, and birthday cake, and while I'd been a bit hesitant about the event it all turned out really well.
The sunday saw a wondrous and well-timed coincidence. Well, not so much coincidence as good timing, as Jenny decided to come visit me. What was initially going to be a couple of hours to give me a study break, instead became something closer to eight, with dinner and a massive amount of chatting. It was really welcome, and made up for the little contact we'd been able to fit in up to that point.
Phew. I think that's enough for now, but I promise to update more regularly from now on, with such tales as the Arrival of Lizie, the Day of Two Birthdays, and the House Party of Curiosity! And perhaps a little Sociological discussion along the way.
Now I leave you with a quote of unknown author, although I plucked it from the b/tard's own refuge, 4chan. It goes:
Anyone desperate enough for suicide...should be desperate enough to go to creative extremes to solve problems: elope at midnight, stow away on the boat to New Zealand and start over, do what they always wanted to do but were afraid to try.
No especial relevance, but I thought it a nice view on the subject.
Tee tee eff en.
Well, soon dealt with.
In that spirit, I return to document my travails and exploits, plucking the jewels of iniquitous revelry from the placid sea of monotony that constitutes my life in general.
Going back a long ways indeed, to the end of January, I saw Dragonforce with Lucy. They were playing Leeds Met with Edguy and another power metal band. I've not been much of a fan of these band's particular brand of breakneck, cheesy metal, but it was a nice night overall. Aided by a few delightfully cheap glasses of Jager and coke, we watched the bands throw super-metal poses and quivering screeches from both lung and guitar in full ROCK mode. Fans waved plastic swords and axes, people whirled their (inevitably) long hair around, beer was quaffed and songs of battles and orcs were sung. While I didn't have the stamina to last the night and ended up leaving early, I vow not to look down on such artists in future. Herman Li, one of Dragonforce's guitarists, was incredibly impressive. If you see their video for "Through the Fire and the Flames", a good chunk of the video is simply him soloing, with a handy close-up of his fretwork. Stirring stuff.
My lectures this semester are remarkably absorbing, probably due to the fact I'm paying massive amounts of attention and taking copious notes, a practice I should have started long ago. Revisiting Freud and exploring issues of identity and power discourses in public movements is really much more fascinating than it sounds, and I'm grateful I am closing my tenure at Leeds with the finest lecturers in the department. Richard Kilminster's voice, as Eve and I have decided, is the kind perfectly suited to reading gentle, rolling epic on audio cassette.
I went home for a long weekend on the 9th of February, as well as the fact it was Tamzin's 3rd birthday. That thursday evening when I made it home, mum and I watched Question Time and talked for a great while about politics and some issues of family history, where along the way I learned a few more illuminating details about my parents relationship during the years before I was born. It was an education, and an insight into the often troubled course of love and long-lasting partnerships.
The friday saw me rolling up my sleeves (metaphorically, as I was wearing a t-shirt) and helping mum to cook a wonderful French casserole called Chicken Auvergne. I sliced and diced, washed and peeled, and surprised myself in realising that it was all really quite fun! I took notes on the recipe for future use (as you will see) and when it formed the main course of our family meal with James, Brit, Tamzin and Brit's parents, it went down really well. It's amazing what a sense of pride can be derived from knowing that others enjoy something you produce, even if it's as simple (!) as a meal.
The next day was Tamzin's birthday party and after trying (and failing) to help James set up a climbing frame that seemed to require an Engineering degree, we found the house swamped with about sixteen 3-4 year olds and attendant family members. I think it certainly kept us all on our toes in watching over them, but I cheekily tucked myself away in a corner chatting to a fellow Uni student who lived over the road. There was a chocolate fountain and pancakes, and birthday cake, and while I'd been a bit hesitant about the event it all turned out really well.
The sunday saw a wondrous and well-timed coincidence. Well, not so much coincidence as good timing, as Jenny decided to come visit me. What was initially going to be a couple of hours to give me a study break, instead became something closer to eight, with dinner and a massive amount of chatting. It was really welcome, and made up for the little contact we'd been able to fit in up to that point.
Phew. I think that's enough for now, but I promise to update more regularly from now on, with such tales as the Arrival of Lizie, the Day of Two Birthdays, and the House Party of Curiosity! And perhaps a little Sociological discussion along the way.
Now I leave you with a quote of unknown author, although I plucked it from the b/tard's own refuge, 4chan. It goes:
Anyone desperate enough for suicide...should be desperate enough to go to creative extremes to solve problems: elope at midnight, stow away on the boat to New Zealand and start over, do what they always wanted to do but were afraid to try.
No especial relevance, but I thought it a nice view on the subject.
Tee tee eff en.