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!!

OMG! Notched up another point on the geek rating last night. Got the recently released Half-life 2 Death Match working on my PC, after said pc crashing mid install (grr), and after 30 minutes of playing managed to achieve what I set out to do.

Kill some one with a toilet!

A short explaination perhaps is required. HL2 is a 3D first person shooter. You maybe familiar with them. Corridors, rooms, lots of guns and monsters to shoot at. Well one of the ground breaking features, is that you can pick up (and often break) objects, such as bottles, breize blocks, planks, tables etc. Since HL2 also uses a physics engine to model things such as falling and thrown objects, you can throw things as well. Of course you can’t pick up unaided things like tables and breize blocks, but there is a wonderful weapon called the Gravity gun. This lets you pick up objects and throw them at high velocity at your opponents. The map I was playing on had a ruined shower block, there was lose toilets hanging off the wall. You see where this is going…….

They spent six years of game development on HL2, a budget of millions and this is what tickles my fancy.

HL2 the good times are here again 🙂

I’m feeling more than a little lost. At a time when I should be getting it together, I feel distanced from myself.  This made lunch distinctly odd, walking around Manchester City centre (which definatly has a large dollup of the futuristic in its new buildings which dominates the skyscape, City 17 anyone??).

However pulled it together to go in search of some guitar rawk in response to keefybabe’s top 10 entry. I realised that appart from Auf der Maur’s and Helmet’s new albums I haven’t come across any good Metal/Rock releases this year.

Did the two for twenty quid job and got two 2004 releases that I’m hoping should become much loved classics.

Biffy Clyco– Infinity Land. Imagine the genetically enhanced offspring of Rush and Fugazi, mind blowing stuff.

Breed 77-Cultura. This is what happens if Iron Maiden learnt flamenco rythms and spent too much time in Arabia.

Looking to check out Mastodon next in this 2004 rock voyage.

Right time to pack up and f**k off home.

Ladies and Gentlemen may I present to you Today’s pointless waste of time (TPWOT)

Grand Theft Auto: Lego City

Well today has suddenly picked up in the second half. Spent this morning feeling nausous from the back strain I suffered last Friday morning (oh the joy of being overweight), Then it cleared up miraclously after lunch and wayhey off we go. Got lots of work done and a really clear picture of what needs to be done next. This job (www.manchester.ac.uk/nursing) is the biggest task I have ever had and since my boss is very hands off (which is a relief) I sometimes get overwhelmed by it.

It certainly helped that I rediscovered LJ, the wonderful bright orange look of my journal really brightens up my day 🙂 Its a good start for all manner of webnonsense I’ve got lined up

Just had a nice journey home and I’m back in time to play some HL2 and do some Roleplaying writing. Which is just as well since I’m running a GURPS 4th Ed this saturday at Dragonmeet in London.

Ok so I’m just arsing about here, testing out the LJ cut tags. This is an e-mail I sent back to someone who spammed me with an invite to join his RPG forum.

How not to promote your Gaming website

keefybabe’s Beer to replace water experiment.

T’wife pointed it out. So its her fault too.

I’ve just realised I’ve been sat here fiddling about with the custom settings (ooooo I do love this orange theme!!) that I’ve forgotten completely about lunch.
Fortunatly Gregs is just down the stairs:)