Beware of geeks bearing gifts

Well, as sort-of promised, here’s a calmer, more detailed report on my general goings on than my psychotic rant on Monday. I’m still mightily miffed though, so don’t think that that’s over. But, hey, I’m guessing everybody’s a bit confused about what to do, since the government misleadingly said “it’s over but not really”. Hopefully my regular pub will post this weekend that they’re back open again at lunchtime next week. If not, then there’s one in town that I used to go to which seems positive about such changes. I want so very little in life, but the universe seems intent on making that little thing difficult. Sigh.

So, apart from all that alcoholic drama, I haven’t posted anything in a few months because… well… I’m not sure why. I guess I’ve just not felt very creative. It happens. I’ve not been too busy or anything, so I can’t use that as an excuse. My birthday was as dull as you can imagine. It basically involved getting drunk and eating curry alone. No presents, apart from a £30 voucher from mum, which went on a few DVDs. Basically, I had to treat myself, so I put an order in with the Gordon Smith guitar company for a custom built Les Paul-style which, because they’re a British-based company, wasn’t as expensive as you’d expect (no import duty!). They estimated that it’ll be ready in twelve weeks, so I’ve got roughly another month to wait. You can’t imagine how excited I am! I’ll try and do a video gear review once it’s arrived, depending on how confident I feel about having my whole tubby form be on-screen. Speaking of guitars, the Rickenbacker I bought over Christmas actually works now. I don’t know whether it was because I bought it during winter and maybe it was stored improperly, but the strings seem to have risen on the fretboard, making it playable. Perhaps the wood contracted/expanded or something. Anyway, It’s a relief, as it’d been collecting dust for months and months while I waited for the music shop to open so I could get it repaired. Now there’s no need, and it sounds great!

Oh I also treated myself to the fifteenth anniversary boxset of British Sea Power’s debut album, The Decline of British Sea Power. It was around the £100 mark, but it was totally worth it. There are some nice vinyl editions in there, which I won’t be able to play until… you guessed it!... I sort out a vinyl record player. Let me know if there are any brands/models you can recommend. Here’s my little video tour of the boxset, with commentary:

I’ve gotten into American Dad recently, as I ran out of Family Guy episodes in that boxset. The quality of American Dad is far more consistent than Family Guy’s, but it obviously doesn’t have Stewie Griffin in it, which will hamper even the best television show. Roger was fun at first, but he seems to have become the show’s antagonist now, so I feel unsafe whenever he’s on-screen. A far cry from the loveably camp alcoholic he started out as! Steve’s great, and it’s amusing how the creators like to get him and his friends naked as much as possible. Not awkward at all. I watched the first Critters film last night, having bought the 1-4 set years ago. I’d forgotten how adorable Scott Grimes, the voice of Steve, was in it. Shame about his grotesque mullet in Critters 2, but hey-ho. So, yes, apart from the brief break I’m taking at the moment, I’m really enjoying American Dad and hope to crack on with it asap.

I’ve not been into films much recently, although I think that’s about to change. I’ve dug out a pile of discs to watch, so maybe my sitcom-only viewing schedule will diversify over the weekend. The boxsets for the Rome and Spartacus TV series just arrived, so I’ve got those to work through. I’ve been meaning to watch these two unrelated shows for a while, but was concerned they’d be a bit too macho for me. We shall see.

It’s been super-hot this week, but that’s no surprise for this time of year. I’m having to sleep without a duvet, but with a pile of towels beneath me instead (to soak up the perspiration). I’m not a fan of the sun, needless to say. An additional negative side-effect of such weather is that all the locals become noisier than usual. As they say, “Only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun”. It’s true. It’s really, really true. Although dogs are usually better behaved than the scum who live around me. Harsh, but true.

I’ve finally had enough of my gaming buddy, who I’ve removed from my phone and console friends list. He’s been a pretty rubbish friend over the past year and a half, and things don’t seem to be improving. He claims to be too busy at the moment, but he still lives at home, isn’t paying rent, doesn’t have a job and has no other hobbies besides gaming. So I’m dubious. I think I’ve become “that mate who doesn’t mind being blown off, so he’s at the bottom of the priority list”. Nah, not on my watch. He finally noticed today that I’d unfriended him and messaged me about it, but I’ve not responded. I’m done. I foresee a lonely life ahead of me, but I’m finally coming to peace with that. Just so long as the frigging pubs open properly.

Well, I think I’ve come to the end of this post. There’s little to look forward to at the moment, so my send-off will probably be pretty muted. I sincerely hope that my next post will include a photograph of my first pint back in the pub, but I’ve said that quite a few times over the past year and a quarter, I’m sure.

Oh wait, I think it is my Audible credit day today, so at least I’ll be able to download a new audiobook. There. See? It’s not all negative. I think I’ll spend my credit on the eighty hour translation of Plutarch’s Parallel Lives of the Noble Greeks and Romans, which guarantees to be a hoot.

Anyway, do stay in touch, darlings.

Toodles!