New Years Eve

Well 'bye 2013 you were a bit of a git in places but I got through

been ill (not dramatic just mild stomach upset which has (apart from a couple of nervous trips to Tescos) kept me grounded

had time to think though

firstly some facts

I spent the last couple of nights reading a Star Trek Novel called a ceremony of losses (part 3 in a 5 book run) I lost track of time on both occasions, which doesn't happen often, because I love reading Star Trek and Star Wars novels - there I admitted it

Since I don't have the next book in the series for the above I've gone back to The Companions the first book in The Sundering (or the 'whats going to happen to Forgotten Realms with DND next' ing) and I'm thoroughly enjoying it got the next 2 in the series on order and that brings me up to date and the Neverwinter Saga just turned up (4 Novels) - I'm halfway through the Companions and hopefully the next one at least will turn up today so I can just go straight on in the series

After the frankly exhausting 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who year (Still love the Doc) I was goiong to just dial it back and relax however

Next year is the 40th Anniversary of DND (in all it's forms) so I'm heading into the new year with a pile of FR novels to read and I will be keeping an eye out for news and events until the release of DND Next (which I think will be at the end of August at Gencon) when I will buy the 3 books I always buy and the adventure they always release and run it for a group of players that are interested and see what people think.

If it's crap I'll sell the books on and wait for the next edition or if it's good see what happens

As Christmas turned out a bit more expensive than I thought I am not going to be beering until payday January.

The Gym thing will now be starting end of Jan beginning of Feb as I have very little money and want to walk some of the xmas excess off when I'm back at work

BUT IT WILL HAPPEN!!!!!

Southwell Folk Festival was a very expensive couple of days that alternated between fantastic Music, Beer and Company (me and Rob haven't spent that amount of time on our own together in a number of years and that was cool) and appalling camping but after talking with Rob we want to go back (talked to Del and Suse a while ago and they were sorta keen to go as well) so IF I AM CONFIDENT I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND MISERABLE NIGHTS NOT SLEEPING IN A TENT I would like to go back next year

I'm single, I don't want to be single anymore so things have to change (long list of things I think need to change an will be changing as I go over the coming year)

The non reffing thing is doing wonders - my imagination feels like it's growing back and enjoying playing in the games I'm in far more than I was before this is a good

Don't have the entire year planned out in detail but

Quarter 1 - General Flat maintenance and purchase of new bed (mattress), Washing Machine ( and maybe a cooker, I'd like a proper cooker before next Christmas but may leave till further down the year)

Quarter 2 - as this quarter covers Southwell it's difficult to plan too much as I don't know whats happening but camping gear and saving for the festival (and if I spot anything for the flat then get it)

Quarter 3 Decorating/flooring the flat - nut sure about colours or floor coverings but I feel that tearing up these crappy tiles and then we'll see whats affordable

Quarter 4 (if the other quarters worked then proper Christmas decorations and shopping building up to a Christmas where my timing for dinner will be better and I'll have more decorations than just the one tree)

Generally 2014 is about me being better to myself and others and sorting out parts of my life that I feel need sorting

and no serious health issues (that's important)

Love my Friends

Feel a little closer to my Family

Am optimistic about the future

Whats the worst that could happen?

Happy New Year

Julian

Pre Christmas update

It's pretty much here

Christmas Eve tomorrow and pausing during the de-ransacking of my home I pause to jot this down

I can't go on the way I have been

I look at my life and realise that out of my 'extended family' 6 of them are married with kids and are happily so

the others are single and seemingly happy to be so for now

I have had a rough year with another serious illness (which has left a scar) and again spent a lot of time in pain and fear on my own in my concrete box

I got so frustrated with the situation I found myself in that I thought about quitting gaming for a time (glad I didn't, I'm playing 3 games a week these days and enjoying each of them)

Work is appalling but it is a means to an end

Things must change

Once Rob told me that I come up with all these plans because it's always easier to Say than to do and there is a little rush when I come up with a plan and leap into action

Then slow and Stop dead

so things are going to change

There is a plan but I'm keeping it mostly secret

There will be visible signs and it will involve me travelling a bit (hopefully)

I am Happy

But could be happier

So that is what my 2014 is going to be about  - finding a happier me

for now that is all

Merry Christmas

Julian

It's that time of year again....

Well here we are on the last couple of weeks before ..... well you know

New Tassimo Coffee machine is great (definately have to use with water filter)
Tivo is great (Not recorded anything as yet and Spotify needs a premium subscription to use £9.99 a month I don;t think so)

most of my plans for 2013 just didn't happen mostly illness (but not a lot of depression this year just frustration about plans not happening)

So plans for 2013 transferred to 2014 and theres a theme

THE SEARCH FOR JULES!!!!!!!  (echo)

Essentially it occoured to me once I stopped reffing that I've been doing a lot of things over the years that may not have been my idea and stopped doing things for no good reason that I can think of

Example - I used to stay up really late at my grans listening to Radio 2 (soul back then) and played Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks and created maps for them (was doing it in sequence) I had a quite a collection of them but they as well as a lot of my other stuff has dissapeared over the years sadly

But I've been gathering the gamebooks together again and intend on playing/mapping as a 'time passer'

Getting a record player in a couple of weeks and doing the classic album thing (as well as a load of current bands are releasing their stuff on vinyl again)

theres going to be comic collecting (Green Lantern, Justice League, And Teen Titans)

Theres going to be more social stuff thats not gaming

Theres going to be cons (in non Nottingham places) which I realise is going to be flying solo but Either I do that or do nothing

In other words it's time for me to start to spread my wings and go out on my own some more

In the new year Me and Mark are going to be hitting the Gym (Doctors clearence depending)

In June Me and Rob are going back to Southwell (with Derek and maybe Family as an interest has been expressed)

More Board Games

More writing

An Open University Course

A redecorated Flat

and a whole lot of less time for people who don;t want to know me or think they can take my time up leaving me as a spectator some childish, pointless argument - I simply no longer have the time or patience

One person has already been defriended on FB and may be more to follow

In other words Change is coming

Now I have housework to do so I shall put my trousers on (which as I write this would make this whole thing more dignified but it's too late now)

J

Revelations

Great song from Iron Maiden (would put it on right now but it would drown out the Matt Smith Who episode I have on)

So I stopped my Pathfinder Campaign and the relief was palpable not that I wasn't enjoying it as such but Reffing DND type games these days involves a lot of 'staying on top of things' as in player abilities and monsters and new books etc and it became like a second job and I really don't need a second job

I never intended (or said) that I wasn't going to stop reffing things that aren't DNDish and since the 'voices' in my head have started whispering again I've been thinking about projects for the far future (or one of the groups round town)

Three things are in my head at the moment

1) Superhero

A while ago Rob and me briefly chatted about a combined Marvel/DC campaign setting for Mutants and Masterminds (it didn't really go anywhere) but expand it to include The Mutant and Masterminds own campaign stuff and a massive campaign setting exists (or this is a massive self deception and my geek brain is trying to trick me in reading a massive amount of comics/graphics for 'research purposes')

2) WOD/Cthulhu

Suse is a genius

Years ago I tried to run a 'multi class' WOD pre written adventure which didn't work but Suse managed to level things out power wise and it is a fantastic game to play so a multi class (or Mage) game with mythos elements (they're already there anyway) is really tempting right now - as a plus I would have to read a massive amount of White Wolf and as I now know where to get most of the books I'm missing on print on demand I could complete my WW collection - which is nice

3) The One Ring

I love Cubicle 7 stuff and the One ring is a good system (plus you know Tolkien) so this was in the running and I am going to get the stuff at some point in the future but still fantasy reffing

so down to 2

Have a cold which was bloody awful yesterday but today not so bad - would have been fine but work aggravates these things but I think getting better

Doctor Who Anniversary weekend coming up and quite looking forward to it

Think I'm going to read Mage tonight......

When my current run as ref in the week ends I'm hanging it up, for a while

No reffing

And I'm not reffing D20 again (probably) inspiration being what it is you never quite know when your sitting there and an idea hits you which you really do have to get down on paper and as D20 is the most common denominator it may be that if it happens at all

I'm not reffing Fantasy again (probably) see above statement

My sense of wonder has pretty much gone when it comes to Fantasy, it's no longer wondrous landscapes and images in my head of terrifying creatures or incredible magical effects it's all about stats and working out movement in my head etc - I knew this would happen someday and I hope it's not permanent but it may be

Not to mention that reffing DND (and Pathfinder) is bloody hard work after a time as players go up levels and power creep comes into it - it's not fun when it gets like that and DM's do this thing for fun just like everybody else at the Table

I thought about just stopping roleplaying alltogether for a while but The Wednesday Game and Onyx Path Publishing (They're really White Wolf) put me straight on that 

I will still give DND next a look but hold out little hope

So starting after next payday I will be selling off everything DND I have (all editions) I will keep the pathfinder stuff but box away everthing reffish

The WOD game I play at Dereks and Suses has more than rekindled my interest in that system and I have Savage Worlds now which is a generic thing that has a number of settings for it (Including Deadlands) but it lacks something for Space ship to ship combat so I'm getting Traveller

I'll someday run some short adventures of various systems on Wednesday nights but no long term campaigns for me in the forseeable future - there are other reasons for that decision but for the life of me I can't figure out a way to broach those issues without starting some ridiculous scandal or something so leaving those alone

 Weight loss slow but ongoing

Job = Shit - I mean really the feeling I'm being crushed in Mind, Body and spirit is constant in that place now - yesterday after lunch I spent 35 mins trying to get one of my monitors working (this kind of crap is a regular thing at that place) it monotonous work that doesn't change, we've not had a reasonable payrise in years and even my team leader admitted that I'm not being paid what I'm worth but the only way to change that is to get the whole section reassessed and that may well result in pay cuts for some others on the team so she won't do it

So my plans for strating an open university course (creative writing most likely) next September have been moved to February as I'm starting an escape tunnel

Lovelife = none ( still hung up on a couple of people I shouldn't be but after 20 years of being single sitting on my feelings is second nature now but still)

The Flat = ongoing getting some stuff in to start tarting up the place and really want to make the place more comfortable but sometimes see the size of that job and balk - but not giving up

Thats me ... I don't give up

Right got to get scrubbed up and dressed as I am going round Del and Suse's to embarrass myself by 'running' a board game

Later

J

Quick update

well my good mood continues

and in other news work continues to suck the big one

and I have a feeling that the reason that the beeb have been so shit about the Doctor Who 50th coverage is this

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24448063

I suspect that there have been a large number found and they may be releasing them between now and the anniversary

which is nice

but only a theory, they're having a press conference later this week

fingers crossed

watching Who from the start beginning this week

and indulging in my guilty pleasure

expanded Universe Star Trek Novels

gotta go to work now more later

J

well that was the week that was ....

I saw Brit

On Monday couple of feet away, her eyes met mine and the world didn't explode or anything

you see I was listening to an audio of LOTR and it was on my way home from work so all my brian did was 'oh she's nice'.... wait...wasn't that ....and I think I may have smiled and I walked on

Then I got an attack of the warm and fuzzies and several things happened

I looked back to see if I could see her again - she'd gone

I got back to the flat and spent an hour thinking about what I was feeling and a funny thing happend

The guilt, depression, anger thing I've been carrying around for nearly 20 years left... actually left

I still think she's beautiful and I still wish that it had worked out but that 'thing' that had been holding me back, down whatever went away

That was Monday

since then I've been more positive more clear headed (It's difficult to put into words) but the realisation that I have been wrong about a lot of things from back then briefly popped up but I'm not looking for any more things to brood about so I'm gonna see how far this goes before the Universe trips me up

Maybe this time it won't

Work on the flat continues

Xmas planning goes on

My birthday (actually the 27th) at the new and improved Tap n Tumbler

Fuckin A

J

September 2013

well it's september already and some of what I wanted to get done this year has come to pass

but the inportant thing is that the bookcases are in place

I have something of a library which is scattered around the flat and some in Marks attic

once the next phase of the sorting gets done (books on shelves then stuff sorted into the places the books are currently) I can sort getting the stuff from Marks and get that put away

I have a load of posters around the place that I was wanting to get frames for and put them up, but the frames cost £15 each minimum and although Rob came up with a plan involving MDF and spray adhesive and such that will still cost quite a bit in the long run so I think I may just revert to the basics and get some drawing pins - not as fancy but I'll have art up and wont have to stare at just the white walls

work tomorrow and no time off until sometime in October but using the next 6 weeks or so to keep the pressure on the weight loss thing (routine is by far the most useful thing in this process)

Looking to finish my Pathfinder Campaign around xmas (maybe) anyway I've got 4 dungeons left I think (maybe 5) and then it'll end - then I take an extended not reffing period while Rob takes over then I'll start serious work on the Cthulhu thing

The bones figures are in the country so maybe turn up in the next week or so (then I have 250 figures to sort assemble and paint)

In early December I'll have £300 coming my way from the works xmas savings club and I've been wracking my brains trying to figure out what I'm gonna get for myself and finally decided on a 32GB ipad mini (goes for £350 so will have to add some to it) actually aiming for the 64GB one but thats £430 if I can get them money together will get that one


so some things haven't gone the way I wanted them to but I'm not anywhere near done yet

but for the most part it's going well

J

An update

where to start

I don't know where it came from but of late I've had a resurgance of the old me

Quite frankly I've been tired and fed up a bit of late (may have been recovery from the leg thing) but slowly been getting better

but the last couple of days have been great - I've sorted out the bedroom and the little room in preperation for 6 bookcases to be dropped off on Friday as Rob found a guy with a van that will only charge me £20 for the job so that plus Rob & Margaret are only charging me £10/bookcase (and they're biiggg bookcases) I'll be sorted for that for ages

still hovering around the same weight class as before but thats changing slowly so learn patience or step things up (If I hit the gym now I'm fairly certain bits of me would fall off) but the gym is inevitable at some point (actually looking forward to it a bit)

If I can get the furniture/storage issues sorted this side of xmas then I can redecorate in the new year and once thats done will look seriously at flooring (no rush right now and it's always better to paint the carpet I would have thought)

huge pile of RPG books slated for more Amazon/ebay still got the core games I will always keep (pathfinder, MERP, WOD etc) and cleared room for new stuff

Reaper Bones on the way (finally) about 250 figures being shipped from the states (and thats my figure issue solved)

Been looking at Teraclips stuff recently but it's a bit expensive (pics on link below)

http://www.worldworksgames.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=11438

going to be branching out a bit gaming wise in the near future there are several gaming groups run at shops (and one at Wargames Foundry not far from the flat ) all fairly close to me and going to be hitting some of those

Need to play more card/boardgames

Next Year is the 40th anniversary of D&D and quite possibly the release of DND next and I've got to admit despite the whole 4th Edition/Edition Wars nonsense I still hold a great deal of affection for D&D and will be participating to some degree next year (haven't quite decided exactly what yet)

Feel the need get out and stretch my legs so to speak (not shutting down current gaming arangements but finding new games and gamers )

so basically personal life wise things are good

now a couple of fandom issues (don't usually do this but)

1 Ben Affleck as Batman

I didn't really like Dark Knight Rises - big plot holes (usually filled with a flashy gadget or Anne Hathaways backside (which although very nice is not an excuse for gaps in a film)

stuff didn't make sense (broken back climb out of pit for example)

It wasn't nearly as good as The Dark Knight and that was dissapointing

now Affleck - it's an actor playing a comic book hero and there hasn't even been a trailer yet - he may not impress some people but if we've learnt anything about recent Actors to play the Doctor or cmpanions you shouldn't judge them before you see them do the thing

the reaction is ridiculous and I for one am going to give him a chance

2 The leaked photo from Doctor Who 50th (providing it's not another hoax)

it's a blurry pic on a mobile from an alegged clip/trailer from the 50 th anniversary show

it shows David Tennant, Matt Smith and John hurt with a glimpse of someone else who looks like hes wearing Tennants

so what they're saying/hinting at is that Tennat, Smith and Hurt are going to be in the 50th with Tennants double (who presumably came across with Rose who we already know is going to be in it)

How is this news - we already pretty much knew this -

It's about as surprising as the announcement that the Daleks were going to be in it - WHAT A SHOCK THAT WAS

BBC still dissapointing in lack of stuff for the anniversary year (it's August now and what have we seen?)

ah well

Stephen King reading temorarily on Hold as I got the latest R A Salvatore DND book this week
good so far and this (and the next 5) are leading into the Rebirth (restoration) of the Forgotten Realms for DND next

ave cleared the littel room (todays goal for the sorting of the flat) so are cleared for Bookcases

game not on for several hours

gonna go play for a while

J

good week I think

got down to 24 stone dead which is good

work wasn't completely awful for once

traded old DND stuff in and some more went in this morning total value for the 2 trade ins about £280 or so for 21 books - mostly gone on Doctor Who DVDs (and a couple of Stephen King Novels)

I've been trying to get all 147 released Who DVDs by the end of the year - currently have 57 with about 20 on the way and another trade in the credit for whihc will be available midweek next week

decided I'm going to Whooverville after all (Doctor Who con in Derby) on the 31st cause I'm a big who fan and I really want to go and meet other who fans and chill

every now and again I feel really good and positve and this is one of those times

waiting for the other shoe to drop, cause it normally does

but may be wrong so smiling all the way at the moment


work on the flat actually happening may be reasonable by christmas

games good, Stephen King Reading good, Who Collection good - just need to lose a load more weight and find a hot geek girl and I'm golden

J

So gaming update

Thursday group down to 4 players (temporarily?)

Going to leave it that way unless one of the people already promised a seat wants to opt in

Current Thursday Campaign looking at in far dim distance the possibility of an end

Then Cthulhu, period Cthulhu

Then back to fantasy (after my fantasy bateries have recharged I hope) with a grand Forgotten Realms campaign in the new Sysytem

Or if the new system is going to be rubbish the Pathfinder

Just traded in 9 3.5 DND boks for 22 Doctor Who DVD's (thank you Amazon)

First Book in 'The Sundering' (first in a sextet of novels covering the new realms setting (or the build up to the new setting))

and on 20/08/13 Storm over Baldurs Gate - a new adventure in 'The Sundering' that no one seems to know what edition it's in and sounds like (from what I've seen on Amazon) a new Box Set

 Starting to get a feeling of anticipation I've not felt in ...............    (Star Wars paraphrasing)

but now to work

later dudes and dudettes

J

3 years in the flat and I'm sane

2 health scares and I'm still here

weigh less now than I did when I moved in but still far too much

thought I loved someone who didn't love me and now .. well shes no longer an issue

tomorrow I'm going to wake up at some ungodly hour and have a giant coffee then I'm going to the new book shop in the centre to pick some things I saw today

Then me and the flat are going to have a confrontation

there will be 2 armchairs in the living room with a standard lamp and a footstool

the library which is going to be a fan boy room of some description

The massive amounts of rammell and clothes that exist in piles around the place are going to be thrown out or sorted

progress has been made but more can be done, much more

but right now I'm on my second Doctor Who DVD of my weekend (first was the 3 Doctors and now The Daemons)

Generally I'm happy

Could be happier  but I think I know what thats going to take and well it'll happen or it won't really

now for coffee and dinner

J

not going to be doing any more of these daily things unless something weird happens but

Day 2

day at work goes something like this

get there

start work

go through patch of falling asleep at desk

bolster

sleep thing again

leave work

get back to centre and all energy comes back, AC/DC on MP3 and smile on face

it's officail work is probably killing me, draining the life right out of me

need new job

life now depends on it

anyhoo tonight more work on flat and tomorrow is from this week on game (thursday) writing night - me biig coffee and some Doctor Who Audio while I plot the demise of the rebel scum...erm... players

no maybe I was right in the first place

oh well

J

Day 1

First day of the new approach

Something I ate yesterday seriously didn't agree with me (been an interesting day at work) but I pretty much guarantee I lost weight

walked into work

every apple I tried to eat today was rotten (all 3 of them thank you tescos)

came home and put water and dinner on straight away

did three of the 4 things on my list of things to do (mostly win)

very tired but pleased

same tomorrow and every day

J

Today is the line in the sand

I'm tired at failing to change my life for the better, things that I feel will make me happier like my weight/fitness the state of the flat, the pressure that shoddy organisation of my time puts on myself with regards to the game and such and the list goes on

So today a line in the sand is drawn"this far and no further!!!!!"

sorry channeling picard a bit

so after I get home from work  the TV does not go on and FB only gets checked briefly for word on status of games and such and will have a lit of things to do before I get to watch anythig or play anything

This week is a trial we'll see how it goes

Also today is the first day I'm walking into work since going back, walk in bus back for a while then walk in walk out

So if I don't appear on FB as much for the next few days don't panic

later peeps

J

I have things I want to achieve

I never achieve them as I get distracted

(plus 2 major health scares in the last 18 months hasn't helped)

So I need discipline and structure - a little every day and cut down on the distractions

got some vague ideas what to do - I'll think them through today and if I get them straight in my head then will start tomorrow

Change is coming

(I know I've said stuff like this before but you have to give me credit - I never give up)

:)

J

I know you're there

a little update as you seem to be reading my various posts a little wrong

My leg is healing and that will take months

They guys were rolling dice apparently while I was ill as a joke cause they were talking about what would happen if I died and my stuff was left lying around

If you want to 'talk' leave a messsage on here

And if you're worried about me contact me

J

They rolled dice for my belogings

J

Next Step

The leg is better (more or less) one last bandage and a final nurses appointment on monday and just waiting for the 'Scarring' to fade

Another bullet dodged

Got some shifting done today the closet is shaping up and no 'back bending' was done

Strange yesterday after the docs I came back had some lunch and flaked out on the sofa for an hour, got up and my legs have been hurting ever since top of the calves almost like when you've been for an extremely long walk (which I've not) but I don't  think thats important

weight has been gained but as I'm going back to work on Monday and getting back to the old routine things should start again

Pathfinder campaign is ongoing and sometimes difficult to write for but I'm still enjoying it enough to keep going

Next game is going to be Cthulhu

Then a Forgotten Realms Campaign

Need a break from running fantasy, really do - but thats for the future

New Tap refit pics on FB look good and I 'm throwing caution to the wind and being optomistic and saying the Tap n Tumbler is coming back next week :)

Got some other stuff going on in my head but sme things I think should be kept secret until I'm sure I can pull them off

generally things are on the up

J

Onward

It's getting better

Leg is definitely getting better

I've ahd to live with a certain amount of isolation over the last 4 weeks and it's largely been painful and unpleasant

But it's given me time to think

I've started sorting out the enormous mess the flat is in due to the stop/start sorting that has gone before - this will be an ongoing process over the week and I want everything as sorted as can be before I go back to work (so 7 days)

Can't really shift furniture but Rob has offered his help and I'm sure I can get someone else involved as well and that needs to be done before the 22nd

A little bit of the weight I put on in the early stages of the infection has gone on cause of docs orders about taking it easy but I'm watching what I eat and slowly dialling up the activity before I go back to work

This is usually where I go into a meandering account of wanting to find true meaning and a person to share my life with blah blah

What self involved batcrap!!

I sort the flat

I sort my weight/fitness

let the rest take care of itself

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Was talking to chap at work about how this year wasn't going like I wanted it to and he suggested thaty I use this year as a rehersal kinda thing and do the Year of the Jules in 2014 which is a brilliant idea

So next years planned events (or Wish list)

Conquest

Maybe the Games Expo

Southwell (if we can find an alternative to messing up our backs)

Whooverville

Dragonmeet?

we'll see

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So after a difficult month I am bruised but not bowed and slowed but not stopped

Onward!!!!

J

the year that wasn't

This was supposed to be the year I get on with stuff

Con Quest - was originally supposed to be a shopping tryip - then an opportunity to meet new people and play some games, then the Thursday group was going to go

I bought some gear before Conquest, the Thursday group dropped ut and I got a sinus infection and couldn't go anywhere anyway - one wasted ticket and a sense of dissapointment

Southwell - music, people, beer and food were fantastic - the camping was the worst experience I'd had up until that point (and I've had a colonoscopy) came away with a bad back and we came home early - however if we can figure out how to sort the sleeping arrangements then I think we're going next year without a doubt

three weeks now I've been in constant pain and very little sleep down to a 6 inch long by 2 inch high by 8th of an inch deep strip of flesh that should be on my leg but isn't this was down to an infection that I picked up from somewhere that has gone away now but the after effects are still with me and will take weeks to go - also sciatica (I think stems from Southwell)

BUT - I'm still smiling, I'm still pushing on and although I'm slowed by this I WILL NOT BE STOPPED BY THIS OR ANYTHING/ANYONE

Whooverville next month (Who con in Derby), Nerdfest in Nottingham in October and Nova Con in Nottingham in November

and next year It's going to happen all over again

started buying cds aff amazon

going to collecvt Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen and a few others, if you hunt around you can get then for 3 or 4 quid each on CD and as I'm starting from the beginning I'm listening to their early stuff which is great

now I have to go through my character for tomorrow, go through almnost all the characters for my thursday game so I can get the power levels right -  and get some work to do for the thursday game which is back on this thursday

so apart from insomnia and pain things are going okay

:)

J

Well lets see

Jules and Rob go camping to a Folk Festival

We came back early

Thursday was fab we got there set up camp, wandered down to the festival site and looked around and less than 2 hours after arrival the music started - we spent the first half of the evening in the beer tent (which was also a venue) and watched a couple of bands in the main marquee started getting colder but that was to be expected and I wasn't really feeling it that much so we crashed and looked forward to the next 3 days

That night was one of the most unpleasant experiences I have ever encountered it was freezing cold and extremely uncomfortable not to mention damp (this is considering the Christmas I nearly broke my leg and the colonoscopy/surgery I had last year)

The following morning my spirits were somewhat subdued but after some brekkie and a coke we went for a walk into Southwell to see one of the acts that was performing in the Minster they were very good if a little experimental but they made the list of 10 or so artists I'm going to be getting CDs for

The weather 'improved' which meant that the walk into Southwell was longer than expected and the sun was brutal so quick coke in a pub in Soputhwell and then off to the minster act great/seats really uncomfortable but free tea and coffee

Then several hours until any act at all and it wa back to the bar/tent for a littel whle then off to Marquee 2 for a few really good acts and then main tent

I was falling asleep and Rob had nexk/back pain so we caled it early and crashed - where I spent all night not cold this time I was well wrapped but couldn't get comfortable and didn't sleep much - woke up the following morning uncomfortable, a bit down but looking forward to the days music and getting dripped on slightly from Dew coming through tent or condensation on inside not sure which and waited for Rob to wake up so we could plan the day

It took a little conversation that basically covered the fact that we hated the camping and loved the music/festival part

so we decided mutually to come home

Now it's been a considerable number of years since Rob or myself had been camping and we perhaps had a somewhat off idea of how cold it would get but we came away with something of a better idea of what we would have needed to remove the only unpleasant part of the weekend

Larger more insulated tents, thermal undies, the stove also seemed to be overly complicated so we ate quite a bit from vendors at the festival

I am now still recovering from Sciatica (full leg cramp for the first time really interesting that was), a bruised rib on the right side or pulled muscle and it looks like I've been attacked by a man wielding a microwave my arms were purple yesterday and really sore and my face looks like ive been slapped for hours

However lets break this down to get some perspective

Cons

Camping was rubbish (uncomfortable/cold)

Someone in the wee smalls on Friday morning walked into some of the larger tents and nicked stuff (one guy had credit cards and cash and car keys taken and another that was talking to him caught the bastard walking into his tent and chased him off)

My sinus throat thing did not react well to all this and was unpleasant in the mornings and when ever the temperature changed (think it may have been humidity as well)

Friday daytime was a bit rubbish (music wise) there weren't any acts on till lunch time and then none for several hours (but they were good)

You cannot walk with a filled to the brim pint pot without spilling it down you FACT

Pros

I got to spend the 3 days with one of my oldest friends just me and him and there wasn't any awkwardness or uncomfortable silences it was just fun, music and chillin'

The music was great and I've got a list of 10 or so bands/artists I'll be looking onto

Everybody there was really friendly

The Beer festival had about 40 or so real ales opn and they weren't massively expensive and were really nice beers - the most expensive was ordinary Carlsberg and that seemed to be watered down

The food was a bit expensive but really nice (had a massive cooked breakfast on the morning we came back and it was lovely)

And the really attractive lady on the hat stall that sold my my 'hat to prevent my head from melting' for just £8 asked me if I was doing Download as well (and now I sorta wish I could)

all in all positive

follow on

If me and Rob go next year (likely I think some things are to be different)

Proper 'make things a comfortable as possble' camping gear

Only go for the weekend

try and get other people to go

Loved it, I came away feeling really good it was a whole friendly atmosphere there that I really fit into (sorry it had to end at all never mind the way it did)

Am going to see more live acts from now on

on the way back we chatted about things and one of the things was my health and lifestyle and Rob said something that could have been taken as a challenge - 1 year to get thinner and healthier, to get the flat and ailments sorted and to stop being single

Challenge accepted

J

okay so sinus issues seem to be clearing somewhat, although according to the news especially nasty 'pollen burst' is making life unpleasant for lots of hay fever sufferers so I'm just gonna have to live with that

Not been reffing or playng for a couple of weeks as talking basically causes my sinuses to clamp shut (or thats what it feels like) and talking is fairly important in the whole RPG thing but my game back on tomorrow and back at Sundays this weekend (don't know what Marks playing - sure it'll be ya know reaallly powerful and shit)

Got to see doctors soon as I may have to take extra precaustions for Southwell (hay fever vs camping yeesh)

what got me is that it stopped me - everything shut down gaming, walking as much (okay couldn't breathe properley but still)

happened at xmas as well everything stopped, but that was xmas and therefore 'allowed'

If I keep doing this I'm gonna lose this fight and I really want to do the other thing so what I am going to have to try and do is carry on regardless

Work directly against my tendancy to stop and make excuses, just put my head down and get on with it and not ever stop

and now doubt, I don't know if I have the ..... what determination, strength whatever

Last year up until xmas I was unstoppable and then I took time off and lost ground now I have to do that again, be that person again and not stop this time

I still see the parts of the future I want (the parts I've figured out so far) and as a goal that will do for now

Now I have to fight

We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are,--
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. 

Just threw that in cause I love that quote

J 

 

I need to achieve something - a lot of my friends have families and better jobs than me (cause I thought going to work for my local council was a goal I wanted to achieve for a career and found a dead end job that I am now stuck in with no prospects (according to my team leader says))

Theres not a lot I can do about that right now but one day....

I can't remember the last time I read a book and just enjoyed it instead of 'gamifying' it

I keep waffling on about things I want to get done and sometimes they do get done but more often they don't because sometimes I just can't see any point

but maybe thats the point to just go through the motions until something appears

I don't know but I'm going to give it a try cause otherwise I'm just gonna stay ...lost

So things kick off this week I have three goals and I'm not going to go on about them, cause thats what always happens and then  nothing

Hopefully this Sinitus isn't going to hang around for very much longer cause I'm back at the mad house tomorrow

Next Event thing coming up Southwell Folk Festival

Must reapply myself to the weight loss effort (going slowly I want it to go quicker)

and keep wondering if there is actually anyone out there for me, or if I'm better off just me

J

part of this 'remodelling' thing I'm doing to myself at the moment is to reacquaint myself with some hobbies or aspects of hobbies that I stopped because of financial issues or other more trivial concerns

Standing order starting this Friday
more boardgaming
going to cons (quite possibly solo but I think I'm okay with that)

and as part of this I've decided what my next 2 reffing projects are going to be

After my pathfinder ends (a break I hope) but Rappan Athuk (am buying thebook with some of my works xmas club money in December)

and after that I'm going to ref a Middle Earth Campaign (in Pathfinder or whatever we're playing at that point)

Sorting out what MERP and lord of the rings material I have and will start 'studying' ... well I already started today

quite happy with this and got some other stuff running through my head regarding these projects but still at 'thinking stuff up' stage

J

There is a barrier in this weight loss thing it involves (inmy case at least) pain

My torso hurts, around my belt line hurts, I feel tired and not headachey exactly but a kind of 'detatchment' it's worse at work and I'm gonna have my soup and wholemeal inna mo

It's times like this when I wonder why I keep doing this it happended when I started a year ago and I went though it again after christmas (XMASSSSSSS *shakes fist*) and I'm going through it again now

The thing is

I remember a time when I used to wear a t shirt Suit jacket and Jeans and pull it off well

I remember  a time when I didn't feel self conscious going out

And I remember a time when I felt really good about myself all the time

And regardless what my 'dark side' says I've never stopped believing that I can regain some of what I've lost

So screw him

(and although it's a little more tired than usual)

Onward :)

BTW they called my glasses are ready - will pick up tomorrow

J

It's official I'm having my midlife crisis (on infinite earths ;)   )

If I drove it would be a car (or Bike) but I don't so it looks like comics

Setting up a standing order again, Marvel and DC and sorting through my existing comics for the strips I want to concentrate on to fill gaps - been looking at collected editons of titles like Avengers and FF and the issue coverage is fantastic

So that kicks off at the end of this month

Also

Me and Rob are working on a combined Mutants and Masterminds world, mostly M&M but with just a touch of Marvel and DC characters (quite enjoying the thought of that)

Also

although I have said in the past that I didn't fancy the whole cinema thing (not that I went much before) but I really fancy ging to see Iron Man 3 and as I am watching Star Trek (most recent movie) at the mo I want to see Star Trek 2 and I the other blockbusters as well so thats going to change as well

Was thinking about getting into heroclix as well but after some research and locating the current up to date rulebook (all 213 pages of it) decided that al I want to do is locate figs for the M&M

The Comic Mart that I went to last summer (which was rubbish) has moved to a hotel in Hockley (just round the corner) noww when I went before i went looking for Doctor Who stuff but didn't look at the normal comics gear so gonna have another look

And a new con comes to Nottingham (Nerdfest) on the 5th October

oh and I'm gonna start wearing glasses (for monitor work and some reading) so thats new

So while I'm going back to Work on Monday (and as I have to deal with fallout from the welfare reforms as wel as the normal crap) I'm not looking forward to it but am not dreading it and will start looking forward to my next break in about  8 weeks (Southwell Folk Festival)

All is well

J

half way through my break and I have done ... virtually nothing

well, wrote and ran my game last week (went wel I thought), started one collection based project and had some thoughts on some other stuff

Tomorrow it changes, tomorrow I will have 7 days until I'm back at work and 7 days to get everything I wanted to get done...done

So Alarm back on tomorrow and treating it like a work day as far as getting up breakfast is concerned and walk down to work then back to the flat and start clearing/cleaning the flat

got this weird quiet determination thing going

we'll have to see exactly where I end up but lookiung forward to the journey - for today got some paperwork to catch up on

J

One day left

It's been a long 3 months (not had a real break from work in that time) but I'm almost there, one more day and then 17 days off

and things are going to change

I'm going to slowly and surely put things back together

Flat Spring Cleaned
Books and stuff sorted, cataloged and lists prepared for taking to cons (first one in about 6 weeks)
Game material caught up on (current campaign written up so I'm weeks ahead) and stuff scribbled down for WoD, and M&M
Figures sorted so I know what I've got and what I need for a wide base of figs (bit short on animals, have no dinosaurs and very few non humanoid monsters)
I have games and comics to get on ebay (including going through a massive stack of DND stuff Rob gave me to fish out and Ebay the rest


I want a different Jules to come out of the other side of this cause the one here is in a bit of a rut (I think)

I've allowed things like the weather to slow me down and as they are forcasting more of the same I have to push on through so (and I don't believe I'm considering this) after the bank holiday I am goign to get up the same time I always do and walk to work (then come home again) this is to keep the weight loss going

I so want to cut loose and get on with the changes I feel I need to make, to back up the choices I have already made but are being held back by ... I don't know what  and if I can't identify what that is I'm going to have a tough time killing it

However, that is not going to stop me trying

So

ordered the first of the camping gear for June
Infiltration and Elder Sign for the board games things I'm doing
Some clothes

and 2 Graphic Novels

Earth 2 (new 52) and Avenger Vs Xmen

I thought I had the whole comic reading thing beaten out of me by the last time I had a standing order but I think I may have just needed a rest and I wanna do some Superhero gaming so looking forward to reading those (especially Earth 2 as it's the formation of the new 52 JSA which I think I prefer to the JLA)

but all that is in the near future and now it's 10pm The Eagles are playing on Youtube and I am going to bed

Night all

J

I'm back baby!!

after a long failed (diet wise) period from just before xmas until recently I wasn't doing well but lost 9 pounds this week so stick that in your pipe and smoke it

since the decorating plans are a little postponed because of camping bills, conventions and the like (but will still happen in June/July kinda time) been inna frustrated holding pattern untill.....

One of the problems I've been having with the gaming setup is that mostly I RPG but sometimes I boardgame (and as recently a sorta Mark/Rob based request for an occasional boardgame saturday thing to be held at my place) and I want to wargame a bit (or maybe a lot) space (organisation) is a problem until.........

Didi you know that my favorite Thunderbird was Thunderbird 2 (bear with me)

It was modular it was the swiss army knife of TV craft and this is my inspiration

for the RPG side I have the Whiteboard 6' by 4' surface you can draw on and thats freat

I ordered a big piece of Blue felt this week to use as a covering for the tabble so that people can actually pick up cards (was tricky before) for the boardgames

and I have a thought about the wargaming side of this which won't happen until my xmas club money is dolled out (£300 coming my way after my xmas shopping is done what am I gonna do?)

also

I wanted to have the living room done in vintage furniture (if not the whole flat) not very vintage just looks that way, but had to go with Ikea because my games collection kills other, lesser furniture

but

I have a table that looks a bit vintage and that is going to replace the 2 pine tables I have the white board on currently and will be easier to store when I need to take the gaimg setup down - sorting that out today

sorting some ideas out for figure storage to be incorperated into the living room setup and sorting other stuff into other parts of the flat (DVDs, novels that kind of thing)

getting Infiltration (which is fantastic) and Elder Signs at the end of the month and Descent second edition later in the year (saw a video review by these guys

http://youtu.be/XH1ENL3J8ks

 and apparently not only is it a new smoother system but with the conversion kit you can use the monsters and heroes from the first game in the second edition one)

I'm getting there and the flat deadline is christmas and I think I'm gonna make it :D


J

my problem is that I talk a good game

but I'm frequently afraid of consquences

Fear of failure and even fear of what would happen if I suceed

It's sometime paralyzing and I don't have the faintest idea where it comes from

but I'm going to try something new - I'm just going to start doing things

lets see how that works out

J

been thinking about previous post and Shells excellent comments on Twitter and the only thing I can think of to shake things up is the trip I wated to make to Gen Con indie next year for the release (probably) of DND Next

Issue with this idea are

It is going to cost a Butt load of money
I will probably be going alone - abroad, to the states, out of the country for the first time - alone

Scary

and did I mention the butt load of money

so I'm gonna try and get the butt load of money together and if I get to the con great (or terrifyingly not great)

or

I dont get the cash together and finish up wth the need to go somewhere and have a pocket full of cash


In the meantime, occasional boardgames at Del and Suse's so gonna try and find the time to read more rules

(excellent excuse to buy some more games - I have 4 currently in mind but have things like Con Quest and folk festivals to save for yet so when I can)

Also request from some to do a similar occasional boardgame thing at my place came up at the weekend from other people I game with so loads of opportunity to practice my gaming

When my mango card turns up (for Trent Barton buses) me and Rob gonna start the walking thing (twice a week)

game tomorrow and chill Friday

Weekend (no Sunday game this week) is gonna be bought to you by Caffeine (pepsi max and Cart Noir), and possible some assistance from doughnuts - definately some tunes along with games rules, superglue, paints and (thanx to lovefilm) Halo 4

tried the 'not worrying about the big picture' thing today and it kinda worked may take some time to sink in properley

and I have another thought about something I can be doing but until I actually start that I'm keeping it under my hat

and yes that was vagueing but it's my bloody blog and I'll vague if I want to (see what i did there)

all in all Shell is a genius and I'll be damned if I'm gonna quit any bloody thing

G'night

J

Thats it I give up

I've spent the last few months (maybe longer) stressing about where life is going - if it is in fact going anywhere or whatever

Well for now the big things in life (a job i actually enjoy, finding someone, all the rest) can wait I need some time to relax and lose weight and just get my head together

If the good stuff happens along then I'll grab on and not let go but for now .... well we'll see

J

With what happened with Rob this week it's time I stepped up and got things really moving

3 goals for the year (at this time)

1) get back into shape (as before but everynow and again me and Rob going for long walks up bestwood or somewhere after he recovers) then gonna find me a nice gamer/whovian lass and settle down or something - this is ongoing as in not going to stop

2) decorate the flat - stating around the first weekend in Feb and going every month or so I hope to be done mid year

3) building a truly magnificent Doctor Who collection - also ongoing

work isn't important as it is a waste of my time but it pays for the above so it has to be

those 3 points are the focus for my 2013

'here endeth the lesson'

J

Many years ago (33 maybe) I got into Doctor Who - my gran used to take me to Arnold Library (near where Arnold market is was the original site) I used to read all the Dr Who novelisations I could and took photocopies of the covers and use them for posters

I had some figures and a photo album with some postcards released by the BBC and the documentary proof that on a family trip to Blackpool I dreseed in a fairly bloody good Peter Davison costume (complete with hat) - I saw Someone driving Bessie down the road outside the Exhibition in Tom Baker garb (and to my eyes it was the man himself)

Time moves on and the moving starts, 17 or 18 times since I moved onto that first place with Brian and Jon in `87 I think

Lots of beer and a dodgy relationship later (and one truly good one) and the Who stuff (or what was left was boxed some of it went including I'm sad to say the photo album) but some of it I kept

Years on and the show ended and I put it out of my mind apart for  the odd find in charity shops

Show comes back and although I was happy to see it still wasn't the same

However over the last few months with the improvements I've been making and this year being the 50th anniversary it's all coming back

A con in August (more if I can find them) I have a spare room that currently is full of stuff and I've got Rob and Langley coming over in a couple of weeks to help me start decorating white walls and TARDIS blue woodwork and carpet tiles (also blue) some shelves/bookcases and the who collection goes in there (just stories I think not a vast number of figures etc,although I've got an 18' remote contol Dalek)

And thats just the start the completion date (I hope) for the flat to be decorated is July/August (not all Who)

I'm currentl;y reading a book called Ahistory: an unauthorised history of the Unverse according to Doctor Who - 784 pages of the history of everything -  just read the origins of the Cybermen (all 4 of them origns not Cybermen)

All in all this year is the year of Who :)

J