Another year older, another year.........wiser?

Well I am now standing on the brink of another Birthday and this has got me thinking!

What have learnt this year? Am I more mature? Growing up towards adulthood? (okay so technically at 33 I should be an adult already - and physically I'm there, or thereabouts)

This year has been a huge roller coaster for me and those of you who have read some of my earlier posts will have some idea what has happened, but so far I cannot find any evidence that I've learnt anything new (apart from the joy of "Blogging" - does that count?)  I'm pretty sure that I already knew that black sambucca was not a drink that you should inhale, that spending time with friends and family was one of the most important things to me, that handstands or break dancing in a kilt was not an attractive sight for anyone involved, and that work is there to give you a chance to recover from the weekend whilst getting you the money to do what you enjoy doing! I know that if I was put in the same position again with a girl I would continue to wear my heart on my sleeve, throw myself in, and undoubtedly get hurt......would I do it again - almost inevitably.

I'm pretty sure that there have been no blinding moments of stunning enlightenment, as for Paul on the road to Damascus, no sudden flash of a 200 watt light bulb going off above my head (I hold my hand up here, and readily admit that at the moment it seems to be a 5watt energy efficiency bulb....you know the one that you turn on and after 45 minutes still waiting for a light source that a glow worm would laugh at!)

Nor can I see that I have matured massively. I still enjoy going out and drinking with friends (usually resulting in drinking games that I first enjoyed when I was 18) and although I am quite happy to go and enjoy a meal in refined surroundings, or enjoy the theatre or even the ballet (obviously again only the really macho ones......is there one based on Rambo?) but I enjoyed doing that when I was 18 as well, I just couldn't afford to do it very often. I suppose that the "occasional food for the soul" that I enjoy now may be a sign of a slowly dawning appreciation of my age, and a creeping maturity, but at the same time I will still be spending my weekend sleeping in a foxhole in the middle of a wood, no doubt in the rain and cold (.....for fun, not even because I have to be there!)

I don't really celebrate my birthday, not even the big ones 18, 21 or 30 (I do seem to remember a lot of alcohol and a Pizza Hut chicken supremey thing being brought back up over a friends wall on my 21st - this is certainly not a comment on Pizza Hut, and other pizza restaurants are available, but rather more the punch where whatever was brought was added into the bucket ). I can't remember the last time I had a proper party/night out to celebrate one (although that may be an indication of my nights out) but I think that life is often too short to only enjoy yourself once a year. Nor am I hung up on getting older. I look forward to it! Life is equally too short to worry about it passing, but rather it should be enjoyed.

I am looking forward to getting those distinguished grey hairs at the temple (I have checked when I go to the barbers but honestly they are only slightly lighter......not grey at all!), and crows' feet and the worry lines to give the impression of a hard working 'real' man - like an Arctic explorer, deep sea fisherman, or bin-man! (rather than someone who spends most of his life staring at paperwork or a computer screen! - maybe I should try and get one of those jobs instead). I love the idea of growing old disgracefully, but then I ask myself what sort of midlife crisis can I have? How can I out-crazy my hobby of re-enacting? Buying a fast sports car and surrounding myself with beautiful young women would seem like a calming down! Maybe "free-running" or "extreme ironing"?

Here's to ageing. You only get to live once, so you might as well enjoy everyday, whether it is your birthday or not.

and here's to growing up - to being finally able to look over the bar top!

Excited! You bet your a*s!

Those of you who have read some of my posts, you will have realised that I have a real love for the city of York. I worked and lived there for about 2 years a couple of years back, and I love the whole city, it's feel, the fact that you are surrounded by history, and just the whole atmosphere. Other than a few couple of hours grabbed here and there (and to be honest it is my own fault.....it's only 35 miles away, and since I have been let go from the relationship my diary has been my own!)

There have been a number of nights out that have been arranged, but these have the tendencies of falling apart, usually as a result of a severe case of Cantbe Arseditis not just on my behalf, but unfortunately it has meant that the great nights in York, typically out at Fibbers, Bar BPM, or The Gallois! have not taken place.

Imagine my excitement however because.....Saturday night.......house party.......alcohol......halloween-ish......York night out!

Hotel room booked - City Centre York - ü
Alcohol purchased - ü
Outfit cleaned and pressed - ü

Wednesday night and everyone still up for it - ü

So I am a little bit excited!!!!!

And the fact that friends in York have just had their second baby so get a "Baby Fresh" fix before a night on the beers (okay that sounds so wrong but let me clarrify.......I love the fact that there is nothing quite like the smell of a baby......I will clarrify that again a freshly cleaned baby smell!) so I am just a little excited.

Food for the soul 2..........Whitewall

A couple of months ago, as a means of wasting a lunchtime I decided to wander around the Manchester Art Gallery which was fantastic.

Today, and again with the prospect of a wet cigarette and an expensive cup of coffee I decided to see what else was out there. I know that there are a large number of museums in the area, but many of them would take longer than the allowed 1 hour (okay so sometimes 90 minutes but don't tell anyone!) to see, and lets face it if you are going to see a museum you really want to see it all.

I know that there is another art gallery on Portland Street and intend to see this, but with other minor errands to run I knew that I would not be able to appreciate it fully. Instead, whilst walking down Deansgate/King Street I stumbled across Whitewall Galleries. Okay so it wasn't difficult at all to find, and I have walked past it a couple of times and considered going in.

Well today was the day.

I was amazed at what could be done with such a small space, and really enjoyed all the art that was on display. My favourite was a very moody sea-scape by an artist called Philip Grey, whose "Irish Storm" (I think that was what it was called although I didn't feel like I could take a picture of it or get my phone out to record the name whilst I was in the gallery!) The use of the colours made you feel like the crashing waves could flow out of the frame and soak your shoes.

Further sea-scapes by Chris and Steve Rocks were also very impressive, and if I had the odd £5,000 lying around I would have loved to have bought an oil on canvas of a wood-scape by Inam. Unfortunately I don't have that kind of cash, and even if I did there would be so many far more pressing uses for it (but it's nice to dream, and I might just have to try my luck on the lottery tonight!)

I would really recommend Whitewall Galleries, or certainly the one in Manchester. Even though I was somewhat dressed down, within 10 minutes of walking through the door I was being offered coffee, and whilst it's not somewhere you can spend hours, it is a very pleasurable way of spending 45 minutes.

My two favorite cities............one long day

Sometimes The Law has its advantages. One of them used to be the perk of client entertaining for Defendants. When you are working for a multi-million pound insurance company the benefits of client entertaining used to be massive. I have heard of trips to the Channel Islands in private jets, hot-air ballooning around the North York Moors, meals at all the best restaurants, and flights all over the world. I have to say that in the current financial climate the entertaining budgets have declined massively, and I came to the 'dark-side' only relatively recently so now it's an occasional trip to see the clients to share a limp sarnie in a Holiday Inn on the M25. (not quite as glamourous........another of those FOX lies!) 

I have to admit I don't particularly look forward to these events. There is often a lot of small talk that can be quite forced when you first meet people, but last night saw the entire team being taken down to London to drum up business from a big client. Given austerity measures this was held in a really nice Turkish restaurant behind Southwark called Ev. Whilst it was never going to be a night out with friends it was a really good night. What made it more so was that three of us were 'lucky' enough to stay down in London (we had to write why we should stay down in less than a hundred words with pictures), and appartments were booked just off Fetter Lane. The party broke up at about 11:00pm and a short journey back to the appartment and the other two went to their rooms. This left me with an opportunity to walk around one of the biggest commercial centres at night.

There was almost no-one around other than black cabs, and I had the opportunity to walk through the middle of these huge buildings, surrounded by light and almost silence, whilst around me the banks and the big legal behamoths slumbered. Whilst a social animal, I also love spending time on my own, and to find peace and tranquility in the heart of the capital was amazing, being able to walk past the historical buildings dating from between the 16th and 21st centruries, and it is one of the reasons I love London.

From London (and thanks to engineering works on the train network) for some crazy reason the quickest route back to Hull was via York, but this gave me another opportunity to spend time in York. The other city that I love (other than Hull of course!). Again a chance to walk through historic and ancient buildings and with no reason to rush to again watch the world race by whilst enjoying the peace and quite of a place I love.

Sorry no pictures cos the camera died on me, but I would have loved to share the tranquililty and emptiness of London at night (obviously just a specific part!)

Autumn

After a somewhat (unexpectedly) hectic weekend, and a full house, I decided that after a really bright and sunny day it might be a chance to escape to one of my favourite places to think and be by myself. After resolving the work and conflicts of the last few weeks there was nothing that has been specifically on my mind, but I love to just take some time out occasionally and enjoy the world around me. Beverley westwood is a quite large piece of public land, just outside Beverley (unsurprisingly) a medium sized Town a few miles away from Hull. The Westwood has previously got me through a number of relationship break-ups, job stresses and even some quite deep depressions, but it is also a place that you can enjoy the woodland and some fantastic panaroamic views.

I'm note sure if it has just been me, but although the days have obviously been getting shorter, it seemed that we maintained some of Summer. Over the last few days however, despite some sunny weather, Autumn definitely seems to have arrived.

I enjoy Autumn, although I know some people dread this time of year.

Autumn

A burnished light from sun

strikes a mist bound earth;

shines through the bronzed and scorched

halo of the trees;

preparing to shed the last vestiges of life,

to slumber for a season;

Whilst above flocks flee to their Winter's rest;

Life fleeing;

Life sleeping;

A year dying;

Hoping for re-birth

Gotta love a student!

Having been a student on a couple of times in my life I know I have done a number of crazy things in the name of joining in and team membership (from dressing up in matching floral dress with handbag and hat to singing and dancing naked in a rugby ceremony).

I currently live very close to Hull University and since the freshers have turned up there have been a large number of crazy sights that kind of take me back!

For example last night, a friend and I thought it would be a good idea to catch up. He's married witha  kid and having grown up with him (and having been his best man and dragged him round the Munich Beerfest on his stag-do!) we don't catch up as much as we used to. We thought a quiet drink at the 'Old Grey Mare' was in order only to be confronted by what seemed to be a football team (weren't big enough to play rugby!) drinking heavily and abusing the waitress who had to take plates of chips and sausages to the ingrates (again it may be a case of my upbringing but even in my worst of drunken states abusing a member of staff, female or not who was bringing you sustenance is just something you don't do!). This was added to by numerous students running in, wearing T-shirts covered in graffiti and swearing loudly (seriously is this necessary!) A decision to head on was swiftly made to be presented by a huge number of strange sights......apparently it is the new thing to dress up.....we saw groups of pirates, a bunch of naked chefs (seriously it's not that warm!)  , three legged school girls and a bunch of golfers (I'm not sure what the collective noun for a bunch of golfers is but your recommendations would be warmly welcomed!)

Tonight my sister and I decided that having looked at the television listings, a quick drink down Newland Avenue was the way to go, only to be presented by more students in more fancy dress costumes.

I cannot recall a time when I was a student when I could afford fancy dress costumes.....even though I had a job through out my degree. Our idea of fancy dress was something made at home out of paper mache, or a bad taste party which would involve a trip round the charity shop to spend less than £3 for a complete outfit (although I always rejected the idea of buying second hand pants......I think, or at least I hope it was just a Dundee thing!) but these guys seem to have the complete works from golfing plus fours to a pirate outfit that wouldn't look out of place on Kiera Knightley or Johnny Depp (okay there isn't too much to get for a naked chef......other than an apron!)

University was a place to find yourself whilst learning that money really had to be earned (I still think that a cheap box of cornflakes and a pint of milk makes a dinner for three days!). Here's hoping that they enjoy every minute!

Told you there was some bad taste going on!

Family visit - Oxford Part 3 - The Extra Factor

I am not a huge fan of the X-Factor. To be honest I cannot remember who won what, when and other than a handful of contestants I cannot really think of any who have made a real career from winning it.

I hold my hand up and admit that I will occasionally watch the first few open audition weeks, although this is typically with the same type of morbid fascination that the ancients watched gladiatorial games. It is incredible to see young Wayne, whose Mum has put him up for it and whose voice she says is that of an angel, who would only be able to hit the correct note if it was lying bleeding at his feet and he had a big shovel in his hands, and who has as much chance of hitting the charts as I have of becoming the first man to walk on the sun! But for some reason it's is almost addictive to watch these people come on and murder a song before being ripped apart by the judges on the panel. It does seem a bit sad that celebrity is something that is so desperately sought that people will willingly risk national humiliation for the chance to gain it (I know that I couldn't carry a tune even in a bucket......and therefore I would not enter myself into a singing competition!)

This weekend, my Sister, who really enjoys the X-Factor, but knowing that she was going to be sharing the TV with three rugby lads decided to make things slightly more interesting with an X-Factor drinking game. I believe she found it online, and having had a brief look I know that there are several out there all along the same lines, but the rules that we played are these:

With a TV turned onto the X-factor and a drink of your choice in hand (admittedly alcohol in our case but this is not necessarily a requisit and I certainly don't suggest or recommend drinking in excess.....even if I do tend to end up doing it!)

Everytime one of the following happens two fingers depth of drink and drunk:

• Louis Walsh mentions that Simon Cowell brought the world...........(you can choose for yourself who to suggest or just use the fact that he mentions anyone)
• Louis Walsh mentions Westlife
• Simon Cowell winks at a contestant
• A contestant describes that this is their "life dream" or that they are "going to give it their all"
• Cheryl Cole calls someone "Pet"
• That anyone of the judges uses the phrase "you owned that!"

If this was not enough you are then to "down" the drink if:

• A contestant's performance is described as karaoke
• Cheryl Cole cries
• A performance is described as the "Best performance of the night", or
• Someone utters the phrase "you are the reason that this competition exists!"

I admit that after the first few rounds we had to swiftly move on to shots as we were running out of beer, although we kept to the longer drinks for the two finger challenges.

I don't know if I enjoyed the X-factor anymore than normal, although I must admit that it did seem to go faster.

Sunday was not so much fun!