Coldest Day of The Year

Today is St Hilary's day, which according to folklore is the coldest day of he year. I however think for Oxford at least it was last week when I took this photo.

I love snow, but it results in everything transport wise grinding to a halt, motorways become mass graveyards for abandoned cars, carparks become tretcherous skating rinks and walkways become invisible trip hazards. One which I fell (litterally) for today... hard... proof indeed that I am not a weeble... as I can and do indeed fall down, thankfully nothing badly injured other than my pride. I will however be feeling stiff for a few days (Not in the good way).

YouTube

Some of you may have noticed that I've been using YouTube to put my videos on my blog... it's been a long time coming but I've joined the YouTube generation. Reason I hadn't before is I didn't want to add yet another website to my list of places to add my stuff. But unfortunately due to blogger not being very good at video uploads (Unless from a mobile) I had to do it.

My YouTube channel can be found here

Retro Videos - Hanou 2007

Better late than never eh?

I've got a whole host of videos that've been waiting for me to edit, and this cold snap that has me snowed in has allowed me to catch up with them.

These videos are from me and my dads trip to Hanou in Germany back in 2007, just a few months after I started this blog... original posts can be found starting here.

667 Neighbour of the Beast

That last post was number 666... boy time flies, feels like yesterday I was talking about post 300.

I've noticed that the number of posts for 2008 was more than 2007, but 2009 was sadly lacking... hopefully that will change this year owing to my new T91 EeePC, which will allow me to type in the comfort of the living room, bedroom... or quite frankly anywhere I feel like. Yes yes I know I started this blog on my mobile, but it's a pain in the ass typing anything long winded on a phone. Also I'll enjoy this new toy, as it's touchscreen... and I love my gadgets :-)

New Years

New years this year was a low key affair, mainly due to money, but also due to the fact it was our first new year here in Oxford.

But having said that it was by far the best. Just relaxing, playing on the PS3 and watching films.

We saw in the new year watching Big Ben on the TV and thanks to having two phone lines we managed to call both my parents and Nomis mum, it was very funny having me, Andy, Matt and Nomi circled around two phones on speakerphone singing Auld Lang Syne.

Afterwards we wrote some wishes for the new year onto a Sky Lantern and let it go in the field behind our house.

Christmas

This is my first Christmas so far from my parents. Granted it's only 2hrs away, but that is enough to prevent just "popping" over to see them.

Guess it's all part of growing up, and I guess it proves how much I care for my family that I miss them. But I wouldn't change it, as instead I get to spend it in my own home with my wonderful girlfriend.

It does however mean that we'll be driving all over the place and eating several Christmas dinners... bang goes my figure!

Sonata Arctica and Delain

Nomis favorite band is Sonata Arctica, so much so that their music has been ingrained on my brain as part of the normal background music to computer games, driving and generally everything else that can be done whilst listening to music.

I was surprised how much of their music I remember from just casually listening to it. Must mean that it's catchy :-)

One song (Sadly not played at the gig), Tallulah always reminds me of Endless Ocean a game for the Wii, as Nomi has it set up as the background music for when shes diving. It always makes me laugh that I think it odd the music track itself sounds odd without the sound of an aqualung breathing in and out during the intro :-)

I don't usually pay attention to who's supporting the main act, but this time I stood up and payed attention, as they were surprisingly good... I say surprisingly, not in a disparaging way, but because now know of them, I'd pay good money to see them as a main act. A dutch band called Delain with a fantastic female lead singer. Only a couple of their songs really stuck in my head, which is a shame, but overall I really enjoyed them. So much so I'm listening to them in my car at the moment :-)

Muppet Rhapsody

Just freakin awesome... that's all I can say :-)

Was it a Fox... or a Rhino?

I've hit animals in a car before... but only Pigeons... never anything land based. Until now... I hit what I can only assume was a fox... I say assume because I didn't even have enough time to register what it was before I hit it at 70mph.

Pigeons don't do much damage, big poof of feathers and that's it. This fox however must've been wearing a cast iron breastplate, as in it's last few moments of existence it decided that if it was going to die it was going to take as much of my car with it as possible! A tire and a fog light to be precise.

Somehow it managed to puncture a tire, and the force of the impact dislodged and broke the lamp in my fog light.

Balls at the Erotica Fair

I don't know what it's called, but the art of rolling a crystal ball around a la David Bowie in Labyrinth is hereby renamed awesome. How this guy car roll a solid crystal call that must weigh at least a kilogram around like a feather is beyond me. And just as impressive is him walking around with it on his head!