A Strange Month

I looked at my blog today, and it was the most beatiful colour. And I'm sad that I won't see that colour again.

February has been a strange month. The main aspect of it, of course, is that University has started once more, and I am ending my time with one final semester. The second most important factor is the RPM Challenge. I have already mentioned this before, but I have put a lot of effort in. Sadly, I have kinda ended this effort of late. I wrote four songs solidly, and then stopped. I don't know why, I ran out of inspiration. But I have a new song in my head, and I'm going to make it soon, maybe tonight.

It's also been strange for other reasons. I've been doing the lighting in a Pantomime for Mandi (Mimi). It's been fun learning to control follow-spots and getting cues right. I have done it for the last two nights, but I couldn't tonight, I was just shattered and couldn't move from the sofa.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I restarted my work as an extra. I was an extra in Wimbledon as most of you know, and now I am an extra in The Oxford Murders, a new film with John Hurt and Elijah Wood. It pays a third as much (£20 a day) but the food is much better, and the Assistant Director was the same one as Wimbledon. It was good fun. I wanted to shake John Hurt's hand as he was a very nice guy, but I didn't get to. I did chat quite a bit with Elijah (first name terms now). Dan and Emma came along and we all had a great time. We were told to wear geeky clothing, but I forgot and wore my normal clothes. It was reassuring to know that I was selected as one of the geekiest looking people there.

I received a Valentine's Day card from a mysterious source. It's my first one, I've never had one before, not since I was a child and didn't know what adult feelings were, and it made me feel rather special.

I also had a lovely dinner with Sarah M on Monday, the first one in months, and it was far too long. It's always a joy to see her, and she's as vibrant and healthy and beautiful as ever. Distance is always a curse. But I have relief in the knowledge that it will be less than a month until I see her again. It also pleases me to know that she enjoys seeing me too, because I can honestly say she is one of the most special people I know.

Qian gave me a new phone, which is a relief because I was expecting to get a new phone when my contract expired but I realised that if I left the country I would be stuck with a contract that I couldn't use. So I now have a Motorola A1200. I'm not going to stop using my Jasjar, I love it, but the signal around here with it is terrible. Plus, it's a nice new phone, I'm going to appreciate it for a bit. It has a better camera too.

Our toilet, for no reason, started bubbling today. I was just walking upstairs when we heard bubbling so perfect it sounded like it was from a movie sound effect clip. We watched the downstairs toilet bubble for ages, and I even filmed it. Maybe YouTube will appreciate it. It saved on us buying a fountain.

Erin's surprisingly weird but endlessly entertaining conversations always keep me going when I need it most. Thanks.



Very, very few of you will understand that picture. Maybe if you watch enough Daily Show and know a little Irish history you'll realise how wonderful it is.

Watching Cromartie High School with Carlos and Stacey was very fun, I hope to do something with them again in the future. I'm just so damn busy. Plus I have to finish my album.

Emma's great.

I have both of my 21" monitors working beautifully now. Consider my resolution: 3840 x 1440. Quasi out.

I Have Time

I promised you one before the close of January, and this is it. It won't be epic, but I'll fill you in on the important stuff:

It snowed. Remember a few posts ago when I said bring on snow? They did. And on seeing the white carpet covering London, I rushed to Southlands campus to join in the snowball fights and sledding. But everyone stayed in bed and no-one was there. So I drove to Richmond Park, where I found the most beautiful, large car park, with trees and untouched, virgin snow covering the dirt below. It just invited drifting and sliding, and I had such a fun time that I got very used to the control and hope to do it again soon. However, the police didn't enjoy it as much and told me that if they caught me doing it again they'd crush my car.

But that just added to the thrill. It was one of the best snow days ever. There was also a period of three days where I saw a different brand new Ferrari every single day. Maybe a dealer opened nearby. I might get one if I have a chance to later.

I also got a GPS Bluetooth thing for my phone. The dongle was £35, and it came with software for navigating, but the software wasn't very good. It needed to go online to download maps, it took ages, etc. Dan helped me get Tomtom software for it, and now it's absolutely perfect. I even made a little holder for the car. I also started shaving with traditional double-edged razors. Occasionally, it causes me great pain.

My monitor suddenly stopped working. My beautifully big 19" CRT monitor just went black and started clicking. In searching for replacements on eBay, I went one better with a 21" monitor, and bettered that by getting two of them. Sadly, after a long drive through London (navigated electronically), I picked them up and the guy didn't have any cables for them. These cables cost £25 from PC World and £15 from Maplins, and the monitors were only £37 for both, and I didn't see the point in spending nearly that just on cables. I decided to cut the cable from my old monitor, and solder on a new plug which I got for a pound at Maplins. I hadn't soldered in close to nine years, but I still managed it cleanly, and despite not getting any green on the first try, I fixed it perfectly, and made myself a new cable from almost nothing. And it was fun. I need to do it again for the other monitor, but one 21" for now is plenty. Come on, the resolution is 1920 x 1440.

I'm starting the RPM Challenge in 29 minutes. It's where you have to write and record an album in a month (February). I'm just going to go for it and make something beautiful in a short time. I recommend anyone with any musical interest to at least try. My solo band is called Gentle Glow. For now.

If all goes to plan, I will be seeing Sarah on the 12th, and I can't wait. If you're reading, Sarah, 12th is good. But I'll text you anyway.

That's my other January post. I told you. See you all next month.