Cypher

Cypher: I had never heard of this before seeing it on Tesco DVD Rental. Decided to rent it as it had a good rating on IMDB. It was very good, a techno spy thriller. My sort of film, it was good although as times you can see they didn't have a massive budget. Well worth a watch if you like Thrillers. 7 out of 10.

West Roddymoor Walk

Distance: 4.58 Miles
Time: 80 minutes

I went for a walk tonight, decided I needed some fresh air. The picture above shows the route in pink. It was 4.58 miles according to my GPS. It took about 80 minutes but wan't exactly rushing. I would of taken some pictures but it was raining and very dull. I have walked and cycled around here 100s of times. I used to do this route just about every day on my bike before going to work.

More songs

Listening to more music in bed and the last 2 songs are perfect for how i feel, relationships why do i bother!

Dido - white flag
Suggababes - Too lost in you

i was saying i was gonna forget about women for a while. i should listen to myself but just dont want to give up on someone!

Think i need to get up in the morning and go for a run to work stuff off. usually push myself harder so could be a good run if i can get out of bed.

Perfect song

Just laid in bed and put my mp3 player on random and sheryl crow - if it makes you happy started playing. the perfect song for how i was feeling.

The perfect line for the moment is "if it makes you happy, then why the hell are you sad".

i will answer that: sometimes things are so close, yet so far!

Tough

It was my first day at work after my holiday today. Jesus it was boring, didn't get any work done as I was answering the phone all day. Its good speaking to people I am friends with but get sick of speaking to some of the other miserable bastards.

I thought I might of been invigorated and more positive after a break but think I am even more sick of it than before. Maybe it is time for a complete career change. Sick of sitting at a desk all day bored out of my skull.

Ignoring work I did start speaking more to someone who means so much to me (will remain anonymous). I went over to her house tonight as I said I would sort her laptop out, it was good that we are talking again and finally got to talk a bit. She is in the process of splitting up with her fiance, altohugh he doesnt want to accept it.

It was good in some ways but very hard in others. I love her to bits and have told her before but she obviously doesn't feel the same. To be fair she has got enough stuff to be dealing with at the minute. Although when she mentioned that she had met someone a couple of weeks ago, it felt like I had been stabbed in the heart. When she explained, it ended up being nothing, she had spoke to some guy a few times and he had come over to see her then he never contacted her. There is nothing there, although from the sound of it she is scared of being alone.

I wrote something similar a couple of months ago saying that she seamed to fear being alone, which is why I thought she was still with her fiance. She read it and then went very quiet. I dont think I am much different, suppose I cant fear being alone as I am permanently alone.

The strangest thing about all this is I dreamt about her years before I ever actually met her. I did tell her some of this a year ago. Maybe that was one of many things that scared her off. (Note to self, sometimes I can now be too honest)

I think I need to make some more big changes in my life, the 1st step was going away last week on my own for a few days.

When I drove home tonight I think I was a bit confused and upset. The fact that the speed rose to nearly 3 figures showed that. Normally when I do that on dark country lanes its coz I just dont care anymore. This time it was because I needed to release some emotion before I exploded (Hard to bite my tongue sometimes). I promised myself I would just come out and be 100% honest but dont wanna fuck anything up again. Dont wanna go through everything again!

The more I think about it the more I am very similar to her emotionally, oh well think I've done enough rambling. Not getting me anywhere.

Just hope she doesnt read this, guess she cant I have her computer :-)

Hotel & House

This should be my last post on my holiday in Scotland other than maybe posting a link to my flickr gallery tomorrow (hopefully).

Above is the Amulree Hotel where I stayed in Scotland when I was on Holiday, it was very quiet with it being mid week and not being a main holiday. Which was exactly what I wanted.


This is the house where I stayed probably over 6 times about 12 years or so ago. I was lucky enough to be allowed to have a look around it again. It had just gone up for sale that week for only £170,000. It is 5 bedroomed and has unbelievable views. If I had the money I would hand it over tomorrow (very cheap). It needs some work doing but it is structually sound.

It certainly brought back a lot of good memories going around the house again. My only regret is I forgot to take my camera with me when I looked around.

Photos from Scotland

Below are a series of pictures taken when I was on holiday in Scotland. I have loads more but dont want take up my entire bog with them all. I think I will setup a flickr account tomorrow night and post all my pictures there. Then link to it!

3 Cottages with mountain in background


Single cottage (derelict 10 years ago)


Among trees North shore of Loch Freuchie


Empty barn


Bridge Top of Loch Freuchie


The long road to Loch Freuchie


The Lodge beneath the mountain


Loch Freuchie

Ribblehead Viaduct & Whernside

This is the walk I did on Friday it starts and finishes by the Ribblehead Viaduct, which is often shown on TV. It included the highest point in North Yorkshire (Whernside) which is 736m. The route is marked on the above map in pink and according to my GPS it was 7.84 miles.

It was a lot easier than I thought it would be, the worst thing about the walk was when we were at the top (we meaning me & my dad) we couldn't see anything for fog. It was a shame as we would of had a good view. Once we got back down the fog had cleared from the top. (Click the images for larger versions)


Ribblehead Viaduct taken from the car park

Oldboy

Oldboy: I was impressed by this movie, it was subtitled but again it doesn't matter as it had a really good story with a big twist and an excellent fight scene with a claw hammer. The fight scene wasn't over the top like most films these days it was almost believable (I said almost). There were some parts that were slow and a little boring but overall it was excellent. 9 out of 10! (would of been 8.5 but can't do that on IMDB).

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith - I' have just been to the pictures at the Metro Centre to finally watch Episode III. It is certainly better than the other 2 prequels and does a very good job of bridging the gap from Attack of the Clones to A New Hope.

It was worth going to see, its the 1st time I have watched any of the Star Wars films at the cinema. Anyone with the slightest interest in Star Wars get yourself there to watch it, you wont be dissapointed. I gave it 8 out of 10 on IMDB.

Casshern

Casshern: Just finished watching this movie. It's classed as a live-action anime, a sort of cross between a regular movie and a japanese style anime (Manga). The film was very hard to understand at times almost incomprehensible in places.

The film looked stunning but I think most people may find this just too hard to follow and not because of it being subtitled but just parts dont make total sense but I think you need to look at the movie as a whole to understand it. You could go nuts trying to explain some of it. I still gave it 7 out of 10 because it made me think and question stuff.

Baraka

Baraka: Last night I watched this film, which I think was amazing. It isn't a normal film, it is a sort of documentary with no speech. It a series of images (videos) of stunning scenery among other things. The imagery is accompanied by a soundtrack which helps add to the impact of the whole thing.

I was very impressed but it is hard to explain and imagine anyone who likes to just watch an action movie will find this boring. I ended up giving it 9 out of 10 on IMDB.

A Picture from my Holiday

Above is a picture of Loch Freuchie. I took this the night I got there (Amulree), the following day I walked up to the loch and around it. I will post some more pictures over the next day.

I fancy watching a film 1st ;-)

Stand up Comedy DVDs

I watched a couple of DVDs last weekend before I went on Holiday but I forget to blog them. They were both stand up comedians:


David Spikey - Live: I had never really heard of David Spikey before but was browsing comedians and thought I would rent it. It was funny, there were some parts where it dragged but generally he was funny. He was also in Pheonix Nights playing Jerry.

Ricky Gervais - Politics: This was the other DVD I watched. I dont think it was as good as his previous DVD Animals or as good as David Spikey that I watched straigt before this. It was still worth a watch but would pick on of the others I mentioned before this.

Walk up to loch Freuchie

I went for my walk up to loch freuchie and back down to the hotel. It was just under 8 miles, i thought it would of been further than that.

I was going to walk to the top of the mountain next to us. But i only had 1 can of iron brew as they had no bottles of orange or anything like that in the hotel.

By the time i got to the point where i would have to start going up the mountain i was beginning to feel a bit dehydrated having already drank my pop there was no way i was going up there without a drink.

When i got back i was dying for a drink but the hotel door was locked. She did say she was going out but i didnt realise she was locking up. Luckily i had taken my car keys with me, wasnt going to and had some trainers and money in the car.

I drove the 13 miles to crief just to get something to drink.

i then drove back to Amulree and decided to drive over the narrow road over the fell. I could remember it was narrow but had forgot just how narrow.

There was a sign just before warning that the road wasnt cleared of snow or gritted in winter and all sorts of other stuff. I would of been there 5 minutes reading it all. Basically it was saying you are nuts to drive over here. Sums me up, so off i set!

I wanted to stop and take some pictures but i couldnt as it was so narrow and no where to stop. The road was literally the width of my car.

I came to a very steep bank and it had 2 very tight hair pin bends on it. They would have to be seen to believed!

I didnt go the whole length of the road i found somewhere to turn around and went back. I wanted to stop at a little tarn but couldnt as the only place was a passing point and someone was already parked in it :-(

i got back to the hotel and it was still closed, so sat in the car and after a few minutes the lady turned back up.

I have been laid on the bed watching the tennis for the last 2 hours. I will go and have some food in about 20 minutes then have a couple of pints and have an early night.

I am going to go home tomorrow. i have had a good time even though i have only been on one walk. It was worth coming here just to see around the house i used to stay in, brought back a lot of good memories.

I will go for another walk on friday possibly the lakes, will decide when i get home.

Same old same old

I am laid in bed thinking as always.

I am thinking though that i wish a certain person was here with me. I nearly wrote her name then, oops. even the predictive text tried to type her name. Now there is an omen.

The strange thing is and what helps to complicate things is she text me yesterday and said she wished she was going with me.

She probably didnt mean really with me but just away but when you love someone to bits and want to be with them, that is hard.

Sometimes i just wish i could to could give her a hug and tell her how i feel without totally frightening her off. She is the only the person i would give up absolutely everything for. Except for best friends as they will always be there :-)

life eh?

Memory lane

I have had an excellent day. Took me nearly 4 hours to get here, bloody speed cameras or could of shaved nearly an hour off that. Suppose people would say they worked then. except they were always in a location that would only generate money not save lives. DONT GET WORKED UP STEVEN, YOU ARE ON HOLIDAY!

Think i wrote an entry when i got here but not sure if it worked.

As i hopefully said i went for a ride up to the top of the loch which i hope to walk tomorrow.

When i got there, there was 2 tents expensive ones. Wondered what they were doing there as they were about 25 yards from the sign that said no camping but what was even more strange was that there was a satellite dish between the 2 tents. There was no sign of anyone i guess it wasnt to watch tv but who knows.

The best thing that happened was i went for a pint and i got talking and i mentioned that i had stayed in the house over the bridge over 10 years ago. I was talking to the lady who lives in the farm next to the house, she used to look after the house when i stayed there.

She told me the house was up for sale and asked if i would like to look around it as she had the key. I jumped at the chance.

It was unbelievable to be back there again after so may years. Yet to be honest it was much as i remember except empty of furniture and a bit more damp.

The strange thing is i have dreamt over the last few years that i came into some money and ended up buying it as a sort of holiday home. I couldnt believe it when she told me it was on the market for only £170,000. Yeah it needs work but not that much. It is 5 bedroomed with a large living room and dining room. kitchen and utility soon and even stables out back. maybe no field for horses though.

It was amazing to see around the house i had stayed in so many times before over ten years ago :-)

the hotel was very quiet hardly anyone staying, talked to one women who was walking and some bloke asked me about the grouse. He thought i was a local. Was tempted to put on an accent and tell him it was shite but i didnt.

I had a really nice neck. Burger and chips, maybe it was the fact i hungry that it tasted so nice but ended up giving the chef a £5 tip. The meal was only that much!

there was a young lass working behind the bar in the hotel so got talking. She lived a couple me minds up towards the loch and went to uni in edinburgh studying biological science. Naturally bony but didnt show it off, very casual.

I got talking to her, she was called fiona. I always seam good at finding stuff out about people. She likes sailing and said she was going on the loch tomorrow, so said i would probably see her boat.

found out loads more but cant be bothered to write it. She never asked my name but she could of found out from the bookings book. oh think i forgot to say she told me within 2 sentences of talking to her that she had a boyfriend.

Guess that made it sound like i was trying to get off with her. I wasnt, decided i was here on holiday so that was a big no no!

Saying that i did think about asking her if she fancied walking around the loch as she had never done it (walk around the loch i mean, you dirty buggers). Didnt ask though as she said she was going sailing. It is supposed to rain, so it said on the tv :-(

i normally hate being in a bar on my own but must of spent nearly 5 years in it today. I must be getting more confident in my old age.

I suppose i better go to sleep or i wont be up for breakfast!

Jedburgh

I have just arrived at Jedburgh stopped to go to the toilet and would of walked in the womens if the attendant hadnt told me.

I am sure they have swapped them around from the last time i was here 2 years ago.

I was going to stop and have a meal or something here but i bought 2 sausage rolls from the shop at home. I will eat one of them then carry on.

Fishing

I am down in brompton on swale fishing in a lake with my dad and uncle.

we are going home in 30 minutes but so far i have caught 9 fish. 7 perch and 2 roach. I had another 2 but they got off near the bank.

Its been a good day. Not a bad birthday at all. I have been singing away to music while fishing. Anyone who has heard me ring will think the fish have been throwing themselves onto the hook to get away from my singing :-)

Willington to Bishop Auckland Walk

© Crown Copyright

I went for a walk today from Willington to Bishop Auckland and back to Willington. The route was fairly easy as the 1st half was along an old railway line so it was flat. Then followed the river back to Willington so again it was fairly flat. The route is marked on the map above in pink (click images for a larger versions). It was 8.3 miles.


Newton Cap Viaduct

The above picture shows Newton Cap Viaduct in Bishop Auckland, it used to be the railway bridge but was converted for cars about 15 years ago.

Old Railway route from Willington

The picture above is about a mile along the old Railway line from Willington to Bishop Auckland, it an excellent route to go for a run or cycle. In the opposite direction the route goes all the way to Durham.

River near Willington

All the above pictures were taken today while walking around the route shown on the map. It doesn't look very sunny on the pictures but it was pushing 30c, just it was hazy so doesn't look very sunny.