August a.k.a. It’s The Summer Apparently

Where did August go? I don’t think scientists should be worrying about global warming, the new headlines should be MONTH OF AUGUST IS FORTNIGHT ALARMING CALENDAR FANS. The environmental sensationalists got it wrong again this year, all you could hear about in June is how there will be 2 litres of water to supply the UK this summer, but how much has it rained this month? Well put it this way, there was about 2 litres of sunshine in August.

Highlight of the month was turning up to the ever growing Summer Sundae festival, another year of great, diverse music ranging from Coldcut, to Elbow, to The Buzzcocks.

The building I’m working in is pretty new, huge thing, extremely contemporary with lots of curves, glass walls, good lighting etc.
I was sat in the canteen earlier and I looked down the corridor and it was exactly like one of those sketches designers do – unbelievably perfect and full of colour, like a science fiction artist had drawn what the office of the not too distant future would be like. There are even 3 or 4 people standing talking to each other and another person sat on one of the seats like you always get in those prototype drawings to show scale and context. All that was missing were for the workers to be in a red uniform and have shiny communicators behind their ears with a tiny little coiled antenna poking out of the top.

I’ve obviously started to forget what fun is, because turning up to work every day is getting easier; I don’t kick and scream every morning, and I’ve not threatened to take a hostage for two weeks now. If this was a support group I’d get a round of applause for that.

Next month is going to be very unique, so it’s probably worth tuning in to read that update. And in general terms, this alien, yet way-too-quickly-becoming-familiar full-time working lark is coming to an end. Thank you for the money, but I don’t want to see the grim face of sedentary for a while.

 

July a.k.a. Hmm… I Want To Get Off This Ride

I’d forgotten what work was like, having not worked at an office for a good 18 months. I’m back in Leamington, they finally kicked me out of Bournemouth while they replenish the alcohol stock left dessolated after a year of students.
I’m earning money at this big government office that deals with how education is managed, or something. Currently working on a big-bucks software project, working closely with the developers.

Being back is odd, but it’s entirely predictable. I’ve gotten used to this game here, and any game is easy enough to learn when nothing changes. But I’m enjoying the calm before the storm - I’ve got a lot lined up this year.
I’ve been out a few times but I’m so out of training for any sort of endurance with drinking and staying awake, it’s terrible! I used to be able to watch the sun rise! Now my thinking is “10 o’clock? Well, time to hit the comfy, comfy sack.”

At the end of the month I went with Uni buddy Zamil to Global Gathering. And it was goooood. 2 huge things that made it:
1. Daft Punk - Simlpy the best dance act I’ve ever seen, they really nailed the message home that they are the God of house music, and have absolute control over the crowd. I bet they’d be good at sex. But yeah, absolutely incredible, awe inspiring, like I’ve just witnessed a great event like when I managed to wing my first year of uni. I’m also thinking about going to the Dublin gig on the 25th August. It’s going to be expensive, but mannnnn…
2. The people - This made the festival just so good and aproachable. It’s full of like minded people who love the music. The moment I put the tent down we were chatting to our neighbours and making solid friends, I mean, not just fleeting conversations, but eating, drinking, and dancing with them. We met some awesome characters that just made me feel like I could come again to Global alone, and not suffer what-so-ever. I actually really miss a lot of the people I met.
It wasn’t flawless however, I did see some HARSH crime going on, really worth using the lockers there. And maybe taking up some sort of marshall arts.
Roll on Global 2007, ‘08, ‘09, ‘10…

Events like this though don’t make a generally bad month good. Roles are reversed this year, summer holidays are packed with alarm clocks, responsibility and a scary sobriety.

Cya next month.

 

June a.k.a Here Comes The Sun

Schedule: Wake up >> Make sandwich >> Go Beach x30

Ahhh, this is it my man, this is how I like my time spent. Best of all, beach costs nuthin’.

I went to Strawberry Fair in Cambridge with my good man Will. I’ve never seen so many people with dreads in one place at one time. But great vibe, great ska/dub/reggae, great intoxicants. Suprisingly expensive couple of days actually, I did some old fashion cringing when checking my bank balance post weekend.

Next was the summer ball, I wasn’t expecting much, but holy crap can Bournemouth do a good summer ball. It’s in a large field in the middle of no-where, filled with 5 large music tents with music from DJ Yoda, Subways, some dnb DJs, some rockband called The Feeling, and some smaller acts too.

A couple of the stages^

Starting to fill up around 6pm. Shame I couldn’t get a wider angle^

I went as a Mexican (last minute thing…)

Zam with 2 other Mighty Boosh characters that we found.

This one I’m particularly proud of. I found Team Zissou!

And our own Suffolk Road (Greek Goddess) girls (Jenny, Louise, Nimita, Alix)

For those who had made it from 5pm to 6am, we got sent via buses to the beach. The beach breeze and the sun rising is nicely sobering. I’ll always remember people walking their dogs by the beach, and the utter confusion on their faces, “why are there thousands of students dressed up in costume running around on the beach?”

My poor liver.

I passed all of my exams, so I won this year’s battle. I think what did it was knowing that my parents had so little faith in me that I tried to prove them wrong - perhaps it was a good psychological battle on their behalf.

So, my first uni year is pretty much wrapped up and I’m moving back to Leamington. Well, how’s it been? It’s been real good. I’ve had such a good time, and I’ve learnt a lot, about a lot of things. I’ve probably aged about 10 years in the last 12 months.
I was sat on the toilet just now thinking, what would I do differently if I did it again? And I don’t think I’d change a thing, well, maybe not to steal any road signs (and even that was an overall positive experience).
I’m looking forward to moving back to home. Although I’ll miss the parks for when I’m running… Oh! And the days on end of not doing anything, how could I forget about that?

I got ‘clarinet’ on Coundown today, that’s 8 letters and the supposed ‘champion of champions’ didn’t even get it.

Bye.

 

May a.k.a. I May Even Stick With This One

I think I can manage a monthly blog(!?).

Right, so May is done. I’ve gotten through a lot this year already which makes me think it’s later in the year than it is. I’ve hardly ticked off my New Years Resolutions, but things have happened.

The biggy being finishing my first year at uni. I remember years and years ago laughing at the fact that people on Neighbours called university ‘uni’; sounded real strange at the time. I also thought it was only clever people who went to uni, well let me flail my arms in the air and say “oh misconceptions”. I see stupid people every where, I guess they’re pretty clever in their own field, but come on! UCAS should do a stupidity test upon entry. Things like “Are peanut shells artificial or natural?” and “How does night and day occur?” (sadly I’ve asked both those questions and got odd answers…).
So the exams have gone well. Although towards the end my exam preparation has been ‘thin’, but you know, I think I’ve gotten away with it.

This is the other big thing that’s been on my mind. In September I’m going to Thailand > Malaysia > Singapore with my neighbour Joe. Joe I think will be an awesome travel companion, great conversationalist, ballsy, knows his rights and wrongs, important shit. When I first got it in to my head that I was going through with this, I was pretty excited. ‘10 years old on Christmas Eve’ kinda excited. I’ve poured through photos of the places that we’ll be visiting but I’ve forcefully stopped it so something is left to the imagination/left as a suprise. I’ve ran the finance details through ma and pa, and I’ve got the thumbs up from them too, which was a big worry. Mainly because 5 days after I get back, I have to pay for a whole year of living.

Okay, so the agenda, get FIZIKZ back online, make some money, soak up some rays while getting some hours of beach badmington in.