Category Archives: Life

London trip

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I got invited to another London trip by ‘the one’ Elton, to the race of champions in Wembley stadium no less. I actually hated London but that was before I actually visited. The last time I went was probably I believe Sept, or Nov last year. I caught a train from Leeds down to Kings Cross. Then the tube station to Covent Garden.

It was late in the evening and I was catching the lift out of the Covent Garden tube station to the main streets. That is when I fell in <3 with London, or more accurately Covent Garden. This late in the evening in my home town the streets would have been dead even in the center. But as I came out onto the main streets, I was like wow where am I. The streets where well lit, people walking all around and the air filled with music playing. I walk down the cobbled road and there are restaurants, bars, shops etc all around. Brilliant atmosphere.

It was my first time there so I called the hotel to ask them how to get to the Strand Hotel. I was given instructions but I have to admit I couldn’t figure out which way I was to go. I caught a rickshaw, these are driven by a guy on a cycle who took me there. I figured later it was only a few minutes walk from the Covent Garden tube station.

Anyway this time round I didn’t need to stay a few days and I decided to have a go at driving there rather than catching the train. I wanted to find out the cost difference and also how easy it is to do. Well my findings showed that price wise it costs more, this is mainly due to the cost of fuel. Parking is incredibly very affordable at Cockfosters railway station, its only a few pounds for 1 days parking. The convenience factor of driving can’t be beaten, although tiring. I was able to leave London very late without worrying about missing the last trains when changing.

On my arrival we were to meet up at Baker Street. Since I was over an hour early. I headed straight to Covent Garden : ) I’m quite a pro catching the tubes. Yes I know its simple but I know how to get around thanks to the expert guidance of Londoner Elton. Even if I do catch the wrong train, I can quickly re-coup and get on the right track. I’m quite confident making my way around. Walking at street level is a different matter. As long as I’m near a tube station I’m ok. I have to admit I don’t know the shortcuts at street level to get to another place quicker.

When I arrived at Covent Garden station I was listening out for the languages people speak. I’m quite intrigued specially when traveling, listening to accents and the different types of languages and trying to guess where they are from. German and Dutch I struggle with, French, Italian and Spanish I can figure out, oh and Polish, don’t get me wrong I haven’t a clue what they’re saying but I can roughly guess country of origin. Its fun when traveling through European airports and works well in London due to the tourists who visit.

Exiting Covent Garden station the streets were full of people, it was a Sunday. All the shops were open, music was playing in the streets. As I walked around the smell of food from the restaurants was aroma in the air. I noticed tourists ranging from Germany to Japan. I noticed a French family too. Lots of things where happening around, there was a market in the main square selling lots of over priced things. I saw a cheese stall there too, it had all sorts of cheeses. I was surprised to see that some of the stall holders were accepting credit cards, well I suppose it is London.

It was a cold day and I knew as the day went on it would get colder. So I visited a few shops. Finally I found something quite kewl, in the GAP store. Funnily they couldn’t serve me as the store didn’t open its till on Sunday’s until 12. Which I found very unusual. I had to leave it behind as I had people to meet at Baker Street.

Ugh where did he go

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Yeah so where did Yas go ?

I’m very sorry people my blogging skills have started to suck more than usual. I was planning on ending this affair with my blog but a few people beat me to it. So I couldn’t do the same otherwise it would look like I’m copying them. I guess I left it too late.

Elton aka walking leaf expressed his issues with emagi.co.uk, he is committed to his own blog www.walkingleaf.co.uk deffo worth checking out. Janus did say he wouldn’t be keeping his site abaeterno.eu I hope he has a blogger account I enjoyed checking up on what he is up to. I was just checking out facebook quite a few of the emagi peeps are there, you should sign up.

I’m doing well and have been at my new job for months now. I have my good days and bad. The management there are freaking hilarious they come out with such funny stuff its unbelievable definitely helps with the mood there. The core management team have been working together for years so they know each other very well.

They come up with so many funny stories I’ll share a few because I’m struggling for things to write on this blog. Anyway, the last place the guys worked at, it was one of the girls birthday. This girl I have worked with before as she was a point of contact at the last place I worked. So as a present they decided to buy her a sex toy. Obviously she was a lil embarrassed to receive this, but knowing the guys she was working with it was obvious they would do something like this.

So when it was time to go home she was walking out with her friend. The guy in the office makes a phone call. Then starts rolling around with laughter unable to contain his pleasure at the deed he has committed.

She is walking past the check point and the random red light turns on, which means a full check has to be done of everything in pockets and in any bags. Her friend steps forward knowing the girls embarrassment at what might be found in what the girl is carrying. But the security guard asks her to move and wants to see what the girl has in her rucksack. Obviously he has been tipped off. He rummages through her bag pulls out the toy and lifts it up high so everyone who is leaving can see what he is holding and who he was searching when he found it.

From what I heard the girls face turned a bright red matching the red light which was still flashing. She turned around to look at the office and saw her colleagues rolling around in laughter.

What a team huh?

This other incident I was able to witness. As the guy who had tipped the security guard off, actually sits opposite me in this office. But his manager pulled one over him this time. Another person who works in the building for the customer who has white hair and a mustache, a very confident speaking guy. Asked the manager if he could have a picture of the guy who sits opposite me.

He wanted it because the guy who sits opposite me talks to people from the customers offices and one girl in particular thought he sounded like a nice guy and wanted to see what he looked like. So the manager who is the ultimate prankster said, hold on I’ll get you a picture of him but it will be tomorrow morning.

The next morning the manager walks in with a camera knowing full well the guy who site opposite me starts at the later shift. Following him was a big over weight balding warehouse worker.

“Here mate sit down over there and use the computer like you are doing some work” Said the manager.

The warehouse worker obliged and held his hands over the keyboard like he knew what he was doing. The manager snapped the picture and started laughing. He then told the office what he was doing and asked everyone to keep hush about it. He mentioned that the guy who sits opposite me had eaten his casserole two years ago and “time was a effin’ great healer”.

The guy who sits opposite me did find out later that day well after the picture had been sent. The girl sent back some kisses over the email, and he was ridiculed that the girl found the over wieght warehouse worker far more attractive than him.

He did say he wanted to do his hair and send a real picture of himself. But he didn’t do so, saying that she will be far more impressed when she sees him in person, as a much slimmer person and with more hair. The manager pointed out “Agh but with a smaller dick”. He did laugh at what had happened and has vowed that he would get the manager back for this ^_^

Don't forget your lunchbox

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lunchbox

Wonderful illustrations done by the amazing illustrator at www.tasteofrain.com

I’ve started my new job and have been working there for almost two months now. At my last job I didn’t need to pack a lunch as I could pop home to eat. Not so anymore. I must take a pack lunch.

Since I’ve started I’ve been on a steady diet of French cheese, crisps, chocolate and hot chocolate. Yeh lots of chocolate and I think my waist line is paying for it >_<

I’m trying to make amends, iterative amends, don’t want to go crazy you know.

I spend an hour traveling to work too in the morning due to the traffic. I didn’t have to before, although when I was doing jury service I didn’t mind traveling on the train. It meant I could read the newspaper and listen to music and I’d also get to run through part of town. That was kinda fun. But waiting for the train to turn up was very stressful.

I upgraded the sound in my car too. I thought I may as well enjoy the ride. I upgraded to a snazzy cd mp3 one. With line outs, means I can add some very big speakers in the boot if I wanted to later on.

I found some speakers I liked then checked on google to see if I could buy them cheaper and I did, lots cheaper. Very worth doing so, with google product search. I did fit them in myself, I did have some issues such as not being able to get the rear left speaker out due to insufficient access to the screws. Also the front left speaker terminals started touching the metal of the door on two occasions which just stopped all speakers from working. I taped the terminals up and its working.

All the speakers are JBL GTO series. I bought a huge amp too. But when I installed the new speakers and heard them. They were very freaking loud. The thought of installing the amp instilled fear into me. I don’t want them any louder!

The speakers give nice bass tones and I clicked the switch to make the tweeters +3dB. Which means they give a lot of tingly snare noise too. It sounds very hip. Having so many mp3s on a disk is very kewl too. I can also plug in my iPod, but I have not tried this yet. It does keep me entertained when I’m driving at 5mph stuck in traffic I feel quite relaxed : )

I'm struggling to write on this blog…

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Big Red Heart

I’m struggling to write on this blog. Probably the lack of writing anything for so long hasn’t helped. But it isn’t because nothing has been happening. Quite the contrary but its not something I feel comfortable sharing.

I’d like to take you back to December, I’d just come back off Jury service which was super long 6 weeks, normally its only 2 weeks and is mandatory by law. My boss was very unhappy at me for going for the two weeks and when it turned out it would be longer I could feel things weren’t going to be the same. From my employees this was very wrong, as they are required legally to give me the time off. Even though I was on jury service I was still required to check my emails and come into work whenever I could.

I had been trying to leave from this company for quite some time. The work politics could be compared to those of a corrupt third world country, they sucked bad. The final straw was when I was given two weeks off at Christmas unpaid, due to the ‘lack’ of work. I started to apply straight away. Around Jan 15th one job I had applied for asked for a reference. My boss asked me if I had applied and why I wanted to leave. At that time he implied that he wouldn’t be sending any reference to the company (whether this was a joke or not I cannot be sure, it wouldn’t be out of character either way). It didn’t matter if he did or didn’t I had already found out I had not got that job, they weren’t smart enough and definitely wasn’t setting any markets on fire. Nevertheless it felt like a kick in the guts. Regardless ethically and I believe legally it was wrong of my employee not to provide a reference. Specially since I had been of service for so many years.

Anyway after I arrived back from Jury service my job role had changed. My office job was no longer and it was a kind of demotion in some respects. But I was paid the same and the stress was half the amount. I was put in charge of stock. Now the funny thing is anyone who has been in charge of stock has never lasted in this company. Its like the job one is given which you can’t win at and its almost a defamer role. I can handle these type of roles pretty easily as long as I’m learning something from it. Soon as I had mastered this role I wouldn’t stand to stay for one more minute.

As time went on and I was struggling to find other work. The boss at first appeared to be supportive. That I could stay as long as I wanted, I’d done good work for the company and he’d be supportive of my move. Slowly more pressure started to be applied giving me an ultimatum either quit or stay with us. Thing is a company can survive with the loss of a person, but for an individual although he would survive, I would learn that it would be a most horrid of time. It was also put to me the company had invested x amount of years in me and I owed something back. Even though the company may have invested in me, it was nothing compared to the time and dedication I had given back.

So when the ultimatum was put forward I tried to buy as much time as I could, and decided I would leave at the end of March whether I had work or not. End of March was significant for me, I had always promised myself I wouldn’t be doing this job come this time.

As time went on the only thing I had to do was look after the stock. And if one doesn’t have anything to do during free hours they don’t need to be in the company and thus saving the company a little dough. So one had to spend time picking over details and ensuring everything is ok. Its just how the mentally of the organization is.

The few months of work I had put in until I left would eventually give the company its best ever stock take result of 99.99% accuracy since they started doing stock takes there. Although I wouldn’t be around to witness the result. Congratulations would be sent out by management of the good work done and also well wishes from the director of our parent company.

After I had overly learned everything I could from every detail, carrying out this task and when the monotonous aspect of the job started to set in, with no chance of doing anything else. I decided to set a date and make my departure.

Shortly after this time I was approached by management from our parent company to come and work for them.

Happy Birthday Yas!

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I wish you the best
Picture by neh. Thanks so much : )

Yeh so umm its my birthday. And I err rock a lot harder than I did last year. But umm there’s no cake. I ate it all. Cos I like cake, specially chocolate cake. And the weather is awesome. Its nice and sunny. Probably cos its my birthday you see.

I told you I like chocolate cake. Thats why I got two. But if I ate one, then there is another one somewhere. Its around here…

I love cake.

I like candles too. Those magically ones. Which when you blow them out they light back up. First time around I was all o_O but I figured it. I’m smart too. Or I was when I was younger.

Did you miss me? cos I missed you. I didn’t go anywhere honest, I was still here. I had a few issues. Nothing health related. but it shot my confidence. And with that any artistic skill I may claim is the first to leave my side.

It sux I know, but it affects me, more than I’ve ever admitted before.

Summer is on its way. This means the tree’s will get their leaves back. Don’t you find something inherently strong about naked trees in the winter. They persevere through the cold. And so must we no matter how difficult it may seem.

Yay March the Party month

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I woke up blurry eyed. Caught the time and I was late. Damn alarm hasn’t gone off today. Slowly got out of bed and washed my face. Went down. No time to eat only drink something. Whilst I’m about to drink my tea I pull out my phone. I manage to catch the time.

Its showing an hour earlier than it should be…

I check the clock. Its showing an hour earlier too…

I’ve woken up an hour earlier. huh how about that. No wonder the alarm didn’t go off. I’ve got time to eat w00t.

So I eat, then think what to do. Yes going back to bed crossed my mind. But instead I eyed the xbox and played a bit of good ol’ need for speed. : )

Anyway you may have noticed my banner image for the month of March. I will hopefully keep this as a regular thing with a new banner image for each month. So come back just to check on the banner image ok.

Also March is a crazy month for Birthdays as I have mentioned long time ago. So many birthdays.

Cold train seats

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waiting for the train
Recently I have had to catch the train in the mornings and I must say its a sorry affair. Rarely have I seen a train arrive on time and when it does its a most joyous occasion. I feel like running to the nearest coffee stand and buying the conductor a chocolate muffin. Just to commerate and make the occasion more special than it already is. I mustn’t wallow though. Its not the staffs fault.

Whomever runs my towns train service, has no sense of timing or has plainly given up all hope. I mean what does it matter if a train is half an hour here or there. Or even if when it does arrive on time the condition of the tracks will surely cause the driver to tread so slowly that one feels like jumping off the train and running side by side in the hope of beating it to the next station.

Whilst the driver is worried about derailing the train. My mind wanders off into the western cowboy era. Where trains were once robbed by men on horseback and the train drivers tried desparatly to throw more coal into the engine to make it chug along faster. I can almost hear the trains ‘choo choo’. The trains in these old westerns certainly appear to be moving at a far more rapid pace than their modern equivalents.

This brings to my mind a scare crow tactic. What would happen if I got a couple of friends to chase after the train in a bravado ol’ western, on horse back, train robbing kind of way. Wouldn’t that make for a more entertaining morning.

Catching the train is one thing but the wait in the mornings is aweful. The poor conductor who’s, voice is ever apparent, apoligising for every late train. He would surely die young of a heart attack. It really is that rare something actually turning up on time. Which is probably why he wisely choose to record his voice and have it replayed for every train which isn’t on its track yet.

My final rant which tops it all off and surely has to be the icing on the cake, is the benches which are outside for the happy soon to be sad travellers. I have no idea which design guru was consultated in this decision but he should be commended. And his prize should be to have his trousers removed and be made to sit on these lovely steel ‘ub3r cold’ chrome finished bench, only until the next train arrives.

You see this bright guru, for reasons unknown to me, decided to use kewl looking metal benches. Now maybe this guru was frequent with back end action and needed to cool down his butt. Because coupled with the cold British weather and butt on steel the cooling action could be compared with the cooling action of heart burn medicine without the obvious happy effect. I’m not saying I’ve got a hot ass, well depends in which context.

I read in the paper the price of train tickets is going up which will make it the most expensive form of public transport. The extra money I believe won’t be put to improving services. But to more kewl looking steel benches for people to freeze their butts & wait for the next train.

Cute card

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Paid a visit to my friend who’s wife gave birth to a baby girl 22nd of July. I was looking for a ‘just born baby girl’ something generic, but I couldn’t find one. Whilst looking I stumbled upon this.
Kitten
“Congrats on the birth of your first baby girl, bundle of joy & sleepless nights.”

Emagi is born

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A bud of mine has been putting in a crazy amount of work behind an idea he has been coining around for a number of years. The end form is a collaborative blog which covers topics ranging from the news, sports, entertainment to gaming and anime. You should take a look at http://www.emagi.co.uk and add it to your rss feeds.

On other news I still haven’t posted up my holiday pics. I will do so soon as I have spare time. Currently I’m busy working away on the IPB forum for eternalblade. Its still in the design stages and coming along well. I’ll only be able to give a good estimate of completion once it goes into coding stages. I’m being quite particular about looks and functionality and don’t really want to compromise.

On personal news I received a letter on Saturday which stated due to an unfortunate illness my doctor would be retiring from his surgery on Monday. The envelope contained a list of other local doctors encouraging me to join up with. The doctor has been practicing locally for 37 years and he’s been my doctor for nearly 20 years. The story featured in the local newspaper although it was brief with news as the letter.
Its good to have a doc who you’ve known for so long. I wish him good luck and best of health :)

Ode to the nice guy/gal

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This is a tribute to the nice guys. The nice guys that finish last, that never become more than friends, that endure hours of whining and bitching about what assholes guys are, while disproving the very point. This is dedicated to those guys who always provide a shoulder to lean on but restrain themselves to tentative hugs, those guys who hold open doors and give reassuring pats on the back and sit patiently outside the changing room at department stores. This is in honor of the guys that obligingly reiterate how cute/beautiful/smart/funny/sexy their female friends are at the appropriate moment, because they know most girls need that litany of support. This is in honor of the guys with open minds, with laid-back attitudes, with honest concern. This is in honor of the guys who respect a girl’s every facet, from her privacy to her theology to her clothing style.

http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~jenf/writing/rant04.html

This is my tribute to the nice girls. To the nice girls who are overlooked, who become friends and nothing more, who spend hours fixating upon their looks and their personalities and their actions because it must be they that are doing something wrong. This is for the girls who don’t give it up on the first date, who don’t want to play mind games, who provide a comforting hug and a supportive audience for a story they’ve heard a thousand times. This is for the girls who understand that they aren’t perfect and that the guys they’re interested in aren’t either, for the girls who flirt and laugh and worry and obsess over the slightest glance, whisper, touch, because somehow they are able to keep alive that hope that maybe… maybe this time he’ll have understood. This is an homage to the girls who laugh loud and often, who are comfortable in skirts and sweats and combat boots, who care more than they should for guys who don’t deserve their attention. This is for those girls who have been in the trenches, who have watched other girls time and time again fake up and make up and fuck up the guys in their lives without saying a word. This is for the girls who have been there from the beginning and have heard the trite words of advice, from “there are plenty of fish in the sea,” to “time heals all wounds.” This is to honor those girls who know that guys are just as scared as they are, who know that they deserve better, who are seeking to find it.

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/phi/114087824.html