Disgruntled

Oh dear, my upbeatness from last blog has quickly drained. I attended the RaW launch party this week for the unveiling of the new schedule. We were told that everyone who applied had got a slot. This was a damn lie.

For one, I can list me as someone who didn’t get a slot. And there were a few people who were there who also didn’t. Despite completing training, applying with a friend as suggested, and having this friend with current radio experience, I still didn’t get a slot. I was suggested by the programme controller, to email the programme controller because he couldn’t sort it out right now. I had previously emailled the programme controller twice. Both times I requested a reply. Both times I received no reply. I’m not holding out much hope that this time will be any different.

I was very much looking forward to having a small radio show this year, and so was my good friend Simon. I personally was pretty disappointed. I was verging on annoyed, but in retrospect I wouldn’t go that far.

For the first time in my short life I indulged in some heavy retail therapy. It felt really good. I bought lots of clothes that I didn’t really need, but it felt like it was doing me a lot of good. Am I a bad person? Does this care free spending spree make me a slave to huge, nasty, corporate companies? I hope not. My bank balance hurts quite a lot right now, but I feel good inside so screw it. I’m going to look after number one, even if it means buying pointless articles, and shitting on some poor guy in a Far Eastern sweatshop. Controversial. Maybe I’ll take that back just a little bit.

I do have a conscience really. I have noticed that our household has produced a miniscule amount of waste the last couple of weeks, and lots of paper for our recycling box. At least I’m not shitting on the environment as well as the third world.

As a slightly lighter note to end my blog, I’m going to start a ‘song of the blog’ featurette type thing, where I tell you a song that I am listening to lots at the time of writing.

The inaugral song of the blog is Asleep In The Back by Elbow. It is very very nice and you should listen to it when you feel like relaxing a little. You probably need a little more Elbow in your life anyway, whoever you are.

See ya

: 29 Oct 2006 20:30 |  Tags: Disappointment Elbow RaW Retail Shopping Therapy |  Comments (0) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The Earlsdon Tourist Board

Alright gang.

The word ‘gang’ was banned from my primary school. Just though I’d share that thought.

I feel very lucky. It feels good. My course has started very smoothly this year. I expected my second year to start with a bit of a work avalanche. It hasn’t. Which is nice. I’ve got a fair bit of free time. Which again is nice. Lots of things are nice at the moment. I’m not worrying about money or anything particularly. Not worried about work, not stressed for any reason really. I’m listening to some very nice music which is also enhancing my mood. How nice.

I hope you lot are alright too. Would be a shame if you were all gloomy and stressed. Let me know how you are please. Let me know if my happiness has rubbed off a little.

On another note, does anyone know if absolutely everything happens in Leamington? I was wondering why all societies’ socials seem to happen in Leamington? I know that ‘all’ is an exaggeration, but you catch my drift. Also, if said society plans to meet up with it’s members before said social, be it in Leamington or Coventry, they seem to meet in two places. One set in Leamington, and one set on campus. Where is the gathering for the Coventry crew? For example. I am a member of Offbeat. Well, I say that, I just use it to get into the Colly, (and this year the wonderful Taylor John’s House!) for cheap. I don’t really take any active role. Sorry Offbeat folks. Anyway, I’m babbling. I want to pick up my Offbeat card to get discount Colly entrance, but to do it, I have to travel into campus beforehand, then back into Coventry for my night out. Can’t really be arsed to do that. Would rather go to ‘Spoon’s for a curry or something. It’s not that I don’t want to socialise with Offbeat people. It would be great to do that in Earlsdon. Never mind.

Rant over. I said once upon a time I wasn’t going to rant. I sold out. Sorry. Well, I didn’t rant really did I? It was just an observation. Being a Coventry kid myself, I am quick to spot how rubbish certain Cov things are, but on the other hand, I tend to defend it against any nasty people who don’t like it. Coventry has good things as well you know!

I’m not that bothered really. I’m too, erm, not bothered I suppose, to be bothered about it. That sentence doesn’t make much sense. Apologies. I’ve gone on for too long really, so you probably are just skimming and didn’t even notice that appauling sentence. I’m not bothered. I’m too busy not being stressed to be bothered.

Futures folks.

: 26 Oct 2006 18:15 |  Tags: Coventry Earlsdon Happiness Leamington Offbeat |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

A Welcome Return

So, long time no blog. I feel like a bit of a fraudster at the moment. I haven’t blogged all Summer and now decide to start again since I’m back at Warwick. Shouldn’t this be a full time thing? Is it a sin to pick and choose when I blog? Do I owe all you loyal readers an apology for keeping you waiting for so long?

No.

It’s only a blog. Grow up.

So Warwick is teeming with Freshers. I wish I was a Fresher again. It looks so cool. I want to go to Top Banana and enjoy it. I want to look at people in the piazza strangely because I can’t remember if I met you last night or not. I want to sign up to too many sports clubs and societies, and actually attend about one in ten of them.

Instead I am older. I live in a Victorian terraced house in Earlsdon, which has some pros and some cons. Just like every other student house. I enjoy the odd glass of wine in front of the television, and the bread from the baker’s round the corner. I am boring. This time last year I was another fresh faced first year, who was interesting (to other first years at least, who would ask the same three questions to everyone they saw), was a party animal, and didn’t care about what lectures I had or whether I would go to them. Now, the three questions have changed. Every ‘first conversation back at Warwick’ involves a question about Summer, then question about where each other is living, then what the house is like.

Neither party in this conversation actually is that bothered but just go along with for politeness sake. In summary, its not just me, but everyone is more boring. I’m sure that this is not true. Everyone on campus is just as cultured as they were last year, but it seems much more boring now we aren’t Freshers. I arrived back at Warwick with a bit of a buzz. I remembered how good the first two weeks of term were last year and expected the same feeling. In reality, it was never going to be as good as that, so I feel much duller.

Oh well. I suppose I might just be a miserable old(er) man. If i can turn this rather dreary blog round for a second, I would like to try and spread some light out of my gloomyness. I want to encourage all first years that may (or may not) be reading this, to go out and have an even better time than you are having a the moment. Have as much fun as you can possibly get away with without failing your exams at the end of the year. And even if you do fail, Warwick will let you try them again, and you’ll have all Summer to revise for them.

You will never be a Fresher again. Go out and make the most of it.

: 05 Oct 2006 18:39 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Advertise This

So, numbers have doubled again since my last entry. Welcome to Tom and Simon. I'm very pleased and very honored. However, I feel that four is still pretty small. I would appreciate it much if you tried to spread the word to others. They don't have to be Warwick students, bloggers or even friends. The more the merrier, and the sooner I can start thinking about some sort of goal for this group to acheive. It would be pointless having a gang of four who don't actually do anything.

I am starting to worry about the membership of Sarah and Laura. They have been members for a little while now, and they have no word of why they have joined. I'm worried that if growth doesn't continue, original members will begin to leave. That would be pretty bad. It would be such a huge blow to my already fragile ego. I'm not sure how I'd cope. Don't leave.

What has happened to the weather?! I'm started to get a little racked off with it now. I want more sunshine so I can relax outside. Thunderstorms and hailstones is not ideal weather for sunbathing. And today it is plain miserable. Not fair. At least it gives me chance to write more blog entries and listen to more music. My Last FM page is desperately out of date, hence why I haven't put it at the bottom of my blog in a while. You are probably not really very interested in what I am listening to anyway, but I thought it would be nice to tell you nonetheless. If you are prepared to offer yourselves up to me by counting yourselves in, I thought I should at least let you know what music I like. Fair trade. And when I say, offer yourselves up to me, I don't mean sacrificially. I've stressed before I'm sure that I am not a loony. I just said it for effect really. Sorry. Don't let it put you off joining.

Who is looking forward to the Rootes bbq! Me! I expect to see many people attending. I previously pointed out a poster to Laura and relayed it to Sarah, advertising a bbq, gunge tank, huuuuge water fight, bungee running, giant Jenga etc. I told them it was the poster for the Rootes bbq. It is not for the Rootes bbq. It is for a RAG event on Monday. I apologise. I'm sure there will be plenty of fun stuff at the Rootes bbq as well. And we might as well go to the RAG event as we have nothing better to do.

Then we have the trip to Alton Towers on Tuesday, again organised by the nice people from Rootes. (They are ace.) That should also be a real hoot. Wednesday is a music societies event at the Colleseum which sounds like lots of fun. Then there will be another Colly trip on Thursday I'm assuming, end of year party on Friday and then home! What a final week! And that is not mentioning the small matter of the World Cup! Come on England! Exclamation mark!

Calming myslef down for a moment, I hope that everyone has a super last week and a half at Warwick, and doesn't get too bored back at home. I wiil post again before the end of term obviously, but I will probably forget to say it again.

After yesterday's poor offering of only a few paragraphs, this has been quite a long entry. Hope it wasn't too long for all you skim–readers out there.

Laterz

Join the club.

: 14 Jun 2006 13:35 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

After a long break…...

I haven't given you lot anything for a while now. That is mainly due to the World Cup. Waking up at 10.30, sunbathing until 2, then watching football until 10 leaves little time for blogging. I thought that I would continue my duty and post today.

So far the World Cup has been pretty average I think. Group A all look shocking. England need to improve, as do the other big nations. Argentina put on a decent display, but the team of the tournament has been the Czechs so far. Thay were by far the better side against a very average USA team, played the best football seen so far, and scored three excellent goals.

I sense that most of you have just skipped over that paragraph because you all hate football. I hope some of you like football.

Anyway, since I've been gone, the number of people in my collective has doubled! To two! Thank you very much to Laura and again to Sarah. And apologies to Sarah who was seething that I hadn't mentioned her enough in my entries. I promise that I will try from now on.

Sarah is currently in an interview with a huge multi–national company, hoping to secure work for over the Summer period. Good luck to you, I'm sure that you won't need it. I've told you this anyway personally, but thought that it was a good way to mention you in my blog. I don't actually communicate with my girlfriend via my blog. That would be stupid.

To be honest, I haven't really got much to say today. I know I know, you wait almost a week for an entry and get a measly few paragraphs. I apologise again, but if more of you signed up, I may be inclined to write more, and more often. How about that folks?

Oh, and another thing, I have recently heard a song called Atlantis to Interzone, by a band called Klaxons. It is amazing. You should all get it right away.

See you all soon.

Love and peace and shit.

Join the Club

: 13 Jun 2006 10:19 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Uninspiring Blog Entry Title

Well, I seem to have touched a little one of Mr Pain's nerves with that last entry. I apologise Simon, I really do. Honestly I feel so bad that you still have exams and I don't so I can sit in the sunshine and do not a lot at all and not feel guilty. Snigger. Sorry.

It will all be over soon Simon and you will able to relax as much as everyone else. Until then, I blow a raspberry at you and make a silly wave with my hands.

Happy Birthday to Tanya! Who is the grand old age of 19 today. I am now the only member of the kitchen who is still 18. I feel so youthful. Kind of. And because I am the baby of the kitchen, I can blow raspberries and wave my hands in a silly manner and nobody minds. Until I do it once too often and then I might get a smacked arse. But then I will take you to court because it constitutes child abuse. So there. (I blow another raspberry to spite you.)

(And another.)

Enough childishness.

I expect to see many bodies trouping to the Cov Colly tonight to get communally sweaty (I'm sure that is not how you spell communally but you get the idea.) Surely the highlight of everyone's week so far. Better than the apparent debacle that was Sugar on Tuesday. I didn't go so I can't really comment, but I will anyway. Overheated, overcrowded, overpriced, (Unless you want to drink cheap vodka and the piss of a cat apparently.) I'm sure lots of people had a great time, but I'm also sure that a better time will be had by all at the mighty mighty Collesseum. (Don't bash me for spelling of Colly, they spell it a funny way anyway.) Not least because good old Jake will be there, providing a good dose of entertainment to all who are present. He may be joined by his noble side–kick Steve, or he may not. I don't think anyone here has met Steve.

Anyway, on Friday, I also expect to see many heads watching the start of the World Cup Finals!!!!! I know Germany Costa Rica doesn't sound very exciting, but wait until it starts. You will all love it. I plan to try and watch as many games as I possibly can. Even the really dull sounding ones. For example, Switzerland versus anybody else. The one bad thing about the World Cup, is that its always over too soon! Did you realsie that it is four years and about a month until the next one?! Sob. Come on England.

A final word goes to Tom Pj Tom Paddy and Tom, and other assorted physicists who I have forgotten about, who are doing their last exams today. You will all be fine, even though you are doing a really really hard physics paper.

Oh, and did you all know that Tuesday, was International Day of Slayer. Slayer as in the band. Amazing. I have decided to not form an opinion on this, for fear of offending myself with use of colourful language.

See y'all later.

Join the club. I haven't given up on you.

: 08 Jun 2006 10:42 |  Comments (3) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The Long Weekend Continues

So its Tuesday morning. I am still in bed writing a blog entry. Other people have exams today. I do not. I sat out in the sun and turned a fetching shade of pink yesterday. I might well do the same again today. Or I might not. It doesn't really matter when you don't have exams on.

Big Tom swore at me regularly yesterday for reminding him of the fact that he still had exams to do. Sorry friend. Well, not realy sorry, but sorry in the sort of way that means I'll give you a short break, then start to get on your nerves again. Yawn, I might go back to bed for a little while.

My collective has grown infinitely since I have been away. By that I mean I have one member. (Thank you Sarah, and welcome to my elite band of followers.) I'm not going to order you about just yet, we need more people first, but if you could go on the recruitment trail that would be nice. Try and round people up, and throw them head first into my blog. Hopefully they will be amazed as you are. Thinking about it, I'm not going to order you about at all. That sentence will surely put people off joining. I will politely request that you perform small, simple tasks. (That sounds much better.) You don't even have to do them. There will be no obligation. But, again, it would be nice if I saw a few requests being acted upon.

A question for anyone; Do you think this blog would benefit from a picture? Are people not signing up in their droves because they cannot see me? Do I appear like some mysterious dictator, with a name but no face? If you could see me, and see my kindly features, do you think that would reassure people that I am not a loony intent on world domination? ('Cause I'm not.) (Honestly.)

I could do with moving myself out of bed now, and annoying the people that still have exams. Need to go to Costcutters as well but I have my priorities. So I will leave you there for now. I think this entry is slightly shorter as well. So hopefully you are actually reading and not just skimming through.

Speak to you all soon.

: 06 Jun 2006 10:56 |  Comments (1) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Return of the Blog

Right, after a few days taken out from blogging, to account for my last of exams and the 'socialising' that followed that, I have returned to write another.

"Hurray!"

After a few days, I have had exactly zero people sign up for my collective. Mr Dymond expressed an interest in some sort of newsletter. I'm sure that I didn't mention a newsletter. A good idea though Max and I'll take it on board. However, If I am going to start a newsletter, I will need some members to distribute my word to. And for all your interest Max, you didn't actually join. There is no shame in being the first to sign up people. In fact, it may make you the most important member of them all! If you want. That last comment may put you off even further. Don't feel any pressure.

It would be nice if I got a few people to join. I've had 5 comments on my last post, without a single person saying "Count Me In". Not even from Sarah. Thanks for the support.

If you just really don't want to sign up, it would be nice to recieve some feedback as to why. Is it that I'm pressuring you? Is it that it seems too public? Is there a way to send me a private message on this thing? To give you some anonymity. That may as well be a direct question to you Max, as you seem to be a bit of a computer whizz with all of your fancy a's and stuff. Thanks for that by the way!

Moving away from that subject, God loves me. Simple as. All through my exam period, the weather was bloody miserable. A hint from the big man that I should stay in and revise. When I walked out of my last exam on Thursday morning, the sun tore itself from behind the clouds. Since then the weather has been glorious. How ace! And did anyone notice the sky on friday evening? Looking to the West was absolutley incredible. A bright red orange band was on the horizon from the Sun's reflection on the clouds, and it was totally and utterly gorgeous. It made me feel very humble.

I was walking to a friends house in Coventry, and I must have walked into a dozen lamposts and even a few people (well, chavs) on the way, because I couldn't stop looking at the sky. I'm thinking about it right now and I'm grinning like a lunatic.

I'm going to end this entry there, but a final word goes out to my friend and neighbour, Laura Jackson, who was unbelievably drunk last night. Zoe, Little Tom, Rich (not so much Rich actually, too busy laughing at her,) and myself had to put her to bed when she was planning to go out to Time Tunnel. Hope that you are at least feeling reasonable this morning. Not very likely though.

Right I'm off now. Remember to count yourself in on the action! Refresh your memory why you should by reading my last entry again. Love you all.

: 04 Jun 2006 10:15 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

Join The Club

Well, two exams down, one more to go tomorrow morning. Excellent excellent excellent. Today's exam went pretty well, which if you didn't know already or weren't going to find out from me telling you, you aren't going to be bothered about that much. That sentence made next to no sense. Don't worry if you can't fathom out what it means. Its not that important.

The buzz, (I nearly wrote 'bush' then, that would be a very different meaning) when I walked out of the exam room was fantastic. (How sad.) I was very close to pooing my pants this morning. I was not confident about this one at all. So to walk out after it not going too badly was brilliant. I sat and had a sandwich and a Solero to celebrate.

I am talking about what I have just done. I said I wasn't going to do that. Apologies. I sense that you are becoming irritated with me so I'll stop.

Simon B commented on my last post that I wrote a little like Danny Wallace. I am taking this as a very nice compliment. I have read a few of his books and enjoyed them a lot. I've obviously been influenced. I am excited that I am being compared to a proper author, type person. Maybe my blog is pushing on for a European place now, instead of languishing in mid–table. A significant step on the road to greatness.

On the other hand, Laura then commented that she was impressed that I was posting regularly. Great. Summarised…
"You post a lot."
Thanks Laura. A dent to my confidence. Nothing nice to say about my blog, just that there is lots of it. Maybe I'm being too harsh. It may be a good thing. But if my blog is to become a blog beyond superlatives, it may require more than my prose alone. Comments that spark the imagination of other readers may be a help. Comments that spark my imagination also. Especially since most of this entry has been talking about previous comments. Then again, you probably already know this don't you Laura. We have already established that Laura's blog is higher up the blog ratings than mine. Maybe it was a deliberate ploy to ensure it stays that way.

I like your style Laura. A nice tactic.

Back to Simon B's comment. He suggested that I try to start a sort of cult, no, collective, a la (anybody know how to get a funny little french dash thing on that 'a'?) Danny Wallace. I think that I might. If you wish to sign up for my little group, simply post a comment, with your name, and the words "Count me in."

Feel free also to post a more stimulating comment, but make sure it is seperate to your "count me in" comment, to avoid confusion. I don't want to get into any heated disputes with people who may or may not be in my club.

For now, this collective will remain nameless and aimless, but when the time comes, a purpose to this group may develop. Hopefully, it will enhance your lives, as well as others. That is the plan anyway. Sounds quite idealistic doesn't it. If you are unsure about it, I suggest that you read a book called "Join Me" by the one and only Danny Wallace. Yes it is worth reading, and no I will not be ripping him off directly.

Thanks for reading.

And remember to count yourself in!

: 31 May 2006 14:01 |  Comments (5) |  Close comments |  Report a problem

The Undisputed King Of Blog

No, its not me. It is quite obviously Simon Pain. I tried to raise my profile in the kitchen slightly by suggesting I was perhaps a challenger to Simon's crown. I was laughed at.
"Today Simon gave us pictures of rabbits." Came one reply. I checked. He did indeed give us pictures of rabbits. How can I compete with that? I thought that I may not be a challenger after all.

Maybe I had cemented a second place. No. Laura's blog seemed more popular than mine as well. And that is purely about Little Tom. I have been trumped at blogging, essentially by Little Tom. Oh the shame. And then there is Mark's blog. He also has pictures. Again, mainly documenting the misadventures of Little Tom. The injustice! Tom has two blogs, both superior to mine, and he writes neither of them because he is too busy…
I'll stop there. Fill in the blank yourself.

It appears that reason behind my lack of success is to do with my blog length. I have spoken to Big Tom, and I think someone else as well. I can't remember you, Sorry. But they both said that they had visited my blog. They both said,

"It's a bit long innit." In pretty much those exact words.

So, the feedback so far suggests blog length is too long. No problem. If I am to turn this blog into the behemoth of a blog it is destined to become, I will heed your advice, and restrict blog length. What do you say? Sound like a good plan?

You have probably got bored already and are just scan reading right now because its too long already. I've had a comment to say as much on one of my previous entries. How disheartening. I need a way to grab your attention back. I need a picture! That's it! a picture! But I haven't got one. And that would almost be a direct rip–off of Simon Pain's blog. That would be cheating my way to the top of the blog ladder. I couldn't do that. You'll have to settle for mid–table mediocrity for now gang. But have no fear, I will work my way towards the top of the tree, and one day, one day , may be able to mount a challenge for the blogging crown.

: 30 May 2006 10:24 |  Comments (2) |  Close comments |  Report a problem