AndyBlog

Time for some serious updating...

OK, listen up, friends... I'm going to try and update you on a few things. Some big things, some little things. Here's the twist, though, I'm not going to tell you which is which. You decide.

1) Eurovision - I didn't even watch it this year, for a variety of reasons. The simple fact is that I doubt I missed much. As long as the rest of "Europe" insists on making this a place for political point scoring it ceases to be fun for me. Time was when the ability of a nation to come up with a great pop song which caught the imagination of people across Europe was the defining factor in whether or not they won the competition. I'm not sure that has been completely true for a number of years.

2) Football - I am anything but a football enthusiast, but it does annoy me, nonetheless, when teams constantly sack managers. Most notable recently has been the manager of Chelsea, who, despite winning more matches than his predecessor, was summarily fired. I have yet to work out what his crime was. If winning football matches and generally doing well are not enough to keep a manager his job then I must confess to something approaching total bemusement.

3) Politics - It's OK, I haven't taken leave of my senses. :) No politics comments here. I promise.

4) Music - My dead period with music continues. In a desperate bid to kick myself into musical gear I have set about recording a cover version. A very nice tune indeed, one that genuinely inspires me. Or would, were my life a little more like I imagine what normal could be.

5) Holidays - I'm still hoping against hope to make it over to the blissful isolation of Tiree this summer, but before that I have an exciting addition to my vacational plans. I am going to that Amercia - the northern bit. No, no all of it, that would take forever, I have instead selected a tiny part of the USA - one big enough to hold me, and one largely on the ground floor. Maryland is where it be, and I will go to there at mid June. Sadly, I will only be staying for a month. I will enjoy every comfort while I am away, so I don't want any of you to worry about me struggling on my own in the warm sunshine with beautiful forest all around me. I'll be fine. It will be a great way for me to relax, chill-out and get a handle on the true meaning of my existence. I don't know, however, whether I will be able to renew my "No twinky" promise this time. I'll think about it.

6) Gin - Looking in the drinks cupboard recently, having let a couple of limes rot to soggy in the fruit bowl, I discovered that rather than the "none at all" amount of gin which I thought was stocked, the level was more akin to "a large bottle of the finest Gin known to man". The thing is, I have no limes now. So that elusive G & T continues to be.....erm....elusive, a little while longer. Ah life...such big issues to deal with all the time. Gotta love it.

7) Freecyle - Or Freecyle guilt. Having benefitted recently from two Sky Digiboxes, a breakfast bar, two bookcases and various other bits and pieces, I now feel unable to put my hand up for anything else until I have given a bit more myself. How do YOU deal with YOUR Freecycle guilt?

Actually, I think that's enough for you all to read today. It may be too much in some cases, mainly due to the outright shock of seeing an actual posting. Deep breaths...

The more I change...

...the more I stay the same.

I have some news, friends. I have changed my name!

It's been a long time coming and perhaps some of you didn't think I would actually get round to this, but I have finally done it and from now on you can all call me by new new name:

ANDY CURTIS

First of all, I hope you like it. It took me a while to decide on this name - and I wanted to get the mix of old and new just right. So, to be fair, i took the name "Andy" from my current forenames - and the name "Curtis" from my current surname. I figured this would give a feeling of continuity.

I know what you're thinking - it isn't very different, is it? Well, no, it isn't. That's the point really. It is exactly what and who I am. My middle name has gone, and my forename is "Andy" - being the shortened version of my original name "Andrew". From now on, I can say with some justification that my name IS Andy Curtis.

At the doctors. When I am in court. On my passport. In hospital. With the Police. At the drugs rehabilitation centre. At the Dentist's...etc.

To everybody and in every situation I am finally simply "Andy Curtis".

It's a situation that pleases me no end. I have achieved a level of conformity this way - by being the same thing to everyone. I found it hard being "Andrew Curtis" to some. It just didn't seem to fit. Better to be the thing I am and even everything out that way.

I know it isn't a big thing for most of you, but it is a big thing for me.

Slightly Over-Shaj'd

Often the hardest part is deciding what to order...

In NBTS, one of the most reliable ways of getting a good hot meal is to go to our only conventional restaurant - The Shaj. The excellent Bangladeshi cuisine offered here is coupled with friendly service and and ever-present "After-Eight" mint with the bill. Maybe they think it will sweeten the pill slightly. I really don't know. All I know is that it tastes nice, and fulfills my need to have "a sweet taste" in my mouth following a savoury meal.

But I digress - the real point of all of this is that it was Jason's Birthday meal tonight, and a goodly (although not necessarily Godly) number of us gathered to eat a lot of food in order to mark the event.

It's never possible to be completely sure that everyone had a good time, but I feel pretty convinced that most of us enjoyed ourselves in one way or another. If nothing else, the food was excellent. Unlike so many kitchens we observe receiving the thoughtful and tender ministrations of sliver-tongued Michelin starred chef Gordon Ramsey, this one was clearly able to produce the highest quality food in very reasonable time and to not only a full restaurant, but also a demanding take-away demand as well.

So, respect where it is due.

After this delightful experience, which left most of us full to bursting point, we were eagerly ushered back to Jason's house for generous dishes, brimful with steamed and suet puddings, all adorned with thick custard.

Maybe this is a trick the Shaj would do well to learn. After all, there's nothing the people of the north of England like more after their exotic main courses than traditional stodgy puddings covered in custard.

We need to remember that this all happened because it was Jason's birthday last Thursday - and we really do wish him well in the next year he lives - and well done for making it this far, it can't have been easy. I know that for him, birthdays are important, although I sense that age is becoming less so.

As we cheerfully collide with the mornings that rush up to greet us, it may be no bad thing to remember afresh that this is not a trial run - and each year is precious. Each day is precious. Each hour is significant. Birthdays always make me acutely aware that time will slip through our fingers unless we launch ourselves into life with a little more energy - especially when we least feel like it.

So, I guess that's my little challenge to you. At the very least, stop wishing time away. At best, grab hold of each and every drop of life as it attempts to slide by unnoticed. If, in the end, life turns out to be a game, I suspect this may be the way to win.

I have nothing to say really...

...but I thought it was important to make sure the last posting was no longer the one on top of the list.

I notice that BBC3 is running a series to see whether disabled women can do well as top fashion models.

Mmm...

I leave you to imagine my comments.

Let me in!

For the first time in my life, I cannot go home. Not because I am unwelcome there, but because there is a massive lorry blocking the lane.

This is one of the few downsides to living in our new house. The ice sculptor next door and the frozen food man generate a degree of traffic that the tiny lane and yard quickly struggles to contain. I bear them no malice whatsoever because they are just doing their business.

So I sit here gazing in the gloaming, wondering when I might be able to gain entry to our house.

It's a strange feeling, and one that's hard to convey.

Reasons to hate the phone #5401

So I phoned a computer support desk. I pressed 1 - and then 2. Pretty much standard.

Then I hear those dreaded words: (10:48am)

"You are at queue position......51"

Mmm... time to get on with some work for a while.

**UPDATE** (11:07am) Queue Position 20

Sunday Sunday

It's been an interesting day so far. For that matter, it's been an interesting week. That said, this relies quite heavily on a modified meaning of 'interesting' - along the lines of: Scary frustrating time with lots of pressure from various sources.

As far as the week is concerned, my strategy of having a number of different careerlets running alonside each other exposed its downside. All the various branches of my endeavour, apart from massage, happened to need my fullest attention at the same time. Juggling time is all very well - but the rather strict limitation of just 24 hours a day and some of it needed for sleeping made the feat all bar impossible. At times like this it's a question off deciding whether to annoy everyone a little or one client a lot.

Well, I made my decision, and tried hard to keep to it, but ended up by annoying everyone a lot. Nevertheless, I think I can learn from this. I can look at what went wrong and take steps to more accurately and realistically plan my work committments. I do not juggle well, sadly.

As for today - I left the power supply for my keyboard at the gig venue for last night - Slayley Hall. So at church this morning it was strangely silent...

Despite a rush home for a multi-voltage one and a guitar for Liz to play it was all to no avail. She played a guitar that was there and I played bass as planned. Maybe there is a lesson there too - give up sooner. :-)

Like I say... Interesting day.

Awww....you guys

Thanks to all at Yehlex for making me laugh today. A not inconsiderable achievement.

Awww....you guys

Thanks to all at Yehlex for making me laugh today. A not inconsiderable achievement.

When you've got to go...

I have rarely been more desperate for the toilet than I was today.
Caught in a long traffic jam on the way to Maplin Electronics, the water began to make its presence felt at the end of its journey through me.
It was only as I got out of the car that I realised just how serious the situation had become.
I tip-toed round the store trying to choose cables and plugs, but my mind was elsewhere.
In the end, I realised that I was not going to be able to complete the transaction and I made a run for the door.
Next, where to go? No toilets in Maplin's - and none on this section of the Metro-Centre site...
So - a drive to McDonalds.
Quickly parked in the disabled bay outside McDonalds and dived into the foyer.
A sign: Toilets UPSTAIRS.
Oh dear. Still, I turned to go up the stairs.
Another sign: Upstairs seating area CLOSED.
Oh dear.
I decided to climb the stairs anyway. It was a slow and unwelcome journey. At the top, it became clear that an important meeting was taking place. Everyone was smartly dressed and there was much shuffling of papers.
I made my way through the document-covered tables, trying not to knock any off. My eyes were fixed on the sign that said "TOILETS".
Once in the toilets corridor I felt less under the disapproving glare of McDonalds managers. I headed for the gents.
I usually wear trousers that do not have a ZIP or buttons and so need to use a cubicle.
Yet another sign: This cubicle closed due to vandalism.
Suddenly, I was beyond caring. Anything was better than embarassing myself publically. I made the necessary radical clothing adjustments and made grateful use of the urinal.
Mercifully, no-one entered as I finished my duty. All was well once more.
A feeling of profound relief surrounded me, protecting me from the hostility of the meeting people.
I then drove the enforced one-way circle of about a mile in order to return to Maplin's and try again.
This I will do right now. Wish me luck.
(BTW John - I have no idea what you meant about the level of humour on this blog!)