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