Perspective

30 years ago I was 14

I got into the habit of staying up too late and listened to the Radio (BBC Radio 2) to mostly Soul/Motown and I would read or play Fighting Fantasy Gamebooks (and draw maps for them)

The Radio wasn't brilliant, bad signal, worse if there were storms and I'd usually fall asleep with it on and wake in the morning (afternoon) and be irritated that it was still running

Been thinking about things I used to do once and don't anymore and why I stopped. Doctor Who (I used to have a large collection), The Gamebooks, listening to the radio late at night and reading (I read more for fun now that I stopped reffing

Thought about quitting gaing last year after a nasty illness and a couple of other reasons that I'm probably never going to discuss but in the end I didn't and I'm glad

Now I'm wearily starting on the weight loss thing again

Changing the flat around

Going to the Southwell Folk Festival this year (It won;t be uncomfortable and cold, so cold at night like last year)

got one Who event in Aug/Sep and looking for another one (perhaps Nerdfest)

but with all this going on (and if I could drag you back to the point)

30 years ago I listened to a dodgy radio and read

Right now I'm listening to the sultry Sarah on 100.3 WKIT playing out of Bangor Maine (Stephen Kings Rock and Roll Station) it's crystal clear coming over my PC speakers

They're playing Halestorm (been listening to them this week to and from work)

isn't progress wonderful

J

The more things change......

When I was erm..  7 maybe I discovered Doctor Who 

Because I was a reader more than a TV kid I immediately got my Gran to get me a library card and started reading the Target novellisations, in fact I photocopied the covers and kept them in a scarpbook

I was one of theose people who taped the episodes on Audio when they were on (which is tricky with a small tape player and a portable TV but I managed it

Then the TV series got cancelled and I sorta thought it was over

I didn't know about the expanded Universe or The Big Finish Audios and instead went through a few years of real life, most of which was fun and some of which wasn't

Then one day years later Rob and I were in Oxfam in Arnold and there was a box of New Doctor Who Novels in a box for 10p each - this was a moment of extreme Squee as Debs would say but it never went any further because I was unemployed and skint a lot of the time

then I got into the work thing

and the series came back

and the Big Finish Audios are there

and I am here with whatever debts I have well under control

but I've changed as well - beer isn't as important as it used to be (the social event is and the beer is a coincidence)

Aquiring RPG's isn't as important as it used to be (WOD resurgace and Print on Demand makes it possible to complete the world(s) of Darkness, I want to complete my MERP collection someday, and there are some other games I'd like to get - for playing purposes as well as personal interest)

I'm not reffing for a good long time - recent events have drummed the desire to run games out of me - I recently had a big idea and ran with it but found I wasn't  doing anything about it and I refusse to run any game half arsed like I have in the past - I don't enjoy them

Playings not going to stop really enjoying that and since I stopped reffing I'm reading novels more which is good

but the flat is I'm afraid gonna be influenced largely by Who (still working out the details as it's all a bit chaotic at the moment)

Also I've always been more interested in the fiction side of Who but now Ifind myself getting more interested in the behind the scenes stuff s going ot get biographies and stuff as well

Walking is now a fact of my life as my bad back won't allow Gyms and stuff but thats okay cause it worked before

Folk festival again in June (Caravan this time so looking forward to it)

Whooverville in Derby in August/September

want to do another event (or 2) but thinking about which one

all in all in the Zone I think :)

J