Eventyr

ain't coming back

Take me out
to the black.
Tell ‘em I ain’t comin’ back.
Burn the land and boil the sea.
You can’t take the sky from me.
Firefly Soundtrack

Saw Serenity and it was good. It will never be the same.

At the Richmond Damn'it

Went to see Republic of Heaven last night (via A History of Violence), who were playing with Autumn Red, The Race and The Recoil free at the Pressure Point.

I went on whim as it was free, I need to go see more live bands and because I'd heard the name mentioned before. Turned out I knew half the band by one degree.

It is good to be back in Brighton, with all the associated inbreeding and coincidence.

Since Last I Posted

My days are flashing by at the moment in a blaze of organisation and new beginnings. 

As I have this site to remind me where I have been (in the immortal words of Captain Beaky) I shall now list some of the things I have been up to in the last few weeks:

* Day 1: Fly to Norway (for the first time in four years - gosh time has flown).  Get to watch my iPod be checked for explosives!  Catch up with work.
* Day 2: Go to the replacement Fantoft Stave Church, Go up Fløyen, Experience a £5 pint.
* Day 3: Go to Bergen Aquarium, Eat Crab from the shell at the Fish Market. Visit a random gallery or two. 
* Day 4: Visit Håkon's Hall and the Bryggens Museum. See Relatives with my smiley brother (eat restaurant level dinner).  Discover one of my relatives looks exactly like one of my friends.
* Day 5: See more Relatives (get fed reindeer).  Find out about the captain and his bread and dummy interests.
* Day 6: Go on Norway in a Nutshell Tour. Say Yaaaaaar on the fjords.
* Day 7: Relax and then see more relatives (get fed reindeer).  Practice table football and dog control.
* Day 8: Marvel at how cheap everything is once you think about it.  See relatives again for dinner. Feel sad about my lack of language skills.
* Day 9: Start buying things as they all suddenly seem so cheap.  See more relatives for dinner.
* Day 10: Fly back, long drive, sleep.
* Day 11: Go to the fourth birthday party of the beautiful Aurora in the exclusive garden in Sussex Square. Learn about Viking Balloon hats. Go to the b'day party of the not-quite-so-adorable-as-my-god-daughter-if-i'm-honest Tom in the evening.
* Day 12: Return house keys from Norway and pay rent in Hamburger Dressing.  Cook evening lasagne (for practice) and play Mah Jongg.
* Day 13: Catch up with work. Go to cinema.
* Day 14: Catch up with work. Go to cinema.
* Day 15: Go to Freshers Fair and register for PhD.  Catch up with work. Go to cinema.
* Day 16: Go to DPhil induction sessions and Welcome Party.  Start Storytelling course at Varndean.  Bump into old A-Level Philosophy Tutor.  It’s nice to be remembered.
* Day 17: More Induction Sessions.  Decide on office space. Find out I have been given a short story.  Drive to Devon.
* Day 18: Go to Plymouth. See the fish.  Drive back through the moors.  Discover Port and Lemonade.  Mmm.
* Day 19: Watch Lost. Drive home via old family houses and Maiden Castle.
* Day 20: Start DPhil proper.  Catch up with work.
* Day 21 (Today): Catch up with work.  Start to feel tired.

So that's it.  My time has been fun but hectic and soon I should think about slowing down again.  I may even get the chance to put up photos!

One day.

When my list of things to see and do gets shorter.

Maybe.

All Hot (Brighton) Air

Went to the air guitar session night last night.

I came third due to my nifty arm rotating action. Second place went to Ed. First place went to 'The Man in Black' (who had even brought his own CD).

Of course, this is because there were only the three patrons there. Everyone else was staff.

Lessons Learned

Yesterday I learned the following:

1) Combining Car Boots with an Air Show isn't a bad way to spend a morning, but getting up early for them is still no fun

2) The Spot the Shakepearean Play card by Simon Drew is not quite as hard

3) Cleaning cars isn't so bad

4) Waxing cars is knackering

5) After seaching in both directions* for a good beach to swim on, it turns out Hove Beach is the winner

6) My face still glows red from too much sun. I still should not go out without my factor 50 on

7) Pink milk is the difference between being full and being stuffed

8) The Bali Brasserie still has great food, bad decor and cutlery that *wants* to stick to your forehead (despite being clean)

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* Cuckmere Haven has too many sharp rock pools (and flying ants), and West Beach by Littlehampton is lovely and sandy but just too darned flat.

Lessons Tonight

Tonight I learned the following:

1) Table Football is not my game (unlike Kiro)

2) The Spot the Film card by Simon Drew is suprisingly hard

3) MSN can be fun even when you are right next to the people you are talking to

4) Sleep is important when about to do a car boot

5) Drink is distracting

Brighton Air

I admit that I could practice my Air Guitar using methods such as the Philson Easy Air Guitar:

"As any performing air guitarist will tell you, there's no such thing as becoming an "overnight sensation." It takes hours, sometimes days, of honing your chops, waiting for your break to arrive. But mastering your instrument isn't enough. You've for to have stage presence, charisma, ATTITUDE. Now some say attitude can't be taught, only acquired. Don't worry. By acquiring this Philson Stratoblaster Air Guitar, you've already proven you have what it takes to rock and roll in the big leagues. All you need is a little polish, and you can take your Philson on the road."

However, as I am now back in Brighton, I have the option to prepare for the Air Guitar Tour* arriving in town on the 25th by going to the Engine Rooms who are having a free Air Guitar Championships Warm Up Session evening (with prizes) this Wednesday.

I may go get some preparation in.

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* "This is the tongue-in-cheek competition for budding guitarists everywhere. Come down to feel the rush & the energy. Throw wild gesticulations in mid-air. Watch the wrist action as speed increases for the mind-bendingly beautiful solos. Experience the roar of pleasure & see fingers trembling as sweat runs off the brow...YES! The time has come for you to go head to head with the best of them .. ... go to www.ukairguitar.com to register & realise your dream. Or just come along on the night & be part of the action."

Dogged Sussex

Hmm.

Went in idle search of the poetry* on the bridge by Balcombe today. With a friend.

We idled to some tearooms near Balcombe, where we argued the meaning of the word science and the status of the tv-drama genre.

We then idled to some woodland to have a walk.

We then idled (quite quickly) away again after noting the used condoms, cigarette ends, and men sat in cars (possibly after all having chosen to eat their lunch in that particular woodland car park at that particular time but were all too embarrased to get out of their cars... Maybe.).

We then parked up in a layby and idled down a bridlepath in search of either a railway line or giant spiders. I forget which.

We then followed the signs to the aztec maize maze at Tully's Farm, but the £7 entry fee directed us away from the ritual sacrifice and up towards the farm shop instead.

The following occured:
Mmmm, milkshake.
Mmmm, gingerbread.
Mmmm, iced vanilla coffee.
Awww, fluffy bunnies and goats in the air.
Mmm, fresh corn on the cob.

Much better.

And then we found a fiver.

A good random tour into deepest darkest Sussex.

- - - - - - -

* "So near"
"So close"
So unreadable as the train flew past...

Pirate Anniversary

The second anniversary of the terrible three's pirate flash mob has reignited my enthusiasm for blogging again after the 'great crash'.

Let there be life to this domain.