MonkeyPriest Musings

Its been a while....

2005-12-05T12:21:00.000Z

Hello! blimey, its been about 3 months since my last blog!
why? well, the things is you may remember that I was talking about finding a nw job and a new life. So thats what I've been doing. I got a new job, have moved to London and am living with the girlfriend! It all happened in October, I had an interview for a promotion and they turned around and offered it me! So I took it and then had to deal with not only starting a new job, sort out renting a new flat, find someone to move into my old flat and take a weeks holiday in Prague, as well as work my normal 40 hour week. It wasd a busy old time. So no chance for any bloggin I'm afraid- maybe some info and photos from Prague coming soon!
So with all the possible questions you have in mind, let me answer the most pressing one: What celebs have I seen in the street?
Number 1:
Diarmud Gavin- TV Gardener

WHERE? Kings Cross Train Station

Number 2:
Kim Newman- Journalist, Cult Movie Expert

WHERE? Coming out of Highbury and Islington Tube Station

Number 3:
(Possibly) Lynn Fauld Wood- TV Presenter, Consumer Champion

WHERE? walking past the bus stop outside work. It might not have been her though, I only got a fleeting glance.

Number 4:
Sean Paul - Musician, Idiot

WHERE? In Camden Market, surrounded by big black bouncers and about 15 twelve year olds going "Ohmgoditssaulpaul!!!"

Number 5: Julian Barratt - Actor, Comedian, Genius

WHERE? Drinking in one of my "locals", on Upper Street. Like a real person, sitting in a pub! Wearing a jumper much like mine and tapping his fingers wildly. The best spot so far!

And thats the celebrities seen so far. I'm sure there'll be more- well there'd better be. Fancy London and all!

a quick RGIS

2005-09-05T18:56:00.000Z

Finally and Good:

Big Gap

2005-09-05T18:40:00.000Z

My computer is really annoying me. I havent blogged for over a week, after I'd just announced my plans to blog more often, and the reason? My bloody computer has decided to throw an eppy and is having what I call 'emotional issues'. Its rather strange, it keeps crashing and resetting to its factory settings but i don't lose my files (thanks god) and it resets while its on. Yup, it stays on when it does it! I've never seen anything like it before.

I mean, I haven't even been able to tell you all about the fantastic bank holiday weekend I had in London last weekend or the very poor week of training that followed it (just the one run!) or the busy Saturday I've just had cramming in looking at 3 flats for the missus- she wants to move; taking photos of the Birmingham leg of the Tour of Britain cycle race; watching the footie and seeing England trounce, ahem, our closest rivals Wales 1-0; and the full-on fun that was a cracking nite out at Snobs.

All of these wonders have passed you by. I'm having to do all of this at work (tut tut), so I can't even upload the images from the cycle race or the 'London Bank Holiday extravaganza' weekend. (I'll have to post them later with some more details.)

I can say tat I've got a job interview tomorrow in London which could mean some big descisions having to be made in the near future (or not depending how it goes). Wish me luck!!

More Isle of Wight photos

2005-08-24T18:44:00.000Z

Rob has got his pics from the Isle of Wight developed. You can find them here.In the mean time here's me having a brew with my much missed long hair:

Another week gone by

2005-08-24T18:33:00.000Z

I have been lax, I fully admit it. I've gone and not updated the Blog in over a week again! Well, sorry, I've been busy. Kinda. So whats happened in the last week?

Work. I have been to work, like every other week. This week has been rubbish, not particualy hard but its been one of those weeks where nothing really seems to happen and I realise that I'm not overly stimulated in the job. This has been happening more and more lately, I'm thinking of "looking at my options". I've started actually reading the Top Job email alerts that I recieve, I've even had a sneaky peak at the immigration laws of New Zealand, its another option after all!
Whe nnot in work this week I've been watching Pete and Pete- the greatest kids program america ever made- think Malcolm in the Middle but more surreal and clever all bedecked in early ninities guitar music and you've nearly got the picture. This is a picture of Big Pete and Little Pete:

My sister has all the episodes ona dodgy DVD that she got online and I've borrowed it for a bit. It really is fantastic.

I also saw Crash at the cinema on Saturday,I didn't know that mucg about it apart from having it highly recommanded and I must say that its a right good'un. Racial dramas aren't exactly my usual fodder but it was very good and made you think about the owrld we live in and I'm in danger of going being supercillious suffice to say its a good film.

At the Sunflower Lounge quiz on Monday, the team - Too Orangey for Crows - came a disappointing 4th, but Rob won 20 quid (just) so its wasn't all bad. i was heavily knackered and wasn't really in the mood for it but hadn't been out for a couple of weeks - saving the money for Prague - so made the effort. Andy I found out had passed his driving test - well done you!

Training last week was also rigourous. 3 good outdoor runs totalling 18 miles! No gym visits but its the running outdoors which needs to be concentrated on now! Only 24 days to go!!!! And i guess thats about it, apart from a drink out of Friday night, (not a meal as previously planned- oh well, never mind) thats the sum total of my week really.

A Proper Run

2005-08-16T12:09:00.000Z

Yesterday I ran outdoors for 8 miles! 8 miles! It took an hour and a quarter and now my legs hurt! Particularly my left leg, its the same that ached after the 13 mile trek,I hope its not a recurring problem. But still, 8 miles! i am very proud of myself today, and am having a day off (obviously).

Smethwick Locks, part of the running route

A Bit Of A Do

2005-08-16T12:05:00.000Z

It was Mree's mate Anne Marie's wedding on Saturday, and it was a very nice evening, once we got there. You see the problem was going to the wrong Golf Club! It was a bit like the sort of thing that happens in stuff on TV, the tiny 'village' of Little Aston, two golf clubs- Little Aston Golf Club (where we went) and Aston Woods Golf Club (where we should have gone!). We means me and the missus' sister, the missus already being at said Golf Club wondering where we are, walking miles unneccesarily. Combine that with a poorly planned journey there anyway meant a total journey time of 3 hours! Meant to arrive at 7.30, actually arrival time - 9.45! Poor Helen, her feet were ripped to shreds. But after all of that, buffet and drinking fun was had. So, the tally:

6 pints of Carlsberg. Simple.
The Do itself was the usual fayre- cheesy dj (a bit blue tho), drunken people falling into bushes, a blushing bride, forgotten gifts and a taxi home.

They take care of the greens at Aston Wood Golf Club, or is that Little Aston Golf Club?

Friday night was a quiet one, Mree wanted to stay in before the big day, she was chief bridesmaid afterall, so both ladies came around and wine was drunk whilst watching the Big Brother finale on the tele. Thankfully, Makosi and Kinga went out straight away.

Sunday was spent chilling out and recovering from the night before (but not hangover related) and consisted of mooching about town, eating noodles and drinking coffees. And then watching 2 and a bit episodes of Lost on E4. Nice, relatively quiet weekend really.

A quick RGIS

2005-08-13T14:38:00.000Z

Conference and Return:

Self Image

2005-08-13T14:10:00.000Z

There's a great website where you can Make Your Own South Park Character. I had a go about a year ago and promptly forgot about it. I then had another go this week because there was an email at work doing the rounds so we all knocked one up. I then realised that i'd got two, each about a year apart. So what could this show us about self image and the change of perception over time? Well, you decide:

Last Year

Note: the beard; short scruffy hair; erm... the knife.

This Year

Note: longer, scruffy hair; stubble; stripey jumper; trendy little walkman.

A Wedding Day

2005-08-12T18:52:00.000Z

Tomorrow I am going to a wedding, well, not the ceremony but the do afterwards. Its a friend of the missus's and have only met her a couple of times so am not sure what to expect, in fact, I'm only going to know 2 other people there: the missus, and the missus's sister. And the missus is a bridesmaid so will be off doing bridesmaidy type things.

So how will the evening plan out? I don't know, but should be good fun, both of them are staying over at mine for the weekend, it make the logistics of the whole weekend much easier so the flat is going to seem rather full. Note to self- buy some food!

A weekend Away

2005-08-07T16:28:00.000Z

Its Sunday afternoon as I write this and I'm a bit bored. I got home a couple of hours ago from an unexpected weekend away. I had forgotton that an old friend of mine, Hayley, had invited me to a BBQ, or more accurately a Ska-BQ (which is basically a BBQ with the promise of Ska music being played).
I'd forgotton all about it because she sent an email about it a couple of weeks ago and I have a short attention span and promptly forgot about it. So, yesterday afternoon whilst wondering what to do it popped back into my head and plans to get there were arranged, well I skanked a lift of Emma and Mike.

Hayley lives in Wirksworth at the moment which is a small village on the edge of the Peak District and is a lovely little town. She and her fella are renting a literally tumbledown cottage which seems to have come straight out of Postman Pat and is absolutely beautiful (as is the rest of the town). Also there was a good crowd of people there, some real good friends I haven't seen for a good while, and new people who we'd never met but made good drinking companions.

picture postcard country- Wirksworth

Highlights include: funny looking dogs in a pub; a man having a very public dispute about the colour of his shop on the High Street, complete with bright yellow petition in the window; blooming gorgeous weather; Hayley's lovely spread; having a slightly drunken singalong complete with guitars; trying to play the bagpipes; Ped's toy guitar (as ever); a number of funny hats; Camping, Camping, Camping!; Kate falling over a wall while she says "I'll probably fall over this wall"; the coldest tent in the world at night; the hottest tent in the world by daylight; silky football skills; "Gateau at the Chateau" and England beating the Aussies at Cricket.
Despite the promise of Ska, we actually got 'Rave 92' and 'Rap to the Max' on the stereo but it was OK because of the irony of it all and the fact our drunken singalong was a bit louder than the stereo. Some pics were taken by members of the group sio hopefully I'll be able to get some up here at a later date.

Quiz Time!

2005-08-03T20:53:00.000Z

Today I recieved an email from Becca asking me to take a quiz she had devised which was all about her. Also Bob has put on his Blog a link to a quiz he has devised which is all about him. It's obviously a craze that is sweeping the net, so not to feel left out I've gont and done one which is all about me. So, Take my Quiz! and then Check out the Scoreboard!

Also check out Becca's quiz and Bob's quiz.
My scores were: 70% for Becca's and 80% for Bob's.

Walk Walk

2005-08-01T18:19:00.000Z

Sunday saw a very long walk take place. How long? Well, 13 miles to be precise, as preparation for the Great north Run, me and my fellow Team Tiger Teammates (minus Dan) did a 13 mile walk down the canals of Warwickshire. And very good it was too, despite the twinge I've acquired in a muscle in my thigh. Rob gives a good account of the days events, along with photos, at the TEOTT blog here.

But some other facts of interest include: seeing an old man with the highest waistband in the world on a bench; a woman who found a bridge too steep to walk down until the promise of being caught by her husband if she fell down it; assorted dead animals in the canal; a cracking pub lunch (steak pie and chips) at The Black Boy in Knowle (SG's dinner - sausage, beans and yorkshire pudding looked rubbish mind you); conveniently timed rainfall; a village shop with a staggerlingly large supply of alcohol and pornography; hot(ish) girls with bikes; The Boot Inn; The Boat Inn; a new Bentley parked up with its windows left open and 2 large bottles of expensive champagne within knabbing distance on the seat (idiot); saying hello to passers by; and some lovely scenery. Not to mention a good team bonding session. Needless to say I felt a bit tired when I got home 10 hours after setting out.

Disappointment

2005-07-30T11:40:00.000Z

I had been looking forward to Friday night. After a crazy week at work the chance to get out and let (whats left of) my hair down loomed large and it should have been a crackin night. But it wasn't and I'm not sure why. All the factors for a good night were there:

The lads? Check. The venues? Check. The availability of alcholic beverages? Check. Money in pocket? Check. But it just didn't click together. I think the main reason for the washout was being incredibily tired. As anyone for knows can tell, the only time i really get in a "mood" is when I'm tired and this week I'd burnt the candle at both ends a bit too much and I could tell. (You know its bad when you're out and you realise you'd prefer to be in bed asleep rather than out looking at the ladies dancing). Also the beverages were having zero affect. Not just from an alcholic content point of view but also the desire to have a drink. Half way thru my 2nd lager I realised I wasn't actualy enjoying it at all and that feeling was compounded when the next pint (the first in the Academy) was rank- I don't think the tap pipes had been cleaned. I couldn't manage more than about a third of it and just left it.

In the end I gave in to the tiredness, tired of fighting it, and left early at about 1:30am. I don't think the others lasted much longer. Rob agrees. It just wasn't right- shame.

a quick tally then for what its worth:
1 pint Carlsberg
1 pint Guinness
1 pint Carling
1/3 pint Rank Carling
4 vodka and coke
3 double vodka and coke
1 pint water (very important)

And a RGIS to boot:
understand and rare:

Holiday!

2005-07-28T12:49:00.000Z

Wa-hey! I've just booked a holiday. I'm going to Prague. With the missus. In September. And get this, it only cost £30 for the flights! thats including the taxes and charges! The flights themselves only cost about £2 there and £6 back. How crazy is that?? Not that I'm going to complain, now to sort out some accomodation....

How excited am I?

Cat Sitting

2005-07-28T12:25:00.000Z

This week I am cat sitting. My good friend and nieghbour KC is lucky enough to have gone on holiday and I am looking after the cat. Well, I say looking after, she's not at my house or anything but I am going around to KC's and feeding and watering her, and giving her a bit of fuss to boot. Regis, or Reg for short, should have recognised me from a year or so ago but I think she ws a bit cagey to begin with.

In fact on Monday, Day 1, I didn't even see her, presumably she was sculking in the wardrobe like she has done in the past. On Tuesday she was mooching about but a bit weary, letting me give her a bit of a stroke before wandering off. Then yesterday, Day 3, she was right there around the bowls, chomping down the Whiskas so soon as the bowl hit the ground and enjoying a bit of a fuss. Today, she was much more concerned with trying to get out; mewing at the door and rubbing herself up against anything there was, its understandable, she usually goes out quite a lot and has been cooped up for 4 days. I had to coax her onto the window ledge and run off out the door so she couldn't get out.

i must say, I'm quite enjoying it, looking after a cat, ok so it only takes about 5 minutes a day but its still quite a responsibility. So far, so good- But what will happen tomorrow??
This is Reg. All together now- Awwwww!

The Random Google Image Search (RGIS)

2005-07-24T15:00:00.000Z

The Rules

Simple. Simply type in two totally random words into a Google Image Search. (preferably heard on the TV or Radio to improve its randomness). Then choose your picture from the first page of results. If there are no results found you must change your second word. Thats it.

Examples:
Chimney and Street

Mist and Next

1400 and walls

More coming soon...

Happy Flying Ant Day!

2005-07-24T14:47:00.000Z

Yesterday was Flying Ant Day. As is customary, may I wish everybody a 'Happy Flying Ant Day'.

What is Flying Ant Day you ask? Well, it's that special day of the year when suddenly there are flying ants everywhere; the day they all swarm up from their underground lairs and take to the skies. Ants don't usually have wings but after a particuarly hot spell of weather it means those that have been growing them come out into the heat to fly off to start a new colony (or something like that).

I know it was Flying Ant Day because I went to my parents house yesterday and in their garden they have a large patio which is very nice. Looking out of the lounge window I saw flying ants, millions of them, surging up from under the patio slabs. Now there are usually ants here on Flying Ant Day, but yesterday there were millions and millions, no exaggeration! It was quite disgusting actually, cos when we were in the garden the air was teeming with them, getting stuck on clothes and in hair and everything. So, its was up to dad, the alpha male, to fight against them and use the ultimate enemy of the flying ant: the kettle. 3 boiling water loads later, and there were still a lot of ants arounds but not as many as before.

Funny BBC article about Scottish Flying Ants from last year - here.

More about ants.

Bloody flying ants.

Hair today, gone tomorrow

2005-07-20T12:59:00.000Z

Bad pun aside. today I bit the bullet and got a hair cut. It has been 7 months since my last one. My hair had got a bit long and it needed doing. Problem is that I'd got used to long hair and quite liked it despite the impracticalities. But i was more than happy to get it tidied up. I originally was going to go to a new place that opened a couple of weeks ago and was offering 50% off for new clients. Great! i thought, so i rang them up only to find out that all the staff were holiday for a week so it wasn't open! How does that work then? Open for 2 weeks and they close down for a week? Hmmm. Still it meant going to the one I went to last time which I have know quarms about.
So the lady set about cutting it and got it into some sort of order I liked. But then she kept going and before I knew it my hair was a helluva lot shorter than i wanted. Its bad enough trying to get used to the new do when its how you want it so I'm kinda getting paranoid about it. Hoping it will grow on me.
And also, before i forget, the place charged me £3 extra cos my hair was past the ears! Extortionate!

The drinks tally and random picture!

2005-07-19T18:50:00.000Z

Ok, this weekend involved 2 nights drinking. Bob gives a good account of the frovolities of Friday night here, although I left the Academy and went home, not ending up at a random house in Stechford. Ok, so the tally:
3 pints Budvar
1 pint Carlsberg
1 vodka and Red alert
Numerous pints of Carling
I also managed to bag a free T-shirt, a Magic Numbers poster, a Kaiser Chiefs poster, a bottle opener and 2 badges. Sweet.

And as for Saturday night more frivolity occured at the Thai karaoke place I've mentioned before. It was a meal with the missus and her "crowd", some of whom I've never met. So how do I make the best impression? Get nicely bladdered and sing my lungs out until I'm so tired I stomp my feet and demand to be taken home in a sulk. My rendition "Mack the Knife" was particuarly memorable. And I must mention the fact that in the bar beforehand we saw a woam nfall into the canal, it was very funny and a man jumped in to "save" her and looked about as bad as she did.( in fact this is as good a time to mention that despite this blog turning more and more into a "drunken weekends" blog you should drink responsibly, theres nothing worse than people who think getting trollied all the time is fun. I only mention it because I like a good story.) Despite that, heres the tally:
2 pints of foreign lager
1 bottle of Corona
numerous glasses of white wine.

plus a random picture:
google image search on: Friendship Soup.

More Phone Misery

2005-07-19T18:30:00.000Z

Over the course of the weekend i noticed a couple more predictive things:
"I'LL" is "H'LL"
"SO" is "PM"
Stoopid.

'And' not 'Cod'

2005-07-12T18:38:00.000Z

This phone has rubbish predictive text. That is a fact.

Ok, I'm gonna have a gripe. I use my mobile phone quite a lot, even though I've got a land line, I tend to use my mobile even when at home. The reason? I text more than I ring. Its took me a few years to realise the benefits of texting, I was always one of the you-might-as-well-talk-and-get-everything-said-in-one-go brigade but then i realised I could keep in touch with people but not have to be bothered to talk to them!

So whats my gripe? Is it that stoopid kids not are growing up unable to spell bcuz thy r txtn n sA gr8 n l8r n lol instead of actually writing?? No, although the more i think about it, Yes. My original gripe is about my phone and how ridiculous the predictive text is. Becasue I H8 that kiddie text language I always write things out properly, so predictive text SHOULD be the prefect answer. Its not, not on my phone, because my phone has decided that any words I want to use won't come out instead it'll say something stupid. For example: And, a common word, a word I use alot, possibily more than any other. Does my phone come up with 'and'? No, its comes up with 'Cod'. COD!! When do I ever want to use 'cod' in a sentence unless putting my order in down the chip shop? Not very often. So what happens? I either send off a message that makes no sense making me look like a right fool or a have to press a load of buttons to make it say 'and'. What a hassle! No wonder kids are saying 'sod it' and typing something else. I've come up with a short list of other words where the same thing happens:

AND is COD
THE is TIE
HOME is GOOD
IF is IE
HE is IE
SEE is PED
ME is OF
BAR is BBQ

And so on and so on. These are only the ones I can remember. I might put others on as I find them. ARRGGGHH!!

the last few days

2005-07-09T18:30:00.000Z

I haven't posted for the last few days. As many are aware the events of the last few days have been surreal. I'm not going to sit here and blog about what happened, I dare say you know that already and if you don't then the BBC can tell you more. But theres a part of me that needs to simply tell people about whats in my head. Its only now, three days later that I've been able to sit down and try to comprehend and put the events into some sort of perspective.

Even now, i've just flicked through all three 24 hour news channels that i've got thru my Freeview box and all of them are still providing the latest coverage regarding the event. Life seems to have temporarily put on hold but also things seems to have been dealt with and life is moving on following the events. Its a strange position, the type that follows any major incident of this nature i guess, on one hand theres the wanting to know what happened, finding the answers to the questions but then also a certain amount of getting on with things and continuing to get on with life.

It was a normal day, i dont usually write about work but I've got to here. in the office we have BBC news 24 on and saw that there were reports of a blast at Liverpool St. nothing really alarming, I even rang our London office to pass on the info in case it was going to affect the train services!! Little did we know what was really happening and as time went on the true horrors evolved. It meant that not only was I aware of it as it happened but i was actually having to deal with it because thats my job, I couldn't just turn myself off, it was constant. I ended up having to work a 13 hour shift, could have been worse i know, but thru the day i was just running on adrenaline and when i got home i just wanted to turn off, clear my mind. i didnt want to think about the roads and trains and how commuters were going to get home or the advice people who meant to be going to London were getting. yet alone the fact that i know a lot of people who live in London. As far as I'm aware theyre ok.

And only the day before everyone had been celebrating the fact London had won the Olympics for 2012. what a difference a day makes as they say.

I've done it again!

2005-07-06T19:04:00.000Z

Oh God I've gone and done it again! I say that I'm going to blog more and more and then I go a week without doing any. The reasons? Ok, so I've been a bit busy but its no excuse, More blogging from here on in.
This week, lots happening, firstly Live 8, saw the concerts on the big screens at Cannon Hill Park, it was a really good day, me and the missus and Mrs V went for a picnic including tip tops, Pringles, posh tomoto bread and dip and lots of beer. Me and the missus drank 11 cans in just a few short hours. Sweet. And we were hungover from the night before which was spent boogie-ing down the Academy.

This bloke was hammered but got the crowd going

I really enjoyed Live 8. I know some people have knocked it, but when is some thing like that going to happen again? I tried to get tickets but lost out, so the big screens in the park was the next best thing i guess. And it was for a good cause, I've got 2 'Make Poverty History' wristbands, one off-white one from glasto and the regular White Band. I've also got a band on this site (look up).
Sunday saw a big run in the park with the rest of the team (minus DB no surprises), a good strong run as had by nearly all and I was felling really good about my chances of not only finishing the GNR but doing it in a decent time. Problem is now tho that my leg REALLY hurts. It started aching Sunday night so I decided to take Monday off from the gym but went to Tueday. The planned 5 mile run was stopped after only 2.5, I simply couldn't run, it wasn't so much painful as my leg just wouldn't bend like it should. So I've also taken today off from the gym, I don't want to do any real proper damage to any muscles or ligaments. It's got a bit better today, so hopefully I'll wake up in the morning and it will all feel normal again and I'll attempt and easy run to get back into the swing of things.
Also on Sunday I made my mum cry simply by my general appearence. Which was nice. Ok, so I haven't shaved in the past couple of weeks, (oh yes the beard is back- but for how long?) and the hair is quite big at the mo. Still, to be able to trigger tears on sight is still quite an achievement.
Today was exciting, I went shopping in Sainsbury's (a rare treat) and dusted and hoovered the flat. Rock'n'roll.

Sad day

2005-06-29T21:40:00.000Z

Yesterday I heard the news that Richard Whiteley had died. For those who don't know Richard, he's a TV presenter, known mostly for his bumbling links, terrible puns and loud ties on Countdown, one of the best TV progs ever made. I was actually quite sad when I heard the news, after all, this was a man who'd been in my living room (albeit on my TV) every day for the past 20 years, I remember getting home from school quickly specifically to watch Countdown. Apparently he's presented over 2000 editions of Countdown over 23 years, was the first person on Channel 4 and has racked up more UK TV appearences than any other person.
He was almost like a friendly uncle type of person and seemed to genuinely be one of the nicest people you could ever meet. It's a shame I never met him, I'd never even imagined a world without Countdown! Don't know whether the show'll continue, i hope so but it'll never be the same. So goodbye Richard, and thanks.

Changing Faces

2005-06-26T13:17:00.000Z

Beard or no beard? That is the question.
Sometimes I have a beard, sometimes I do not. I find it hard to decide which I prefer, its always a case of the grass being greener. So I've tried out some different styles of facial hair. Need to take my pick.

The full beard

The Edmunds

The Goatie

The Spurlock

The Spiv

The Chaplin

Fresh Faced

But which one?

This weeks training

2005-06-26T13:04:00.000Z

Right then. The other week my training was rubbish, really rubbish. Woefully bad. A concerted effort was need this week, and thats exactly what was given. I constructed a plan of action and completed it to the hilt. Oh yes, I have laid to rest the demons of the other week, and its wasn't as bad as i thought it might be. So here's a brief outline of this weeks activities:
Sunday Approx. 10 mile walk
Monday 5 mile cycle
Tuesday 5 mile cycle and a park run
Wednesday 5 mile cycle and a trip to the gym
Thursday 5 mile cycle and a park run
Friday 5 mile cycle and a trip to the gym
Saturday A trip to the gym.
Grrrr....

A blogging tradition- the drinks tally

2005-06-26T12:22:00.000Z

I need to publish more posts. Quite often i think something i want to post about but i'm just not near the computer, or at work, or usually can't be bothered to do all the typing. This is an attitude that needs adjusting. So the solution? quick easy posts between the bigger ones. So let's get started. Stealing the idea from Bob, here is the 'Saturday Night Drinks Tally'. (now with pictures!)

A pint of Guinness in the Sunflower.

Five pints of Carlsberg Export at a quite posh Thai/Karaoke place.

Then onto Snobs with its hideously cheap and hideous vodka. So, 1 double vodka and orange, 1 vodka and orange, some vodka and cokes. Then i kinda lost count.

Another post, another weekend

2005-06-24T18:21:00.000Z

Its another Friday evening, so its another post about the weekend. Do you ever get the sense that maybe I just don't care about the working week? All I ever do is work and sleep and occasionally go to the gym, so I seem to be writing more about the weekends. Mind you I have had a couple of blinders recently.
So whats afoot this weekend? Tonight is probably going to be nothing, its been a busy week at work and I've been making a concerted effort with marathon training so I'm pretty knackered. Also its a good way to save some money following two weekends away.
Tomorrow I have an open day, no plans except a trip to the gym- I formulated a training schedule in my head for the week (more on that at a later date) and to complete it I need to go to the gym one more time so I might as well do it then, especially if I'm not hungover. Then on the evening its DB's new housemate's birthday and an evening of thai food and possible kareoke, but good kareoke. A sitting in a dark room at your table singing type of thing, not a get up on a stage while "Disco Stu" plays a synth version of "You're so Vain" in the background event. Much drinkage will still be needed, by myself and those whose ears I'll be punishing. It all comes highly recommended and with the crowd which should gather it will certainly be interesting.
Then Sunday, the day of rest. And BBQs. Back over to DB's for BBq is the mooted plan. Should be good- unless it rains, which it probably will.
Sure beats Glastonbury don't it? Well, maybe.

Marie's Tent?

More Iron Men

2005-06-22T18:57:00.000Z

Some more pics of those Iron men from the weekend.

The tide comes in

A man and a boat

Another Place

2005-06-21T18:11:00.000Z

A map of Crosby. It's near Bootle
This weekend saw a trip up to Scouseland, I mean Liverpool. The reason? Marie's friend's baby's Christening. It was a good weekend- full of drink, some food, more drink, walking, meeting new people and erm, drink. In fact it was a weekend chocca block of meeting new people and drinking with them.
There were two other bonus highlights which came as an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Firstly was the beach, I mean a beach is good at any time but it even better when its covered with 100 life size statutes of iron men. What the bejeez am I talking about?
Well for some reason, the artist Antony Gormley, who did the Angel of the North, has just erected 97 iron casts of himself and dotted them around the beach. The piece is called 'Another Place', apt if like me you don't live there and it's actually quite wonderful when you're there because you're looking out across the beach and can't tell who's real and who's not! Lifeguards must hate it when the tide comes in and drowns them all. Read more about it here

One of the Iron Men.
The second surprise was that it was the annual Crosby fun run, "The Crosby 10", now if I'd known about it before hand I'd have taken my running kit and had a go at the 5km challenge (leave the serious 10 mile run for next year!) but alas I didn't know so decided against running in my bulky shoes and jeans, especially on the hottest day of the year so far (32 degrees Celsius!). So what did I do? Well, me and the missus decided after watching the start to go and find somewhere t to eat a spot of lunch. A small cafe out in the country was suggested and a long walk ensued. After arriving and having a very pleasant and large baked potato an even longer walk back (the scenic route) was set upon.
It was only after about 30 minutes walking back we realised we were still having people run past us. So what was going on? We were only walking the fun run route in its entirety! So a day of exercise was inadvertently had and the feeling of guilt for another training-free weekend was vanquished. In fact in total we probably walked about 10 miles that day. Hardcore.

A Load of Rubbish

2005-06-17T18:31:00.000Z

My week of training in metaphor form

This has not been a good week for the training. In fact, this has possibly been the worst week yet. I'm ashamed of myself to be honest. After the frivolity of the weekend and my devil-may-care attitude to all kinds of physical training, apart from the careful limited consumption of only 2 ice creams in 5 days of sun soaked holiday- AG take notes, I had planned a week of getting back on track and compensation for a lost weekend.
That didn't happen.

Trips to the gym planned? Three
Trips taken? One

Runs arounds the park planned? Two.
Runs taken? Zero.

The shame.

The only positive thing about this week in fact has been the return of cycling into and out of work. Three times this week, and thats in a four day week. My new plan is to cycle everyday. Doing a road based trip in and a canal based trip back home means a total 5 mile round trip- thats 25 miles a week. This is scant consolation though. A concerted effort is needed next week.

The Return

2005-06-16T18:48:00.000Z

Its been 6 days since my last post. The reason? Well, it was The Isle of Wight Festival baby! Lots to mention but so little time, so here's a quick guide as to the who, what, where and when.

Thursday
An early start. 9am. Team tiger head 100 of miles south and catch a ferry to the Isle. Afternoon spent kicking the footie around Ryde seafront and arguing over who gets the front seat in SG's car. An evening of tent pitching, stall meandering and drinking ensues (from some at least).

Friday
An earlier start, 8am, thanks to one particular person getting up ridiculously early. Not good after that bottle of vodka the previous evening. But while on holiday you've got to make the most of it so a day trip to The Needles was born. Morning and lunchtime spend on a boat trip around the rock formation (which 12,000 years ago would have been a land bridge with Christchurch!- the things you remember from the jovial sea captain) and a bit of Jurassic stlye crazy golf. Then an afternoon of entertainment courtesy of Idlewild, Supergrass, Razorlight and Faithless. Another late-ish night.

Saturday
Another morning of holiday style fun. Supply mission to Morrisons and a trip to Cowes and a mooch on the seafront. More football kicking and old person annoying. The highlight of the trip being a look in a shop which sold airport lost prorty and a bargain Moog T-shirt for £3- which I later found on sale at the festival for £15- a saving of 80%! Sweet. Then back to the music and an afternoon of Babyshambles, Goldie Lookin' Chain, Feeder and Travis. And a few beers and trips to the Portaloo.

Sunday
Not an early morning- finally some sleep. No morning excursions. Straight into the music before lunchtime with The Subways (more on that later) and back to camp for some tasty burgers that DB had sat on. Then an afternoon of The Magic Numbers, Starsailor, Embrace, Snow Patrol and R.E.M. Quite an evening I'm sure you'll agree. Then the obligatory gonna-stay-up-all-night-but-am-too-tired-and-fall-asleep night.
Monday
An early start thanks to the stewards shouting into megaphones "GEDDUP AND GO!". So we did. Back to Cowes for more mooching before the ferry including the world's biggest ice creams and lots of ferry waving. Then the long car/ferry journey back to Brum. Knackered.

So the highlights? Definately R.E.M and Goldie Lookin' Chain on the music front and the fun of a holiday boat trip around The Needles. The low points? Missing Ray Davies and Nine Black Alps and the overall lameness of some of the lads at times. Attitudes need adjusting me thinks. But a corkin' weekend overall.
See some of DB's photos here and some of SG's photos here

Dress Code?

2005-06-08T18:58:00.000Z

Now thats what a call a 'look'.

Isle of Wight

2005-06-08T18:48:00.000Z

the arena from 2004
How excited am I? Tomorrow is the beginning of a glorious extended weekend. A mini holiday if you will, in the Isle Of Wight. Yes, the Isle of Wight festival is calling again after a truely glorious weekend of music last year its back and this year should be even better.

Its the fastest growing music festival in the UK and this year has sold out. Its humble beginnings began in 1968 when an inpromptu festival was arranged with Jefferson Airplane playing along with at the time lesser known groups like T-Rex,tickets were £1,25 and 10,000 people turned up! The following year the likes of Bob Dylan and The Who played, followed in 1970 with the legendary festival to end all festivals. It was here that Jimi Hendrix famously played his last ever gig before his untimely death. An act of partiament was passed to prevent these 'pop festivals' occuring on the Isle shortly after but it was revoked in 2002 and the festival returned.

Included on the bill this year are: Faithless, Razorlight, Supergrass, Idlewild, The Black Velvets, The Mighty Roars, Travis, Roxy Music, Feeder, Goldie Lookin Chain, Babyshambles, Ray Davies, R.E.M., Snow Patrol, Embrace, Starsailor, The Magic Numbers and others.

Joining me this weekend are all the other members of 'team eye of the tiger', so some beach running may also be on the agenda, although its safe to say that the training is well and truely up the spout this weekend.

Eat Like a King

2005-06-06T18:45:00.000Z

Question: Where can you eat like a king for £1.50?
Answer: Mr Egg.
Perhaps one of Brum's finest eating establishments particularly if you happen to be fond of a) a bargain and b) eggs. There's not many eateries which can summon up the kind of fondness us Brummie's heap upon Mr Egg. Take me for example, I don't even like eggs that much but am first in the line to sing its praises. But why? Could it be the nostalgia, the familarity and comfort it brings, the harking back to the good ole days of when entire meals could only cost a pound. Even the 50p price increase does little to cast of the shakles of warm fuzziness it brings into our lives. In these days of consumerism and multinatonal corporations its heartening to find a local, independent business with such a following. The reason I hark on about it is a stumbled upon the this article: "Why Mr Egg is more important than Selfridges?". A cracking read. Ahem. (sorry)

I don't know who this is but he is outside Mr Egg.

One Small Weekend

2005-06-05T18:48:00.000Z

I am often called tight. This is not true, I am just economical. This weekend provides the perfect example, I have hardly spent a thing! On Friday night after work it was to the pub for a couple of drinks with Marie, on Saturday after a day mooching around the shops but not buying anything, a quiet night in was the correct course of action, despite the tempting offers of the cinema or Snobs. Today is Sunday, the day of rest God called it, so today I've not made it out of the house. I haven't even made it out of my dressing gown.

This is in sharp contrast to the extravagancies of last weekend, three nights out in a row. Now this is not laziness or tightness. Well, ok- it partly is but with good reason. You see next weekend's officially the start of summer and the start of more busy weekends and money spending so this weekend I have been languishing in my laziness.

I really can't wait for next weekend, well Thursday actually, cos its the Isle of Wight Festival!! In fact, this time next week I'll just be getting ready for the start of the big finale- R.E.M. It's all very exciting.

Fifty Fun Facts.

2005-06-03T12:07:00.000Z

I recently got another one of those emails, the ones which say "look at my answers and answer the same questions and send them back to me and learn something new about your friends". Usually I would just dismiss it and hit delete but I had a spare 10 minutes or so and thought I could use the answers here. An introduction to who I am as it were. So here it is: >1.FULL NAME: James Alexander Peebles
>2. WHAT COLOUR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING? Black
>3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? LOTR: The Two Towers on DVD in background
>4. ARE YOUR LEGS CROSSED? No
>5. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Raisins
>6. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? Orange
>7. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW? Dull
>8. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? A Derbyshire Policeman (at work you see)
>9. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX? Hair- Good or Bad?
>10. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT YOU THIS? Yes. Ste Rob and Gav, all of them.
>11. HOW ARE YOU TODAY? Fine. Bit tired but ok.
>12. FAVOURITE NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK? Somerfield Tropical Fruit Juice Drink
>13. FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? A quality Lager. Or a Guiness.
>14. FAVOURITE SPORT? Football
>16. EYE COLOUR ? Brown /Green
>17. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS ? No
>18. SIBLINGS ? Yes. 2 sisters
>19. FAVOURITE MONTH ? August
>20. FAVOURITE FOOD ? Chicken
>21. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED ? Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
>22. FAVOURITE DAY OF THE YEAR ? St Swithens Day.
>23. SATURDAY OR SUNDAY? Saturday
>24. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT ? On the whole.
>25. DO YOU LIKE MARMITE? No, its concentrated evil.
>26. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer
>27. HUGS OR KISSES ? from who?
>28. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA? Chocolate
>29. DO YOU WANT YOUR FRIENDS TO WRITE BACK? Don't care
>30. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND ? Dan, he's usually got time on his hands.
>31. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND ? Gavin or Ste or Rob (they've done it already).
>32. LIVING ARRANGEMENTS ? My own flat. All mine.
>33. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING ? Re-reading Domain by James Herbert.
>35. DID YOU WAKE UP BEFORE YOUR ALARM WENT OFF THIS MORNING ? For a minute before going to sleep for a further 4 minutes.
>36. DO YOU MISS BIG BROTHER? I miss good big brother. eg series 1 and 2.
>37. WHAT INSPIRES YOU? My inspirations
>39. BUTTERED, PLAIN, OR SALTED POPCORN? I don't like popcorn.
>40. FAVOURITE CRISPS? Cheddar McCoys
>41. FAVOURITE CAR ? VW Camper
>42. FAVOURITE FLOWER ? Not sure. Something that smells nice.
>43. HOW MANY KEYS ON YOUR KEY RING ? 6
>44. CAN YOU JUGGLE ? Very badly
>45. FAVOURITE DAY OF THE WEEK? Saturday
>46. RED OR WHITE WINE? Either.
>47. WHAT DID YOU DO FOR YOUR LAST BIRTHDAY ? Met up with the lads, went to the Academy. Nothing too special.
>48. DO YOU OWN A DONOR CARD? No, but I should.
>49. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? Time for work.
>50. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ONCE THIS IS FINISHED? Going back to work.

So there you go. Interesting wasn't it?

Team Eye of the Tiger

2005-06-01T19:03:00.000Z

This is the first official photograph of Team Eye of the Tiger. This is Ste, Andy, me, Bob and Dan and we're running the Great North Run this year in September. In an effort to improve our chances of actually being able to complete the race we've been training together under the moniker 'Team Eye of the Tiger'. We've even got our own team blog, which can be found at TeamEyeOfTheTiger.Blogspot.com.
This photo is the first photo where we've been able to get all 5 members of the team together at the same time as a having a camera to hand. The colour is an accident but I think its a quite pleasing, deep orange hue, this is because the pic was taken on Ste's new camera which he doesn't quite know how to use yet and the flash didn't go off. The reflection in the pic is off the top of his car, as it was taken on a timer so we could all get into the shot. The fact this was taken at about 11:10pm after we had come out of the pub does not account for the blurriness of the image. Most of the team hadn't been drinking, all part of the training innit?
I'm running the GNR for the British Heart Foundation, as are most others on the team, its a cause which is incredibly important and worthy of me putting myself thru 13 miles of hell for. I've even set up an online sponsorship page. For the whole story check out the Team Blog here
This is currently ruling my life so I'm sure I'll be putting more up on here about it soon.

Jim's Gym

2005-05-31T21:32:00.000Z

The Gym. Its a strange and confusing place. 6 months ago I had to undergo a radical life transformation as i'm running the Great north Run, more on that another time. Ok, so the whole 'life transformation' is embellishing it a bit but I did have to join a gym, which is something I had always had an aversion to doing. I don't think they are bad places full of bad people, I mean getting fit and healthy is a good thing, it's me that's the problem. I'm just not a 'gym person'. This is something I've had to reassess in light of the challenge. I've now been a fully signed up member (albeit at staff rate- God Bless the fact Hilton owns a gym chain) of the Livingwell Premier gym just around the corner from work for 6 months and I've got a personal fitness plan tailored to my specific needs. Sweet. The fitness plan is as follows: 4 mile run on the Treadmill 750 strides on the Cross Trainer 1500m on the Rower 50 lengths a week of the pool Various weights inc. shoulder presses, lat pulldowns, chest press, dips and 21's And a couple of miles on this bad boy.... The Glorious Recumbant Bicycle. I think this is my favourite piece of equipment. It used to be the rower, all that sliding about and all, but now its definately the Recumbant, you're practically lying down! Now this training regime is to be completed at least times a week, and it never proved to be a problem. But in the last few weeks its been harder and harder to fit in for various reasons and the improving weather is making me want to get outdoors more. So now i'm caught in a dilemma, do I sacrifice time at the gym, scale down the program and combine that with an new exciting outdoor activities into a new fully regimented program? Or do I continue with the current program and add in any 'al fresco' exercises as and when the opportunity occurs?
Your thoughts....

I HATE IT!!

2005-05-30T10:03:00.000Z

This is possibily the worst thing in the world ever. Worse than Hitler. I hate the crazy frog. Catagorically I detest it. I hate everything about it.

Not only do I hate the actual thing, its annoying and childish, but I hate what it stands for. The whole business of exploiting kids who don't realise what they're doing gets to me- "simply text this number and we'll send you the crazy frog!" Arrgh! But they'll sign you up to a contract and you won't realise it and you'll pay loads of money for more rubbish stuff! Like those awful Little Britain impressions- they're not big and not clever.

And if that wasn't bad enuff they're advertising it on TV all the time, not just a bit but ALL the time. Every channel, every break, and 3 times a break- it drives my mad. I've heard that the company behind it has spent over 30 million dollars (20 million squid) on advertising! Hideous.

And if all of that wasn't bad enough, its now gone straight to number one in the charts cos they've released a single of it! It's a really rubbishy musak version of Axel F with the frog going "ding ding" over it. And its outsold Coldplay's new single "Speed of Sound" by about 4 to 1! Eh? How does that happen?? Experts say "the success of the single reflects the growing trend for young people to spend more money on mobile phones and computers than music." Hmmmm.

Anyway, rant over. And breathe.

Bar Bar Queue

2005-05-30T09:56:00.000Z

Important information.

Its a boy!

2005-05-29T12:36:00.000Z

Welcome to the world Alfie Jack. Its finally happened, after 9 plus beerless months for Becca he's finally arrived. And in the spirit of celebration this is the world's first published photo of the little chap. Who knows who he will grow up to be, he should at least have decent taste in music being the kin of Becca and Lee.

So heartiest congrats to the happy mother and father.

Other famous Alfie's include Michael Caine's "Alfie" and Eastender's "Alfie Moon". (Jude Law's "Alfie" does not count.)

One Big Weekend

2005-05-27T19:32:00.000Z

Ok, so its Friday night and it a Bank Holiday Weekend and for the first time probably ever I've got plans for each and every day! Sweet. Tonight the plan is to check out a new indie night at the HQ club. Me and boys have high hopes that this may becaome a new regular occurence. God knows this city, considering its size, needs more indie clubs. The current count: 2.

Then Saturday its a my good friend and ex-workmate MP's birthday so its drinks, a meal and a house party. Should be good. Then on Sunday its round to DB's newish flat for a BBQ and drinks with a possible engagement with Snobs after. (I'll talk more about Snobs later).

Then its Bank Holiday Monday, which of course means.......Work! Yes, as ever its another 6AM start for me but I'll be done by 1PM and then off to the Sunflower followed by a trip to casino to say "Ta-ra" to Bill.

Four days worth of plans. A new record I'm sure.

The Bird Man

2005-05-27T19:25:00.000Z

Theres been a very strange thing going on in the fair city of Brum this week and its all down to a Belgian. The Fierce! Festival is currently on the go in the city (and Coventry and Walsall) and theres been loads of arty events going on around the place. Now most of these arty type things go over my head but I'm all for it, being a liberal sort, so think that this blokes art, despite being wierd, is a really cool thing . Basically this fella is living in his homemade nest halfway up the Rotunda, Brum's most famous building, and the whole city has been talking about it. Each day something has happened. One day he laid an egg and another day he grew feathers. Today the Birdman has apparently 'died'. I think that means he's finished, I don't think he really is dead, its all in the name of art.

A New Beginning

2005-05-25T20:51:00.000Z

So its about time I jumped on the blog bandwagon. My earlier attempts at a blog failed. Failed miserably. I think it was 7 updates over the course of one calendar year which was rubbish. Worse than rubbish in fact. But that was over 3 years ago and I really couldn't bothered back then and didn't know exactly 'what' I was doing or 'why'. Now I'm not saying that I have any more of a reason 'why' this time but I do have a bit more of the 'what'. I've been refreshly reintroduced to the world of blogging because I've recently set up a new blog for me and my mates, more of that at a later date and I found myself wanting to put up posts and pictures which bore no relevance to that particular blog. How infruriating! So the solution? Lets go back to the Blog I set up last millenium and give it another go. I mean, thers so much more I can do with it now. I only hope this early enthusiasm doesn't wane and it all falls apart again. Well, here's finding out.