Wow, been a while!

Greetings The Internet! Sorry for the loooooong delay, I've been working liek a dog! However, I have now paid off my tuition fees for next year ^^ And I'm working on moving into somewhere as well soon with Friend James, who is a Lovelington. Anyhoo, I'm now a Fireman on a steam railway, which is...kind of a dream come true for me! Yay! :D Seriously, I've been dreaming of this job for several years now, and to have actually finally accomplished it is...amazing, to say the least! :) It's quite nice to know that if you try and you work at it, you actually can achieve your dreams and goals, even if you don't quite realise you're doing it... Have a photo! I promise I'll keep up the posts from now on! Peace out y'all! J x

New ZZ Top!

So ZZ Top, the bluesiest, filthiest, beardiest band ever to come out of have a new album out. Texicali is their first prper new album in 9 years, and I'd heard mixed things from over the Atlantic about it, as you tend to with new work after long breaks. Oh, but they still got it! The new album has some crackers on it, like "I gotsta Get Paid", which is based on a rap song by Fat Pat. It's low down, dirty and very ZZ Top! The whole thing feels more like the ZZ Top albums of the 1970s, the ones that make you feel like you're in a hot bar in the desert sweating into your beer whilst these bearded musical leviathans pour molasses into your ears. Or something. I like ZZ Top. Some of the tracks are slower and bluseier than others, but many of them are the head nodding grit that we all love from The Top. Go and buy it! Go and buy it now! Jx

Artefact Analysis?

Know what that is? I'll tell you. It's a ginger beer bottle. Well, part of a ginger beer bottle anyway. It's late nineteenth or early twentieth century, and it originally said "The Pier Mineral Water Company Bangor Stone Ginger Beer." How cool is that? Shush, I think it's cool! The website odds and codds is very interestng if you want to find stuff out about cool old bottles and things, after all, they're part of history too you know! :D Anyway, I was back at work for the first day since early June, and successfully didn't kill anyone or break anything! Yaaaaay! Right, time for a cup of tea and then bed methinks! Nos da! Jx

I'm back!

So I just spent nearly two months digging and working in Ireland and the Isle of Man. It was wet, windy and wonderful! Now back to real work (Agh!) and money (woohoo!) Now that I'm back I'm looking forward to an article I wrote in the Spring being printed next month (hopefully!) and also to getting myself a few more bits and bobs here and there if I can. So sorry about the absence, I shall now make up for it with a pair of 17th century trousers I found in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin last month:

I hope that helps. Ciao! x

Inspiration? We shall see!

Yo! Well, I'm working full time, sorting out my Master's degree for next year and having a mini quarter life crisis. ARGH EXISTENTIAL CRISES! O_O But despite all this, I have got a paper accepted for a conference, organised an illustrated talk for next month, and sorted meeting my girlfriend at the airport when she arrives in two weeks :) Productive? Maybe. But I think I can do more. Therefore: I shall! Never let anyone tell you that you have limits. They don't know your potential, they only know the limits of their own. Keep on pushing people's expectations, surprise them, and make them proud to know you. That's my plan. I shall let you know how it goes. peace and love to all! Jxx

Clockwork Radio Gig

Last night. I went to a gig in Rascals Bar, Bangor.

The bar itself is a decent sort of place, airy and larger than it looks from the outside. It used to be a bookshop.

The band playing was Clockwork Radio, a five-piece rock band with enough talent to put Mozart to shame. They don't play modern rock like they always play on the radio, all fringes, tight jeans and dull, repetitive ambient noise.

They make noise. Loud noise with guitars and pedals.

Bloody good music is what they play, with lyrics that have meaning, bass that rattles your lungs, and guitar that melts faces!

I took some photos (awful ones) with my phone (yes, that phone) and I have a shocking admission to make...

I've bought an album. Yes, it's that serious, go and listen to them now, because this kind of rock music is EXACTLY what the world needs to be hearing right now.

Love and hugs y'all!

JJ x

The Month Marches On

This is a sleepy human being you see before you. I need some earlier nights for this work (as my mother keeps reminding me at an annoying frequency).
It's tiring stuff being a railway guard, but it's mainly good fun :)

Apparently...there's now a 20% Value Added Tax on hot baked goods, including pies, pasties, cakes etc. Unless it's hot outside, because then the warmth of the goods will be the same or lower than the ambient temperature...um...ok...

Also, there MAY be a strike by petrol and diesel tanker drivers, so the government cleverly told everyone to panic and stock up on fuel. THe result: no fuel in garages anywhere...yay, well played.

Overall then, a bit of a bad week to be in Britain, because our elected representatives have clearly flipped their lids.

Still, love and hugs yo!

J x