| Birthdays and bro times in York |
[May. 21st, 2012|04:42 pm] |
Weekend in York was a great success. Took in The Avengers on the Friday night with ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1) gracewing and was happy to see that it lived up to most of the hype. There is something about Joss Whedon's work which always leaves me ever so slightly unfulfilled, I have absolutely no idea what it is, but it runs through just about everything he's done and as such the degree of fandom he receives does have a tendency to annoy me. But this one hit as close to the mark as Firefly, which is pretty close to bang on! Even Captain America, a character who seems to have next to no relevance in a post-Communist world was brought up to speed (and indeed, the relic tag was referred to), Stark was an absolute badass pimp, Hulk was hilarious, and Thor and Loki were Thor and Loki: GODS!!
Saturday involved a pleasant stroll through the city centre with Alex, browsing around a few places, failing to take afternoon tea at Betty's (NOTE: waistcoat and cravat next time, scrubbing up = queue jump!), and sticking our heads in the big ecclesiachal thing in the middle of town without combusting. Success!
Greater success was achieved by cybertrixx and beast_the_yeti as, on our return, they had prepared best Coyote cake for Alex's birthday complete with brick! We then proceeded to get Tom over, drink cider and get more hammer action by watching Thor, and a nostalgia trip of epic proportions with Jurassic Park. Now there's a film that still looks as good today as when it was released 19 years ago. Let me repeat that for effect...NINETEEN YEARS AGO!! I feel bloody old!
A quick jaunt out to Shat Leg with T and Claire yielded fun and roaring in the faces of freshers (although I lost the Celtic cross off my chain, which is a bit annoying). Sadly I had to get myself back down to Leeds in time to have some food and a long drawn bath courtesy of the hotel facilities. Lovely stuff!
Big thanks to everyone in York, especially Alex, T, Claire, and Kerri for putting me up and tolerating a big shaggy guy around the house! It's a shame now, going back to school feels like an almighty step down. :( |
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| Signalling School Week 3: Abnormal methods of signalling! |
[May. 15th, 2012|04:41 pm] |
I've got to post this here, as I fear I will completely alienate the rest of the signaller training group if I air this in public:
I FUCKING LOVE COMPLEX, SHIFTING, MEATY PARTS OF THIS JOB WHERE YOU HAVE 20 DIFFERENT THINGS TO CONSIDER AND ABOUT 8 UNIQUE BELL CODES THAT CAN BE CALLED ON AT ANY ONE TIME AND IT ALL HANGS ON YOU KEEPING YOUR HEAD AND REGULATING THE SHIT OUT OF IT!! :D
All caps totally required.
Today was restricted acceptance, blocking back, and a pinch of single line working. Prize to anyone who made it to the end! |
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| GIGSPLOSION!! |
[May. 7th, 2012|01:36 pm] |
It has been a good weekend.
The gig was great fun, so many friendly faces showed up, the vast chunk of which had never seen us before, and everyone seemed to have a whale of a time. It was by no means a faultless performance, but I still loved every second. Particular highlight was at the end when we got The Cellar Family on stage with us to do Fight for Your Right to Party, in tribute to Adam Yauch who died on Friday. It was raucous, rough, slightly shambolic, and absolutely brilliant! My band, as ever, are like chosen family and (as I've said on here before) that is why we keep gigging when we're so thinly spread. The good news is that Jo is moving to London from Devon in August, so we may well be able to play a few more shows than currently.
After we'd packed down and got our senses back we wandered over to the O2 en masse to sample the local alternative night Propaganda. It was like walking back into the Union, poor gig space bodged together into a club venue and it reminded me why I got so pissed off as a techy there. Not that it really mattered, we got leathered and skanked around to Less Than Jake! Cheeky Vimto was on the bar and a quiet glass was duly purchased and raised to absent friends. We crawled back to The Covert, stayed up 'til 5 swapping music, drinking whisky, and chilling out before collapsing in various positions. Just like old times!
Somehow dragged ourselves down to Atomic Burger for ALL THE PANCAKES with the promoter and to retrieve gear from the venue. One easy day of rest, recovery, and Blazing Saddles with valkyriekaren and her delicious cooking and it's now time to pack and head up to Leeds again.
Thank you to everyone who came out and travelled to be a part of this weekend's fun and festivities, you really are a band of legends! :) |
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| Signalling School: Week 1 and other stuff! |
[May. 4th, 2012|08:15 pm] |
I have completed my first week of signalling school and have returned to Oxford for a bonus bank holiday weekend.
It's been a new experience even for the trainers, we're the guinea pigs for a revised form of the training course which focuses more on practical application than tehoretical understanding (suits me down to the ground). The two trainers we've had so far are complete legends: Lian and Leon (who I presume moonlight as a cyber-punk cop duo) have been all over the shop as MOMs, signallers, signal shift managers (SSMs) and everywhere in between. Consequently there isn't much they don't know and they are both blessed with a wicked sense of humour.
The hotel they've put us up in is pretty damn swish as well, nothing gourmet but certainly not your average Premier Inn place. Network Rail have even paid for us to have full access to the film library. Consequently I have lost two evenings crying into a bucket after watching War Horse. I was a bit peeved I missed it at the cinema as it looked beautifully shot from the trailer. It was that and so much more, a balanced, uncompromising, and heart wrenching story that goes right through the middle of what is already, in my eyes, the most tragic waste of life in human history and you can imagine the effect. The First World War is an absolute travesty, and to show a story of courage and enduring where the lead character is a horse (and a better actor than most of its human counterparts to boot) helps bring a fresh and irrefutably sympathetic angle to the four year twin-conveyor belt of death that was the Western Front. Watch it, I can't recommend it highly enough.
In more cheerful quarters of existence it was Beltane on Tuesday and gracewing did me the honour of making the short hop down from York to spend the evening with me. We dined out, shared some good times, and caught up properly for what seemed like the first time in ages. I'm hoping to try and encourage a few more visits from friends over the next 12 weeks (it's a pretty tight lockdown in Leeds unfortunately with homework and such), but will definitely be up in York on the weekend of the 19th-21st, hopefully cybertrixx, nocturnalhippy, and clericalkender can give me some fun jobs to do, yes? :D
Right, got to get my singer from the station, got a gig tomorrow n'all! ;) |
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| New beginnings. |
[Apr. 26th, 2012|11:51 pm] |
Deanne's funeral was today, I wish I could have gone, but with it being my first week in the new job (and the thought that there were more people with a better reason to go than there were places) I decided against going up. I've said goodbye in my own way and it will provide adequate enough closure to a sad time for myself and many of my friends.
However, I'm happy to report that the induction week at the new job has gone well so far. My new signalbox at Ascott-under-Wychwood sits nicely in the middle of the Cotswolds and is picturesque to say the least! My new colleagues have been very welcoming and seem impressed with my progress in picking up the job. Considering this week is merely meant to be familiarisation and introductions, I am also pretty chuffed that I'm already signalling trains under supervision.
On Sunday I will be heading up to Leeds to start my first week at Signalling School, here I will learn the rules, regulations, and nuances of being a full blown signaller on the modern railway (the same bell codes and block controls we've been using since the 19th century!). It's true, even on some of today's lines signal boxes communicate with each other by bell and plunger. It's basically our own morse code, which I guess makes us hipsters! Most of the boxes on our line are still operated by lever frames (cue Casper going all wide-eyed with glee when he got to operate one on Monday, he's only wanted to do that since he was 5!), but since my part of the line was upgraded last autumn, we got a more modern panel put in.
...sorry, I must be boring the shit out of you by now!
Before all that I'm going to a beer festival in Stourbridge with Dad and Ed on Friday and Saturday. BEER!! :D |
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| Absolute Block signalling, it's like... |
[Apr. 24th, 2012|05:32 pm] |
Basic principle of signalling explained using two people (A & B) either side of a huge garden fence and a tennis ball.
A: Oi!
B: What?
A: Are you ready for the ball?
B: Yes.
A: I'm now throwing the ball.
B: Ok.
(Moments later)
B: Oi!
A: What?
B: I've caught the ball!
A: Thanks for letting me know.
Network Rail everyone, two persons throwing trains at each other with no line of sight! |
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| Old friends, new music, early mornings. |
[Apr. 21st, 2012|03:07 pm] |
Given that it was my second to last night shift and it was a clear morning, I decided to do something I've been meaning to do ever since I got the job at Kintbury. On my way I went up onto The Ridgeway, an open bit of hill which splits Oxfordshire and Berkshire, and watched the sunrise. It was a brief moment (and a bit chilly), but still very pleasant. Also there is likely to be little chance to do that kind of thing again in the near future.
Had an afternoon visit from my old uni housemate and Bandsoc cohort Charles, and his awesome girlfriend and fellow bandmate Jenny. It was good to catch up and go over some old memories as well as get the reports on what the rest of the reprobates who graced the delapidated halls of Prog Mansion are up to. Took them up The Perch where we had a hearty fish and chips and swapped a few bits of music as well. Chief among those I've received is this beautifully orchestrated bit of awesome:
May well be investing in the full album, as Peter Gabriel is clearly a man who uses an orchestra for its intended purpose, rather than just bedding music.
In slightly shitter news, I've trapped a nerve at the back of my shoulder and it's periodically causing extreme shocks of discomfort. Any tips or advice? |
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| Hot Magenta gig outside of West Midlands shocker! |
[Apr. 19th, 2012|02:00 pm] |
It is with great pleasure that I can announce that my merry band of hairy rock brutes, Hot Magenta, will be playing in Oxford on Saturday 5th May at the charming ale house known as The Port Mahon on St Clements St.
Entry to festivities should be in the region of £3 and supporting entertainment shall be supplied by local punks and Truck Festival veterans The Cellar Family.
Do please come and rock the fuck out, there's good chaps? |
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| In memorum |
[Apr. 15th, 2012|01:04 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | friends, larp, maelstrom | ] |
| [ | Right now I'm invading |
| | The Covert | ] |
| [ | Careful! I'm |
| |  numb | ] |
| [ | Currently making my ears bleed |
| | The Cult - She Sells Sanctuary | ] |
Yesterday the LARP community lost a really bright flame. I hadn't got to know them anywhere near as much as I'd liked, but all that I had known was awesome, and it was growing by the day. Many people who read here will feel this harder than I, and it is they I can't help but think of as we come to terms with the light we've lost in the world. I'm no stranger to death taking before it's due, but it can't half pick 'em!
Take care Deanne you awesome woman, my lasting memory will be you drinking me under the table last Friday like a boss!
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| Maelstrom 1 |
[Apr. 12th, 2012|03:44 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | larp, maelstrom | ] |
| [ | Right now I'm invading |
| | The Covert | ] |
| [ | Careful! I'm |
| |  cheerful | ] |
| [ | Currently making my ears bleed |
| | The Levellers - This Garden | ] |
Well it was cold at night, a bit damp at times, and very challenging with it. Bt first Maelstrom of the year was a riotous affair!
Highlights include:
-Being the first undead group to camp openly since Easter 2009.
-Trying out some interesting role-play effects for the first time. I thought death had made Sweet Talk more patient!
-Doing a lot of "respectable" peoples' dirty work.
-...not particularly well.
-Bitter Moon tea house, and their reaction after twigging who we were only halfway through.
-Our Dread Lord Veritas.
-Our Dread Lord Wimple.
-Vild, brought Sweet Talk closer to cashing in his soul in three scentences than 1,000 faithful lectures/jobbings ever did.
-Inquisitor Kasparova: "The Freeloaders must be the last to die, I feel they will be instrumental in saving the world." We have soooo much more to discuss! ;)
-Hive Eztli for being such brilliant antagonists on Sunday.
-Regicide!! Possibly the cleanest, well executed hit I've been a part of at Maelstrom.
-...until the poison incident!
-Test firing siege engines with Backchat. Science: Freeloader style!
-PR campaigning throughout Sunday as we constantly ran walked the gauntlet to escape camp.
-"You do realise that every time you do this it hurts?"
-6 man musket volley + Shade = Total overkill!
-Being escorted off the field by Cullen and not realising how poigniant those words would become.
-Running amok Sunday night.
-The New Worlds first (and most over-manned) bank job!
-Duelling with siege engines.
-Necromantic rituals in the pub! |
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| Stress Relief |
[Apr. 3rd, 2012|01:19 pm] |
Well, I've managed to find cover for the Saturday of Maelstrom, which has improved my mood dramatically. I could have got the Friday covered as well, but I can't afford to turn down the best part of £500 before tax for working a Bank Holiday. I've still had to lean opn my folks with car insurance coming up, along with some planned dental, and a piece of Skian Mhor work I'd forgotten about (face/palm). As such, I'll be present on Thursday night, but not drinking (which will be a bizzare experience for all concerned!). Gonna be heading up tonight or early tomorrow to help with set-up; getting out of the house is to be encouraged, especially for outdoor pursuits! But Thursday morning and Friday day will be spent running trains, hopefully I will just make time-in.
Went down to London on Saturday for a leaving do, my best mate from school and her equally awesome fiancé are leaving the pub he runs in Putney, so we went and got royally blitzed. Obscene amounts of beer, maximum laughs, and minimal damage afterwards. Great success! They'll be off to Thailand soon and then relocating to York, which is one more good reason to get up there more often, especially as John will most likely be running a pub again!
Work have changed my start date again, I will now be switching over on the 23rd April, with no break in between, as much as I would have liked a bit of a rest, at least now I know what is happening for sure. Signalling school should start in May, which means week days in Leeds and then coming home (wherever I chose to go, Lancashire may be a smart option) on weekends. Anyone know of anything fun to do in that god-awful city?
Right-o, time for more packing I think! |
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| FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU- |
[Mar. 30th, 2012|05:46 pm] |
Bastarding bastards have bloody extended my bastarding contract by a month without bloody telling me!! >:(
Excuse me while I frantically try and find cover for Maelstrom!
Grrrrrrrrrr!!
Posted via LjBeetle |
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| Hotel Covert |
[Mar. 29th, 2012|04:01 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | friends, money, oxford | ] |
| [ | Right now I'm invading |
| | The Covert | ] |
| [ | Careful! I'm |
| |  organised | ] |
| [ | Currently making my ears bleed |
| | PinkiePieSwear - Sunshine and Celery Stalks | ] |
Only two days left in the box now, it feels pretty damn weird.
Thus now begins a period of tricky balancing. As I've said before, I'll be getting paid to sit at home (along with any extra shifts I'm asked and able to work), but the basic rate of what I'm getting will only be enough to cover rent, bills and general living costs with little else to spare (namely for fuel).
Given that I have all this free time, but only limited funds, I'm gonna throw The Covert open to any people who have the time and means to come and visit and event stay a few days if they fancy. This is good for multiple reasons:
1. I get to see you lovely people who make my life so awesome.
2. It means I'm not fretting about how much cash I've blown on travelling to/feeding myself in far flung locations (much as I would like to get around a bit more).
3. By cooking for guests I ensure that I eat properly!
4. There's a higher probability of spending time outside in the glorious sunshine (if it holds).
So yes, make me an offer! Intrusion on the 10th of April should be a good one to go for! There is a double inflatable mattress and bedding available for all (or a bed if you'd prefer, I don't mind the mattress)! |
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| I am NOT Commander Shepherd! |
[Mar. 23rd, 2012|10:33 am] |
I'm sorry everyone, my life has been condensed down to 3 things this last week.
- Work (of which there has been plenty).
- Sleep (of which I've been getting a decent amount of for once).
- Mass Effect 3.
I'm not proud of it and widowing you all is quite poor of me. But I should finish the campaign today...hopefully...with any luck.
But on the brighter side of things, because I now don't officially start my new job until 28th May I can make it all up to you with the yawning maw of free-time I'll have in between (although some of it will be spent covering shifts at my old place, because extra money is always good). |
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| Reasons to be thankful! |
[Mar. 15th, 2012|09:39 am] |
Yesterday, after about 3 hours sleep, I embarked on a charity 12 hour shift. In the strictest regards to health and safety and future employment, I really shouldn't have volunteered; quick fire burst of sleep through the day just aren't a smart option. True I can't really crash trains, but I can hold them up, and when they come in clusters it's easy for the higher ups to spot when there's a problem. Fortunately I managed to pull things off without much incident.
On my way back to a bed that was calling to me like a ships foghorn I got a call to drop by Hellfire on my way home. When I arrived I found that dbsurfeit and mejoff had got me Mass Effect 3 because they felt like it. I nearly cried.
Not just because I have the best friends in the world, but also because now I don't know how I'll get ANY sleep!
Also, I've had reports that my gmail has been hacked, I'm changing my password now just to be sure. Apologies if you get anything with a link in it, rest assured it's not from me. |
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| *Head->desk* |
[Mar. 13th, 2012|02:21 pm] |
Why, when I am judging Battle of the Bands up at Warwick tonight, have I answered a desperate call from the boss to do a 12 hour day shift tomorrow starting at 5:30am?
I AM ALREADY DEAD ON MY BLOODY FEET!! X( |
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| Family is awesome! |
[Mar. 5th, 2012|10:34 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | family, ill, life | ] |
| [ | Right now I'm invading |
| | The Covert | ] |
| [ | Careful! I'm |
| | chipper | ] |
| [ | Currently making my ears bleed |
| | Amon Amarth - The Pursuit of Vikings | ] |
It's been a bit of a hectic week just gone. Was battling mild lurgy for most of it and, since I didn't take the time to rest properly, it got a bit of a grip on things. Fortunately I had my folks down with weekend which meant I was pretty much made to sit down, do nothing, and chill out for two days, something I seem incapable of doing on my own. Oh I'll sit down, I will just game until the early hours like an idiot. If there's one thing to be said for gaming (and there are many others), it engages your brain big time!
This was interspersed with good food, good beer, and a bit of time spent out in the pub with friends on Saturday as well (despite my near inability to talk by that point; bad lurgy!). I now have a fully stocked fridge, beer and wine out of my ears, and nothing to do until Wednesday except clean the car and deliver it for its MOT tomorrow morning.
Cottage pie with penguin_worship tonight I think! :) |
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| Some thoughts on last night's gig... |
[Feb. 26th, 2012|01:51 pm] |
1. ROCK AND FUCKING ROLL!!
2. The word cisheteropatriarchy can be included in a performance set.
4. Fucking air raid siren in the new song before crushing the audience with riff!
3. "I DON'T MISS MY BALLS!!"
4. £430 raised for GYGL is a cast-iron win!
5. Clearly I need to enter more raffles.
6. "But what is your revolutionary agenda?"
7. Sort out a Hot Magenta gig in Oxford pronto.
8. Get Not Right to support.
I need to feel like this more often! |
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| Carnevale! |
[Feb. 23rd, 2012|11:38 am] |
So I got back from Venice yesterday, it's fair to say that it was pretty badass! Full album is up on Facebook and G+, but here's a little taster:
penguin_worship and myself as Lions of St. Mark (Mr Stoic and Little Miss Chievous).
Venice is an amazing city, completely time-capsuled in the 16/17th century and some of the most beautiful architecture I've seen anywhere. It's not cheap, smell a bit as you can imagine, and you can do it in a weekend rather than a week. But to get a team together, rent an apartment (wouldn't dream of going to a hotel after doing it this way), and wander round the city dressed in huge and/or silly costumes, it is absolutely perfect! Never knew constant posing was such hard work though! /vanity (okay, okay, the vanity never /'s)
Still I'm going to need 40 hours to catch up on all the sleep! |
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tired
grateful
energetic
exanimate
determined
irate
loved
fragile