Unintended Bliss

Mad mad f**king Madchester

2006-07-05T22:25:00.000+01:00

Current mood: pleased

Hi everyone,

This blog post is about my recent trip to Manchester, so I thought that video would be fitting for this, with it showing Bez from the Happy Mondays, who is a total musical legend BTW, as well as quality music from the place - I don't think I'll find anything like this for Newcastle! BTW you can see the TV version of the advert (Which is very different) by going here.

So yeah on Saturday I made a trip to Manchester, for sightseeing, giggage, & meeting new friends. I knew I was going to meet my friend Sharon after the gig, but other than that I was literally a bloke who's travelled for new friends - crazy it might seem, but read on for more about it all.

This isn't the first time I visited Manchester - towards the end of the easter hols, I went there for the first time to meet Kimmy and Gem - we went out that night, but it was just a bit much for me, & I ended up spending much of the night alone in the chill out area of the club, 5th Avenue, as I simply didn't feel great :-( . I had to stay till 2AM (about 4 hours I think I was in there) - you see, Kimmy and Gem both got pulls - I told them I'd be upstairs as I felt unwell, and they were welcome to visit me - neither of them did - not even once! Although credit to Gem for caring a little later on when I was back downstairs and suggesting I'd go upstairs & have water, as well as the randomers I spoke to that night.

Anyways, back to this time, I chose the cheap option of getting to Manchester once again, ie, Megabus. Typical that after a driver change (& picking up loads of passengers from a broken down coach), the new driver put on the front blowers, which were blasting out HOT air - this made towards the front of the top deck (Which was fine just about) boiling. I couldn't tell him about it for an hour as we were moving solidly on motorways (thats one of the few times I've ever HOPED for a traffic jam!). Anyways, yeah he was shocked to hear that, & immediately turned them off - unfortunately he didn't know how to get more cool air blowing.

We got to Manchester 15 minutes early & I went down to my hotel (about 5-10 minutes from the megabus stop on Chorlton Street). It was actually a student halls of residence run by UMIST being rented out as a hotel, meaning it was cheap & cheerful, & did have a strange smell about when walking from the Days Inn hotel nextdoor into the halls. However, it did the job, & came with a really useful ensuite shower, which after my roasting journey, I got in right away pretty much. By the time I got dressed again & had unpacked a little, it was almost 4PM. I was considering going to Manchester City Centre, & my hotel had a bar, but in the end I decided to just go to the telly room in my halls. Suprisingly, it was empty! Probs because there was no-one else staying in my block of rooms. Hehe I won't go into the footie, other than the fact that quite frankly I'd rather it've not gone into extra time as it meant less time to buy a few things & then go to find Manchester Academy 2 (which I knew was on Oxford Road, but didn't realise was quite so close - only took about 10-15 minutes to get to).

Whilst waiting for doors to open I was speaking to randomers who were having a seat - a bit about the disappointing footie (no still not going to talk about it), and a bit about the music that night - oh & a bit finding out which building actually is Manchester Academy 2 (turns out the older building to the North is Academy 2 & 3, and the redbrick building is Academy 1).

So yeah with a very open-minded (in a musical way) mother & son whom I just met, we went into the venue realising doors had actually opened, and the first band were due to be on. I thought they were going to be bauer, & I shouted Onions as they came on. Turned out they were actually Neo Tokyo, and were really good as openers (although a tad unusual).

I spoke to 2 more randomers who were there for the headliners, and the band who were getting ready were bauer this time deffo I could tell. Now the 3 peeps I was hanging out with (the 2 randomers & the kid) hadn't heard of bauer beforehand, but when they came on they were dancing like crazy, as was I. I admit it was me who shouted "quality" before Indian Sign, which probs caught their attention for a second hehe. Greg gave a hint that I took advantage of of some girls who were frequent bauer giggoers, and after shaking Greg's hand at the end of the gig, & talking to the peeps I was with for a bit, I went up to those girls (Charlotte, Natasha & Philippa) & it turned out they were not only Mikey's friends, but also knew my friend Sharon, who I was going to meet after the gig anyway - I did ask them if they minded me joining them, & they didn't at all - anyways they went off to the bar. A bit after going back to the kid & his mother for a brief chat, I met Mikey Guitar, bauer's guitarist.

Anyways, I hung around the venue for Vib Gyor's set - I also know them from adding me on myspace in a similar way to bauer. Some of their stuff (like Church Bells) is more Keane like, and some of their stuff (like The Secret) is more like The Cooper Temple Clause - well, thats my view. Anyways, they played their more Keane-like stuff, and was disappointed they didn't play The Secret in particular (I would've just loved to've heard the trumpet bit at the start of that song live). Still they were also total quality live don't get me wrong there.

After Vib's set, I went out to find Philippa & the rest of the girls I met earlier, & I found them at a table with Mikey. This was quite a crazy part of the night - I remember singing silly songs with Mikey & doing some dances - some mine (I think I did the funky chicken) & some not (thats right - I danced like Bez! & Mikey gave me some skiffs to use as maraccas). I also remember a photo was taken, but I was so knackered my head was down & I didn't realise that a piccy was being taken (silly me).

Anyways, after catching some of Puressence & hanging around the bar, we headed off down Oxford Road to 42nd Street. On the way there there deffo was some craziness, including a piccy of us all humping a letterbox (Charlotte is using that as her myspace piccy as well!). Admittadely I kinda kept Sharon waiting for us as I had no idea of how long it'd take (Mikey gave a precise estimate as to when we'd be there - can't remember how correct he was hehe), but eventually we got there, & Sharon was there waiting for us - Sharon & I actually got in for free by a random girl's 2 guestlist places - deffp appreciate it. Unfortunately I was horribly knackered by that time & so wasn't at my most talkative or cheery, but I still thought 42nd Street was quality, & I was so happy to be there. Plus its not too big & didn't have quite so many emos that night compared to my visit to 5th Avenue back in April. Anyways, yeah just before I left, Mikey gave me his Academy 2 backstage pass & his guitar pick - both got home safe & intact :-).

Well, at this point I have to thank Mikey, Charlotte, Natasha, Philippa & Sharon for making me feel welcome, looking after me well & everything - I deffo appreciate it, & deffo appreciate the night out after the gig, as well as the company.

After having another shower, a really nice night's sleep (impressive given how cheap the place was) & a yummy free breakfast, I checked out of the hotel & had a look around Manchester City Centre - I was mainly looking for Superdrug & Marks & Spencer, the former for their buy one get one free offer on Pepsi Max Twists, & the latter for their great travelling food. Annoyingly, in M&S I forgot to pick up a fork for my salad, & whilst looking for some plastic forks, I found a cheap shop that sold Pepsi Max Twist bottles for something that worked out cheaper than buy one get one free in Superdrug - however, superdrug's bottles are refridgerated! Hehe any excuse to still stand by my purchase!

But yeah after a wait in Manchester Piccadilly Coach Station, which is by the megabus stop & was cooler than waiting in the sweltering heat outside, my megabus arrived about 15 minutes early. However, it was going to be a really busy one, with the downstairs already full when I got on - was so hoping I was going to be early with this one. In typical style we couldn't leave because the luggage door wouldn't shut, so a mechanic had to be called. Waited 45 minutes in the end, & the coach felt horrid with shite aircon - & we didn't get to London quicker than scheduled. Ah well I got home anyway, despite being roasted in that coach, and all in all the trip was so well worth it.

In other news, to my suprise, I passed my 2nd year at Imperial College. Meaning no resits in September!!!

You're twistin' my melon mannn - call the f**king cops!

Currently listening:
Bez's Madchester Anthems: Sorted Tunes from Back in the Day
By Various Artists
Release date: By 08 June, 2006

The Video Is In Colour!

2006-04-04T16:07:00.001+01:00

BLACK & WHITE (The Upper Room)

Out on May 8th in all good record stores (& some rubbish ones too).

KOKO (Club NME) Bastards

2006-03-04T08:07:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Well this all appears in the rant thread of The Upper Room's official forum. I went to the KOKO gig to see the guys play what I knew would be their biggest gig last night - or at least that was the plan.

After queueing for OVER AN HOUR in the freezing with Steve & Susan, we finally got to the front of the queue - the place was advertised to open at 10PM - swear it opened at 10:30 at the earliest.

Anyways, yeah at the front of the queue they ID'd me - fair enough I have my CitizenCard, a government backed scheme that I've had no problems with since I got it a year ago. What do you know KOKO refuses to take it! And they only take certain photo IDs (whose names I don't remember) &amp; I don't drive (& given where I live, don't think I will for a very long time), & quite frankly I don't want to be travelling London in the early hours with my passport!

I paid TEN WHOLE POUNDS to get one of these cards, & I surely would be guarnteed entry to everywhere & for it to be as effective as a driving licence, passport, etc! Its like the leading scheme as well. But for one of London's (not necessarily rightly so) leading venue & club night not to accept it - its just a fucking joke!

Right so I had no photo ID so they asked me how old I was - now I have been 20 since October, but do you ever get that thing where you think your age is a tad different by a year? Well that happened to me! And the tossers of cunts that are the security guards wouldn't let me in, even though I REALLY was SO (maybe unnecessarily) NERVOUS - I hope quite frankly they get sacked - or worse - get seriously hurt by some drunk with a bottle or something like that (I know I shouldn't wish for others to be injured, but I feel this is an exception)! THEY REALLY ARE A BUNCH OF RIGHT TOSSERS, and ruined a night out not only for me but also Susan & Steve, and led to all 3 of us going home when we all should've been enjoying my friends' biggest gig.

Now normally I'd be swearing so much & asking for their names & doing everything I can to ensure they got sacked. But I was weak & begging - this wasn't unintentional - I didn't want to rule things out, & in some ways I did the right thing. Nikky & Kelly noticed all this & after a bit of street teaming on the queue, I managed to get in on Nikky's guestlist place (I REALLY am grateful huni, & Jon I'm also grateful for indirectly giving me this lifeline). However, Nikky didn't feel particularly well & neither did I really after my ordeal. After getting some water (thank God they didn't try to rip us off there), & a bit of arguing (Nikky genuinely wanted me to stay), I left with Nikky (sorry Kelly I had to leave you there), and seeing her poor state with coughing & shivering I was starting to feel I've done the right thing. I just felt the venue wasn't all that either, but it really is massive, which is why they can get away with getting RIGHT ARSEHOLES employyed as security guards.

Anyways, we went to Mornington Crescent underground station & the ticket machine wouldn't take my Oyster Card (thats TfL's smartcard scheme) - I thought it was because I ran out of credit so (this is the point where Nikky left me as she was already through the ticket barrier & she just wanted to get home - I did get a text saying she gott home safely - poor love) I went to the ticket mackine to top up - the fucking barriers wouldn't let me through - it wasn't like there was a problem with my card as I got on 3 different buses afterwards fine. The machines were saying "Seek Assistance" - there was no-one there! That really was the icing on the cake as I wanted to kep Nikky company & so what I can to help her feel better.

As for KOKO, this was my first ever visit there and I WILL NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER GO TO ANYTHING THERE EVER AGAIN! And I would recommend that place to NO-ONE. EVER! AND THEIR SECURITY GUARDS DESERVE SACKING! THANK YOU FOR RUINING A NIGHT OUT FOR A FAIR FEW PEOPLE, CUNTS! IN SHORT, NEVER GO TO KOKO (aka Club NME)!

I hope my friends, The Upper Room, performed ace despite knackeredness & the overwhelming size of the venue. I hope Kelly, Martina, Phil & everyone else doing stret teaming got LOADS of people (crap I should've lent my torch to Kelly!). And I hope as a result of that the band get some new forum members. And I hope every friend of mine who was there had a brilliant time - its not their fault that I'm pissed off - & I wouldn't blame the guys if they play there again because its massive - its not their fault that I wouldn't be there as a result of a few wankers.

Just before I go though, I would like to thank Susan & Steve for coming along & standing right by me all evening whilst you were around (they left the queue too with me when I couldn't get in - how quality is that!), along with Nikky, Kelly & Jon (yeah mate - if you ever read this I know you weren't there at the time but you helped loads without realising it) for helping me get in, and for Kimmy (who I'll be visiting in April in Manchester) and Helen for being great moral support over the phone - just sorry you peeps had to put up with me being upset.

Its Been A Long Time Coming

2006-01-29T19:22:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Well, The Delays sound quality - however, I unfortunately had to give their gig at Ministry Of Sound a miss for some reason that I can't remember.

Anyways, so much has been going on over the past month. Believe me its taken me this long to blog for a reason. And BTW this blog is posted over on the recently launched myspace blog as well.

Around the middle of January, Nikky held a house party. It was actually one of her first ever ones she's held, but she had some special guests - The Upper Room. Of course, there were other quality guests, namely a few friends of Nikky's and a fair few people from the band's official messageboard. It deffo was a total quality party, although some were traumatised by one guy giving his dignity away :P. I was in a different room at that point fortunately. I had many quality chats with all the people, including all 4 band memebers so it really was quality and made some new friends too.

That wasn't the last time I was to se Alex and the guys. I went to three of their 2006 gigs, and did mailing list rounds at all 3 (In return getting guestlisted at two of them). The first was at Metro Club, which was a quality night, but it was marred by the sound people of the venue cuting the set short by 2 songs (meaning they could not play Once For Me and Black & White) - Alex was really pissed off about that as well, but the crowd were won over by the set, and there were people from NME & Radio 1 as well. The next one was early this month at Dingwalls, where they supported El Presidente. Again the guys won over much of the crowd, with 6 pages of mailing list addys there. El Pres also did a cover of Common People which was very good (not quite as good as Will Shatner's though) and during that my Kat Hat was taken by the first support act - I had to argue with them afterwards to get it back - they were drunk BTW. After the gig we all went to The Roxy and some quality piccys are on my photobucket. The last of the gigs was at the tiny venue that is the Water Rats, and it was packed out, and the clear majority wanted to join the mailing list, what with getting 2 pages worth of addys.

Anyways, back to January, which also had what was the start of my 2006 Tour of Britain, and my port of call was Warwick. This is to see the lovely girl that is Sarah H.B. I arrived at Cannon Park after a (£1!!!) 2 hour megabus trip a little after she finished her audition. Unfortunately, poor Sarah wasn't particularly well, but after dropping my stuff off, she took me on a tour of the union. It really does put Beit to shame - & (dare I say this) ULU & UCLU as well (although I dunno about those 2 put together) - its massive, and deffo seems quality. And I lost my (usually very good) sense of direction whilst we were looking around it. Actually the Warwick campus is massive, with lots of greenery - being from a uni of concrete (alright there is Hyde Park nearby I know), this is a massive difference.

Anyways, we returned to her room after our look around the union - at this point I helped Sarah set up her myspace, which has two beautiful recordings of her's. When we finished setting it up, we sat back and listened to her music, and after a huggle, Sarah fell asleep for a while. I felt it was best of a bit to leave her be. Anyways, Gary (he's Sarah's bf BTW - & a top bloke too) soon came over & we all watched a film whilst having pizza. But yeah from then on things were kinda quiet but at the same time very nice, & there were some top people there too. I did feel sorry for Sarah not being well at all, & I did what I could to help look after her. Anyways, I decided that I'm going to be making another visit to Warwick, which will be next weekend. (Slight update - or maybe not - well, actually deffo not unfortunately, as that clashes with a trip Sarah's got - & she's only just found out).

This weekend features the third Kids WIll Be Skeletons (I had to miss the second one because of admin work - I did do promoting for that with Greg around Imperial halls and saw how boring they are - how I found I missed nothing there :P - actually in uni Imperial can be very....fill in the gap!) - actually thats tonight. Also happening this weekend 2 Dutch friends, Jantine & Jenny, have been visiting London - I saw them yesterday & showed them around some of Central London - it was quality deffo, and I'll be seeing them again tomorrow.

Anyways hope you've enjoyed the round up.

Currently listening:
I to Sky
By Jj72
Release date: By 24 May, 2002

Clip Request - George Galloway

2006-01-14T13:14:00.000Z

UPDATE - FOUND IT - thanks to the quality site that is You Tube.

Hi everyone,

Does anyone have a free clip of George Galloway pretending to be a cat the other night in Big Brother?

All I've found is a paid one, one with music over, and a transcript.

Next we'll have Tony Blair pretending to be a puppy in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here or something like that!

Anyways, thanks in advance.

Kat Hat Quality

2005-12-29T09:36:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Today I got a total quality suprise in the post - my Kat Hat.

Photo is below, with me wearing it, along with the recently introduced ULU Steward T shirt (making this the photo of nearly everything cool over the past month). As much as I'd love to work with a Kat Hat, I don't think that'd be wise!

Kat Hats are available from Two Sides Wide (which is also the home of a quality webcomic), and cost £5 plus postage & packaging.

I'm dedicating this post to Susan, the girl who makes these quality fashion icons (I mean the hats). Many huggles - yeah I like the hat loads :)

I'm Now On MySpace

2005-12-26T16:31:00.000Z

..........but I'll keep blogging here.

Here's the link to my MySpace - feel free to add me - enjoy.

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Everyone! (This is a long, long Christmas message)

2005-12-25T18:32:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Well, usually Christmas messages are messages for reflection, or just random stuff. However, the reflection over the past year has been sorted just a few days ago, so this post is gonna be what this blog has been dying for for ages - an update on things my end. However, bear in mind that I've just had (a very nice & chilled) bottle of Fosters Ice (my first Fosters Ice as well) and even that does have a fair bit of an effect, so please bear with my ultra lightweightedness.

I've mentioned gigging in my past post, and over these past few months I have been to a fair few.

The first out of work was Kaiser Chiefs, with Maximo Park & The Cribs in support. Now this gig was in sad circumstances because even offering tickets for free couldn't lure anyone to come with me - it was really sad, and near the entrance of the Brixton Academy I was pretty much in tears contemplating whether or not to actually go in, bearing in mind the social disaster that was my birthday less than a week before. In the end, I did what I knew I'd be saying would be the sensible thing by going in with just the one ticket of the pair (not selling to a tout either - however, if only I knew about this website where you can sell tickets at the price they should be sold - face value). Anyways, I came in to see The Cribs already on - good band with an interesting drummer, who kept climbing onto his drumkit whilst playing! I was still feeling somewhat blue until the Maximo Park set, which was really good & deffo cheered me up a fair bit. To finish it off was the band I once saw as a support act at King's College London, Kaiser Chiefs - I'd say they were deffo quality, but actually not as good as the Park.

A few weeks later I was faced with a decision - a band I had been plugging for ages as you all now know (because I put two of their videos up on my blog) called The Upper Room were playing in London in early November. Now if your'e sick of me going on and on about this quality act, skip this paragraph because I'm gonna go on here. My choice was to go to the gig on the Monday at Water Rats, or on Wednesday at Metro Club - now I knew even if I was alone, I'd want to go whatever because they're probs my favourite band of 2005. On the Monday I ended up feeling a tad depressed and not really up for it, and I knew I was regretting it when I was signing Kill Kill Kill on the bus home (and it was a tad late to go up to King's Cross). As soon as I got home, I decided to go on Ticketweb (that's the best website for gig tickets, lets face it) and buy a ticket for the gig two days later. This gig also had Lowgold supporting, a band whose first single (called In Amber) I have on vinyl. Now I know its very very easy to say this, but The Upper Room were quality - what I particularly found good is that it was such a small venue, and I was right up at the front, and its quite an experience seeing a favourite band like that. Equally an experience was (after asking someone about when the T Shirt will be released) speaking to Alex's (lead singer) bro - he was a top bloke, and gave me a promotional mini CD which I'm keeping right here as a prized thingey. Jimmy (guitarist) also came up to me offerring one as well, but I was honest & told him I already had one, & also took the opportunity to say they were quality live. Two of the three other bands were also very good, with Ray putting on a suprisingly good set as openers and Lowgold being very good and also amusing on stage (lets say the lead singer was playing about with not only fellow bandmembers, but also a few audience members), even though most of their stuff was their less familiar stuff (despite the roar for In Amber, they didn't play that). They did play the quality that was Beauty Dies Young.

(Another Upper Room paragraph - skip this if you wish) Of course, I knew that I'd want to see The Upper Room again, particularly since I missed a quality Water Rats gig (so forum members say - apparently that was like a private performance!). The band were offerring free tickets to a gig in a few weeks time via email, an opportunity I so couldn't turn down, so before I went off to Metro, I emailed for tickets, and what do you know I managed to get not one but two! Now I had a challenge on my hands, find someone willing to come - once again, this proved to be a real challenge, but this time I was more successful in that the lovely Jasmine was more than happy to come along. After getting lost on the very cold November evening, trying to find the venue, we arrived towards the end of Motion Picture Soundtack's set - they sounded very good and I regretted not scouting to find the venue before I met Jas. After that was Gliss - a friend of Jas's told her they're very good. Well, this group are a 3 piece from America (California, I think) and what was very unique about them was they all played all the instruments & sang, and kept swapping around. The frontman seemed like a bit of a weirdo, and the other bloke in the band looked very much like my friend Greg from uni, but there was a girl in the band too - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - yummy - she looked really fit - rock chique mmmmm. Anyways, the healiners were of course The Upper Room and once again they were quality, and once again I was right at the front by the stage. What made this gig special was not seeing a stagedive by someone for a setlist (& knocking over a few amps in the process), but the fact I got to meet a number of fellow fans from the messageboard (after asking one of them what the crossed out track on the setlist was). They seemed like top people, and some even offerred me to join them on a trip to some clubs - I had a very long day though, what with struggling to get some discrtete maths coursework done on time. However, as soon as I got home I joined the messageboard. Some tracks from this gig are online to view here, along with an interview. On the third and final Upper Room gig, I met some more fellow fans, danced with Nikky (she's a fellow fan BTW) during Combination, and had a bit of a chat with bandmembers (& I was the only person who's met another Beau previously - oh yeah & Beau's the bassist of the band). Oh and Jimmy recgnised me from the Metro gig as well - what a dude! Anyways, Nikky gave me a setlist for this gig, which (to finish this bit on The Upper Room) was:

Combination
Your Body
All Over This Town
Kill Kill Kill
Leave Me Alone
Once For Me
Black & White

Of course, there were other live experiences over this past term. In mid November the Union were doing an evening of 3 live bands, as well as an indie/rock club type thing - however, it was all too good to be true. When I went into dB's (club bit of the union) with two people, it was deserted. Where we were sitting, the silly lighting they had kept stopping on us and stayed there for ages, blinding us out. And as if all that wasn't enough, the first band (& the only one I saw) didn't go on till 10:30PM - thats usually a time a headliner would finish! The band who were on (I think they were called the Causals) were quite good as a band, but let down by the shemale lead singer, who didn't sing well at all. After that, being knackered, I left.

However, Matty did a much better job with organising this than the union did (dark piccy I know - no - not my monitor - the poster by the side of it):

Kids Will Be Skeletons was a new concept of having an indie club night at the union, along with 3 live bands. It was also very popular, with final year people saying it was probs the best indie night at the union, and really I'd have to agree with that given my experiences there. The first band was Broken Colossus, who were just very very weird. Futurecorpses were also unusual, but this time not in a torturing way - they were good (& this isn't just me sucking up to Matty either). The final band, Captain Black, had a very good cheer about them and many of us were dancing to them. The songs played were unusual as well, but also quality and none of them I've ever heard. I think we all know the words - there should be more Kids Will Be Skeletons events to come, and hopefully the union won't live up its own arse. This night even beat a similar Christmas event held over at LSE, which was largely filled with a set of iPod based bands (& a group of Diana Ross & Suprememes dressups).

(Digressing from the live music bit here) I do have a slight thing against the union of Imperial College at the moment - whilst yeah they did successful campaign againt the ridiculous security measures in the college, my thing against it is that they didn't train me for my position of treasurer - I came in mid August to find out about just that, & they scared me over two forms that needed filling. However, they failed to tell me that there were training sessions being held throughout the summer holiday, and when I found that out I really was furious, and made me think "no wonder Gimperial's union is so whimpish". I did get training in the end from Media Group Treasurer, Pavlos, and I'm very grateful to him for that. Generally, I'm a tad pissed off at things around Imperial, with the exception of AMS and possibly IC Radio. And I'm hardly the happiest bunny about things on my course, what with the disaster that was the group project that I could moan so much about but won't.

Thank goodness for ULU thats all I can say. Sadly Imperial are now to leave the University of London, in a move where there was very little student consultation. I still feel that interuniversity cooperation is still vitally important, as quite frankly I still very much want to be associated with students from the likes of UCL, KCL, SOAS and LSE, and I believe this is a role that ULU should continue to play, and quite frankly I feel Imperial must remain a part of that at all costs, and I don't just say that because I work there.

Of course, working at ULU has to be a highlight of the term. The quality friends I've made there - I've just made so many who I'd've otherwise never met. And not all of them I work alongside, what with meeting UCL's juggling club, Balls, through work, and quite a few Mondays I go up to the Gower Street campus to join them & throw my balls about a bit. After that we usually go off to have a drink - once I did get too drunk after 2 buds in ULU, and one other time they took me to a very big, but nice, union bar at UCL's union. Oh & that evening I met a dude from Imperial who (like me) believes the place can be very boring. Balls also encouraged me to start balloon making, and I made my first balloon dog:

That wasn't all the fun though of working at ULU - on the last Tuesday of term (conveniently after the Italian test) was the ULU staff party, which was loads of fun - although I had to move from ops to ents during the games to make them all fair (well, I did work for ents once), only for the ents manager to join in & make it all unfair again (so much for fair play). However, ents did win one of the games, and as a result we got prizes - I won one of these:

Now needless to say I did get drunk that evening, and even spilled a bit of food on my jumper. However, I did meet some people from departments I haven't really spoken to (particularly Energy Base, ULU's gym). A few photos from the evening (including at least one featuring yours truely) can be found here.

That was originally going to be my only Christmas party, except that fellow steward Isis gave me an invite to a joint birthday party on the Saturday. How could I possibly refuse, what with not having anything going on that evening. There was a bit of disgusting behaviour around the start of the party, however the shithead causing trouble was chucked out, and the party from then on was total quality, and I met some seemingly very nice people.

Of course, I'm not going to leave out the friends whose gigs I went to. I'm talking about Big Dance in particular, whose three gigs I went to were all quality, and they seem very promising with their performances so far - just a shame I missed them when they played at Finnegans Wake, Ealing (former home of West London Calling) because I was very ill that weekend. On Thursday I went to see The Regulars, whose gig lacked the usual ex Dulwich following, but were still great on the night. Next term I look forward to seeing July July, who Lucas is also drumming for and sound very good (a bit Morning Runner like), and also I need to find out from fellow Upper Room fan Martina about a band she told me about called Morton Valence (who sound very unique, but also very good).

Anyways, this all leaves me to say have a quality rest of Christmas, and a quality new year (2006 it will be - blimey don't the year come & go).

Another Video (As If One Wasn't Enough) - An Anthem Come February

2005-12-24T21:55:00.000Z

ALL OVER THIS TOWN (The Upper Room)

Released February 27th 2006.
Album out Summer 2006.
Old video for song (for those who prefer it) here.

My Christmas message coming tomorrow.

1 Year Of Blogging

2005-12-20T16:40:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Well, today's a kinda significant day for me, & also my blog for that matter, in that its been a year to the day that I set up this blog.

Blimey there's been quite a lot of changes of that past year. Either that or things that have changed and changed again, or things that have changed and changed back. Alright thats kinda normal really that does usually happen over a one year period.

Unintended Bliss was named after going to a Muse gig a few days beforehand, which I have to say was still one of my best gigs ever. It was deffo my biggest gig, being in the large venue that is Earl's Court. Until March this year, it was also my nearest gig, only to be beaten by a Southpaw gig that was a matter of a couple of hundred metres closer to home. Alright here I am, talking about gigging experiences again. Well, I think on average I went to at least one gig a month over this past year (probs more, particularly if you include those I've worked in). But where actually was I? Ah yes - I was originally going to name my blog with one word as a libertines song, but I don't know how good a title "Unintended What A Waster" would be. What do you think bargain bloggers?

(Sorry - I just had to do a David Dickinson pisstake there - couldn't resist it - he says Aution like "Oction" as well, doesn't he)

I originally set up a blog for a few reasons - one was to help people who don't use MSN much to still keep in touch with what's going on my end. Orignally I wrote it as if it was an MSN convo as well, but there was a revolution started by Chard, and the majority of people wanted me to write in more full english. Indeed those of you who talk to me on MSN may've noticed I've been starting to make an effort there as well to write in full words, but classics like "deffo", "probs" & "poss" will still stay (alright - deffo is the only one of those thats the classic - & I say it in reality too).

I also set it up so that I could comment on Helen O's blog, who was at the time my only blogging friend. She still has the honour of being my first commenter, six minutes after my first post. Now, I've also made some quality friends over the past year, through many ways. Whether its Alternative Music Society, IC Radio, ULU or even just a friend of a friend somehow (I met quite a few of those). Oh and also blogging (there back to where I was in just over a sentence) - it was another reason I started blogging. Back in April, after she was first commenting about me on Helen's blog, then on my blog, & after me leaving a comment on her blog that I was going to leave on her blog anyway (hoping she'd get better from her crappy illness - Helen was telling me a bit about it), Sarah HB was to be my first friend I'd make through blogging (as well as the first ex JAGS girl in my old yeargroup I've met for a long time), and what a legend she's been as well! Since then I was to make many more blogging friends, what with 2 BlogBQs (me having originally discovered the first whilst peering over Sarah B's blog, thinking nothing of it, then Snoph telling me about it all, convincing me to put my name down for it all). Now just take a look at the number of quality friends, most of whom I've met over this past year, with Blogs, LiveJournals, MSN Spaces or MySpaces. That list originally had just 3 people as well.

Over this year I had also grown a bit more into the old alchomohol, and I don't mean cider. My favourites have to be anything Budweiser based - Budweiser, Bud Ice, Bud E, and (the East European version) Budfer (I remember Jamie getting so drunk on that - it was amusing). I first tried it at Helen W's 19th birthday party, on the evening of RAG London Raid day (I still don't know if I'll be taking part in RAG this year). However, I also sometimes drink Carling, a drink I didn't like when I first tried it whilst hanging out with James G, but grown more into it when the Upper Room guitarist gave me & a few fans some cans (what a dude!), and also Fosters, which I think I sort of got into when I was chilling out with Tim & Ceri around the end of spring term in the middle of Queens Lawn. Alright that had to be the booze paragraph, & I haven't yet mentioned the bit of wine (best being from the other night, which Isis's parents gave me a glass of - it really was quality wine as well), champagne, & the apple sour shot I had on a summer evening when hanging out with Tim, Tom & Ceri. And I haven't yet tried Voddy or Ale (that'll be for 2006). Actually thats a lie about ale I think - I think I tired a bit when I was playing joke darts with Helen W & Greg.

Anyways, its been quite a past year, & whilst there has been some not so quality on my end (my yeargroup on my course, and one or two other issues I so thought would get sorted that I didn't), bring on the next year of blogging.

Oh yeah - & a more full update on whats been going on over the past 2-3 monthswill be coming soon, along with other goodies.

Incomplete Post

2005-12-18T23:16:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

This is a post I never got around to finishing - mainly because I've either been too busy or too depressed. I'll be updating you people very soon, in time for the 1st birthday of my blog.

This post is an update up to Rocktober 24th.

"Well, I must say that Rocktober only had 2 posts in the month. As I've said in the last post lots was deffo happening - well, thats been true deffo. But there have been other stuff on my end thats caused the long delay in blogging.

Anyways, that Monday after I blogged was my 2nd visit to UCL Juggling. On my way up I met Fawzi and two other people, and we all decided to be involved with the Pub Quiz that was going on at Duck & Dive in ULU. Dunno how badly we actually did (we didn't do the worst I know that), but towards the end Fawzi did a quality rendition of that "Notting Hill" Rownan Keating song. A few people (including a bartender) even brought out their lighters in true power rock style to his singing. After the end of the pub quiz, I decided to pop into the gallery to see other people from Balls who weren't involved with the pub quiz.

I don't remember much about that Tuesday, except I was just about free to work at ULU that evening - extra staff were needed with the UCL Indian Club hiring out Room 101. I could just imagine saying the signal for a fight into my radio, particularly since alchohol was banned from the event. I was also called up to work on (an otherwise quiet) Wednesday - there was an AudioBullies gig there that evening. I must admit I wasn't working in Room 101 during the actual gig (working instead on the balcony entrance - counting people walking in and out of there, and a small bit in the cloakroom), but they didn't sound like my thing. The singer put on the annoying voice that features in We Don't Care on every song, and I also heard a terrible cover of Prodigy's classic Out Of Space.

Whilst the shift wasn't a bad one, that evening on my way to work, I felt like I was starting to fall ill. Thats right, I ended up catching freshers flu - and it was 2 days before my birthday. I felt crapish (though still braved it to uni) on Thursday and during the day on Friday, my birthday! However, when I returned home on Friday evening I felt terribly ill - it was a crap feeling, feeling ill on my birthday, and I felt I had no choice but to cancel out of my evening plans for the four or five people who were still planning to show up.

Much of the weekend was spent recovering, and not a lot else. I ended up having to pull out of my ULU shift on Sunday - it was a quiet weekend, but it was what I needed - lots of rest.

It was back to uni on Monday - I still wasn't quite 100% though - can't remember much about it though - think there was an AMS evening when I got a few booby prize CDs for doing terribly in a quiz (well, I was pratting around when answering the questions, as always)."

What Muppet Am I?

2005-11-27T21:39:00.000Z

Snuffleupagus

You scored 54% Organization, 45% abstract, and 50% extroverted!

This test measured 3 variables.

First, this test measured how organized you are. Some muppets like Cookie Monster make big messes, while others like Bert are quite anal about things being clean.

Second, this test measured if you prefer a concrete or an abstract viewpoint. For the purposes of this test, concrete people are considered to gravitate more to mathematical and logical approaches, whereas abstract people are more the dreamers and artistic type.

Third, this test measured if you are more of an introvert or an extrovert. By definition, an introvert concentrates more on herself and an extrovert focuses more on others. In this test an introvert was somebody that either tends to spend more time alone or thinks more about herself.

You are somewhat organized, both concrete and abstract, and both introverted and extroverted.

I bet you didn't think you were Snuffleupagus. Let's find out why.

You are both somewhat organized. You have a good idea where you put things and you probably keep your place reasonably clean. You aren't totally obsessed with neatness though. Alloyius Snuffleupagus (and all Snuffleupagus') is not sloppy by nature, but he moves so incredibly slowly that it is impossible for him to be totally organized.

You both are about equally concrete and abstract thinkers. You have a good balance in your life. You know when to be logical at times, but you also aren't afraid to explore your dreams and desires... within limits of course. Snuffy generally has very basic interests, but he explores his abstract sensitive side when he plays his snuffleflute.

You both are somewhat introverted. Originally Snuffleupagus was very shy and was only Big Bird's invisible friend. However as he has aged he has started to build new friendships with new characters. Like Snuffy, you probably like to have some time to yourself. However, you do appreciate spending time with your friends, and you aren't scared of social situations.

The other possible characters are

Oscar the Grouch

Big Bird

Cookie Monster

Ernie

Elmo

Kermit the Frog

Grover

The Count

Guy Smiley

Bert

If you enjoyed this test, I would love the feedback! Also if you want to tell me your favorite Sesame Street character, I can total them up and post them here. Perhaps your choice will win!

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 43% on Organization
You scored higher than 31% on concrete-abstra
You scored higher than 27% on intro-extrovert

Link: The Your SESAME STREET Persona Test written by greencowsgomoo on Ok Cupid, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Quality Video from a Quality Band (who I'll've seen 3 times by the end of the month & people say I'm obsessed with)

2005-11-26T22:36:00.000Z

COMBINATION (The Upper Room)

Pathetic - Just Pathetic

2005-11-13T12:51:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Honestly I will get around to that more full post - but here's a small one in the mean time. It is a bit of a rant though just to warn you.

There's this attitude that just makes me sick at Imperial, and makes me want to put that G in front of the name. This doesn't apply to everyone, and indeed it applies to pretty much none of my friends, but I find quite a bit if I try to talk to people who I don't know (both in groups & on the very rare instance when there's noone around them), quite a few reply with a few short words, if that! And sometimes they just stare blankly though me as if I said bugger all, and if they're in a group they'd tend to just go back to themselves and ignore me totally. Now of course, you might be thinking these people wouldn't know a word of English, and so maybe I'm going over the top here - actually that group of people are marginally better at this, and its none other than the British representation who's letting the uni down in this way.

It doesn't quite end there though. Quite a few people think that just because they've gained an army of friends after a bit of time at uni means everyone has as well. Most of the time, this usually means some people don't bother to intro me to others, making me feel a tad left out. However, on Friday there was a far more extreme case when I was talking to someone from my course at the union - he said "there's going to be four people coming......" I guessed correctly at that point he was wanting to get rid of me, which I felt was a very rude thing to do, as much as he was trying to get the point across politely. And furthermore, we've managed to fit like 10 people around a union table at AMS meetings. Whatever, that guy is no longer in my good books (though it wasn't like he was ever in my very good books, like almost everyone remaining in my course in my year).

Even then those who are actually willing to accept me in a random conversation and even introduce me to fellow friends doesn't mean they would always stay in my good books. This girl, who was probs the first person outside my department to be a lasting friend, was quite recently a bitch towards me, so I thought (I still stand by this) "sod it". However, I suppose that, a few friends leaving Imperial, and other friends just either working flat out or barely being in uni is giving me a feeling of great shrinkage. And had it've not been for recent success with working at ULU, what with making some absolutely quality friends there from the stewarding, bar & ents departments, then I'd be feeling worse than the terrible feelings I felt this time last year. Had it not been for the high academic rating of my uni and being on a scholarship, I would be strongly considering leaving (if I hadn't already), and I am still contemplating taking a year out.

I'm in a sorry state, I know, and worse is I don't know if I'm the problem or my uni.

Quick Update

2005-11-09T08:30:00.000Z

Hi everyone,

Just to let you all know I'm still alright (well, actually I started feeling crap, but have improved *touch wood*) & I do have (another) long post (thats getting longer still as I put finishing it off).

Also have to say Max & Patrick's acoustic set on Sunday was quality. That despite a few hitches, what with Patrick not being 100% & kept losing his voice, & the sound system not liking Max's bass. But yeah - catch them with Big Dance on Friday evening at Mass in Brixton around 9PM, tickets £6.

Thats not all on the entertainment front for me. I'm also going to be seeing The Upper Room, a band I've been plugging for ages & I have high hopes for, and Lowgold, a band I haven't heard much about since 2002 but like what I've heard from them, tonight - that should be quality.

Don't know when I'm next going to be working at ULU, but I'll be getting a new "sexy black T shirt" today, and hopefully sign up for a shift next week also at some point today.

Right the more full update might be up this weekend, if I can get this Discrete Maths coursework done before the end of it.

Rocktober so far

2005-10-15T16:00:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, its half way through Rocktober, and I haven't blogged since the start, but that's because SO much has been going on. This is going to be a long post, and I've probs not quite got everything here, but I'll do my best here.

All the way back on the 1st, I had an evening shift at ULU. However, there was a big difference here - it was the SOAS freshers' party that evening (same night as Imperial's freshers' "Mingle", over at South Kensington). To be honest though, had I'd've gone as a guest I would've been disappointed as its so not my things - lots of Hip Hop (most of it not that good) & R'n'B, & other stuff along those lines. At least I was mearely floating in the venue & bars, and standing at the front door. Having said that, whilst I was at the front door I heard about an aggressive student - that bit was kinda scary. Anyways, what with the shift going on till 2AM, it was my longest shift there as yet, but I did have a free taxi home.

The next day I was working again, this time for the small admin work I do every two months. Not really much to say about all that, other than the bloke running it was getting into this scientology stuff. Oh yeah & I also overcame "the backkiller" (the chair I sit on at this work, which is too high with respect to the table) by leaning sideways quite a bit every so often & making an effort to keep straight.

The third day of Rocktober at Imperial was the first Monday of term. However, I had registered before the start of term, & got my student travelcard and everything, and as my department had no events till the Wednesday, I didn't need to come in. However, I did have another shift at ULU that evening - this one only ended at 11:30PM, but one nice thing that came from that is that I made some new friends. UCL's Juggling Club, Balls, were coming over to ULU for a post juggling drink in the Gallery. Whilst I was floating, I kept having chats with them whilst they were painting each others faces, making numerous balloons and even "being hippies" at one point by having a "chain of stroking". Whatever, I could tell they are top people, and decided to come along on either next Monday or the Monday afterwards - I decided to come on both (more on that later).

My Imperial 2nd year termtime début was the fourth day of Rocktober. This was for Imperial's Freshers' Fair 2005 - I spent most of the day helping out at stalls, mainly IC Radio, although I did spend an hour at the Alternative Music Society stall. Both societies had considerable success in getting email addresses, and hopefully both will get many new members. Bowling were also wanting my help, but I was so busy that I couldn't help them (sorry). Also, I've got to say sorry to Matty, whose act, Future Corpses, I missed whilst helping out at IC Radio - I'm sure you were quality though.

My departmental 2nd year termtime début was the next day (Rocktober 5th) - this was for a departmental briefing at 9:30AM. However, right as I was starting to do my thing with bringing cheer into the department, the fire alarm went off - right before the lecture started. Everyone went to the wrong place, of course, and it was welcome to the freshers, who were about to do a Maths test. After the induction lecture was a bit of a rest, before the buddies meeting at noon. The buddies scheme this year was very poorly organised in my department - it was literally "you 5 - go with him - you 5 - go with him", etc, with no consideration of interests or even being in the same course! However, one good thing is a bit more effort was made to help keep in contact, and I got a free Tshirt out of it (although it does have the word "EESoc" on it - enough said there). My buddies are good people (I had 4 & 1/2, all from EEE - I say 1/2 for one becuase he lost his buddy, so I had a chat with him & handed over 1 of my "business cards" to him). After that was the first bowling session of the year, where I failed to strike, but I did get an average of about 68, which is quite good for me. It was also good fun, with a few new people around as well. I decided to give the Union evening (featuring the best act they could get hold of, Jo from S Club 7 - blimey at the rate they're going they might get S Club Junior or Gareth Gates or Rick Waller or someone like that next year - actually I wouldn't mind seeing the "Big Boy Barry" impersonator).

Thursday was an unusual day - on Wednesday evening I was checking my timetable and saw that the lecture due to start that day wasn't due to start till Week 2. However, I checked at 10:30AM (1/2 way through the lecture) on the separate Week 1 timetable that actually it was still on. However, I noticed Alan was online, so I asked him what was happening - turns out the lecturer did show up 10-15 minutes late, but wasn't ready at all, so the lecture was called off - relif. Anyways, I did show up that day later on in case there was an IC Radio committee meeting - turned out there wasn't, & instead hung around the union with Greg & Matty for a while.

Timetablewise, the Friday Rocktober 7th was empty, so in advance I signed up for a (rare) daytime shift at ULU - it was the ULU Freshers' Fayre, with many freebies being given out, and a fair few clubs & societies across the whole of the University of London. Most of my duties consisted of directing people, and not a lot else. However, towards the end of the day I did put my name & email down at a few stalls, and got a few freebies too. Whilst on duty in Duck & Dive, I did see some live acts, including Hipslinky, who were deffo good.

Now, that weekend I did something I needed to do for ages - rest & rest loads, & not a lot else. Now that was a rare time in which I've been happy with quietness, what with the previous 2 weeks being very busy, and knowing the coming one would be busy as well - and I was right.

Monday 10th Rocktober started off at 9AM my first lab session, and it was different with a change of lab partner. The experiments are still challenging, but the labs are better organsised this year, and there's better time allocation to the experiments. After three productive hours (althouh at the time, I thought we were behind, when we actually weren't) I then went up to Huxley for my first Italian lesson. It was a nice coinsidence that the lady I was holding doors open for around the staircase happened to be my teacher (see its worth being polite in that way). That went well, and then the afternoon was Statistics (where the lecturer knocked over an OverHead Projector in style), Discrete Maths (which conviently overlaps a bit), and a Software Engineering tutorial (where we saw a somewhat outdated video).

After the day at uni was over, it was off to UCL - this was to hang out with the people from Balls. I poppeed into ULU first to sign up for a shift the following evening (more on that in a bit), then it was off to the Quad, where I was greeted by some of the people I saw last week. They told me there was more people inside the North cloisters - yeah - far more people - lots was going on in there, & there were many more people than I saw in the ULU the previous Monday. Amongst many of the people was Fawzi, who I had a bit of a chat with about the past week or so, and what I was doing there hehe. After a bit of juggling about with a few things, I then went outside to see a few people do something I so can't see myself doing (not because I doubt myself, but because I'm so not the type to do it) - fire juggling. It was a good sight to watch, with a few drummers drumming along to give them a rhythm (and doing a very good job at it as well). Anyways, after that some of us (including me) went along to ULU, where I got very tipsy on very little - I did have a go with a baloon - didn't get far, but I'll try again in a better state this week. Still, it was all quality, and the people at Balls are deffo top people.

Tuesday 11th Rocktober was also a busy day, having been out that day for almost 15 hours. 10AM start, but lunch was at the earlier time of noon - I spent much of lunch hanging out with Greg & Matty, who both seemed somewhat tired (poor guys). The day (which didn't have much special in it) ended at 5PM, & I made a slow journey to ULU (having dinner on my way there). Once settled in I was briefed about the evening - Queen Adreena were playing live there that evening, so we had ents people there as well. I was mainly floating in the Duck & Dive Bar (still open that evening to students), with an hour at the front door. However, I did briefly go into Gallery & Room 101 to see what the headline act were like - they're very weird - a heavy (slightly gothy) band, with a crazy female lead singer. Personally, not my thing, but thats just me.

Wednesday was a quiet day. Literally only needed to come in to see my new Personal Tutor - I knew him from last year, where he was my tutor for a week, & he also did Software Engineering lectures & made Buffy & football relevant to the subject! Still, he seems like a good tutor so far. Anyways, after that was a 2nd visit to Tolworth for more bowling, where I did a few ducks, but also got 3 strikes as well (1 per gam, on average - well actually 1 in 1 game & 2 in another). This time I did go to some aprés bowling, where I had a bottle of pint. Lucy B (who also works at the union bar) recommended we should all try Bud E, which we did - I personally liked it - its an Energy drink mixed with Budweiser, & is a proper bottled Bud drink (that costs the same in Imperial's union as normal Bud) - the energy drink flavour showed thru more than the bud flavour.

Almost there peeps - I know it is a long post.

Thursday 13th Rocktober was also a long day - 9AM start for lectures solid until 1PM, then an hour lunch in which I was around IC Radio for a possible meeting (which didn't happen in the end), and then a full afternoon - in theory it was meant to last till 6PM, but in practice it actually ended a bit early with Computing lab always finishing early for me, what with having done the exercises once already (cheeky me here). In the remaining time I went down to DaVinci's for my AMS 2005/6 début. Had a brief chat with a fair few people, and joined properly as well. At 5 past 6 I left to my project group meeting, which seriously overran because of a stupidely long argument of how to divide the project (I suppose it was needed though). I myself lost track though, what with becoming increasingly late for beer & biscuits, IC Radio's fresher's event. However, I made it 10 minutes after the event started, & mainly had a fair few chats about IC Radio, & a bit on Imperial in general. It was good to be involved though, and to be once again helping IC Radio out. Having said that I may make my IC Radio début on air at some point this year with an Indie/Rock based show - I will keep you peeps posted on that.

Friday was a day I thought was going to be long. Three hours in labs from 9AM (well actually just over 2 & a half hours because I went to get myself lunch - I had to at some point you know), an hour of Italian, a media group meeting (which I needed to attend as IC Radio Treasurer), and after that a Maths lecture. After that I thought I was in for a 3 hour computer architecture lecture, but the lecturer didn't show up. Turns out that Computer Architecture is a Spring term course, so its 3PM ends every Friday. However, another alteration is instead (due to a room clash), Tuesdays now end at 6PM instead. Anyways, the rest of the day was spent resting.

Almost there now - finally - Saturday (today) - this was a bit of a mix, what with feeling weak-replied when a chav shouted at me on my estate - basically I went downstairs (admittadly slightly fast), & he was on his bike in front of the entrance - I thought he wanted 2 come in & go upstairs, & I apologised & held the door open (to be fair quite frankly), but he just shouted abuse - I should've replied, saying he's fucked up (like all chavs really), but I just hurried downstairs. Anyways, the day cheered up from there, after going to Camden Town for an explore (I bought some juggling balls in the end, thanks to Balls getting me into it, and also IC Radio for having a juggling ball to practice with as well). After that I went down to ULU to sign up for a shift for next week, and grab myself some good quality food. Still, it ended up being a nice day out.

Well, if you got this far well done. Thats pretty much all me done & hopefully you lot all up to date.

Bring on Rocktober

2005-10-01T10:20:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Might as well use this little bit of free time to talk about everything thats been happening on my end lately.

Last Friday I went another Southpaw gig, and again they were quality, and this time round I went kinda crazy (admittadely I was most crazy not during the gig, but on camera afterwards - & yes I did dance). Was a good evening deffo, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again some day soon.

I was expecting last weekend to be a massive rest, but I ended up spending much of it helping my brother with redecorating and going out a fair few times to get various things from B&Q Wandsworth. On top of that was a trek to Kingston for extra floor tiles on Monday.

As well as a trip out into deepest West London (trying to find some specific items of clothing for as cheap as possible, but not succeeding), Tuesday was the day of my first proper ULU shift (ie, my 2nd 1). This second shift mainly consisted of learning a few things (such as everything needed for room setups, doorman duties and floating in bars), moving quite a lot of furniture and boxes, and being doorman for the first time ever. The doorman bit was the part I enjoyed the most on this shift, but maybe thats because it involves a chance to be cheerful. It took some time to clear people away and the bars at closing time though.

Wednesday was a day largely spent recovering from work - lots of rest and sleep. By Thursday I was fully recovered for my third shift at ULU. This shift started off very slow and slightly confusingly, but it ended up being a fun shift. Me and this other steward took it in hourly turns in floating (old term for that by the way is being potman - how's that for trivia) and being doorman. We also had a bouncer to assist us on the door, and he was good company as well. The poeple in the bar were cheerful as well, some.....erm....were maybe too cheerful - & drunk. Oh yeah got a few high 5s from some (tipsy) punters too - always nice. Oh and also the shift finished short of 11:30, mainly because people were quicker to be cleared away.

I didn't feel quite so bad on Friday, and I ended up going out to Hammersmith in the day to get a much needed new duvet from Rosebys (which is very good value) & in the early evening I went up to UCL to see Fawzi. Last time I went through UCL was for my interview there back in February 2004 (that despite going near there so many times), and it's changed a fair bit since then - fair few new buildings around in particular. Anyways, Fawzi took me to his room and we chilled out a fair bit - oh & I also saw a video on his computer of his quality act in this year's Dulwich 6th form revue. It was a quality chill out.

Well, today is the start of October. However, I saw a better name for the month somewhere which I'll be using - ROCKTOBER. And it should be a month of quality, what with uni starting (yeah that wll deffo have its busy side as well, but with friends returng it should all be cool) and also my birthday. Bring it on.

Goldie Lookin' Chain - Safe As F*ck

2005-09-28T10:57:00.000+01:00

Yo Clarts,

I went to the Scala at King's Cross last Monday evening to witness the power of the Goldie Lookin' Chain - Newport's finest, & you knows it.

When I arrived, there were two DJs on stage - I have no idea who they were, but they were class DJs, playing many classics from the worlds of Rock, Indie, Hip Hop, and even Pop, and were pros in mixing them all together.

Soon after, a support act came on - a bunch of people who looked like chavs (what with the lead singer wearing a long white fur coat). At first I thought they were a joke act, but their music was terrible, and they were serious. The boos got louder and louder at the end of their songs, and after their 30 minute set was the loudest cheers in their entire set - because they were off.

So back came the 2 DJs, with more classics being played, and in this space came something impressive - they managed to remix Max Romeo's Chase The Devil with another song that uses a sample from that - Prodigy's Out Of Space (Real Media Clip | Windows Media Clip).

As the DJ set went on, there was more & more "GLC! GLC!" chanting, and soon enough they came on to do a 55 minute set, and featured some pants throwing from the audience and water throwing at the audience. All tracks they performed were quality and included:

No Joke
Bad Boy Limp
Shit To Me
Mystikal
Roller Disco
Half Man Half Machine
Your Missus Is A Nutter
Charm School
Maggot At Midnight
Guns Don't Kill People, Rappers Do
Short Term
Shit Song
HRT
21 Ounces
Sister
Your Mother's Got A Penis

The GLC are safe as fu*k, and you knows it.

How Rare!

2005-09-23T14:19:00.000+01:00

This is me in my temporary ULU uniform, as we'll be wearing black shirts soon, but they haven't yet arrived so this will have to do for now. My first shift at ULU last night was very, very quiet what with the bars being closed, and no rearranging needed in the conference halls. Main event of the evening was probs seeing Lucas and having a small chat with him about a few bits & bobs.

I did need to say an oath with my hand on my heart in front of Glyn (the recruiter) about this shirt:

"I swear to God to return this shirt to Glyn when I receive my sexy new black T shirt!"

.........the kitchen staff need these shirts apparently - enjoy.

I Never Thought I'd Be Wearing Any Imperial College Branded Clothing.........

2005-09-22T12:55:00.000+01:00

......let alone one that says its "Probably The Best College In The World"

"You Will Never Be A Fisherman!"

2005-09-21T16:36:00.000+01:00

YES I WILL!

Hi everyone,

Well, life is starting again on my end - things are starting to get busy once again - its quite a shock.

Last Wednesday was Wai-Ling's birthday, and that afternoon he invited me to come to Catford for a small birthday party. I arrived at his home in the evening, and was joined by Wai-Jon (Wai-Ling's younger brother), Tom K (top bloke) & Quoc (1st mention for him on this blog). After a bit of catching up & hanging around, we made a move to a pub. A fair few things happened there, but I'd best not go into detail.

Thursday and Friday were quiet (& slightly low) days, all in anticipation for Saturday - this was the ULU induction day. I was amongst (about) 20 people who have also made it to the induction phase, and I was particularly happy to see many of the newfound friends from the interview phase. I'm now far less nervous and considerably more optimistic about the job, now that I know what it actually entails (which is basically going around ULU and generally being helpful). Oh and I was also taught the F I S H philosophy, which is a very good (as well as fun) approach to not only customer service, but also life in general.

After a quiet Sunday, things sprung back on Monday - during the day I went over to Imperial College - the original plan was 2 pick up 2 forms, but I ended up filling them up there and then. As well as putting the FISH philosophy successfully into practice, finding out the T shirts Imperial once banned are back (I've bought a Carlsberg parody one - & now you can see a piccy of me wearing one here). Oh & I also bumped into Jonny, who's a good friend from my department - he was picking up Student Tavel forms as well, but we ended up having a fair bit of a chat. That evening I witnessed the power of the GLC - review on that coming soon.

Tuesday was a day I was out and about - mainly looking for some pieces of clothing, but was unsuccessful in the process but it was a quality trip out around Central & West London. Once again, I popped into ULU to grab a bite to eat, and the type of roll I ate (called Figo) had on the packaging:

A bloke with an afro
He had his thumb up
It said "Quality Mate" below him

........disturbing - whilst I have a fair bit of hair up there, its not an afro. But still, all that was missing was the word deffo.

Finally onto today, I went over to Dulwich to meet up with a few friends. I met the lovely Sarah outside the College. At the time I was in a bit of a panic as I was due to've seen Yousef, but couldn't find him or get in touch with him, but we went inside and in the South Cloisters we were greeted by (amongst others) Felix and Yousef, with Jamie coming over to join us. They then pointed out I looked disturbing with a camera case what with where it was put (it was in front - I changed that though). Oh I also felt sorry for Sarah, who got a few slightly disturbing looks from some boys who clearly haven't seen any girls in their lives. Still it was a quality time to catch up on whats been happening on everyone's ends.

Well, my first ULU shifts are coming soon - actually, my very first is tomorrow, and I have another three next week (UCL/KCL Freshers Week, if I'm not mistaken). Very much looking forward to it I am - and thats not all on my end either.

Finally, I have to say *blows fake trumpet by singing: da da da daaaa - da da da da daaa - da da da daaa - da da da da da daa daaaaa da da daaa da da daa daaa daaa daa daaa daaaaa daaaaaa da da da daaaa * - its the birthday countdown (this time next month for me).

Darrr

2005-09-19T12:02:00.000+01:00

Avast ye! Arrrr! Tis International Talk Like A Pirate Day 2005! Yarrr

1 Week Since I Last Posted - & 3 Weeks Till Life Starts Again

2005-09-13T15:52:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, its been a week since I last posted. More of you seem to be visiting more often, so I don't want to let you all down by not posting - so here's a post.

Actually, its been a very quiet past week on my end. Probs main thing was meeting up with Alan on Wednesday - he was in London for resits and looking for a place for next term, but we had a quality catching up convo.

Oh & also on Sunday my mum had a spare guest pass for the gym at Fulham Broadway, which I decided to take advantage of. I had a quality time there, felt better when finished, and decided to have my first steam bath in ages - & it was working well, & they put Olabas Oil in the steam generator as well.

Alright this is scraping it a bit - not that its a bad thing by any means its quality - I spent a fair bit of Friday & the weekend, and all of Monday watching the 5th test of The Ashes. On the build-up to Saturday on BBC News 24 was an interview with someone from Neighbours (will find out who) and a legendary new mascot for England - Sir George the Victorious - unfortunately, I cannot find the interview online, but this trailer is quality enough as it is. The cricket was quality to watch as well, and seeing England (deserveadly) regain it for the first time in ages is quite something.

Hmmmm - has there actually been anything else going on my end thats worth blogging about? I actually don't think there is! Still, I've had quieter, & I'm not feeling bad.

Well, three weeks it is from today till the start of term, and just four days till the training day at ULU. I don't think I'll last to be honest with this stewarding job - I just need to think of coach stewarding - although some of the punters (whilst sobre) were very rough, probs worse than what I'll have at ULU - I think (& hope).

Well, I might as well leave you with something I found today. I want to be your Pop Idol, I want to be a star - honestly, what is the world coming to?

BlogBQ #2

2005-09-06T17:50:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, if I had to blog about just one event over the past week on my end it would be this - which is handy because its the only main thing that's happened my end over the past week.

Sunday September 4th 2005 was the day of the second BlogBQ, a gathering of many (well not that many) fellow bloggers (and also a few of their friends). Helen (who I have been friends with for just over a year, and who encouraged me to start blogging in the first place, a decision I'm very proud of) was the hostess of this party. Alright I know - 1. I'm sidetracking here, 2. W2M invite here - please someone see earlier post and take it because its very cool for those who use MSN and have a website/forum signiture, & 3. More of this paragraph was in brackets - or it was before I put this sentence in not so sure now.

Well, anyways, I set off around twenty to eleven, and spent fifteen minutes in ASDA contemplating whether to get 4 bottles of Bud Ice or 8 - after making my mind up and making sure my bags were secure (darn them for not having bags for life - meant I had to triple some bags up), I decided to head straight to Helen's even though I knew I was going to be early. All seemed to be going well, until I realised something around Clpaham that was to result in this post being much shorter than I was planning it to be - I forgot my digital camera. I'm sorry peeps, although there are blogs with piccys of the event.

Anyways after a 15 minute walk with the shopping down the South Circular (and a slight mix up on my end), I arrived at Helen's - and I jumped a bit when I was greeted by Rose with her old highwayman guise (complete with fake gun) from the gate on my left, with Helen & Kirsten also around. I went to the back garden to find that quite a few people were there (I wasn't "typiclly early" enough).

As the hour of midday drew on more people started to arrive. This is probs the bit where (in no particular order) I say who turned up:

Helen O (and what a quality hostess she was)

Sarah B (the mastermind of the BlogBQ concept, what with holding a quality first BlogBQ back in early July)

Sarah HB (still one of the craziest, yet lovliest friends I know - actually she's not really crazy :P)

Helen B

Rose (rather than 2 years, it was 2 months - oh and also its been about 3 years of friendship - quality)

Fan (he's taken some quality photos - check them out here)

Kirsten

Jon

Dave J

Dave C (check out some great photos here)

Ollie

Steve

Richard S (who also took some quality photos, which can be seen here)

Richard L

Emmie

Emilia

Dominic

Andrew

Laura

Hane

Toby

....it was great seeing you all (in many cases again, although out of those I haven't met beforehand, it was quality meeting you).

Well, "what happened there?" I hear you ask. Well, quite a few things of course. Including eating (of course - it was a BBQ after all), drinking (also obvious, and thanks to some of us being above 18 some of it was alchy drinks - & being the lightweight I am I did get tipsy after 2 Bud Ices), craziness involving a leash, face decorations from Rose (I had "cat whiskers" - mieow - others had "Hitler" & curly moustaches), massages, quality music, and a few crazy games. Those crazy games included mao, 3 legged racing (which I proudly adjudicated - although that wasn't the plan), the cereal box, and some weird game involving doing a "Go Rangers" type thingey and lots of jumping. There's probs a fair bit I haven't mentioned, but I'll cheekily and hastily add that there was some girl action with the Sarahs & Helen O (see Chard's blog).

I think there's probs a fair bit more snipplets of quality that I could mention, but I'd only be ages here - I left being happy, knackered, sobred up a little, releaved I didn't have to do any Bud Ice hiding at home, and having a smudged face. Still, this all leaves me to say thanks to everyone who came for being quality company, & also making me feel that all of the £8.94 I spent on beverages was worth it (along with a fair bit of the 89p on the kilo of Ketchup), and especially thanks to Helen for organising a total quality event - I deffo really appreciate it and had loads of fun.

Ouchy

2005-09-03T21:39:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

I've had a bit of a day of (painful) mishaps.

Around noon, whilst clearing round the floor of my room round midday, I got up triumphantly & bashed my head on an open window. I ended up cutting it & it was painful, as well as bleeding. However, within an hour the bleeding stopped for sure, and so did the pain - it was probs just a graize.

It doesn't end there though - at the start of Scotland v Italy, my brother was saying funny but true commentsabout their national anthem (it takes a minute before you get any singing, then it changes tune many many times) - I ended up laughing at a bad time, what with choking on my can of Pepsi Max Twist. Again I did recover from that (with the help of a sweet).

What a day of mishaps. Hopefully there won't be so many tomorrow, what with the lovely Helen organising BlogBQ 2 - I will be there - will you?

The Regulars: Madness Second Coming

2005-08-31T12:50:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, this (long awaited) blog post (which I've been promising) will be about two quality gigs I've been to recently.

On the afternoon of Saturday 20th August, I went along to Sound in Leicester Square. This was for an all afternoon festival of rock acts. However, there was one band I came along in particular - thats right - it was The Regulars, who (of course) were headlining.

I spent much of the afternoon catching up with various members of The Regulars, catching up with whats happened since I last saw them (in many cases back in January when times were not so good - however the band were still deffo quality), whilst watching the other acts. Many of the groups playing were younger groups - some were good, some.....erm.....not so good. One had a guitarist who kept trying to jump, and at one point he jumped off of the drumkit, only to whack himself on the bass guitar. Maybe also there was some relef that some kids there weren't there for the Regulars - there were two wearing (fake) swords, and some of the most ghastly outfits we've ever witnessed. I think 1 was a boy & the other a girl but that took some deduction and so I might be wrong.

Anyways, as the afternoon drew on, more sane company started to turn up. A few were friends of the band who I before then never met. Others were more familiar faces from Dulwich, some of whom I haven't seen since the Leavers Ball last year. So it was quality to exchange many, many stories. And then around 6:30PM, the Regulars were on stage ready to go. So up to the front row I went - here are some photos.

(BTW sorry Lucas I couldn't get a good one without you being hidden back there)

They were deffo on top form that evening, and I danced like mad, doing the old Funky Chicken a few times, and I was far from the only one by any means (well, actually with the funky chicken I was - but I mean dancing in genreal).

Now this would be enough of a post (honestly I dunno what took me so long to get this bit done), but maybe its a blessing in disguise that this post took some time.........

After a quiet 9 days, I was to venture to The Telegraph on Brixton Hill. This was for a second serving of the quality (although without the camera given the gauntlet I'd be having to run returning from there), along with seeing The Dice for the first time (Lucas's brother, Nick, is in The Dice) - they were deffo very good to see live, and they're already getting quite a following (many being year 13 people who have been around Dulwich at some point).

Now I say on the first gig The Regulars were quality - this time they were awesome, and I went mental - maybe not mental enough to go into the mosh that was forming (that was mad & totally crazy), nor mental as if in driven to madness - no I mean mental as if in having a totally quality time. And whilst it was quite a bit warmer (Dan had to take off his tie), everyone clearly had a quality time. Both gigs deffo get my thumbs up, and I'm deffo glad I went to both these gigs.

Annoying

2005-08-21T21:46:00.000+01:00

Hi again,

(I will get the Regulars post up don't worry bout this - its already well in draft)

I was on a bit of a walk this evening, which I often do when its nice out there - I went through Walham Green up to Parsons Green.

Whilst in Parsons Green, I sat down to text someone. Nearby, a group of people around 22 were a player short for their game of ultimate frisbee - they asked me, and despite being a tad hesitant I thought as well have a shot - Parsons Green is small but busy after all.

They seemed like top people, & they're probs local too - but then something annoying happened - just as I was getting to know the game, and I was starting to have fun playing, my belt broke! Although my trousers weren't that loose, I'd only be picking them up a fair bit too much, so I had to stop. I did tell them I could only be around for a short time anyway (I was already running a little late as it was).

Just to make the game a bit fair, I was talking to a girl from the other team - she said they're around Parsons Green quite a bit, so hopefully I'll see them again and play more frisbee.

However, this was more than I expected from my walk - and I got on well with them as well, which deffo helps.

Web 2 Messenger

2005-08-21T08:40:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

More full post on recent happenings coming soon.

For now, as well as finding a (temporary at least) web host (images to be back soon), I now have this:

Thats right - its a new service created by some legendary programmers (including the guy who gave us all StuffPlug-NG, probably the best Messenger Plus plugin ever) called Web 2 Messenger. The concept is simple - the image above & on the right sidebar (which may be scaled down) is my current MSN Messenger Status, and shows my current personal message (or song playing), and screenname. Notice also these images are linked - it goes to a page where you can privately send me a message over MSN without publiclly giving away my MSN address. If I happen to be offline when you send a message then it is stored until I come online, and then it is delivered to me. All this is very useful for weblogs & forums, and is starting to pop up more and more.

However, the service is still very much in beta (although looking in very good state), and so at the moment is invite-only, but those of you on my list will know when I get an invite. In the mean time, you may want to check out the following websites for possible invites:

Broken Images

2005-08-19T10:40:00.000+01:00

Sorry if this blog is looking a bit tatty what with broken images at the moment - my external web hosting company, Ripway, have pulled the plug on my free webspace (apparently I needed to log in every 30 days, but there was no warning whatsoever notifying me I haven't done so - yeah I know its a bit stupid on my part I know - but still they're bastartds!).

Anyways, normal (or maybe better than normal) service will be resumed as soon as I can get a good free webhost (if anyone wants to help me find one, all I ask is free, ad-free hosting with PHP 3 or newer support - & not too much space or bandwidth needed either - if I can get my mitts on a Web2Messenger invite then I won't even need the PHP support).

I need to build a webserver or maybe fork out a bit so I don't need to worry bout this rubbish.

Happy Little Trees

2005-08-18T17:52:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Isn't Bob Ross a genius? I've been seeing The Joy Of Painting on Discovry Real Time at 9AM lately and he always seems to have a calm tone whilst making those paintings, along with classic catchphrases such as "its your world you can do what you want to it - anything is possible", every so often adding "happy little trees" to the painting, and although he is clearly talented he always makes you feel anyone can do it. It was originally his classic haircut that made me notice the show, but whenever I'm at home & awake at the time, I always watch Bob Ross for a chance to chill. He sadly passed away in 1995, but he clearly is such a legend - and many fitting tributes of one of the best artists of modern time are here.

I've been a Happy Little Simon lately. Things my end are starting to happen again, and many of my worries are proving unfounded. The quietness that lasted over a month ended yesterday with a quality meet up with Greg & AMS Helen. We ended up talking over a drink and a walk for a few hours about whats been happening lately, reflections on the past year, & all sorts of other stuff.

Nice news on my end is that its not an isolated event - I have a few meet ups, as well as gigs, on my calendar now over the coming weeks. So the quietness is now well and truely over, and the sadness is even more finished.

Well, that would be a good ending for a post, but there's still a bit that I feel I should say. Hope all those reading who have got their A/AS levels have done well (I should've wished you peeps luck beforehand - sorry). Whatever I'm sure you've all put hard work into it all, and you all deffo deserve some form of celebration for that alone.

Interview with B. Burton

2005-08-15T19:03:00.000+01:00

My friend Rachel has made a very funny flash video (first of many hopefully) - check it out its quality:

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/258675

Chav Brain Flowchart

2005-08-08T16:46:00.000+01:00

This is quality - from an anonymous donation:

http://www.deviantart.com/view/21476257/

Not That I Mind (Just About)

2005-08-06T20:09:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Things are so quiet now that I'm gonna use this time to blog.

Not a lot has actually happened over this past week. Well, I say that but I did have a walk (blog post about that coming soon) and I (finally) saw Batman Begins (quality film it is too).

As for the overhaul of this flat, well more still needs to be done in the kitchen (there are a few flaws with some of what has been done as well, such as plumbing that looks like an entry for next year's Turner Prize). At least the new front door is finally in place.

As for how I myself have been with all this not much going on, I'm just about coping - this past week has been more shakey for me, but I've been pulling through. Despite a planned BBQ now being cancelled, I do still have my bimonthly job to look forward to tomorrow. Not a lot is planned beyond that though my end.

Gimmickry

2005-08-05T18:21:00.000+01:00

Riddle Diddle
The Cat Did A Piddle

I've got up to number 8 - some of these are very tricky (number 5 in particular):

http://www.gimmickry.org/

Thanks Sam for telling me bout this.

Enjoy!

Gigging, Skype, Buddy & Overhaul

2005-07-29T18:20:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, firstly I'd like to say thanks Helen, Sarah, Kirsten & Ceri for the comments of support on those 2 recent sad messages. I really appreciate it. Equally, I'm greatful to the many people who have helped me cheer up over MSN, and pass me on for some very useful and practical advice.

This past week has been another quiet one. I'm getting used to it though. Well, there were a few small things. Firstly, I'm going to see Kaiser Chiefs, Maximo Park & The Cribs in late October - I have seen Kaiser Chiefs once before, supporting The Ordinary Boys (how's the weather? GREY & BORING) at (wait for it) King's College London Union. Maximo Park should be really good as well, I've never seen them before live - same with The Cribs.

The other cool thing thats happened lately is I had my first proper Skype conversation. Now, bit of background for those who don't know what Skype is, its basically a free internet "phone" program, sort of like the voice feature of MSN Messenger, except more reliable (for example, it works behind firewalls). Anyways, my first Skype conversation was with Jantine, a friendly girl from Holland who I've been talking to on MSN for well over a year. We were both nervous, but it was deffo quality.

Well, next week won't exactly be quiet - this flat is being done up. Got a power cut on Tuesday & from Wednesday we've got contractors coming in working on at least the kitchen. Still I'm looking forward to things picking up, which will either be in the middle of August, or should things not pick up then, it deffo will when I start working at ULU (hopefully I'll have a chance to enjoy it a little as well). Oh & I don't think I've mentioned this yet but I've signed up for the buddies' scheme. Basically, someone who has been at Imperial for a least a year in the department is paired up with a fresher (or in EEE's case, 3-6 freshers get a buddy) and gives an insight into life at Imperial. I will probs have quite a bit of an insight for the lucky (or maybe not) person who gets me - whatever I'm sure it'll be quality. My buddy last year was a very good person for asking various questions about the course (& some of the lecturers too).

Suppose this leaves me to say I'll try not to make another sad post - I deffo am taking on board what many quality friends have told me, and hopefully it'll show next year.

More Of The Same

2005-07-24T21:13:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, its been bout a week since I last posted bout whats been going on my end. Quite frankly though, very very very little has happened, what with everyone being either busy or away. Actually the away camp is a massive majority.

Over the past week, I've been filling up my time partly with learning a few new skills. I feel its more constructive than spending my whole summer looking for work like my very depressing & demoralising summer last year, or doing bugger all like the previous 2 weeks & just getting frustrated, and equally it all might help me get a nice job next summer, or even help with my course. Anyways, these skills include getting used to MySQL (I learned SQL a few years ago, and it has come in very handy with my A Level Computing coursework), Linux and extending what I know about C, with a view to learning a little Flash, C++ & Java. Of course, I haven't spent every minute of the week indoors because that'd just be too frustrating, so I have been venturing out on little walks.

It all sounds good, and indeed this skill learning has gone well so far. But this is where the nice tone of the post ends (so if you don't want the "pile of bricks stuff", then my advice is to ignore the rest of this post).

I'm still getting very depressed, & indeed I feel depressed now. Part of the reason is I promised myself to work hard in the year (& through the overly short Christmas & most of the Easter holidays), but I also promised myself a quality summer - whilst its not as bad as last year, since close to the start of the month it hasn't been much better. Equally, my confidence has been killed recently - its partly through the failiure to get some local friends that I mentioned in a previous post, but its also partly because around then I recently received a wad of critism bout deep social stuff. Now these days, I can usually act on it, and I can test it to see if its successful - but I haven't really had that chance, and so as a result I'm very uncertain, and as a result, I have very little confidence in myself. Equally I've worked hard on past troubles, & don't feel I've got that far from working hard.

I don't think this confidence lack will go away until at least October - the very earliest by the looks of things would be mid August.

I'm very sorry for another sad post.

Poll #5 & #6 - Mercury Music Prize

2005-07-19T19:02:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Cheers for your input on the last poll (which I withdrew for a while thinking it was stupid, then putting it back on thinking that thinking it was stupid was stupid in itself - that last bit was confusing, wasn't it?) - now I have a choice to make, altho I think the general tone is be who I'm good at being.

Now those who know me in reality will know that I always ask about the Mercury Music Prize. And this year is going to be no exception, except this year I have a blog, and so you will have a chance to give what you think here.

I always feel that who I want to win is always a different act from who I think will win (and for me this year is no exception), so I'll have two polls for this reason.

Mercury Music Prize Polls

For those who don't know, these are the nominated albums:

Antony and the Johnsons - I Am a Bird Now
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm
Coldplay - X&Y
The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike
Hard-Fi - Stars of CCTV
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope
Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers
Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger
M.I.A. - Arular
Polar Bear - Held on the Tips of Fingers
Seth Lakeman - Kitty Jay

Right firstly who do you think will win:

Now, who would you like to see win this year's Mercury Music Price:

Both polls courtosey of www.pollhost.com. Enjoy!

Nicer Post

2005-07-16T10:53:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Sorry about the dismal last post - it was something I felt I should let out though.

Whilst the issues outlined haven't been solved (and probably won't be for some time to come), I do feel better. One thing I disgracefully didn't mention (although I hope many of you friends know this) is that I'm very much willing to travel to see friends.

Anyways, enough of that and more of the nice stuff. Southpaw were playing at Storm in Leicester Square, and I couldn't resist the opportunity to come along and support this fine band. I've been to Storm once before on December 1st last year to see the band that we all know as Something Happened (but keep changing their name - Big Dance it apparently is now - come on Patrick - change your band's name back to what we all know you as!). But yeah - Southpaw were quality once again, this time with their Beatbox around, and I was so happy to come along. Only annoying thing was I was held up on my way home on the bus - we had to wait at Hyde Park Corner for 30 minutes with the crowds leaving from the Queen gig in Hyde Park (and I swear we could've used the underpass like other buses were doing). Anyways, thanks Lucas for the heads up about the gig.

One other piece of nice news I haven't blogged about is I received my exact results. If you're down about academic stuff, skip this bit of my post. Anyways, I received them the other day, expecting to think I've scraped the year with a third or something like that. That was far from what actually happened. I got 71.3% all in all, which is a First Class standard mark - now keeping that up will be a challenge, but its one I'm up for. Equally nice is in one module (which, ok, was open book programming) I only dropped 2%. Now you wonder why I've been down in the first place!

Anyways, thats all for now, but I have decided to make a change on this blog. I have decided to open commenting up, which means you now do not need to be a blogger account holder to comment on Unintended Bliss.

Frustration

2005-07-15T15:34:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, I'm not exactly sure that I should blog about this, but I'm going to as I keep feeling this - even though I've been strongly advised not to keep what makes me down public, I'm inclined to go against this.

I hate to say this, but this is going to be a far from happy post.

Basically, I've been getting frustrated quite a lot over this summer. What with all my friends from University going home, my nearest friends are miles away (even my old ones from my old school). I'm also getting the impression that I'm very much left out amongst my old friends (and almost always have been) because I live so far out, what with almost no social gatherings amongst them. Indeed as of next Monday, nothing will've happened for 2 weeks - happy summertime.

Equally, I cannot go into much detail about this, a recent casual attempt to get myself a local group of friends my age ended in failiure (its annoying, what with this area being full of chavs). I also reckon a recent attempt to get back in touch with a few very good friends who I lost contact with a few years ago will also have a similar conclusion.

I know this is a sad post, & I'm sorry about this, though I do feel its best to be honest here - thats what blogging is all about.

Makeover #2

2005-07-12T20:24:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Unintended Bliss has undergone another makeover.

You are now looking at GreenBird 2, a new template I have designed (almost) from scratch.

Main difference is the fact that there are now 2 sidebars.

Hope you like.

Vote For The Greatest Indie Band Of All Time!

2005-07-11T15:55:00.000+01:00

Some of the chocies are bloody hard:

http://www.xfm.co.uk/Article.asp?b=news&id=99614

Is It Walkable #1

2005-07-11T14:38:00.000+01:00

H everyone,

Being bored at home today, and having quiet day upon quiet day, I wanted to test this theory out. Every so often I go out on some quite long walks, my longest recently probably being from my home to Camden Town, which took about 3 hours. Anyways, I wondered if I could walk all the way to my old school.

So today's Is It Walkable is from my home to Dulwich.

I went close to the homes of a fair few friends (inc a few fellow bloggers) on my route - it was a nice walk - nicest part being Clapham Common, crappest part had to be under the large railway bridge on Latchmere Road - there was bad traffic there as well.

Anyways, here's the summary - enjoy.

Place - Dulwich
Area - South London
Average time by car - 30 minutes
Average time by public transport - 1 hour
Shortest time by public transport - 40 minutes
Longest time taken - 3 hours

Is it walkable? - YES

Route Taken:

......from Battersea "Latchmere" (which isn't where I live, but is part of the route)

Distance - 7 miles (11 km)
Time taken walking - 1 hour, 45 minutes (including wander around Clapham Junction ASDA & a short rest stop to put sunscreen on in Clapham Common)

So thats all on today's Is It Walkable.

Hope You're OK

2005-07-07T22:01:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all ok and safe after today's tragic events in Central London.

I myself was out in Kingston (far South West London) when I heard about it all happening. I was somewhat tense and was wanting to get home, so (after getting a sweater knowing I was in for a walk) I quickly & safely got to Putney Heath (via Wimbledon) on the buses and walked the rest of the way. It was a good job I walked because many buses were pulling into Putney Garage, what with drivers and conductors refusing to continue (I don't blame them), and I saw a similar scene at Chelsea Harbour, where they were preparing to return as well. Still that was nothing compared to the sights in Central London - the walk home was a wet one, but when I got home I was glad to get home - safe, warm, and (having changed) dry.

My thoughts are very much with those affected by the events in Central London, along with their friends & relatives.

Live 8, BlogBQ & other quality

2005-07-06T14:39:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, I'm in a happy mood now - and its not just because of yesterday's events - its all been eventful since Friday.

Most of last week was very quiet until Friday. The quietness ended with a meet up with Snoph. After a visit to a travel shop, we ended up lying on the grass outside & chatted for many hours (alright not that many - 2 hours - but still) about many things. Oh & we also both had muffins from Millie's Cookies (mmmmmm).

Saturday was quite a big gig I can go on quite a lot about (& have been if you've spoken to me since) - round 1PM I met Matty at Hyde Park Corner and guess what we did? Thats right - we went to a local and went to see Z2 - the ultimate U2 tribute. Only joking - we went to see the real U2 at Live 8, along with many other quality acts (and some rubbish ones too). Anyways, here's a small review along with some pictures.

After a long walk along the 3 sides of Hyde Park we finally made it - here's the stage from a distance, from when we first got in.

We ended up moving quite a bit further forward - for much of the show we were near to the second post from the front, which is still quite a bit of a way away I must say. Still it was quality to be at such an event, and it was quite simething when the clock struck 2PM.

A PiggyBack photo of the stage from Matty (I think) - can't remember when this was though!

Yes - he turned up! Peter Doherty on the screen (the stage photo came out rubbish) - as much as he seemed to be messing up in his appearance alongside Elton John, it was quality to finally see him live.

Well, in no particular here's my high-, low- and no-lights. Madonna's 7 minute version of Music really dragged on - the only good thing bout that song was the appearance of Ali G in the video. Snoop Doggy Dogg - he was very good at publicising his name - after his set you'd only be having a laugh if you asked "who the hell is this? Dr. Dre? Eminem?". He was also swearing quite a lot well outside watershed - honestly there were kiddies watching who'd've otherwise been watching Dr. Who! The worst bit about Live 8 was Mariah Carey - her performance was very boring - Matty and I both sat down throughout it, and just as she was on her way out and it was all running behind, she decided to do yet another song!

But there were many, many highlights - it was quality seeing U2, R.E.M., The Killers (they should've been allowed to do more than 1 song), Razorlight (Johnny Borrell's quote will go down in history), Snow Patrol, and Velvet Revolver. Richard Ashcroft's appearance alongside Coldplay was quality, as was Travis's cover of Staying Alive at the end of Side. Now I'm no Robbie Williams fan or anything, but seriously he was such a good performer. It was quality to also see The Who's Roger Daltry still managing the screech at the end of Won't Get Fooled Again.

But the ultimate highlight had to be Pink Floyd. Their CD sales shot up by almost 1400% after Live 8, and its easy to see why after their performance.

This deserves a larger photo on my Ripway webspace - Pink Floyd on the stage at the start of Wish You Were Here.

On the screen

The message is clear from the quality act (although cut off as the picture isn't wide enough, and soneone's arm was in the way - BTW it says "Make Poverty History"). They are clearly acting to their message as all the profits from the increased sales are going back into the Band Aid trust.

All in all it was a quality time, and Matty was quality company for it all. For those who haven't yet watched it, you can always check it out here.

Sunday was also a very eventful day - it was the BlogBQ. The decision to come along was only slightly last minute, but it was a decision not to be regretted (unlike me forgetting my camera - ah well). Just some highlights include having my hair done up by the girls, poking Helen every so often, and filling in for Basil as the sheep for a while. There's a lot of other stuff that happened that day that would make this big post even longer still, so I'd best give a mention (in no real particular order) here to all who was there for being quality company:

Sarah B (the mastermind of the idea)

Helen B

Helen O (the girl who encouraged me to start blogging in the first place)

Steph

Rose (finally! after 2 years)

Dave C (check out some great photos here)

Richard S (who also took some quality photos, which can be seen here)

Richard L

....it was great seeing you all - and in many cases, putting faces to those who I comment alongside. Looks like my blogside links are growing now - along with my list of XML Feeds on my Firefox.

I thing was as the day drew on somthing became clear - the next day I was going to find out if I had to face a summer of learning for resitting. It turned out on Monday, as I've already told you, my fears were unfounded, and later that day I met up with AMS Helen for a drink in DaVinci's. She was quality company and we many chats about life over the past few weeks. I also decided to keep her company in her walk to her halls (which are now up in the opposite direction to Evelyn Gardens & where I live) - still it was a lovely end to what was a lovely day.

Well, not much randomness for this post today I'm afraid, but still the past few days have been very full in a very nice way.

Its all Quality

2005-07-04T10:17:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

To any Americans reading (& I speak as someone with American origins, though it never really shows), Happy Independance Day!

I'll make a more full post about Snoph meet up, Live 8, Blogger's BBQ & the (yet to happen) meet up with AMS Helen.

Now if you're feeling down over academic stuff, I deffo feel sorry for you - if you do fall into that category, I'd probably recommend skipping the rest of this short post.

Anyways, yeah - I was very much expecting to need to do a Supplimentary Qualifying Test in early September - probably in Analogue Electronics.

However, that is not to be.

I passed the year & will well and truely be a 2nd year Imperial College ISE student from October.

The good news doesn't end here - my project group won a prize for the project we've done back in May.

Its all quality.

Poll #4 - Comic Name

2005-06-27T19:55:00.000+01:00

POLL REOPENED

Hi everyone,

I know my department has a massive hole in it.

Quite frankly, out of those who actually go to things like lectures and labs, its all work work work & dull as siht.

Knowing I have friends, mostly outside the department, I strongly believe I can fill the gap and add cheer.

However, I need a nickname for the job (or do I) - this is where you all come in - with the help of a new poll:

Happy voting!

Mind The Gap

2005-06-26T17:18:00.000+01:00

What's going on! I'm getting sum big gap at the top of my posts!

Someone in the know please help!

EDIT - Its not just the Unintended Bliss "Greenbird" template! Blogger have changed their API. If your blog has a massive gap place the following line after the <style> tag in your template:

div { clear: none !important; }

More information about this can be found here.

Enjoy The Quietness

2005-06-26T17:05:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Things my end have really quietened down. This past week almost nothing has happened my end - & suprisingly I don't have any pages to show you people either.

Many of the evenings I have been down for a few reasons, one of them being the fact that once my uni friends have returned (may already have), I'll have very few friends who live somewhere near me. This was part of the cause of a depressing summer last year, which I so don't want a repeat of. I can't go into all of this (particularly since I need to talk to someone about this) but that problem may be solved - and so I'm happier.

Still, haven't got much planned over the next 2 weeks - a few gigs and also finding out whether or not I've passed - I'll also be seeing Helen at some point, and hopefully her lovely friend Rose (who I haven't seen in 2 years).

Summer Ball 2005

2005-06-20T20:50:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Guess what this post is going to be about? Correct - its about fish monkeys!

Hehe anyways - yeah - Saturday night / Sunday early morning was the Summer Ball at Imperial. After what has been a very warm day (it was still very warm for waring a dinner jacket), I met up with Helen over at Evelyn Gardens round 6:30PM and we went round Fishers with Greg, Matty and Hannah joining us as we went round. Giving up on a taxi as we were getting closer to Imperial, we went up to the Tanaka Building, where there was a drinks reception. Well, I say Drinks Reception, but there was a fair bit of queueing. As there was someone who seemed semi-trustworthy around to take one, we had a group photo.

You guessed it - its the group photo!

Alternative (silly) Captions:

Why do I always tend to lean in a silly direction?
Someone's gotta be shortest you know?

Well, after getting a fair few sheets of paper for miscellaneous stuff, wristband (which I'm probably going to keep wearing now) and promotional stuff for the sponsors, we had our free drinks - I must say the champagne there was very nice, but not long afterwards someone announced the dinner was "served" (i.e., the dinner hall was ready).

Once we finished our drinks, we slowly trundled down along the red carpet (yes - they put one down - along the ramp down towards the Queen's Lawn) to the marquee where the dinner hall was. Now originally our table, which could have up to ten people, was just going to have the five of us. However, we were joined by five other friendly people, and they were good company as well. It was round this point when I lost it, after drinking just a glass of white wine - now I really am a lightweight, aren't I? Well, not wanting to let a good chance of free drink fall away, I tried the red wine as well (which actually wasn't as nice as the white - oh & I only had half a glass of that).

After dinner, we stayed in the marquee for the first part of the Jazz Big Band performance - it was around this point when my camera very annoyingly ran out of batteries, so I'm afraid this isn't going to be as much of a photoblog post as I hoped but still here's a piccy of the big band.

Anyways, after this first part we were asked to move as they wanted to get rid of the first two rows (our table was at the front). This is the part of the evening I can't remember much of for obvoius reasons, other than losing my group group a few times and buying some cans of cola to sobre up.

Anyways between 10PM Saturday and 1AM Sunday, there are quite a few random stories - can't remember the exact order of them, but here they are:

Needing a rest from finding my friends at one point, I decided to sit on one of the lions in front of the Queen's Tower - it did give me some attention - some random people were like "go on - f**k that lion!!!"
I had a small random conversation with a girl, who felt v uncomfy in high heels - I said "yeah I bet" - she was then shouting "DRAGGY DRAGGY". I then walked on ahead & some bloke (who seemed kool) was like "ooh where's your drag costume" - I played along and said "at home". "What colour is it?" he asked - "purple". Did make some quality randomness.
Some bloke was holding a girl hostage with a shoe - I thought I'd investigate - I like to think I'm peaceful. Turns out this girl had nicked his shoe, and he was wanting it back. I sort of tried to negotiate it, by saying "you hand them both over to me & I'll return both your shoes". She then said "come and get your shoe then" and he thought she was hiding it in her crotch and a small chase resulted. Turned out she was hiding it by one of her boobs!
I had a thing of bumping into this bloke outside the Junior Common Room who had a bit of a chav accent. He also kept wanting to shake my hand as well, and he was clearly wasted. Oh and him and some of his friends kept saying "this is the sound of the police" then make some high pitched sound that sounded like what Glamma Kid makes in Taboo.
Not quite everyone was in dinner jackets - some people (including one good friend of mine) came along in T Shirt and jeans - some also came along in baseball hats too (worn wrong way round, of course)
There was some old friend action as - I saw Adam (whose girlfriend, Nichola, goes to Imperial) and had a nice catch-up conversation (as well as exchanging numbers) as we hadn't seen each other for a year. I also saw Kaj, who so looks different now. He asked me to do my dances, and I did them in front of the queue for the casino (well, the Funiky Chicken and the "Worms", which is now the Funky Snake). At this point a vowed to a few people from my department who were around at the time to try my hardest to add cheer around there next year - so beware 2nd Year (next year's 2nd year I mean) Electrical & Electronic Engineers - by the end of next term you'll either be thanking me or be pissed off at me! But lets face it - EE needs cheering up!!!

As well as all that quality, I had many, many random conversations with many people - people I knew, people I didn't know, and people who I didn't realise know me! This all really boosted my social confidence as all of the conversations were quality.

From 1PM, there was much dancing in the Main Dining Hall to the set of none other than Radio One's Colin Murray, all with my legendary uni friends. I wasn't expecting the quiality tracks being played (he was down for playing Cheese!) - tracks were all along the lines of Kaiser Chiefs, Blur, Supergrass, Feeder, The Bravery, New Order, Greenday, LostProphets, Clash (AMS Helen was happy), and even Tenacious D! I spent the last 3 hours of the evening dancing like absolute mad (what with moshing - or as Helen says, "making Mince Meat of the dance floor") and every so often chilling in knackeredness. It was so much fun and I definately enjoyed it all. Along with the cola and water it did sobre me up totally, and I didn't feel any form of hangover on Sunday.

One interesting thing was the Union spent much money on getting Trevor Nelson to do a set there. Unfortunately his set wasn't particularly popular, what with there being as few as 50 people at one point. Now I do somewhat feel sorry and regret making this comment at one point on one hand. However, on the other hand, I feel that the union should be more in touch with its students in this way - I mean there are definately many rappers at Imperial, but I reckon there are more rockers these days there - indeed if you look at this forum survey then this is definately true out of those who take part there (BTW I'm not one of them yet).

Well, I was going to get myself some free breakfast, but the queue was so long and all my friends had gone home, so I decided to do the same. I did stop off at Evelwyn Gardens where it all started off, and enjoy a nice, quiet, relaxing sunrise. When I slowly departed I did bump into a few fellow first year students and had a bit of a quiet chat bout the evening and all the quality, and after that I slowly walked home, outside of which a Breast Cancer walk had been taking place. A number of portaloos were (noisily apparently) placed there, so is was very noisy outside home, what with all the cars yonking horns and loud drunk men cheering the girls on. Still, amidst the noise I fell asleep remarkably easily!

Thanks to everyone who made my evening quality, even if I don't know who all of you are!

And thanks also goes to the Union for organising an absolutely quality event!

Pooper Scoopers

2005-06-17T15:52:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, its been a over week of Summer - a week of (almost) no worries about uni or anything.

Now for most of the drafts of this post, I've been saying how I reckon I haven't got the ULU job as I haven't heard. However, today I've got a letter saying I've got some work there as a steward.

Anyways, what's happened over the past week? Well, Friday was a kinda quiet day, although I did go up to a dry cleaner's to get my summer ball trousers altered (along with some trousers for a suit I'm yet to wear because the trousers are slightly long). In the evening, I decided to pop round to Southside - that was ever so crowded yet not a single friend in sight! I moved along to the union though, and it was nicer there because the quality company of Ceri, her sis Bethan, and Gemma were around. So we had a nice chat, but I decided I didn't want my UniClo clothing combo to be deemed to look like that of a chav (I suppose the only way it could is that my green hoody has a hood!) - so round 8 I decided to head towards home. On the way home I saw Loji - she's been a good all round friend from my department who I have probs not mentioned enough on this blog. But yeah it was her last day in Britain, so we had a bit of a hug.

My weekend was a very quiet one - one of the few things that did happen was I bought some smart shoes for the ball - after looking round ASDAs & TKMaxx, I bought some nice looking and smart shoes from the latter - however, its interesting that a traditionally trainer brand like Sketchers are making smart shoes. Well, I say my weekend was quiet but on Sunday I had my administration job. Now out of the four of us, two had problems with their legs and so were on crutches - "hobble" (as the boss calls him) had leg problems caused by steroids, and "grunge" had had a toe removed.

After a quiet Monday, there it was all to spring to life on Tuesday. A little before 11am, I met Sarah in Victoria Station - we ended up wandering around the station, looking around various shops and having many quality convos. She also read my palm - its kinda shocking how good she seems to be - there were quite a few points I never mentioned to her that she got from it all (such as number of uncles I have, and how many kids they've had, and one or two other things).

An hour later, we were joined by Hane and Lucy. Sarah needed to go off with Hane for a bit, and in that time I went shopping upstairs at Victoria with Lucy. We had a very nice "get to know" conversation, whilst looking around Dorothy Perkins - I swear as the only bloke in the store (well, apart from a few who work in there) and so I felt I was a bit of an odd one out. When Lucy was trying various clothes on I was probs looking at underwear too much (by accident, of course - I was running out of things to look at)! Still not that I minded - all in all it was quality helping Lucy by giving my views on what she was trying on.

Sarah and Hane returned, and we all went to Ann Summers - now I dunno if I should talk too much about this bit, but lets say that Sarah & Lucy are very interesting company there, what with trying a few products out there. Still it was all a quality few hours of quality company (and I've happily made 2 new friends out of it all as well).

Wednesday was a quiet day, which was marred in the evening in my department about resits. However, thanks to my brother there was something to cheer me up - Weezer. They played many of their classics from over the years (such as Buddy Holly, Island In The Sun, Hash Pipe, Undone, Say It Aint So) - they were quality in all.

Thursday was kinda full in all - I went back to get my trousers in the morning, both pairs were sucessfully altered thankfully, so I'm now all kitted out for the Summer Ball on Saturday (oooh thats tomorrow!). After an afternoon of rest, I went out in the evening for an AMS night. We were originally going to meet at Southside at 8, but I didn't read the email about it being moved to 9:30 that well, so I found being extra early! However, there were people round to keep me company - I joined Tim & Tom for a while and we caught up on whats been happening on each others ends. Slightly later I met Leon, and we had a very retro conversation about Dulwich and various people from there.

After over an hour and a half of chatting to various people, the AMS contingent began to arrive. As Southside was hectic, we hung around outside for various conversations for another hour, before heading off to Roxy's. Now I was a total newbie to Roxy's, although having heard many good mentions from AMS friends I felt it was worth giving it a go. I must admit though I was nervous to start off with, and then I did something that probably wasn't my wisest move. After trying a bottle of Beck's (which I thought was very mank), I bought the 1st non-Alcoholic drink I could see to wash the taste away, which was a can of Shark - big mistake - from then on I started to feel somewhat crummy in the tummy (rhyme not quite intended). I ended up sitting down for much of the time at the club, with Greg occasionally popping over to be a cool support. However, after a drink and many visits to the toilet I started to feel somewhat better & started dancing again (mainly with Helen, Greg & Richard) for the last 1/2 hour or so. Still, despite the nerves and not feeling 100%, I did have a nice time, and I'm sure (particularly after some evenings working at ULU) I'll be back there.

Anyways, now for one piece of randomness.

From round where I live - yes - you can get Pooper Scoopers for free (yes free!)

Toilet Cones

2005-06-09T21:18:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, the past few days have been kinda full. Once again, not all of them have been revision - well, I say that but for me, and many 1st year Imperial students, the exams are over!

Well, sorry to put this at the start of the post, but if yo want to ignore this bit, skip along to the next horizontal ruler. Anyways, here's the exam talk (for the last time):

Circuit Analysis (Monday) - back in Autumn this was my weakest subject, and as Analogue Electronics was a follow on from this, it partly caused my weakness in that topic. However, unlike Analogue Electronics, I had to do reports and various other things based on it, and looking at some 2nd year experiments, I knew I'd need to master the subject. This probably meant a massive turnaround from this being my worst topic to having one of my best exam papers! I won't get full marks though! One slight drag - that fcuking (no I'm not plugging French Connection) inviduator was taking us again - although he was slightly better this time round. After the exam there was a meeting about next year, main new stuff I didn't know was about the SQTs - for those who don't know SQTs (or Supplimentary Qualifying Tests) are basically resits, which may be needed for Analogue Electronics in my case (& quite a lot of other people - oh and BTW thanx for the pun Alvin).
Principles Of Computing & Software Engineering (aka ARM & Operating Systems - Wednesday) - I've been too laid back over this subject because I was kinda strong on both parts, and it was my last exam. This made Tuesday a kinda full day revisionwise. Thankfully the ARM section was Open Book, which made life slightly easier there. Before the exam I had a panic about a blue sheet of paper we need to bring into exams - I misplaced mine! It led to me being in a rush to get to uni early so that I could ask for a new one if need be. I went into Level 6, where you can find anything uni related (really!!!) and found out I was doing my exam there anyway, so it wasn't needed. However, they had my blue sheet there. Anyways, yeah as for the exam - it was a good job the first section was open book because it was a difficult paper - far more than I thought - I know I dropped at least 30 marks - but ah well. The second part was far easier - I finished it in 35 minutes and I'm confident about it (or most of it hehe - close enough).

Well, after the exams, the room where we store stuff was locked. I had a chat with various people though about all sorts of things (they were very good not talking about the exam hehe). After going upstairs to remind the departmental administrators that its still locked (who then unlocked it), I headed off to buy myself some Nobby's Crisps, and pop into Southside just in case someone could look after my bag, and save a table. Just as I got there, Matty came too - we had a bit of a catch up conversation about the past few weeks. Just before I (temporarily) had to leave Southside, the ISE contingent popped down. There was an ISE dinner going on that evening, but I had already made plans (& changed them as well) for the evening.

I headed off to South Kensington station and after a slight wait, I met up with two lovely friends - Sarah and Snoph. We went along the South Kensington tunnel back towards Southside, although since we were deep in conversation and the South Kensington tunnel is hardly complicated, I forgot I was meant to be showing them the way once we were out of the tunnel hehe. Anyways, we heaeded off to Southside and saw that Matty was successful in keeping the table (and looking after my bag - not that I had any doubts there), and was joined by Greg, Helen and Hannah. We all had long chats about anything and everything (well, almost) over drinks, and it was very nice introducing friends to each other, and seeing them all get on very well, and I'm very proud of having everyone around. And on the way home I was kept company as well, first time for ages! All in all it was quality, although my tiredness from the day did show at times I can tell.

Today, I woke up being kinda pale - I felt fine, but it must've been I've had a deep sleep. I brightened up soon, and I went out to round North End Road. The search for a Dinner Suit for the Summer Ball ended pretty quickly there, having found one at the British Heart Foundation shop. Now who says you can't find good Dinner Jackets that fit (just about) for cheap at charity shops!

After returning home, I went out again. Originally I was going to go to the Engineers BBQ, but when I arrived it wasn't up & running, so I decided to go to the union where I saw and met many friends, including Tim, Tom and all the lovely girls of Lambrini Castle. More drinks (although I kept to Pepsi Max Twist) and many more conversations, and sitting in the quality weather.

This part of the post will have lots of randomness in it now, mostly from many friends' (or friends of friends') blogs - enjoy.

Firstly, these are photos that won't make the news (cheers for the link Jamie).

From this week's Felix, looks like Bling Bling has been replaced - with discounts (1/2 price if you dress like a chav) - thats right - Chav Night!

I wonder if thats Stormy Woods on the Tirangular Sign. (Those who read Felix will know about her, but she is always moaning about male habits, and claims she's so great)

Personality Test

Disorder	Rating
Paranoid:	Moderate
Schizoid:	Low
Schizotypal:	Moderate
Antisocial:	Moderate
Borderline:	Moderate
Histrionic:	High
Narcissistic:	High
Avoidant:	Very High
Dependent:	High
Obsessive-Compulsive:	High
-- Personality Disorder Test -- -- Personality Disorder Information --

Lightsaber

You were destined to have a Red Lightsaber.

Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, war, danger, strength, power, and determination as well as passion and desire. You have seen the Strength and Power of
the Dark Side of the Force and have you thirst for more of it.

What Colored Lightsaber Would You Have?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sarah, Snoph - looks like as pirates we're related!!!

My pirate name is:

Dread Pirate Bonney

Like the famous Dread Pirate Roberts, you have a keen head for how to make a profit. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from fidius.org.

Finally, yes here we are (I'm going to struggle here hehe) - another blog to feature this:

Reply with your name and I will write a short phrase describing you.
I will then tell you what I admire about you.
I will make up a short drabble with the both of us in it.
I'll tell you the most memorable moment I've had with you.
I'll then tell you something that I've always wondered about you.
Put this in your journal.

Well, thats all for now. Well, its a full post so I suppose you're full of post stuff too.

Offensive To Students

2005-06-03T17:35:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Well, this post is another update on how stuff my end is going - then again so are most posts here hehehe.

Firstly, I'll go on about the social stuff, & warn you all when talk of exams are so once again you can skip that bit if you want to - so you know that I won't shove exam talk down your throat (particularly handy if you're on my course).

Anyways, this past week has once again been very very quiet, with the possible exception of Today. Earlier this week though, I got a phonecall from ULU saying that I've been invited to a recruitment afternoon, which took place today. We were all put into groups of 6 - my group (which I got along with very well I think - was v chatty with them) had 2 people from King's, 2 people from UCL and 1 girl from SOAS (she's the 1st non-ex-Dulwich person I've met who goes there).

But yeah, firstly we had to make a star out of a piece of string blindfolded, & despite a small misunderstanding (admittadely on my part), we made a very nice looking star. After that (& a break with more chatting) we ended up having to make a bridge out of newspapers & tape between 2 chairs separated by 1.5m. If it supported a box of Quality Street we won the box, and good news for us (& bad news for the supervisor) was we won the box of chocs (the supervisor was begging for a choc or 2).

The last bit was a fancy personality test (we were chatting even more still during that) and a quick interview. I was still very chatty for that, which proved very useful, and I wasn't that nervous either. But yeah, the person who interviewed me was from the ents department, & so if I do work at ULU I may well be helping out at gigs. Good job I was wearing a Libertines T shirt - & the person interviewing me was wearing a Black Rebel Motorcycle T shirt (no -I didn't sing the heavy bass line on Spread You Love). But yeah I feel it all went very well, so fingers crossed because this time next week I'll know (& trust me I really would like this work).

Also earlier in the week, I got a text from AMS Helen. She told me Greg was reserving a table at the dinner, & told me that I should join them.

Well, the previous university ball I went to (not counting the EESoc Christmas Dinner as a ball really, which BTW was kool thanks to quality company with Time & Ceri) had a slight disaster & left me demoralised. Chances are I've told you all this before, but not here on myblog. Basically, at this freshers ball, I was with a small group and we were all looking for a table for the dinner. Many tables were entirely taken, but there was 1 with just a girl. I asked her very politely if we could join her, slightly cheekily remarking "we're nice people". Her reply I was ever so offended by, but at the time I was very weak morally - she had the dare to say "I'm sure you're lovely, but my friends are lovlier".

Just as an aside, she was still alone at that table hogging it all, until there was an announcement and she found out she was at the wrong dinner hall - & my group did find a table in the end.

Now I really don't want a repeat of that incident, which was why my original plans were to get an ents-only ticket. However, what with friends reserving a table, and were wanting me to join them will mean that there definately will be no incident of the sort this time round, so now I'm looking forward to June 18th.

Tonight my plans were to go to the union, but I might have to see how the weather pans out, and this weekend I'll probs be revising for my last 2 exams.

Right at this point, if you'd rather not read about exams, my advice - stop reading here (I don't blame you if you do stop reading).

Right exam stuff here - there were two this week:

Maths (Wednesday) - I had kinda high hopes for this exam, and good news I reckon I've passed, but not as well as I hoped. It was three hours, and I had extra time too, so as a result I was moved to level 6, which is always nice as its more peaceful up there, particularly when normal time ends.
Analogue Electronics (today, Friday) - this exam was crap - I'm really not sure if I passed it - if I have I scraped it. To add insult to injury, the person who was inviduating was treating us all like primary school children!!! (Hence title of post)

Next week are my last two exams - Analysis of Circuits and Principles of Computing & Software Engineering. After Wednesday afternoon, all exams will be over, and what will hopefully be a quality summer will begin. The ball helps, and also I'll probs be pounding it a few evenings, and maybe go to a gig or two as well.

Bring Back Bullseye

2005-05-29T21:00:00.000+01:00

Its a worthy cause:

http://www.petitiononline.com/lm21/petition.html

One Year Ago Tomorrow

2005-05-27T20:27:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone again,

I've realised something today having just posted so I'm making another post.

Its the May/June half term for many schoolkids across the country now, but also, some are now leaving school.

And for me, tomorrow will be a year on from leaving Dulwich.

I still do remember my last day very well - having many friendly, but some kinda sad conversations, and getting a shirt full of signitures of friends from all over Dulwich. I felt very overwhelmed by it all - so overwhelmed I got a bit ill, what with a splitting headache. I decided not to join the rumoured waterfights as a result (a decision I regretted really, although I know I wans't well).

But for all those who are leaving today, hope you've had a fun filled day.

"Offensive To The Brand", Save Our Southisde, We Need More Ponds & Yes I'm Blogging

2005-05-27T17:45:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Yes I'm blogging - kinda suprised at myself but since I'm not doing all that much right now, I thought I might as well update you all with how stuff has been on my end.

This past week has been dominated with exams - I've had 3 of the bloody things this week, & with 4 done I'm now 1/2 way through them. I reckon I've passed all the ones I've done so far. I'll do a runthrough (for those who'd rather not read this, skip along to the horizontal ruler):

Management & Organisations (back in April) - check past post.
Digital Logic (Monday) - I expected this paper to be a walkthrough - it so wasn't for me! I felt it was trickier than the past years. I know I'm not gonna get full marks - I may struggle to get an A, but hey I've passed.
Algorithms & Data Structures (Tuesday) - this one went the best out of those in the week. On top of that, I got a nice suprise from the invigilator, who was giving me an offer to do my exam up at Level 6. I took the offer, what with the amount of noise from people being inconsiderate enough to talk once papers have been collected, not knowing people like myself are still working! I don't think I needed the extra time for this one either, and I used up pretty much none of it.
Communications (Friday) - this is the first of three exams I've been fearing. I was bashing kinda hard for it for the previous two days - I don't think I've passed it that well I must say, but I think I have passed.

Well, next week are two dredded papers - Maths (I say thats dredded but I can sort of gamble with topics for this paper) and Analogue Circuits (crap).

One intersting thing to notice is I've found a suprising (yet reassuring) number of people who get pissed off as I do about people talking about the specifics of the subject before the paper, and even more pissed off about hearing those talking about the specifics of the paper after it. I do escape from it by hanging around somewhere unusual before the paper, and getting extra time so I'm not a part of the post exam flock.

One thing I deffo feel is worth mentioning here is I am kind of relaxed over these exams in some ways. I mean if I don't pass the year, there could be a change on the horizon, & in the long term it could be a welcome one. I say all that but there seems to be some welcome changes on the horizon (particularly in labs - having ISE only experiments, and a few other changes I sort of hinted at in past posts).

Whatever, after the exam and a small lunch I did something today I didn't do suprisingly all week - went to the Union, bought a Bud, & drank it! Here's to beiung 1/2 way through exams.

Well, thats enough on exams because it isn't dominating my life. Although I say that but it has been a very quiet week. I'll probably devote this section of this post to Impeial related stuff. Actually most of this I found out today.

For the benefit of those who don't go to Imperial, there are four bars at Imperial College - three in the Unioin, which are dB's, DaVinci's (often shortened to dV's these days), and the Union bar, and a non-Union bar in Princes' Gardens called Southside bar. For a number of reasons, Southside is being knocked down, but the one part thats not included in its replacement is its bar. I have strong views about Southside Bar going without replacement - like many, I feel it is a popular place to hang out (examples include aprés-bowling and a few meet ups with friends like Jen, Helen, Hannah and Greg), much more popular than some realise it is (even today I was reading an Imperial student forum and seeing that a few meet ups of theirs are at Southside). If Southside Bar goes without replacement, the Union would get far too crowded - I personally feel its crowded enough as it is. Whilst I do feel life doesn't revolve around drinking, I do feel that social lives would be confined to less inclusive places, such as flats or halls, if the Union was to get too crowded, leaving those living at home (like myself) to even more of a disadvantage socially. This is just my 2p on the situation, but if you have anything to do with Imperial, there is a petition in Southside Bar - it probably won't stop Southside being knocked down, but it might lead to a replacement being found after all - so go on - Save Our Southside!

Imperial College have also taken their fancy rebranding too far - they have now asked the Union Shop to stop stocking certain T Shirts because they were "offensive to the brand" of the College! More on that here - total politically correct silliness it is (P.S. I think the Carlsberg spoof T Shirt is quality).

Well, the rest of my post is going to be on randomness.

Some of you may've noticed I've got a whats palying thing on the side of my blog (I've shown an example below):

I should say its genuine (those on MSN Messenger 7 and have me on their list can check) - its thanks to a Winamp plugin and a php script (hosted on Ripway, who are a very good free web hosting company). I have tweaked it a little - might do some more in the holidays (make the text look nicer & more in with the style of this blog).

Now I know some of you readers have strong views on the English language - well, there's a 79% majority on me using proper English. This site may please you, particularly those who care about apostrophies.

Finally, back to slight Imperial related stuff - we need more ponds in Imperial - we could use part of Prince's Garden or Queen's Lawn.

2005-05-21T18:56:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Hope all's going well on your end - sorry I haven't properly posted for a while.

There are two reasons - project (which is now over with) and exams (which have barely begun).

For the past four weeks I have been in a group working on a project. Now those who get confused techhy stuff might as well skip to the next paragraph as the rest of this one is talking about the details of the project. Basically, we had to program a Field Programmable Gate Array (or something like that) to process an image. It's programmed in a C like language, & has to include an element of parallel processing. We managed to get it to do more than one image process, very fast as well.

But yeah if you've just skipped that last paragraph you haven't missed much. We ended up writing up a kinda full report, and gave a 15 minute presentation with 5 minutes of question - I think they both went well, although my (former) lab partner was moaning about some of the very minor mistakes made and was wanting to find errors in the report after its been handed in! Honestly, I'd really burn it and forget if I were you.

And then there are exams. I've been trying my hardest to fit some revision in, whilst also trying to feel relaxed and not overly stressed, and not get depressed about life - trust me I am finding that tricky. Although I say that but I think I'm kinda ready for my 1st 2 exams - just Friday & the week after I so am not ready for.

But is the life of Simon ever all work work work? Hell no! There were a few other events in the last week or so that are deffo worth blogging about.

After feeling very sad and lonely last Wednesday (I think) evening, I had some success in a small phonearound and found out AMS Helen & Greg were meeting up at Southside, and offerred me to join them. How could I turn it down, particularly since Helen (and also Hannah) were heading off to Spain on a Geology trip the following Monday. Was a quality time as well. We ended up playing darts - was my first game in my life (yeah - some of you might say "where have you been all your life"), & was a lot of fun. The best bits were when we were using up waiting time for a player to return by hitting cans, and also the sight of Greg getting a non-double score at the end of a game (he was angrily aiming at the blackboard on purpose by the looks of it).

On Monday evening, there was an AMS meeting, my first for 2 weeks - execept it was a really small one, & not really an AMS meeting as such. It literally was a chill out with El Presidente Electe Matty. He was actually chilling out waiting for Greg to finish his Physics presentation. We ended up meeting Greg outside the Physics department, & had the usual entertainment that is a walk home (although it was minus Helen and Hannah).

On Thursday I had another small break from project. I met up with "Sweet" Sarah. She's covered our meet-up quite a bit in her blog (EDIT I mean cover as if in talk about - not in the secret sense, or the meaning that some people could be thinking of :P). But yeah, after getting wet walking around the block (and we were under my brolley too), we ended up sitting in Victoria station. I gave her a copy of Felix to give her a flavour of what Imperial's like and what the things people moan about are about. I also thought bringing along the yearbook would be useful, even if it did give me a sweaty back from carrying it - still, the enjoyment of going though it with Sarah was quality, and we exchanged many, many nice & a couple of not so nice stories. And our conversation continued in our walk towards Westminster. All in all it was a quality time, & Sarah was a lovely girl to talk to.

Well, this all leaves me to say one last thing. Whatever your exams are, whether they are school exams, SATS, GCSEs, A Level Modules, university exams or even finals, I definately wish you all the very best of luck and hope you all do well.

Oh Dear

2005-05-13T16:02:00.000+01:00

Alright - this is Imperial not Stretham.

Even worse is is headline act at the Summer Ball is none other than Trevor Nelson!!!

Enough said.

More full English, Please

2005-05-10T17:36:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,

Seems like people are wanting me to type in full English. But I'm not just going to leave this to people who can comment here.

So new (and more meaningful) blogside poll time:

Happy Voting!

2nd Post In A Day

2005-05-06T18:40:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

Yeah - this is my 2nd post in a day - 1st 4 this blog.

Its bn a kinda 1/2 full 1/2 quiet week, with sum v kool bits in it. The bank holiday weekend was v v quiet, xcept 4 Monday. That day my home was like a warzone (with cleaning up going on!!!), so I decided 2 do sum revision & project work @ Imperial. As I was going out 4 lunch, I bumped in2 Greg, Hannah & AMS Helen. Helen had lectures (yes - on a bank holiday! - I know - I felt sry 4 her & other geologist friends who also had lectures). We went over 2 Kensington High Street, where I bought lunch, & Greg bought sum T-shirts (he had the emo look with them on 2), & we ended up spending the arvo chilling in Hyde Park with a few other ppl (1 of them was Matty). All in all it was a quality day.

On2 Tuesday, which was also kinda kool in sum ways. After a morning of revision lectures & study groups, I saw Jen, Susie & Terrance @ the union - sum craziness was goin g on with that group I can tell u rite now, inc random porings of salt & pepper packets in2 empty glasses. Still, they were kool 2 hang around with 2.

Now the past 3 days have bn v quiet 1s. Main event out of all them was the AMS evening on Thursday. Now, I had not only xercised my rites with the general election, but I also xercised my rite with the AMS election 4 the new "El Presidente". Well, here I think I should say well dun 2 Matty 4 winning the AMS election by 12 votes to 11. Other stuff that happened included Tori wearing Nipple lights that kept going off randomly, & the general randomness that'd come with any AMS meeting.

Well, I've probs got a weekend of a bit of revision 4 my 1st xams, altho I may well b going 2 a gig 2morrow nite.

Songs In Other Songs

2005-05-06T17:43:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

May 2le post 4 the 1st time since I've had a blog.

Anyways, there's this weird concept I know sum bands do & thats include other songs within their songs. 4 xample, Oasis have a clip of Wonderwall @ the start of Hello (1st track of (What's The Story) Morning Glory?), and I blieve Morning Glory itself features at the start of another track (EDIT - (What's The Story) Morning Glory features at the start of Acquiesce, which is from their B-Sides album, The MAsterplan).

However, sum r more hidden. This 1 comes from Grandaddy. About 10 seconds into this clip of He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's The Pilot (which in the track is at about 3 mins 40) is the distinctive synthesiser sound that loops throughout AM 180, if I'm not mistaken.

Any other xamples u know? Plz do let me know.

A Glorious Day

2005-04-29T18:41:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

Well, its a quality Embrace song I love, & its also a quality way 2 describe my day 2day (as well as the past 2 days).

Yesterday it was Jen's bday, & I joined her & her friends during lunch @ Southside, & all in all was a kool time with sum kool ppl (altho 1 of the girls there seemed totally crazy, & I had a Geology vs ISE argument with sum1 else - wots the fun with staring @ rocks anyway? well I say that but I know sum v v kool Geologists @ Imperial) Oh yeah & I had a lunchtime Bud (2nd day in the row I had a bud).

Anyways, on2 a pretty empty day timetablewise that was 2day. It was far from empty a day - I realised loan of the management book I borrowed 4 preparation 4 the xam was 8 days overdue (not my fault the 2 in 21 looked like a 3), so I went 2 Kensington High Street 2 return it - I went 2 Imperial & round the Union I saw AMS Helen, Hannah, Matty, Greg, & 3 of their friends. They were gr8 company as always, altho I felt sry 4 Hannah, who was feverishly revising 4 an xam this afternoon (hope it went well Hannah, if u're reading - I'm sure u did v well my dear). Oh yeah - it was so sunny out there & looked so nice in Beit Quad, & wot with the amazing company, I got myself my 3rd Bud of the past 3 days. On top of all that, I had a 2nd yr group project meeting, & I submitted my Pascal coursework.

Well, that left me in a feeling 2 check out if any friends were round Union, & Tim, Tom & Ceri, along with a few friends, were around, so I chilled out with them. They're gr8 company 2 (& I had my 1st Bud of the week with them after my xam on Wednesday), & we spoke bout sum crazy stuff (& I danced the funky penguin 2!)

Anyways, all in all it has bn a quality week - made a fair few new friends this week, & realised that I really do have sum quality groups of friends 2 chill, chat & have a bud with 2. AMS Helen was telling me that I'm doing rather well 4 myself socially, & I think I feel she mite actually b rite! - which is a gd thing.

First Wave Intact

2005-04-27T21:07:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

Yes - it is about time I posted again - I know l8ly I have bn terrible!

Well, there is a gd reason y I'm crap @ keeping the blog up 2 d8 l8ly - its cos of revision 4 xams. I've probs bn far 2 worried over them, mainly cos of fear of the unkown (which I find is the main reason 4 me getting worked up) - slightly ironically, 1 of the topics I revised 4 4 my 1st xam was on Stress.

Which nicely leads me on - this afternoon I had my 1st xam - it was on Management & Organisations. Now my personal tutor was commenting the other day that "if the department had its way, this would count 2wards 1% of the yr" - however it doesn't - it counts the same amount as all the other xams. Equally, the lecturer in charge of the course was claiming it does have the highest failiure r8 of all the courses in the 1st yr, & only having 9 lectures on this topic & nothing 2 back it up (in the way of study groups, & just 1 specimen paper) didn't help with worries. All of this I have no worries 4 cos I'm sure I passed @ the v least.

Now things r gonna calm down on my end - gonna b working a bit of revision 4 the other topics (I can relax a fair bit 2 tho), tho I am confident I can do kinda well. There is a piece of coursework that needs 2 b in on Friday @ 5PM, most of which is dun, & a group project over the next 4 weeks, which we were assurred was doable. Indeed 2 celebr8 the fact that the 1st xam was over, I had a Bud @ the Union Bar with sum friends - always quality!

2004 Voting Machine

2005-04-19T18:13:00.000+01:00

Tad out of d8 I know, but now we know how George W Bush got his 2nd term:

http://gprime.net/video.php/2004votingmachine

Cheers Felix 4 the link!

EDIT - there's other quality videos @ that site 2 if u have time 2 look around

Who Should I Vote 4

2005-04-16T15:46:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

Well, after cing this on Helen's blog, I thought I'd take the test myself.

However, this does lack both silly political parties (Veritas & Respect) & proper political parties (Monster Raving Loony Party, Rock 'n' Roll Loony Party, Church of the Militant Elvis Party & of course, the Teddy Bear's Alliance).

Who should I vote for?

Your expected outcome:

Conservative

Your actual outcome:

Labour -38
Conservative -16
	Liberal Democrat 27
	UK Independence Party 6
	Green 11

You should vote: Liberal Democrat

The LibDems take a strong stand against tax cuts and a strong one in favour of public services: they would make long-term residential care for the elderly free across the UK, and scrap university tuition fees. They are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places, but would relax laws on cannabis. They propose to change vehicle taxation to be based on usage rather than ownership.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For

15th April (my bro's bday)

2005-04-15T09:25:00.000+01:00

Hey every1,

Innov8ive title I know. Its my bro's 25th bday 2day (happy birthday Chris) - & nice news is he liked my pressie (the 2nd series of I'm Alan Partridge on DVD - Back Of The Net!). However, fancy having a bady thats the day Americans have 2 return tax return forms, along with the anniversaries of both the Hillsboroguh disaster (which my bro was watching!) & the sinking of the titanic (amongst a few other disasters, covered in Wikipedia's article on the day)!

Post-Modern English (or should I say "This is present mast England")

2005-04-14T13:30:00.000+01:00

Hey every1,

Was gonna put this on as a comment on Helen's blog, but it was gonna b so long that its worthy of its own post here. 2day I'm gonna say how 2 transl8 any text to post modern English.

Go 2 this useful Google page.
Type in ur piece of text (obvious).
Select English to French.
Translate, & copy the translated text in2 the textbox.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for French to German.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for German to English.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for English to Korean.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for Korean to English.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for English to Chinese.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for Chinese to English.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for English to Japanese.
Repeat Steps 3 & 4, xcept for Japanese to English.

& there u have ur piece of post-modern English. This post will now b repeated in post modern English.

The H? here.... } like the criticisming of all blog the Helen is visible, { this that of two problems you open one, with simply with the concrete mast the line っ it is, you like that for a long time this is given very to B with reputation. England corresponds, present some type the る which translates the original in regard to the skin, present conversation can withstand two problems:

It is effectively from the side of the Google.
(You understand it is, you grasp) shape of the original of the cabinet.
English - The French selection.
} Translate the field residence people who the lawn Thursday are translated with under { this original of 2 that and boiling of the physical grasp khu of the cotton of the flax.
If that repeats the problem belt of French four with German of stage 3.
Stage the German English taking excludes 3 of repetition and 4.
Stage 3 of repetition and 4 removes the Korean person who uses English.
Stage use English of hayss of 3 of repetition and 4 Korean person I C.
Stage 3 of reel return and 4 as for that the English repetition Chinese person.
taking removal く. When that which stage 3 is spread, whether with the Chinese language of the problem belt 4 you use English.
That spreads 3 stage is repeated, four problems the Japanese remove the English use. of
- repetition Unit 3 and 4 removes English Japanese use.

And reality of the mast of spreading your shape English that of resident in age is one cabinet from the place the holding って

Mayb its about time I posted

2005-04-13T17:42:00.000+01:00

Hey every1,

Dunno y, but altho I posted a few days ago, but I should post - mayb its that hardly had anything in it (other than a new poll) & doesn't really actually say wots happening in my end l8ly.

Well, wot has bn happening l8ly? Not all 2 much is probs the best answer I can give. Have bn making progress on revision, tho not as fast as I hoped with Management (the xam 4 which is on my 3rd day back). Other than that, mainly bn doin g wot u'd xpect 4 the hols - chilling, sleeping, eating, drinking (non-alcoholicly) & (@ least online) socialising.

Anyways, hope all's well with u all - & if u haven't already dun so, plz do take part in my fully public poll - u don't need 2 b a blogger member, altho it may help 2 read the comments 4 that post as mayb it seems a tad unclear & like I may pull of sum nasty suprise (not that I'd do such a thing).

Hmmmmmmmmmm

2005-04-11T09:29:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

The no of commenters on my last post really got me thinking, & I think u readers should have a say in this - after all, u r my readers:

Happy voting!

P.S. Pollhost got rid of my last account 4 sum reason, so I dunno how the "Badly Drawn Boy" hats poll finished - I think it was a tie with 11 votes each - I think.

Ummmmmmmmmm

2005-04-07T15:53:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

Well, almost another week of hols have passed - still haven't made it 2 Dulwich (disgacefully of me - so gotta sort that out).

My main thing I've bn doing is cracking on with revision over the past week, & still don't feel as far as I'd like 2 b. Of course, I'm not all work by any means - a few days back I met up with Jamie, & we saw Be Cool (gd film it was 2).

Hmmm - wot else is there that's bloggable? Well, yesterday my shaving stuff got mixed up with sum rubbish whilst the bathroom was bing cleaned, which led 2 a slightly uncomfy nite. Still, I've replaced it all quite cheaply (tho had there'd've not bn spare Gelette Razor & Blades, I may've resorted 2 trying ASDAs own brand).

This has probs gotta b 1 of my shortest posts - call that overworking.

I'm Posting - No April Fools Bout It!!!!

2005-04-01T19:56:00.000+01:00

Hi every1,

Sry its bn a while - even tho I have bn back in Britain 4 almost a week, I have had a v busy week, not least trying 2 revise (in sum ways I think I'm bhind even tho I have bn working kinda hard).

So how was my hol I hear u ask. Well, it v was nice, & quality 4 1ce just 2 relax without the worries of uni or anything. Anyways, we spent our 1st 3 days over @ Venice, which I've gotta say is lovely, v nice & pretty, & also v walkable. Alrite, there r sum signs that show completely opposite directions 2 get 2 xactly the same place (& even more strangely is they r correct)! A lot of the city can b cn by either walking (& getting lost - not that my sense of direction let any1 down) or WaterBus (2 of them go along the Grand Canal). We also went 2 this island called Burano, which is famous 4 fishing & lace, and also a lot of v pretty coloured houses. Only trouble is 2 few boats go there, particularly when we were due 2 go back - it seemed like we wouldn't make it on, & there were also a group of quite rude French ppl (whose group leader we couldn't find). So we did sumthing logical - get a boath the other way & stay on it, despite a slight detour we saw a lot of marshes, similar 2 those Venice is built on. We ended up @ a place called Treporti - dunno wot there is there, if anything, but after discovering that the other boat that goes there wasn't due 4 another 2 hrs, we quickly got back on our boat, which went rite back 2 Venice - & was more comfy 2.

Anyways, we went by Eurostar Italia (which r v comfy trains - deffo worth the xtra cost if u're journeys more than an hr & 1/2) 2 a place called Rimini - this is a seaside town, which sum ppl I know may say can b a little bit of a dump. In season, wot with lots of seaside & many discos, it probs is. But out of season, its quite empty (including the beaches) & is v nice, & also not many ppl know there is a historical side 2 the town, many ruins d8ing 2 the Roman empire. Lots more walking, pizza, pasta & ice cream (mainly Lemon & Vanilla cups) I had there. So all in all, was a quality time & a v nice relax.

Now, as I've said not much else has bn going on here. Should say sorry 2 any Southpaw members I couldn't make it last nite, wot with lots of helping out here I had 2 do I was simply knackered last nite, but I'll deffo b there on the 8th.

As 4 wot else is 2 come, well, hopefully along with managing 2 make progress, I hope 2 venture in2 Dulwich a few times next week - hey I do want 2 catch up with ppl u know.

Bumper Post

2005-03-18T10:40:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, the time has finally come 4 me 2 write this post - & trust me a lot had happened this week, & I was saying I had a lot 2 blog as it was. So slight warning this'll b a long post.

I pretty much left off @ the start of last week, when I was still in a kinda gd mood. Tuesday was a v eventful day, with lunch with the ppl who awararded me my scholarship. However, waering my posh shoes & bing in a rush that morning really did not mix well. Anyways, as 4 the lunch that was v nice, & 2 fellow scholars were there 2 - & they both knew sum friends of mine 2.

L8er that day I decided 2 go 2 the Jazz & Rock jam evening - was kool 2 c wot talent Imperial students have. I also made sum new friends with 1 or 2 of the acts there, but un4tun8ly I couldn't stay the whole nite.

Now last Wednesday was a pretty eventless day, where I made a bit of a fool of myself (not that I actually have 2 share it all but I will anyway). Basically, I was hanging round Southside 4 over an hr 4 wot I thought was gonna b the Bowling AGM - I ended up giving up & going 2 DaVinci's - un4tun8ly no1 I knew was @ either place & both were really busy. So my mood then was really knocked down, & round that time stuff hadn't bn going all 2 well academically. Things didn't improve on Thursday, when AMS wasn't happening cos many were going 2 Camden Crawl, which I was 1ce gutted bout not getting tickets 4 b4 they sold out, but now I'm not 2 an xtent cos I wouldn't've bn able 2 go & c Southpaw on Friday. More details bout that & the Mercury Rev gig on Saturday coming up in a separ8 post, but as Southpaw were quality & v top ppl, I've added their page 2 my blogside links.

Wot I can tell u tho is I was cheered up a bit. I was cheered up even more on Monday evening, which was the AMS bar nite. They ordered a whole keg (88 pints) & didn't want AMS 2 like a charitable society. I could only have 2 pints b4 getting drunk (I am such a lightweight I know), tho I did top it up a little (think I ended up having 2 & 1/2) - apparently I was probs 1 of the fastest 2 get drunk as well! Still, it was all a quality evening, but I knew I was 2 drunk & shatterred 2 go sumwhere else - & I also had a lab oral the next day.

I was in a hungover st8 that day, & I was ending up going where I can 2 drink lots water (trust me, I drank a lot of water) - all 2 wash it away. I also was bashing on getting my lab oral up 2 scratch with my lab partner. All in all, I felt it went kinda well, but I was telling my lab partner 2 stop bing like "I'm not sure if he was satisfied with sum of our answers" (which I didn't think, but then again I also wasn't that observant, so I didn't really need 2 know that!) - anyway, he was clearly not that dissatisfied cos we both got A-B borderline marks.

Wednesday was the 1st spring like day of the yr weatherwise, & I ended up going up 2 uni 2 go 2 a lab meeting with my project group, only 2 find the labs closed - but still it was gr8 going out. Still, main event of Wednesday was bowling & the AGM. As always it was fun, even if my actual bowling was average. After that was the AGM, & was v nice getting 3 awards, which r shown blow:

From left 2 rite - Most Improved Bowler, Trios League Runners Up & Trios League Highest Team Series Scratch.

I also stood 4 2 positions 4 the bowling committee, but didn't get either, but then I'm sure those who did get them will do a v gd job, & I deffo wish them the v best of luck.

Thursday was my last proper day of the term, & wot a beautiful da it was. I was spendng much of it working on a group report, but after a las Maths lecture that was cut short by 40 minutes, I headed off 2 the Queen's Lawn & found Tim & Ceri there, so we chilled out in the sun 4 the next hr or so, & xchanged many stories of the past few weeks. Soon afterwards was a v small AMS meeting, altho that was still quality anyway, & a fair few random yet hippy ppl joined in 2 (friends of a member, I blieve).

Anyways, as an AMS member who's also a member of IC Radio, I had a little favour 2 do 4 AMS Secretary, Tori. She was standing 4 Head Of Music @ IC Radio, & so I went down 2 my 2nd club AGM of the week. Un4tun8ly, Tori didn't get the position, but there was the apparently easy position of Treasurer that no1 was standing 4 or wanting 2 do. After much encouragement, & finding out that I get training from the union, I decided 2 allow nominations. The next bit was whether or not there'd b many objections - well, how many there were I'll probs never know, but probs 1 @ the v v most (& none is more likely). But wotever, I'm now happy 2 b treasurer of IC Radio, & am looking 4ward 2 working there, & I'm sure it'll all b kool.

Well, now term's over & a lot has changed since the start of term, largely thanx 2 AMS. I've deffo made many friends, & strengthened many older 1s from last term 2. 1 nice thought is during the last week I've bn cing more & more friends out & about round uni, making me feel like I really have got friends now, & that is sumthing I should remember next time I'm down over social type stuff. Whilst mayb I've made a few academic slip ups, I still blieve I can do well & these hols I'll try hard 2 make that happen with a constructive revision plan. However, as always, work work work all the time is never constructive, which is y I'm off on hols 2morrow 2 Italy, & also y when I get back I'll b popping over 2 Dulwich every so often 2 c sum old friends.

Anyways, this leaves me 2 say Happy Easter & enjoy the next week or so.

Makeovers

2005-03-16T11:52:00.000Z

Hi every1,

I've given Unintended Bliss a little makeover - I'd say its a simpler look (which in web design these days is more effective). Got a few tweaks still 2 make but its almost there.

& as 4 me - I'm about 2 get a haircut (Edit - alrite then - there was a queue @ the hairdressers & the next available slot was 2PM - during bowling - so I'll get haircut dun another time).

4 Those Thinking Of Doing Joy Division Covers

2005-03-15T18:15:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Sry 4 the lack of posts had a lot of work - I will have a lot 2 blog bout soon.

But 4 now - sumthing short, yet v special - I've heard this cover of Joy Division's classic, Love Will Tear Us Apart, on Xfm the other day - its by a band called Honeyroot (whose singer is from Heaven 17, famous 4 Temptation).

Samples from:

http://www.justmusic.co.uk/store/TAOS003/
http://www.karmadownload.com/album/?9715 (u can buy a download copy there 2)

Its probs gonna b played on Xfm quite a bit 2 over the next few weeks/months.

Now I don't think I've heard a cover this gd yet so different from the original since Ryan Adams cover of Wonderwall last yr!

More posts (inc gig reviews) coming v soon.

GroundBreaking News - 4-In-1 Dishwasher Tablets R Out!

2005-03-07T20:51:00.000Z

Hi every1,

This post's gonna b a package of random stuff, combined with a bit of wots bn happening on my end since I last blogged.

Well, its bn a week now since a quite major event happened that shook Britain - thats rite - Delia Smith's 1/2 time outburst. "You knows it Delia Smith" is wot the Goldie Lookin' Chain would say bout this, & so she should after having wotever she had 2 b in such a st8. Anyways, if u haven't cn it, clicky here cos its worth it.

Also, worthy of v dramatic music - Dishwasher Salt. Or 2 b more precise, Finish 4-in-1 - now since its their best ever, they've come up with an advert that makes it seem like the biggest thing in the world - the choice of music as well (dunno wot its called, but has singers & is associ8ed with slight evil & Damien Trotter). I say that, but I bet they'll come up with sum way 2 dress it up soon so that sumthing beats it again - who knows? Finish 5-in-1 in a few yrs time? Un4tun8ly I don't have a link 4 it yet (nor can a find a pic of the product).

Anyways, this is the bit where I talk bout wots bn going in my life so I'll put in an almost radnom separ8or.

Rite thats sorted. Well, most of my past few days have bn relaxing b4 wots gonna b quite a full week. It started on Sunday, when I met my gd old friend Jamie, and as ever it was a quailty - we ended up cing Flight Of The Phoenix, which was quite a gd film altho I have cn better.

Erm....dunno if I can say allhat much more's happened - handed in lab report. Oh yeah - also had AMS meeting, where I managed 2 hold on the word cheese 4 20 seconds in 2day's cheese challenge.

So wots happening the rest of the week. Well, wot with more AMS, Bowling AGM & a few gigs, I'm probs gonna have busy evenings rite up 2 Sunday. But all busy in a gd way.

Rite best b off but b4 I go I have an improtant PS *dramatic music again*

P.S. *alrite, mayb the music isn't needed* I haven't used Finish 4-In-1 myself
P.P.S. Can any1 tell me wot a shineometer actually is - & looks like - & poss how it works?

I Guess I'm Alrite

2005-03-04T16:00:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, its bn another week passed - & its bn a really quiet 1 on my 1/2.

Over the weekend I was working on my report, & on Monday I still had a fair bit 2 bash with. Since I had a fair bit of spare time that day, I spent more time bashing on it so that I was close enuff 2 finishing it by Wednesday (with plans 2 not bother with the EESoc revue, which BTW sounded a little crappy anyway from the 1 or 2 ppl I know who did go). Anyways, as I got home round 7, I got an email saying the deadline's bn moved! Yay!!!!!

On the academic front, I had another setback with my 2nd logbook bing worse than the 1st 1 (suprise suprise) - but then again, the xperiments were kinda crappy - & I was honest by handing it on time despite ridiculously short notice (unlike sum ppl, of which I should've bn 1 of, who didn't hand it in 4 weeks).

Anyways, no loss with the Revue - I went 2 sumthing thats more supereior - AMS meeting - even then it was kinda quiet, tho on Monday I tried 2 b cheesier than a plate of triple cheese nachos - & disturbingly I think I succeeded.

Moving on2 the other society I take part in a fair bit, bowling. Ppl from Surrey happened 2 b there, so there was a "South Of England" (but not counting Kent) friendly championchip thingey - since there was more of us than them, I wasn't involved. But still it was kool 2 c Imperial win there. & it was kinda kool on my end 2 - after w8ing 4 a while 4 a technician 2 fix our lane computer thingey (4 entering names etc) & eventually bing moved 2 another 1, I managed 2 bowl my highest scoring game (110 - yeah its still not amazing, but I'm happy!). Jon (fellow bowler who also didn't bowl against Surrey) & I were also helping out a newbie 2, who ended up beating us both (whilst both our scores went down by 30 in the 2nd round, his went up by 30!).

Hmmmm - well, I have had a Friday of rest - mite b cing Jamie this weekend, & there may b 1 or 2 other little bits & bobs going on over the weekend, but nothing amazingly big - oh yeah & annoyingly I got a mixtape I've already reviewed (ah well), but hopefully sum1 else will bring 1 on Monday.

Giant Infl8able Monkeys That Fly In2 Outer Space & Act As Ticket Barriers @ Train Stations

2005-02-24T21:19:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, this week I have had quite a week & rite now I am knackered, but I do have the energy 2 let u know wots bn going on on my end.

Sunday was my money earning work day - I get these every 8 weeks (& I may've mentioned it in a past post), & it consists of stapling contents of envelopes 2gether, stuffing & stamping them. Got gd money, but 1 drag was when I seriously messed up with the coffee - probs caused by me overfilling them, I managed 2 spill all 3 that I made! That was crap, but has never happened 2 me b4 (not that I make many coffees often).

Anyways, on Monday, I had wot was my last "proper" electronics lab session of the yr - it only lasted an hr since I had actually already finished the xperiment, and a lot of it I was w8ing around 4 the ROM chips 2 b erased (I ended up giving up). There was also an AMS meeting, in which not amazingly much happened, altho I did come up with this piece of randomness that is this posts title whilst talking 2 Hannah. I also found out that Greg & AMS Helen's nite out on Saturday evening was merely a bus ride, b4 going home. On a similar vein, l8er that nite I also found out bout the Regulars gig bing cancelled after all. So mayb there wasn't much 2 apologise bout 2 posts ago.

Well, on2 Tuesday, which was a pretty ordinary day, but the evening was sumthing special. I went 2 the Union only 2 buy a can of Pepsi Max Twist when I saw Greg chilling out with a friend of his. Turns out it was Greg's friend's bday, so I decided 2 join them 4 a bit. Turned out tho that the bday bloke used 2 Eltham College (a real rival of Dulwich), & we spoke 4 mins bout the crazy rivalry. Anyways, many more ppl turned up, inc Matty, Helen & Hannah. So there was more than I was xpecting that evening (there was also a sub-AMS meeting next door, which actually turned out 2 b a Felix nite out). Un4tun8ly I did have 2 go early 2 put my finishing touches 2 a presentation..............

Talking of which, that was 1 of 2 main events on Wednesday - it was on DAB Digital Radios, & whilst the presentation was a tad long, it was promising & also not much went wrong technically - I didn't end up in tears this time, which was a gd thing in itself. My other main event was my long aw8ed return 2 bowling - now, mayb I'm a tad louder & more cheerful than when I last went, & every1 seemed 2 notice the difference, wondering if I was actually ok! But yeah - it is quite a transformation.

On2 2day, which was also a kinda quiet day, & 1 where I did get kinda tired 1/2 way thru it - yeah it does affect me & it may seem like the cheer is dragged down a bit - but I'll b back - I managed it last week in worse situations.

"Badly Drawn Boy"-Style Hats

2005-02-21T20:35:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Jasmine & I have our differences bout Badly Drawn Boy style hats, so I have decided that a public vote should decide it all.

Poll on the blogside.

& in case u don't know wot Badly Drawn Draw boy style hats look like, looky below:

Happy voting!

AMS vs Regulars (vs AMS) - Round 2

2005-02-19T20:36:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Sorry bout the lack of post yesterday - I was in pretty much the same mood as I was in the day b4 4 most of it.

However, now I'm in a much better mood. Basically, I got a msg from AMS bout a gig/disco @ the Notting Hill Arts Club (home 2 the Death Disco, where they played that song that starts 2 fast but ends so slow) - the best thing bout it was it was free 2 get in.

Now, 1 thing that did suck a little was that 2nite was also the Regulars farewell gig, which I would've gone 2 xcept that it cost money & it was all the way down @ Crystal Palace, & since I do have my paid work 2morrow, I couldn't make it (sorry guys! I'm sure u were gr8 tho). Equally, there was another group of AMSlings who couldn't come & were wanting me 2 join them in a l8er indie disco trawl, but again my need 2 get up 2morrow stopped me there (so sorry 2 u 2).

As 4 the bands that played there, well, they were generally not bad - the 1st was called Sam & Me, who I'd say were ok tho a tad unusual. I 4got wot the 2nd act were called, but sum1 was rite in mentioning the soundalike with sum early Thrills stuff (b4 they bcame a tad weepy). The last, & headline act, were called The Mountaineers (yes I know - it is a slightly weird website) - deffo livened the place up in all, & whilst I wasn't that impressed by the couple of trax I heard online, they were gd live.

Whilst I'm on the subject of bands, I recently discovered a v gd band from 1 of my 1st AMS Mixtapes, & have now v much got in2 them. They're called The Upper Room, & they're a 4 piece from Brighton & I deffo think they sound v v promising - previews of their trax & a free acoustic set download are available from their website, http://www.theupperroomsite.com/, and I will deffo b on the lookout 4 any live sets from them round here.

Anyways, back 2 wots happening on my end - not all that much other than continuing with my 2nd report (in a still slitely demoralised st8 over it) & 2morrow I have my junior admit work as I've mentioned earlier.

Slash Day

2005-02-17T21:00:00.000Z

Hi every1,

I've gone back on wot I said in my last post & am indeed calling 2day "\ Day" or should I say Slash Day.

Y Slash Day - well, 4 me its mosty bn 1 of bloating out (8) Welcome 2 the jungle (8) high pitched around my department (not that many'd know a thing bout Slash or Velvet Revolver or, most importantly, Guns 'n' Roses). It was kinda kool most of it I must say.

.......that was until 4pm, after Maths lecture when I found out that the lab reports I've bn working so hard on during Christmas hols had bn marked. So I went up 2 level 6 2 collect, but there was a crowd around the box where they've all bn placed. So I went up 2 level 8 so I need not hear reactions from any1, or get any of this "how did u do? how did u do? how did u do? how did u do? how did u do? how did u do? how did u do?" when I hadn't even collected it!

Anyways, bout 10 mins l8er & after a bit of a short w8 4 a few of the crowd 2 finally leave, I went over 2 the box.

Now, in a different way, Slash Day bcame an appropri8 name 4 2day. I didn't get a gd mark & was really angry - now b4 u ask, no, I'm not vicous enuff 2 take it out on any1 - altho I did punch walls & railings, unsuprisingly hurting my rite hand a little - altho a tad more than usual out of such outbursts I've had in the past (& no, I've never taking it out on a person or any other living thing in a physical way).

However, after an AMS meeting, hanging around with 3 of my best friends from Imperial, & realising that it only actually counts 4 0.2% of the yr, I have got better. Whilst still a bit angry, I'm not feeling quite so bad now - & I've calmed down enuff not 2 punch any more walls.

Anyways, on2 sum better stuff - out of those who have xchanged address books over bebo - cheers, I rly appreci8 it - its a v gd service bebo is & highly recommend it 4 helping keep in touch with old friends (particularly those who rn't in ur yr or skool, but r still ur friends nonetheless) - almost as useful as MSN, xcpet that its more of a personal directory (with only those u know in reality) rather than online chat (with any1 u have on ur list).

Finally (let me guess I'll've probs missed sumthing out that I've bn meaning 2 put here over the past few days) , if there r any quiet readers out there who have blogger accounts yet haven't commented - u're always welcome 2 - don't worry if u're just a friend of a friend of mine, I still welcome comments from u 2.

Z-Day

2005-02-16T21:40:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, in case u're wondering y I'm blogging a lot, I've set myself a challenge 2 do this every day 4 this week.

& yes - 2day 4 me was Z-Day - cos it fits in with the easiest 2 notice pattern of the last 2 days.

But Z stands 4 zzz, & that I did a fair bit of 2day - I was close 2 it in the lecture as it was, & with no bowling (sob) thats wot I did when I got home early 2day.

I've also bn up 2 getting my report started. Its actually kinda interesting - about Spark Ignition, a topic which I don't know much about - interestingly, neither apparently does my tutor, & he would've found marking (easier) digital logic reports boring. Still, there is a kinda kool research side 2 it, & getting the only copy of Electronic Ignition Components from the library helps, & I've also bn looking @ it 4 hints with my report. Google & Wikipedia have already also come in handy.

My only other event of the day has bn working on this online address book, of which 3 ppl so far have kindly agreed 2 - & I'm sure more will do so 2.

Well, where now 4 me - well, AMS thingey 2nite is wishey-washey, & I don't want my 1st AMS evening 2 b a failure, or make myself feel like I have a curse surrounded by me (which sumtimes I have the impression I do), nor do I particularly fancy w8ing 4 ages in the freezing outside. However, @ least there's a meeting 2morrow - which, if I continue my system of naming days by single characters in this pattern, would b "\-Day" looking @ my character map in both Unicode and ASCII. Now that would b just a silly name!

X-Day

2005-02-15T19:17:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Yesterday was V-Day - 2 me, 2day was X-Day.

Now 4 those who have had a bad day yesterday (I know sum ppl do) & found themselves out of a relationship, I feel sry 4 u all & suppose it could b X-Day 4 u in a not so gd way.

However, 4 me, X stands 4 Xperimental here - alrite then, it was partly cos of having confidence from 5 v gd friends in my yr that I felt I could do this. But it consisted of going 2 Union alone & coming out in the knowledge of having made sum more friends. Yeah - I know sum ppl do this all the time, but as sum of u may know I was just worried bout looking like a loser until recently. That & thinking it was gonna b busier than it actually was in the Union Bar (it was quite busy in DaVinci's tho).

Now a bit of background here - I did 1ce go 2 the so called Union Bar b4 (& in case u think I'm a real prat & never go 2 the Union Bars, there's the bigger DaVincis & dB's, along with Southside) - this was during Fresher's Week b4 the only gd event of the week. I did have success then 2 (even tho my confidence was starting 2 fall) & did make 2 friends in that bar, altho only 1 of them I saw after that evening (& only 1ce 2).

Now back 2 2nite - 1ce again I was successful really. Wot helped a little was the 2 student barmaids were chatty & friendly, & also the fact that cans of Pepsi Max Twist were stocked, which was enuff of a lure 2 keep me sobre. But yeah, I also met a few ppl from Imperial's Juggling Society (BTW - I used 2 help out in Dulwich's Juggle Club), & they were telling me bout it - I would've gone 2nite, but I did need 2 return home 4 various reasons (not least cheap dinner). Also, I spoke 2 a girl from DramaSoc, who was friends with 1 of the barmaids. On my way out, I also saw 2 friends from AMS, which was quality, as well as waving 2 sum ppl in Halls who I could c doing sum....erm.......interesting performing..............

So yeah - I will try X-Day again as it was a success - & probs go 2 Juggling 2 (thats if I could find it - the directions seem slightly complex, but I think I will manage). I may also try sumthing similar 2 X-Day @ ULU 2.

Now, 4 a few other unrel8ed random stuff. Sadly, no bowling 2morrow (so my long-awaited return is......erm.......even longer awaited) all cos the alley priorities against us during 1/2 term. There is sum AMS trip 2, but its a v wishy washy 1 involving w8ing in the cold 4 a long time - & with no guarntee of getting in.

Well, I'll leave u all with sumthing from X Factor act G4 - now 4 those who don't know, they sing opera-style covers of pop songs. They've made a video 4 their cover of Bohemian Rhapsody, & 2 b honest, I think Rolf Harris can b totally silly yet make a video thats more serious than this - still, 4 a laugh check it out by going 2..........

http://www.g4site.com/video.php

..........choose ur connection speed & enter fakes or spaces if u don't want 2 b spammed - enjoy!

Valentine's Blues

2005-02-14T12:22:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, its that time of yr again - & 4 me its almost like any other yr here.

Now I think u all know wots coming. Well, actually mayb there'll b a bit of wot u're not xpecting (depends wot u r xpecting I guess).

My luck round this time of the yr generally isn't gr8 - if I've told u this many times b4 then I'm sry I'm going on about it again. Basically, my only V-day gift in recent yrs turned out 2 b a total prank 2 yrs ago, since the girl it supposadely came from sent bugger all 2 me - it was actually her bro. This time last yr was probs my low point where it seemed the whole world & his uncle was getting gifts & msgs & I practically lost contact with every1 who would send me sumthing, nor did I really have any1 2 send anything 2. Alrite then, go more than 3 yrs ago & u have me blieving that its overcommercialised & pointless as there r another 364 (or 365 on a leap yr) days 2 show love 2 ur partner - I know there's that tradition thingey, but still.

Well, 2 an xtent the same is true this yr - & I hear or c sumthing reminding me it is 14th February every 5 seconds. However, I have learned a lot over the past yr. 2 an xtent I've generally blieved there's more 2 life than relationships, & I stand by that 2 an even gr8er xtent now - I know there r ppl out there who judge other ppls lives on whether or not they have partners, & also how many ex's they have - I was 1ce afraid of these ppl (particularly a yr ago), but now I know wot idiots they r. I strongly blieve that the thing bout life is just 2 have fun, b happy, yet also try 2 b successful (which is where the hard work of uni comes in). That & the fact that there r so many genuine ways of measuring character.

So am I upset 2day - with all that in mind - not really. Mayb I'd like a gf, but I'm not the type 2 rush on2 the bandwaggon 4 (2 put it nicely) a not so nice girl, so needless 2 say that friendship is a higher priority 4 me.

Just my thoughts really all this is & happy valentine's day.

Confidence is a preference for the habitual voyeur of what is known as

2005-02-13T20:05:00.000Z

BLOGGING

Hi every1,

Things on my end have still not had much bloggable going on - mostly on the work side its bn this annoying online lab test (which ok, went ok), but then also having the shock of having 2 hand in an appalling logbook with v little notice 4 improving it - ah well.

Anyways, 1 thing really bloggable did happen this Wednesday - RAG London Raid. 4 those who don't know, RAG stands 4 Raising And Giving. The London Raid involves going into Central London in a group & doing sum crazy stuff, whilst at the same time, trying 2 raise money - our charities of the day were Cancer Research UK & The Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Now, the group I was in was various ppl from AMS, & we all had a gd time. However, I suppose wot with the Tsunami l8ly & other factors, it just wasn't our day for collecting. There was a few generous ppl who gave more than copper coins, but we were largely ignored by the general public (probs having given a lot already this year, understandably). I will admit I myself didn't go particularly crazy, mainly being involved in a phonebox cram in (I think we got 9 of us in2 1 - & it was an internet 1 2!), being a keen listener in an erotic short story reading at Waterstones Piccadilly, & 1 or 2 other little bits & bobs (which I'm not really sure if I should put in my blog just in case it causes problems on my end). Oh yeah - & I was amongst most of the group asked about "burger or bagel" 4 sum footage - I twisted the answer 4 bagel cos I felt like dessert, & I like doughnuts!

Now that day also happened 2 b birthday 4 1 girl in our AMS group, & she invited all her friends (including me - wooooo - I feel included) 2 a party @ Southside. She intorduced me 2 a lot of her friends (probs around 15 @ least) & we drank till Southside closed, by then I was just ever so knackered after wot was a v long day. However, its thanx 2 that evening that since then I've bn more confident, talkative, & feel able 2 make more new friends. I haven't had that many opportunities 2 do so, but I know I will next week.

Falling Off The Back Of Minibuses

2005-02-01T17:24:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, I haven't posted 4 the past 2 weeks cos not much has actually bn going on on my end, & indeed much of last week I was in a depressed st8, but now I'm better there - more on that l8er.

My main event of the week happened on the way 2 bowling. Well, as I was getting off of the minibus thru the back, I lost my footing & fell, landing on solid concrete! Thankfully, no bones broken or anything like that, but I did get a nasty cut on my left knee, & my other knee's bruised.

Now that was adding injury 2 insult, which was the fact that part of my lab report was bing handed back in a full lecture. It actually didn't turn out that bad as there was sum "airline style" calling, altho the lecturer was a tad rude 2 sum l8comers who had no idea wot was going on. As 4 how I did, well I'll say out of wot I've got back, it could b better, but its still not bad @ all.

Still, 4 most of the week I did feel v down - however, the gd news is it has improved slightly - I was in that sort of mood b4 my AMS meeting last Thursday. However, I was able 2 have a proper convo with a group of (kinda new) friends from round my yr, & they all want me 2 join them on an evening out. Had it've not bn 4 my leg, I would've deffo on Saturday, but they're kool & deffo understood. Even better news now is my leg is now a lot better.

Rite, well, as I say not much has happened thats bloggable, hence a short post - so I'd best b off.

Yeah - I know that title is not gramatically correct, but then again neither is the title of Oasis' album from 2000 Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants.

Its Easy 2 4get Just Wot U've Got

2005-01-19T17:35:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, I'm writing rite now in a bit of a recovering st8 after bing upset this morning - anyways, I'll tell u bout that l8er.

1stly, I'll start of with the start of the weekend - & all I can say bout Team America is Fuck Yes - it was quality & I deffo recommend it. Was kool cing Jamie again, & meeting his friend Alex.

After a busy Sunday of going thru Assembly code & enhancing it, it was Monday, which was v quiet, altho @ the end of the day was the week's 1st AMS meeting. We all exchanged our compilation CDs that we've bn working on in the weekend. I would give u all a track listing, xcept this is all meant 2 b anonymous - I am however happy 2 give those outside AMS my listing. Anyways, I'm yet 2 listen 2 the CD I've now got - indeed since I've got it I've hardly had any time 2, but it should b interesting (& may make mine seem crummy & overly mainstream).

Well, on my last post I told u I had a decision 4 Tuesday - as much as I like Minuteman (who I'd've bn cing live), & as gd an impression of AMS I've had, The Regualrs won me over by a mile, with the added bonus of cing many old friends (altho I should point out 2 any of u who r reading that I think u're all still v much gd friends), which was quality I must say. I should say @ this point that The Regualrs played quality, & I parted with £6 4 their 1st LP, Going Continental - & I was v happy 4 them 2 c them sell out on the evening.

I should also say it was my 1st visit 2 a uni halls bar, so there u go UCL u've beat my uni 2 holding that honour. The thing was that I was a tad drunk 2 not quite b me, but saobre enuff 2 remember & regret it. Basically, probs cos I could actually talk 2 a few of the ppl round there who I knew didn't have anything 2 do with Dulwich, I was a bit of a moaner 2 sum of my old friends bout my uni (which was a bit of an xaggeration wot with AMS & Bowling, & also skiing from last term - altho without going in2 detail I did have sum crap last term). I'm foning all those who I remember bing a bit of a moaner in front of, but 4 those affected who 4 any reason I leave out I'm v sorry 4 bing such a moaning twat.

Anyways, that was the cause of me bing upset this morning - was also v tired as well, which led 2 me bing in such a sad st8 @ the Sir Alexander Fleming Café, altho I should say thanx 2 my friend Jen (who also goes bowling & has bn a v gd friend over the past few months) 4 bing sum1 2 talk 2 & helping me cheer up. A bit of sleepy also helped when I got home this afternoon, which was part of the reason y I didn't go bowling (that & already spending my week's budget & haivng 2 make own way there, which I was 2 tired 2 do).

Well, I'm sry if this post has bn a bit hard on ur eyes, but I'll leave u all with a quote from the back of a 24 DVD boxset (containing the 1st 3 series) from Japan:

The story begins from 12 A.M., leading role the United States government is anti-terrorism to organize member a right bower (Jack Bauer) is reaching the (Teri Bauer) in wife's pack with the gold foil (Kimberly Bauer) in daughter at home, everything such as often. Did not anticipate the gold to leave secretly, be the right bower to discovers with the wife when the gold run again in the outside, the right bower receives the nasty buildup suddenly, the originalorganizes to receive the news, having a terror group is proceeding the assassination the president candidate cypress David's (David Palmer) activity. It is anti-terrorism to organizes top and bottom immediately atmosphere strain, the right bower supereior even repeated advice to the right bower wants the secret proceeds the inquisition, can't also literally the movements: Because he doubt the department of buildup may hide the, and, number may not only a......

Regulars or AMS??? AMS or Regulars???

2005-01-14T15:25:00.000Z

Hey every1,

Well, thi week has turned out 2 have sum real lows, with a few points of xcitement, then bing brought back down again.

All I remember bout Tuesday is getting back home wet, tired & a tad depressed after a 6pm end. Wednesday had its real mixes, starting off with an okish labs, but then bowling (which I enjoyed even tho performancewise I was stumbling), but well there was a really low turnout & afterwards no1 went along 2 the after bowling drinking (or, as I call it, aprés-bowling), so I was @ Southside alone with my pizza slice & cola. Wasn't long till I left, with yet another depressing journey home - @ least there wasnt any rain.

I then foned a few friends 2 try 2 cheer myself up - 1 of them told me bout a Regulars (band from my old skool) gig - more on that l8er. @ the time that cheered me up.

Anyways, Thursday was a kinda interesting day. It was my 1st Management lecture & the lecturer arrived 10 mins early, & I was the only person in the lecture hall (which can seat bout 160 ppl!) - so I ended up having a bit of a chat - he was v interested in wot sort of things r dun in my course & wot distinguishes it from Computing & Electronic Engineering. In the lecture, I found out a random fact - I'm probs 1 of a v few (if not the only 1) in the my year & department 2 have had an interview @ both Imperial & UCL, as no1 else seemed 2 have "met" the founder of UCL (whose body is preserved in their foyer). Mite b wrong bout this, but still - thoughts of wot could've bn flooded in there. After that was my 1st communications lecture, which seems v different from stuff Ive dun b4 - ah well, it doesnt seem 2 bad - yet.

@ the end of the day, I had my 2nd AMS meeting - there was a little quiz - un4tun8ly I didn't know which Matty from which Busted they were talking bout in sum of the questions - piccy is now below. & yeah, I didn't do 2 well either in the quiz, but next time Ill just come up with even sillier answers.

From Thursday - From AMS quiz - suppose with the recent news bout Busted splitting is now a fitting tribute. Still, Charlie's new band actually sounds 1/2 decent - check them out - they're called FightStar (& no - I didn't like Busted)

Still, when I got home I started putting 2gether my new computer - spent a bit of 2day on it as well & now its working kinda well. My main other evcent of the day has bn a kinda sad 1 - apparently the Regulars gig has bn moved 2 Tuesday - this is clashing with an AMS trip 2 Kentish Town, along with that nite bing the nite b4 the deadline of my ARM Coursework - arugh - well, I can sort the coursework out here, but now I have a dilema here - well, I will tell u all how I'll resolve it.

(HINT - sorry AMS - it'll probs b Regulars)

Finally, I'm gonna add The Regulars & Something Happened 2 my blogside links 2 try 2 plug these 2 fine acts.

Just A Day (& also a weekend)

2005-01-10T21:22:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Well, I am tired (again) but I have had so much going on over the past few days that I just have 2 let u all know bout it all.

On Saturday, I met up with Jamie. It was v kool 2 c him - kinda hard 2 blieve its bn 4 months since we last saw each other - & in that time hes grown taller than me! Anyways, we went in2 Virgin 2 play sum racing game, only 4 me 2 realise after thinking I was doing well 1st that I was actually @ a dead end - I was laughing my head off, tho probs also really pink-faced. Ah well, was still funny. We then went 2 c White Noise, which was v gd, but also scarey. We decided 2 go much liter-hearted next weekend as we're gonna b cing Team America - talking of which, u can listen 2 sum banned radio ads here (requires Flash player) - they r kinda strong languaged tho, so u have bn warned there.

On2 Sunday, I sumhow managed 2 walk from my home rite up 2 Camden Town since I didnt have much better 2 do - & Ive never bn 2 the market either - found a few kool stalls, & I was tempted by a £15 Libertines hoody. Still, I only got sum food & drink cos I needed them & all I had the cash 4.

Which brings me on2 Monday - I got sum sad news that Im no longer gonna b tutoring Maths 2 this girl, which was a gd way I earned money 4 part of last term. Ah well, I should b fine now. After a lab session that just drew on, I then made my Alternative Music Society début. Now, 4 those who don't know, I am really in2 alternative music & its probs 1 of the things I randomly drift in2 going on about, so this society would suit me well. Its just a shame I couldn't come 2 a meeting last term, cos of having lectures when they were on. Still, @ least my timetable this term is AMS friendly - I made sum v gd new friends, many of them bing 1st yrs & staying @ the halls closest 2 where I live. Also, AMS happens 2ce a week, which is quality.

From Monday - bet my friend who made this was wishing a modern art critic was around - just a shame the closest 2 1 was the bartender clearing the table up.

Now that brings me up 2 rite now, & I am getting even more sleepy. I think I will b off 2 bed in a bit now.

7 Days (of 2005 - & the most recent 4 have bn busy 1s)

2005-01-07T18:15:00.000Z

Hi every1,

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Well, its been quite a busy week 4 me - wot with such an early return 2 uni - well, Ill tell u bout it all anyway.

Thruout the week Ive bn working on an electronics lab report and computing design document, both of which I needed 2 hand in on Friday (alrite then I had bn working @ both a bit over the xmas hols, & the computing document wasn't that bad). Thankfully I have got them both out the way.

After a quiet bank holiday weekend, I was back @ uni on Tuesday. Was a short day, & I was only due 2 have 2 lectures - xcept the 2nd 1 didn't happen cos the lecturer didn't show up (probs cos of sum admin error btween departments). My new years resolution of showing a hell of a lot more confidence 2wards every1 n my department seems 2 have started working well 2 - & so it was 2 continue 4 the rest of the week.

The next 2 days I had lab only days - & mayb its just a case that may lab partner & I take things far 2 seriously (& past xperience of over-length xperiments) that they weren't gr8 days - well, I say that but Thursday was better cos it was a 3pm start & only lasted 2 hrs. Still, most my Wednesdays & Thursdays will b more enjyable when Bowling (Wednesday) starts again & I make my Aleter8ive Music Society début (Thursday).

2day was a short day as well - had my 1st proper lecture in Analogue Electronics 4 the term - the lecturer seemed v efficient & gd & xplaining the point - so mayb there is hope with me & Analogue Electronics. During that lecture I realised 1 or 2 last minute corrections 2 make, but thankfully they weren't hard 2 do afterwards.

Well, as 4 this weekend - well, I may b meeting up with Jamie 2morrow (Ive gotta speak 2 him bout that that reminds me). Other than that, well 1 or 2 little things like part-building a computer, haven't got amazingly much planned. I am v tired 2 from the past week so may well b getting sum more sleepy soon

Finally I'd best leave with sumthing a tad personal - my thoughts r very much with those affected by the Tsunami, along with their friends & relatives. I've found out there r ppl in my department who fall in2 those groups, which really does show the scale of it all.

Xmas Hols Went Too Soon (well, more like "R Going 2 Soon")

2004-12-29T19:50:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Hope all u readers have had a nice christmas & got lots of quality pressies. If all of wot I told u in the last post isn't enuff, I got an email from the Embrace mailing list with a link to a page to download their cover of I Believe In Father Christmas (yes I know its a tad l8 lol) - as an Embrace fan I think its quality, & u can hear it 4 urself here.

Well, I haven't really told u wots bn happening in my life lately. Well, I've had a kinda full xmas hols so far when I've been well - un4tun8ly I did fall ill last week . At least now I'm much better.

At the start of the holiday, I was coDJing with my friend Jas at a house party - was the 1st time either of us have hit the decks, & unfortunately most of the CDs we had didn't work, so we had to scavenge round for music to play - still it was fun & I'll deffo b happy 2 hit the decks again.

The following evening I went 2 c Muse with my bro (ticket pic coming soon) - they r awesome live & I'd recommend any of u who r in2 Muse that if u had 2 c 1 band live next yr, Muse should b top of ur list. BTW - yes, the name of this blog does come from the name of 2 Muse songs.

From then until the start of this week, I wasn't 100% - deffo happy that's all bhind me, particularly since I had my work on Monday - that went kinda well, altho unlike the last 2 times, there was only 3 of us there (there's usually 4) so, as well as the usual stuffing & stamping envelopes, I was also stapling tickets to the letters.

Now onto yesterday, my bro had a spare ticket 2 c Fulham v Birmingham City, & I took his offer 4 it. However, Fulham played total pants - I've cn them play better football back when they were in Division 3, so no wonder they lost 3-2 (was thinking it was gonna b 4-1) - wots worse was that Scumsea beat Portsmouth - I just hope there's not gonna b a Scumford Bridge showdown - well, actually 2 b honest, I don't really care its all bcome boring these days (& all the glory follower chavs support the bigger teams anyway, particularly Scumsea after that rich Russian took them over).

Anyways, 2day I've bn working on this lab report - 4 a while I was panicing bout my results all bing wrong, but that panic turned in2 anger @ the ppl who wrote the xperimental background 4 assuming we knew the difference btween Angular Frequency & Frequency - that & the fact that its simply not possible 2 do all the xperiments well within the 4 sessions we have - every1 I know on my course or who r doing EEE has had 2 come in during free time 2 finish it all off. Still I'm now making gd progress on the report.

Oh yeah - haven't told u bout my xmas yet - well, it was a gd 1 tho quiet - didn't have any1 round this yr, & I didn't get much cos various family members r going away soon & r gonna buy stuff then. However, I did get this from my bro & I think its quality:

So what's happening 4 the rest of the yr? Well, not 2 much 4 me wot with most ppl getting ready 2 go back 2 uni - 4th January is far 2 early 2 return 4 us @ Imperial (lucky buggars @ UCL have another week off) & I feel v sorry 4 those who have exams when they return & even more sorry if it counts quite a bit 2wards their degrees. However, if any r u r reading, I wish u all the v best luck 4 them, & also if any of u r taking GCSE mocks or A level modules then I wish u lot the v best of luck with them 2.

Only other thing thats worth saying is I just got a call from Fawzi, who's an old friend I haven't spoken 2 since I left Dulwich - he's applying 2 go 2 Imperial 2 & I've offerred 2 give him an "unofficial" tour if he gets thru 2 the interview stage.

Anyways, I'd best b off - hope u enjoyed reading & if I don't speak 2 u all b4 then then have a v happy new year!

Christmas Message

2004-12-24T17:42:00.000Z

Hi every1,

Just want 2 wish all u readers a v happy & fun christmas. Would also say happy new year, but I'll probs b posting a separate msg saying just that in a few days time.

An xmas post from me wouldn't b 1 without me adding 1 or 2 other random goodies 4 ur viewing pleasure. 1stly, with Band Aid 20 being popular comes these 2 excellent flash parodies:

Chav Aid
Banned Aid

Now for an alternative christmas track - clicky http://www.johnthechippy.co.uk/ & then select News - its called Christmas Down The Pub & I think its quality.

Finally, I'm sure many of u r sick of television ringtone adverts - make a wish then play this track 100 times & the curse of ringtone adverts'll end 4 u:

Have a very Merry Christmas every1 & hope the ringtone advert curse goes away for u all in 2005!

Obscure Calendars

2004-12-21T19:18:00.000Z

Well, with christmas comes all sorts of obscure calendars for 2005 - this is one I got thru the post from my council 2day.

"Following the success and popularity (!!!) of last year's calendar we have decided to produce an even better and brighter calendar for 2005"

I thought I'd give u all a flavour & show u the February 2005 - notice how they show Thursday 10th February 2 b a board meeting day, but no mention wotsoever of valentines day!

Now that is a calendar foto that every1 should b proud of!

Hello

2004-12-20T15:00:00.000Z

Hi every1.

This is my 1st ever post 2 wot is my 1st ever blog - not much here I know, but hope u'll enjoy it 1ce there's stuff here.

Simon :-)

(Setting up this blog 4 u all)

Next year I'm going to play Mr. Cheesy Crazy Random Zygotic Looney Comedian Bloke in my deaprtment. However, Which nickname should I use for the job?
	Mr. Cheesy Crazy Random Zygotic Looney Comedian Bloke
	Simon
	RiceMaster
	Funky Chicken
	Funky Dancer
	Funky Hunky
	Funky Monkey
	Toilet Cone
	Pooper Scooper
	Evil Noodle
	Monkey Something
	24 Hour Comic Bloke
	Oh no! Not that bloke!
	ALL YOUR IDEAS WERE CRAP SIMON!!! Come up with a better name than that!

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