stuff running through my mind.....

stuff sorted at the weekend  (talked about it a bit on FB 'umpteen posts' it was described as on Sunday at the game so no more here just enough to say I am pleased

largely out of the frame of mind where all the 'tiny' things in my life amount to a bad life and walking around listening to Deep Purple (and not just the hits going album by album and it's bloody marvelous)

between that and this mild DND vibe I've got going on feeling a bit nostalgic so the living room is going to be library/music room/chill zone (with decor to illustrate that)

also came to the conclusion that the short but distinctive list of people I have in the past actually hated (for stuff they have done to me and others from many years ago) has become meaningless
most of the people on it I am almost never going to see again in my life and the one person on it (who I have come to realise I don't hate at all) who I'd like to talk to clear the air as it were I may see but may not talk to as I'm not even sure she'd recognise me these days

anyway my point is I am actually doing stuff instead of talking it up and thats great in fact I would be doing more stuff right now (if it weren't for the fact that a delayed action pan thing has hit my back - but it's a good pain)

so right now the biggest problem I have is picking out paint colours and wall art for the rooms later this year

and that is pretty cool

J

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

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......