Skint

worked out my finances tonight, with the stuff I have to pay for and things coming up. I am completely skint, gonna have to start with my money making again. Its just hard to find the time to do it at the moment.

Never even been up my house tonight, spent a couple of hours working out my money. I can't afford to go to anymore concerts or out drinking other than the things that are already planned. I am gonna pay for the camping in Scotland next month, its cheap and I'm determined to walk Ben Nevis.

Anyway I'm off to bed, I'm tired and a bit pissed off tonight for some reason.

Remote Desktop

I have enabled Remote Desktop on a couple of my computers tonight, will come in very handy when my server is in my house. It will be under the stairs and would rather not be sitting at it to log into it. So with Remote Desktop I can login to it from any of my other computers.

I have also enabled it on the computer in my parents living room so I can monitor its progress from my bedroom (use that computer to encode my DVDs to XVID for use on my XBOX).

Most people will probably have no idea what I've just wrote?

The Who

I noticed tonight that "The Who" were playing in Leeds in June but England could be playing that night if they win their group in the World Cup. Shame would be good to see "The Who" live.

The fact that I am skint now as well kinda doesn't help either.

Flooring

I drove straight to Bishop tonight to meet my dad at Woodland Floors. I saw the laminate flooring I wanted last weekend. Anyway bought it tonight "Cottage Country Oak" it cost me £320 including the underlay. Know what I will be doing this weekend then!!

Can't really tell what it looks like at all in that picture. Will take some eventually of mine.

Maybe not so bad

After moaning about my appraisal, I heard some better news today at work. I was told that I am supposed to be getting 15 days training to certify me as an Administrator so we can carry out for Administration tasks (like we used to be able to). Finally some more relevant training that I have been asking for :-)

This could also mean my job actually becomes more interesting again, haven't really been told any details. Hopefully will find out some more info soon. Guess its hard to organise being away for 15 days, for once I have loads in my diary as well (personally) for a change.

This is what is supposed to be happening but from previous experience, believe it when it happens! (always the pessimist)

Appraisal

I was going to write some stuff for my appraisal tonight and write about my job description and how out of date it is but never had chance and not really in the mood.

Will try to do something for it before my meeting about it at 9. The parts I ahve to write wont have to be finished for then.

I started writing out notes for the main section I have to fill in (postholders comments). They were all negative and when I tried to think of some positive I couldn't really think of any. Realised just how shite my job has become, but haven't complained this year much because I have my house on my mind too much. Although it does seam to just get worse and worse. My comments on the appraisal document will reflect that.

I am on a mission to do the things I want to do, maybe I will finally start to seriously look for another job. There is no interesting challenges in this job anymore what so ever and nothing that was supposed to happen from last years appraisal has happened (all out of my control).

Plan for Ben Nevis

Right hopefully I am gonna book up to go to Fort William and walk up Ben Nevis, originally I was going to walk it on my Birthday (20th June) but England play Sweden that day. So now I am gonna drive to Fort William on the 21st and walk "Ben" on the 22nd of June.

Will book the camp site this week. Below are some pictured of Ben Nevis and the Arete up to it. There is an easier and shorter route but I want to go this way.

Arete and Ben Nevis

Picture taken by Stockytex

Arete

Picture taken by Stockytex

Inspiration

I have just watched Run For Glory, if I ever needed inspiration then I certainly got it in that programme. It was ordinary people training to run the London Marathon. Not gonna describe it can read it on the site. It certainly inspired me to get fitter for my Great North Run and walk up Ben Nevis!!

Thinking

I'm sat at the computer listening to classical music (Schubert - Ave Maria) not that keen on this song prefer one of the previous without singing like "Grieg - Morning (from Peer Gynt Suite No.1)" really like that song and everyone will of heard it before. I'm listening to Classic FM: Relax & Escape. Nothing like classical music to help you chill out, relax and think.

I know I have diverse music tastes from metal to classical to Happy Hardcore and most things in between.

Just decided that I should see some classical music being performed by an orchestra, that should be on my list of things to do. A bit different to the Iron Maiden concert in December but life is a journey of experiences and I'm now more determined than ever to enjoy as many as possible.
I have spent most of my life wishing and dreaming things will happen, rather than making those very dreams come true. If only I had stopped floating through life with a head full of dreams and taken action sooner, then I could of achieved and experiences so much by now.
I am now trying to change my way of thinking from wishing something would happen, to trying to achieve it and making it happen wherever possible.
Two of my biggest weaknesses are motivation and commitment, I struggle with both. In June I will be 27 (not old I know) but when I look back on my life since leaving school 11 years ago, all I can see is disappointment and under-achievement. I can't let that happen in the next 11 years, presuming I am still here, you never know what's around the corner, I don't want my memory to be "if only.."

Sat here for a few minutes and just thought to myself listening to "Part - Spiegel im Spiegel" and remember that I always wished I could play an instrument like the guitar or piano, know I don't have any natural musical ability (other than loving music) but it would be good to be able play music. My sister did have a keyboard, will find out if she still has it. Wont have any time at the moment to play (too busy with house). I could try to refresh my memory of how to read music, never was much good at it. That's another thing to add to the list.
I was always angry about missing out on music lessons in junior school. We did a test and the person next to me copied every one of my answers and they got to learn an instrument and I didn't, even worse when that person decided they didn't want to do it after a few weeks. Having said that, with my lack of commitment I would of probably dropped out as well (maybe that was why I didn't get to do it?). That sort of put me off music (playing it).

I want to stay here and think some more, but I must go to bed. Need to be in work early to pick some laptops up and go to Darlington.

More Painting...

I went to look at some flooring today in Bishop and found some laminate I really like. It's called Cottage Oak but it's £15.99 per square meter, then need the underlay and will need to level a small part of my floor. Will also need some beading to go over the edge of the laminate as I'm not taking the skirting off now. So its gonna cost be about £300 maybe a bit more by the time its all done. Having said that it was probably gonna cost me that for the carpet I looked at the other day with underlay.

After Bishop I went up to B&Q in Durham and bought some more paint, the ones I mentioned last night. I also called in the suite place I bought my couch from to see when it was being delivered but he told me I had to ring the enquiries number as he didn't ge told. It sort of rings a bell him saying that now, but it was 9 weeks ago, so forgot. Will ring them and try to organise for them to deliver a week Friday (5th May) if possible, by then my flooring should be down and the living room totally finished.

While I was out this morning, Nigel had been in my house finishing the grouting in my bathroom. I didn't realise he had been, never went in the bathroom. That is now ready for the flooring to go down and the wall and ceiling to be painted. The sink and toilet can go back in as well. Then the only think left to do other than fixtures like a towel rail, etc. is the beading around my airing cupboard.

This afternoon I put the second coat of paint on my living room walls and my mam painted my bedroom. There are couple of pictured below although this is before I did the second coat and the bedroom has only had one coat as well.


Yeah I know the blue is bright but it looks "nice", I might have to leave the crappy dark carpet because of spending so much on the living room floor but I guess it will look OK with the walls for now. If I can sort some more money out I wil change it and pit a light natural looking carpet. I looked today but didn't really see any in the cheaper carpet shops I liked. Don't really want to pay £14 a square meter for the bedroom carpet!

Tomorrow my parents will be finishing plastering the dining room walls, once they dry and they are papered with lining paper like the other rooms it will finally really feel like an end is in site, I said "an" end not "the" end. There is still loads of stuff to do but at least once the things I've said above are done, I can then move in. Still wont set a date because the last one I set was 3 weeks ago and came and went so not gonna set another and fail!!

Here's a picture the day I got the keys of the dining room and below it as it is now (looks worse but at least the artexed walls are being covered up.

23rd February (Above)

23rd April (Above)

It actually looks in a worse state today but it wont in a week when the plastering is finished and hopefully papered. Will post a shot once that is done, then again when I one day paint them. Bollocks another room I have to think of a colour for, another neutral colour I think (or maybe?).

Painting

I spent most of today painting my living room. I have painted it Gentle Fawn and the chimney breast is Soft Truffle. It needs another coat tomorrow but is finally feeling like I'm getting somewhere. Before I paint the second coat, I am going off to buy the paint for my bedroom (Blue Babe) and for my stairs and passageway (Magnolia). Yeah I know magnolia but need something fairly light and cheap, as its only gonna be temporary until I get around to stripping the walls on the stairs and knocking the bumps off the walls.

I'm also looking at laminate flooring as well, hopefully buy it next week and start fitting it next Saturday.

My parents have been plastering my dining room today, they haven't finished yet, should be finished on Monday (Dad is walking on Sunday).

Nigel has just about finished the bathroom walls, he grouted the tiles today and only a corner and a couple of other trickier bits around the bath to do. He has also transformed the walls I am painting by painting, filling, Sanding then repeating the process countless times. I should then be able to paint this sometime after tomorrow (First Dawn). I have the flooring to put down in here as well, hopefully that will get done next week as well.

So in the next 2 weeks the house should really be coming together and can then move in, hopefully!!

Oh, my couch (x 2) are due for delivery in the next 2 weeks as well. I was told 8 to 10 weeks, 8 weeks is up today. I will call in next week to check, then again I might as well call in tomorrow. I will be more or less next door (if they are open on Sundays).

Will take some pictures of my living room tomorrow, I have some of my kitchen somewhere. I painted it Sunbeam (yeah its bright), still not sure about it?

Lots of people offered me help with painting and choosing the colours when I first got my house, they all seam to of miraculously disappeared or made themselves scarce. The only person other than family who has looked at colours is Val, but don't think I have gone with anything she has mentioned. Think I was put off by the colours in her bathroom, thought it was just because I was drunk but seen it again sober (wasn't that bad Val).

The picture below is of my kitchen, I said it was called Sunbeam. It is slightly less bright now, still need to supply sunglasses for visitors though. (Ignore the mess on the tops, DIY stuff)

Ben Nevis

I have decided to walk Ben Nevis in June on my Birthday, the above image was created with Memory-Map and is a map laid over the elevation for Ben Nevis, so basically you can see how steep it is with the other mountains in the background.

I am intending on taking a different route to the normal "Tourist" one and will walk over a couple of other peaks as well. You can see the route I'm intending to take in the image below. Click either of the pictures for a larger version.

I think I better start getting off my arse in preparation as its gonna be a long steep slog. Not like Scafell Pike where you start off quite high this route starts just above sea level.

I have always wanted to walk up "Ben" but one of those things you say but tend never to get around to doing. So decided to do another thing on my list ;-)

The route above was quickly drawn out, will be done more accurately before I do it. I have the week of my birthday booked in for holiday and have looked at camping in Fort William for a couple of nights. So I can stay the night before the walk and the night after. Thinking about staying an extra night and possibly going to Skye.

Flooring

I went to Carpet King in Meadowfield tonight on my way home, my sister got her carpets from there and was about £5.99 a metre. Well since then the carpets have increased in price to £14 a metre, I brought a couple of samples home to try and decided they don't go with my living. So have decided to go with what I originally wanted, good quality laminate. Got put off because my parents didn't want to help fit it, said the floor ran off to much. I have now got them persuaded and the floor doens't run off.

They have seen some both at my uncles and cousins house tonight and said it looked good. Now I just have to find the right one.

Boxing

I booked flights for me, Jay and his dad today to go to the boxing on 12th May in Bethnel Green in London. We are flying from Newcastle then into Stanstead on the morning, then flying back on the 13th. We are stopping over in The City Inn.

Looking forward to it, just hope Nigel wins :-)

Old Emails

I was looking through some old emails I sent between 5 and 7 years ago. Was weird reading them from that long ago, they acted almost like a blog. Reminding me of what I was doing at the time and how I felt. Some things never change like being bored at work and needing some sort of challenge I could enjoy. Wanting to go on holiday and needing more money.

If I get chance might post parts of them on here ;-)

Mindhunters

Mindhunters: Wasn't sure what to make of this from reading about it on the IMDB. Had some potential good actors (or former ones) but never heard of it.

Well I'm still not sure what to make after watching it, had you guessing plenty and plenty of twists and action but was still something missing just not sure what?

I gave it 6 out 10.

Hi-fi North

Just reading some stuff on Music Festival boards and read that the Hi-Fi North Festival I have paid to go to is having a hearing later in the month about their licence. Some locals and the Police are complaining or asking questions.

It better go ahead the fucking Council and Police pretty much cancelled the Love Parade which was gonna be the best music festival to ever hit the North. Will be gutted if this is cancelled :-(

I was also told about the Free Orange Evolution Lineup in Newcastle, see here. Could be good for free if I am still standing after Hi-Fi (presuming it goes ahead)

Gigs

Was looking at what was on in the next few months at the Newcastle Carling Academy and noticed Zero 7 in June, only £16 as well would be canny good to watch them. Then noticed that Ted Nugent was on, how fucking good would it be to see him. He is completely nuts!!

Great White Buffalo & Cat Scratch Fever are excellent songs, can remember someone sending me an MP3 of Great White Buffalo years ago in my cracking days in irc. If you don't know what IRC is, its almost like an old version of Instant messaging except you join groups and can exchange files, been around for a lot of years.

Its £22.50 to see him but it must be worth it, don't think anyone would wanna go to see him with me though. Most people probably have no idea who he is. Unless they have seen his TV Series on VH1 (Surving Nugent). Will see if I can scrape some pennies together ;-)

Music

I appear to of spent the whole week listening to Twisted Sister, never really listened to them until the last few weeks. Can't get "I Wanna Rock" out of my head at the moment, total anthem.

They are playing a 30th Anniversary gig in London in June, would be good to see them but can't really afford that ,with all the other stuff I have on and paying my house bills.

Things To Do Before You Die

I said in my last post that I was talking to Louis and he said seeing Iron Maiden was one of the top 50 things you had to do before you die. So set me off thinking about a list.

Only just started creating my own, although I did have a small list I have posted on here before but doing a proper one now. Its here but is work in progress and haven't had the chance to think yet. Will probably post the full list here when finished as well, but easy to keep track of it on that site.

At the moment most of it is stuff that is recommended by the website that I chose.

House update and Crook Night Out

Once again I just ahven't got around to posting on here, oops.

As usual I've been working away in my house, although been finding it hard to get motivated to do anything as it seams never ending. Although finally things are starting to take shape. My bedroom is now papered with lining paper and is ready to paint or will be when its dried. I sanded the walls in the living room today and sealed them with PVA, so tomorrow that will be getting papered as well ready for painting.

Nigel has finished tiling in the bathroom but it does need grouting, he has been sanding and filling the other walls rather than plastering them. Looks like they should be OK. Once that is done we can get the flooring down, the sink and toilet back in and the paint the walls and grout the tiles.

Hopefully by the end of the weekend my living room will be painted and I will of got a carpet for it. Not sure what colour to paint my bedroom yet. May paint it the same colour as the living room but want to see what it looks like first. The bathroom will hopefully be nearer finished.

Oh forgot I painted the kitchen the other day as well so it is now done except for a few tiles that needed grouting. It may need a second coat but it seams OK so might not bother.

The room that has been touched the least is still to do, the Dining room. I started to knockk some of the artex off the wall the other day. If I had a full day at it I would probably get it done, my dad is gonna have a go tomorrow (I think). Really he needs to plaster it this week while my mother is off. Would rather it was done before I got carpets in or they will be wrecked from all the plaster.

Besides for the house, I went out on Saturday night with Jay in Crook. We met up with Mick who is one of his mates, we had a good night. David ended up turning up in Crook, got a text saying he was in the Queens Head, which is where I was. I stood up and he was about 6 foot from me. He was out with 3 of his mates, drinking coke. Well David was not his mates.

Bumped into another lad I know Louis Holmes, I used to knock around more with his brothers at school. He came over and found out he was going to the Iron Maiden concert in December as well.

Atmosphere were playing in the Shoe, when I went to the boxing in Glasgow. They joined us when we went drinking in Renfrew or at least 2 of them did. theya re a really good band and play Stereophonics and Green day , stuff like that. Edgey and his brother were in there as well who we go to the boxing with as well. Found out that they are all flying down the next fight. So he has booked us into the hotel with them. I checked out the flights and its gonna cost us about £50 each return which is good. Haven't booked them yet as waiting for Jay's dad, Alan. He is on holiday :-(

I'm sure there have been laods of other stuff happen but can't remember now.

ideas

sat waiting for windows to install and freezing my arse off.

been trying to think of something i can do in june for my birthday.
fancy doing something a bit different but hopefully something that is
cheap. will write some ideas on here when i think of them and have
more time!

Link up and working

I'm posting this from my house using the internet connection from my parents house. Just got the wireless link between the houses setup and working. Internet connection works at full speed and I have just tested streaming a movie from my server in parents house to this house and it plays fine without any problems.

Hi:Fi

I have ordered tickets for Hi:Fi North. Its a dance event in Matfen Hall grounds in Northumberland . The tickets are nearly £60 each but well worth, below is the line up:

Live Stage
Ian Brown
Editors
The Subways
Dirty Pretty Things
Brakes
The Marshals
Envelopes

Live Arena
Maximo Park
Forward Russia
your Codename Is: Milo
The Research
The Motorettes
You Say Party!
We Say Die!
Sound Explosion
High Dials

Godskitchen Arena
Paul Oakenfold
Sasha
John Digweed
Armin Van Buuren
James Zabiela
Slam
Desyn Masiello
Riley & Durrant
+ Special Guests
Audio Bullys (Live)

Electric Arena
Erick Morillo
Pete Tong
Steve Lawler
Shapeshifters
David Guetta
Mync Project
Linus Loves

Radio Soulwax
Nite Versions (live)
2 Many DJ's
Layo & Bushwacka!
Erol Alkan
The Glimmers
Headman
King Roc


Me, Simon, Val & Sam are all going. Should be good its on Saturday 27th May.
I was supposed to be doing a 10K run around Raby Castle on the Sunday morning but this doesn't finish until 4am so will have to miss the run. I am going to do another one though in June at Beamish instead.

can't sleep

i cant sleep, mainly because i went to sleep for 2 hours earlier
tonight from 6:30. also cant stop thinking about the leeds festival
and really fancy going to coloursfest but will be a nightmare getting
back. would have to drive there then its on until 4am not really gonna
be in a fit state to drive at that time and cant really afford a
hotel, would be a funny time as well. i guess i could get a couple of
hours in the car but then no one else would really go with me :-(

been looking ahead this year and i have something to look forward to
almost every month.

may - boxing hopefully
may - run
june - coloursfest hopefully
august - leeds festival
september - weekend away with work mates
october - great north run
december - iron maiden

will try to do something in the empty months. would love to go to
global gathering in july but the whole weekend is too expensive.
really fancy going up to scotland again this year and going up the
west coast but would need to do it very cheaply.

i better try to get some sleep, christ my mind is too active!

Well up for it now..

After booking up for the Leeds Festival and the Iron Maiden concert I want to see more now. The other thing I would reall like to see it a Dance Festival. I have found a couple but both are expensive. Global Gathering is the best but costs £112.50 (ffs).

The other is Coloursfest in Glasgow, its at the Braehead Arena where I went to watch Nigel Wright box. This is a lot cheaper at £32, supposed to of gone up from 1st April but still the same price on Ticketmaster. Really fancy this as well, will have a think the next couple of days...

BTEC in Sport

Nearly forgot I have just sent off a form to do a free BTEC in Sport . I was sent an eamil from GreatNorth who run the Great North Run and it mentioned the course which more about running and fitness and it seamed an excellent way to train for the Great North Run so will put the form in the post tomorrow.

The Website to see more info is: http://www.great2run.org/

Leeds Festival

I've just booked 2 tickets to the Leeds Festival, I've always wanted to got to a Festival and was going to go 2 years ago but no one I knew wanted to go at the time. I was talking to Val tonight on AIM and she said her son was on about going. So I had a look and found it and though it sounded excellent. I asked Val if she wanted to go and booked the Saturday (didn't take much convincing).

The Lineup for Saturday is:

• Main Stage - Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs, Audioslave, Feeder, Belle & Sebastian, The Subways, Panic! At The Disco
• Radio One/NME Stage - Primal Scream

I was wanting to see The Subways so getting to see all those others as well is a massive bonus. I have a massive smile on my face :-)

I nearly booked up to see Whitesnake at Newcastle City Hall in June, pleased I didn't because this is going to be so much better !!

No Time, moan and update...

Updates to my blog have been thin on the ground recently, I just really can't be bothered to write anything after a day of hassle at work, then working in the house when I get home.

Will write about the house at the end of this post.

I've been fairly down the last few days, quite a lot is because of stuff in the house but also because of being short staffed at work and not having 2 minutes to think. Coming home shattered before I've even started in the house. It seams at work that I am always expected to hold the fort all the time while everyone else fucks off to meetings about nothing. Luckily Mandy changed her days to help me the beginning of this week or I would of been completely on my own. Probably get moaned at for mentioning her name but as I'm thanking her I would hope not. To be honest I couldn't give a shite if they do want to moan. I think its about time that managers throughout work spent sometime doing the jobs they expect of their staff. Often they say they know what they are doing but unless they spend sometime in their staffs shoes, they just don't know. I'm not complaining about me, but in general, too many managers spend all of their day in meetings rather than doing Real work.

I often find it funny that it is said that meetings help communication but if they are never with their staff to pass on information then what use are they. Normally the people on the ground who have to deal with the problems are the ones with the least information.

Today I am lucky if I got 10 minutes for dinner and that was only because I went to make a cup of tea and decided to talk to Wendy while I was making it. I have decided to write in my diary at work what I do through out the day. This serves a few purposes, I can actually check up on stuff that I have done, It helps when in supervision (another waste of time) and hopefully it will help with my job evaluation. If anyone says my job matches one of the standard descriptions they are living on another planet, my job description is totally out of date anyway. Hopefully the diary though will help me evidence what I do.

I think people often think I am doing nothing because I am friendly with lots of staff but I've watched this week on the rare occassions that other people have been in and I have done a lot more work than most, although I have a laugh and joke nearly every call involves work while I'm talking. I shocked myself the 1st day I started recording it all when my A4 page a day diary was full and I had done well over 20 helpdesk calls in addition.

All I ever seam to do is moan on here but I guess that's when I feel I have the most to write about. Hopefully other people in the unit are back tomorrow, so I should be able to get on with some work away from the phone for a change.

On Monday BT wer at work to install a new phone line and one of the engineers was Ross who used to work at Electrolux when I was there. Was good to see a familiar face and got me thinking that I would quite like his job. He wasn't really enjoying it because he said it was so much to learn but to me that would be a dream. You would be travelling to different places everyday fitting phone lines and fixing stuff, constantly learning :-)

Ross had only been doing it since February and said he went home every day with a headache from trying to take everything in but hell sounds good to me. Better than doing the same thing every day, almost like a robot, like when I was at Electrolux for the few weeks I was there.

Monday a mate was supposed to be coming over to help me choose some paint and go for a run, I kind of thought they might not come over because they had had a hectic weekend but I was a little annoyed when they didn't say anything until about 2 minutes before they were going home from work and that was only because I asked. Kind of messed up my night, but nevermind I expected it.

Oh, I bought another ticket for Iron Maiden, christ I got some grief from Val but I'm keeping the ticket until nearer the time, lol.

I need to organise myself better at home, I haven't updated my finances properly for nearly 2 weeks but have been keeping a rough idea. I have been regularly looking at my bank account but need to make sure I don't miss anything. I have told my dad that money is getting tight because he just keeps going off and buying things and I have to pay him £150 every few days for the parts. Said that I had to be very careful and only buy and do the things that are essential for me moving in, he understands now.

We have had quite a few setbacks the last few days, from my dad creasing my gas pipe and having to get someone in to replace it to having to take out my sink and toilet so Nigel can tile properly. I also ended up sandind down to some mains wires because the useless bastards hadn't sunk the cables in properly. Anyway the gas pipe is changed, the wires have been sunk and Nigel is on doing the tiling. It seamed like all that and more went wrong at the same time so i wasn't exactly happy.

Been going over what needs doing and the list of jobs is getting smaller and trying to prioritise them. Obviously the bathroom is a big priority. Once Nigel has finished the tiling, I will put the flooring down while the sink is out, which should make it easier. After that the main messy jobs will be the plastering that needs doing in the main bedroom and some patching up in the sitting room. Then hopefully I can get those papered ready for painting. I will need some carpet for the sitting room and an aerial run. I would like to get a new carpet in main bedroom but not sure I can afford it at the moment. I am leaving the dining room until last, it is a dump and needs the artex taking off the walls and quite a lot of work doing. I will work on this once I've moved in and robbed a bank or something.

I was going to go to bed an hour ago, so think I should stop typing. Can't be bothered to spell check this, just like I never do!!