Saturday, February 19, 2011

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


If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Thursday, February 17, 2011

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.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

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!




If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

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.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Monday, February 14, 2011

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.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Sunday, February 13, 2011

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


If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Saturday, February 12, 2011

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....

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Friday, February 11, 2011

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.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Thursday, February 10, 2011

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.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Wednesday, February 09, 2011

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!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Tuesday, February 08, 2011

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.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Sunday, December 12, 2010

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!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Thursday, November 11, 2010

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

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Monday, October 25, 2010

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...

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

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.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Thursday, August 12, 2010

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!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

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!!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Monday, August 09, 2010

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. 


If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Sunday, August 08, 2010

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... 


If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Friday, August 06, 2010

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!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Thursday, August 05, 2010

Another Gay Sunshine Day

Hurrah, hurrah, hurrah. As I'm sure you know Proposition 8, California's anti-marriage equality voter initiative that amended the Californian Constitution, was struck down in a federal court. By no means is this the end of the fight but it's certainly worthy of a smile and, if you are so inclined, a song.


So day 532 of the job search, or thereabouts. Any news? Nope. Keep getting phone calls enquiring as to my interest in a job but they never seem to amount to anything. *sigh


Starting to get concerned about heading up to the third floor when Jim is there now, following two worryingly similar incidents that occurred last night. The first involved him forcing me to sing “Always On My Mind” by the Pet Shop Boys. The second was a duet on “Happy Ending” by Avril Lavigne. I tell you, this is a crazy house! Damn karaoke in the games room...

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Being A Jobless Bum

So since the beginning of May I have been without paid employment. The first month was spent on moving stuff. June was spent looking for a job, interviewing, etc. I did get a couple of job offers but had the luxury of turning them down. Jim has been great in backing me up on those decisions as he wants me to have a job that doesn't depress me.

See, part of the reason I gave up blogging on here was because of how I was feeling at my last job. I was stressed out and depressed. I'm not going to go into the reasons why as they are too numerous to discuss. I stopped having a social life, lost contact with friends and just spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself (your lack of shock, Dear Constant Reader, is hardly a surprise!). So needless to say, I'm being picky about what jobs I accept, if not what jobs I apply for.

In the meantime I have absolutely no money and rely on Jim for all my needs. He has been very good about it (mainly because he's awesome but also because we knew it was a risk giving up my job in London to look for one down here) but it's obviously not an ideal situation and right now I just want to get myself a job so I can settle into life here in Folkestone again and start pulling my own weight.

Fingers crossed I get one soon so we can have the age old, new job phase of blogging which, I think, is generally the most interesting stuff you'll find on here. The crush on some cute guy, the new friends and new adventures are always worthy of comment! :)

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

I Really Have Missed You

I suppose it's my long tradition of keeping a diary that leaves me to feel incomplete without one. I didn't really notice that feeling until I reopened my blog last night. But as soon as I had, I felt complete once again. It's as if talking to you, Dear Constant Reader, has become part of my conscious.

Why did I stop? For some very sensible reasons. New prospects, new employment in particular, meant I felt the need to hide my diary to be discreet. And Jim, I think, prefers me not to keep a blog for his own reasons (very sensible one's they are). But really all I was doing was hiding who I am from the world, in order to perpetuate a lie: that I am not me. Just to sell myself. And I think that goes against several of my "Prime Directives". So, yes, I'm back... for another couple of years until I have another hissy fit or change of mind. However, you needn't worry too much. I'm always back for more at some point.

To cement my return... here's a whole new (for me and probably you) pic of Charles Dera!

So, other than Charles Dera, what are my current obsessions? Politics, I'm afraid, has reared it's ugly head in my life again since I was last around. And, in related obsessions, marriage equality. All this can be seen at my other place. Otherwise, I'm too busy worrying about getting a job to bother with much else. Once the money starts flowing in again, I'll return to more geeky (i.e. expensive) pursuits.

And I must get myself a social life, reconnect with friends, make new one's etc. But I just can't seem to be bothered until I have some money to make it worthwhile to them to spend time with me (there's only so much sitting round my house they can put up with, even if Jim has constructed us a "games room", i.e. putting a telly and his games consoles into one room with a cheap sofa bed). Oh didn't I say... we have plenty of rooms! It's like a palace, just set above a shop that has lots of "Break free of porn" posters all over it. :)

Anyway I feel much better having you back again... fingers crossed for some adventures soonish.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Hello Once Again, Dear Constant Reader

It's been a while. It seems whenever I swear off blogging on here and abandon you, it's only a few months before I return. This month is the ninth blogaversary. Prepare yourselves!!

So what's new? I'm living in Folkestone once again above a xtian shop (code is because I know how strong your pagerank can get!). I'm still with the ever so lovely Jim. I have no job. I'm in love with seagulls. Mr Gibbs has been sulking for two months now. And I suppose that's about it.

So this is just a heads up. I'm back. Proper blogging will return tomorrow... Until then...


If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Monday, March 29, 2010

Goodbye, Dear Constant Reader

Yes, this really is it. The End.

It's been 9 years!! My life used to be exciting enough to write about. Dates gone wrong. Drunken escapades in random destinations. The high life in London during the early days. University, work, Faulty Towers Hotel. It's been fantabulosa!

But... For the last nigh on two years I've struggled to find even a sentence to write on here most days. My average posts have gone from 3 a day to nearer 2 a week. And I must admit defeat. I love this blog, love it. But there's nothing to write about any more.

My life is about to change. A new job, new flat, and a few little surprises that I've got up my sleeve too. I'm cutting out Diet Coke. Everything is in flux. And so I think there's no better time to pull the plug than now.

Walk This World With Me will continue to exist and I will make sure I put in personal updates when anything exciting does happen. But this will be the last post of this blog. And on 30th April 2010 this blog will become password protected. It'll still be there should I need it again, as I surely will one day, but it shall be hidden away just like all my old journals were in the past.

I'd like to just say thank you so much to everyone who has read this blog over the years. And especially to you, Dear Constant Reader, who's time and patience has meant more to me than you shall ever know.

Oh and Eurovision... I'll be keeping Pop Culture going too so all my usual liveblogging of Eurovision will be happening there.

So... this is awkward. Don't be a stranger! You know where I am if you need me, and I know where you are too (my scary stalker skills have not lost any of their potency!). See you around!



If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Sunday, March 28, 2010

The Countdown Begins!


3am Thursday morning, we were awoken by the dulcet tones of a car crashing into a wall. The doors were still closed by the time we'd dragged ourselves to the window so Jim and I headed out to see if anyone needed assistance.

As Jim made it to the car he scared off the joyriders who had caused the accident and thus satisfied no one was hurt we waited with our neighbours for the police to arrive. As we did two drunks wandered over and stared at the accident.

"What happened?" slurred a drunk

"A car crashed" Jae responded icily suggesting both his intolerance of idiots and his tired impatience.

"Oh. Can I bum a fag off you?"

"NO" Icy stare. Drunks slowly back away...

3am on a Thursday morning! Where the hell had they been??

So things to do:

1) clear out flat and prepare it for handing back to landlord.
2) get a new job in Folkestone
3) find a new flat in Folkestone
4) get fit
5) take over the world.

Simples.

Bought my final monthly travelcard today. No more Oyster! I don't know whether to sing or cry!

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

That's The End To All That

Yesterday, whilst off work sick, Jim and I had a discussion and the ultimate outcome of this discussion were the following facts:

1) Moving to Folkestone is about a change of lifestyle.
2) Commuting to London every day would render this change completely ineffective.
3) I am not happy where I work.
4) My job is gone in a few months anyway thanks to my department being dissolved (yes, customer services... the "all weather" department is being dissolved!!) so I'd have to apply for a new job as it is.

Which all lead to one irrefutable decision: it was time to hand in my resignation at work.

What a relief that was. There is nothing quite like the feeling you get in a job when the axe suddenly no longer hangs even slightly near your head.

So that's it folks. The starting whistle has finally blown for the move to Kent. And there is little we can do to stop the momentum here on in, whether we like it or not.

To the next adventure...

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Jae Not So Well

Yuck. Last night after leaving work I began to feel somewhat unwell, hot and sticky. An hour later, as I just made it home, things got a whole lot worse.

Well thanks to a midnight run to Tesco's by the ever wonderful Jim, I feel somewhat better after taking some medicine. But... still feel rubbish.

I think it's food poisoning, ironically from a Tesco's prawn mayo sandwich. Grr... never eating one of them again *lies*

A Jake Campione would be most appreciate about now... ;)

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Monday, March 15, 2010

STRIKE!

Today was strike day at work. I, for various reasons including not wanting to miss a day of pay and not agreeing with fundamental reason for strike, crossed the picket line. It was actually a rather nasty experience.

I understood, from documentaries and movies, that crossing the picket line would not be pleasant. But I thought, naively, that as I knew these people things might be alright. Alas... I arrived at my usual time (i.e. hours before these folks are normally even awake) to find a small picket line had already been formed by some of the housing officers. I immediately greeted them warmly which put them on the back foot but with the aid of a Unison official they were quickly back on message trying desperately to stop me getting into the building. I was pretty perturbed by their questioning and glad I hadn't joined the strike given that I'd be supporting this sort of thing. I made it only to realise... I hadn't stocked up on enough Diet Coke to survive the day.

Others soon arrived all telling me of their own harrowing journey through the doors... slowly the crowd outside the office grew and megaphones were brought out meaning a very unpeaceful morning at work, broken only when I dashed out through the picket to the shop. I made it back but foolishly smiled at a former colleague turned bouncer who immediately rushed me in an effort to persuade me not to cross again. I dived through the doors just in time before the heavies could move in to question me further...

It was all rather nasty until, at 1pm, they all went home. Just disappeared. USELESS!

Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how the office mood goes tomorrow when those same people who were rather unpleasant to me yesterday come asking for help.

If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist

Sunday, March 14, 2010

The Hot Men Of Melodifestivalen

If you'd like to know my thoughts on Melodifestivalen and Your Country Needs You check my post here, or just keep up to date with Eurovision then check here. This post is dedicated to the hot guys of Sweden's Melodifestivalen 2010

Måns Zelmerlöw


Eric Saade


Dolph Lundgren


Ola Svensson


If you feel benevolent and particularly generous, this writer always appreciates things bought for him from his wishlist