Work hard, play hard and don’t forget to feed the cat!

Current Music = Rock & Roll Jesus by Kid Rock.

Had an incredibly busy weekend, After going out on Friday night, and sleeping most of Saturday, I spent Sunday daytime lazing about and then last night went out for a drink with Anita. Well, it started last night and ended this morning sometime around about 1.30. We went to the Fringe, but then transferred across the road to the Smithfield where, after a couple of pints, I transferred onto Vodka and Orange. We were chatting with the barmaid, who then informed us that last orders were at 10.30, but don’t worry too much about that . Whoo Hoo.

So, I got in at 2.30 after getting a cab. Now, the question arose as to getting the 5.20 train this morning, but sense prevailed and I caught the 8.15 instead.

Current Tune = All Summer Long by Kid Rock

Well this week should be interesting. Am in Lichfield on Monday/Tuesday, and in Royton on Friday, but back to Lichfield on Friday night. Will find out what I am doing on Wed/Thursday probably today. Oh well, makes life interesting.

One of the advantages of travelling by train is that, whilst you are sitting, you can do loads of stuff. Type, listen to music, charge your phone etc. My phone is a crappy thing that rarely, if ever, gets a signal when I am outside the centre of one of the UK’s major cities. It also goes through battery charge like a dose of syphilis going through a brothel. I have no idea why it won’t keep a charge, but invariably you can guarantee that, as soon as I need it, it will be flat. Luckily I have discovered that I can charge it through the laptop, so, as I am always on trains, I can usually get the dam phone charged at some point.

It’s quite funny on the train in the mornings. It’s obvious that some people like to sit in the same seat no matter what. They are edging towards the door even before the light goes on, they NEED to get on before anyone else in order to get that seat. It even gets to the occasion where they will push past someone in order to get to the seat. Oh well, bitter and twisted is what’s heading towards them in their old age. Me? I’ll be happy 

Current Tune = Closer by The Kings of Leon.

The Christmas markets have started in Manchester and, on Saturday I had a quick look round, for no other reason than to go “that’s expensive”, “Christ on a bike!” etc etc. The problem is, as I wax lyrical most years, is the damn thing has become too commercialised and there is no going back. Why the hell would a kid be happy with a hand made wooden toy when they are constantly being bombarded with adverts for the latest playstations and Wii’s etc.

It will be interesting this year to see how many retailers go bust come January/February. With the current financial crisis, I can see Jan – March next year being a very destructive 3 months, especially if the US Gov don’t bail out GM/Ford/Chrysler. The knock on effect will be massive, with potentially a cascade effect that could cause problems for hundreds of thousands of people.

Current Tune = Sex on Fire by The Kings of Leon.

Yesterday I just could NOT get warm, which is not like me at all. In the end I was wearing a T Shirt, a shirt, a fleece and, when I went out I put on a lumberjack jacket as well, and I was still cold. I only warmed up after a few drinks. THEN I was sweltering and had to take layers off to keep cool..lol..Oh well, maybe it shows I am getting older. Years ago I could walk round in the coldest temps wearing just a T shirt.

Current Music = City of Chicago by Christy Moore.

This morning is bright, sunny and very cold. Fab morning. Makes you want to go walking on the side of a mountain…..eh? Did I just say that? Christ I must be going soft in my old age. It makes you want to head off down to the pub for a nice lunch and a few beers. Sod the mountain. No matter how many times I walk up and down it. It’s not going to get any smaller!

Current Tune = I want to see the Bright Lights Tonight by Richard & Linda Thompson.

We are just arriving into Crewe. Anyone who has ever read any of this crap will realise the opnion I have of Crewe. Once upon a time it was a major hub with regard to the railway, these days there is not much it has to offer. Even the station looks like it has been cobbled together from the Victorian era, the Georgian era, some 1920’s stuff and a nice healthy dose of 1970’s plastic! Oh, and a large number of breeze blocks!

Current Music = Come as you Are by Nirvana.

Ok, Christy Moore followed by Richard and Linda Thompson is probably as much folky music as you would want at 8.54 on a Monday morning. I decided I needed rockier stuff so we switched to Nirvana for a few minutes, however, given the bit of a hangover after last nights drinking, I can’t help thinking that we may be switching to some Stone Roses fairly quickly. It’s a good job I switched to Vodka and Orange rather than carry on with the beer, otherwise I would still be in bed. I love beer, but the hangovers are terrible. Not as bad as wine however. The magic bed ride after drinking loads of wine is something I don’t miss.

Current Music = Sweet Child o Mine by Guns N Roses.

Ok. I lied about the Stone Roses, and we went for some headbangy stuff. Not that headbanging on a train is to be encouraged as you get some very strange looks from the little old lady who got on at Crewe. She is the spitting image of a Campbell’s Soup Lady. Tarten Skirt, blue rinse, speaking with a slight Scottish accent and talking about pheasants and partridges.

Speaking of game, as we were, in a sort of way. The old Beer House that I used to work at is now some trendy café bar/pub restaurant. The barmaid in last nights pub was telling us about the food. One of the BIG dishes was 7 different types of game including Pigeon and squirrel. Now, given the fact that one should try anything once, I can’t help feeling that a visit may be on the cards.

I used to be a member of “The Dangerous Food Club” so I have no fears when it comes to trying stuff. Mind you, I think I might balk at eating one of those giant sluggy things they have in Australia (no I don’t mean Kendrick), I mean one of those larva things that Aborigines eat when they are looking under rotting tree logs for stuff to keep them alive in the bush. Then again, these days you will probably find some American Fast Food twat has opened a restaurant and is selling the bugs for 50 times their cost, and said Aborigine has to have it with fries!

Current Tune = November Rain by Guns & Roses.

Oh well..Time to go. Maybe add more later, depends on how I feel and if the hangover has gone. Problem is, working away, you just end up going for a beer, and top it up again. Might spend this evening on diet coke as it’s been a bit of a heavy weekend. Try and remove some of the toxins from my body 

We are just pulling onto Stafford so we will be in Lichfield in about 12 minutes. Least there have been no delays. We are coming up to the suicide month when people tend to top themselves on a regular basis on the line. Makes every trip an adventure. I am now so used to travelling by train, that I don’t even consider this shocking, merely an inconvenience. How sick is that???