Got thoroughly soaked cycling into work today, and weirdly I kinda enjoyed it. One hot shower later and I was good to go. The rain stayed off for a lunchtime wander, but it's back on again, so a soaking on the way home is on the cards.

Picked up Iron Maidens Flight 666 at the weekend, and it's brilliant. The movie is excellent, and the concert is really really good.

If you like Maiden, then I really recommend you pick this up.

Got volume 4 of Garth Ennis's The Boys yesterday, sat down to read a bit, and well, I finished it in a one-er. It's as irreverant as the other volumes, and has some truly WTF! moments. I know Garth is aiming to "out-Preacher Preacher", and I think he's succeeding, BUT I still haven't made up my mind what series is better. I liked the storyline better in Preacher, but I'm really enjoying The Boys, despite not being a fan of Supes. maybe the treeatment they get dished out to them in The Boys is exactly why I DO like it.

Anyway, I'll reserve judgement until the series is finished. (approx 60 issues according to Garth)

Just went for a lunchtime wander down to Forbidden Planet, and bumped into a couple of friends from the local SF scene.
The last time I was in FP was (seriously) years ago, and it was a comic shop. Now the comics are relegated to one wall, another is for manga titles, and the rest toys. The few books there are, have been relegated to the wee nook at the back of the shop. It's a real shame, as it used to be a superb comic shop, although AKA was my primary source and the shop my account was in, FP had the superior back issue selection.

It's a shame that comics seem to be dying a death in Glasgow. There was a real book in the late 80's early 90's, and titles like Crisis, and DC's Vertigo range, were breaking new ground. Now it seems to be multiple titles with the same character - at least 5 Batman titles on display, and the same goes for a lot of the classic characters.

Where is the new Sandman or Cerebus ? There's nothing really unique at the moment that catches my eye. If there is something I should be reading, leave a comment and give me a heads up.

Tum tee tum.

I'm having a bit of a retro thing at the moment. When I were a lad, I loved Spike Milligan, Monty Python, stuff like that. Still do, but haven't indulged in any of Milligans bufoonery for a long time...
...until now.
I'm re-reading Milligan's War, and it's hilarious. A damn good read, that's just what I need at the moment after indulging in some rather heavy (but excellent) space opera type stuff of late.
I'm also having a musical flashback as I type this, listening to The best of Ultravox, and it's awesome. Current track is Hymn, but fav at the moment is Passing Strangers.

Brilliant stuff.

There was an email today from the karate instructor asking who was planning on going this week and on what days. So, Friday is cancelled due to lack of people planning to attend, and next week is cancelled anyway, but I don't know why. The week after that I'm off on holiday for a week, so that's 3 weeks no karate apart from tomorrow !

I can't help thinking that we need fresh blood in the club to boost the numbers, there's only 6 of us plus the instructor. In a way it's good, because you can't hide in the crowd, mistakes get noticed and they get corrected, but, because it's such a small club, it only takes a couple of people to be unable to attend, and the attendees can't cover the cost of the hall, so it's cancelled.

I also have a problem with the fact that one particular person thinks 6.00pm on a Friday is "too late, why can't it be earlier?". 6.00pm is pretty early for an evening class if you ask me.

It's irritating me more than it should, as I've had an njury which has stopped me running but I've still been able to go to karate, except, it's being cancelled because people would rather go to the pub after work than go to karate. FFS! They could do the class and be in the pub for 7.30pm Are they THAT desperate for a drink?!

Well everyone and their granny with access to a computer is blogging like fuck about this, so I may as well throw in my 2p worth.
I wasn't and never will be a fan. I didn't like his music, so my music buying will not suffer as a result of his death.
Then there's the accusations. There's only one person alive now who knows the truth behind them, and he's the accuser, so the chances of his turning round and saying he lied, well not really gonna happen is it. If MJ had had his day in court the truth (whichever way it was) would have had a chance at coming out. He could have put it all behind him, but the pay-off, that just added fuel to an already blazing fire. We'll never no the truth, and the rumours and speculation will always be there.
Regardless of all the above, he was a human being. Someone's son, someone's brother and a father (albeit of dubious parentling skills - I mean hanging a baby out a window, get real), and these people have every right to be upset that he's dead.
The fans have a right to be upset.
As for the media..... They loved the gorey details when the shit hit the fan, and now they're hailing him as a misunderstood genius. Bloody hypocrites. but then again papers say whatever it takes to sell copy.

Since getting back from Egypt (which was excellent), I picked up my new bike that I got through the cycle to work scheme (it's a Giant escape M1, and very nice it is too). That's just over a week I've had it, and so far only one day where I didn't use it to get to work. Well over the 50% they want you to use it.
Problem is, I seem to have more energy, and I'm waking up anywhere between 5.30 and 6.30am. So I leave the house before 7.00, get to work about 7.30, get changed and hit Pret for a coffee and a muffin (or croissant, I like to mix things up). this is good, because it actually means I get a breakfast which previously I never did.

Cough seems to have cleared up, or at least is hiding in the background somewhere. The temperature is back to normal, and I'm back at work. So all's good.

Tonight I've got karate, assuming enough people turn up for the class to run (it was cancelled on Wednesday), and then Michael is coming over.

Tomorrow we've a couple of friends coming over to veg out with movies, and we've to tidy the house for Liz coming over nextweek to cat-sit while we're in Egypt.

So today I'm off work ill. Last night I was running a temperature, seriously burning up. Today I've a hacking cough, and I've called in sick. This is a bummer, as I'll miss Trout tonight (that's the monthly Glasgow SF group meet), and I was hopping to sell some memberships for
Satellite 2. Instead I've just posted on the group LJ pointing people to the website,where they can download membershipforms andeither mail them in or pass them to another member ofthe committee.

At the moment I'm lying in bed, coughing up a lung, while watching Lost inTranslation.

There's ice cream in the freezer. I might have to get up and get some.

Hmmm. Not good at keeping this thing going am I.

As mentioned in the last post (last year) I was going to Redemption. Well, I went, and had a great time. It was my first time in Coventry, and I have to say I like it. The 8 hour bus journey I likes a little less, but the train involved 2 transfers, and there was VERY little time to get from one to the next, so I didn't want to risk it. As it was I just vegged with the mp3 player, a book and occasionally slept.

Back in the real world, and the finish line is in sight as far as Satellite 2 goes. The guest of honour is in place, the programme is coming along nicely, and the first batch of t-shirts have been ordered.

So, if you stumble across this blog, click on the link, and come to the convention.

Damn it's been ages.
Just re-read the previous post, and I'm glad to say my thoughts haven't changed in the least. It's been a while since I posted it, and I reckon I was thinking my attitude might have changed, but thankfully it hasn't.

The monthly SF meetings are still going strong, and there's a convention in the offing (Satellite 2) next year. A few of us are off to Redemption in Feb, partly to have a great time, and partly to (hopefully) sell some memberships for S2.

Roll on Feb.

Damn it's been a while.

Been thinking a lot lately about friends and friendship and people in general. I don't know if it's a symptom of getting older (I'm 41 now), but I think I'm becoming less and less of a people person. I just don't "need" the companionship of people as much as I used to (or at least used to think I did).
More and more lately, I'm becoming disillusioned with living in a city (especially Glasgow) and I want to just get the hell out. This isn't likely to happen in the near future, at least not without a lottery win, so I'm stuck in Glasgow (which isn't that bad as cities go, it's just I want out) for the forseable future.
My wife keeps telling me that if I got my wish I'd soon miss this place, but I don't think so. The fewer shell-suited numb-nutted idiots I see, the better.
As for friends, it's not like we're in each others pockets. I see people I like at the SF group once a month, and when a con rolls round, I love it. It's like the perfect gated community. Anyway, I have some really good friends online, (and before anyone shouts "sad git" I know them in the flesh too, we're just geographically challenged) and keep in touch on a regular basis.
Ideally I want a house near the sea, remote, but within half an hour of shops if I need them. A wee village/country pub nearby that sells real ale, and a broadband connection. Throw in some dogs, and nirvana is reached.

Got to lose the gut, got to lose the gut.

I've been piling it on a bit lately. Too much vegging and overindulgance, and not enough exercise. Soooo, yoghurt and coffee for breakfast, session at the gym at lunchtime followed by 2 rolls in gammon (no butter or marge), another low fat yoghurt, a diet coke and a peach. I'll eat smaller portions and cut out on the drink too.

Fell great for having been back at the gym. I've still got the "glow" I always get after a session. Wakes you up for the afternoon as well.

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