New Year Aims/Resolutions

It's the time of year when most people think about new years resolutions, most end up being things that you just wont keep up for any longer than a few weeks. I don't want to do that, which is partly why I said aims/resolutions. The main thing is not to set a target that is unachievable.

Over the the last year I managed to get off my arse quite a bit and start running as well as doing a few decent walks. A couple of very hard months made me look at myself and more importantly others and made me realise how 2 faced and what total liars some people can be. If someone has a problem they should say it to my face I would respect them for that. Well before I hit them anyway, lol.

Anyway it gave me some time to think, I decided I would wait on 2 important things at work to see if I was staying. So far they have both been fucked up, they should be sorted out by the end of January. If by the end of February there is still problems with either its the only resolution I'm making I have to leave. The 2 things are pay and the other is my units merger.

Enough of that shit, ignoring work it was a fantastic year and probably the most eventful of my life. I want to continue on for the next year and make it even better :-)

1. Walking - I've put this first and its going to be the main thing in the next year. I already have planned the Weardale Way, West Highland Way and the NY 3 Peaks Challenge. I have also bought a book with 36 circular walks to cover all the Wainwrights in the lakes. I wont do all of the walks in the book because I intend to have a few weekends wildcamping many of them. I would love to complete all the Wainwrights this year.
2. Be Myself - I probably should of put this first. I spend most of my time pretending to be someone I'm not. I act differently with different people, very few of which are myself. I don't say what I think or feel (especially to those I care about). When attracted to someone for some strange reason I go quiet and close up. I know I do it but need to stop. Even with friends I've known all my life I'm not myself, I've started this last month :-)
3. Friends - Probably the most important thing in my life other than family. There have been a handful of friends who have been there this year (thank you). I know at times I can push them away, don't seem to like anyone getting too close. I need to keep in touch with friends better, I hadn't seen some of my best mates for nearly a year even though many of them live in the village. Also be very careful who I think of as friends, some just aren't!
4. Run - I started this last year and completed the GNR, which I'm in again this year. This year I need to keep running every week and intend to enter about 4 runs at least.
5. Work - I had more shit than anyone should have to go through the last 6 months. If I get anymore shit what so ever it's the time to move on. If there is no trust/ belief in me then leave. This is also the only resolution, leave if things haven't changed by the end of February. If this is the only one I do that's all that matters.
6. Food/Drink - I should of just called this health or something. I'm not going to do any stupid diet or anything like that. I'm just going to eat more healthily like I did for 2 months before the GNR, eating more fruit and veg. Cutting back not out on fattier stuff. The drink part is not stopping drinking alcohol completely as I have mentioned the last couple of weeks but drinking responsibly and putting limits on the amount. Not the 15+ pints I had the other day (what's the point, shouldn't be a competition).
7. Organised - To do some of the things I'm intending and just to fit them all in, I'm gonna have to get organised. I often start with good intentions but order and routines become so boring and I normally give up and become unorganised. I am planning all sorts in my Google Calendar, its a start :-)
   
8. Try as much as possible - This can apply to practically everything, from food to activities. I started saying yes to all sorts for a while last year. I think its a good thing to start up again (within reason). Another friend had started doing the same a few months after me, maybe I can encourage them to start again?
9. Be Happy - I have just started playing "Bobby McFerrin - Don't Worry, Be Happy", this should maybe be one of my songs for the year. I have just added a load of other songs with Happy in the title. Anyway the title says it all, try to smile and be happy if something is making me unhappy sort it out rather than letting it drag on.
10. Live each day as if it's your last - I have been trying to do this as much as possible the last few months. It's often a lot easier said than done but I always now try to make sure I have something to look forward to but not too far ahead in case you don't make it, lol.
11. Everything else - I was only intending to do 10, but next year is gonna be totally full of so much and many of the above are already planned out. There are lots of things I intend to do, I've a list I wrote a few weeks ago of activities I want to do but will never get the time for even a quarter of them (I will post these later). There are lots of boring stuff like Finances that I've let get away from me the last few months but need to sort.

Its gonna be an exciting and action packed year, bring it on I can't wait :-)

Adopt-A-Path Wolsingham

I have just marked out a route for my Adopt-A-Path I'm doing as a voluntary countryside ranger. I asked for maps for the areas of Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope, but unfortunately (for me) tons of the paths are taken especially around Frosterley.

So I have marked out a walk from Wolsingham up towards Tunstall where none of the paths are already taken. Its just over 7.5 miles and covers 7.5 paths.

I was intending to walk it tomorrow but I'm supposed to send off the maps and wait for them to confirm before I start reporting stuff. Nothing stopping me from walking it but officially I guess I haven't adopted them yet and need the map north of Wolsingham, the one they sent stopped about a mile from Tunstall.

I have also sort of planned another route for Stanhope but not quite so easy to walk unadopted paths, but did manage to make a route covering 6 paths. I haven't marked it out properly yet. Probably best I send the Wolsingham one off and walk it first before I adopt anymore.

Expensive Sandwich

Yesterday when I was in Durham I decided to go to Subway for a sandwich. I had been a few weeks ago for the first time when I was a bit drunk and had ordered a sandwich with ham, beef and chicken. I went again and ordered chicken and beef with lettuce and tomato in a foot long bun. While the lass was making it I decided to add some ham, the girl said it would be expensive. I said "it didn't matter" as I thought it would be £4.60 like the last time I got it (still expensive).

The girl asked me for £7.60 and I thought "fuck me", I didn't say that or I might of got wrong or she may of said yes please (not likely). I just paid her and said nowt. I don't know why it was £3 cheaper last time, although I was winding the lass up and was a bit drunk. I got more meat in the the one yesterday as well, it was about an inch thick of meat!

Planning - Part 1

The last 3 days I've been at work, I'd hoped it was going to be a quiet time but have had quite a few problems and answered loads of problems from Teesside (mainly emails). I'm please it's over for the week, next year I am not working it no matter who I have to punch, kick and pin to the floor to take the time. I may go away on Holiday and had a conversation about this on boxing day, would be a good idea after the uneventful Xmas this year.

I have been doing some thinking and some reading in bed now I have my lamp. This morning before I started work I marked out some of the stuff in my diary I had planned for next year already and started working holidays out. It's suprising how much stuff there is. It's not really music like the second half of this year (yet), it's walking, runs and things like that. I filled up most of the weekends in January doing the Weardale Way, even wrote a Sunday in to go to the pub, just so that I actually go out with my mates. I have given up on the idea of stopping drinking completely unless its before a big run and gonna drink sensibly instead.

There is more to post but I need to go and wash up before my Tesco delivery arrives some time between 4 and 6, that'll be 5:45 as usaul the last 20 minutes!

Boxing Day

I didn't get out of bed until about 11, got ready and went down my parents again for dinner. My sister, brother in law and the kids were coming up. It's just Xmas dinner again but with the rest of the family. It was a bit better than the day before because we had fun with some of the cracker toys, water pistol and stuff.

I didn't stay for long because a mate was coming over (Kay), I had bought a present well sort of 3 and told her that it would do for me too. I think she was totally puzzled as to what I had got and had told me not get anything anyway.

I had bought her the Rough Guide to Toronto, a Toronto popout map and 101 Things to do before you die. It's should be obvious why I bought the first 2 (we are going to Canada). She had said how great the popout foldaway map was for New York (sometimes I listen). I probably would of bought them anyway for myself normally but thought they would make useful Xmas presents. The other book I thought was a bit of fun and I wanted to see what it was like, lol. I ordered a second copy for me the other day and it arrived today. Anyway she was very happy with them and said they were the best presents she had got (would say that) because it was something she wanted. She bought me some bottles of Stella and a huge box of Maltesers, so much for not drinking. We had a couple of drinks and ate most the Maltesers or rather I had 2 drinks she had 1 (driving). I had got a call from a mate (Wayne) about going out while Kay was there and I said I might later. After a couple of hours or so Kay said she better go, think she was conscious about my mate having rang. I got her to drop me off at the George on her way home.

In the George, Kevin, Binyon, Wayne and Angela were there along with the pub regulars. Angela and Binyon were both fairly wrecked. Wayne didn't seem too bad and Kevin had only had 1 pint having not been there long either.

We decided to go down Willington, I'd only had about 18 or so pound in my pocket but intended to go to the Cash Machine at Quality Fair in Willington. We went in a couple of pubs in Willington before I went to the ATM only to find it had a metal shutter over it (WTF?). I wasn't drinking much anyway because I had to go to work the following day. I was even more conscious now with about £10 in my pocket, I had another half of lager and a couple of cokes before we ordered a taxi to take us back to Crook. I spent the last 2 or 3 pubs in Willington talking to Trevor a sort of relation of Wayne about immigrants, the army and other stuff. In one of the pbs some lass came over to talk to Wayne, used to live next door I think. She stunk of stale sweat, like she had been running in the dress 2 days earlier and not got changed. I was about 6 foot maybe further away and could still smell her. All of us were keeping our distance, although Wayne seemed immune and carried on talking to her. She would of been an attractive lass if it weren't for that.

We got the taxi back to Crook and got out at the Sun, I said I was gonna go home because I had work in the morning. The others persuaded me to go in and I bought a half of lager. Everyone wandered around towards the dance floor but I decided I wasn't going over there or I would be there ages with no money and no drink. So I left for home, I went to the bank and took £20 out, intending to get a Chinese but both Chinese takeaways were close and had already walked past the third on the way to the bank.

I decided to run home from the top of Hope Street and ran all the way to my door (map below).
It's only 1 mile but warmed me up.

Xmas Day

I suppose I should go back to Xmas day but it was so uneventful I haven't been any rush to post anything on here. I already posted that it was a lonely morning. I went up to my parents just before 12 for Xmas lunch (traditional turkey). For some reason my mam had done no starter, we have had Soup every Xmas meal for as long as I can remember. I don't eat a sweet either so I had finished eating by 12:20 and was sat on their couch.

We then opened the presents, which isn't a lot because we don't send each other much at Xmas. I already knew I was getting a lamp which I had asked for, been unable to read in bed for 2 months because I couldn't buy a lamp because of the present. I got a calendar and some walking socks and that's about it.

I then back up home and went on the computer, when my sister came to my parents I went back down and opened the presents from them and watched Becky and Kieran open their presents. It was more fun watching them open the presents I had given them and seeing them happily playing. I was there for an hour or so and went back up home.

That was my Xmas day other than watching Lord of War on the night which I've mentioned below. Uneventful and sad I guess.

Lord of War

Lord of War: I watched this on Xmas day (I think). I've had the movie for a while but never got around to watching it. I should of earlier because it is a good movie.

It has plenty of action and Nicholas Cage isn't too bad in it, he always seems the same in the roles he plays though. Supposedly it is based on a true story, it probably doesn't follow the true story very closely but it doesn't matter. It's worth watching if you want an action film with a story.

I gave it 8 out of 10 (maybe slightly generous).

The Departed

The Departed: I watched this last weekend on an import from America after having missed it at the pictures (for some reason).

It was very good, I guess a typical Scorsese movie like the excellent Casino and Gangs of New York. Which also means its a long movie, but there is plenty of action and tension.

There is some acting by Matt Damon, DiCaprio and of course Jack Nicholson playing the sort of character you expect but doing it well. Marc Wahlberg isn't aging to well in the last 2 movies I've seen him in (probably the dodgy hair).

Anyway this is a very good movie if you like Scorsese movies. I gave it 9 out of 10. It's number 80 in the IMDB top 250 movies of all time.

Welsh Three-Thousanders?

Posting this quickly to remind me to look into it in more detail. This could be another challenge, unfortunately may not get time this year :-(

Route for Welsh Three-Thousanders

Its a walk taking in all the mountains over 3000 feet in Snowdonia 14/15 of them in one walk to be completed in 24 hours. It has 11999 feet of ascent a third the height of Everest and is for the route on the link above 31.5 miles. I think there are some slightly shorter routes but still approaching 30 miles!

Weardale Way Plan

Distance: 77 miles
Time: 5/6 days

I was reading Country Walking magazine tonight in bed, one of the articles was about walking the South Downs Way in January split over 4 weekends. It got me thinking. I have wanted to do the Weardale Way or at least thinking about it for a couple of months but I was more looking at doing it as a continuous walk over a week but there are a few problems with doing that. It would be quite hard to find somewhere to wild camp or in a camp site on most sections because its quite close to buildings and farms. I also don't really have the holiday to take this early in the year with planning the West Highland Way in May and Canada in July.

My dad had mentioned about splitting it up into day walks a few weeks ago but I wasn't too sure but after reading the article in the magazine, I think it sounds like a good idea. The best thing about it, is it's on my doorstep and can sleep in my own bed every night. This maybe loses some of the fun but at the moment the way just isn't designed very well for a continuous walk.

The website for it is also quite poor and quite misleading with buttons that don't work. you need to look at the centre pane of the website and use the links at the bottom not the side (they don't work).

I have emailed for the route directions, the route has been changed since the marked ordnance survey map route. There is a book available and it's supposed to be available in Crook Library. If its open tomorrow night, I may go and see if I can find it. I'm not sure if this show's the latest route changes though!

Hopefully tomorrow night I will have some time to look at it in a bit more detail and plan how I can get to and from each section (bus and lifts). I'm sure on some sections my parents would join me. Although if I intend to walk Saturdays and Sundays my dad goes out walking with a friend on Sundays so would miss the walks on those days.

Lots to add

I haven't done a post since my miserable one on Xmas morning but quite a few to add, couple of movies (The Departed & Lord of War). Rest of Xmas day and boxing day (went out on the night).
I will add these tomorrow but wanted to do my next post now while I was thinking about it.

Xmas Morning

It's Xmas morning and I feel sad. I didn't really want to do an unhappy post today but want to be able to look back at this. I'm sad because its the first Xmas in my own home and I'm alone :-(

Going to my parents for dinner at least :-)

Looking back

Its the time of year again when I look back over the year and see what I've done and how I felt.

When I started thinking about 2006 I forget about moving into my house, it seems so long ago now. I was thinking I didn't do much until May, only after looking back through my blog that I remembered that it was the beginning of the year when I bought it and spent the next couple of months doing work before moving in!

Then once I moved in I started going out to all sorts.

January - Nothing really
February - Exchanged House Contacts
March - Working on house
April - Working on house
May - Moved in, went to Hi-Fi North, watched boxing in London
June - Walked Ben Nevis, saw Bon Jovi
July - Suspended from work, walked part of Peninne Way, saw Guns N Roses.
August - Still suspended until end of month, walked Crinkle Crags and camped, Newcastle Match, Leeds Festival
September - Robbie Williams, The Subways
October - Ross Noble, Great North Run
November - Muse, watch boxing in Glasgow
December - Iron Maiden, Kasabian, Basement Jaxx, Peterlee Xmas Night, Dirty Pretty Things.

Compared to previous years I have done loads and have probably missed loads from the summary above. I was asked a month ago if I was dying or something because I was doing and planning all sorts of things. I said no, but I should of replied we start dying once we are born and our clocks start counting down.

I have had a good year, I would of said fantastic if it wasn't for July and August and being suspended from work. I experienced the lowest point in my life in July and found myself in a dark place I would rather not visit again. I suppose it spurred me on to do more things because you never know what shit someone is going to throw at you next.

So on the whole missing out the work problem I had a great year with some real highlights to look back on and remember. Next year will be even more action packed I hope :-)

Planning for 2007

I am starting to think about new year resolutions or more like for this year some plans for the year. I will make some decisions over the next week and write them on here, probably over several days before I come up with a definitive list :-)

Already I have some things planned like going to Canada, walking the West Highland Way and a couple of concerts planned...

Not Ready

I'm not ready for Xmas, me and my mam decorated my tree after I fixed the tree lights. I need some more tinsel which hopefully I will get tomorrow. I have all my presents to wrap, not very many most people are gonna end up with money.

Although I am quite impressed with a book I bought as a present and have ordered another copy for myself. I have also ordered a few other books:

The Munros: Scotland's Highest Mountains
Walking the Wainwrights: With Stuart Marshall
West Highland Way (Walker's Route)
Mountain Chart of England and Wales (Feature Maps)

You may notice a theme running through them all, obviously its walking. The West Highland Way is a map ready for me walking it in May next year. It contains other useful stuff like finding the way to the start, accommodation. Although shouldn't need the accommodation part I'm wild camping it.

Blackeyed Friday

I went out last night on Blackeyed Friday (break up day), there was no fighting that I noticed for a change. I was out with a few of my mates, some I hadn't seen since the same day last year. We went to Crook for 1 pint, then got a taxi down to Bishop. I made the mistake of drinking in rounds. There was 5 in the round and I bought at least 2 rounds, so there's 10 pints and I drank more than that. After Bishop we went back to Crook, then ended up at the George in Billy Row.

God knows how much I drank and much of the night is hazy!

I had to do some apologising today after opening my mouth on the phone last night and some strange texts. I'm not actually sure what I said but can take a guess, oops!

Still Awake & Listening

I'm still sat here at the computer. I'm not tired which is weird because when I came in from work I was knackered. It's probably just as well I'm not too tired because next door keep making a bloody noise working in their attic. They have made it into a room for the computer I think but I keep hearing banging and moving stuff about. Its after midnight for christ sake!

So I'm sat here with headphones listening to a wide variety of music from Ned Miller - From A Jack To A King to Jimmi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower. With a bit of Sharam - PATT (Part All the Time) thrown in :-)

I really could of done with an early night, because I will be going out early afternoon after work and god knows what time I will get back in. I am going to have to try hard to not drink too much. I need to go off to get a few things for Xmas on Saturday, so can't lose the whole day to a hangover.

Review of Events

The Kasabian concert marked the end of my concerts for this year. Considering before this year I had never seen any live music other than the stuff in the local pubs, but that don't count.

This year I have seen:

Bon Jovi
Guns N Roses
Iron Maiden
Robbie Williams
Basement Jaxx (Twice)
Orson
The Subways (Twice)
Kasabian
Dirty Pretty Things (Twice)
The Fratellis
Muse
Noisettes (shit supporting Muse)
Trivium
Bullet For My Valentine
Franz Ferdinand (4 songs)
Kaiser Cheifs
Bodycount
The Sunshine Underground
Yeah Yeah Yeahs (wandered off)
Belle And Sabastian (most of it)
Fall Out Boy
Panic! At The Disco
Dashboard Confessional
Fightstar
Primal Scream (half of it)
The Vines
Ian Brown (got bored of him)
Paul Oakenfold
Pete Tong

I saw some others besides for the ones above when at the Leeds Festival and quite a few DJs at Hi-Fi in May. I'm sure I'm missing some major band I've seen as well but can't think.

Not bad for my first year of going to see stuff, I also saw Ross Noble (comedian) as well.

On top of these I also ran the Great North Run, walked Ben Nevis. Also walked 3 sections of the Pennine Way, Crinkle Crags, Langdale Pikes, High Street, Charity walk from Frosterley and various other walks.

I went to a Newcastle match, went to watch the boxing twice in London and in Glasgow.

Everything above was from May onwards, so really its only just over half a year. Good going :-)

Kasabian

Just got back in from watching Kasabian at the Arena. I nearly ended up not going. Tony rang at 6 o'clock to say he couldn't go because his girlfriend who is pregnant had really bad stomach pains and he was worried (Hope she is OK). I was tired anyway but text Leila to let her know because we had seats together. She was already there with her son.

I decided to go anyway and sold Tony ticket to someone outside. The Towt (however you spell it) would only offer £5 for a seating ticket, so sold it to someone else for £15.

It ended up being good, the Fratellis were excellent supporting. Although they hardly had any of the stage and were perched on the edge with a sheet thing covering the stage ready for Kasabian. Unfortunately they were only on for about 30 minutes. They played a Goldfrapp song which sounded really good (Ooh La La).

Then Kasabian came on at 9 and the stage looked good with the lighting. I was quite happy to be in the seating at the side, we were stood up but was good how we could see all the crowd below. There seamed to be a really good atmosphere maybe not as good as the Maiden concert but better than some of the others. I didn't know half the songs, maybe every other song. Please I went though in the end.

Sorted

I went to watch the football with the brother in law, unfortunately they lost. More importantly when I was walking home I walked past the Farrers Arms where an ex worked. I walked past on the way home and decided to turn back and actually go in for the first time in well over 18 months. I had seen the ex at the bar when I was walking past and decided that enough was enough.

I walked in and ordered a drink and had a conversation as we would of before we ever went out. We always got on well before which is how we ended up going out in the first place.

Anyway after being in there for 30 minutes I was the last person in the pub left, but it was certainly worth the while to clear the air. If you ever read this Lisa, which is unlikely, it's good to see you happy and smiling after all the hassle with you know who :-)

No Drinking postponed to New Year

My idea of not drinking is postponed until the new year. I got a text off a mate who I used to go out drinking with 2 or 3 times every week and play football with for years. I haven't seen him since break up day last year even though he only lives around the village. I am off out with him and some other mates on Friday afternoon (break up day).

I am also out tonight down Crook to watch the Newcastle match with the brother in law. I have to set off walking in 5 minutes.

I just checked the timings for the Kasabian concert I'm going to tomorrow night and saw that the Fratellis are supporting. I like them even more than Kasabian and wanted to go and see them a few weeks ago. So am very happy now :-)

Well I better go gotta walk in the freezing cold down to Crook!

2007 Calendar

I've been looking for a 2007 Calendar for work and another for home. I've just ordered one, an Iron Maiden one and decided to get a mug as well. Been thinking about ordering one of these for years. I have held off on the poster which I've also wanted since I was about 12. I think it would look a bit out of place in my house :-(

My other calendar may be a custom one of my own pictures, if I can find enough decent pictures I've taken!

Need more things

My calendar is looking very bleak in January and February, I need to fill it. It doesn't have to be with concerts. I would be happy with Walking every weekend, just annoying the night will still be dark or I could be out walking/cycling/running after work. Where I live you can't really run all that far at night because most of the decent roots have no street lights and are too narrow to be running in total darkness.

I still keep thinking about doing one of those trips I mentioned the other night. Waalking all the Wainwrights in one go or all the Munroes. The Wainwrights is the easier but would still take a long time. If I had known I was gonna be off for 2 months earlier this year I probably could of done it then.

I'm listening to Hallowed Be Thy Name by Iron Maiden which is an appropriate song, about someone walking to the gallows. When I say appropriate I am talking about because it reminds me to "live each day as if it's you last" which I should get tattooed or something. So yes I need more things for January and February, I will need to be doing plenty of training for the Redcar Half Marathon in March.

Busy night

I got in tonight and just wanted to sit down and relax after a busy couple of nights. Yet I'd just sat down when my mother rang to ask if I was gonna be in. My parents wanted to come up and fit my shelves that my dad had made. I'm obviously not gonna say "no I wanna sit on my arse all night and relax".

So decided I better tidy up a bit and did some ironing. Then helped my parents put the shelves up in my room. Then did some hoovering, washing up, set some clothes away in the washer. Which now seems to be knackered. I think I might of over loaded it and its not spinning properly. Switched it off and waiting for it to reset so I can try and stick it on spin.

Then at about 9, I finally sat down and decided to watch a film (Lara Croft mentioned below).

I am sort of looking forward to Xmas, just to relax but I'm working between Xmas and New Year so not gonna have much time off. I was going to go out this Friday for break up day as I have done for about 10 years. Instead I am not going to bother and stick to my "No Alcohol", save the money and relax. I may be even sadder and actually bake, lol.

I have so many jobs to do around the house, but never in to do them. I still have loads of Christmas presents to buy, decorations to buy and put up. I just mentioned I wanna bake, not a joke.

I suppose I better go to bed, so much to do, so little time!

Polar Express

Polar Express: I watched this the other night. I felt like watching a Christmas film and this was the first I found. It wasn't that great, although I am probably 20 years older than the target audience.

It did make me smile and if a nice movie to watch with kids I guess. I still gave it 6 out of 10.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life

Lara Croft Tomb Raider - The Cradle of Life: I watched this tonight, it's another of those movies I've had for ages to watch but never got around to it.

It's what you expect, plenty of action, Angelina Jolie in tight fitting clothes, dodgy English accent. Oh and more action.

If you don't take it too seriously, not that you could and enjoy it for what it is, it's not bad. I gave it 6 out of 10.

Iron Maiden Concert

I've just got back from seeing Iron Maiden at the Metro Arena in Newcastle. It was an excellent night. They played the new album "A Matter Of Life And Death" and was starting to think they weren't gonna play any of the classics. Bruce said they wanted to play the album as it was telling a story. After playing the Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg they started on the classics "Fear of The Dark" was the first. They also played Can I Play With Madness, Iron Maiden, Halloweed Be Thy Name among others. Its a shame they never played Running Free, Run To The Hills or The Trooper but with so many good songs you can't play them all.

It was a fantastic night, everything I hoped for after 15 years of listening to Maiden and never seeing them live.

Bruce said they are planning to hire a field in the summer next year and do a gig with about 150,000 people. I can't wait, if I can be there, I will be. Please don't let it be at the beginning of July when I'm in Canada!!!

Given Up Alcohol

I hav decided I am giving up alcohol. Nothing special has happened to make me say that. I haven't ended up fighting or anything. I'm just sick of spending a fortune, feeling shit the next day, putting weight back on and more often than not having a crap night anyway.

I went out last night with Jay and some of the people he works with. We went to Spennymoor, then Durham , then caught the last bus back to Crook. I wasn't going to go out and I wish I hadn't. I texted quite a few people as I tend to when I'm drunk, nothing too bad was said, luckily.

When back in Crook I had some muppet having a go at me, telling me to keep away from his woman. He is a tosser and must be nuts, his woman is about 50 and I have absolutely no interest what so ever in her. I was talking to her the other week and having a laugh, that was it. Some people are just totally fucking stupid.

Anyway I am not going to drink alcohol any more and will give the lager in the fridge to my dad.

Grin and Loop

I'm sat here chair dancing (oh dear) listening to Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces, I seem to have this, Crazy and In The Morning by The Coral and the same song name by Razorlight on loop. I'm sat here with strange happy grin on my face with big headphone on (DJ style) . It must be from all the coffee (latte and Cappucino) I've been drinking while doing my Job appeal. On my third loop of them now ;-)

I'm planning some exercise in my Google Calendar for the next month, adding runs in and some walks. I'm still very tempted to sign up for the Great Winter Run in Edinburgh but I don't think I have enough time to train even though it is only 5K (but hilly). Especially with Xmas and New Year in between, the run is on the 17th January. There are less than 200 places left, should I stay or should I go. Now there's a song to add into my loop!

I have booked up to go to the Outdoors Show @ the NEC in March with my dad. It only cost £9 each, Ray Mears is there talking, probably not see him, will be too busy wandering about and trying stuff.

I need to get back into training again, even if I don't do the Edinburgh run I am intending to do the Redcar half-marathon in March so need to do some serious training now!

My aim is to run the regular work run in sub 30 minutes before the end of this year and run once in reverse (the route not me). I will see how I feel after the run tomorrow at work and if I feel OK I will book myself a place in Edinburgh if any left then!

Job Appeal

I have just finished completing my job appeal spreadsheet and if I've done it correctly its moved me up loads. I will get it checked tomorrow before sending it off and probably quite a few amendments. I hate doing shit like this, its like doing an NVQ!

Inspiring

i wrote a blog post on my phone last night but it hasn't appeared yet,
will probably turn up in a couple of days again.

anyway in it i wrote about how i had a podcast to listen to about a
woman who had given up her job, sold her house, car and everything she
owned to walk 3000 miles around the alps. i think the url is
www.alpinechallenge.info
thats from memory so could be wrong. she was doing it for charity. i
listened to the podcast on the way to work this morning and i am so
envious. not of walking the alps but to sell up and do something she
really wants to do.

i really want to walk every major peak in the uk. well to be specific
the wainwrights, monroes, corbetts as well as the entire uk coast.
this is a massive undertaking but it would be fantastic. what a
challenge it would be. I've done a run and intend to do several more
over the next year including the great north run, already paid. to
walk all of those or even just every munroe or every wainwright would
be a huge achievement especially if done in one continuous trip.

if only i had the courage to give up everything. i constantly think
what is the point of going to work every day. its just to feed the
bills and other stuff we dont really need. i could be out there
walking the uk.

maybe i need another kick up the arse?

i am going to do some serious thinking in the lead up to new year and
set some plans in motion. it wont be any of the ones ive just
mentioned unless i walk every wainwright. i have flights booked to
canada in july and place in the great north run paid for. i also have
a week walking the west highland way in may planned. i suppose thats 3
major things before the year has even started.

i have a one for 2008 already as well. the tgo challenge which is 2
weeks in may spent walking from the west coast to the east coast of
scotland more details can be found on the web rather than me
explaining on here.

i want something much bigger, more challenging that i will love which
i why i said the things above.

oh i also plan to do the coast to coast cycle route in a day. i mean
the full 160 mile route not the shorter ones I've heard people doing.

these are a few things I've got wrote down, there is actually i full
page of a4 i filled in a few minutes. would never get chance to do
them all but some i am determined as well as the above. i will do the
north yorkshire 3 peak challenge which i had intended to do this year.

more of this stuff including the dates i'm actually doing this stuff
will appear in the next couple of weeks.

life is for living not working!

love to

i just read the outline of a podcast i have yet to listen to. its
about someone who sold their house and car and gave up their job to
walk the alps.

it sounds fantastic, not so much the alps but selling up and doing
something you really want. i would love to do the same but walk here
in the uk. walk every wainwright, corbett and munroe as well as
walking the entire uk coast. that would be my dream :-)

unfortunately i don't have the balls to do it at the moment. if i get
pissed off enough i may soon develop them!

keeping people out of bother

i watched a program with monty don where he is taking 10 offenders who
are drug addicts and getting them to work the land. to me this is a
good idea if people can have a sense of achievement which growing
plants and tending animals provides i thing it will work for some.
there are others it was clear it wouldn't.

it reminds me of spending most of childhood around farms, keeps you
out of trouble, occupied and fit. kids still used to help out down the
farm in roddymoor up until most of the stuff was sold off.

along the same lines i have been thinking for a while that kids and
people who are in bother should be encouraged to go walking and take
part it outdoor pursuits. it will help most people and prevent kids
from causing bother as well as keep them fit.

unfortunately our government very little to encourage this :-(

Peterlee Xmas Evidence

I've managed to acquire some photos from the Peterlee Xmas night out from last Friday. Unfortunately I'm in one of them looking very bad with a santa hat. Everybody looks much better than me!

(Above) Katy and Me [oh dear]

(Above) Leila and Chris

(Above) Ruth and Chris

(Above) Po-Ming and Nichola

(Above) Margaret and Terry

(Above) Margaret and Katy

(Above) Janet

(Above) Bagley and Paul with Kay and Kay in background

(Above) Chris [again] with Charlotte

(Above) Po-Ming and Nichola again

(Above) Paul's dazzling head with Kay and Helen opposite. Janet and Mel facing on table behind with Jane and Gemma (I think) with backs to camera. Dunno where I was Gemma? is sitting in my seat.

I need to acquire the rest of the photos!!!

phone shopping

i went shopping at north shields with a mate, well we went to one
shop. we went to carphonewarehouse to have a look as we both wanted
new mobiles. sending my new one back.

i decided i liked the nokia n80 but am gonna leave it until next month
when my orange contract expires.

neither of up ended up with a phone at north shields so decided to
have a look at tesco at kingston park. still didn't end up with one
there but we went in to carphonewarehouse there and got one, not me.

when i got home i had a bit more look at the n80 but hardly anyone
offer it. o2 do but its expensive and three do but no good to me. so
i'm probably back to the drawing board :-(

Runs

I have been looking for somewhere that lists runs in the North East and hadn't really found much until I just found this website. There are some races missing that I know about, but there are loads on there.

I am still thinking about running in Edinburgh next month but I am totally out of shape. Starting tomorrow, I am going to go back into training and be careful what I eat and drink. I hope to be up at 6 for a run in the dark but will be hard. I've thrown my body clock in turmoil and not been out of bed until after 1 this weekend.

Good Night

I had a really good night on Friday. I spent an absolute fortune (£80) mainly on drink. I was on Double Vodka and Redbulls nearly all night. I can remember just about eveything and I seem to of kept most people amused. I can remember dancing with Katy at one point that was quite funny. Most people were laughing as well who were sat with me :-)

Everyone appears to be still talking to me too, so that's a bonus!!

Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko: I have had this movie for ages and always put off watching it because I had heard it was very weird. It was weird, but also one of the best movies I have seen in ages.

My sort of movie, that makes you think about stuff and even had a tear in my eye at the end. Anyone who knows me will know how rare that is.

I think I will watch it again over Xmas, its a movie that needs watching more than once. I am about to give it a 10. I couldn't really explain the movie to anyone, very weird. Just watch it :-)

Out again

I'm off out again tonight for the Peterlee office Xmas party. ITs in Chester-le-Street but I'm meeting up with a mate (Tony) in Durham first at 5. Then getting a taxi to C-L-S.

I better go coz I ahve to iron my jeans and have the 3 S's to do, actually 2 S's (Shower and shave). I'm getting picked up in 35 minutes... Bye....

Great North Run

I received my certificate in the post for the Great North Run along with details of membership where I would be guaranteed a place for the next 3 years. It was only open to people who completed the last race and the first 2000 to apply.

I quickly signed up and have paid the membership and the entry fee for 2007. So I am now entered again :-)

I also saw a 5K run in Edinburgh next month on the 13th which I really fancy doing. I think the route is what I've drawn out below.

Dirty Pretty Things

I went to see Dirty Pretty Things last night at the Carling Academy. We had seating tickets, which is upstairs on a massive balcony. Sitting at that sort of concert isn't the best, lots of people were hammered and kept standing up and security would run along and tell them to sit down, then 30 seconds later they would be back up again. So I/we spent more time watching the security for the first half. Then DPT told everyone on the balcony to stand up, which we all did, so the security gave up. After that I thought it was loads better.

I didn't know every song, to be honest I only recognised about 4 and one of those wasn't their own but it didn't matter.

The only thing I will make a note of is never to get seating tickets again at the Academy.

Basement Jaxx

I went to see Basement Jaxx on Wednesday with a friend. I had previously seen them at the Robbie Concert and they were excellent which is why I decided to go and see them again.

We didn't see the support act, we stopped in the foyer (however you spell it) talking. The place wasn't sold out, the back was curtained off and so were some of the seats on the side.

The concert was very different from the Robbie one. It wasn't just their big hits and had less well known stuff. It made a change to have some slow almost ballads and some guitar songs. As well of course as the big dance tunes.

I really enjoyed it, the only problem was I wasn't drunk (driving) and of course had to dance. I was with someone who can dance and we were in a lot of open space nearer the back with lots of people who could dance. I danced anyway (well shuffled). Now when I drink I KNOW I am a fantastic dancer, lol ;-)

Canvas Print

I have finally got around to emailing off a picture I want putting onto a canvas. I was bought a canvas print as a present in June from the people I work with. for various reasons I have just never got around to ordering it from having problems deciding on the picture and what size.

I have emailed the picture below which I took from the top of the Crinkle Crags in August. This was taken at a difficult time, so not only is it one of my favourite pictures that I've taken it has other meanings and memories for me.


I'm not sure if it's suitable for a cavas and I decided I wanted it big (30" by 20"), according to Paint Shop Pro the image should be OK but just not sure if it will just be blurry on a canvas. I've asked the guys opinion and how much it will cost me. I cut some of the bottom of the picture off because there was even more grass, but I think its needs some. Maybe I should of cut some more?

busy day at mill

It's been a really busy day today at work. I spent the morning in Darlington then went to Middlesbrough in the afternoon. I suppose the good thing is the day flies by, just don't know where to start there is so much work to do.

I'm hoping to spend all day in the Middlesbrough office and get some of the outstanding stuff I have to do done. There are tons of stuff to do in the other offices but the day to day tasks are getting behind as well.

I have to do my appeal against my job matching as well, but god knows when I'm going to have time to do that. I haven't even had a chance to sit down and read everything properly let alone start to write anything. The stupid thing is you have to do it at work because it has to be completed on a spreadsheet and we aren't aloud to email stuff home. There are 2 weeks until the deadline but I can't see me having any time this week :-(

New Phone

Yesterday 3 rang me about interest I had expressed in X-Series from them. I said I was interested but had another month left of my Orange contract. So they said they would give me £50 credit which is more than it would cost for a month of my existing contract.

I decided to make an order. My Nokia N73 is being delivered on Tuesday along with my slingbox which will enable me to stream tv to anywhere in the world including my new phone.

Out in Crook

I went out in Crook last night with Jay. He texted yesterday afternoon to see if I fancied going out, now he is living back at his parents (a few doors down the street).

It wasn't a bad night, saw a couple of other mates I hadn't seen in a year. They mentioned about going out to local. I used to go 3 times a week every week, haven't been in over a year. They said I hadn't missed much, its the same people talking about the same shit. I will have a look up sometime over the next few weeks.

Anyway Crook last night, nothing really exciting happened, other than not being able to get a taxi at about 2:30. It was tossing it down with rain and every doorway was full of people sheltering and trying to ring for lifts. Yet there was no taxis anywhere. I was just gonna walk home and get wet. Jay refused and after waiting about for ages, he said he was gonna ring his dad. I tried to stop him but said he didn't care he wasn't walking home. So he rang and woke his parents up and his dad came and picked us up. I felt really bad :-(

Jeremy Clarkson - The Good The Bad The Ugly

Jeremy Clarkson - The Good The Bad The Ugly: I watched this earlier today. Its another of Clarksons car DVDs that always come out before Xmas. In this one he is trying to find a decent car in America comparing them to European cars.

Its good as his DVDs usually are but I think some of his previous ones have been better.

Weardale Railway

Yesterday I went on the Weardale Railway from Wolsingham to Stanhope on a steam train. I've always wanted to go on it from when I was a kid and I used to see the normal train go up in the summer from Bishop Auckland while I was fishing at Frosterley. So it was a bonus to now be going on a steam train.

It cost £7 and was definetly worth it (for me anyway). I wouldn't say it was the best organised thing I've been to. With being told different return times from Stanhope and having not seen any advertising. If it weren't for a group of about 20 walkers there would of only been about 5 people on the way up, that's including me and my dad.

Regular Run

Distance: 3.15 miles
Time: 36 minutes

Myself and Mandy went out for the regular dinner time run today, not that I've ran it regularly recently. The time is slower than normal but neither of us were at our fittest. I will be running it again on Friday. After another couple of times around we are supposed to be running it in reverse.

Work, thinking and life in general

It felt much better to be back in Durham today, after 3 working days in Teesside!

I've been frustrated over the whole merger our unit has been going through. This is the second of the 2 things I was waiting for to see how it was handled and if it was done right I would stay. So far it is a fucking shambles. Still waiting for someone to actually speak to me, what was even more frustrating was when I was in Teesside and they were called to see how everything was and told them they had spoke to me. The only conversation I have had was 20 seconds on the way to setup something and was told we would have a conversation later. It's hard when I'm in Teesside 2 days and often out and management is also out the office a lot. I have plenty of things I have concerns over and am becoming more and more frustrated with there being no one at a senior level to be able to ask or address my concerns to.

My walk along Redcar sea front on Monday has just thrown more things into my mind and from thinking things through now. There are far too many things in life to DO, SEE & EXPERIENCE to be wasting what short time we have sitting at a desk feeling FRUSTRATED, HASSLED, STRESSED and recently MISERABLE. Its just a fucking bastard that I need money to do them. I can't get out of my mind how much I would love to walk around the mountains and hills of Wales, Northern England and of course Scotland. If I won money that's exactly what I would want to do, nevermind the fast cars and exotic holidays (for now anyway).

For some reson whenever I hear Dire Straits - Fade to Black it really makes me think. For some strange reason it's one of my favourite and most played songs. Totally different to most Dire Straits songs (listening to it now).

The songs I have in the playlist are:
George Michael - You Have Been Loved
Bryan Adams - I'm Ready
Dire Straits - Fade To Black
Nina Simone - Feeling Good

All 4 songs are excellent quite calming and good thinking songs, Nina Simone is probably the odd one out.

I can see my mind is jumping about again (back to usual).

I started making a list on Monday night of things I would like to do (yes another list). It's getting very long, yet I want to do all of them. I couldn't do all of them over the next year due to money and time. I won't post the full list yet because I haven't finished and I guess there are sub lists of stuff like a list of walks I want to do.

• Climbing
• Swimming
• Ice Skating
• Horse Riding
• Kayaking
• Boxing
• Cycle Coast to Coast
• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Coasteering
• Paint Balling
• Bungee Jump

That's a sample from it, but a lot more on the list already.

I wonder how much money I would need to walk from Wales to Scotland taking in Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis along the way and how much time. I need to do something that'll push me physically and mentally and is a bit different. Plenty of people walk all 3 in 24 hours but they don't actually walk between them. I'm sure some people must walk it but obviously over several weeks. An inspiration to me would be the "Two Fit Ladies" who walked 1521 miles around the coast of Scotland in 81 days to raise money for Save The Children. Just realised that one of their Surnames was Horner (no relation as far as I know).

I have a friend who has a seriously ill member of their family, this is making me think all the more about how we waste our lives. Yet what do I do about it, other than going to a few concerts and entering a run. It's nothing, we are all capable of so much more, nearly all of us go about our daily lives going to work and back home and doing the house work and watching TV. There must be more to life than this, I've said many times I want to look back and feel I've had a memorable life. Not someone who dies having done nothing and no ones misses them.


I think too much!!!

Relaxing To Music

Yesterday I had another day of hassle working in Teesside and decided that when I got home I just wanted to relax and listen to music. I decided to listen to The Beatles - Love. I'd already listened to it in stops and starts but put my big DJ style headphones on and laid back and lost myself in the music. It's a fantastic album, some of the highlights were the songs I normally didn't like too much (Benefit of Mr Kite, Back in the USSR). Worth doing the same as me and just immerse yourself in the album.

I then went to bed just after 10 and slept straight through until the morning and managed to spend the night not thinking about everything or at least not things that were upsetting or glum.

Listening to..

Below are some of the albums I've been listening to since my last music post. I've listened to quite a few others as well. I normally post all the covers to go with them but feeling too lazy tonight, but have still rated the ones I can remember.


The Beatles - Love ****
Oasis - Stop The Clocks *****
U2 - U218 ***
Sugababes - Overloaded: The Singles Collection ***
George Michael - Twenty Five ****
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations ****
Muse - Absolution ***
Air - Moon Safari *****
The Long Blondes - Someone To Drive You Home ***
All Saints - Studio 1 **
Muse - Origin of Symmetry ****
Oasis - Definitely Maybe *****
Jamiroquai - High Times ****
Moby - Go - The Very Best Of Moby ****
The Beatles - 1 *****
The Beatles - Abbey Road ****
Iron Maiden - Best Of The Beast *****

There seems to be lots of compilation albums out at the moment because of Xmas probably. The best of the compilations I've listened to has to be Oasis - Stop The Clocks, there isn't a bad song on the album. The All Saints album I forced myself to listen to, but I was very bored with it. The new Beatles album "Love" is quite good, its a part mashup, part remix of many songs. They do sound a lot clearer. I intend to lay back and listen to it again and it may move up to 5 stars rather than just 4.

Mobile Phone

I have been looking at new phones. My contract expires in January, Orange have already been on the phone trying to get me to take a new contract but their offers were rubbish. My phone broke 2 days after they rang. I have an Orange SPV C600 and the main menu button stopped working. Which means I can't unlock it, nevermind do anything else. So I have gone back to my SPV C500 which is actually a better phone (the keys work anyway).

I have been looking at all the offers from the different companies and I have always avoided Three because their coverage was always rubbish but it now appears they are as good as the others. I then noticed that from next month they are lauching X-Series which is like unlimited broadband for phones and comes with some useful programs like Orb, Slingbox, Yahoo & Google among others. At the moment there is no indication on price, it will be announced on the 1st December. Only 2 phones will be supported initially but I quite like the look of the Nokia N73 after a lot of research, takes good photos and can use my existing 500MB MiniSD card. It may become my new phone on Three if the price is OK and they will transfer my mobile number?

Redcar

I was at Redcar today to setup some computers for work in a new Police station but when I got there they had decided to move to another room and our comms line had been installed in the old room. Anyway I had to wait for the Police Comms person who took ages to arrive then to do anything. While he was doing some other stuff I went for my dinner in Redcar and walked along the front. The guy had said he was going to be 2 hours and I was gonna take a 2 hour lunch and not have full lunches for the next couple of days then I realised I was owed about 9 dinner hours while working in Teesside anyway. In the end I had just over an hour anyway, so didn't really matter because I got a call to say he had returned.

I had a really nice walk along the front in Redcar and along the beach. I ended up walking quite a long way, only about 3 mile but its what I had time for in an hour. The map below shows where I went, I only got to walk a short way along the beach because I was rushing back to the car to get back to the Police Station.

Distance: 3 miles
Time: 1 hour

Below are some pictures I took with my phone while walking, they are shite quality because its with my old phone :-(







I intended to take some pictures when on the front with the arcades and boats but as I said above I ended up rushing back which I hadn't expected to be doing.

When I was walking along the front the tractors that towed the boats in were lined up and there was one waiting for the boat to come in. There was another fisherman selling the fish from his boat as he gutted and cleaned the fish while they waited. I hadn't seen this for nearly 20 years, didn't even realise they still did it, was good to see. If I'd had more time I would of taken some pictures (although shit quality like above).

I really enjoyed the walk and again made me think what am I doing working in offices and dealing with other peoples shit. When I have had 2 really nice walks in the last 3 days. I want to be out enjoying the outdoors, maybe I'd of thought different if it was raining!

The afternoon in the Police Station wasn't quite so bad I managed to finally get the computers setup although still had to wait for the Comms guy to patch things in 1 at a time, he took ages. I could of re-patched everything he did in 5 minutes, it took him over an hour. I ended up helping the staff carry boxes and Police IT equipment while I was waiting.

Most Downloaded Videos

I was just reading an article on the BBC News site about the most downloaded videos. I had seen most of them before but thought I would post them below:

1. Star Wars Kid

2. Numa Numa

3. One Night In Paris

4. Kylie Minogue for Agent Provocateur

5. The Exploding Whale

6. John West Salmon Bear Fight

6. Trojan Games
8. Kolla2001

9. AfroNinja

10. The Shining Redux



I'm afraid that link to One Night In Paris isn't the real one, gotta keep this site kind of family friendly. The videos whould probably look better smaller but can't be bothered to mess about.

Casino Royale

Casino Royale: I went to see this on Wednesday. I'm a Bond fan anyway, so unless it was really bad I was always going to enjoy it. Yet it was excellent, it's the best bond movie since Goldeneye and it's better than that. A lot of people slated Daniel Craig but he seems to fit in the role perfectly.

This movie is a lot more grown up than the other Bond films and more violent but its not over the top it's probably what was was always missing in the past. People died too easily in past films or were dispensed with far too easy.

Anyway I gave it 9 out of 10 but was very tempted to give it 10.

Romaldkirk & Cotherstone Walk

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

Today I went for a walk with my parents using a route from a walking magazine. The route is shown on the map above from Romaldkirk to Cotherstone and back to Romaldkirk. It's a nice walk which I found easy and there isn't much gradient to climb or descend.

There are some gorgeous old houses along the route, a couple can be seen in the pictures below. I wish I had done this walk about 4-6 weeks ago before all the leaves had fell off the trees. It would look stunning with all the autumn leaves on the trees.

I must be getting fitter because I found this very easy while my mother was out of breath at times.

(Above) My Mam jumping over a stream

(Above) River Tees near Cotherstone

(Above) Parents stopping for Dinner, don't know how my dad got so muddy

(Above) Bridge over the River Balder

(Above) Doe Park

(Above) Balder Grange opposite

(Above) Balder Viaduct

(Above) Returning to Romaldkirk village green

Muse

Me and Tony went to watch Muse at Newcastle Arena tonight, that was when Tony was eventually was ready. He had been locked out of the house and left his key, we eventually got there at about 7:20.

Unfortunately we had seating tickets near the back, we listened to some of the support act (The Noisettes) but the womens voice began to get on our nerves so we went back into the foyer and got a drink.

We went back in at about 9 and sat in our seats, I had mentioned about jumping the barrier and going into the standing part. When Muse started a few people did exactly that. So me and Tony jumped the barrier but a woman security person shouted us and made us go back out. Yet when we walked back out the gate we were given a standing ticket each by one of the other security people. He hadn't realised we had jumped the barrier. So we just walked out and came in another door right near the front and handed over the ticket we had just been given. So we ended up quite close to the front.

It was good night, they sound exactly the same live as on the album, which is a good thing. I enjoyed it and pleased I saw them live but not sure I would be bothered about seeing them again. Unless part of a festival.