Weighty Issues

Weighed myself for the first time in many years today. No, you shan't be finding out the weight... hence my ongoing diet!!

Yesterday I received a cheque from the taxman for the princely sum of £215. Today I received a bill from British Gas for £600. The Lord giveth and he taketh away... *sigh*

Diet continues and it's not too bad at all! Yesterday I had vanilla and banana porridge (alright), more Thai Chicken soup for lunch (yummy) and Tomato and Vegetable pasta for dinner (very yummy) plus a couple of small pieces of fruit and two slices of toast.

I've not been feeling too hungry, despite the actually rather worryingly low calorie intakes.

Today's Past Jae adventure is: Wo ist mein Werwolf? Part Two

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Inappropriate Touching

There's a title that's sure to get your attention. Today I went for my irregular shearing. Unfortunately the barbers I had been going to, directly opposite my house, closed down, which meant I had to try somewhere knew and deal with all the annoying little things that come with that.

You have to have a relationship with your barber. It's not something I'm at all keen on. There always comes the embarrassing moment when he realises you know nothing about football/cars/girls and you are thus completely immune to his usual set of conversation openers.

So it was today, I sat there as some man with sharp implements hovers around your head in complete silence. It's very unnerving. Thankfully he was a bit of a looker so I didn't mind the silence all that much and at the end I thought he may have crossed the line into inappropriate touching when he gave me a head massage. At least he seems willing to work on his relationships...

Today was Diet Chef day number 1!!!

The Pink Apple and Cinnamon granola breakfast was small but perfectly formed. Quite delicious really.

Lunch was Thai Chicken soup which was equally yummy.

Dinner was Pasta Bolognese which again was surprisingly pleasant.

Snacks: Carmelised Onion Oat Bites and a pack of McCoys Crisps (naughty I know, but they had to be eaten).

A total of 947 calories. Not bad!

Currently planning a one week holiday to Berlin for September. We're getting quite excited already and hopefully finances shall allow us to have quite an awesome time. In celebration today's Past Jae adventure is my "Wo ist mein Werwolf? Part One" post detailing the first part of our last Berlin Adventure.

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Diet Starts Tomorrow!

Tonight is my last night of food freedom. The Diet Chef food has arrived. Tomorrow I begin the weight loss plan. *shudder*

Past Jae visits a farm... in the city...

And now for a blast from the past in pictorial form... Roderick Bradley, aka Spartan!

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Another New Diet

From the man who brought you "10 Days On The Orange Diet" and "Paleo Diet Make Jae Growl", comes my latest diet "fad". Diet Chef. It's out of sheer laziness of course, all your meals prepared for you etc. But hey who needs a healthy lifestyle when you can just do this? ;)

I'll keep you informed on the progress.

For no apparent reason, here's the second part of Jim, Ian and I's trip to Brittany in today's Past Jae slot.

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Valentines Day

I came home from work tonight to find Jim, who is meant to be resting, had been out and bought me a red rose, a box of chocolates, a card and a Doctor Who book (he knows me sooooo well). Plus he had a cooked a three course meal! I berated him (for his own good) before tucking in.

I've got a few days off work, dotted here and there, to look after Jim a little over the next couple of weeks. He needs lots of rests. And after the lovely evening tonight... hugs too!

In his honour here is a Past Jae blog post... from a different blog! Cheating, I know. But it's all about our first trip to Prague which lead to us finally becoming boyfriends.

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Have I Ever Liked Civil Partnerships?

No, I think will be the answer clearly spelt out in my post from the past for today, in honour of the current media rumours of movement on this issue.

Let's see what Past Jae thought of them back in December 2005 (PS reading back, I think I was a little harsh but there is still a small part of me that agrees with Past Jae):

I really don't wish to darken anyone's special day now that civil partnerships are legal. But those who are taking part in civil partnerships are selling themselves, and the rest of the LGBT community, short. They have given up the fight not just for true equality, but also for freedom for everyone (be they gay or straight) from the demands of the "righteous".

We have failed to meet two totally different goals of two quite different parts of our community. One was total equality, to have no difference between gay, straight, trangendered etc; to have full, equal marriage rights not similar to, but the same as, heterosexuals. That we have now not achieved and may not achieve for decades!

The other goal was more radical. It was to change the face of the world, and to free us all from a very self destructive socialisation we fell into around the time of the industrial revolution. This was the mixing up of romantic love and marriage, a mix that really doesn't fit. By selling out to this bizarre and strange mix of marriage (a formerly practical institution) and love (not practical, beautifully aloft) we have enslaved ourselves and abandoned our basic principles.

Somehow today a dream has died, and something wonderful has become dreary.

Link to post here


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Eurovision And This Blog

As we continue the retrospective over the 10 years of this blog, it's time to take a look at that one topic that has come round time and again... Eurovision!

The first Eurovision post was a relatively small affair. By the next year it did become a little more coherent.

2004 and 2005 remain unrecorded, due to my year off and my May 2005 move from Folkestone to London interfering. By 2006 things had evolved to point where I was live blogging the show (and even the new-fangled Semi Final). 2007 was the year when things started to get a little out of hand with live blogs of the semi final and the final followed by... analysis!

2008. Eurovision only went and put in TWO semi-finals. So we had both live blog (here and here), plus the final, results analysis and the commentary (where I actually went and called for Terry Wogan to stand down)

2009 toned it down slightly with the semi finals (here and here), the final and some commentary.

2010... I was moving on Eurovision day and watched it later... so no live blog. What a Jae fail! This year I shall do better....

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Jim Is Home!

So in celebration here's a blog post from the past about other blog posts from the past about various Prides I've been to.

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What A Difference 10 Years Makes

Well... 9 years really but you know what I mean. 10 years ago I wanted nothing more than to die and get it all over with. Nothing mattered one jot. Now? Jim's gone into hospital again today and nothing matters to me more than him getting better so we can get on with our lives. 10 years ago I had nothing to live for. Now I have Jim. The difference is so great it is barely comprehensible.

In keeping with that, and to really show the difference, here's my infamous January 2002 post.

Now for Jensen Ackles who pulls of that most difficult of tasks... to look even better in glasses than without.

I would like Jim home now please, if you could arrange that for me Dear Constant Reader, I'd be most grateful.

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If wishes were kisses...

Maybe I'm just over-reacting or being too worrisome but every ache and pain Jim expresses fills me with a special kind of dread. I just want to make him better but feel powerless to do so. Every problem can be solved, but I lack the necessary knowledge to solve this one. It's frightening and upsetting. Can't he just be better now?

In other news... I absolutely love the Galaxy S phone. It's the coolest thing I've ever owned (and I own Mr Gibbs the Bearded Dragon).

Now for some OTT arm fetishism...

Today's post from the past is Kallie Come Back!

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The Only Way Is Up

Oh it's been a long time Dear Constant Reader. A long, long time!! But 2011 is here and it's already ticking along quite nicely. Well that's if you consider Jim suffering some serious health issues, my card details being used by fraudsters thanks to buying Mum's Christmas present from Lush and a rather cash-tight start to the year "ticking along quite nicely".

Well it's a start isn't it? Something to move on from and improve upon? I've been saying the same things for 10 years. Which is a roundabout way of getting to why I'm posting here again. In 6 months time this blog will be 10 years old! And I thought it was fitting that I should try and post every single day from now until the blogaversary. I owe you that much at least!

Work's pottering along quite nicely, although I spend most of my day worrying about Jim and whether he's okay. Of course there's nothing I can do to help him, as he tries to navigate the bureaucracy of the NHS in order to solve his health issues (despite having private cover, but let's not get into that).

In better news we have a new crush. Tube Boi is a distant memory and now we have Rugby Boy who is a time limited work related crush, but I'm enjoying it whilst I can. The arms people. Oh the arms.

And in really, truly awesome news I won a Kindle in the "locals" (local being 80 miles away) pub raffle which I picked up this weekend and I've just received today a brand spanking new Galaxy S phone. I might have absolutely zero cash, but I'm technology rich at least...

Now let's get down to what we really came here for... Charles Dera. Is it me or has he beefed up? I whole-heartedly approve.

As it's this blogs tenth anniversary year each post until the actual blogaversary will feature a link to a randomly selected post from the past... today's post is "What Happened Next..." a tale of woe involving San Francisco, a train related suicide and a reallydodgy spacebar (did you see what I did there?). Enjoy.

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It's Been A Long Road

How are you, Dear Constant Reader? I hope this year has been good to you. It's been a strange one for me what with 5 months of not working in total, 3 different jobs, 2 different homes.

I got the job at TVW, my old place of work, returning to being just an ordinary man on the phones. Which I don't mind. However two weeks in I am becoming increasingly depressed at the slowness of training, yes training, for a job I've already done and remember very well. And the way people are treating me like an idiot is intense. There was some light relief when I was asked if I knew the guy I was about to sit with to listen to his calls, and the guy turns around and says "Jason trained me when I first started here". It's nearly over and soon I shall be released to actually work, and, bizarrely, I can't wait!

It's going to be a tough Christmas money wise as, for the first time, I will be taking on responsibility for a few household bills. This is more than welcome as it has already forced me to budget, and think about my finances. As you know Jae, budgets and financial responsibility are age old enemies, but I hope we can final come to some sort of settlement.

And in that vein, I (and I think Jim) have embarked upon a "future plan" for a dream holiday to Singapore, Tokyo and/or some other place in Asia. It'll involved much saving of money which I trust will further focus my mind on my finances.

In May we started a new life for ourselves here in Folkestone. This coming year I hope to begin settling the debts of the old one (my overdraft has been the same for 10 years [thanks university!]). I think it's time to sort that out!

Anyway, here's to new adventures!

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Today We Remember

As is traditional on this blog, below is the poem Dulce et Decorum Est. Today I remember all those who have given their lives, their happiness and their tears for my freedom. And I remember my relatives who fell and had been forgotten. They are forgotten no more.

Bent double, like old beggars under sacks,
Knock-kneed, coughing like hags, we cursed through sludge,
Till on the haunting flares we turned our backs
And towards our distant rest began to trudge.
Men marched asleep. Many had lost their boots
But limped on, blood-shod. All went lame; all blind;
Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots
Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Gas! Gas! Quick, boys! – An ecstasy of fumbling,
Fitting the clumsy helmets just in time;
But someone still was yelling out and stumbling,
And flound'ring like a man in fire or lime...

Dim, through the misty panes and thick green light,
As under a green sea, I saw him drowning.
In all my dreams, before my helpless sight,
He plunges at me, guttering, choking, drowning.

If in some smothering dreams you too could pace
Behind the wagon that we flung him in,
And watch the white eyes writhing in his face,
His hanging face, like a devil's sick of sin;
If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs,
Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud
Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,
My friend, you would not tell with such high zest
To children ardent for some desperate glory,
The old Lie; Dulce et Decorum est
Pro patria mori

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All Change

Where have I been? Working, I'll have you know! So don't give me that look, I don't mean to abandon you for such long periods of time, Dear Constant Reader.

In amusing news I was laid off from work two weeks ago, although in an unusual show of generosity, I was given two weeks notice. And last week on Tuesday I took time off to attend a job interview. In even more amusing news this job interview was at TVW, my former employer before I moved to London. They have adopted a fancy new Greek name so shall for ever more be known as Spartan (in memory of my much missed favourite Gladiator, who hasn't graced our screens for far too long).

The interview was a bit "X-Factor"-ish and just generally surreal. First of all it was just weird to walk through the reception doors again after my years away. Then whilst waiting for the other 11 candidates to arrive, I was greeted repeatedly by my old friends as and when they walked past (which got me some raised eye-brow looks from the other candidates, especially as when we were being walked to the assessment room people were coming out of their offices to greet me like some returning hero). After each part of the assessment (maths exercise, English exercise, and roleplay), the unsuccessful candidates were asked to leave after an agonising wait in the break room. Eventually there was just the five of us left and whilst the other four had their interviews, I was asked to wait... in my old office! Chatting away with old comrades-in-arms just before an interview for a job you've already done is insane.

Needless to say... I got the job. I knew I had the skills to do it but I also know TVW were sticklers for protocol and I'd have to prove to them I did all over again before they'd employ me. Now I've just got to complete a millions bits of paper so they can do background checks on me. Fun times!

So... I left DFDS Seaways last Friday, as per usual I was the last temp standing (I have a habit of staying with things until the bitter end) as the rest had already made a run for it. I start my new job at the end of November so have a few weeks of being a jobless bum to suffer enjoy.

And the kids are soon to be here which is quite fitting as my last post was made on the day they left us last! See... it all works out in the end...

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Friday. In celebration of getting a job, and in commiseration that the kids are on Jim and I went drinking around Chambers and Skuba followed by a lovely meal in the Portofino restaurant on Sandgate Road. Delicious!

Saturday, we made a random visit to my Nan up in Snodland followed by an afternoon drive by of my Mum's place in Stanford.

Sunday, we headed to Mum's again to meet... Nan... again. Plus Uncle Graham and his girlfriend Rebecca (pregnant with yet another cousin of mine). Was nice to see everyone, although slightly ruined by my 14 year old sister phoning constantly to shout at my Mum. Eventually I took the phone and after finishing the phone call was physically shaking with anger. She shall be getting a sound speaking to when I see her next. Honestly, I don't give a shit about what's going on between her parents. She needs to start treating them BOTH with respect (rather than just one) or she'll have this big brother making her life an absolute misery. For her own good.

Monday. First day of work, involving finding out Ben lookalike didn't get a job and discovering I had to wear painful safety shoes. Followed by a trip to Sandgate in the evening for "Liberal Drinks" in the Providence Inn. Lovely.

Tuesday. Health and safety. Found out, too late, I didn't have to wear painful safety shoes as long as I always had them with me. The blistery damage was done. Also had a security briefing, a tour of the port, and a return trip to France.

Wednesday. Ouch. My feet! The two mile journey each way is HORRIBLE with blisters! But after just a day and a half of training (yesterday didn't count) they let me start taking calls! Hurrah.

Now I sit here in the living room hoping my feet stop hurting soon.

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Jae Gets A Job

Obviously, Dear Constant Reader, you are my good luck charm! I've finally got myself a job offer after yesterday's adventures in Dover.

I got a phone call from the employment agency who contacted me about it originally and they were very circumspect, asking me if I thought I'd like to work for the company etc. I confirmed I would, at which point they said they'd offered me the job but "were concerned I might not want it". Mum had warned me that people might not be offering me jobs because they were worried I was "overqualified" but I hadn't really believed her. Now I do, and I'm just grateful they offered me the job despite thinking I might not want it!

Currently it looks like I'll be starting on Monday, I'm just waiting for a confirmation in the post. Good times! And not a minute too soon, as my bank account has been bled dry.

Now if I can start to sort my finances out I'm one step closer to another plan I've hatched during my blog silence... starting an Open University course!

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Adventures At Dover's East Dock

I had an interview today for a cross channel ferry company at Dover's East Dock. I arrived at their ticket office and collected my pass and together with another interviewee (who looked uncannily like Ben (see June 2002 blogposts) was sent off into the docks, unsupervised, with vague directions to the building we were to be interviewed in. After several wrong turns, a stay in between the French and British passport control stations and a wander round a large but incorrect building we eventually arrived. Seems like a small team, a good group and thus I'm hopeful I get this job.

In other news... I have wearing interview clothes!!

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Gone Fishing

Today we all headed down to the fishing shop on Tontine Street where we spent quite a long time getting kitted out and trained up by the very helpful guy there. Newly furnished with rods, reels, tackle and bait, we walked across the old Rotunda (a bittersweet experience, seeing the marks in the ground where the Ghost Train and the go-karts, used to be) and set up our rods on the beach there. 

We didn't catch anything but a lot of fun was had anyway. 

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The Kids Have Landed

So three of Jim's kids arrived yesterday and allowed us to be even more childlike that usual with Finding Nemo on the TV and playing frisbee down the beach. Posts may be erratic this week... 

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A Job Prospect!

After a couple of dry weeks with no interviews or leads, I've arranged a job interview on Wednesday for a cross-channel ferry company. My experience at Eurotunnel should serve me well, and I've got my fingers crossed for success! I don't care how much they pay... anything's better than nothing right now. 

Christopher de Chavez

Today was "cleaner day" meaning Jim and I made ourselves scarce while she got down to business. Went into Gamestation where Jim discovered some games and I discovered some cute guys who work there. Trebles all round!

Also saw the Leas Lift in action for the first time since it reopened. It was really nice to see and great to see people using it in some numbers. Long may it continue!

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