Back on form after yesterdays snoozefest. Mainly due to having a restful evening writting up the Ancient Rome game I ran at Dragonmeet on Saturday. As well as physically restful it was good to get back into the RPG writing, which has really been put to one side of late.

Well its offical. Mastodon are the new gods of metal. If you liked Metallica in their early days, Mastodon have that kind of energy. Check em out.

The good lady Rachel finished off her marathon 7 ngihtshifts in a row and has turned from despair into happyness. Heading towards having a quiet weekend, catching up with each other and the housework.

Found this on my latest trip down Metal Lane

www.metalbabies.com

God bless t’internet!

Ok so I’m at head bouncing off monitor time.

However tomorrow will rule, I will finish my big long report of doom, I will compile all 20 pages of user requirements and make sense of it all to produce the most awesome web structure ever.

BRING IT ON!!!

(but first hot baths, gentle music and early nights)

All the running around at the weekend has finally caught up with me. While I’m not at the constantly yawning, head bouncing off the monitor phase yet, I ache all over and can’t seem to keep my thoughts together. So its home to an early night and a nice hot bath for me. Problem is in the here and now I’m struggling to get a chunk of work finished by the end of this week for the sake of my sanity….grr

Had a nice lunch break. Went down to Travelling Man (here in Manc) and had a good chat with Steve the manager. Lots of encouragement and practical advice for my own RPG games which I’m in the process of putting togeter. Plus I escaped without buying anything…which is a good move with the state my finances are in apres Le Dragonmeet.

Right back to solidering on.

Chavhemian Rhapsody

Hoorah!!! Just looked at my Calendar and realised that including today I’ve only got 13 days until XMAS hols start. This is because our new President (Vice Chancellor) gave us an extra day either side of XMAS/NewYear and we get XMAS Eve off!

Yipeeeeeee! 🙂 I love my job!!!

The only downside is that I’ll need to plan my time better at work, if I want to get the new school website to deadline, which I really want to.

Got back early afternoon to Leeds after a pleasant train journey from London.

Took off Friday to travel down, and arrived early afternoon. Wandered down from Kings X to the British Museum and spent a happy 2 hours looking round the west wing and all the ancient sculptures. Met Monsieur Cabbage and went for a coffe and chat. Then onto a Sam Smith’s Pub ironically called the Bricklayer’s arms. Then onto a mexican bar to meet some of Cab’s PhD friends. The friends were lovely, the bar less so.

Woke early Saturday to get to Dragonmeet, which fully lived upto my expectations as a nice way to round of the RPG convention year (which doesn’t kick in again until next April 🙁 ). Ran my Gurps Ancient Rome Scenario, which was a alot of fun, and one I’ll do again. Then went to China Town and had a Chinese with the lads from the Cult of Keepers because it was Mike Mason’s birthday. Had a lovely meal with alot of old friends and made some new ones. Tres cool. Then made it back to Highgate in North London to met Cabbage, who had been working on his PhD thesis (which has to be handed in on Dec 17th!), for a couple of quiet beers.

Another early start to catch a train at 9 back to Leeds. When I got here I said a quick hello to a very sleepy Rach. She was awake enough to demand her presents ;a pottery Feng Shui Cat, that goes in the NW corner of a room and promotes good health, and a book on the history of cats. Both bought from the British Museum. Then I’ve predicably spent the rest of the day playing Halflife 2 and doing a miniscule amount of housework.

Overall a very good weekend.

Well I’m getting ready to go to London to run games at Dragonmeet.

Fairly apprehensive at the moment, since;

1. Ive not heard back from Cabbage who I’m staying with.

2. Despite heavy drinking I’ve got to get up early on both Saturday (day of the con) and Sunday (to catch my cheap train home).

3. I’ve never run the game ( a Roman adventure set in the Late Republic, none of this swords and sorcery rubbish*) or the system (GURPS) before.

4. Its London, and even bigger than Manchester which has currently been freaking me out.

5. The Good Lady of Smethurst (t’wife) is doing 7 night shifts in a row starting with tonight. I like a bastard am going away while she is feeling shakey about it.

However I shouldn’t be freaking out since I can counter each of these worries.

1. This is fairly typical. I’ve left messages he’ll probably ring back when I’m just pulling into London.

2. Once the adrenalin kicks in I shouldn’t have a problem dealling with this. Might have the shakes slightly and need to drink tons of water but I’ll cope. Of course I could do the sensible and mature thing and sup not down.

3. Again I’ve pulled this one off before. Plus I’ve spent three months preping for this game amd GURPS is not the most difficult system in the world.

4. Hey its London. Its a circus enjoy!! Go to Camden Market or the British Museum. Stare at people on the tube, say nooooo in a broad Yorkshire accent in the pub.

5. Little Rach will be alright. In fact she’ll probably enjoy it. Thats why she’s doing Midwifery. Besides I’m only a phone call away and back on Sunday.

So I’m going to sign off now and spend some quality me time doing exercise and meditation, before shooting off to the train station.

So my message today is; Relax and feel the power of slack!!