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Luongspace - All that is gold does not glitter. Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither... (Ps. I flip tables when I'm angry!) |
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Before Twitter, there was VHS, 56k modems and the humble blog. There were
also many other things, but the list is horrendous. Luongspace is a blog
whose currency is the mundane but has a fanciful flirtation with real
issues. |
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| Bump 'n' Grind, 19th December 2005 | |
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I'm so behind on me bloggin'
'Cos I don't eat me spinach
I'm Popeye the Sailor man!
Choo Choo!
Anyhoo, as the tumbleweed rolls speedily by...where was I?
Over a week ago, we watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Jenn made
me. It was Orange Wednesday, so I couldn't complain. Jenn paid, so I had
even less reason to moan.
It was pretty good - darker than previous installments and unlike the Chamber of Secrets, it didn't have me snoring midway through. Still confuses me as to why HP is the hero of the series as he has very few notable traits and certainly lacks charisma. Jenn agrees, describing him as nothing but lucky :p
Am looking forwards to Narnia (the film, not as a vacation)! Having been
a Fantasy fiction geek for a 'small' part of my life, the promise of
Minotaurs, Centaurs, Airtours and the like gets my underwear a little
moist. That was a joke. But seriously, am looking forwards to the movie.
Jenn prepared an early Xmas dinner a while back too. It was thoughtful and
brilliant, but I kinda messed it up a bit by being a pleb. Otherwise...it
was really very good. Roast chicken with cranberry sauce as a main along
with near perfectly roasted veg, complimented with a super sized mug of
Irish coffee (that a fly managed to drown in).
'Helped' Jenn pack for the short migration back to the Garden City of
Welwyn on the morning of departure. The room had to be vacated for some
shoddy bureaucratic reasons and so my plan of world domination from that
HQ fell to an abrupt end. It was the last I saw of her until she came to
Cam for the day on Saturday (soon to be detailed in the next blog).
On the Friday, there was the Ctad Xmas party. It was fancy dress, and some
ppl really pushed the boat out. Initially I wasn't gonna go, but by
fortune, ill or otherwise Dom called and so we headed down to the Grad
Pad. The food was average and the DJ seemed to have a phobia for requests.
At least the bar was more or less free and so the white wine was caned
mercilessly. We did a bit of bopping, despite the terrible music and that
certainly felt a bit weird with work ppl present.
Am in two minds as to holding a private Xmas Eve party - we have a small
venue in mind and it would be cool to chill out in with friends. There
are multiple rooms - drinking, dancing, computer games, gambling,
eating...? Hmmmmmmm...
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| Long day, quick blog, 20th December 2005 | |
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Last Sunday...A heroic performance by C4 helped earn us one of our biggest
wins - Long Rd (my old 6th form) are sitting 4 divisions above us, but we
battled and played the whole 90 minutes to progress to the next round of
the Plate competition.
We did some good things, but in reflection can consider ourselves
disappointed to concede two goals against a team that lacked a cutting
edge. However, the result was most important and hopefully can provide
extra belief to our players.
That night was the 'pre-Xmas party' organised by Dom and I. Jenn helped a
lot and got little thanks - music, set design (The SUPER discoball, the
crackers and diagonal stools were all her work) and even had a festive
Xmas hat! We brought in a bottle of Port (honey sweet) and others smuggled
in vodka and malibu bottles.
Financially, it wasn't the most earth shatteringly successful event, but
it was fun and certainly worthwhile. We had a lot of friends there and it
was more of a get together. Cheese arrived and wouldn't shed his
multi-layered jackets, Krang was almost heckled into battling DX and
Linhda tried to defend DX. The stupid management @ the cow closed us down
early, to which we are complaining, and a heap of things didn't go quite
to plan - but how often do they?
The most important things is for ppl to have enjoyed themselves.
It was a long day, but in an age where time flies, like many things it was
very much appreciated.
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| Interlude, 25th September 2005 | |
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Foik!
I'm so tired. Was at Parkers today just before 2pm and stopped playing at
6.54pm!
Ankle is still not perfect (I hate this!), but had a good goal scoring
session today - back on form methinks. Me also thinks that it has a bit to
do with me F50s. They allow me to accelerate and turn much better than my
astroturf boots and that is a large part of my game.
Scored a lot of goals, but two stand out in particular :p
- The 1st, a ball played to feet with my back to goal, Dang is charging to
tackle me. My first touch is a bit loose and it sits up in the air,
however, as Dang dives in, I deftly flick it over my shoulder and volley
it viciously on the turn. Skinny exclaims 'fantastic!'
- the Second, I sidestep to the left to shield the ball and allow it to
run across my body. I look up and despite a hoarde of defenders, curl a
delightful long shot past Wood, as he dives and to his left to no avail!
Haha...Also, connected with a cheeky flick from a diagonal ball from
Skinny to wrong foot the keeper. Plus loads of others. Made a few decent
passes and ran my red cotton socks off!
It was a marathon session and although at times, I was annoyed with some
of our players, I think we performed admirably. Played some really sweet
and slick football at times - one touch and into feet. A few rusty
players, though that is expected, but not ideal. Chung looks as combative
as ever and Skinny is still improving. It's difficult not to improve, if
you work hard and honestly.
Speaking of Skinny, I accidentally grabbed his knob today. Not a pleasant
experience, it was a Vinny Jones and Gascoigne like incident, though I
swear it was an accident! I think we'd just scored and he came walking
past me and i just went to grab his shorts but somehow got hold of his
knob instead. Yoink.
Went to Be's place after that sordid experience and I was stuffed with
King prawn noodles and fried eggs! Also drank LOADS of fruit juice and
some of his special homemade apple juice.
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| 26 soi, bok bok choi? 3rd September 2005 | |
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It was my birthday last Tuesday - 26! How time flies, I was doing my
A-levels 10 years ago?!
There have been some 'complications' over the holiday to Thailand that was
already booked and paid for and so eagerly anticipated. Jenn's parents
won't let her go, citing the continent as a dangerous place amongst other
factors that only parents could conjure.
So, Jenn came down for a little more than a few hours. Some technical
problems with the train meant that she had to take a bus ride with a
driver that had a vague idea of where he was heading! It must have been
horrible in that it was a very hot day and the bus was packed, navigated
by somebody in depserate need of Tom Tom.
When she did arrive (I'd been waiting at the station for almost an hour
 )
she did at least come bearing presents! :P There was a personalised C4-esque rain jacket - pretty handy...in the rain? An 02 simcard pack - don't ask me, I think it was there for bulk! Two cards - one for show, one for keeps. And an incomplete but delightfully tantalising poem - sweet! She says they are haiku (I think a form of Japanese poetry with short verses that don't rhyme?) and it was probably the most endearing present. The 02 sim-pack comes a close last.
Alas, the sad thing about me is that I actually enjoy going to the
supermarket (and cooking). So off we went to grab a drink and some fruit.
The 'fun' really began when we decided on the spur of the moment to have
a bbq. Obviously not inside of Tescos, but we gathered the materials and
ingredients to have one back at mine. Chicken wings, mince meat,
mackerel and a whole salmon were lovingly dropped into the trolley. We
grabbed some drinks and some other misc items before heading back to mine.
Time was of the essence and after buying a couple of disposable BBQ sets
and some extra coal, we were quick to prepare. My sister was busy baking a
cake and slicing fruit, so the kicthen was quite crowded. I washed and
marinated the chicken wings, packed the mackerel into small foil parcels
with a knob of butter and had the envious task of filleting the whole
salmon. Jenn, my kitchen hand, was busy making burgers from the mince meat
- adding egg, flour, red onions and coriander. 11 fat burgers were
constructed, then onto some marinated pork chunks that were in my fridge.
She skewered them along with some red peppers and we were good to go.
The food was mouthwatering and the weather was perfect. But we had little
time to enjoy it. Because of unnecessary tension with the parents, Jenn
had to leave early and we were forced to abandon the BBQ and rush back to
the station. It would have been easier had I owned a Batmobile or at least
that van/car from Inspector Gadget, but we got there just in time. Well,
in fact there was no time for a proper bye as when I parked up and hurried
onto the platform, she had already jumped on the train and it had gone!
I slumped back home, to prepare for another spontaneous BBQ. It was a
shame she couldn't have stayed longer, even another half an hour would
have been great. But I am very grateful that she made the effort to come,
knowing that she couldn't stay long. The day so far had been very pleasant
anyway, so I should be thankful...
Back home, I had a couple of hours to relax and prepare some more food for
the hastily planned second BBQ. I skewered some more pork, piercing my
thumb just once and during the last kebab. I'd emailed out to invite
almost anybody with an email address to arrive by about 6pm with drinks,
food and or a present. As was expected, they trickled in just before 7pm,
though people came laden with food and drink.
Cheese and Martin - 2 bottles of 'champagne' from France and 15 bottles of Bud Krang - More Buds and some herby sausages Linda - a case of beers (ideal for use as a stool) and a body wallet (my second and only present :p) Beast and Sadek - a bottle of Tequilla (so we didn't use yours, jenn :p) and two limes Quoc - half a bottle of lucozade - from his personal vault
Skinny and Ray - making cameos and performing vanishing acts, came with
some 'classy' Cava
Vinh - a hungry stomach
Anyhoo, there was loads of food and alcohol. The evening was pleasant and
went well for such an improvised gathering. It's a bit vain, but it means
a lot to me for those that came or made an effort. Even a text or email is
enough to satisfy my needy disposition! Often you hear people say that
they can't be bothered, being too lazy or lacking motivation, but those
that feel that it is a chore or have to go out of their way, but still
make the effort are those that deserve ample and deep rooted respect.
To cut a long story short, the BBQ climaxed with a painfully bountiful
series of tequilla shots, it officially heralding the end of the evening
for most. Around about this time, Cheese had gone AWOL and Quoc, Linh and
I went out for a drink as the rest sauntered back home. Being just the
three of us and having not spent that much time together recently, it was
a mixture of intimacy and rowdiness. We finished at the Fez and once all
energy had been expended, Linda dropped us back home and I was quite
quickly comatose.
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| Controversy, 29th August 2005 | |
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We played against a team called 'Genetics' yesterday. Well, in fact, it
was more like a cream of Parkers team mingled with the Genetics team. They
had loads of skilful players and a few pacy ones too. I expected we'd be
up against it, but our solidity and tenactity saw us win in convincing
style.
It seemed that they were wary of our stamina and wanted to play in
quarters. Also, I was surprised that many of their players looked nervous
and perhaps our reputation is better than we have deserved through summer
performances.
The final score was about 6-3, but we certainly should have reached double
digits. We dominated the central areas and our 4-4-2 formation meant that
our flanks were not exposed. I was proud of those that raised their game
to counteract the technical capabilities of the opposition. They were a
truly international mix - half the team were black the rest consisting of
a skilful Brazilian, an Algerian and a couple of hard tackling Brits.
I've probably told this story before, but here we go again. While I don't
hold any resentment towards any particular races, I do still harbour the
indignation of the taunt from some ppl passing by many years ago 'Chinaman
can't play football'. That made me mad, and I always relish the challenge
of proving such ignorance wrong!
My own performance...? I feel like I'm regaining some form. There is
still a little apprehension about striking the ball in a certain way,
but I do feel that the ankle is about 90% ready for action! My stamina was
probably not at its best, and played a few loose passes. But overall, felt
I had a good work ethic and my touch and passing was really not too bad.
Put in a crunching sliding tackle on a defender and had the oath land on
my back, which is now a bit brusied - it's not too bad, but made for a
painful nights sleep.
More importantly, the holiday seems to have hit a major hitch. Hopefully,
our righteous cause will be won and a happy resolution can be reached...
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| Fortune favours, 11th August 2005 | |
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My brother was going on about a new US series called ‘Lost’. I’m glad he
did. Watched the first three episodes last night and I have to say it’s
gripping stuff. It’s about a group of survivors from a plane crash on a
desert island. A purposefully disparate group and throw in a few twists, a
strong hint of the paranormal, a couple of cute ‘gurls’ and we’re onto a
winner! I’ve dissed ppl for staying in to watch TV before, but only now
fully comprehend the addiction to a good drama. Also took a gamble yesterday. Despite spraining my ankle less than two weeks ago, I had a light kickabout on PP. All in all, it was worth the risk as I got through it unscathed and it is part of rehabilitation to use it and strengthen it without reoccurrence of the injury. I felt fairly good, a tad rusty, but I always feel I contribute well to the team. The opposition weren’t at all strong, but it was a reasonable run out and we played some neat footy at times. Friday 2moro, and it promises Sushi mania. The preliminary session of sushi creation will see a head to head battle of sushi genius. In the red corner, we have me. And in the evil blue corner, there is the chef hailing from WGC and known for her disastrous creations, ‘Jenn-itals’. Haha… She should be coming 2moro and we’ll probably work together to produce some sublime sushi! Can’t wait… It’s her day off today and she’s up to something. Also 2moro, will be looking for a holiday in Thailand (and probably) HK. A two week break in September will surely be quite brilliant. Just need to hunt for some bargains and hopefully pick up some nectar points on the way! |
| Krack! 30th July 2005 | |
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Ouch. Collapsed on my right ankle yesterday. There was an audible cracking
sound as I fell victim to a pot hole in the ground (even Yau heard it from
several metres away). It was pretty painful and the swelling was immediate
and substantial. Thankfully, Colin provided an ice pack from home (for
which I'm VERY grateful) and with some help, had it strapped up tightly. I
think that may have helped enormously to keep the swelling down. While in
mild agony, I noticed a bug on my arm, I flicked it away and moments
later, a red mark appeared where it had bitten me. This also caused some
irritation as it was on the fold of my elbow joint, but seemed like a
rubbing sensation involving salt and wounds.
Anyhoo, thought it would be best to go to the hospital to get it checked
out (the ankle, not the bug bite). The nurse in her haste wrote about the
sound as a 'Krack'. I pointed this out and offered to check her spelling,
to which she looked a tad embarrassed. My sister had taken me there and
after 2 hours, the X-ray confirmed that there was no fracture, just a
heavy sprain. I have a pair of crutches to hit ppl with and aid my walking
should I need either.
It's not the pain that is an issue - just the fact that I'll be out of
action for quite a while. I'll do all I can for a speedy recovery, but
having just come back from one ankle sprain, I know how long these things
can take to heal properly.
Just wanted to say thanks very much to Colin for his invaluable ice pack.
Also James Wong, Yau, Be, Ruddock, Linh and Minh for their sympathy :p
And of course Jenn for her concern :) |
| Decency, 22nd July 2005 | |
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I am still mystified by the void of morality and basic humanity in these
suicide bombers.
There were a series of 'incidents' yesterday that seems to be failed attempts at bombings in London . Just two weeks after the first, this time thankfully, the bombs didn't detonate properly. The details surrounding the incident seem much sketchier, but fortunately it seems that there were no casualties. The brave would-be martyrs managed to run away but hopefully when caught, they can be used to flush out the honchos. It's a strange logic that killing innocents can earn yourself (and allegedly some of your selected family) a place in 'heaven'. If that's true, it's certainly a place I wouldn't want to go to.
The vanity associated with being a 'martyr' is something that is probably
overlooked. Personally, I'd rather be judged on my own actions, those that
are committed not out of a fear of the wrath of god nor the selfish
notions of getting myself past the pearly gates. Going by an ideology of
'do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you' seems a
good enough foundation to me.
Religion is a system of beliefs and values associated with a higher power.
Quite why these 'beliefs' are forced onto people surely contradicts the
concept of believing. The fundamentals of religion seem to be sound, but I
wonder since its conception, how much pain has been caused in the name of
it.
The consequence of these extremists is that good muslims become victims of condemnation. As hard as I might try, I'm not sure if I could escape being wary of any muslim clutching a backpack. I'd expect my cautious demeanour is the bottom rung of this. It isn't good, but I'm not entirely clear on how much the mainstream are doing to dissuade against extremist thoughts. Last year, a person I know saw hate propaganda being handed out quite openly in a local mosque. Similarly, a friend of previously good nature quite dramatically went through a period of quite disturbing extremist beliefs. All in Cambridge.
Sad times indeed.
However, we shouldn't be consumed with loathing and ill feelings. I have no shame in recounting the trivialities that comprise blogs. It's been quite a while since the last entry and this will probably be a bumper-sized edition :p hmmmm...last week...myself, Linda Lee, Ruddock and Quoc went for a cruise down the river. Our destination was near the Orchards (not orchids, Linh!) on Grantchester meadows. The CTAD annual picnic was held there and armed with sparkling and red wine and baguette sticks, we sauntered down to the picnic. I've been that way before on a punt but this time, it was a strange experience. It was cool to catch up with Quoc and lazily meander down the river with the other guys. However, the things we saw on the journey were quite strange. The landscape can be beautifully eerie and the promised nudist colony (who apparently are shy and run away - most probably from Linh) didn't materialise. Instead, we heard stories from 'Nam, saw an old guy peeing (I hope) against a wall, a middle aged couple swimming in the river, a shivering kid standing waist deep in the cold water, a mini fleet of canoes (with us 'accidentally' ploughing into one of them) and the revelation of the glowing man and his envious peer. The sparkling wine was cheap, but very cheerfully knocked back and by the time we arrived the picnic seemed to be in full flow.
It was better than expected, an inside source once said that CTAD can be
quite clique-y, but I felt we were quite warmly welcomed. After all, we
did bring them a new plaything - the punt. There was loads of food and
drink and a much hyped tub of sangria. Somehow I only managed to eat a
German sausage, but succeeded in quenching my thirst with lots of sangria.
The meadow itself was a bit of a landmine - there were stinging nettles
and thorny accomplices on much of the green. I made contact with those
annoying blighters when on an urgent dash to answer a call from nature.
It was quite unusual to see work people in an out of work environment,
especially drunk. It was quite cool though and I'd like to have stayed
longer as we'd only just settled before realising we'd be late to return
the punt. We were there for about an hour (maybe?) and Krang had arrived
some minutes before we left. We were encouraged to take some Sangria for
the journey and then swiftly headed back up the river. It was quite the
mission as we were well against time, Linh was punting and we took turns
to use the paddle/oar - in my hands, an oar. In others', a paddle :p
Anyhoo, despite our titanic effort, we arrived 10 minutes late to the disgruntlement of the Scudamores punting staff. We met up with some other friends at our usual Thursday night haunt, not before encountering a drunken lout in town. For no real reason, he became offensive and in his gibberish language challenged ALL four of us to a fight for a measly £10. A few years back, I'm certain somebody would have taken up the offer, but instead we did the right thing, dismissed him and continued on with our night. It's really frustrating and a disgrace that with so much going on that people can find the time for such wanton foolishness. Onto better things, Jenn came to Cambridge last weekend. It was great just to hang out and although we didn't do much, it was really very nice. I wished we could have gone somewhere, but other than being skanked by Cho Mee, we didn't do anything spectacular :p We did get some interesting Oriental drinks though - coconut, a nice bottled soya drink, delectable mango juice and an aloe vera based drink, amongst others.
She says she doesn't mind and I believe her, but after a long hard week, I
hope to be able to offer something a bit more special than just staying
in. As usual, the time went by too fast and I had to drop her off at the
station for 5pm on Sunday. It was a bit of a rush and although we just
made it, I was a bit annoyed cos Skinny took his time to meet us and this
made the journey a tighter one than expected and I couldn't walk her into
the station :(
She's been away for a few days in Teddington, Middlesex. It was billed as
an excursion with canoeing and other activities anticipated. As the time
arrived, the reality dawned that the bait was a cruel fallacy and that the
trip was a three day tour de force of work, tests, presentations and other
unexciting activities! I had to laugh, the carrot and the donkey sprang
into mind. Poor girl though, I was really happy for her that she was going
away on a short fun break. Alas! She's even finished at 11pm on both days
that she's been there. Today is the last day though and I'm sure she'll be
overjoyed once it's all over.
Hopefully we can hook up over the weekend and just enjoy some time again
:)
Martin bought me a chin-up bar recently. I was obviously flabergasted at
such a display of kindness and he assures me I have nothing to be
suspicious about, just that I've done him many favours in the past and
he's not done much for me? Either way, I'm grateful and have just to
install the thing and start buffing up :p
Went to BBQ some food at Skinny's last night amongst other things. Will
summarise it now...
- Food was good - Honey glazed everything - wings, thighs, beef steaks,
sausages, frankfurters, burgers and even some monkfish!
- Drinks were plentiful - a heady collection of beers, alcopops and a vanilla and citrus flavoured white wine named 'Mendoza' - Beat rookies Linh and Wood at ISS. Had some drinks, then to filth. The usual... - Although the funniest thing - fat Raymond dancing. HAHA! It was hilarious! In fact, it was so bad it made me feel queesy. At first I thought he was taking the piss, but his prolonged jiving seemed the real deal. The big man was pumping his arms up and down, while his rippled torso convulsed uneasily. He had the biggest cheesy grin on his face and he jingled like a sorry christmas tree with his excessive bling. It was worth the entrance fee alone to see such a travesty to rhythm and decency :p |
| 24, 8th July 2005 | |
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It's been just over 24 hours since the sadistic bombings took place in
London.
It was a harrowing time and while my sympathy goes out to all those that
were caught up in that maniacal maelstrom, I was primarily tremendously
worried for Jenn. She has been on her 8 week placement in Central London
and I feared that she may have been travelling near that time. Her phone
wasn't being answered, nor texts and emails replied to. This unnerving
sequence seemed to last a lot longer than the 20 or so minutes of limbo
(not literally) whilst monitoring web and web-streamed TV news. Eventually
at 9.39am, to huge relief, a blissfully oblivious reply returned
proclaiming that she'd not known about the travesty and that I was the
first to alert her of these dark events. I guess I'd been telling myself
she'd been fine and initial reports conveyed a much smaller picture of
what had actually happened. (By about this time I'd contacted my other
friends in London and been thankful to find that they were all fine - Hui,
Jason Yu and Zaccio)
In fact, it transpired that she'd been at King Cross slightly over 20
minutes before the initial explosions and in many ways very lucky to have
avoided it all. Regardless, it still remained a traumatic time for a girl
not native to London, who is more used to the timid narrow streets of
Cambridge and the ambling shades of green that speckle Welwyn Garden City.
Of course, nobody knew what would happen next and if these explosions were
the last of this evil act. Furthermore, the withdrawal of almost all
public tranpsort opened up further problems. She ended up waiting for a
friend of the family to walk her to their home and has since stayed the
night there. Incidentally, I hear that some London hotels did the
unthinkable and raised their prices - an appalling thing to do in light of
what had happened.
Jenn should be on her way home now by car and I hope she does get back as
soon as possible. I feel crap for not being there to console her, but
hopefully can see her sometime this weekend. I really can't wait, but I'd
prefer she relaxes at home and does what is best for her.
Of course there is so much to be said about these despicable acts, much of
which has already been said in the past. It is somewhat worrying that
we've evolved into a species capable of producing individuals of such
twisted and perverted minds. I often wonder if these so called religious
fanatics have any idea what their ideology is or if indeed they
have fallen into a spiral of mindless hate. In similar, though much less
significant, vein most football hooligans have little knowledge of the
game or understand the spirit of sport but are more interested in
the opportunity for violence. Do some extremists use religion as a veil
and ignore the basics of what religion is supposed to teach?
I guess life must go on and although it is much, much easier said than
done, we can't and shouldn't continue to live in fear. I'm an atheist and
have no expectations and hopes of reincarnations or an afterlife, so it's
vital that we each get the chance to live our lives to the full without
fear or the actuality of it being taken away by a twisted whim.
24 hours, time ticks by and the aggrieved become just another number, a
statistic whose pain, hurt and anguish cannot be so easily quantified.
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| Aaaaah, Bisto! 29th June 2005 | |
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Probably a greater feeling than the alleged ecstasy provided by Bisto
gravy...yesterday morning, I passed my driving test on the second attempt.
It was truly a massive relief, having failed spectacularly on the first
attempt (amassing 15 minors), I only collected 3 this time and one of
these was for incorrectly answering a question about the car. It was much
easier, mainly because the examiner was much more easy going and
talkative. He was a Liverpool supporter and a mad biker to boot, but a
very cool guy. Anyway, am superbly glad it's over.
I've been driving a bit by myself and it's unusual. I'm getting used to
it, though sometimes my steering is a bit erratic to say the least! It's a
quite different car to what I was learning in, but practice makes perfect.
There were some crazy storms last night, the most violent in recent times.
The night sky was crackling and the familiar trailing roar was booming for
much of the evening. The rain was coming down like a tonne of turd and
Jenn was hiding under a big bear (codenamed LB)...
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| Time, 4th June 2005 | |
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It was my mum's Bday yesterday. It's always difficult to find a present for
her and this year was no exception. Our (my sister and I) paltry haul
resulted in three pairs of M&S socks and a pair of French Connection PJ
bottoms (not that it matters). My brother had brought a cool see-through
kettle. And this year has been good in terms of presents! I think she seems
quite happy with them... While shopping for the mum, I also got a bit greedy and got myself a few things. It's very unusual for me to buy clothes, I'm a bit of a miser when it comes down to that sort of thing. But, it was about time to invest. A hooded top, short sleeved shurt and a long sleeved T-shirt was added to the already very messy room. Having returned late from present hunting, I flexed my culinary muscles and cooked up a dinner in quick time. I browned off a couple of lamb shanks before rubbing them down with salt and garlic and roasting the tasty blighters. Also fried some fish (Coley Fillet) and boiled a chicken, making spinach, tomato and carrot soup in the bargain. Typically, the semi-naked chef cooked up some quality food. However, Doan was sick and couldn't come back to sample the food nor present his kettle gift. The Hatton fight looms and at this moment in time, it doesn't look like I'll be getting it at home. This could, of course, change but as that big gay Zaks has withdrawn from coming over, the lust for this pay-per-view event has subsided considerably. This might have a bit to do with the imminent arrival of 'Kung Fu Hustle' on DVD. That kind, but wimpish, Dom had it glassman-couriered (via Zaccio) from Thailand and the latest Stephen Chow movie should be pretty cool. I do want to watch Hatton, but at £15 it seems steep, if there are too few people. With the 5 aside in two weeks, I've been thinking about ... (Semi) Total
football - it's the policy we need to employ. Positionally, we must be fluid
like water (as my mate Bruce Lee used to preach) and crash upon our
opponents whilst retaining the ability to reform quickly into walls of
ice... Our squad is quite versatile. We'll be playing a 3-1 formation for most
matches. Meaning three at the back and one midfielder. There are only four
outfield positions and it should be quick to communicate who is left back,
right back, centre back and midfielder. Unusually for the centre back, this
position may best be suited for a playmaker type who can pass well, but also
needs to have good recovery pace and be strong in the tackle. Height and
heading ability shouldn't be an issue. Luong - M, DR, DL, DC The rotation system needs to be efficient and I hope we can get the balance right. Where we can, we'll let Wood out and have a sub GK. Foolish 'JT' should have just about finished an exam by now. I'll prob call to see how she did soon... |
| Natural, 3rd June 2005 | |
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Had a pretty good session of footy yesterday evening. It wasn't at the high
tempo that I usually like, but instead complimented the warm, sultry (ahem)
feel of the night air. A small 4 aside game amongst ourselves was good for
movement off the ball and then we played against some randoms (that knew
Kelvin, but didn't know he screams) and other than being a tad complacent,
we were silky at times. Skinny ultimately responded well to recent criticism and showed a substantial return to form. There is a small comfort zone between being good and great, it's best not to dally in it for too long. Wai just needs to be more aware of his own movement and gain more experience and he'll be a quality player - can't fault his attendance or improved work rate. I did a great deed by resisting the considerable temptations of filth (Ballare).
Despite being worn out, bruised and blistered, the summery weather proved a
seductive toxin. However, I showed fantastic discipline and stayed in. Ended
up watching 'Veronica Guerin' which was at times a bit gushy, but quite good
on the whole. Cate Blanchett produces an immaculate performance and probably
helped to drive the film along. I've been watching quite a bit of late night ... UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) recently and have been very impressed with a guy called Randy 'The Natural' Couture. As well as having a cool name (and would be apt for a pornstar), this guy is a complete fighter and sportsman. At 41 years old, he is still competing and beating the best fighters in his division. His conditioning, strength and stamina are awe-inspiring particularly at that age. He is totally dominant in the ring and has the heart of a lion (metaphorically speaking - he is no mutant) and the strength of a...very strong man. Furthermore, he is down to earth and knows humility, being respectful in victory or defeat. A true champion. |
| Confidence, 1st June 2005 | |
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...Poor Jenn is in a mini-panic from the torrent of exams. I'm sure she'll
be fine, just relax and focus! Easier said than done, but true nonetheless
 It was quite funny, apparently she spent 5 minutes of the exam looking for her seat. She wasn't amused when I asked why after a few minutes she hadn't gone straight to the only empty space - it turns out there were a few others also searching for their seats also.  Anyhoo,
I hope she does well and her worrying proves to be unfounded - just need to
be positive
Confidence breeds success, and there should be no room for the demands of
stress. It's almost universally true - academic or otherwise. So chin up,
and fight on. If you do go down, you go down fighting! Haha, I'm so cheesy
I'm quite pleased that Linh is starting to play footy with the C4 greats
:p The kid Wai has passed his driving test, which is great for him. Speaking of confidence, there's a kid that could so with some more. And a dollop of positive attitude too. He's got some talent, but it won't be fully realised unless he opens up a bit more. I'm gonna start doing a bit of training again, just to keep fit...and
uphold justice in the world?! Maybe in the next week or so, some padwork.
Then later, some iron fist training, then tiger claw and windmill punching.
Seriously though, will do some padwork soon... |
| Potential, 30th May 2005 | |
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The grudge match vs Dang's team was quite useful. We got to try out two
different formations in either half and played some quality stuff at times.
On the down side, there were moments when our focus waned. On the whole it was a good run out and we showed how devastating quick passing and movement can be. It is very difficult to defend against a team that can move into space and are willing to work for each other. Julian came back for the session and reminded us how much ground he covers. We will need him to play the ball more often, but certainly he has other qualities that are very rare. On a personal note, I need to be less selfish in the final third. I seem to want to hit a shot at the first opportunity, where laying it off would be a better option. Also, towards the end of the session, my body was really beginning to ache/hurt. The hip was experiencing moderate pain (curse my snake hips!) and the ankle definitely still not fully recovered. At least the inflammation in my Achilles tendons seem to have eased up a lot. I think it could be my F50s. DX's BBQ. About as good as could be expected. Having bumped into him
(literally) in Tescos the day prior, his trolley had looked worryingly
empty. Unfortunately, it seems he'd filled it with economy burgers and
sausages afterwards. There is definitely truth in quality over quantity.
Those burgers were not fit for human consumption! Oooh, am looking forwards to the Hatton fight now. There has been a lot of build up and hype. I'll probably look into organising a small get together that night. Jenn-der has put a restraining order out as she is deep in study mode. I'm cool with that, good luck with the exams, mofo. |
| Heat, 27th May 2005 | |
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I'm feeling it. The heat that is. I think it can be...stifling! Anyhoo, I
have an exciting day ahead of me *insert sarcastic tone* Then a damned driving lesson in this heat... Then...have to garden like a mofo. The dad is back soon, and will be ratty if he sees the garden in such a state. Will spend about 2 hours after the driving lesson on that. Am a bit knackered from filth, didn't get back till gone 3am. It's cool, I can soldier through and die tonight. It's hot, I need a fan... |
| Cookies Crumbling, Feet Fumbling, 26th May 2005 | |
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Not a great evening... Footy training was lacklustre. Not a lot of good football played and others seem to lack the tenacious spirit of old. My own performance was distinctly below par and probably what was most annoying. Perhaps I/we need a challenge to get ourselves playing well and hard. Although we need to be able to turn it on no matter who the opponents. Then to Cheese's fight*. Went with Krang and Linda and the environment
was rowdy and very chav-like. Cheese lost by majority decision. I think it
was the correct result - his power was lacking and he employed some daft
tactics by unleashing all he had in the opening minute and running out of
steam well short of the finish line. He had a good final round, but was
caught with some hard punches in the second. Never really looked to have the
dynamic power to stop the opponent though. Poor guy, but he seemed in
optimistic mood afterwards. Liverpool won the Champions league. Quite surprised at the result and although I didn't watch it, it seems to have been quite the comeback. Not the best football, but the heart to claw it back is awesome. Am happy that an English team won it. Mantis Hui called at about 11.30pm and was 'on a high'. Not from speaking to me, but because he and his friend had won a £10,000 award to make a short film. Am really happy for him as he'd put a lot on the line to go out and pursue it. Mofo Jenn is still studying. I hope she can maintain, it's tragic not to fulfill potential. When I see her, she seems to be quite tired and often collapses onto her bed. Poor guy! Sunshine after the rain... I'm quite tired now, think I'll crash out soon...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *= Cambridge Evening News had this to say: By g-Ollie! Phillips impresses on debut NEW boys Iceni may not have come away with a win from their first show but plenty of experience was gained by their boxers at the Guildhall. It was always going to be a tough task for the home fighters on display after carefully matched bouts fell by the wayside on the eve of the show. Debutant Ollie Phillips made a good fist of his under-65kg contest against Bedford ABC's Tom Naylor, but his lack of experience told as he lost on a split decision. Phillips was out quickly in the first round, but it was Naylor landing the scoring blows and a series of crashing rights early in the second could have had the home man in trouble. But Phillips dug deep and edged the final round of an absorbing clash. |
| Cookies Crumbling, Feet Fumbling, 26th May 2005 | |
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Not a great evening... Footy training was lacklustre. Not a lot of good football played and others seem to lack the tenacious spirit of old. My own performance was distinctly below par and probably what was most annoying. Perhaps I/we need a challenge to get ourselves playing well and hard. Although we need to be able to turn it on no matter who the opponents. Then to Cheese's fight*. Went with Krang and Linda and the environment
was rowdy and very chav-like. Cheese lost by majority decision. I think it
was the correct result - his power was lacking and he employed some daft
tactics by unleashing all he had in the opening minute and running out of
steam well short of the finish line. He had a good final round, but was
caught with some hard punches in the second. Never really looked to have the
dynamic power to stop the opponent though. Poor guy, but he seemed in
optimistic mood afterwards. Liverpool won the Champions league. Quite surprised at the result and although I didn't watch it, it seems to have been quite the comeback. Not the best football, but the heart to claw it back is awesome. Am happy that an English team won it. Mantis Hui called at about 11.30pm and was 'on a high'. Not from speaking to me, but because he and his friend had won a £10,000 award to make a short film. Am really happy for him as he'd put a lot on the line to go out and pursue it. Mofo Jenn is still studying. I hope she can maintain, it's tragic not to fulfill potential. When I see her, she seems to be quite tired and often collapses onto her bed. Poor guy! Sunshine after the rain... I'm quite tired now, think I'll crash out soon...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz *= Cambridge Evening News had this to say: By g-Ollie! Phillips impresses on debut
NEW boys Iceni may not have come away with a win from their first show but plenty of experience was gained by their boxers at the Guildhall. It was always going to be a tough task for the home fighters on display after carefully matched bouts fell by the wayside on the eve of the show. Debutant Ollie Phillips made a good fist of his under-65kg contest against Bedford ABC's Tom Naylor, but his lack of experience told as he lost on a split decision. Phillips was out quickly in the first round, but it was Naylor landing the scoring blows and a series of crashing rights early in the second could have had the home man in trouble. But Phillips dug deep and edged the final round of an absorbing clash. |
| Fight or Flight? 24th May 2005 | |
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After almost 8 years of promises and repetitive disappointments, the man
known only as Butterbean (AKA Cheese) is finally entering the square ring!
He's due to have his first boxing fight 2moro night (Wednesday) at the
Guildhall in Cambridge. I'll be heading down there to cheer him on, and give
him jip if he loses :p I'm not sure why I was never tempted to slug it out in the ring. Probably just not my thing - having the face punched just didn't seem so appealing. However Cheese's fight will be quite the spectacle, his direct style has been fodder for many... Speaking of the boy-bean, I've been playing too much Championship manager recently with that mofo. About one 4 hours session a week and now we're just into our fourth season (07/08). His Arsenal team seem to be jammy to the max, while my Man U team is exploding at the seams. I've about 30 players and those that play that game will know how hard it is to juggle so many stars. Check it out.... Forwards: Rooney, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Smith, Defoe,
Owen, Fernando Torres I have some more that are more obscure but gems nonetheless. And that links nicely onto Nerds. Was sent a clip where a horde of Star Wars nerds have the piss ripped out of them by a quick witted comedian. Cruel at times, but funny as ****. You have to give credit to these 'nerds', although perhaps deluded, it must take a less celebrated form of courage to represent in the way that they do... check out the clip here: http://www.milkandcookies.com/stuff/triumphvsw.asx p.s.
I finally got hold of the 'Sway' song - it has the
same enchanting quality I remember it for
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| Make me Sway, 23rd May 2005 | |
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They seem to be all the rage, as infectious as the global hypercolour garments of
yesteryears (incidentally TC DX still wears his with much gusto and pride!)
- I am talking about blogs. I think I'll use this as a reminder of my epics
and to keep those that care in the know :p Am about to tame my garden, which is more free-flowing than our football. Will be quite the task, but it provides good exercise and an excuse to get black (tanned). Also have been spending far too much time searching for a song that I
remember as particularly haunting and beautifully seductive...! I find myself growing increasingly frustrated at my inability to
perform in football. This ankle sprain seems painfully stubborn and hampers
my capabilities. My all action style is now a distant memory and I
really can't tackle for shit! Oh well, I'll have to ease myself back to
form. I need to get some stuff done on the computer and become much more productive in general. What's that word Jenn likes to use? Procrastination! I seem to be a master at that...:( Speaking of that mofo Jenn, she is studying like a Hermit-mofo-mutant...turtle. Although, of course, I wish her all the best for her exams etc. I feel things are going well between us, despite the bonus of her exam period... I'm trying to become a better and more open person. Oh well, that's enough for now - the garden is taunting me. Peace
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Shite.
Shite weather - was raining for most of the day today. I hope it doesn't
give an encore for 2moro, as I very much want to play some footy! 
.
Haha, I'll just chill and perhaps do some erratic manouevres to wind up the
instructor.