Like a Boss...? Update!

Well, she'd gone. I was only away for ten minutes to write a phone number or two down, and when I returned she'd left. Anyway, I strolled round the city, taking in all the usual haunts where people tend to sleep if they're out on the streets just in case. No dice. However, I met my friend who usually sits by the railway station. He had a bruised nose and a sling on his arm. He informed me he was jumped by some guys the other night, woke up in hospital and has a sever sprain. I was appalled, I can't believe some people would stoop so low as to jump a homeless man and severely injure him. In winter. In the North. Scum. Anyway, I was worried so I asked if he had plans. he said he was talking to the guys at the homeless shelter, but it'd take SEVEN weeks to get him in. I can't believe it, SEVEN! How?! I think I'll go to them and see if I can help relieve the burden of admin. or whatever's keeping him out of a home. Honestly, this world... Jx

Like a Boss...?

Ok, I just passed a homeless girl on the street. I didn't stop, I didn't give her any money, I just walked past and stumbled home. I mean I was feeling half-dead anyway, and I probably would have freaked the living hell out of her if I'd stopped and tried to chat like I usually do. You'd want someone to care, right? So I always try to see if they're ok, have someone to turn to locally, know where the local shelters are etc. But I didn't today, and I don't know why. Maybe I was too shell shocked to see a youngish girl sat begging, maybe I was too upset by other things, maybe I thought that stopping would scare her, after all I am a tall man in a black coat and ponytail... Anyway, my point is... Um... I dunno. I'm a bad person? Probably, probably that's what my point is. Anyhoo, I'm off out to see if she's ok and things. Ciao! Jx

Doorboobs were a good idea...FIREWORKS!

So last night I was feeling ill (and I still am), so we decided it would be a good idea to put boobs on our front door...

Behold! And they're still there. Ah, student life... Also, tonight we had some excitement! After a dull day of cold, headaches and coughing (all still going) we got a free fireworks display from the school next door :)

And that made me feel MUCH better! And then a spent rocket landed on our roof and took out one of the slates! Hah! It was terrifying actually, but still... Anyhoo, that's all for the nicht, nos da y'all! Jx

Stolen Earth and Movember

So this morning I woke up, and as I was putting my trousers on I heard someone singing the theme from "Skyfall" in the bathroom. How lovely, I thought, that someone's got a lovely voice and is sharing it with little ol' me. So I went downstairs and realised Heidi had come round. Heidi is lovely, an she pops round on a Wednesday, so I said hello. After about thirty seconds, I find out she's in an awesome prog rock band called Stolen Earth, who have a Christmas gig in York on December the 7th in the Fulford Arms, and you should all bloody well go because it's £8 and they are AWESOME! Seriously, here's a sample I know! So cool! Anyway, I'll be there :D Also, I'm doing Movember in memory of my Godfather, who died a few years back, so go to my page and give me a load of money for charity. Before I cut off all my hair later next month for charity when you can give me even MORE money. Mwahaha. Or at least keep apace with the progress I make in growing my excuse for a 'tache! Tata for now! Oh, and enter the competition? Maybe? If you don't I'll just keep doing them until somebody wins! In fact...I'm gonna do that anyway if nobody wins, because everybody should have nice crocheted things! Woo! :D Jx

Update!

Ok chaps! Here's the plan! Nobody has managed to get the first question for the competition I announced last week. So...I've changed it! Mwaha! Hopefully this might be a bit more doable. I want to give a prize to someone! :)

Also! Here's a shot of my favourite thing in York Minster! It's a beautiful, intricate funerary monument for a 17th century gentleman and his wife. Isn't it gorgeous? And this is just for a rich bloke! Imagine what a king would have! :D So cool, can you imagine something so sumptuous at your graveside? That's a man who wanted to be remembered, and remembered as a rich, well dressed Dude with a capital D! I really like grave markers and funerary monuments...is that weird? Jx

Competition Time!

Here's something new! :D Answe the questions at the end of this wee post correctly and if you're the first person to comment the correct answer, you will win: -A crocheted doll of whichever Dr Who you choose! -A small sketch of whichever fictional character you choose! -A warm glow of self-satisfaction and achievement within! Woohoo! Glorious! And isn't this fun! Anyway, I can probably pay postage and things, so there we go, get scrolling and look at... These: Q1: What is the name of the first man to draw Dennis the Menace, from British comic "The Beano"? Q2: What colour hair did Ramona Flowers start off with in the film "Scott Pilgrim vs The World"? Q3: In which year did the Vikings sack the island of Lindisfarne? I know! What weird questions! Good luck y'all! Jx

A small explanation.

Right, prepare for an actual, heartfelt blog post. These come once in a blue-moon, so get ready! I have a tendency now and then, to allow something to happen. Sir Winston Churchill (KG, OM, CH, TD, PC, DL, FRS, Hon. RA) had a name for a similar occurence, he called it his "Black Dog." This old expression has been used for centuries to describe people being in a bad mood or feeling low for no apparent reason. Recently, I have been feeling very low. I have felt that I am worthless, purposeless, and have no real value whatever in this big, busy old world. It isn't a nice feeling, and it can really affect you and those around you. I've felt like my mind is weak, I've felt like I'm weak myself and I can't do anything properly. Not just a little bit of a cock-up now and then, I mean actually feeling like everything I touch turns to faecal matter because I'm so unutterably stupid I don't deserve to live with real people. I'm inconsolable, insulting, and very unpleasant to be around. It really isn't nice, and I'm sorry if it's affected anyone who reads this. And there's not a lot I can do about it, except listen to people trying to support me and help me, and then usually end up saying something horribly hurtful about myself that upsets them. It's terrible to sound so ungrateful when you're talking to someone who wants to help you, but that's how it affects me. Anyway, this kind of thing used to make me do lots of strange little rituals. OCD some would call it, I just call it rituals (archaeologist!). I'd tap the wall three times going up stairs, brush my hair behind my ears with both hands at once, twitch my nose 24 times in slow succession, count my breaths in an advert on tv, that kind of thing. Thankfully, most of that's well behind me now, but sometimes the urges come back, just to try to control myself, calm myself down. It doesn't work, but minds are irrational things sometimes. It's a terrific strain on you to be out of control, especially of your own actions and thoughts. It's like you're sitting inside your own head with someone else in the driving seat, looking through your eyes at a world you can't really feel. So aaaaanyway, the point is, if you get anything similar, don't worry. I think more than a few people do in this world of ours. But remember something that helps me: you're never alone. You have friends, family, medical professionals, internet friends, even pets to comfort you :) Even if you think it's all useless, just listen to them. It's hard enough without denying the help you're offered, and in reality the only way to get through this kind of nonsense (it IS nonsense) is to power through it. Kick its teeth in and steal its wallet, then carry on walking. So yeah, that's about all I wanted to say. Bit of a cowardly way to do it, but I know some of the people who follow this really care and worry about me, and I wanted you guys to read this, even if it isn't right now. Also, I wanted to let anyone out there with similar problems know that you aren't alone, and that one day the stupid little rituals become just that: Stupid. You'll realise, but it takes time, and pain, and persistence. Keep fighting it, because it's bullshit. And you can do it! Anyway, I've got a load of uni stuff to sort out today, and then tomorrow I may try to get up at 5.30am to get a train to Battle (Google maps it!) and then fight in Viking kit! Wahoo! We shall see! :D Peace and love to all! Jx