Skippy the Goth Kangeroo

Killing Joke last Friday in Manchester with Nice Andy was a fantastic gig. Saw lead singer Jaz Coleman in pub before hand and had a weak at the knees gushing fan moment. Getting back to Oldham via buses slightly surreal.

Work slightly tense last week, as two of colleagues were suspended for naughtiness that went beyond crossing the line of acceptable behaviour. Lets hope they don’t cross back over the line and come back to work. On a positive note, remaining team stronger for it and I may change my mind about moving on.

Mother and brother George came over Friday for the weekend. Shock horror we had a fun weekend !!! Went to the new Oldham Art Gallery, which was fun and went out for Brian’s 60th on the Sunday for a pub lunch at the Half Way House, our local. Mother and bro greatly impressed by new house and garden.

Back to work -Transmission ends.

Hit nice relaxation levels over the bank holiday weekend.

Finally sorted out the ‘missing leeds’ nonsense in my head and moved on. Now embracing the new house with the attendant gardening and housework that goes with it and loving it. Got back into feeling that life is one big surreal holiday, which is much more fun than the ‘oh my god I’ve done something wrong and they will make me pay!!!” panic I seem to have inflicted on myself over the last week.

Saturday was when I sorted out my head on this one. Apart from watching the Wild Bunch (a stunning film that I must get on DVD) I pretty much pluged myself into the pc for the day and archived the sum total of nothing. It was then the penny dropped. I wasn’t missing Leeds, I had brought my Leeds lifestyle with me (the computer room was beginning to look uncannily like the old attic). So I fucked off down the hill to Royton Town centre and had a nice sunny walk there and back to post some Ebay stuff. When Rach came back had a quick chat about it and she came to pretty much the same conclusion. That we should get off our fat lazy arses and do stuff. FFS we have a lovely park at the end of the road, Tandle Hill Park, which in the three months of being in the new house I have been to a sum total of one time. Also I live in Oldham and if I carry on this way in six months time I’ll still be able to count on one hand the amount of times I’ve been into town.

So Sunday as Rachel went to church (the one where we got married) I cracked on with my uber twenty pc HeroQuest scenario Gbaji Rising which I’ve promised I’ll run and make available for three other gms at Continuum. Then when she got back we walked up to the Tandle Hill Taven up on the Lane. This pub which can be best described as a farmers pub or as pub that time forgot does a cracking pint of bitter. Brian enjoyed a few more than he usually does and wobbled home back up the road. After a quick nap got down to the serious business of pottering around for the rest of the day.

Monday. So glad not to be back at work. Did more witting and played some Red Orchestra (FPS Multiplayer based on WW2 Russian front, very realistic very gritty lots of fun). Then off to the garden centre up the road to pick up a garden bench, so we can sit out in the back garden which is a lovely hue of green at the moment. Had a nice surprise in the evening as the thefozcollectiv turned up all bubbly and bouncy after a day at Chester Zoo. After the bouncing on the settee and the scaring of cats had ended it was a slow descent into bed.

All in all a super weekend.

Well it had to happen. I’m missing Leeds, or specifcially you lot who live that way.

As much as the new homeland is gorgeous (which it is in a red-brick-green-leaves-sprouting-up-in-between-the-rain-sodden-cracks sort of way) I’m stuck on me todd as Rach does another long day (roll on the day she becomes part time) fancying a pint at the local, but knowing noone within knocking distance to ask out to play.

Oh well “somedays you eat the bar, other days the bar eats you”

Over the hols had time to think about the job. After nearly two years its time to bugger off to a new position. To set sail upon the seas of career opportunity. I always knew this job was going to be yet another stepping stone to better things and by the time I’ve hit escape velocity in three – four months time I would have got as much as I can out of it. I really like my colleagues though but the work culture is beginning to frustrate me.

Its actually quite liberating, and I’m actually getting more done now I’ve decided to stick my head down and finish off my current projects as part of my launch pad strategy.

Adventure, fun and really wild things await!

At the end of feaster week we went down to Oxford for Rachel’s mate from school Sharon’s. If you came to my nuptials you might remember the tall blonde bridesmaid who did the reading. That’s Sharon.

Over the last year she’s been training in Oxford to be a Vicar. During her time there she meet her husband Andrew. So last Friday we got up at the crack of dawn and drove down to St Mary’s University Church (pictured) which has been her parish church for the last year. After being given orders from the missus not to sing to any song I didn’t know and not being a church goer mesen, I settled back to observe the marvellous ceremony. It was truly a once in a lifetime experience. Not only were bride and groom vicars, but half the congregation was. The service was led by the Vicar who had trained them both and Sharon’s dad, who you guessed it is a vicar, did the vows. It was truly a moving experience.

Afterwards we went for wine and vitals in Oxford Town hall, an impressive building in itself, before bombing over to Bicester a small village north of Oxford for the family and friends wedding reception.

Had a great time, and Rachel despite getting up at the crack of dawn after a long day at work the previous day really enjoyed herself too.

At the bottom of our garden is a hill with a field. On said hill we learnt is a rabbit warren. Our naughty cat BBC brings in bunnies from the warren. Alive. Mr Newt screams, rescues Mr Bunny from Mr BBC’s jaws of steely death. Rabbit set loose runs into corners of room, Mr Newt gives chase. Pic to the left is one of the 3 rabbits I have so far rescued, rodent rescues 1 & 5 were field mice. BBC has mauled to death one mouse and one rabbit (which he ate the ears of!!!?). He seems to have stoped now after getting his ass kicked by the bigger Ginger and White Tom who also prowls the fields. This is good because the last rabbit went under the kitchen units and had to be got out by a joiner!!!