Got the weekend I deserved not the weekend I expected.

Therefore there was surprise VISIT TO THE PUB (happy now

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 ?!?!)  courtesy of the in-laws on Saturday lunch. Caught up with the latest episodes of Rome (season 2) and Battlestar Galatica (season 3) courtesy of ‘friends’ in America. Both are still must see TV but in a different vein than previous seasons. Rome shows higher production values, in the form of more lingering colourful camera shots, and characters that are rapidly developing because of the sudden death of Caesar at the end of the last season and its consequences. Battlestar Galatica is less about the big fast space battles (although those still happen) but more about the characters and their relationships, which have been at breaking point for a long time. Also more about what makes the Cylons tick has come out in the wash this season.

Sunday finally christened the dining room as the gaming room, as a couple of folk came round and we played a memorable game of Cyberpunk 2020, which is going to be a short mini-campaign while I get my prep finished for a slightly longer campaign lasting six months or so.

Rach is beginning to finally get better 😀 Downside is I seem to be finally falling foul of the what she had. My throat feels as if I have been gargling razor blades this morning . Ho hum.

While Rach is still down with cold (which the nurse this morning said is a virus and will clear up in 2-3 weeks!!) I’m busy clearing up the middle bedroom, which is affectionally known as the office.  Stacks of papers, books, magazines are being reordered and dumped in the garage. The plan is then to rip out two fitted cupboards and replace them with bookcases.

In the process of finding homes for my HeroQuest writings that have been cluttering up my hardrive, some of which for upto two years. Its time to bring to a close that particular phase of my writing. This doesn’t preclude me bashing stuff out for the odd con book or contributing a small part to books, but the ‘big’ projects that I’ve been mulling over for 1-3 years need to be sown up tight and moved on from.

Started again on Monkey last night, by reviewing the list of Gods and Goddesses that are going into the Immortals section of the book to provide allies and opposistion to the players. Great fun, since Chinese Mythology at times is completly bonkers!

Work has calmed down greatly, as I’m working on one project rather than three at once!! I’m enjoying the calm and making moves to keep it that way 😀

Things carry on briskly here. We’re in full overdrive to sort out things before the the young newtlet arrives. I’m glad Rach’s inheritance money from her Grandma has just come in since we’ve been shopping for baby the last couple of weeks. OH MY THE MONEY THAT HAS BEEN SPENT!!!!

Rach is also preparing me for having NO TIME TO MYSELF, while I’m planing to maximise what little I have left.

Finally reached the end of my teather with my job at Manchester University, I’ve learnt as much as I can from it and there’s effectively a promotion freeze because of the Hiro process, which is a nationwide pay restructuring in Universities bringing Academics and Support staff on the same pay scale. This has been going on for at least the time I’ve been at Manchester, two and a bit years,  but  didn’t stop my old boss going from being the IT Team Leader to a Senior Lecturer, even though he doesn’t do any teaching ! Oh yes he knows what side its best to be on. So I’m gearing up to change jobs. Could be next month could be after the summer. But definatly by this time next year I will be in a better paid more satisfiying job. Which now I’ve definatly decided to do it makes work a bit weird. Hoo hum.

Off to Centre Parcs for a much needed holiday with Rach next week and the week next I fly down to Southamption (cos its cheaper and quicker than the train) to go to Conception a RPG con for five days.

So very busy, but some where I’ve found a overwhelming sense of ease and confidence. Hurrah!!!

And can I have it back?

Had to check with a colleague to make sure I had done some work today.  Did small bits here and there, which kinda balanced out yesterday were a large chunk of a project was finished off.

Must stick head down on major project tomorrow.

Well the XMAS decorations finally came down last Friday and I’m now back at work after just over two weeks off.

Last year ended the usual tired grind at work. While it was not as grim as previous years, indicating an increase in happiness baseline, it was the usual game of ‘hunt the motivation’ was played in the last week. Had a good work’s do, even though it was only three of us going out for curry and beer, the highlight being the giant inflatable snow globe with Santa and snowman in the curry house. I wanted a picture but my colleagues have too much dignity and class to posse grinning like loons infront of it like I wanted them too.

Then had a couple of days to prepare the house for the incoming of parents. I’ve finally tampered with my psychology so that I get as big a buzz cleaning up the house that I used to going out on a friday night getting wasted. Which is a good thing seeing as we have a big house these days. It was worth it though because I got to enjoy the clean house especially our living room which had a seven foot tall xmas tree in it!!!

Xmas itself was a vast improvement on last year since Rach was only working an early, so after a morning of films (watched the excellent The Departed ) we went round the in-laws for our traditional xmas lunch and present giving. I got mainly ‘grown – up -man’ presents this year, including a nice pair of slippers. Fortunately I had bought my self Delta Green Countdown (a huge background supplement for Modern day Call of Cthulhu) to keep my inner nerd happy.

Boxing day my ‘family’ xmas started with my dad arriving around lunch time. Had a walkout and ended up in the ‘Pleasant Inn’ across the road, and finally found out that it is indeed very pleasant and cheap (being a Sam Smith’s pub).  XMAS Tuesday went to the Blue Tiffin with Dad for a curry tea which was most nice.

With Dad going home wednesday, this left Thursday to refresh stocks and prepare the house for mums arrival (my parents are seperated), which as nice as Dad’s visit was it was much needed time alone.

Mum arrived Friday lunch time for four days of fun and frolics. Saturday saw us go into Manchester to visit the Art Museum, which I was pleasantly impressed by although mum, being a trained fine artist, was more critical. Sunday I had a couple of hours to myself as Rachel’s mum took my mum shopping. Monday we got together with the inlaws for lunch at the Spring Inn. Tuesday morning mum went home. Overall the visit was a success, but I think four days was a bit too much for everyone.

Wednesday was  a big slob day we’re I did the sum total of F-all.

Thursday was a big day for me and Rach since we went for the twenty week scan. This is the biggie since it tells you if the baby is what they coldly term ‘viable’. Which I’m pleased to say that the Newtlet is!! Its happily snug in the womb and I spent twenty minutes watching it wiggle and suck its thumb. Afterwards I got whisked away to Mothercare to make the first of our baby and mother purchases.

Friday was us and the in-laws went to buy the pram/buggy/car-seat combo that can only be described as an Assault Vehicle for the Newtlet. Its not a pram its meccano !!  Then mid afternoon escaped to met up with Steve and Stu for Stabcon.

A fine time was had at Stabcon indeed. Caught up with my new/old manchester friends, saw Mr Cruet and Rosie for the first time in yonks, and meet some new people as well. Played far too many good board games, eat well (although the curry on Friday was stronger than I usually have and had me in pain for a couple of hours after), ran a five hour game of HeroQuest (thus kicking off Living Pavis campaign yay!) and ended by playing six hours of Arkham Horror!!!

Sunday sneaked off home, sorted out the house and prepared for work.

Proper update about my fab family XMAS (if you think decorating your house is grown up try that for size) later, but tommorrow I’m off to Stabcon for a weekend of gaming goodness.

Unknown Armies All the Primeminister’s men or  Burning Wheel “Enemy at the Burning Gates” (soviet sniper xbow dwarfs vs nazi elves in Balingrad)-  Saturday  evening
HeroQuest  “Living City of Pavis” – Saturday afternoon , a test run for a Living City style HQ campaign that I’ll be running at cons from now on.

I’ll stick sign up sheets on Friday night, but if you are interested in signing up before hand make a comment below.

Beer n gaming, yar!!!