A few things...

Firstly, this.



I was so happy to hear that the original voice actor for Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) from the original cartoon is being used for Optimus prime in the movie.

Brilliant. Childhood revisited.

Secondly, my week ahead horoscope from Jonathan Cainer.

Your Week Ahead 'You shall go to the ball!' So, traditionally, says the fairy godmother in pantomime performances at this time of year. Ah, but, what if you detest dancing? What if there is nothing you like less than the pomp and pretentiousness of a regal reception? What if you would prefer to stay at home cleaning the hearth? Then, the sight of a pumpkin in mid-transformation might inspire more resentment than excitement. It currently seems your fairy godmother has one idea about what would be good for you and you have another. But, if she is a TRUE protector, how can she be wrong? Trust the offer that's being made to you this New Year.

Well isn't that true. I mentioned that the other day didn't I?

Lots of things I want to do and then the other thing I have to do, that being work, the prior being everything else. Some of the stuff that fate handed me isn't all nice looking to my eye, but trust I shall.

I always feel that life lends a hand when needed. That anyone who really needs a particular thing, they'll get it. It isn't always what you imagine you need. But, things have a way of working out. Why they do so for the things they do so, I don't know. But I believe everything has a reason.

Thirdly, Cheers Andrew. That was a lovely comment. Maybe one day I will pop down to see yourself. I do want to travel the Americas one day and if I do, I'll stop by and visit. Hoprfully to try out some fantastic southern cooking too. Oh, and I already had a butchers at the top astronomy pictures. I loved the one of Earth taken from a billion miles away by Casini. Amazing...

Anyway, to finish off with this evening before bed. I've got myself into a slight worry this evo, but hopefully, what I fear might be a massive scary mountain, turns out to be a tiny no worry molehill with cute mole in it. I'm sure it will. But I do worry...

So, hopefully, waking tomorrow, all will be well in the world. I'd be really thankfull for that.

Zai jian.

My horoscope, from Jonathan Cainer.

"Your Weekend: Here you are, back on form. No more devastating self-doubt. No more time-wasting soul searching. You are not so sure that you feel this confident? Then give the weekend a little longer in which to work its magic. Your financial picture is starting to improve. Your love life has the potential to be more fulfilling than it has been for quite some time. And you are starting to have some very clever ideas. Don't ignore these. Trust your insights, ideas and visions. They will change your life in 2007."

Once again, as always is, spot on.

My financial picture is improving, yes. Love life more fulfilling, I hope so. Clever ideas, me? Erm...

When I get them, I'll pay good attention to them.

I do actually have good feelings for 2007. It's got a lot of appeal to it. I'm hopefull I'll be right come around. But life is as ever, not wanting to be understood or grasped and I'm sure will make the most of surprises befall next year.

What I'm also looking forward to is all the new technology that wil be developed and scientific discoveries made. I can't wait. Food for my brain and I do love to feed it.

Anywho, I'm tired and I'm going to relax in front of the t.v. and watch some dvds.

Ciao.

Juggling stuff.

There are many plans I have and many things I want to do. But for the love of trying to work them into a regular job, with regular working working hours is going to be very hard if not impossible for me.

Something I haven't fancied considering. I've got my heart set on so much, that right now, I cannot see if I will be able to fulfill half of my dreams if any at the moment.

While I have this job, I very much doubt time or energy for anything else. This year coming may be a case of work work work, save save save and then after a year do something.

I really and sincerely don't want to be boxed in to this life. This necessary evil I must do.

Those of you who have read me from years past know I hate work. Really don't like it.

I'd be better off being rich, but that's never going to happen. I an hear a lot of people saying the same thing though.
If I were, I'd travel, study, visit with friends far and wide, give help to people when they need it. I'd probably even offer free English lessons to people that need it.

Anyway, that's dream, I have reality. I'm fortunate to have a job, very fortunate. I don't believe that these things happen without reason. I like to feel that in some small way, there's a purpose and direction to things.

I hope it's true of now. Being back in full time work is really taking some getting used to on my part.

Anyway, it's probably karma, so I'll honer that and do my best in what I've been given and hopefully, with a little time, things will change and I'll be able to follow some of these dreams.

Work.

It's still, somewhere deep in my psychy, stressing me out. A couple of factors changed would make it incredibly bearable.

The hours from 1 to 9 to 9 to 5. So much better.

The travelling distance from an hour+ on the tube both ways, to a 20 minute walk would be so much better. However, I've been offered work way down there and will most likely have to work there for a while before the chance for transfer comes along. I'd love to work nearer home.

I'd also save myself a lot of money on public transport everyday. It's 12 pounds for three days travel and 18 for a five day week. That's quite a hefty take from the old earnings.

I could be at work now and be finished at 6. Although, I suppose I would get more flexibility when I'm on the regular payroll as opposed to short term work.

Well, I'm still adapting to my new working life and it's a big one for me. At least I get to watch the money situation improve over time. Hopefully I can put the vast majority away for next year and to new possibilities.

It's the toll I've got to pay for the future. I'm certain it will be worth it when I get there. To whatever life has in store for me...

Before I go to bed...

An intersting link for orrery lovers.

http://www.fourmilab.ch/cgi-bin/Solar

Boxing day.

I don't want to box, I can't quite remember why it's called boxing day either...

Golly, I want a holiday. Either that, or I'm too used to my easy lifestyle. I need to be rich. I'll have to start playing the lottery again.

God, I'd love to be rich. I need an easier lifestyle. Or, should I say a lifestyle more accommodating to the wants of my personal freedoms.

Yeah, it isn't going to be happening any time soon though. I'll have to work at this one for a while I think.

Work hard for an easy life, work easy for a hard life. I wish it were the other way round.

I've got to visit my friend, I'm not feeling like going to be honest. I want to lounge in the house and relax, I'm not in the mood to listen to her talk on and on today.

Anyway, let me finish up with a horoscope from my favourite astrologer.

"I existed from all eternity and, behold, I am here; and I shall exist till the end of time, for my being has no end." The poet who wrote these words was no great saint, yet he was telling the truth about himself. You can read the same sentence out loud and trust that it is every bit as appropriate coming from your mouth. Your physical being is not what's under discussion here. It is the spark of life within you that is endless. That's your true identity. Trust as much and make wise choices today.

Hmm, there's always something else a little deeper going on regardless of what lies on the top.

Is it Christmas?

I've been at work so often I don't feel certain that it is. Not to complain though, two days off to put my feet up. It'll be nice.

I'm still coming to terms with this though, as I'm finding out. I'm quite stressed. Not work stress in the normal sense, but stressed having gone from one extreme to the other. Without a slow dip in, it's been playing havock with my state of mind.

I woke up again last night with my mind racing. All that was going through my mind was all the produce that we sorted through from the night before.
We were organising one hundred customers orders. We must have spent four hours on it.

Looking up one number and the product name. Then the next and then the next, all without a break. So I woke up at about 3am, probably a couple of hours after I'd fallen asleep. My mind would not turn off. I've never had anything quite like that happen to me. I tried thinking of something else, but the torrent of mental activity wouldn't let up. I managed to fall asleep about half an hour later.

But I'm stil very stressed out. It's going to be a little while before I'm back on an even keel. Going from hot to cold has been dificult for me.

I have a couple of days to do flip all and I intend to. Looking forward to some time off.

I just want to sleep and hide myself away.

But it'll be nice tomorrow, I've just got to give myself a little time. All will be well.

The district line.

A horrible nasty thing between me and work. A nasty bogee coloured thing it is.

Twice yesterday it caused me great upset. Yesterday morning on my happy chirpy way into work the district line suddenly had a change of heart, the train wasn't going to go to Wimbledon, the end of the line. No, it was going to terminate the stop before the one I usually get off. So I had to run. Run like the wind, with freezing fog. Grumble.

Next, NEXT, on the way home. The district line suddenly decides to have complete signal failure at one of the stops between me and earls court. So it took, just over one whole hour to travel what should have been 12 to 15 minutes normally. I left work at 10pm and got home at 12 midnight.

I hate. I repeat, HATE the stinking district line. I hope it goes to hell, right after I finish needing it of course.

Please whatever god runs the underground, please please please, can you make it so I get to work on time pretty much everytime from now on and home again safe and sound.

Well, according to the tfl website all is well down that way at the moment. Please remain so.

A nostalgic day.

More of the same...



I loved the toys of this next one.

For Mash, get Smash.

I nearly forgot all about this.



and this one too...

2 weeks.

I think it's true for many things, that in order to get used to a new life, or a new change in life, will take two weeks.

I'm very used to work now, I don't even think about the time, or how dull the work itself is.
Thankfully, all the people I work with are the decent sort. I get to enjoy myself during the moments I can.

Whilst I'm doing well my mind wanders onto the old subject of what hours and times would I like to do if they offered me continuing work beyond the contract I currently hold (Which I hope they do). I wonder about going into work for myself, but I know, deep down, that sometime, somewhere I'm going to have to have something more stable and supportive under wing. My current hippy-ish lifestyle wont cut it forever. I need to be more productive and as teaching English is my strength at the moment, it'll have to be that.
Obviously, you do these things step by step, bit by bit. I have one person I know who would like lessons, an old friend of mine. Thank heavens I live in London. I have a wealth of possible students all over the place. I needn't look too hard.

I kind of think the life I've lived lends itself nicely to a life I might live. I have nice dreams about that. I couldn't say how long it'll take, if I'll even be able to get anything off the ground. But I'll find that all out as and when I start this.

I'm looking forward to being my own boss one day. No one to answer to but me.

wonderful.

I've got a day off tomorrow as well. Excellent. I wont be laying in though, I'm going to go shopping with my mum and sister-in-law. Mmm, day off... loungey.

I've also got to buy prezzies and stuff on very little cash. I could dump it on credit card, but I don't like doing that. I'm on financially thin turf. So best to keep it safe and be able to do something nice later on, rather than limp around on half empty all the time.

I think time for bed. Me sleepy...

A good day.

I had a good day. Everything more or less fell into place today. So I'm happy.

I spend most of my time thinking about this life I live. The if's and but's, the could have been's and the might be's. I like to think that things have a tendency to work out, that little plans here or there just happen, because they're meant to. This is probably incredibly fanciful thinking. In fact, most likely it is just that.

I have little plans here or there which bring about interesting turns of events. But not much else.

What is the measure of a grand life? A decent one, a warm true heart felt one. Or something like that, my words fail this expression.

That life you think you should be living, that ideal almost.

I don't feel I'm doing that right now. I'm living a life of necessity, I'm only doing what I have to at the moment for the moment. I really only hope that that leads more to what I want to be doing and open a few more doors for me.

There are some things I'm missing from my life that I would really appreciate having now or soon. Getting them however, is an uncertainty. Such is many things, but I suppose we work to overcome them.

Although, from the position that I currently stand, I like the view that stretches out in front of me. I've learned from the last two years or so, that more is possible now should I want. Especially in terms of travel and stuff.

We'll see. I'm tired now, it's quarter past twelve and I want to lay in bed and watch some DVDs.

Night night.

I was tired.

I woke at 10am this morning. I had a few dreams, just the usual travel / unusal animal combo.

My other little learning of today, in my first 34 minutes of it, is that I really really really must try as hard as I can to work for myself teaching English.

I cannot, CANNOT, bear working this way for a long time. It's killing me slowly softly. Take me back to the nice 2 to 4 hour days, with work spaced nicely during the week. Teaching is so much better.

This is re-newing that initial wish to go it for myself.

Anything wil be better than my current work. Blurgh!

So, I need to start teaching again.

My own set of books, all levels, beginner to advance. My own materials, tonnes of stuff. Simply loads of things, for all levels. Lessons plans. realia, all that stuff, even a few klines and exponents.

London isn't supporting my wish in one way, i.e looking for work, but it may support my wish to go it for myself.

London town, it's my home, I want to know it better, I still wnat to be able to do all that stuff, go places, do things, see London. I feel sure I could mix teaching and going out and doing stuff in London into one thing. Which is something no school here does, well, no, they do. But I want to do it another more in depth way.

Anyway, I need a few material things before I can even do any of this.

A computer = Check.
A printer of my own = erm, not a check, got to buy one.
Books = yep, need to buy them.
Materials = erm, need those too.

Money to buy them with = In process through very dull horrible work that takes away all my day.

So, as you can see, my thrive is alive once more. I want to work independently from others, for myself, by myself.

Because, that's going to give me so much freedom and happiness if I can pull it all off.

I think I should make all this my new years resolution. It's nearly Christmas, which means one thing for me.

TWO DAYS OFF WORK! YAY!

Tired, really tired.

I couldn't switch off last night, I lay there on the floor very hot, even with my window open and I couldn't sleep. I reckon it's stress related. My sudden change in circumstances are probably taking a small toll on my mind. It happened a few weeks ago. I got to the point where I put Classic FM on, which happened to play some of the most relaxing music I have heard in a while and before I knew it, I was sound asleep.

But only for 4 hours. I had to wake at 7 to be at the tube station for 7:45am. Not that early, but that was too little sleep.

I also realised today, not long ago, that the job I was doing had an unattached goal to it. No, not good wording. That's not what I mean.

The goal for the shop isn't related to anything I want to achieve. I just want the money. So I only do what is needed to get it, the rest doesn't matter.

Things shouldn't be that way. I don't like it.

But I'm really tired, achy, sore and I want to go to bed. Work again tomorrow and Tuesday, I have one one day off this week. One day to shop and do all the things I can't possibly do now.

Right. Night night.

I love life, especialy life on Earth.

Tongue fish.

They live in some of the most hostile environments, it's like they could be from another planet.

Have a look, it's on the BBC's news website.

Fascinating.

Mmm...

Virgin Galactic.



One day, you and I, may well be going to space. Give it another 15 years. We'll all be doing this. Technology will improve and cost will come down.


I'd also like to give this a go.

Sun rise, sun set.

In fact, my worries about work, were unfounded. If anything, I think the fact I get on well with all the other people at the shop does me credit. My recent fopah with the manager seems to have vanished completely.

Phew!

So that little stress is dealt with.

So I can free myself up to worry about other things again. I'm a worrier at heart, I do best when I'm kept busy or have company to engage in. If not, my mind goes off on one.
Although, recently, the last few days, I've noted in myself yearnings for far away places again. But I'd rather not go it alone. I also don't know if that'll be happening any time soon. Maybe within a year. I have to wait and see.

It depends on work really and what I decide to do during the time that I make money.

If they offer me full time employment after my temporary contract finishes I may well decide to take it. I need the money. Hopefully, within a year, I'll have saved quite a bit of cash. Maybe a few things in life will have altered by then too. Enabling me to do other things.

You know what I really want right now. To go out and live on an island. Or a load of islands. Out where the weather is beautiful. An island lifestyle. Yeah, sitting on the beach and watching the stars. That's something I really want to do now.

I'm thinking of a short break to Italy in Febuary next year all things allowing. I want to go and stay in a b&b and relax by the lakeside drinking espressos, eating great Italian food and buying Italian made clothing. I always said whilst living there, that if ever I need clothes, I'll buy them in Italy. So it will be with a large empty suitcase I go there. I will stay a week to ten days and really relax and enjoy. I'd also like to go and see a friend of mine there.

So, as you can gather, I'm in the mood for more than current things allow. I need to experience so much more than I am at the moment. I'm a bit starved of my freedoms.

God, how I miss being rich. It's a good life, it beats being poor. You can do a heck of a lot of things.

To work, or not to work?

I am feeling much better. A good 50% better, I could work now, my sinus is a little blocked, but not that bad, I still feel that fluy feeling, although I could manage. But, I really want to stay at home, I would have tomorrow off at any rate so I'd be back to work on Thursday.

However, if I do, a couple of things may happen,

It could be considered a breach of contract. I might pay through the nose for that.

Nothing might happen.

If I work today they might ask me to come in on Wednesday and that will mean a 7 day week for me.

In any case, it's only 11 working days untill Christmas. Just 11. I'd have Christmas day and boxing day off. If I don't go back to work right now I'll have 9 days off.

I've still got to face that meeting about the work joke from the other day and explain slash protect myself from someone elses chip on the shoulder. As my large Irish mate said, if you'd have been there a year, nothing would have happened. It's because you're the new guy. Then a wrote a few obsenitys. All that made me feel much better.

Working as an English teacher has ruined me, or perhaps, I'm just unhappy about doing work I don't like doing. Which is a perfectly reasonable thing.

I've got an hour and a half to decide. Not long.

Life. I dunno...

Blurgh!

I'm under the weather at the moment, and something I did not realise is that you are legally entitled to have 6 days off work due to sickness without a doctors note. If your work does want a note it would cost them £50 to obtain one from the doctors.

This was the short lecture I was given this morning at the doctors for waisting his time if there were genuinely really sick people who needed treatment.

Yeah...

I cannot please anyone these days. I'm putting my feet are going in all the wrong places.

The joys of being me.

Anyway, aside from that, I'm pleased to be off work I'm also pleased to have a sck note. as my manager asked this morning "Are you really sick?" "Yes" I said, "I'm getting a sick note for you."

I think he asked this because of my recent put my foot right in it joke with the "You working?" comment I made the other day. They might think I don't want to face the music. However, I am genuinely feeling blurgh. I haven't felt this blurgh since my last few weeks in China.

So, I'm off to rest, take it easy and get better. I'll feel more up for the coming wave of doom when I'm a hundred percent again.

Nuts, dag nam it.

Oh well, it's one of those things. You cannot control every outcome of every little thing in this world.

I made what was one of my good humoured, no harm done, jokes.

There were 3 guys stood by some boxes talking. Obviously they were working, but I thought I'd just make a joke and say in passing "are you guys working?" in an obvious non serious voice. But about 30 seconds later when I was in the fridge getting merchandise. One of the three came in and approached me.

In a very serious tone "Did you just ask us if we were working?" I looked in his eyes, he was not a happy chappy.

Flip!

I'd upset one of the managers. It was only my way of making a joke, but the wee chap didn't take it that way.

So, I imagine, at some point tomorrow morning. I'm going to get a call into an office and will have some words with a manager.

Just when I'd thought I'd gotten over the hard part of re-adjusting to crappy 8 hour staking shelves and working a till work. The unknown has sprung and given me another large bump to contend with.

There was no way I could have avoided that either. I was just being me but me and it was taken the wrong way.

Oh well. I'll just have to wait and see where this goes.

Che sucede sucede.

Blimey.

What a long day. I wish I could switch my body clock round to the 1 to 9pm work pattern. Because by the time I et home, I feel like I've used up all my day.

I also feel really tired. Especially after 90 dozen customers and a 180 dozen questions and five till mistakes. In fact a few more, but those are things I just don't do right.

Although, I love the people there. All good shows, nice bunch, friendly and fun. I just wish they hadn't sat me in the evening though. I really really wish they hadn't done that. It makes me a little bit crazy in my heady.

Now I can't finish till 9:15pm as well, which gets me home a little later. Apparently someone had made an error in the something or other, and it wasn't done as meant to be done.

Why am I putting myself through this again? Oh yeah, I have plans.
which require money, which I should have a lot of in a couple of months, provided I keep money spending down. Then I can shake off the shackles of my "evil do bad guys". (I had a nice grown up word but my brain just went fizzle pop bang)

My typing's very lax today. Probably because I've been working hard and am weary now. I wish I'd finish at 2pm like that guy I spoke to today at the till. I'd only been at work an hour and he was already going home. Lucky lucky lucky...

Anyway, I'm working tomorrow and Saturday and by the jammy gods, got out of work on Sunday. To much much frowning and tutting from the higher up staff.

"If you'd have missed one more Sunday, that would be it" As she put it, looking at me with her beady eyes.

Anyway, I'm out for that day, a little breather before a six day week, for as long as the job lasts I imagine. But maybe not so much after x-mas. I really should as more questions. I'm a just go with what happens kind of guy.

Anyway. I'm going to enjoy the last snippet of my evening and play some computer games.

ciao.

Blimey.

8 hours, 1 half hour break. Sat on the till all day long.

The first 5 hours goes by pretty quick surprisingly. Then it drags. It's dificult to keep your mind on stand by like that for any customer that comes up. Really hard. I'm not used to it. although, by next year, it'll be old hat I'm sure.

I did get my hours changed as well, although I'm going to opt out of this Sunday as I've made a prior commitment to a friend of mine and I'm not not going to do it.

I'll also need that day off. I've gotta get my sea legs working. For which a day off will help me out.

I was cream crackered this morning. I was sat on the sofa till about 3 this afternoon. I let my brain go. I remembered very quickly that while you're on the job, you're on the job. When a customer is there, you're on, ready or not.

This will take me a little while to adjust to again.

Although I like the people there. Decent folk. I get to have a little bit of a laugh with 'em.

It's late and I've got to be good for work in the morning, or rather, afternoon (hellish hours). I needed this day off to recuperate or I'd have probably burnt myself out. I've got to get used to this type of work again. Forgot how easy I'd had it.

Night.

Oh my gosh!

By crikey.

Yesterday, was something else. I was sat down, on my bum, from 1pm to 9pm with only one 30 minute break. Enough time to woof down some food and have a quick dash in the loo.

The first 4 to 5 hours fly by. They really do. After that, they drag. Especially the last hour or so.
I was using a load of muscles I never use to turn myself on that swivel chair between packing and taking money from customers. My back was a little painful when I got off, but with time I should recover and learn the swivel do's and dont's.

Thank heavens I am off on Wednesday. I'll get to have a nice long walk. I hate sitting all day long. Horrible. I need exercise, a good walk suffices.

At least I'll only be doing this for about 15 days. I'm hopeful that in January other things will take priority and I'll be off the till.

I remember now why I'm not fond of this type of work. I'll get my head round it this week and by next it'll be perfectly normal. And on a bright note, money will be coming my way soon enough.

I cannot consider in all my days working like this for the rest of my life. I cannot bear it. It is one of the worst things in all the world. It is not a life I will live for any length of time. No way, no how.

It's given me great resolve to make something more with my life. Follow those passions.

How any human being can do this I do not know. I can adapt to it for a short time, but I start getting edgy if it continues. It's also eating into my impro performing which I've had to give up for now.

I hate work.

Cosmos, if you're listening, I need to be rich, very rich or at least enough to put an end to this horrible full time work.

Anyway pay day will be coming soon. I'll have money again. Wohoo!

Getting my head back in the vice.

Apparently if you paint a bad picture of a thing it makes it seem worse, if you try and paint a good one, it seems better.

I've never liked 'work', that is the 'work' that you don't really want to be doing. I have my work, the work I love to do, the things that make me tick. However, pretty much all of those don't make me any money at all.

Yeah, as it is for all of us.

Hey ho.

But it will be really nice to have money again. Even if I will be doing rubbish hours this Christmas. 1pm to 9pm, I wont be home till 10pm then I'll be having my dinner. I've not had to do that in the last 3 years.

I had it real easy.

'Work', tomorrow. I'm back in that game once more. The stuff I'd really rather not be doing. Although, it is giving me the key to a life I'd like to live over here. Which is the silver lining to this rain cloud.

But I've got to see where that goes. I'm assuming, if it's anything like the vision in my head, then it's going to be fantastic next year. Which is what I want.

I'm working for my future. I'm not going through some headless mumble. It's all leading somewhere wonderful.

Anyway, back to my bedroom and watching something on the laptop. Something nice, maybe K-PAX...

Finished at last.

That is the training, now I'll be stuck on the floor a proper and I am a litle bit nervous about it. But i've been living this life long enough to know all of that does pass. All things will get easier.

Anyway, with that part now over and my future here secure, I've got to think about what to follow all this up by.
My mind is still focused on my two long term goals. With my performing with mates idea, it should come to fruition, I shouldn't have to push that so hard. We all want it to happen.
The other goal of teaching again might be a little more dificult to pull off. I need students I'd also need regualr students, people who would be happy to commit to being taught by me. I'd need to do some flippin good lessons to keep them hanging on. I imagine it would be all too easy for people to flake off and for me to run out of money as a consequence. Although that's all imagination at this point in time. When I start getting people together then I'll know for sure.

Anyway, I had a long day today. I'm not used to it, I've not been on the job like that for 3 years. I'll have to put my game face back on, that's if I can remember where I left it in the first place.

But I don't want to talk about that, I want to relax, unwind and let the weekend soothe me. I like being soothed.

2 days off, then I have 2 days on a day off, then 3 days on. This will be my life for the next 3 weeks. Poop.

I hate regular work, I need to be rich. All the things I could do if I were rich...

Bed time.

I'm going to roll out my bed in a minute and lay down, watch an episode of south park and drift away toward slumber land. Then I awake to a new tomorow and a job training. Which I'm looking oh so forward to.

Erm, not really. But I suppose it's like looking at the water, it looks less inviting than it actually is. Once you're in, it's great.

Hopefully the same with my bout of work training tomorrow. I've also got my impro performing session to attend tomorrow as well. Which I do enjoy.

I can't believe I'm moving back to a 38 hour week again. Damn, I've gotten too used to the sweet English teacher lifestyle, of whole days lounging and doing pretty much what I want, with only a few minor distractions throughout the day. Namely teaching.

Anyway, I need to sleep, I've got to rise early tomorrow, the tube has been really bad recently. I cannot afford to be late for my first day.

Right, check list, suit, travel plans...

Late sleepy.

I got to bed at about 4:30am yesterday. I slept through till ten, or tried to. Having builders rebuilding the sheds outside your window the floor below you isn't easy.

BANG! WHACK! ZZZWWWEEEERRRRR! (A saw type device) CLANK!

Why did I get to sleep at 4:30am, I was at a friends house. My friend talks a lot and it doesn't stop. One subject quickly and relevantly links in with the proceeding one. Listening to my friend speak is the equivalent of riding a 9 hour long funfair ride "OH MY GAWD! When's it ever gonna stop!!!". However, the walk home at that time of the morning is lovely.

Foxes, stars, peace and quiet, empty streets, the one worded conversation with stranger.

Man walking toward me. "Alright..."

Me walking past. "Heya"

What did it mean and what was it about? For a brief moment I felt a part of something much larger, then I concluded he was probably scared witless walking around in the dark at 4am. Fair enough. I suppose I am fairly scary at that time of the morning, but then, who isn't?

Santa Claus? "Hohoho, I have something for you in my Christmas stocking Little Red Robin."

Me. "YEARGH!"

That would be scary. Big fat man, sack, talk of stockings and deer with red nose, little helper people. Rides around at night popping down chimneys, and what if you don't have a chimney? Break in through the front door, really really fast and just getting faster. More people in the world means more kids need presents, more kids, needs more time. He'd have to be pretty quick.

Anyway, I think I need to sleep more. This no sleeping thing makes me a little bit mad and there is one thing I should really do today. I need to get photos of myself for my employer.

For tomorrow, I am back to work proper. Hopefully with a good nights sleep.

By the way.

I saw Pans Labyrinth yesterday.

Spain, fairy tale and war.

What did I think about it? Erm, I didn't think it was that great. It was a solidly decent flick, but not enough fantasy stuff for my liking. Although it was a decent film none the less. One part I particularly liked was the "eyeless" monster. Quite revolting actually.

It does say in the review it's a fairytale movie for grownups and it's not far wrong. So as I'm not much of a grown up, I didn't really enjoy it all that much. A bit dull for me.

But worth getting on DVD.

It's still dreary.

I really don't like this time of year sometimes. Namely because in my neck of the woods, it just rains. A lot. All the time. It really doesn't know when to quit.

I have to have my light on in the morning because it is so dull.

I woke up this morning feeling like a brick, but a comfortable brick. Warm and snug.
My mum opened the door and stuck a cup of tea onto my desk this morning as usuall, I got up the second it touched down, wiped some of the crusty bits from my eyes and downed it in one go. It was pretty hot, but not so much to burn myself. Quite nice actually.

I was going to go on one of my rants this morning about the WHO's death and disease predictions for 2030. But instead, I'll be like the big G man upstairs and not say much at all. Because everythings going to pan out like it will. We just make whatever sense of it we want as we go by.

It's all much of a muchness. but now, I'm pretty hungry, so I'm off to have some toast! Maybe even go as far to put chese and tomatoe on it too.

Cor, morning adventure.

Dull Monday morning.

The weather isn't up to much, in fact it was raining most of yesterday morning and early afternoon. I'd hoped it would be sunny today, but no, autumn weather is back with aplomb!

Although the weather in me is fantastic. Sunny, bright, clear, fresh. I'm feeling really very good. I cannot believe the good fortune I have for myself, the fortune of knowing where you're going, to have a plan, a purpose.

It's wonderful. "I'm going here", I can say "And this is how I'm going to get there".

It's a privilege I've not had since I decided on moving abroad for a while. I feel very lucky to find myself in this position again. In fact, I'd forgotten what it was to have a destination. I'd kind of stagnated a bit back there. I'm with my friends, I'm with family. Things on the family front will change soon, my brother and wife might be moving down to Cornwall. Mum and Dad will probably go and live up in Norfolk, which will leave me in London. Hopefully, I'll be secure in my work when that happens. I don't think it's a question of if, this will happen, as it should. Change is the only eternal constant.

Anyway, I'm feeling really good. Let the future come, I'm gonna have myself a fantastic time with it.

Anyway, I have one little last niggling thing to deal with today, then I'll be going to watch "Pans Labyrinth" with a friend, I've heard many good things about it.

All in all a good day and the start of a new episode in my life!

Future plans.

I'm excited, so excited that I want to get up and charge about the place and do a thousand things today, although I don't have a thousand things to do. Which has left me feeling like a Ferrari locked up in a garage. RRmmmm...(the spell checker reckons that should be remember)

Why am I excited, because finally, after going loop the loop for the last ten years or so, I think I can finally follow out a dream plan of action. I don't know if I can make it work, but I want to find out.

After this year ends, I want to buy myself some English teaching materials and start getting myself some one to one students and teach English. So hopefully, I'll be able to build up a large client base, through word of mouth and given a little time, I'll be able to move away from working for others and work for myself.
Ideal. Perfect, wonderful that would be.

Then, or rather as that's happening I can pursue my dream of doing some more performing, whether it's stand up comedy again (I've dipped my toes in that pool before), improvised performing (and that pool), which I'm currently doing now, but work constraints wont allow. That's me working for someone else and not teaching, just retail.

So hopefully that'll end sometime next year. I'll need to be able to work part time, to give me the time to do my own thing. Then I'll be able to stop normal work as my own work picks up pace and then follow up my dream of performing once more.

If I can make it work, I can really make that happen, it'll be the best. The very best time of my life.

An old African proverb would be best to finish this off I think.

"When you pray, move your feet".


I think I will.

Easy day.

As I haven't for a while, I've been much indulging in one of my favourite past-times. Which I was able to do due to a nice discovery I made the other day near tottenham court road.
There's a new and old computer game / DVD shop down there. I saw it a while ago and decided on Saturday to have a look. It wasn't that busy, there were a few other guys there pouring over the games. I joined the throng by the window and started at the top working my way down. Where I found one of my old favourites. I loved this game when I had it on the x-box.

Fable.



This is a screen shot I took just after I'd one the chicken kicking competition. Yeah, my character's a little evil. Can you guess what I won by looking at the picture?

I much enjoy wearing it and fighting hordes of evil monsters.



Wonderful. Now that I have a job, hopefully, given a little time, I'll have saved up a bit and Will be able to buy an x-box 360. To which the next instalment is coming out on soon.

Aside from having my focus squarely in the realm of cyber space, my mind ponders long and slow over my future. where oh where do I want to go with my life. There are a few possibilities I'd like to pursue. These being the ones where I get to have a lot of fun.
I also met an old friend walking down the road today. I remember when I first met her 8 years ago, she couldn't speak a word of English. She's much better now, but not perfect.

I want to take my English teacher skills and start giving her lessons sometime next year. Being able to teach is a valuable skill, one I intend to keep. It'll also enable me to make a little extra cash on the side.

Something else that's just occured to me, I might even be able to fit in a part time job someplace and teach English as well.

Hmm, the future is full of fun and possibilities. I just need to make these work by working hard piece by piece, step by step.

Wonderful, it's nice that my life is going in a good direction now.

Rainy day.

What can I do with my Thursday today, having looked outside and seen the weather of today, it is chucking it down, cats and dogs.

Hmm, if it literally were raining cats and dogs, the pavement would be extremely furry and bloody. And how could anyone get the expression raining cats and dogs too? It makes no real sense. Raining barrels of water I could stretch too, but not our furry four legged companions tumbling from the sky, tail over head in a mass of barking and hissing, biting and scratching.

Do you think it would rain one particular breed of dog or cat? What if it were a shower of Pomeranian's falling from the sky. Small cute fluffy doggies, what kind of umbrella would you need? The Pomeranian pro?
Another day you're out walking along the street and the heavens open up and you catch sight of a downpour of bull mastiffs. That would be a very painful experience I'd imagine, getting clobbered by large slobbering dogs from on high.

Hmm. Anyway.

What to do with today? The day before my important job interview, a day like any other really. I wish I had a mate who was as unemployed as me at the moment, I'd go have a knees up with them down at the pub. Perfect weather for it. If it were sunny I'd feel a bit guilty spending it in doors.

Perhaps I'll do some much needed bits and bobs shopping, there are some toiletries I need to get. I might grab a good book and go and sit in the cafe up the road for a while and have a read. I could carry on studying my Chinese. 我今天要了学习中文。

Al in all, it's my rainy day and who knows, I might be working from now on. Which'll mean giving up my long care free days. Ahh, back to the daily grind, I've not done that for a while. My last job was pretty darned easy.

I'll be off then. Have a good one.

Thinking...

I've been looking at the BBC website, science and nature section. It's says that scientists have sequenced the DNA of extinct cave bears. That they should also be able to sequence the DNA of ancient humans.

I feel fairly certain, within myself, that the time will come that we'll be able to sequence and grow artificially any biological organism that has ever lived on this planet. Technology is moving on in such leaps and bounds that soon I'm sure most of the amazing will seem perfectly do-able.

100 years ago, we'd only just achieved flight. Another hundred years, we'll doing some amazing stuff. I'm pretty sure we'll all be living older but remaining as young and as healthy as were when we were in our late teens and early twenty's. All disease will have been cured.

So personally, I wish we'd all relax a little more. There will be nothing we wont be able to make better in the future, the control over our environment will be phenomenal. Then we can have a good old think about what it's truly all about. As robots will have all the jobs covered and all we really need to do is have a laugh and take it easy.

What do you think?

I like my new home (In cyberspace).

I've been living elsewhere for a looong time and it's good to set myself away from it. New decor, new layout and a fresh face.
If I could manage to do the same with the rest of my life, I'd be sitting pretty. New decor (move flat), new layout(erm... rearrange brain?) and a fresh face(Have a wash).

My battle plan for the day, which isn't much for a 29 year old unemployed London geeza.

1. shave.
2. shower.
3. shopping.

The 3 sh's. Making for the basis of my day. The shaving will be electric without cream. The shower will be with soap and shampoo, no, no, scrap the shampoo, I'm bald. Shopping, done at poundland down the road, there are some bargain things in there at the moment. Bargain being the actual item for the price and not exclusivly he price itself. Because at that shop you never know what they're going to get in. It's diferent every week. Not just cheap mank stuff either, no, they have top brands too!

The more extraneous things like filling in application forms and stuff will be done after the above, when I'm fully woken and refreshed.

Lastly I hould stick myself back onto my bum and focuso writing some today. Accumulate that body of work so I can pluck at it and prod it at a much later date.

Right, I'm off.

Rainy London day.

I woke up from a heavy sleep this morning, feeling like a sack of bricks. I'd dreamt I had argued with a good mate of mine. It was something I thought he shouldn't have done, which led to quite a bad argument, exacerbated by the fact I was visiting him in Ireland and had another 5 days staying with him.

Pleased it was just a dream when I woke up to the cosy warmth of my bed.

I got up and finished my internet application for a job in town today, I will have the interview on Friday fist thing in the morning.
It's been a while since I've had to commute to work, thinking about the train journey this morning, the last place I had to commute was China.
So I packed my Elementary Chinese Reader in my bag, strolled out into the drizzle toward the train station, swipped my Oyster card across the reader, and went to check out the place to aid in preparation for Friday.
It's a shop I've often frequented in my past, so it shouldn't take too much effort for me at the interview.

However, no excuse to slack off. I don't intend to be caught with my pants down.
I can imagine a deathly scenario...

Interviewer all prim and proper dazzles me with an amzing in depth question.

Me. "Erm, uhh... gee... well, I dunno, I didn't think about that one... Do you have an easier question?"

No, no, no! It will not do. Only the best most concise and appropriate answers will they receive!

So, Friday at 10am, hopefully all will go as well as possible.

A new Start.

Well, I begin a new, fresh faced and sparkling.

Well, at least that is in the world of blog. As the last one was far too well known amongst my circle of friends and I need a little anonymity. A little about me before I lunge into my new written world.
I've travelled the last couple of years, I've lived and worked in 中国 and Italia as an English teacher. I have had some amazing experiences during my last couple of years. Travelling really does make you change and grow.

中国

Italia

Which has been on my mind recently, I forged new roads for myself when I moved away from home, now I'd like to transplant those into the life I live here. Which would be smashing if I could pull it off.

Writing is another large passion of my life now, especially after 3 years or more of writing. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to make it pay. We shall see, says Little Red Robin, quite like that, it's small and unassuming, much how I like to be.