Welcome to 06
So 2006 is here in all its glory. For once it is actually fairly glorious as well. I start my new job (all being well with referees and medical checks) in less than a week, joining the ranks of the permanently employed for the first time... ever. I'll be earning slightly less than I did at CITB, but not by a huge amount, meaning that with any luck I'll be able to get back to a semblance of a decent financial foothold soon enough. I'm not quite out of the woods, but I can see light through the trees up ahead.
Looking backwards, I had quite a full and enjoyable Christmas and New Years, despite some interesting times. I headed down to Kent with Vicki for a week over Christmas, spending the holiday with her parents. This meant I was present for her brother's wedding, such as it was. I agree with Vicki's view of her brother- he's easily led astray, and doesn't really have much of a personality of his own. It's pretty clear the situation's been forced through by the bride's mother. I can almost hear the conversation:
'Mum?'
'Yes, dear?'
'I- I've got some news... it's good news-'
'Well, what is it?'
'I'm pregn-'
'Pregnant? Wonderful! Mark's the father, isn't he?'
'Well, yes-'
'So when are you getting married? The 23rd is good for me. It'll be at Battle Baptist, yes? I'll talk to the priest and get it all sorted. Oh, I'm so happy for you.'
...And so on, and so forth. It all went pretty smoothly, all told. There were no blaring rows on the day itself (though discussions alternated between heated and frosty the evening before, when Mark and Izzy turned up for dinner), and the reception was enjoyable, if a little reminiscent of a school disco held in a venue similar to the White Room at Echos.
Over the eight days down there I came to the view that the fundamental difference between Vicki's family and my own (aside from the fundamentalism) was in their method of discussion. Whereas my family and friends have always, when faced with differences of opinion, searched for a common ground through civil discussion, it appears the Hirst household tends towards arguing until someone gets their own way. I can see entirely Vicki's view that she doesn't like to return there too often- while her parents (and brother) are decent enough people, I can imagine they would really start to grate after a while.
Given all that, however, a good time was had. I consumed a lot of good food, received a significant amount of booze and a Megatokyo hoodie (a little on the large side, but very comfortable and very warm) for Christmas, met up with Rob and Lauren in London as the sales kicked into high-gear, and befriended the house cat.
We returned to Loughborough on the 29th, and I think it's safe to say I haven't quite got back to situation normal yet. The PC has been playing up again- random and frequent crashes, mainly due to the WinXP partition being too small and too fragmented. The first paycheque will sort that (new HDD here I come!), though it's just a question of keeping it together until then. I don't want to do a full system rebuild now only to have to do it again in a couple of weeks.
New Years was at Rich Howard's place this year, a rather nice abode that suffers only from being the exact furthest point from everyone else in Loughborough. Booze and food were taken- once again I made vlammetjes (a little spicier than last time, the Conimex-brand Sambal is a little more potent), and once again they went down rather well. Graeme got incredibly drunk (as is his forté), though thankfully this time round didn't vomit profusely or make a fool of himself, and did come home when we suggested it (though it was amusing to watch him periodically forget we were waiting for a taxi and stumble off down the road). I failed to get drunk, going straight from tipsy to hung-over and headachey, which I blame on the atmosphere- a little too hot and too close with so many people in a confined space. Still, it was a good night, and it was great to see everyone again.
Looking to this time next year, I'm pretty much sold on spending next Christmas and New Year in The Hague for a change- now all I have to do is convince my parents of the same. :) I reckon I can probably make a killing on flights if I book early enough again and keep an eye out for speial offers- while I'd like to head over around Easter too it's looking a little pricy ATM, though I might try for a September break again.
Also started looking at new accomodation too- it seems a three-person professional let is probably the way to go, it'd probably even work out cheaper than the student place we're currently in, and is likely to be less of a dump. The only issue is finding somewhere closer to time at a decent price and in a decent location- I don't want a half-hour walk to the bus stop every morning if I can help it.
Tonight, however, it's food and movies- the plan is we're off to see The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe...
Song of the Day: Genesis by VNV Nation- getting an awful lot of loop-play...
Looking backwards, I had quite a full and enjoyable Christmas and New Years, despite some interesting times. I headed down to Kent with Vicki for a week over Christmas, spending the holiday with her parents. This meant I was present for her brother's wedding, such as it was. I agree with Vicki's view of her brother- he's easily led astray, and doesn't really have much of a personality of his own. It's pretty clear the situation's been forced through by the bride's mother. I can almost hear the conversation:
'Mum?'
'Yes, dear?'
'I- I've got some news... it's good news-'
'Well, what is it?'
'I'm pregn-'
'Pregnant? Wonderful! Mark's the father, isn't he?'
'Well, yes-'
'So when are you getting married? The 23rd is good for me. It'll be at Battle Baptist, yes? I'll talk to the priest and get it all sorted. Oh, I'm so happy for you.'
...And so on, and so forth. It all went pretty smoothly, all told. There were no blaring rows on the day itself (though discussions alternated between heated and frosty the evening before, when Mark and Izzy turned up for dinner), and the reception was enjoyable, if a little reminiscent of a school disco held in a venue similar to the White Room at Echos.
Over the eight days down there I came to the view that the fundamental difference between Vicki's family and my own (aside from the fundamentalism) was in their method of discussion. Whereas my family and friends have always, when faced with differences of opinion, searched for a common ground through civil discussion, it appears the Hirst household tends towards arguing until someone gets their own way. I can see entirely Vicki's view that she doesn't like to return there too often- while her parents (and brother) are decent enough people, I can imagine they would really start to grate after a while.
Given all that, however, a good time was had. I consumed a lot of good food, received a significant amount of booze and a Megatokyo hoodie (a little on the large side, but very comfortable and very warm) for Christmas, met up with Rob and Lauren in London as the sales kicked into high-gear, and befriended the house cat.
We returned to Loughborough on the 29th, and I think it's safe to say I haven't quite got back to situation normal yet. The PC has been playing up again- random and frequent crashes, mainly due to the WinXP partition being too small and too fragmented. The first paycheque will sort that (new HDD here I come!), though it's just a question of keeping it together until then. I don't want to do a full system rebuild now only to have to do it again in a couple of weeks.
New Years was at Rich Howard's place this year, a rather nice abode that suffers only from being the exact furthest point from everyone else in Loughborough. Booze and food were taken- once again I made vlammetjes (a little spicier than last time, the Conimex-brand Sambal is a little more potent), and once again they went down rather well. Graeme got incredibly drunk (as is his forté), though thankfully this time round didn't vomit profusely or make a fool of himself, and did come home when we suggested it (though it was amusing to watch him periodically forget we were waiting for a taxi and stumble off down the road). I failed to get drunk, going straight from tipsy to hung-over and headachey, which I blame on the atmosphere- a little too hot and too close with so many people in a confined space. Still, it was a good night, and it was great to see everyone again.
Looking to this time next year, I'm pretty much sold on spending next Christmas and New Year in The Hague for a change- now all I have to do is convince my parents of the same. :) I reckon I can probably make a killing on flights if I book early enough again and keep an eye out for speial offers- while I'd like to head over around Easter too it's looking a little pricy ATM, though I might try for a September break again.
Also started looking at new accomodation too- it seems a three-person professional let is probably the way to go, it'd probably even work out cheaper than the student place we're currently in, and is likely to be less of a dump. The only issue is finding somewhere closer to time at a decent price and in a decent location- I don't want a half-hour walk to the bus stop every morning if I can help it.
Tonight, however, it's food and movies- the plan is we're off to see The Lion, Witch and Wardrobe...
Song of the Day: Genesis by VNV Nation- getting an awful lot of loop-play...
posted by Union Jackal at 1:16 pm
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