Have and Update.

I want to write something profound and meaningful, but I'm afraid I have no point to make. I'm slowly working on writing up the rest of my adventures in America, it's slow work (which I may not actually finish). This is easier. I can't do that trip justice. 

I went to the Olympics though. That was fun. Totally crazy with the amount of people there, I saw Holland-Argentina in the Hockey finals. It was a pretty good match. The Dutch crowd was insane, especially since they won. GB got a bronze medal so I saw them on the podium at least. 

We had lunch that day at the Southbank in London, it's such a wonderfully hip place with the galleries and the people and the street art. The amazing espresso I had also added to the things I love about that area. For the first time ever I could actually see myself spending more than just a weekend in London, there is always so much going on it's kind of overwhelming. 

So after that trip my camera was basically full and I realised I hadn't been through any of the photos I've taken since around March, which is totally shit. I am a bad person. But as a result of that I found a load of fairly old photos which sent me on a whole variety of different trips down various Memory Boulevards and Avenues. I might post some of them on here or on DeviantArt but I'm still undecided. Oh well. There's your update guys.

Peace <3

Water Sports and Caffeine Hits

Two full days in Minneapolis. Saturday was pretty chilled by the pool all afternoon. Then there was a party. No booze but it was great to see most of the family. Plus there was cake. Today was a little more adventurous. Sailing and kayaking on the lake was very fun. Especially when it's so warm, swimming in the lake was lovely and refreshing.
So after the lake there was a bit of a BBQ at Wendy's, but I left early to go to a gig with Ashley. I'd never heard of youth lagoon, I just wanted to get out and have some fun. Unfortunately the show was sold out. At a loss for what to do we went for coffee. Needless to say I am wired due to the free doubles I got. It wasn't quite the evening I had planned but a good conversation with Ashley followed by a pretty hilarious laddy ride home with John and his mate almost made up for the lack of a gig. Still Ashley said we would get to a gig before I leave. Hope it happens. If not I will have to take her someplace in Manchester if she comes over.

I've got one more day in Minneapolis before heading up north to the lake for a few days. Should be more chilled bit equally as fun. Though I doubt there will be Internet.

Peace.

So it Begins

Happy birthday to me!
It's a good job I'm not superstitious as my birthday falls on Friday the 13th way too often.

This birthday is a strange one as I am currently spending it in the cafe Nero in Manchester airport. To Minneapolis and the mid-west! Assuming I make my Philly connection. It all should be fine unless US immigration decide to take their sweet ass time. (Not likely right?) Either way by virtue of time zones I'll have a 30 hour long birthday. All the more time to enjoy being old.
Except I'm not at all old. It's also cousin Graces birthday today so a celebration is in order when I get off the plane.
I'm hoping to write about most of my experiences over the next two weeks whether they be celebratory or not. Though publishing online may be tricky I will update whenever I get the chance.

Peace <3

See Ya Later Summer.

Well that's it. The summer is over. At least the blue skies and 30 degree heat is gone, and probably wont return save maybe a week in August or September. But really it is the start of the summer. Most uni people have gone home or are going home this week, and the last of the infamous 5th Avenue Wednesday's is tonight. 

I'm glad I stuck around for a couple of weeks after exams finished though. I feel way closer to a whole bunch of uni people because of it. I know so many awesome people and it feels great. 

Gonna cut this post short as I am already late for yet another clothes shopping sesh. Hopefully will actually buy something unlike yesterday. 

Mucho love. x

Birthdays and Philosophy.

I was home this weekend. My dad is 50. We went to Ramsons and had a fucking great meal with even better wine. Then drank whiskey and ate chocolate cake. I love being home.

Whilst sitting up till about 2am with my dad we ended up talking about Camus and absurdism. It is amazingly interesting. I only own one of his books - "The Plague" but I haven't read it yet, awkwardly it is sat on my shelf at uni. As such I am going to read it as a break from revision later this week, and as soon as I can I intend to read the myth of siphysus as well. No doubt there will be more blogs with a more philosophical emphasis incoming.

Peace.

Happiness is Insomnia

I wanted to write a blog whilst in the library earlier today. I deemed it inappropriate to pause revision to do so.

So now its 2am and my exam is in 7 and a half hours. I cannot sleep. I've had a series of deep conversations. And I realised a couple of things.
1. I am actually quite a friendly person
2. I have a decent understanding of people.
3. Buddha knew how to be happy.
4. I kinda suit a beanie.

All these things make me pretty happy and as such I intend to act upon these realisations from now on. Mostly just generally talk to people more. In a beanie. Happiness is good yeah.

Peace and love etc.

An Untitled Poem.

A casual remark sparks talk
simple words
words I have dreamt to hear
for months.
"Hello how are you doing?
I'm doing all these wonderful things in my life" she said.
Cool arty things mostly,
I admire the talent.
Those horrible angry arguments seem
so trivial, so futile.
This is both deep and small talk,
words read in your voice.
Though I am ever cautious
A slight mistake
throw me to the dogs and destroy
Maybe this is why we fell apart?

Manchester & Movies

So I'm back in Manchester. And it was sunny today. Nothing like walking down Oxford Road in my shades eh? 
It's weird being back at Uni though. Coursework is done and its time to crack on with exam revision. There's a lot I need to go over but it all should be fine. Just got to spend less time pissed., which shouldn't be too hard since I'm yet to see half my flat mates. Less people to encourage me to the pub.


In other news I watched a film called Down In The Valley the other day. It had Edward Norton (Fight Club) and Evan Rachel Wood (Across the Universe) in it. They are like two of my favourite actors ever and they really worked well together. It was one of those weird films that people like Norton always seem to do. It really just put me in a space. I just sat there for about twenty minutes after it had finished. It's definitely one of my favourite films. 

Ramblings on writing. Plus Kerouac.

So I was going to write some deep and meaningful poetry because well, I'm just that cool and haven't written much in a while. But then I got distracted designing this blog (isn't it pretty) and now all those deep thoughts have skipped away to the back of my mind, not to be discovered for a while. 
Which is a shame. But oh well. 


Slightly unrelated I have just noticed my copy of 'On the Road' sat across my room begging to be read. It is such a wonderfully written book it almost makes me sad to finish it. Just let me read Kerouac forever please? 


I promise actual semi-serious writing will come soon. Probably poetry but you never know. 


Peace.  

"Don't Try" - Bukowski

A person very dear to me once mentioned in passing that I would probably like Bukowski. (He's a poet) A quick search and a cursory read of about two poems piqued my interest, but due to short attention and the rush of life his poetry was pushed to the back of my mind. 
That was until a random encounter in the Deansgate Waterstones. His worn inquisitive  monochrome face stared at me from the cover of his book - "The Pleasure of the Damned". I instantly recognised the name, and memories flooded back to me of that dear person. So after around 20 minutes flicking through this book and debating whether I actually had the funds, I just had to buy it. 


His poetry reminds me of people I don't want to meet, but may end up becoming. Rough. Poor. Desperate. Old. There are only faint glimmers of happiness in five hundred pages of beautifully tainted words. 


My friend was right. 

Music and Not-Kony.

I was going to write a big old essay about Kony 2012 with detailed thoughts and stuff. But then I thought fuck it, nobody wants to hear it. At least not right now. So instead I am going to talk about shit.


Shit is great.


Good, now I am sat here listening to a great dude called Franco & The Dreadnought. First saw him at a spontaneous indie gig in the northern quarter. Cos I'm so hipster, I just like, turned up on the door and walked in, didn't care who was playing. Anyway. He's awesome. Here's a link: https://www.facebook.com/FrancoDreadnought


Also. He reminds me of a really REALLY happy time. But fuck that story for tonight.

A quick glance at the near future.

It feels like the night before the last day of term back in primary school. That building excitement, the sun shining, the knowledge that a really damn good time is about to be had. The only difference is I have to come back for three days next week. If I am alive.
Tomorrow should be a relatively standard Wednesday night out. Fifth avenue of course, though it seems like an age since I was last there. Then a quick 12 hours to recover before getting on the train with a lot of very dear old friends to show Lancaster how us manc lads party. Cos I'm such a LAD. No doubt it will be hilarious.
All in all it should be a wonderful few days. Cannot wait and life is looking good.

Insomniac Apps

I am fearful that my caffeine addiction and insomnia go hand in hand. Durr. So I have found myself a blogger app. You know what means oh silent void? More posts. More of the time. Not that they will improve in quality. If anything future posts will be more spontaneous and crap. Oh well.

Late Night Rambles.

So and so sat discussing life, contemplating existence in a totally hippy way. Outside people were drinking heavily - pub crawls are bad for my liver and my social life. Especially in this city. From just across the hall comes the familiar chaotic sounds of war. How peculiar that the simulated murder of Arabs or Nazis or Russians or Vietnamese is so addictive to teenage boys. 
In a short while a whistle blows from down the hall, a familiar but unnameable tune. The sound of cooking at such a strange hour: the joys of insomniac flat mates. You can never be lonely. Until they fuck off on a weekend adventure. Bastards.   

Conker

A conker. In March.

Photography

So I've decided to really push myself to do more photography. I'm feeling rather inspired to the point where I am basically taking my camera everywhere. Its really fun. Here is a photo from a couple of weeks ago of one of my best ever friends :) 

Kony

So there is a lot of hype about Kony this week. And I am all for it. In fact I am all for anything that raises awareness about any kind of injustices in the world (cos I'm so right on like that). The only thing that worries me about this is the implications of funding the Ugandan military, and really all the emphasis on Uganda.

It seems to me that the LRA are not just a problem for Uganda (I've even read they aren't even active in Uganda much any more) but for all the countries in that reigon - South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic. 

I just think  people should think not just about "getting Kony" but about all the other issues and the bigger picture in that part of the world. Nothing is black and white. 

I should emphasise that I am entirely against Kony and everything he has done for the last 26 years. But don't expect all the problems to go away when he does. 

Help the children. Stop the violence. Peace guys. 

Sherlock.

So I like being back at home for a couple reasons. For one I can watch Sherlock again (which is brilliant) on a nice big TV and also in HD. Which is quite epic. Also I can sit in a nice big room on my laptop at the same time. YAY WIFI! I really should sort that back at the flat. 

Oh and also the chop is 10 minutes away. Always a bonus. And deserves its own post some other time. 

Bonjourno

Decided to really kick this blog into motion. I'm going to attempt to make my small little life seem vaguely interesting. Even if nobody reads it. Call it dumb, its therapeutic. And something to do with all the free time I have what with being a student and shit.