Week 8 - Guess Who, Growing Up and The Crown

Guess Who

This section refers to the age old classic board game named 'Guess Who'. I know your all thinking "a very random heading" for such an intellectual blog and level headed blogger. Well, it is random but I put it in for this reason. Having gone over to my sisters to see my 2 nieces, the eldest, Evie (now 4), wanted to play me at her new favourite game 'Guess Who' (this game is comprehensively better than her previous weeks game of 'Barbie Weddings' and the week before's game called 'Furniture Weddings', where different forms of furniture get married, enthralling stuff when the table marries the sofa :s). She is growing up fast.

So anyway, after cooking a tuna steak and garlic mash tea (had to add this in to point out my culinary prowess) we played the game. Firstly, she only picks a card that is a girl as she "doesn't like boys", therefore straight away I am thinking I am onto a winner and put all the boys down (she will never know). She asks me if 'I am a boy', I answer 'yes, I am a boy and so is my person', she ignores my subtle wit, maybe as she is 4 or maybe because it was too quick for her. So she asks me if she puts the boys down, I say 'no, leave the boys up'. I have a go, then its her go. Bearing in mind she has about 12 boys to pick from she just comes out with 'you have Sam'. I did have Sam. She won, comfortably. The morale of the story is don't let a 4 year old 'randomly' pick you a card/person, 4 year olds can cheat aswell and that you should never underestimate a 4 year old who claims not to know how to play a game, they know and they will win.

Growing Up

I don't want to grow up, its a fact of life. It upsets me when I see people write statuses about going to the Leadmill (Sheffield) on a Monday night. That used to be my life but not anymore. The next stage of my life is to buy a house (along with a new car), may aswell spend the money in one go. I went and looked at a few houses this week. I know I need to commit to buying but I just can't, I want to rent and be a student all my life. My liver would disagree with this and so would my body but its the truth. I also have a slight glimmer left inside me that still wants to travel. Its an on going dilemma.

The Crown

This section will be of little interest to anyone but it has made me happy. Having changed football pubs to 'The Crown', we have played 2 games and won them both 3-0. There is nothing more satisfying than getting a clean sheet as a defender, unless you score which for me is unlikely this season as I am currently on -2 for the season. UP THE CROWN!

Song of the Week - Bastille - Pompeii

Bastille are a band that I have already harped on about over the last few weeks but for a good reason - they are brilliant. Such an easy listening tune, with great vocals once again. Cannot wait to see these AGAIN in a few weeks. I am starting to think these are my new obsession taking over from the mighty Little Comets.

One for the oldies........ WHAT A TUNE (see below):

The picture says it all.

Quote of the Week

Week 7 - The Council, Taybarns and Work Stresses

Taybarns

I started the week off by taking a very rare visit to the all you can eat buffet near Barnsley called 'Taybarns'. For anyone who has any level of standards when it comes to food then I would strongly recommend you stay away from this establishment. If you think this horse meat scandal is bad then you should have see the burgers at this place. It was literally like a Noah's Ark stab in the dark on what was in their burgers. On a global scale though this was NEIGHwhere near as bad as the horse meat scandal. Bu dum che (sound made when you make a very poor joke). This was followed by a few games of snooker, in which I won them all, I don't need to brag but I am the best.

Work Stresses

I really enjoy my job, 75% of the time, most of this week has been the other 25%. All day meetings with our biggest Belgian customer about a new problem was the low point. Having to constantly be alert to answer in depth and off the cuff questions can put a strain on the mind, especially when the customers first language is NOT English. I guess the saying "It's tough at the top" is extremely appropriate in this case. Basically, these meetings and follow up report writing days are where you earn your dollar, the stress has to be second nature. Work is tough but I am grateful for my job, it allows my to have a great lifestyle.

The Council Meeting - Southport Week 2

It was Katey Breen's birthday on Saturday so I went to my second home, Southport again this weekend for the celebrations with five of 'The Council' members. We had an amazing meal at the Hesketh, did a lot of holiday reminiscing had a few drinks then all got really tired at the grand old time of - midnight. The meal I had was steak and ale with a mixed platter starter. Sian was majorly hungover, the result can be seen below, along with our extreme party celebrations.......NAAT!

The next morning it was Breen's 23rd birthday, woo. We all went for late breakfast, well at like half one in the afternoon. I had curly fries and chicken pieces, continental breakfast its called in Southport. We gave Katey a Pandora charm for her birthday. It was a charm that looked like a mini house and had 37 engraved on it from our Uni house days. She got emotional, everyone wins. Great couple of days away, again!




Songs of the Week

Thrift Shop - Macklemore. Probably the most unlikely song that I would recommend on this blog but I love it. The lyrics are terrible but the backing track is quality and you can't help but dance when it comes on. Make your own mind up but its a winner for me.

Chocolate - 1975. I first saw this band a few years ago. They supported one of my favourite bands, the Little Comets in Leeds. They were called 'Drive Like I Do' at the time and have since changed their name a few times. Having now settled on '1975' they have some really good songs. Other tunes by them include: You and Sex. The draw of the song for me lies in the inability to work out the lyrics but it just works.

Quote of the Week:

Week 6 - Kos, Two Door and Sowwie

Gig Review - Two Door Cinema Club, Bastille and Swim Deep

I have had a total mind blank for Tuesday and Wednesday so I will go straight to a gig which I have had booked for a few months now on Thursday. Three of my favourite current bands, all on in one show in Leeds, it couldn't be missed. 

Travelled to Leeds met up with ET and headed to the gig. Entered the gig as Swim Deep were lazily playing one of their slow, melodic; yet strangely addictive songs. All members were wearing oversized jumpers and had long 'Kurt Cobain' style hair. They finish with their small hit - King City, watch below:

Swim Deep are followed by another up and coming band, Bastille, who had the audiences' attention from the off with their song 'Flaws', which I had in one of my blogs a few weeks ago. All the audience are swaying as the lead singer bounces about the stage with his Grimmy style hair. They finish on the re-make of a classic 'Of the Night' they slyly rename it after the classic 'Rhythm of the Night'. Everyone is bouncing now and singing along. They are one to watch for sure.

Finally, Two Door enter the stage and kick off with a song off their new album, with a great light show in tow. Every song has a catchy riff, with a few highlights including someone wearing a Star Trek eye visa, a man falling over and my mate scaring some 16 year old girls (that's when you know your old, when younger people stare, turn away and laugh), rather him than me. They had some large balls flying about which were......big but all in all they disappointed me. Their songs are too similar, they will be a third album flop band unless they change their direction. Subway, reminiscing about the 'Magnum Crash Lady' (long story short, my mate crashed into a woman and she got out of the car eating a Magnum Ice Cream), drive home and then bed.....very late.

Southport and 2013 Holiday

Friday and Saturday involved a visit to the seaside to see one of my best mates who has just had an ACL operation. I get spoilt rotten by his family and they make me feel like one their own, they are a great group of people, I am so lucky to know them. We watched Soccer Saturday whilst failing at betting, had amazing meals, watched films and had an unbelievable Chinese meal, great spin table. 

Finally, I met up with 'the leaf' and we went with Martin to book our holiday. After ruling out Croatia for funding issues we finally, after shopping around, landed at Kos Town. The end of August. Cannot wait. Third year in a row we have gone away now, every year its been amazing, I expect nothing less this year.

BEFORE                                                                   AFTER

Comedy Moment of the Weekend - Whilst putting Martin's crutches in Katey's car, I walked round the back only for Katey to drive off, leaving me looking like a tool on the side of the road. You had to be there but it was funny, well for them two at least.

Sunday involved the end of the Badger, a pub I have played football for, for the last 4 years. Quite emotional as we gave Julie, Owen and Liz some presents as a thanks for their help. The end of an era, I think so.

Week 5 - Dogs, Thai Curry and Day Sesh

A Method to Lose Weight

I have decided the best yet most uncontrollable way to lose weight for all you tubbies is......wait for it......get ill. I managed to lose half a stone in 4 days by not eating and staying in bed all weekend. Admittedly, it isn't the most healthy way to lose weight but it does work. I should copyright this shiz.

A Method to Gain Weight

When you are 75% feeling better again, then eat crap, this will help you gain sufficient weight to do daily tasks such as walking down the stairs and fetching the blog roll. Another way is to cook up a delicious Thai Green Curry (with noodles and honey chicken), I would say so far this has been my favourite cooked meal so far. The satisfaction of making the curry paste from scratch made it challenging but worthwhile.

Blurry Weekend

Its worrying when your discussing drinking with your mates and you say "I haven't had alcohol in ages", then finding out it was 2 weeks ago that you got drunk and would have only been a week if you hadn't been ill. Oh well, have fun while your young and all that. So on Friday I got some free tickets (including food and alcohol) to the dogs at the last minute thanks to the brother in law. This inevitably lead to losing every bet on every race then going out after and spending even more money. Great night though. I thought I had seen the last of the dogs at the races when I left, this wasn't true as they managed to get into Babylon, 35% certain I was dancing to Spice Girls with a few of them, I am proud of this.

Saturday involved an extremely early Maccy D's, a slightly later Maccy D's, a film (Bullet to the Head) which was truly awful and then an early-ish night. You know your tired when you fall asleep half way through MOTD (Match of the Day, in the rare chance that a female is reading this).

Sunday was meant to be the big send off for the Bull and Badger Pub after the sad news of closure this week. It was a big send off but next week is now the final day of trading. Had some great times in there over the last 5 years, mainly laughing at the resident entertainer, see below a clip of his antics Sunday night (comedy gold):

Evans Dancing - Poker Dot Face

Song of the Week

Foals - My Number

It doesn't get much better for the Foals. Only a few weeks ago, Greg James copied me with their other recent hit (Inhaler) as his song of the week. This time Grimmy from Radio 1 has done the same with this catchy number. Holy Fire - their new album is released on the 11th of Feb, a must have for any Indie-Pop lovers. A foot tapping start, followed by an outstanding bassline along with catchy vocals. Very similar to Inhaler but if you succeed, then carry on. This is not an infamous quote, just drivvle from my mouth (keyboard).

Quote of the Week: