In case you were wondering

2010-04-05T18:56:00.001+01:00

Aha! Here's the bloke who posted it! I caught him trying to speed away in his car!

Greetings!

2010-04-05T18:13:00.002+01:00

Just wanted to post this postcard I got through the post. I'm not sure who it's from, but it stank of rum and the spelling wasn't very good.

Little Big Update

2008-11-09T13:57:00.003Z

I'm still alive! Honest!

But I can't be bothered writing anything more just now. I'll be back, I promise...

Libraries and time

2008-05-28T11:04:00.002+01:00

Well, it's been a while since I've written anything here. I'm currently in the process of backtracking my input on the net, and my blog has largely ignored for quite some time.

The last couple of months have just been revising for my A2 exams, but I've got a few other things done in the meantime. After the exams, I hope to go to Lincoln to do a Graphic Design course and get a degree, after that... it's anyone's guess. A little bit closer, this summer, I'm going to London with my girlfriend for a few days (being at seperate colleges these last two years hasn't damaged our relationship, but we both feel we need to see more of each other). After London, I'm off to Florida, America. Which is going to be really cool. Disney World and Universal Studios

Guitar Hero Time

2007-10-19T18:02:00.001+01:00

"FOR THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO ROCK, WE SALUTE YOU!!!"

I'm about and go and kick ass at a Guitar Hero party. I spent a bit of time practising 'Sweet Child of Mine' on Expert and 'Freebird' on Hard (I can just about pull off each) So I'm good to go. The others don't stand a chance! It's time for some 'shreducation' guys! I'm not bad at Guitar Hero. I've almost finished playing Guitar Hero 2 on Hard mode, which is pretty difficult stuff.
For those not in the know, Guitar Hero is a rythmn music game for PS2 (They made the second game for XBOX 360 too) but it's awesome because the whole thing is themed on Rock'n'Roll guitar classics. As you can see from the screen-shot above, the aim of the game is to hit the different coloured buttons (which correspond to the same coloured buttons on your controller) as they scroll down the fret-board towards you. The game comes packaged with a guitar-shaped controller which is easily one of the coolest things ever invented. Ask anyone! The games come with a soundtrack comprising of some of the greatest rock songs ever made. 'Iron Man' by Ozzy, 'Sweet Child of Mine' (as mentioned above) by Guns and Roses, 'Jessica' (better known as the 'Top Gear' theme tune) by The Allman Brothers band, 'Carry on my Wayward Son' by Kansas, 'Ace of Spades' by Motorhead, and 'Freebird' by Lynard Skynard to name a few of my favourites. This is one of my favourite games of all time, and I'm a gmaer, so that's saying something!
Wish me luck!

Skirt Shopping

2007-10-12T18:30:00.000+01:00

... Before you ask, it wasn't for me. It was for my girlfriend... so, in a way, it probably was for me. Anyway, what matters is that I'm a bit of a rubbish shopper. I'm not sure if there's a technique or something. If there is, I'm clearly lacking it. Ruth, bless her heart, admitted I wasn't easy to shop with. Not in so far as 'I'm really picky' but rather the opposite. I like the way she looks in everything, so when I'm asked for my opinion I guess the reply 'You look wonderful' can get a bit repetitive. I suppose I should be more critical, offer some alternatives or something... I'll see if there's a 'definitive' guide to shopping to help me along. For the time being though, I'm quite happy with the skirts we managed to buy (again... both for her) ... (well... I suppose one of them is quite short...) *smiles*

Anyway, I'm off to babysit next door for 'until whenever'

Bruce Springsteen: Magic

2007-10-02T19:56:00.000+01:00

Well, after a bit of searching on google images for the album art of Bruce's new album, I grudgingly reached the conclusion that it can't be found (I know what it looks like because the CD's on my desk in front of me). So I did a bit of research... 5 seconds later I realised that the album was in fact only released today *duh* So here's the album art I scanned in, just in case anyone else is searching.

As of right now I'm still not even half-way through hearing the whole album yet, so a review will have to come at a later date ^^;

Mysterious-ness...

2007-09-30T13:25:00.001+01:00

Sorry about the lack of updates. There hasn't been much free time over the last few weeks due to one thing or another. Despite my being busy, there hasn't been much of anything interesting to report.
I picked up a GameBoy Advance SP (NES Design, see above photo) from Jenny. I mentioned that I really missed my old SP, which I had to sell in order to afford a Nintendo DS when they were released (I always felt guilty for selling my SP, they were just so cool! The design was fantastic. Everything worked perfectly). Anyway, Jenny turned round and said that she had an SP that she never used anymore and that I was welcome to it. I nearly jumped up and punched the air, but seeing as how we were in Gamestation at the time (hence the conversation in the first place) I probably would have hit the ceiling and knocked out a few ceiling tiles, and don't raise your eyebrows, it's happened before.
So, now I've got my SP again and I'm pretty much on top of all my work. The only way things could be any better at the moment is if I heard from Borders about a job. I handed in my CV a while ago now and they told me that they keep it for at least 6 months, so it's not even as though I can print off another and hand it in just to remind them that I'm still eager. So I'm broke...
No change there then.
Oh, about the title. I've been working on something a little mysterious. On my main blog page, there's a link to something called the 'Assassin's Trail', if you like following clues and you've got a spare 5 minutes, I'd reccomend you try this out. It took me a while to put together. The only way you're going to find out what it's about is if you manage to follow it all the way to the end.
Catch you later

Traversing Umbria

2007-09-08T20:28:00.000+01:00

Well, I'm home after two weeks in Italy, skirting around back alleys in Siena and Florence, seeking out little treasures here and there. I stayed mostly in Tuscany and Umbria, seeing the sights and immersing myself in the culture (I've still failed to learn italian though).

Wishing I was a Mage...

2007-09-03T15:33:00.000+01:00

Just briefly, before I fill you in on my travels, I was wondering if it's weird to have a fictional character as a role model?

I've been a big fan of 'Negima', a manga written by Ken Akamatsu, for a while now, and I've recently really gotten into it again. With the recent purchase of two more volumes from the series, bringing my personal collection to now include volumes 1 - 9, I'm trying to look for places I can buy later volumes abroad (currently, the UK only sells volumes 1 - 14 and I'm dying to get my hands on the rest of the series)

Although I've technically read all the way up to volume 17 over the internet (God bless you internet) it's not the same as actually owning your own copy. So if any of you know a place where I can get reasonably priced, later editions of Negima, please let me know.

P.S. Anyone who asks is welcome to borrow my copies (If you look after them)

Departure: Tuscan Adventure

2007-08-17T18:50:00.000+01:00

I'm set to leave for my Summer Holiday abroad in two days but, at the moment, can't see myself having a moment in which to write a blog entry in the time between now and then, so I'm writing a very quick entry now just to let you know that I'm almost set and I'll be on my way to Italy this Sunday.

I'll update when I get back in two weeks time (literally a couple of days before the new college term begins), which is a bit of a bugger, but hey, what's a guy to do?

I don't mean to be a mac freak, but...

2007-08-08T21:19:00.000+01:00

Apple updated their online store last night, and I was in for a big surprise this morning when I checked if it was back online.

I've been thinking recently about buying an iMac just before I head off to University at the end of next year, and I'd decided to buy the poster-boy machine (y'know, the all-in-one slim white design). But I figured I'd wait until Apple released the latest operating system, OSX 10.5, Leopard (all their OS's have been named after big cats. The current OS is called Tiger), so that I wouldn't have to spend extra cash after I'd bought my mac updating to the latest OS.

I keep checking back on the online store to stay up-to-date with the latest happenings, but this morning I found that Apple had sneakily released a brand new iMac design overnight, all ready in the store without any prior press coverage. There were barely even rumours regarding a new design for their icon machine floating around the net, let alone any actual mention from Apple.
It's faithful to the previous iMac designs in that it's another all-in-one machine. The screens come in sizes of 20" and 24" inch with no sign of a 17" inch monitor, as with the previous design, they come with a built-in iSight camera for use in chat programs and video conferencing and they include all the latest wireless technology and bluetooth.

It's an improvement in every way on the previous design, in terms of specs (with options to upgrade) and design. And the previous iMacs were, in my opinion, difficult to improve upon. On top of all of this, it's cheaper than the previous iMac aswell. Oh, and more enviromentally friendly. How about that then? I'm just waiting for the Leopard release.

Conquering Mountains

2007-08-07T17:37:00.000+01:00

I return from Yorkshire triumphant! (Technically, I returned over a week ago now. I've just been busy going to the cinema and doing jobs around the house)

So, I've now got the skills AND the residential sections of my Gold Duke of Edinburgh award completed. All that's left is the service, physical, and the residential. Which shouldn't take too long at the rate I'm going.

You may wonder where abouts the above picture was taken. Quite a way above sea-level would be an accurate clue.

The Residential section of the award requires that you spend at least 5 days and 4 nights in an unfamiliar environment with a group of people you don't previously know and work as a team towards achievable goals. I went to stay in a building, in Yorkshire, with 12 other people of a similar age (I think Sarah was the youngest at just 17, and Simon was the oldest at just 20) all of us doing our Gold award. We were tasked with looking after a group of 50 kids doing their Bronze expedition and the 12 or so staff looking after the whole 'operation'. We cooked for them, made their pack-lunches every day, and cleaned up after them. As if that wasn't enough, we had to put up their tents before they arrived. Oh, and by 'cleaning', that meant that we had to clear out their toilet cubicle every day (I swear to God, If I ever find the kid who pissed in the bin, I'm going to tear him limb from limb !@$&*?£*! )
The things that made it bearable though (and there is quite a list, so don't go feeling sorry for me) were... all the kids doing their Gold Residential got to bunk in the building in dorms, with nice warm beds and access to food whenever we wanted, a hot shower every morning (which the Bronze kids weren't allowed because they were banned from the building. I'm assuming because they had terrible manners and bad toilet habits, Grrrrrr). I also got 'aquainted' with an old friend, good solid solitaire. The staff brought a PC with them because we needed to print off transfers for the T-shirts we made for everyone (this meant we also did alot of ironing. Did I mention that I hate ironing? I HAVE SCARS PEOPLE! SCARS!!!)
The rest of the Gold Resi's were ace though. We all got along really well and split the jobs evenly between us. Unfortunately for me, I was the first to clean the toilets, and as such, had no prior warning for the unspeakable depravity and disregard for basic hygeine *shudder*

Anyway, back to the picture. Because all of the bronze kids (and a couple of girls doing silver) were all doing their expeditions, there was a fair bit of 'mountain' climbing involved, and one of our duties as Gold Resi's was to checkpoint for the kids doing their expeditions. This meant we were laden with supplies, big bags, and special communication equipment in case one of the groups ran into trouble, and then set off up the side of a mountain in a race to the top. If the other group reached the summit before we did, then they ran the risk of straying off the trail and getting lost down the side of the mountain without any means of communication. We had to make sure that all the groups were heading in the right direction to keep things running according to plan.
The picture shows me, Kathryn, 'Tall' Sarah, and 'Small' Sarah at the top of the summit. My group was just me, 'Small' Sarah (next to me in the picture) and Linda (one of the staff. She was quite nice). We beat the other group by quite a bit, thanks to my incredible 'running-up-the-side-of-a-mountain-whilst-carrying-all-the-equipment' special abilities *cheesy grin*

I need this now!

2007-07-31T23:20:00.000+01:00

Why hasn't this been done sooner? It's such a perfect idea. I'd give anything for this to be in England though. It's going to cost me loads to get there, and that's before I've even paid to get in, not forgetting all the unbelievable merchandise they'll sell there (I was upset when they took the Harry Potter line of sweets of the shelves. Sure, the Bertie Botts every flavour beans lacked a little... flavour. But it all added up.)

Do you remember when they released the first film? All the media hype was at it's peak. The very beginning was almost as good as the very end. Everyone really got into the spirit of it, it was a bit like Christmas, except with kids pretending they were wizards and an unusual number of casualties at Kings Cross Station.

A Harry Potter Theme park. In Universal Studios, Orlando, Hogwarts, Hogsmead, and the Forbidden Forest. All recreated by the same guy who designed the actual sets used in the films. You can eat in Hogsmead and buy stuff in the stores. There's going to be rides too, but they've described the whole park as 'an immersive, interactive, faithful re-telling of the books'

What's really got me though, is that they've promised a brand new state-of-the-art attraction, the likes of which has never been seen before in any other theme park. You can imagine the kinds of things that they could do with the Harry Potter books. I'm personally hoping for dragons, maybe interactive lessons in the castle, and possibly some broomsticks

The Deathly Hallows

2007-07-21T23:39:00.000+01:00

Wow. What an end to one of the most brilliantly written series of books ever to be published. Harry Potter.

It simultaneously proved most of the more popular theories, and still managed to surprise me. I'd love to write about all the spoilers and talk about the ending, but I'm aware that I'm quite a fast reader. So, in order to not ruin the book for anyone not in the know, I'll leave it by pointing out that I finished at 9:20pm the day it was released.

Damn, I rock :P

Robots in disguise... NEW!

2007-07-19T17:30:00.001+01:00

TRANSFORMERS! The new film by Michael Bay. I don't think I've been this excited about a film since Casino Royale (that was pretty big). It has to be said, one of my all time favourite things, amongst Dinosaurs, Ancient temples, and giant radioactive lizards, is giant robots.

The way special effects are going nowadays, I'm looking forward to something really spectacular, at least as far as the film looks. The script... well, we'll just have to wait and see.

Speaking of films, the new Harry Potter film, Order of the Phoenix, wasn't bad: actually, it was pretty good. It was surprising to say the least. Emma Watson, bless her heart, is still only there because she looks pretty. But Dan Radcliffe's acting has actually improved noticably (still not saying too much). Rupert Grint was excellent as always, and the rest of the cast were as good as ever. UMBRIDGE MUST DIE!!!... ahem...

Although they missed out a couple of 'fairly' important bits (in my opinion anyway), it was alot better than expected. Ignoring the massive lack of Golden Statues kicking ass at the end, the dialogue was really good between Harry and Voldemort, so much so, that I reckon they should have actually put bits in the book. The big fight between the Order and the Deatheaters was really well done, but, in order to save myself from becomming a film critic, I think I'll leave it there.

In my opinion... worth a watch. Especially if you liked the books.

I'm off for my tea. I'll catch up with everyone again later.

I wish I had Jen's macbook

2007-07-18T09:12:00.000+01:00

Sitting on Jen's sofa in the morning. I just wanted to check if I actually could upload pictures, so I took this quickly with Jen's macbook (those built-in cameras are so handy)

Anyway, I'm hopefully off to see the new Harry Potter film later today. Order of the Phoenix, it's supposed the best so far (not saying much in my opinion, but hey) so, I'm looking forward to that. Before anything though, I've got to get hold of Ruth to let her know of the plans. She's still at college so I've got to get ready to go and find her to let her know. It's probably too much to hope for that she hasn't got any plans, but I'm going to try anyway.

Wish me luck, I'll tell you all how the film went

Sitting at my desk

2007-07-16T23:02:00.000+01:00

The title says it all really.

I've just got a couple of things to mention. Finishing the previous post, the books I've gotten out from the library (My college library, Sir John Deane's, the staff there are lovely) I'm going to read Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (a classic I haven't previously gotten round to), The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens (the novel he never finished. He died before the ending was written, so it really is a bit of a mystery. I was browsing the shelves and it just really caught my eye), The Conjuror's Bird by Martin Davies (I read the blurb and it seemed really interesting. A kind of 'Dan Brown' esque mystery sort of... thing), and then finally The Traveller by John Twelve Hawks (Nice name) which I'm reading right now.

Of course, there's HP, the teenage wizard, but I doubt that'll take up more than 3 days. I read the Half-Blood Prince in about 3, and The Deathly Hallows isn't supposed to be quite as long.

I have to say, The Traveller's started of quite nicely. I'd recommend it so far.

Besides my reading list, I've just set up a Flickr account. This is so I can still post any photos I take if I run into difficulty with my blog. Here's the adress;

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lycanstrife/

I'll keep you posted on things until I go away.

Everything's falling into place

2007-07-13T12:20:00.000+01:00

Well, my first year at college is officially over!

7 weeks of laying back and chilling out. Well... not counting the massive pile of homework we've been given to do over the holidays. Do History teachers really have nothing better to do than mark 5 essays about the state of the Russian empire when we get back off holiday? Seriously, it's just cruel.

Well, I've got a couple of things to look forward to in the comming months. Firstly, the long anticipated release of the final Harry Potter book. I seriously can't wait for this book. It's going to be incredible! I'm also off on a week long residential to the Yorkshire Dales which should be interesting. It's contributing to my Duke of Edinburgh award (Gold, because I'd rather just get the top award out of the way without having to bother with the Bronze and Silver). Apparently there's no internet there, so I'll have to tell you all about it when I get back.

Then I've got a couple of weeks to just chill out before I'm off to Tuscany with my family. When I say family, I don't just mean my Mum, Dad, Brother and Sister. There's also my Grandma, Grandad, Aunty, Uncle, my two cousins, and then my other Aunty and Uncle (the parents of my cousins). We've actually had to stay in a castle just to fit us all in! We're all freaks and are super tall (I'm 6.3ft and only 17!). So that's two weeks there. I love Italy, and I've been a fair few times before, but never this particular place. I'll see if I can 'borrow' the family camera so I can take a few shots for you guys.

I'm still not sure if there ARE any 'you guys', but if there are, then you can take a look at where I've been.

In preperation for two weeks with only family for company (shudder) I got a pile of books out from the library to keep me busy and out of everyone else's way. I'll list them at a later date because I'm a bit tired at the moment.

Anyway, I'll keep you all posted on how things go.

Matt

First Post

2007-07-13T00:02:00.000+01:00

This whole 'blogging' thing seems like a good idea (strange word, but hey). I don't think I'll tell anyone about my blog though. I want to see if anyone stumbles across it and takes interest. That way, I just feel like I'm more independent.

I got the impression that these things were just meant for posting anything you want; news, stories, ideas, even pictures.

I'm on the internet a fair bit nowadays, so I figured that having my own blog would help me keep track of all the places I visit and all the crazy things I get up to. I travel quite alot so this could get really interesting. Anyway, if you want to find out where I've visited or where I'm planning on going next, drop in from time to time and see how I'm doing.

Matt

(Feels kinda' like a diary)