I'm posting because my aunt's downstairs talking to my mum and my sister. Normally I'd like to think I was a sociable kind of fellow but there's a bit of an overload of females in the house and I'm not fully sure I can cope. So it seemed an apt time to blog.
Watched a couple of films last night, or rather about 1.8 films, since we missed most of the second. In fact, I watched a film the night before as well. So, I might as well give three brief reviews of them all.
The first, on Wednesday night, was Starter for Ten, a film about a freshman entering University Challenge. I like University Challenge, and the film was fairly interesting. It served to show me what I was missing out on by not going straight to uni, but, I also reckon that whatever people say, I made the right decision for me. Anyway. Film. It was quite good. Lots of great cheesy Eighties music, including Motorhead (who I have seen live this year!) and The Cult. Lots of. It was also pretty well cast with some fine looking females, and lots of geeky looking males. And a cross-dresser called Marcus, which was apt. Not a bad film.
Last night my parents decided to watch a film called Sideways, which featured a couple of guys going on a wine tour around California. Music for this was all lovely jazz, which I actually quite enjoyed, and it was also rather well-cast. It made me think that as a single guy, I could be having so much more fun. It also reminded me exactly why no-strings-attached sex is a very bad idea. Krsna had it right, I guess.
After that I flicked over to Channel 4 and watched most of a film about Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, which was extremely funny but not really very relevant to my life. Unfortunately. It's given me the urge to listen to ancient radio shows, which I'm fairly sure my father'll have on tape. Oh, by the gods, I'm turning into my father!
So that's about it. I quite like films, but I'm not overly fussed. I'd rather watch anime, anyday, so last night I did; three episodes of Chobits and the first two episodes from Arc 1 of BLEACH. Good stuff; I finally have full surround sound again.
The title of this post, by the by, relates to the Mogwai album Happy Songs for Happy People, which I first heard on the legendary John Peel's radio show back when it was released. May the Gods bless his soul, and push his boat far into the underworld.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
A Healthy Change
Yesterday I made a decision. Well, no I didn't. I implemented a decision I made a few months ago, which I assure you isn't common for me. Sometimes I'll make a decision and not follow it through; sometimes there'll be an implementation where there never was a decision. It's only occasionally that you'll get this two-fold process that life trainers seem to advocate so much.
Well, I made it, anyway. I made the decision to improve my skin. Yes, it's no secret, especially if you know me well, that I have bloody awful skin. It's greasy and dry and riddled with acne and I know for a fact that if I don't clear it up soon, I'll never be rid of it. True, some of it is due to my beer-guzzling, cafeteria-eating and SFC-cheese-and-chips-scoffing lifestyle, but I don't necessarily want to change my lifestyle purely to improve my skin...
I tried to stop drinking, actually, and managed it for a month, but then I broke and got hilariously drunk at my work's Christmas party. It was a little bit embarrassing, not least because it was in front of people I respect and have to work with, and also because I was speaking in square numbers. Strange.
...But yes. I went into Boots and spent nearly eleven squids on stuff I don't necessarily need, in a vain hope that it will help to improve this bad condition. It probably won't. But the fact remains that I'm now doing something towards this goal, this challenge. I want to do it. So maybe that'll help.
Yeah, I was on medication for the acne. It was pretty awful stuff. I had to take a pill every night and apply stuff that dried up my skin and smelt like vinegar. My ex hated it, and I kept it a veritable secret what I was using it for. Quite immature. Since I'd now have to pay for my prescriptions, I've somewhat gone off the idea, and have gone back to quack advice from Boots. I don't think it'll work out at much more.
Oh, who knows. Maybe it'll help. I might look a little less teenage. I might feel more confident about myself. True, it won't make me any more attractive, but in some small way, it might make me feel a bit happier about one of the only things I'm unhappy about.
Blurgh. I think I'm being a bit selfish, eh.
Well, I made it, anyway. I made the decision to improve my skin. Yes, it's no secret, especially if you know me well, that I have bloody awful skin. It's greasy and dry and riddled with acne and I know for a fact that if I don't clear it up soon, I'll never be rid of it. True, some of it is due to my beer-guzzling, cafeteria-eating and SFC-cheese-and-chips-scoffing lifestyle, but I don't necessarily want to change my lifestyle purely to improve my skin...
I tried to stop drinking, actually, and managed it for a month, but then I broke and got hilariously drunk at my work's Christmas party. It was a little bit embarrassing, not least because it was in front of people I respect and have to work with, and also because I was speaking in square numbers. Strange.
...But yes. I went into Boots and spent nearly eleven squids on stuff I don't necessarily need, in a vain hope that it will help to improve this bad condition. It probably won't. But the fact remains that I'm now doing something towards this goal, this challenge. I want to do it. So maybe that'll help.
Yeah, I was on medication for the acne. It was pretty awful stuff. I had to take a pill every night and apply stuff that dried up my skin and smelt like vinegar. My ex hated it, and I kept it a veritable secret what I was using it for. Quite immature. Since I'd now have to pay for my prescriptions, I've somewhat gone off the idea, and have gone back to quack advice from Boots. I don't think it'll work out at much more.
Oh, who knows. Maybe it'll help. I might look a little less teenage. I might feel more confident about myself. True, it won't make me any more attractive, but in some small way, it might make me feel a bit happier about one of the only things I'm unhappy about.
Blurgh. I think I'm being a bit selfish, eh.
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Boxers Day
Today is Boxing Day for the UK. Since a lot of things have happened lately which remind me of lots of things about who I am, it seems like a good time to talk about who I am and what it is that makes me tick.
Most obviously, today is the day following Christmas. It's not a time of year I like, to be frank, and there are many reasons for this. One of them is the over-commercialisation of Christmas, but this is mirrored in many parts of our society and at many times of the year. It's not just now, but this opposition to commercialism is something that is quite deeply sown into me. I'm no longer a faux-communist like I used to be, and many of you will be glad to hear I'm no longer deluding myself in this sense, but I am a staunch believer in justice, and there can't be any justice whilst we're overindulging. In my opinion, any road.
Secondly, my family aren't hugely Christmassy people. Well, my sister is. And I'm sure my niece will be once she's older than the four months she's managed up until now. But my older brother and younger brother, and me dad, and most of all me mother, are certainly not huge fans of the festive season. This has certainly rubbed off on me. In the year since I became single, I've fallen back on my family, and adopted many of their habits and peculiarities. It's odd that it's happened, but I quite like it that way. I imagine I've become a bit of a family man.
Another one is the weather. It's just not cold enough, save for that awful cold snap with the Fog last week, for anyone to feel festive. This year is hotter than any previous year on record, and despite my obscenely fervent attempts to become an environmentalist, it's not making any difference. The planet is dying, man! We have to do what we can to save it, and we have to do it soon. Otherwise, there'll be nothing left for our children, and we'll feel guilty as hell. It's very close to my heart.
Finally, there's my age. True, my older sister is still very exciteable about Christmas, but, you know, I think that's unusual. Or maybe I'm unusual. I'm nineteen now, and I've never felt particularly festive since I was about thirteen. Maybe I'm just a grumpy sod, but that seems to be how it goes. Festivity just doesn't seem to be the done thing for a fella of my age.
Today we went to a friend's house. We've always been to his parent's house on Boxing Day for as long as I can remember, so today was a bit of a break from that tradition. I think I ate too much and I certainly felt quite tipsy, but it was lovely. As usual, they handed over the traditional presents of calendars for next year - mine architectural, and even though I'm no longer heading down that path, it's always nice to look at these buildings and think, "ooh, how in the name of God did they design that building?" The couple whose house it is put on a little performance for us, which was really nice. It made me wish that I could sing like that. I mean, I do okay - or at least I like to think I do - but I'd really like to be able to impress people with my voice. Not shock them or just "get by". I want to actually be able to perform.
That aside, all day I was the only single person there. Yeah. I make no mask for this. I'm single. I like to tell people, too, probably so they'll feel sorry for me. And yeah, I have been single for a long time, more than a year now. I have just about given up the feelings I have for the previous girlfriend, but nowadays I just have a bit of a longing, a bit of a pang, for the fairer sex. There is, of course, the additional feeling that I'm going away soon, to South America no less, and then to university somewhere, so getting myself a serious girlfriend isn't worth the heartbreak. And I just don't think I could bring myself to have a non-serious relationship. I mean, I'm not religious in the general sense, but I have morals about that kind of thing. It's damaging, and besides, Krsna wouldn't approve.
After a while my little brother and older sister left the party, along with all the other people around my age. It was just the happy couple and two sets of parents and me. I felt a little awkward, but I feel like that with people of my own age too, because I've become a bit middle-aged since I started working. A little time passed, and I'd already become tired of being the youngest there. I walked back, alone in the dark, and looked in bar windows. I didn't feel sorry for myself, because that'd be far too emo. No. I just felt a bit silly.
When I came in, the house felt empty. My brother, as usual, was out, and my sister was...somewhere with headphones on. It seemed a little strange. It was just any normal evening in. Not Christmassy, not even festive. Just...
What better time to begin a blog, anyway?
Most obviously, today is the day following Christmas. It's not a time of year I like, to be frank, and there are many reasons for this. One of them is the over-commercialisation of Christmas, but this is mirrored in many parts of our society and at many times of the year. It's not just now, but this opposition to commercialism is something that is quite deeply sown into me. I'm no longer a faux-communist like I used to be, and many of you will be glad to hear I'm no longer deluding myself in this sense, but I am a staunch believer in justice, and there can't be any justice whilst we're overindulging. In my opinion, any road.
Secondly, my family aren't hugely Christmassy people. Well, my sister is. And I'm sure my niece will be once she's older than the four months she's managed up until now. But my older brother and younger brother, and me dad, and most of all me mother, are certainly not huge fans of the festive season. This has certainly rubbed off on me. In the year since I became single, I've fallen back on my family, and adopted many of their habits and peculiarities. It's odd that it's happened, but I quite like it that way. I imagine I've become a bit of a family man.
Another one is the weather. It's just not cold enough, save for that awful cold snap with the Fog last week, for anyone to feel festive. This year is hotter than any previous year on record, and despite my obscenely fervent attempts to become an environmentalist, it's not making any difference. The planet is dying, man! We have to do what we can to save it, and we have to do it soon. Otherwise, there'll be nothing left for our children, and we'll feel guilty as hell. It's very close to my heart.
Finally, there's my age. True, my older sister is still very exciteable about Christmas, but, you know, I think that's unusual. Or maybe I'm unusual. I'm nineteen now, and I've never felt particularly festive since I was about thirteen. Maybe I'm just a grumpy sod, but that seems to be how it goes. Festivity just doesn't seem to be the done thing for a fella of my age.
Today we went to a friend's house. We've always been to his parent's house on Boxing Day for as long as I can remember, so today was a bit of a break from that tradition. I think I ate too much and I certainly felt quite tipsy, but it was lovely. As usual, they handed over the traditional presents of calendars for next year - mine architectural, and even though I'm no longer heading down that path, it's always nice to look at these buildings and think, "ooh, how in the name of God did they design that building?" The couple whose house it is put on a little performance for us, which was really nice. It made me wish that I could sing like that. I mean, I do okay - or at least I like to think I do - but I'd really like to be able to impress people with my voice. Not shock them or just "get by". I want to actually be able to perform.
That aside, all day I was the only single person there. Yeah. I make no mask for this. I'm single. I like to tell people, too, probably so they'll feel sorry for me. And yeah, I have been single for a long time, more than a year now. I have just about given up the feelings I have for the previous girlfriend, but nowadays I just have a bit of a longing, a bit of a pang, for the fairer sex. There is, of course, the additional feeling that I'm going away soon, to South America no less, and then to university somewhere, so getting myself a serious girlfriend isn't worth the heartbreak. And I just don't think I could bring myself to have a non-serious relationship. I mean, I'm not religious in the general sense, but I have morals about that kind of thing. It's damaging, and besides, Krsna wouldn't approve.
After a while my little brother and older sister left the party, along with all the other people around my age. It was just the happy couple and two sets of parents and me. I felt a little awkward, but I feel like that with people of my own age too, because I've become a bit middle-aged since I started working. A little time passed, and I'd already become tired of being the youngest there. I walked back, alone in the dark, and looked in bar windows. I didn't feel sorry for myself, because that'd be far too emo. No. I just felt a bit silly.
When I came in, the house felt empty. My brother, as usual, was out, and my sister was...somewhere with headphones on. It seemed a little strange. It was just any normal evening in. Not Christmassy, not even festive. Just...
What better time to begin a blog, anyway?
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