the_happy_pig

So, I still seem to be online after a couple of days. How novel.

So this begs the question, "So, oh Gleeful Porcine (Without whom we are as naught), how does one survive 6 weeks with no internet?"

By listening to this album. A lot.



It was tricky, I will say. I nearly lost my cool a couple of times, but I soldiered on. Any sympathy sent by you will be greatly received, thanks. But, what I did to keep me occupied was...

I read these



Utimate X-Men Surprisingly good. I've been a fan of the Ultimates since my good friend Doctor J put issue one in my grubby mitts and demanded that I read it. He then told me that a lot of the rest of the franchise wasn't up to much, quality wise. It's not as good, or as good looking as the Ultimates. And It should really be called "Ultimate Wolverine", seeing as he graces every cover and seems to be the principle character. That annoyed me slightly as Mark Millar has made the rest of the X-men into really interesting characters (Even Cyclops is pretty cool), but this many books into the series, they are criminally underused. Nothing particularly taxing about the books, in fact I'd say that they are pretty lightweight. But good fun to read.

The Ultimates Vol 1: Super Human I bought this late because of the annoying labelling Marvel put on the spines of their books. Ages ago, I went into my local comic shop (Which is absolutely rubbish by the way) and saw on the shelf The Ultimates and The Ultimates 2 on the shelf. So I got them. Turned out it was Ultimates 1 part 2 and Ultimates 2 part 1. Well, at least there was some continuity. But it's awesome.

Ultimate Galactus trilogy Is anyone else seeing a pattern to my comic book reading yet? I love Warren Ellis' work. And this is no bad example of it, bleaker and darker than Ultimate X-Men. Introduces the Fantastic four in a way that doesn't make me want to burn the book. Galactus is also introduced in a much better way than just being an enormous bloke who turns up from time to time, he is portrayed as quite a frightening, pitiless and implacable entity. Which I liked. Part 2 is probably the weakest, and the payoff at the end of part 3 is a tad too neat and quickly resolved, but that seems to be true with most comics, build the story up and then realise it has to be resolved in one issue. Still bloody good though.

Criminal Vol 1: Coward I've never come across Ed Brubaker before, another good friend of mine, affectionately known as Meat gave me this. It's pretty much like a latter day crime thriller (The title of the series gives it away perhaps) and would make a great fiim. Imagine The Usual Suspects meets Romeo is Bleeding and you'll have an idea of what it's like. Good stuff. I'm going to seek out more of Ed Brubaker's books, anyone have any recommendations? (I'm looking at you RDPixie )

The Walking Dead Vol 1: Days gone bye I got this on a whim and by Angel_Ree mentioning that she believed it was pretty good. She was right (And won't she be smug because of it!). Fantastic. Robert Kirkman obviously feels the same way I do about survival horror movies, I enjoy how the characters adapt to the change in their world, the Zombies are always just an added bonus. I've just ordered books 2 and 3.

The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner Apparently an old childrens book, one that evidently passed me by. A great mixture of old English folk tales, Norse mythology, fantasy, and the requisite couple of well mannered, level headed but inquisitive and whimsical children. And the Dwarves were hard as nails.

I watched:

Cloverfield Wow. a truly great example of the monster movie Genre.

I am Legend A poor example of the monster movie Genre. I know about suspension of reality and all that, but terrible CGI coupled with questions like "If there are that many deer in abandoned New York, where do they go at night when the monsters come out? Do all the animals sleep in brightly lit sheds?" made it quite disappointing.

Beowulf Fantastic retelling of one of my favourite stories. Didn't care that it was CGI. Anthony Hopkins owned that movie, I liked Grendel. And the screenplay was by Gaiman, so it was never going to be that bad was it. I don't know why they made Ray Winstone look like Sean Bean though.

I got inked, as some of you will have already seen.



Nice.

I got one of these.



Riding to work every day now, and riding to other places on my days off. My thighs feel like they're made out of Iron now - Heavy, solid and hard to move. But coupling cycling with a change in diet I've discovered that I'm starting to lose weight and (Gasp) become noticeably heathier. I'm even idly giving thought to keeping the cycling going this year and to attempt the London to Brighton Bike ride next year.

Went to the Brum meet. I drank a lot. I didn't fall over, but did leave with a sizeable bruise in the area of my right kidney. No stitches there, so I don't believe that it got stolen. Great time had, met some great new folks, some old friends, of whom I grow fonder of with every meet up, gush, gush, I love you guys etc.

Went to Scotland. In a Lorry. That was limited to 56 miles an hour. Got picked up Good Friday morning, arrived that night, loaded up all of my Sister's possessions. Went to the local pub for a meal. Got stared at by all the locals. Drove back in aforementioned Lorry on Saturday morning. M6 closed for one junction. Diverted. Via Leeds. Saw every conceivable type of weather, Rain, hail, snow, gale forced winds, sun, fog. Drove over two mountains. Got back Saturday and unloaded the truck. My sister now lives back here, a mere 5 minute bike ride away. Great.

Bought a Wii, I now am under the impression that I am a pro golfer thanks to Tiger Woods PGA tour.

Applied for a new job in the control room, Radio Dispatch Operator. No idea if anything will come of it, but fingers crossed. Wankers.

Planning a survival horror LARP thing in October/November. We are in need of crew, and if anyone fancies coming along to dress up in 70s gear and pretend to be a Zombie, let me know. It's free, but you'll need to bring a tent.

A great many people seem to be splitting up with long term partners. Which sucks for them. Fortunately my love live is as barren as the Gobi desert, and that's no bad thing by all accounts, and it means an increase in my local social life. It is an ill wind that blows nobody good.

And when I got back online I found 109 emails in my inbox, 90% of them from Facebook, and my computer telling me that almost every piece of software I might care to use is hopelessy out of date, so it's update downloadamungus for me.