The internet is back...

...after a month of it fading in and out, being as slow as a slow thing and not even working at all - it has returned.  It did take the engineer over 90 minutes to sort it but IT'S BACK!!!!  It is absolutely amazing how missed it is and how much a part of your life it really is - scary actually!!!

Anyways, what's been going on?!?!?!?!?!?!  Well, bits and bobs. 

I got to see the mighty Rammstein in concert last week.  A heavy metal/industrial German band who sing in their native tongue and have a wicked/disturbing (to some) sense of humour.  They also put on one hell of a live show full of explosions, flames and brilliant stage props.  This tour was all about their greatest hits and it was a non stop collection of class tracks pulled from their last 17 years in music.  Sonne, Mutter, Mein Herz Brennt, Amerika and Pussy were all highlights, but, in all honesty, there wasn't a single low light!!

After it was recommended to me by a friend, I watched 'Drive'.  Holy crap - what an a amazing film with a soundtrack as integrated and amazing as the film itself.  Starring Ryan Gosling as a loner who is part  stunt driver, part getaway driver for hire - this is essentially 'Shane' full of bouts of extreme violence, cool ass driving and a doomed love story.  Incredible film!!

It was also Oscars time in February and as is tradition, me and the missus stayed up with plates full of food and glasses full of drink and watched it from start to finish.  Happily, 'The Artist' won most of the main awards, and rightfully so.  Hosted by Billy Crystal, it also marked a return to form for the Oscars itself.

Music wise, I got the Immersion box sets of Pink Floyd's 'Wish You Were Here' and 'The Wall'.  Both amazingly packaged and both full of amazing extras.  'The Wall' especially with its 2 cd's worth of Roger Water's original demos and some band demos.

Writing, writing, writing!!!  I am very close to getting my book self published and work on my second book is coming along very nicely.  I have also started work on my third book and a short story about Zombies.  Still entering competitions and writing for websites, the writing is flowing.  In fact, included below is a new poem from my second book - enjoy!!

  

Sublime

Heavy eyes glaze over and finally succumb,

a lasting beat echoes from a tired heart,

and a sublime silence hangs in the air.

Coldness collapses across tired skin,

now nothing more than an empty shell,

its occupant free of life’s pretty asylum.

Time’s void sets in stone a sombre hum,

this shift in tone thick and sweet,

a kaleidoscope of charcoal emotions.

   And death welcomes a new friend,

a wild odyssey of belief begins,

odd times…and all.

And with that, until next time.

A tough few weeks...

...since my last blog.  Some ups, some downs - that's life in a nutshell though really isn't it.  And as always, it could be much worse than it is.  So first some ups:

It's Oscar time soon so I managed to get to the cinema a couple of times and watch 2 amazing films - The Artist and Hugo (both, oddly enough, films about cinema and film). 
The Artist was something I wasn't too sure about going into the cinema but came out having watched one of the most amazing, well acted, clever films in a long time.  Yes, it is a silent film.  Yes, it is in black and white.  And yes, it completely works.  In fact, it works because it is a silent film and because it is in black and white.  Utterly absorbing, utterly brilliant.
Hugo was a film I have wanted to watch since seeing the first trailer, why it has taken so long I will never know.  Suffice to say, I am glad I got to watch it in the cinema and in 3D (best use of 3D since Avatar).  Again - superb acting, a story full of surprises and a visual joy to watch.

Music, music, music.  I got to spend some pennies on lots of cd's over these past few weeks (I am always on Play.com or Amazon searching for cheap cd's) getting some amazing albums. 
New stuff - Lamb Of God 'Resolution' - brutal, proper METAL.  Lana Del Ray 'Born To Die - gorgeous in every way. 
Old back catalogue stuff (selection) - Testament, Van Halen, Alice Cooper, Devildriver, Korn.
I also managed to get some Devin Townsend cd's only available on his website - Ass Sordid Demos 1 and 2 - even his demos are better than most music out there.  Official Bootleg 2000 - cool live album.  Devlab and The Hummer - his 2 ambient albums.

Writing - hmmm, writing.  Still writing when I can as much as my brain can.  I am still planning to self publish my book.  It will happen.  I am just covering all angles regarding the contract and how happy I am with the finished product.  Still entering competitions, sending stuff to websites and writing poetry towards my second book.

Now some downs:

Work has been very hard with an alarming amount of overtime having to be done - but like I said at the beginning - it could be worse...at least I have a secure full time job.

Finally, my girlfriends parents dog had to be put down.  She was a boxer and her name was Dixie.  My girlfriend and I were very close to her taking her out a lot and looking after her when her parents went away on holiday.  She was a amazing and will be so sorely missed.  Below is a photo and a short poem I wrote about her.

 

Today, I lost a friend

Today, I lost a friend,

lost to old age,

today, I lost a friend.

She never left my side,

or got in my way.

She never had to hide,

or darken my day.

She never did complain,

or spoil my mood.

She never minded the rain,

or be too crude.

She never asked for much,

or took for granted.

She never wanted such,

or could be halted.

She had plenty of kisses,

and love to give.

She had that look of ages,

and years to live.

She had the gift of light,

and eyes of youth.

She had a manner of right,

and heart of truth.

She had strength in bounds,

and fields of green.

She had plenty of grounds,

and energy so keen.

And yet,

today, I lost a friend,

lost to old age,

today, I lost a friend,

lost backstage...

...today, I lost a friend.

 

First blog of 2012...

...and another year begins and already its turning out well!!

Chickenfoot - so my first concert of the year was at Manchester Academy watching the super group that is Chickenfoot.  Chickenfoot consist of Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony and Chad Smith...and holy crap - they were good!!  Joe Satriani is an absolute GOD on the guitar and is note perfect live.  In fact, he has that thing about him which has you absolutely hooked from the moment he steps out on stage!  Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony (both formally from Van Halen) were so full of energy and class and they both looked like they were having the best time in the world.  Kenny Aronoff (filling in for Chad Smith who is currently touring with the Chilli Peppers) was also amazing, again seeming like he was having a whale of a time.  So, a good start to 2012's concerts - Ian Anderson, Bruce Springsteen and Rammstein still to follow!!

Work - so the new Quality Manager started and instantly the pressure has lifted from me and although I have already done nearly 20 hours overtime this year, I am getting more writing done, more PS3 and 360 playing time, getting to the gym more often, spending more quality and stress free time with my girlfriend and generally feeling alot better about things.

Writing - so like I said, I am getting more writing done - in fact I have had another one of my poems accepted and posted on The Erotic Woman website (Fucking New Year) and also Dark River Press have accepted one of my short stories (Decompose) and plan to post it on their website and hopefully in their publication in the future.  I am currently going over the contract for self publishing my first book (Love Or Suicide and the life inbetween) with extreme scrutiny - with help from my girlfriend - and am consistently entering competitions and writing poetry for my second book on the subjects of Life and Death (samples of which are below).

The Death Of Music (excerpt)

And so, in the distance, a record player crackles,

its RPM slowing down to a cruel wheezing plod,

and just as the art of live music drowns its own corpse,

the crescendo builds to play the death of music.

The skill of the instrument now a frowned upon memory,

tacky backing tracks partner with cold electronica,

and the writer is reduced to a forgotten matter of fact,

lyrics no more than a collection of empty obedience.

Those Simple Things (excerpt)

In this overcomplicated world,

of man, method and madness,

its those simple things that shine,

and smile upon a frowning rainbow.

The cool breeze on a hot day,

the click click of a writing pen,

the noisy stiffness of a new book,

the eureka moment of a lost memory,

the warm feeling of freshly clean sheets,

the scratch strike of a burning match,

the sods law of a surprise thunderstorm,

the joint glance from two would be lovers,

So, a good start to the year and one that I hope to continue.  Anyways, back to it!!

Final blog of 2011...

...a sort of review of what has gone before and what will be ahead!

So, another year is drawing to a close.  Its been hard.  Its been rewarding.  Its been...interesting.

GOOD THINGS:
Not only did I get another top 5 shortlisting in The Writing Magazine monthly competition but I actually won first prize for one of my poems in the same magazine.  I was very proud and it re-energised the passion and confidence my writing can sometimes lack.  It was also very humbling to read the comments made by the judge.

I have seen many amazing concerts this year - Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper and Devin Townsend to name a few - but seeing Roger Waters perform 'The Wall' with the most amazing stage show I have ever seen was simply stunning.  I truly believe that it was the best concert experience I will be privileged to see.

Having my poems accepted on The Erotic Woman website and seeing them gain so many reads was also very humbling.  Again, it really boosts confidence and pushes you to continue improving with every word written.

Devin Townsend's 2011 album 'Ghost' is a stunning, heartbreaking, gorgeous piece of work which brings his 4 album concept album run to an end in the most perfect way.  The music soars so high, his voice is so versatile and the lyrics are sublime.  Personally, I believe the man to be a genius - and the title track is probably my favourite song he has ever done.

The yearly holiday trip to The Lakes was another highlight - a Jazz band cruise, lots of Pitch and Putt, walks with stunning views and lots of chillaxing - perfect.

Work - yes, believe it or not, there was one good thing that came from work this year.  I work in a car factory as a Quality Technician - until April when our Quality Manager decided to move on and alot of the responsibility was put upon me.  So, I was Quality Technician, Quality Supervisor and Quality Manager for the last 8 months of 2011.  To actually be sitting here saying that I actually managed to do all that, regardless of being pushed to my limits not only as an employee but as a person, makes me feel very proud.

BAD THINGS:
Work - yes, despite what I have just said in the previous paragraph, having all that responsibility affected my relationship with my girlfriend, my commitment to the gym, my writing, my whole life.  To the point where I was having to live according to work - which of course is not the point of work (especially the 9-5 job).

The other holiday we had this year was to Paris.  To say I hated it, was, and still is, an understatement.  It is fair to say that city breaks are not my thing.

Personally and just because I am not a patient man, I wish I was further on with my writing than I actually am.  Yes, I have taken it to another level with my competition win.  But, I want to be doing it full time, as a job...a published author...which I suppose brings me to...

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2012:
...by the end of January, I will be in the process of becoming a self-published author with my first book called 'Love Or Suicide and the life inbetween'.  This collection of poetry and short stories based on said subjects was written some years ago and just needed a tidy, front cover etc ready for self publishing.  I am not self-publishing for profit though, more wanting to get it out there.

The new Quality Manager starting January 3rd - pressure off.

The yearly trip back to The Lakes - hopefully to erase the memory of Paris.

Films, films, films.  Being a film buff and full time geek - The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, Prometheus, The Expendables 2 and The Avengers - are all at the top of my list of must see movies.

Entering more writing competitions and continuing to write for The Erotic Woman website as well as keeping my Facebook page more up to date as well as more blogging.

Lots more concerts - already lined up is Rammstein, Chickenfoot and Bruce Springsteen.

Anticipating what Devin Townsend is going to unleash next and counting down the days till he does!!

The unexpected - in all honesty, who knows what will happen in 2012.  Anything could happen.  So, I leave you, my fellow bloggers, with the image that will grace the cover of my self published book as described above and wish everyone a Happy New Year and prosperous 2012.  Thanks.