I'm back in Manchester now, always good to be home, however good the trip away was.

Spent time with the clan, visited my baby sister's new house (which is a bigger version of ours), ate way too much, played loads of games, and recovered a card-full of games & books from my old room at my folks' place.

Christmas present highlights include the Firefly boxed set, some CDs (Grand Magus, Alchemist & Rainbow), a new boardgame (Mythgardia), and a Geki Gear T-Shirt. Plus, my parents bought us a table cloth for our gaming room, which is no mean feat, given it's size.

Upon returning, it has transpired that the BIOS on this very PC has mostly died, and I daren't re-start her less it be terminal. A plan has been hatched to salvage the case, drives & peripherals, and build a new machine. Alas this wipes out a significant chunk of my Christmas bonus, since I was planning a new machine in a year's time anyway. Oh well.

PS - Happy Christmas Live Journal Friends!!!!

Hope you've all had a good one and also have a great New Years Eve next week!!!!!!!!!!!

You may have guessed from the cinema post a few moments ago, but I'm currently in London for a few days.

Heading off to Serbia at 6am Tuesday morning (which means being at Heathrow at 4am....eeeek!) but am in the big smoke until then :)

Thinking about going to the 10am showing of Avatar in 3D at the North Finchley Vue Saturday morning. Text/ping me if interested :)

A very merry Christmas to you all from the frozen depths of a snowey, sunny dawn here in the midst of Lancashire.

God bless and may the fire of peace, love, compassion and understanding burn within us all.

Yay for the new Christmas number one.
I'm sure Simon Cowell is still laughing all the way to the bank, but to have a decent and non-schmaltzy Christmas number one is brilliant. By way of celebration, check out this quick video. Sadly it didn't happen, but please let us work together over the next year to do this to Buckingham Palace next year.



As the MTV late night music channels have been playing non-stop Christmas songs since November, I have seen nothing interesting on them at all. It is hard enough to avoid 'Last Christmas' my most hated Christmas song and 'So here it is Merry Christmas' which I also loathe (mainly as you always hear it being sung by drunken arseholes).

However, this video (not the song) is worth a look due to a certain amount of cleverness.
Strangely it inspired me with an idea for a new board game. Sheesh, I need to get a life.

They've disabled embedding so you'll have to look here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qT4t99xnkQ0&NR=1

Finally, this video from Lily Allen for all the Elton John fans also amuses me.
(although the same embedding embargo is in place)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbDMUijBP2U&feature=related

Another comic adaptation hits the big screen... not the pansy Marvel type though so if you don't like foul language and violence then I wouldn't click on the link to watch the trailer :p

Dinner-time update 4tW!

Well, the mad run-up to Christmas continues.

Every year, I find myself with not *quite* enough time it seems. Always just one day sort of having everything I want, ready.

On Saturday, I was ID’ed under the “Challenge 25” initiative. That is that I, a week-and-a-half shy of my 31st birthday, apparently look under 25.

All this snow we’ve been having is awesome! I’ve not seen it snow so much since the big freeze at the end of 96/start of ’97. That said, I did manage to actually fall this morning, crossing an icy side-road. My elbow hurts :(

Still some cake left at the Progatorium for all visitors, so don’t be shy.

So, three days until Christmas
Seven days until my birthday
Nine days until NYE
Seventeen days until Winter Stabcon
Five weeks until littletinwench’s birthday

I love this time of year!

And, because of that:

(Link for people reading on Failbook)

It's snowing here in Manchester :D
I've done most of my Christmas shopping, though one particular gift is proving difficult to buy for no adequately explored reason.

The last few weeks have been completely insane, but it's mostly been fun and the doctors now know what's wrong with my shoulder. Also big thank-you *hugs* to all those who attended my birthday.

My tradition of baking a sugar-cake/Igor Bar for Christmas continues and there will be cake at the Progatorium from tomorrow for all visitors, you're all invited.

Plans are afoot for Winter Stabcon in three weeks if anyone needs a lift from Manchester.

And catching up, some music: Music link for those reading on Failbook

Right, finally got my festive plans sorted out.

I'm going to be in London from 24th December through to the early hours of the 29th December. Most of this is over the bank holiday period so will probably largely consist of family stuff but hopefully a cinema trip or two as well.

Then at 6am (way too early) I fly from Heathrow to Belgrade over in Serbia (via Zurich) to spend just over a week (and News Year Eve!) with Jasmina and her family and friends. Haven't seen Jasmina for over a year now so really looking forward to catching up - and also spending another New Year out of the country as I've not done that for a while!

I return to the UK on the evening of Thursday 7th January and will probably be back in the office on the Friday :p

Yay for Festive Holidays!

I'm going to be needing a new flatmate in late February/early March. I have a great flat here in Swindon and really don't want to move out. If anyone is interested in living in Swindon - or knows someone looking for a place in Swindon - please let me know!