I'd Slay A Dragon For Her If Need Be...

And I think that's about the geekiest/not normal thing to say at this juncture. Not sure where I planned on going after that, but perhaps I'll just start rambling and see where that gets me...

Yesterday, after much working, I trudged home to find a Red on my sofa, as I was expecting, and a Pill and Lee in the kitchen discussing plans on how to take over the world. I think I've already said this, but our house is quite the communal one. We're all welcome, whenever. Either way, I was a tad annoyed that she had been left to sit quietly by herself, but little did I know, she had been texting a guy the entire time - the slut! 

Let me add a few details about last night, that Red neglected to mention...

He apparently reads (its good to be literate in this day and age), is a business consultant at the age of 25 (obviously the most boring person in the world), and has clients (which all business consultants should have otherwise their not doing their job). I think it's safe to say I don't like him, so she's probably on to a winner (I said those exact words, but obviously in the present tense, and to her face).

I feel a bit more grown up now. Sort of. Well, I suppose you can't get too grown up after all.

I got my first interaction on POF too this morning. Number 1! (funny story about a ranking system, but I might let Red talk to you all about POF Science). Yeah, the poor girl isn't anything I'm looking for, but then I realised that she had rated me on the 'Hot or Not' POF equivalent, essentially (Hi Tag) saying 'I'd do you.'

All in all, this week's getting to be a busy one, and I do really like it. Reminds me of when we used to do loads of stuff every other day. Bring it on. And I can't wait for freakin' Fellowship of the Ring. It has been too long! I'm getting shivers of excitement already. There's my passion I think. And I also think, it must have to be my most favouritest movie of all time (the whole trilogy). I need the Extendeds (hint, hint).

I'm going to see Catching Fire tonight with the Swingers after work. IMAX yo! (you IMAX virgin!)

But for now Carpe diem you lucky few!...

Things I Didn't Know...

Did you know I like to lift my chin and look down my nose at strangers, flaring my nostrils in a primal and subliminal act to intimidate the intruder?

Neither did I.

I had a talk yesterday and I got some good advise: 'Contentment is fine at your age. You're not meant to know what your passions are yet. You're still, for a couple more years yet, trying to find out who you are, and if you're content with how you are now, then be content. But make sure that the contentment doesn't turn into complacency. You've got a good character and I don't think you will. You'll go travelling soon, you'll write more, you'll be happier than you are now. So be content for now, and don't worry what others think of it.'

It was a good talk.

Yesterday I was having a bad day. Did anyone else feel ill after Le Lake Poob Food? I was working my short day, getting in two hours later and leaving an hour later than normal - I felt weird all day. I don't think I did very much all day. But Sunday's coming, and I've decided that I'm not going to walk to Castell Coch - mainly because I want to do that with peeps if peeps still want to, so perhaps I'll just enjoy the park all over again. Starting the day with a nice walk around the park is a good way of starting your day. That and nice coffee, fruit, pastries, perhaps with a roast in the oven for dinner...

Ideas, ideas...

Red came over yesterday for dinner, it was nice with wine and everything. No one else was invited because I was told by everyone else that they had already had plans and there was only one spare bowl of food going, not four. I will admit that I've been very lazy recently. Pill has cooked everything I've been eating for a while now. I will cook Banoffee Pie on Sunday with, perhaps, a small roast shoulder of pork (I love crackling). Though DarkHorse doesn't like Pork. Maybe I won't. Perhaps something new. To the cookbooks I go!

Have a better day than me, Carpe diem you beautiful lot!

A Birthday Worth Having...

We went to Jamie's Italian and it was bloody good. I know I said that I was going to stop talking about it last time I spoke to you, but do you know how good Jamie's is? Expensive, the correct portions, and no one went away saying that was too much, and no one was too full, despite Red saying she was but the steak she was eating was just too good to stop eating...

We had about four bottles of Merlot between the four/five vino rosso drinkers. And much merriment was had, chatting, catching up, eating, and photos. Not many, but enough. Everything was lovely. I received no less than three more gifts. An engraved hobbit tankard from Wodge and Obombz, a pair of lounge trousers from Cherry, and a secret gift from Red, that's a secret (shhh...). Am I a rubbish secret keeper? 

Yesterday was a very nice lazy day. Pill and I played Skyrim while DarkHorse slept a lot. And when the couple left, as the couple tend to from time to time, I caught up on Masters of Sex (all up to speed now), and when that was done I did a couple of things I haven't done in a while (and don't take that the wrong way)...

After spamming instagram, I retired to my room and played the secret gift on repeat. I just lay on my bed staring up at the ceiling and listened to the whole thing through, and then listened to it all over again. I thought about life, and fun, and distant lands I'm not even sure exist. And it was quite relaxing. I then did something also rather out of character for me, I sat and read my book - which is called The Written at the moment. It's amazing what I get up to when left to my own devices.

It was also the best night's sleep I've had in a while, no bad dreams, nightmares, or biting tongues. Perhaps I should do that every night?

This morning, while perusing my YouTube feed I found a beauty of a song by Ed Sheeran, that I think is a little out of character for the Hobbit (I suppose they had Annie Lennox do a song in Lord of the Rings), however it's pretty good, and I think I've listened to it about six times now. It's a builder, which an epic finale, check it out...

Thank you to everyone who made this birthday worth having. You know what I'm like when it comes to birthdays, but you guys made it brilliant. Thank you!

Mae govannen, mellon nin. Carpe diem...

History Of A Year...

250 Posts later and I can say that the shop has been open a whole year now, and I've been there a year and 10 days. It's strange how much has changed in that time. I've not even known Red that long yet. that would be 27th February, not that I'm counting or anything...

I've moved, I've aged, I've gotten slimmer, and richer, and overall I think I'd say I'm happier, though I'm not sure on whether or not I can measure that. Life is pretty sweet at the moment, though, and dare I say it, its starting to get on the ordinary and mundane side. The home, work, food, sleep, routine, is starting to get to me and I'm getting the urge to go sploring (#) soon. Though I'm not sure where.

Castell Coch perhaps. Just 6 miles up the cycle path, walk up there and back Sunday morning before lunch. It could be done, if the weather's okay. I don't mind the weather being rotten, but I think my camera might, or any companions who accompany me. Barry Island Fish and Chips? Penarth Pier with the finest Steakhouse in Wales with a cold pint in the Custom House on the way back?

Summer's not here anymore, but why should that stop us? I fancy checking out more of the Wye Valley too, though I'd need a car for that. I would say Gower, Cardigan, Pembroke Coast, Brecon Beacons, but my childhood was mainly spent rambling those places, I even fell off a small cliff in Gower into a field of Gorse Bushes. Not a nice end to the day I'll tell you. I've been swept out to sea, and delivered minutes later by the water to the sands, but that was Ogmore I think. I've broken a leg and walked home on it, but that was school.

Where was I? Ah yes, band photos. Let's face it guys, we can look sexy as fuck, and band photos are practically the only way we can capture that slow-mo strut without Tag's iPhone. Although, saying that, we do require to make a movie I think.

Reading trees are hard to come by in the winter, although a pub with a fireplace, and and afternoon tea menu could be fun - like a proper Sunday afternoon off, though we hardly get Sunday afternoons.

Everyone's coming to Jamie's Italian for my birthday this evening! I swear this is the last you'll hear of it. I'm not used to this choosing places and making plans for me malarkey. And that's an odd thought in itself I think. Shouldn't you be able to know what you want to do?

I want to visit a new place. I want to spend the day, week, or month there. I want to know its history, traditions, accent, and experience it was my friends. I want to sit and write something worth writing in my mind, it's got to be epic, fun, possibly dark, emotive, and fantastical. And I want to be happy, and I think I've got that mostly covered. Everyone has their off days...

Carpe diem guys!...

Armistice...

Am I really that guy that just writes and writes to get inspiration that isn't around the corner, but will inevitably let you know that he's been writing because he has a blog? This, and many more questions, are still floating around my head after last night's drinking session.

But first let me tell you how I lured Red into having drinks with me on Friday night. Yes, it was entirely intentional, and yes, there was no other motive to the trap. Opting for the Bay rather than Friday Night Rugby Filled Centre (that sounds like a bad doughnut) we wondered in the rain to the Jenkins where a round of drinks was purchased and a chat was had about everything and anything and mostly about the loud mouth who sat behind us. Thankfully he left a short while after I had made it clear I disproved of his loudness. Either way, deciding we were hungry, we left the premises to discover the new Chippy down the Bay, and man were they good, and instead of staying in the warm and comfy booths (candle lit yo) we wondered out into the Bay and found the bench we had found ourselves on many Moons ago talking about anything and everything. We reminisced, watched some fireworks, and ate our chips before heading home.

Saturday Night was my Italian Mama's Birthday, at which I got very drunk from the Clarey Vintage (homemade wine) and listened about far too much family history, from where my Great Grandfather used to live in Cardiff, to bouts of depression throughout the family (the ups and the downs). And there I was also told to inform everyone that they were more than welcome at my Mothers (plural) homes for Christmas and that there was plenty of room and food for them all - I doubt that, but it would be a big family Christmas that hasn't ever happened before ever to my family. Either way, the plan offended a few and I'm just getting most fed up of this talk of Christmas and Birthdays, because I'm not going to make anyone happy what so ever. There's a likelihood that I will be working both Christmas Eve and Boxing Day so why am I going anywhere? As we all know the earliest I'll have to be in work on Boxing Day is 9am and the latest 9:30am. 

And last night I must not have been in the right mindset or something because birthdays and Christmas and other such topics just didn't interest me. Too much playing on my mind already. Tag's denied his mother twice now for Christmas: 

There's clearly no where else she would rather be, than with you her only son!

I had a weird dream last night too. It was a sort of Robocop meets Wizard of Oz meets Frankenstein thing. I think I must have been the patient, or having an out of body experience, when I see these other men with robotic limbs and stuff like that. One has a RoboBrain, another an Arm, and there was one with a Leg, and the nurses sat them down and detached them and removed my body parts to attach them to me. It was horrible, and they gave my parts to the RoboMen leaving me like a piece of scrap. I didn't appreciate it, and woke up very much tired, and in no mood to do anything. 

I just need to empty my mind of worry, anger, and things that aren't or didn't happen. It's not a healthy way to be. I'll be pushing people away very soon (attention seeking as always).

I doubt there'll be a Carpe diem today...

The Three-Day Weekend...

Well that was a busy old three-day weekend. What's that? You didn't know I had a three-day weekend? Well sit up straight while I tell you mostly about it...

I've just discovered why they don't let you walk around with drinks in libraries and book shops. I just dropped my cup of coffee on my copy of The Game of Thrones. PLEASE DRY OUT OKAY GOD OF BOOK DRYING!

Friday, the first day, I spent mostly at home, cleaning, shopping. I went to the post depo to pick up Red's parcel, and that was about it, until the evening, when I donned my Angry Bird Hat (so warm), and ventured to the Big End for Lady Kate's Halloween Party. There was so much food, and it was good to catch up with the home friends for a short while. Lady Kate is an actual feeder, i.e. when I wasn't eating something she physically rapped my face with food. There's an image for you. I was quite shattered as well and I took a couple of short naps in the dark living room with a CD that kept playing Women's Screams every 5mins. Either way, it was soon time to go home and I stayed at Mom and Dad's. 

The next morning I was up early, apparently - although I wouldn't say 8am was early anymore. Despite going to bed at 1am. I went food shopping with Mum, and she bought me and Pill some things as she thinks we're still students and require that extra food. Then we woke up Ben and went suit shopping, to which I spent "£*£$)O*U and the tailor himself congratulated me on my weight loss, but sided with my Mother when we said that my former suit was too larger because of it. I'm so inconsiderate. I met HB after her work, and we went, into the storm along the train tracks, picking Cherry up on the way and homeward again, where everyone was gathering. 

Nearly an hour and a bit later, we were all looking Sexy as Fuck and hit Cardiff Bridge with the rest of Cardiff to witness the Fireworks in the Park, to which we all huddled and sheltered ourselves from the cold, wind, and rain, until it got a bit much. Then town beckoned. We bumped into Smeccles in Le Lake Poob and Red was somewhat abducted by a slimy individual and then we had to disperse. The night was not yet morning when half the group decided that they couldn't walk any more, and the other half, spurred on my Tag went to Revs, but upstairs Revs. It was weird, creepy, and Cherry had a freak-out. Alcohol, oy-vey. I was concerned that we had lost Red at one point, and I sent Cherry after her. Soz guys, my bad. And then Midnight dawned and the tiara was placed upon the head. It's Red's Birthday (YAY!). Cherry got Sambucca (everytime?!), and Red and I slow danced to Nicki Minaj, or so I'm told. 

We soon left as the club got a bit pushy, and realised we could have been downstairs most of the time. Chili Shots yo! I carried Red to mine, and we all slept, more or less, well. Until the morning, and Tag's Mango Chundering. Which then Tag, Red, and I went for a walk around Bute Park before Breakfast, and he painted the Park a bit. Presents were opening in my Bedroom, Breakfast in Spoons, before a lazy day of cleaning, and gaming, and then Pizza Express for Red's Birthday Meal. 

I had a lovely time, all things considered. Happy Birthday Red...

Carpe diem...

Bangers And Mash And Zombies...

And he's gone silent for a couple of days. Who wondered where he had gone? Who even cared? Well, not me, I was playing GTA and hanging out with friends trying to find, shag, and kill hookers...

So, I accidentally bought Grand Theft Auto 5 the other day, and because I had two days off in a row, I decided I would play it. I've not been a fan of GTA since 3 - though saying that, I haven't played the others - but so far I'm enjoying myself, and I'm understanding why everyone's so crazy about the game...

But anyway, apart from going completely psycho on the game, killing rednecks, flying planes out of military drugs compounds, and pulling off a jewelry heist, I've been living a pretty normal life. The guys came over last night for bangers and mash and a movie. I made Apple Crumble too - I thought the crumble was far worse than the bangers and mash (What is this? Oh you didn't put cinnamon in this did you? Dick!) I do put cinnamon in my crumble, when All Spice isn't around. And occasionally (always) I enjoy putting raisins in there too. But normal, straight, apple next time I feel. 

Thankfully Red decided to stay when food was eaten and cooked. I hadn't watched all of Jackass with you guys at all! And we put World War Z on instead. Action, Action, and Action, with a bit of tense zombie scene, and a drizzle, but not too much, of family plot...

It wasn't lads night. I was expecting Lord of the Rings and a quiet time. Not so much the vest tops and cargo trousers, but I'm glad I now know how to dress like a douche. That shirt was so thick.

This post has been successfully short and about nothing in particular. There was a congratulations card for Pill and DarkHorse's engagement, a comment made about present cheating couples, and more raping with Cherry (more?). But now, here's something funny I found on the internet...

(...do you think they should make iPhones for babies, cos I do...)

Carpe diem...

Cinema Grill...

I have to say, my blogs haven't really been about very much recently. Life, or my concept of it at least, as plateau'd waiting for the extraordinary to happen - and do you know what? The extraordinary happened...

There was a cinema trip, and a night out, and tonight there's dinner and a show. Things be coming up Milhouse. But anyway, starting from the top and finishing some time tomorrow (as work begins in just 15mins) Let's say that the cinema trip was a lovely way to wind down Hump Day. 

Catch a car ride with your friends, travel all the way to the Bay and hang out in a small and quiet pub, that's friendly and well stocked enough that we could have easily stayed to play cards. We drank and ate our fill (actually a lot more than our fill) to which some of us regretted it. Large Mixed Grills aren't the way to go. Tasty, but I couldn't have one every week. And yet Hot Dogs? Either way, we downed pints (bad idea) and ventured out into the brisk night air. Red discovered that she could hide, quite well inside my jacket, bag and all, and we found seats in the cinema to see Filth...

Now, I enjoyed that movie, it was funny, dark, and dramatic, a brilliant role of Mc-Cavoy's. It even showed you more, and less, than you were expecting to see all most all of the time. There was also a whole thing where all of the music was a cover of something else and some underlying themes stretching throughout. I would get all studenty on it, but I'm not a student, so fuck-it. And now we all know the definition of Furious Masturbation.

But I digress. Time has now run out, and I require to tell you all about Friday Night and then tonight also. Please stay tuned for the next installment of The Extraordinary Life of the Swingers...

Carpe diem...

Bay?...

You've had an entire week of blogs!...and that's how uneventful this week has been, except last night.

Yesterday started like most days, and then it got a whole shade awesome when I purchased a new jacket from New Look, who were getting their rave on, and then I went down the Bay with the Swingers to welcome back Red to the sheltered harbour of our madness. 

We wandered around for a short while before deciding to go to Bellini's (purely because Signor Valentino was empty - that ain't no good advert) for a very nice meal. There was a lot of shared food - namely my veg and Tag's tortellini. We had wine and food and company and it was really nice, and almost all of us were dressed up (way to let the team down Tag). It was an adult evening, and yet not. It was our evening. 

Afterwards we got cocktails from Terra Nova, and then we went for a walk and finally achieved a life long ambition of getting our picture taken with the giant glowing globe. I wish I could have touched it, and I was a little disappointed that it wasn't actually bigger. Either way we left the boat place very soon before we were asked to leave ('You're not welcome.') and went for the Secret Beach. 

It was brilliantly dark (fireworks over the Bay there is going to be fantastic - possibly). We exercised on the public gym equipment, and some of us slightly abused it...

Then we started our wonderful dawdle towards Pennarth and The Custom House. We found a new nocturnal species of sea cockroach, that no one else in the world knows or has ever seen, and we saw happy ducks, evil swans with glowing orange eyes, and the Eye of Sauron before he was cool. There were also a few instances where we got to do a Kate and Leo:

The night ended rather abruptly when we were staring out at the sea and Tag pointed out a man who was staring at us (a tall white slender man). Obviously we didn't believe him, he being the moment raper, and then I turned around and saw him. We moved shortly after the discovery, and marched back to the car.

Never before has a night of walks, Lord of the Rings quotes, and Italian food ever been so eventful and wonderfully adapted by a foursome ever before, ever!

Welcome back Red, you can't say Nougat in derp...

Carpe diem...

Mexican't Night...

It has been a briliantly odd week, and I don't think I like not hanging out with people in place of going places for work...

So, last night was meant to be, for me, a cool time to hang out and eat and be like the disjointed family that we can occassionally be, opposed to the closeness of friends that I know we can be and do and will continue to be. It started out alright, everyone was there when I arrived back from work, which was awesome, and we caught up...

It was a pity I couldn't attend on Wednesday, it sounded like they had a great time...

Red complimented me on my weight loss and everyone passed the stories of their days back and forth until we all decided to chat in the kitchen. Now, there is next to no room in our kitchen, but it was perhaps the most homely event we've had in our house, ever. It was nice, and we discovered that I can make most things sound creepy, even when I don't mean for them too...

And then came dinner where more chatter happened, and Phil's food was tasty (yum, yum) but then came a game I was all too familiar with. The Paint Brush Game is one of annoyance and ridicule for all those who don't realise what's happening and the eventual humiliation that follows. I remember my first time all too vividly, but alas it was Red's first time and thus the evning turned sour (or I felt that it did).

Needless to say, 45mins later, Red was ready to give up on us all, and the night had gone in a direction I don't think anyone intended for it to go. Bad things usually happen when you guys come over ours, bad things and nothings...

Is it this place, or is it the occupants?

Anywho, moving on, I managed to spend most of my day off doing nothing, which is a frightful shame, as it should be, but I was a badass on the xbox completing Saints Row IV and then catching up with TV (Agents of SHIELD is good, and Orphan Black is growing on me)...

I've fucked up Hipster Sundays again having to work so early on a Sunday, but then I suppose I can blame the rota instead of myself (excuses, excuses)...

Boars and Telly sounds like an awesome plan. And I agree with Red, roadtrip?

Never go on trips with anyone you do not love.  

-Ernest Hemmingway

Food for thought...

Carpe diem...

Drained Of Life...

Without a shadow of a doubt, I don't think I've ever been this tired before in my life (undoubtedly I've said that before when I've been tired, but roll with it)...

It must have been about 3am when the headache began, and then the ghosting dreams, and then I remember hearing Pill moving around in his room before slamming the door to go to work at 6am, and then upstairs' alarm went off at 7:10am, and then finally mine at 7:30am. 

My eyes are bloodshot, and it doesn't really bode well for my 4:30am start tomorrow. Roystone yo! Maybe I'll just pack tonight at call it a 5am start. That doesn't make it sound any better. 

Either way, I'm now ready for work. Work you say? But Tuesday is your day off? True, true, it is. But then it's not a full day of work either. 10-12:30ish. It's for more training (for the good news at work thing), which means I won't get an actual day off until Saturday, which also means I didn't savour my last day off last Wednesday.

I'm just complaining because I'm tired. I wouldn't describe myself as grumpy, more like irritable. 

And because I'm tired I can't really think of anything else to say (just being honest).

I'll tell you what, last week was a very awesome week in the life of me. From Bake Off Bolognese, to Drinks, to Drinks and Hitchhikers, to Drinks and Lap Dances. This week is currently struggling under it's own weight, and I'll be glad to take it out the back and put it out of its own misery. However, with all the fatigue and shit, I can appreciate that the Birthday Month is almost upon me (and Red) and as of yet I've not got any plans, but then when do I do? 

Perhaps just a nice meal at the Meating Place or the Potted Pig. Hmm, maybe we should arrange Viva Brazil for next weekend?

Would you look at that, I managed to talk about something else. Have a nice day guys...

Carpe diem...

A Small Night Out To Remember...

Saturday Night was one of the best Saturday Night's I've had in a while (a wh-ile!)...

After nothing more than a miraculous recovery from Tag and Cherry on the 'Nah we'll stay in' front. It took a little persuasion, and by far a lot more speculation on their behalf than I had ever heard before - jumping from serious secrets, to being gay, to other more fantastical conclusions before Tag phoned me up and demanded I told him.

Needless to say, I did tell him my reason for celebrating (I can't really tell you, or let the world know, but it's a good work related thing, don't worry yourselves), and the couple reconsidered their stance on 'Pub?'

Arriving at Le Lake Poob probably an hour after everyone else, I bought pitchers of cocktail and pints. We drank and pondered about each other's days. Cherry went into Waitrose (very poe-sh), Tag spent all day doing an IQ test on his new phone (turns out, guessing most of the answers - excuses excuses - gets you a pretty O-K score too), and Red had had another bad day in phone world and wondered if I had noticed her hair change. I had noticed before she said anything though, needless to say, I've learned never to point something out and compliment someone about it before being prompted to do so - apparently it's kinda creepy or something...

Either way, compliments were passed, Red and I did the IQ test. We forced Siri to frape (my frap!) people and Red slammed Tag's head against the table. We laughed and relaxed in the only way we knew how. Ordered some Burgaz! and got on with the show. Tag couldn't finish his burger so Red finished it, and then I stole Red's morsel of burger, and Cherry ate up her entire plate, including Tag's chips. 

After another pint we adjourned to the downstairs next to the dance floor and became watched by the bouncers. We couldn't go out the back way, we couldn't dance on the tables, but we could sit on a sofa Friends style, Whistle While We Worked It, spied on the other dancers and all their faults, and lap danced for each other. Obviously the girls were better at it than the boys (sorry Tag, not for the boys), it's like its genetically passed down through the generations - or they watch far too much telly and practice that shit too often.

Damn, I'm an awful dancer.

Anywho, the night went on and we walked through the Zombie Apocalypse that Cardiff on a weekend, resembles, and found Gloria in the Gentlemen's Club (gigity). Tag gave me a lift home and that was that. The small taster of a night out, not fully realised because we had bags and coats and shit (and work in the morning).

I'll be up for doing more of the same next week too. Oh, there were shots too - but we've got to go get some Absinthe from Las Iguanas (70% yo!) if we want to start and do a night out we'll never forget (mainly because we'll forget it).

Carpe diem...

High Bake Off Fidelity...

Needless to say, this day off isn't really required because I've only been in work for two days, but I'll take it nonetheless, and I'll regret it if I don't, so where do I start?

Like most Tuesdays, it was an ordinary day until about Lunchtime when I connected my phone to Game's Free WiFi (shhh, they don't know we can do that from our side of the wall), and received an invite to Tag and Cherry's for bolognese and Bake Off. Who was I to refuse such a kind offer? I asked whether or not I could invite Pill (he's always going on about how he never gets invited anywhere) and I did. Thankfully, as we had already had this discussion (me and he), he couldn't come out due to time restraints, i.e. he wouldn't be able to stay for very long and therefore decided not to come.

It was no bother to me, and instead of rushing home after work to gather a few over night things, switch off my alarm clock, and other shit like that, I ran to the station straight after work, and caught the earliest train I could catch, passing Bargin Booze along the way to Number 69. I got there and drank and ate and watched RomComs and Bake Off until we all fell asleep and the cat crawled on my face a few times. 

Unfortunately it had conspired that Red couldn't make it on this occasion so we were more or less transported to the place in time that we were at almost a year ago (and that's transported mentally rather than geographically), and in that meaning I mean that we ate, sat, and watched RomComs with John Cusack in and not much else. It was even odd to note that I slept upstairs for the first time in a long while, and I think I may have kicked something I shouldn't have in my sleep. 

We watched High Fidelity and I was going to run through a few Top 5's, but I'm sure that'd bore you to death, or not, who knows. I have already written a Top 5 blog thing, a year ago when I watched High Fidelity believe it or not, maybe you could read that instead? Although, on second thoughts, and second reading, it looks like a child has written it. It's amazing to see the difference a year can make to writing style alone, among other things.

I remember being quite conscious at one point, just eyes closed, thinking about the world and stuff, all the while with a constant drip-drip-drip going on just to the left of me and a persisting thought that I was actually sleeping alone in their house. It wasn't a comfortable feeling. But then a clawing at the door meant that the demon kitty was on the prowl and that it was in fact, close to dawn.

I rose from my slumber closer to the time of day ordinary people wake up and woke the house (as always) and we were soon adventuring to the village of Cowbridge and then to Coffee at Tag's work. 

Now, it's highly unlikely that I'll be able to write a blog tomorrow morning, due to my 9-5, but I'm looking forward to a night at the Theatre with the guys, and I might actually get some writing done. Hey, look at me trying to predict the future...

Carpe diem...

Hep C And Some Blood...

There's no breakfast in the house, so I'd best make this a quick one, but not really, because who needs food? All those adverts telling us that it'll keep us full until lunchtime are bullshit. They keep me okay until about midday, I grant you, but midday ain't my lunchtime!...

It was a typical day yesterday, until someone mentioned Kingdom of Sweets to me. Isn't that closed now? And indeed it was, unless you were a St David's employee, for then you could waltz up to the doors, all boarded up, flash your St David's Card at the bouncer, or your uniform like I did, and enter into the carnage on the other side. Tens of people scrambling for the open-air pick-a-mix, the shelves just about bare save for a few items. I grabbed a couple of things and then got asked what I had on me, money wise. The answer 'about £4.50' caused the cashier to grab my bag and fill it with all kinds of goodies, to the brim, and she simply said, that'll be £4.50. I may have got a lot of sweets, but the majority of them are crappy, american, and some what odd. Who makes fruity caramel? I mean really!

Either way, it was cinema night, and I had to run out of work and carefully saunter to the car, where the others were eagerly awaiting my arrival. We almost crashed when I climbed in and Tag pulled off, but hey, he was caught up in the moment, and I think the Corsa wanted the space. We sped to the Bay, and strutted through the cinema as if we owned the place, which for the most part we did. The kids went back to school, and the place was quite empty. We got good seats on account of the movie being released two weeks or so ago, and we settled in for some bloody gore...

And bloody gore we got, there were knives, machetes, axes, hammers, nails (ha! you deserved it), a screwdriver set, and a crossbow with only two bolts or something. It also gave us sex and boobs in the first scene and sort of tried to continue for the next ten or fifteen minutes, but alas, ain't no body got time for that. And after the initial jumps and scares, animal masks and everything, the movie sort of took a turn for the Home Alone (there's nails in that too). A poor stranded Aussie girl, trying to save herself from home invaders and... 

*SPOILER ALERT* 

half the family she thought she was going to have a good time with. 'You don't know how lucky you are to have parents like yours.'

We started rooting for everyone to die, and when that bad guy jumped through the window on to the nail, I threw my arms in the air with joyous intent. It was a bad film, but it really did engage and encourage us to join in. I like to think I would at least try and fight the invaders. They looked a bit pants. And I don't think, if I had the upper hand, that I would let any of them live just to kill them a little later and stretch out the plot. Wasn't the Tiger Mask the one that got stabbed in the kitchen, and then later kicked in the bollocks, and bludgeoned with the Meat Tenderizer? 

Thank the Lord there isn't room for a sequel. Sure she survived, but going all Exorcism of Emily Rose on that shit, ain't gonna happen... 

*END OF SPOILERS*

Either way, we exited, happy in the fact that we engaged with the film, and wandered to Chicken House, as per tradition. Although it was only 9pm, and there were people there. We like the place to ourselves, we like the exclusivity 11pm gives us. We made our way to Spoons to somewhat quench our thirst while we waited, and then accidentally ordered food. I have to say, the Mount Stuart has nothing on the Western, or the Gatekeeper for that matter. The drinks are okay, but the tables are always sticky, and the food is somewhat under par. At least give me my own knife and fork and not expect me to get it from the dusty rack over by the bar. Also, lipstick stains on the wine glass, a clear indication of Hep C which as Tag said will give us all Hep C due to Cherry giving it to Tag, Tag to me, and then I shall inevitably give it to Red (I don't know how, and I don't know when, but you're gonna get some - yo gurl, how you doing?). 

But, creepiness aside, it was a nice night, but the food left more to be desired. Perhaps we could just grab some Subways and eat at the secret beach next time? Dominoes pizza and Red's flat? 

Just a thought. Anyway, I might go find some breakfast now. Perhaps try that new Tesco by the station, apparently it's massive. I shall be the judge of that...

Carpe diem...

I'm Soaked!...

Well it was my turn to host, and BOOM! nothing much happened with it. I really haven't found out what my flat is good for, except for Pill and I to be living in. Either way, it's not watching movies, rainy days in, or video games with friends...

The next place I move in to will accommodate all those things plus the ones we have now and more...

Anyway, I waited for the Gas Man too long and finally text him at 10:30, to see at which point of the morning he'd arrive. Turns out he was running a bit late so it would be 12pm. I dashed out of the house and shopped, and got a haircut (thank fuck for that - as nice as big hair can look - mine was just turning into something I'm never fond of)...

I returned home in time for the Gas Man and then for Tag, Cherry, and Red, for we had decided that something had to happen due to us all being off. I think we should have tried the museum. But nothing solid was planned and we forced ourselves into it. We started watching Video Game Trailers and then we moved on to YouTube Videos and watched the entirety of Stropey plays Slender the Arrival. Tag then attempted to play both Slender and Slender the Arrival (downloads y'all), and then we went for a walk...

It was a bit dry, I thought the rain had passed and I didn't bother taking a jacket - the outcome was both wonderful, fun, and dampening. Getting caught in the rain, seeing Slendermen everywhere, all the signs are warnings, and then hiding under a tree for cover before talking about getting soaked and touching each other.

Our time at the park was fun, I should have brought Simba with me. He's not seen outside in months. When we got in Tag set about going through movies we had to watch (democratically) and waited for someone to say yay or nay to any or all of them. While he did that, I cooked the pizza and chicken wings I purchased earlier. They weren't good either. God damn-it flat! And we watched Evolution before Red exclaimed that she was going home. 

Hopefully Sunday will be better due to planning and expectations, and then Wednesday/Thursday after that...

I cleaned and ironed for the rest of the evening, allowing time for another movie from my childhood - Hoodwinked - and then I went to bed. My brother thinks I should have gone for Mask of Zorro. Once in bed, I heard the door open and I ran to confront the axe murderer lurking behind my door only to find a Pill, wet, cold, and returned home after his week, before disappearing off to the west again in the morning. We chatted a bit, and I returned to bed.

I am now quite tired, despite the long sleep, and I've got five days of commitments ahead of me. Bring it on!

What are we watching Sunday? This week I'm thinking wine - unless it's warm obvs...

Carpe diem...

P.S. Lad's Day: Pain and Gain, Doomsday Arcade, Fast and Furious, Expendables?

Pillow Fight?...

The other night we went to see Kickass 2. Good shout Red, good shout. I enjoyed the film very muchly, unlike Tag who said it wasn't no Kickass 1...

Oh well. I'm waiting for the Gas Man, so I'll tell you everything of my week so far, since you haven't heard from me since Wednesday. After the film we Chicken House'd it up. (BBQ Wrap all the way yo!) And mingled and bantered until returning to Gloria for our sleeping belongings. Red got stuck in my Sleeping Bag Bag, and hilarity ensued. Unlike our norm of parting ways on a Wednesday we made camp in Red's flat, and watched YouTube, chatted, and midair humped until the early hours. It was nice. I could have stayed awake much longer though. Her flat be warm. I no need a sleeping bag next time I think. 

I have officially been naked in everyone's kitchens now (Achievement Unlocked: Footprints in the Butter)...

And the next day, after laughing a bit more at Red's fridge, its a lovely fridge, there's just nothing in it, we went for breakfast in town. Now I am all over that. Pill and I used to go to breakfast in town back in Carms all the time. Italigo do a Full English with Free Refills for £4.99. My boss went there the other day and complemented them to me. It's not just me. Harvester do all-you-can-eat breakfast don't they?

Anyway, we went to Spoons (The Gatekeeper - are you the Keymaster?) and ate our fill. I had far too much breakfast. A large one is two of everything. And that's too much - look at me being all grown up and thinner. Red thinks she can out eat me, and I'm worried in my current state that she actually might be able to...

Oh well, neither of us will find out until we have money to go out and test the foodie places or the takeaways again. It's probably best for our waistlines anyway, even though we're both occasionally wearing what eleven-year-old us' wore (weird).

Either way, I had to go do some daily commitments, and I ran into Red on the way home too, and we discussed our days (2 new iPhones you say?), and upon returning home I cleaned, washed, and exercised before sitting down to watch Transformers: Dark of the Moon. That is a long film for the plot. Good Lord! If you sped up all the slow-mo bits I'm sure it would go from 2.5 hours to 1.25. But Optimus is always my favourite part of transformers (he's got an arm off!) - he's like the Vin Diesel of the Autobots. I almost napped again during the movie, but fought off the urge.

And today, I'm still waiting for a Gas Man, and due to being unable to get a haircut yesterday, I'm going to try today instead/as well (short back and sides anyone? I've never done it before I don't think). And after that, it gets even better! The others are coming to hangout at mine. Write-a-thon perhaps, though I'm not sure what Red will think of it. Or, if its dry, which is might be, Frisbee down the park? Simba's looking at me longingly. And I don't think that it's that we see too much of each other, I think its that we're running out of things to do. We need to find something new every now and then. Perhaps an adventure by ourselves sometime (and Alton Towers doesn't count)...

Who knows. Just one week to go before an EPIC weekend. I'm getting tingles...

Carpe diem...

Push The Button...

One day more, another day another destiny!...

And now comes the final day of my week, before I can press the big fat reset button that resides in Saturday's newspaper, and forget the bollocks that's happened this week, purely because I wasn't in the mood for it. Hopefully that'll do it, and hopefully I'll be able to eat properly again, and sleep, and generally be myself (unless this is myself, in which case - dun, dun  DUN! - too meta?)

Yesterday was the same old same old, and I got to hang out with Pill and his mate Lee for a while after the daily commitments. It was cool, just sitting and talking politics, work, philosophy, and a great deal more with them. I couldn't be bothered to cook again, and I haven't really managed to stomach anything for most of the week. That might be one of the factors for my mood I suppose - but at least I'll be nice and thin by comic-con if this feeling doesn't go away. Always got to look on the positive side of things. 

Though (and I don't mean this) I did just think about writing a joke about how dying would be the next positive thing to happen to me, which when you put it like that it certainly sounds funny...

Anyway, tomorrow I hope to wake up at a reasonable hour and just relax. No daily commitments, no nothing to do, just sit and calm the fuck down Bridget! 

I think I need another adventure soon. Perhaps when the sun comes back in September. I don't know where I'll go, but I think I might need some new scenery or something. Perhaps I won't. I remember following Jimbo in the dark of winter through a bog, and I lost my shoe in sub-zero temperatures, and then we stumbled on a milking plant and almost got chased by dogs and men, as we climbed through barbed wire fences. I also remember falling down a mountain and bouncing off every tree on the way down, but that's another story I'm sure...

As Red has announced and shown her challenged fiction, 6 Poems, I wish to say that I have at least made a start on my real-world fiction. I think it's going to be called "Bute Wall" (a working title) and its obviously set in Cardiff (write what you know). I'm not going to give anything else away, but I think it's going to be a short-ish story about hope and hopelessness (how very deep of me - is it?).

That's what fills my evenings now, Pill goes to bed, and I sit up writing. It's quite pleasant. We don't share the same bed, although that sentence could be read that way. It reminds me of the uni days, except I'm purely using a pen and paper, and an iPod helps too.

But anyway, I think I've babbled on a bit now. See you on the new dawn...

Carpe diem...

P.S. Sorry for being a dick the other night. 

Small Town Business...

I've gone an twisted my back somehow, so I'm sat here trying to twist it back. I know that's not how backs work, but it sort of makes me feel better. I'm going to try Pills way or back cracking soon. Wish me luck...

Yesterday was DarkHorse's birthday meal in Risca. Not to speak ill of anyone's home town, but home towns are somewhat rubbish aren't they? And by rubbish I mean, small, and lacking in something significant that I can't quite put my thumb on. Why do all parents think it would be a good idea to move to the suburbs to live out the rest of their days? Even villages and large houses in the country are better in my opinion. 

Anyway, moving on, we entered the establishment of Indian Cuisine and ate our fill, we got given tickets to the gun show (Bollywood be weird, but a good kind of weird), and I admired the ceiling and wondered whether it would go well in a sex dungeon or not. After the meal we went to the Commercial Inn, a very honest name if you ask me, and had another quiet drink before departing back to the city. I'll tell you what, car trips with friends and music are epic. A good sing-a-long and a rave are what's needed to see the journey on. 

Either way, the swingers and I lingered a while at mine, hanging out and hydrating and yawning (that was a big one). We made a list of films Red needed to see, and talked about Hitchikers, Alton Towers, Comic-Con Aftermaths, and Lord of the Rings Days. The next coming months shall be pricy, but awesome I'm sure. And I'm looking forward to them very much. Thank you guys...

Carpe diem...

Winter is Coming, A-gain!...

Ba, ba, Ba, Ba, Ba, ba, Ba, Ba, Ba, ba, Ba, Ba, Baaaaaaaa...

That's enough of that right now. 

The Game of Thrones board game isn't actually that bad when you know how to play. But it did get a lot like Monopoly towards the end as it had gone on for six-hours and everyone bar the winners had given up on life. Well, I wouldn't go that far, but you know the point in Monopoly when you start giving up? The one where just one person seems to have all the money and no one else can possibly win, but you've got to go around giving away your money, mortgaging (Death Gripping - not a Star Wars reference at all but a bit of Latin for your ears. Mort = Death and Gage = Grip) your properties, and then going through the whole bankrupting process. You know you're going to lose. No one, apart from Banks and J.K. Rowling has gone from being bankrupt to being wealthy again.

But I digress...

We gathered in our humble abode, after Tag and I had finished watching Fast 5 and Fast 6. It was one hell of a Tostesterone filled afternoon. Epicness, Splosions!, and Vin Diesel. I can't wait for Fast 7 (the final one) and Red and Tag have said they'd come with me to go see it. So why didn't we see Fast 6 in the cinema? Could you imagine the Splosions! on the big screen. Plus the ultimate heroic thing of catapulting yourself off a car, after you've just blown up a tank, across a bridge to catch a woman in mid-air (Superman-style) only to land, bank first into another car's windscreen, and for the woman to be the only one in pain. 

And then Pizza, Drinking, and Game of Thrones happened. 

The guy in the shop said that the game would be very good if you have 3-6 dedicated players to play with. Little did he know, that we were not reading the Game of Thrones, but were huge fans of the TV-Series (save one of us), and that we were in no way dedicated to the rules of play, nor to the facts and figures involved in playing. Red had no idea what was going on. No of us knew how to play, the 32-page rule book and numerous internet videos sought to that, but she had the added lack of Game of Thrones knowledge.

Pill was Baratheon, DarkHorse lingered as Lanister, Tag was Tyrell (pretty, pretty flowers), Cherry was House Stark, Red was Martell, and I was the Greyjoys. So we set about explaining to Red everyone's relationships to each other.

'First of all you should know, Pill is a cunt, you can call him that, it's fine. And that Cherry, Tag, Red, and DarkHorse are all fucking Pill. Tag is fucking Pill's brother, Red is fucking Pill's other brother, Tag's sister is fucking Pill, Cherry's sister was fucking Pill, Pill's father used to sleep with DarkHorse's Daughter along with everyone else. DarkHorse's Daughter fucks DarkHorse's Son (or vice versa), and the Greyjoys like to fuck themselves. 

Simple enough for you?

Either way, we toasted, we drank, we ate a pizza the size of Pill, twice, and we played the hell out of that board game. It would have been much better if we played it quicker than we did. A 3-hour game would have been long enough I reckon, if we ever all play at once again.

Now I'm looking forward to Date Night Sunday with a double-bill of the Returned! (squee!) But can it possibly top the levels of awesomeness from my Tostesterone filled afternoon/evening? I'll let you know.

Carpe diem...

Three Nights On The Trot...

From Sunday to Wednesday I spent time in the company of my nearest and dearest. We shopped, ate, and drank, and yet there was no proper dancing, drunkeness, or the inevitable orgy that should have followed. Oh well, that was how my holiday was spent, or at least the first four days of it. 

Sunday, I potted my Pumpkins, they're doing well, thank you for asking, and Cherry met with me to walk down to the Bay to meet Red. I carried 3kg of compost on my back from Poundland to Home in just over 7 mins. I'm EPIC!

Either way, we ventured out into the blistering sun and wondered down to the Bay. A very pleasant walk, and we came upon a Red, standing there in red (believe it or not) with a bow in her hair. We meeted and greeted and ventured further into the Bay for the reason we were there: The Food Festival. We traveled around for a while trying to find some cash points, but failed to do that and ended up in the new Spoons down there - its a very nice pub, and not at all Spoons like. There's so much glass and openness, and a kitchen you can see into! Not a bad place to find yourself after a 20 min walk. The ladies bought drinks and their cashback and we trounced about in the Festival. Free Samples and Tasters galore, mainly of cheese and wine, although a taster pot of Brownie, Strawberry, and Cream for a quid was nice. 

Pulled-Pork Rolls in hand we munched on the move and ended up at the Secret Beach, not such a secret, but lush nonetheless. I might go there tomorrow if I'm so inclined. We spent an hour or so there, bathing in the water and the sun, and cursing the tourists and their speedboats. SWERRN!

The day ended with a BBQ in the boot of Gloria and the group gathered around the telly for the Returned! I'm miffed that this week I can't join in in Date Night, due to daily commitments, which'll turn into nightly commitments for a day (that sounded dirty). However, I think they might hold off to have a Returned double bill for the following Sunday Date Night. Fingers crossed, I finish at 6pm.

The next morning, as we were still all there we went shopping for Cherry's Party. I treated everyone to Frankie and Bennie's Breakfast (she'll have a side of toast with that) and then to homes for showers and plant watering, and then to IKEA. Where we enjoyed our time discovering new ways to store things and finding out the Henry VIII was a Sex Hunter (true story). We returned to Ponty, with the spoils of war and set about food shopping, and then slobbing on the sofa for the rest of the evening.

Party day happened, the only real-ish lay-in I'll be having this week. I woke at 5ish with the urge to empty my bladder, and a rustling of noise upstairs. I rolled over and tried to ignore the pee warning. At about 7ish, I caved, and went, hoping not to wake the cat. 

SUCCESS! I even witnessed Red in the throws of musical laying down passion. Singing along under her breath, waving her arms, and all-in-all having a good time. She waved her good mornings, and I waved back. 

We set up for a party, cleaning and what-not, until eventual guests arrived. A party was had, BBQs were had, plans were made, and a child was present for most of it. Cherry even got a case of birthday madness as she forced us to play strip poker (Tag and I would have lost some clothes if it wasn't for the countdown), and then set about popping all her balloons at the early morning hours. 

Red slept on the sofa that evening as the spare bed had been annexed by a couple (HB and Mallard). She said she was glad of the company and we spoke for an hour or so. Don't forget to be awesome! It'll all work out in the end, and if it doesn't, then it's not the end.

Skipping Wednesday, as nothing of import happened, save for a long journey to Roath Park. I suggest we all go get ice creams and a peddalow on the lake sometime - who's with me? Thursday I spent doing absolutely nothing, and do you know what - that was really bloody tiring. I played Assassins Creed 2 while watching the final series of Fringe. And I've finished both now. What an odd thing that is. 

Fringe got me thinking, how do you say goodbye to your friends, if you know it's definitely the end? And what would happen if it did? I didn't like that train of thought, it reminded me of funerals and eulogies. 

I also, popped out to the Post Depo this morning, that trip took about an hour and a half. Walking around Cardiff is like walking around Venice, everything's so flat, you can just keep going. Or is that just me? Either way, I had a few packages to pick up. And I'm halfway to becoming a handsome looking cartographer. I need maps, and I need a coat or something (although it will be the height of summer).

I need a haircut, and probably not just a trim this time, maybe just a change of style. Perhaps I should stop caring about the scar and let people think that my barber is a bad hairdresser. I don't know. It's at a stupid looking length at the moment. Maybe I'll feel differently next month, who knows. 

And new in, Red's gone and sent away her Passport stuff, do I have enough holiday allowance left to go abroad? I certainly hope so. I'll have to figure it out I think. I bloody hope so. Otherwise it'll be next spring, and ain't no body got time for that.

...I used to think that I

Would never live past twenty five,

And when you think like that, each day

Is a gift if you survive...

Carpe diem...

P.S. When I'm 40...I'll let you finish that.