This time 10 years ago, I was most probably contemplating another long day at school, all 6 hours of it, before a weekend full of football and crazybones. Remember those little things? Children used to walk around the playground showing off full washing bags of crazybones, and playing other children for "keepsies". Some unsportmanlike kids would run off with their possessions when they lost though, and I remember that drove me... well... crazy!
In 2012 though, things are much different. When I was 11, the idea of going to work was just non-existent. I used to think that final-year university students were more like OAP's than kids, and my knowledge of the tax code 810L was minute. But these past few months, I have heard stories of my friends getting jobs in the city, friends getting jobs for Google, getting 1sts and 2:1's in University degrees and a Sister moving permanently to Cardiff to begin the next leg of her law career. I myself am working towards targets in a job of my own, and who'd have thought I would be a fan of Jack Daniels when I was 11? Certainly not me. I'd have wondered who he was.
Just today aswell, whilst enjoying a Harvester with Sister Mitten in Milton Keynes, I learnt that my parents might well be moving to the south coast in the next few years, and with my sister firmly established in Cardiff by this time, I will be truly independent. The idea of being completely alone, without family around as a safety net is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. We might have grown up since the days of running around the classic British playground, playing British Bulldog, but the concept of paying bills and doing the washing up on a daily basis hasn't quite got into my head yet. Talks of flat-sharing with a couple of people aswell only increases these feelings.
Talking of friends getting outrageous jobs, there was a time this week where I felt incredibly stupid. I suppose it's the "old" me rearing it's ugly head, but there was a point where I felt very jealous of people getting positions here, there and everywhere, earning ridiculous money in the city or in law firms or accountancy firms and famous companies, but then I bucked my ideas up. They had earnt that right, whereas I had fallen into a job where I have to start at the bottom. And in all fairness, I am enjoying it. I am well set now, after 5 months of hardship, and am starting to take pride in my work, part-time as it may be. Work hard and play hard, and you can't go wrong.
And tax rebates are pretty cool, right?
This weekend is going to be a good one aswell, (as soon as the fortnightly shift on Saturday morning is out of the way!), as Master Beddoe celebrates his 21st aswell as his 1st class degree in Facebook Studies. At least I think that's what he was studying? No?
Maybe this is the Summer talking, but maybe things are changing. Maybe, just maybe, life is on an upward curve. Maybe.
Friday 29 June 2012
Monday 25 June 2012
Heart Stopper
Me, and specifically my heart, have had some weekend this weekend... It's just been all-round tension. It's been nerve-wracking, exciting, horrible and ridiculous but I have thoroughly enjoyed it.
We'll start at Weston Cricket Club, which was the scene of our latest Saturday fixture as we continue to protect our lead at the top of the table. We bowled first and started atrociously as we were hit all around Hertfordshire for 15 overs before we finally got our act together and held them to a total of 209. It was a modest target, and given our form on Saturdays, a target we should have reached with comparitive ease. As with this game though, it doesn't really work that way, as we lost a couple of wickets, (including mine), meaning we sat on 24-2. We never really got going and at 143-9, I was getting ready to pack my bag and go home, contemplating an indifferent performance. Our Number 11 batsman, Coppers, had different ideas though. He ably supported Mr.Woodcock, probably the most reliable batsman in our side, to scratch away at the rest of the runs and develop a partnership of 67 to scrape us home by a single wicket. Towards the back end of the match, I was out umpiring hitting every shot with them. I was desperate for them to get over the line, so much so, I could feel my heart pumping out of the front of my chest, as if it were a trapped flea attempting to get out of a spider's web. These two lads though, aged 16 and 15, seemed to be completely oblivious to the pressure, and with 4 balls to spare, Coppers waltzed down the wicket and lofted a straight drive over mid-on for the winning runs. I jumped in the air, delighted at the effort. It was an amazing victory. Ben finished on 80 and Coppers, 12. It is probably the most important 12 he has ever hit though!
Our game today was cancelled, as the wonderfully British summer continued it's rainy days, but this was a blessing in disguise. My hayfever was absolutely horrific. I was awoken at 10 by a mini nosebleed, and never really got back to sleep due to sneezing, snivelling and eye-watering. It was horrible. I eventually gave up at 1pm, and went to Tesco's with the soon-departing Sister Mitten to do our "weekly food shop" that consisted of mainly unhealthy stuff! (The Parents Mitten have taken off to Cornwall for the week!)
It was also good that our cricket wasn't on for another reason. Euro 2012, and England's quarter-final with Italy. We haven't played Italy in a major tournament recently, but in our town of Bedford, this game was more than a Quarter-Final. Bedford has the largest Italian population per capita in the whole country, and it was practically half of Bedford vs The Other Half. The hype was extraordinary, and even I, with my fairly relaxed attitude to football these days, was horribly nervous. The match itself, bar the first 15 minutes, was a nightmare to watch as we built a wall in front of our goal and blocked wave after wave of Italian attacks. To lose on penalties then was very disappointing, but a very small part of me was glad that the torment was over. I'm not too sure my heart could have taken a similar semi-final against the Germans and beyond.
However. As mentioned before, the rivalry in our town was intense. Too intense. I have spent the last couple of hours hearing stories and providing my own opinion on Twitter about the riots and fights that broke out on the High Street. We are all disappointed with the loss, but to attack the opposing fans for simply supporting their nation is just despicable. Fights started, cars were smashed in and only just now, I am hearing stories of a stabbing. Hooliganism is so wrong. Football means a lot to many people, but violence doesn't solve anything. Weren't these people taught that lesson by their parents?
Tonight, after a heart-stopping weekend, I am proud to be English, but deeply embarrassed and ashamed at being a Bedfordian. Back to work tomorrow!
We'll start at Weston Cricket Club, which was the scene of our latest Saturday fixture as we continue to protect our lead at the top of the table. We bowled first and started atrociously as we were hit all around Hertfordshire for 15 overs before we finally got our act together and held them to a total of 209. It was a modest target, and given our form on Saturdays, a target we should have reached with comparitive ease. As with this game though, it doesn't really work that way, as we lost a couple of wickets, (including mine), meaning we sat on 24-2. We never really got going and at 143-9, I was getting ready to pack my bag and go home, contemplating an indifferent performance. Our Number 11 batsman, Coppers, had different ideas though. He ably supported Mr.Woodcock, probably the most reliable batsman in our side, to scratch away at the rest of the runs and develop a partnership of 67 to scrape us home by a single wicket. Towards the back end of the match, I was out umpiring hitting every shot with them. I was desperate for them to get over the line, so much so, I could feel my heart pumping out of the front of my chest, as if it were a trapped flea attempting to get out of a spider's web. These two lads though, aged 16 and 15, seemed to be completely oblivious to the pressure, and with 4 balls to spare, Coppers waltzed down the wicket and lofted a straight drive over mid-on for the winning runs. I jumped in the air, delighted at the effort. It was an amazing victory. Ben finished on 80 and Coppers, 12. It is probably the most important 12 he has ever hit though!
Our game today was cancelled, as the wonderfully British summer continued it's rainy days, but this was a blessing in disguise. My hayfever was absolutely horrific. I was awoken at 10 by a mini nosebleed, and never really got back to sleep due to sneezing, snivelling and eye-watering. It was horrible. I eventually gave up at 1pm, and went to Tesco's with the soon-departing Sister Mitten to do our "weekly food shop" that consisted of mainly unhealthy stuff! (The Parents Mitten have taken off to Cornwall for the week!)
It was also good that our cricket wasn't on for another reason. Euro 2012, and England's quarter-final with Italy. We haven't played Italy in a major tournament recently, but in our town of Bedford, this game was more than a Quarter-Final. Bedford has the largest Italian population per capita in the whole country, and it was practically half of Bedford vs The Other Half. The hype was extraordinary, and even I, with my fairly relaxed attitude to football these days, was horribly nervous. The match itself, bar the first 15 minutes, was a nightmare to watch as we built a wall in front of our goal and blocked wave after wave of Italian attacks. To lose on penalties then was very disappointing, but a very small part of me was glad that the torment was over. I'm not too sure my heart could have taken a similar semi-final against the Germans and beyond.
However. As mentioned before, the rivalry in our town was intense. Too intense. I have spent the last couple of hours hearing stories and providing my own opinion on Twitter about the riots and fights that broke out on the High Street. We are all disappointed with the loss, but to attack the opposing fans for simply supporting their nation is just despicable. Fights started, cars were smashed in and only just now, I am hearing stories of a stabbing. Hooliganism is so wrong. Football means a lot to many people, but violence doesn't solve anything. Weren't these people taught that lesson by their parents?
Tonight, after a heart-stopping weekend, I am proud to be English, but deeply embarrassed and ashamed at being a Bedfordian. Back to work tomorrow!
Thursday 21 June 2012
Jack Daniels Belly
I'm not a fan of beer. I've probably only ever had 2 pints in my life, and I genuinely think beer smells and tastes like your bog standard public urinal. If you'll pardon the pun...
As I'm sure you'll know, I'm more of a whisky kinda guy, with a bit of vodka thrown in, (although not at the same time). Despite it being more expensive when you go out, I genuinely do think there are more defined tastes across the brands. What am I saying? It's easier to get drunk with smaller glasses! Jack Daniels, Bells, Smirnoff, Chekov, Glens or even a bit of Knob Creek. I'll take anything. (Cease laughing at the back...)
The point I'm getting at though is, since I discovered the world of alcohol, I have had a noticeable drop in fitness levels. Even when I was playing and refereeing football with cricket in the Summer and actually doing manual labour for work instead of sitting on an office chair, I have felt a change in how long I can keep going for... (There is an innuendo in there somewhere...) But now, given I gave up playing football, and now not refereeing football for the 2012/13 season due to my reasonable morals, (the first season I have not actively been involved in the sport since roughly 1996), I fear my fitness levels will be dragged down to an all time low during the Winter. So, I hear you ask. What am I going to do about it?
I have two options. Well.... Three. Edit. 4!
1) I can go back to playing football. Albeit as a goalkeeper, I will have the added training sessions as a way of doing some exercise, but my main concern is that I have fallen out of love with the game. I have exhausted most of the avenues that the game has to offer, and I don't really feel like going back.
2) I can find a new sport. I have played multiple sports during my life, including football, tennis, golf, cricket, snooker... (not exactly exhausting...) The only sport I could really take up during the Winter is tennis. My local club has an indoor arena that is used during the Winter season, but the costs of membership and everything else is sky high. Do I want to pay so much for something I may not enjoy? I don't know...
3) I can join a gym. But I do have an active dislike for gyms. It's full of absolute posers who feel the need to look like Cristiano Ronaldo and you are always followed around by some chap called Brad or Jack who wears a t-shirt 3 sizes to small for him. I generally hate the aura of gyms. Awful places. Strict no no.
Or 4) Nothing. I can literally spend my Winter doing nothing but lazing around, sitting at work in my office chair, eating junk food, no doubt drinking more whisky, and generally getting fatter and fatter.
Frankly, at the moment, I'm more inclined to go for Option 4.
...
Back to the present then, and this week has been of the distinctly average kind. The mess from last week's business was all sorted, and the beginning of a new trading period saw everything reset to 0.00, which is always a nice sight. Everything is fine, and I am feeling comfortable at the moment. Nothing is really going on at all...
So, yeah. That's it.
As I'm sure you'll know, I'm more of a whisky kinda guy, with a bit of vodka thrown in, (although not at the same time). Despite it being more expensive when you go out, I genuinely do think there are more defined tastes across the brands. What am I saying? It's easier to get drunk with smaller glasses! Jack Daniels, Bells, Smirnoff, Chekov, Glens or even a bit of Knob Creek. I'll take anything. (Cease laughing at the back...)
The point I'm getting at though is, since I discovered the world of alcohol, I have had a noticeable drop in fitness levels. Even when I was playing and refereeing football with cricket in the Summer and actually doing manual labour for work instead of sitting on an office chair, I have felt a change in how long I can keep going for... (There is an innuendo in there somewhere...) But now, given I gave up playing football, and now not refereeing football for the 2012/13 season due to my reasonable morals, (the first season I have not actively been involved in the sport since roughly 1996), I fear my fitness levels will be dragged down to an all time low during the Winter. So, I hear you ask. What am I going to do about it?
I have two options. Well.... Three. Edit. 4!
1) I can go back to playing football. Albeit as a goalkeeper, I will have the added training sessions as a way of doing some exercise, but my main concern is that I have fallen out of love with the game. I have exhausted most of the avenues that the game has to offer, and I don't really feel like going back.
2) I can find a new sport. I have played multiple sports during my life, including football, tennis, golf, cricket, snooker... (not exactly exhausting...) The only sport I could really take up during the Winter is tennis. My local club has an indoor arena that is used during the Winter season, but the costs of membership and everything else is sky high. Do I want to pay so much for something I may not enjoy? I don't know...
3) I can join a gym. But I do have an active dislike for gyms. It's full of absolute posers who feel the need to look like Cristiano Ronaldo and you are always followed around by some chap called Brad or Jack who wears a t-shirt 3 sizes to small for him. I generally hate the aura of gyms. Awful places. Strict no no.
Or 4) Nothing. I can literally spend my Winter doing nothing but lazing around, sitting at work in my office chair, eating junk food, no doubt drinking more whisky, and generally getting fatter and fatter.
Frankly, at the moment, I'm more inclined to go for Option 4.
...
Back to the present then, and this week has been of the distinctly average kind. The mess from last week's business was all sorted, and the beginning of a new trading period saw everything reset to 0.00, which is always a nice sight. Everything is fine, and I am feeling comfortable at the moment. Nothing is really going on at all...
So, yeah. That's it.
Tuesday 12 June 2012
Big Down and Big Up
I've had some week... Whether many of you managed to read my long post about the horrific week at work I suffered, I do not know, but I was ordered to take it down with immediate effect by a rather angry Mother Mitten, who did kind of have a point. I got into trouble with the FA for my Twitter comments, however wrong it was, and putting a link on there to this blog, telling everyone the ins and outs of my job wasn't the most sensible move I've made. There is a distinct difference between my refereeing career and my actual career. Being disciplined from the FA is considerably easier to handle than being disciplined at work.
Anyway, after that, more problems have been created by the chap who covered me but I've gone past the stage of caring too much. It will hopefully be fixed by Wednesday and we can all move on.
After all that, I enjoyed what was possibly the best weekend of my life in Newcastle. The journey there was hellish, a whole 6 and a half hours. 2 of these hours were because we were stuck in a traffic jam caused by a pile of sand in the road, leading to single-lane Friday night A1 traffic. You couldn't make this up. When we finally got there, all 5 of us enjoyed a weekend of major antics, banter, jokes and good old-fashioned fun with highlights including Moore vs Chubby Dancer, Colin vs Scottish Sock Lady, 3 of us vs Polish Bouncer, Mitten vs The Joker, Triples, Forming a Band on the Street finished off by Beddoe and Colin falling asleep in the bathroom. Shall I go through them all, one by one?
Moore vs Chubby Dancer I believe it was in a place called Sam Jacks, although I'm not totally sure. There was a lady walking round offering ... "personal" dances to anyone for a set amount of money. Us as a group had decided already that we were going try and embarrass shy and retiring Moore, and this was the perfect way to do it. I paid the lady a fiver, (well worth it trust me), and filmed her "brushing up" against a kneeled and visibly embarrassed Moore who couldn't have looked more awkward if he was an comic book salesman in a brothel. Comedy Gold.
Colin vs Scottish Sock Lady Also on Friday, Colin spent some of the night in pursuit of a buxom Scottish lady who was just leaving some club in a complex called 'The Gate'. Her and her friend, (who me and Beddoe "distracted"), were just staggering home when Colin pounced. I've no idea what they were talking about, but Colin ended up giving her his socks in return for a kiss. Which we naturally got on film.
3 of Us vs Polish Bouncer Upon getting back to the Travelodge that night, at a truly superb 3.30am, we were so loud. Something hilarious had happened with the taxi driver, (although I can't remember what), and we were all laughing whilst also trying to keep quiet, obviously leading to more laughter. Imagine me, Beddoe and Colin, all drunk as skunks, shouting along the corridor without a care in the world? After a while of this, the Polish bouncer who was manning the doors came upstairs and gave us a "final warning", threatening to chuck us out if we weren't silent immediately. Oh, and at this point, Colin's trousers fell down. Standard.
Triples On to the Saturday night, we were coaxed into this new "club" called Luna, who were claiming to sell triples for £2.99. I was sceptical, but ordered a triple JD and coke none the less, and made sure I watched her put 3 measures of JD into a glass. In fairness, she did, and I was charged the promised £2.99. I only had 1, not wanting to go overboard like previous trips like this. Beddoe on the other hand...? Let's just say it contributed to his state later on...
Forming a Band in the Street After being complimented on my new shirt, which had, 'You Know You Want to Tweet Me' printed on the front and my bright blue sun hat, myself and Colin persuaded two Mexican men to give us their instruments on the street. They were buskers, but for 5 minutes, myself on the guitar and Colin on the keyboard/harmonica/piano thing, we were entertaining the streets of Newcastle. Sadly, my guitar skills didn't gain any money.
Colin and Beddoe Fall Asleep in the Bathroom Speaks for itself, but those triples didn't go down to well for Beddoe, who I found slouched in the bathroom on our return at about 4am that night. Colin joined him for a snoozy on the bathroom floor, and I do have photographic evidence!
...
It was a phenomonal weekend, and I even got back in good time to watch Bedford CC record the 2nd of their 2 wins in my playing absence. Overall, I think it was the best weekend I've ever had. So many stories to tell, and everyone had a good time. Many thanks to Marriott, who drove us there and back, and generally spent the night making sure we didn't get into more trouble than we did!
But, you guessed it, as soon as I walked in from the pub quiz that I attended after the cricket, at about 11pm, a wave of anxiety hit me as I remembered the troubles of work. I have developed slightly more resolve than I had when I started in the world of work a few years ago, where I would of probably walked out in fear of being severely reprimanded by now.
Just in the last couple of hours though, I have been reading through a few other blogs on here, with similar topics, and realised something. A lot of people went through their adolescence and early adulthood with severe depression and anxiety, which affected every aspect of their lives. They couldn't go out in public because they were so nervous, their friendships affected, and therefore I presume their overall happiness. I am perfectly fine in social situations, but when it comes to work I am devilishly scared of getting things wrong. But generally, I do have many, many good moments, such as this weekend for example.
Many people don't have that, and I have to remind myself that I am somewhat lucky. Even if sometimes it feels like I'm the unluckiest person on the planet.
...
P.S. Mitten vs The Joker has been eradicated from my memory. Major case of a super pair of beer goggles going on with that one... Oops!
Anyway, after that, more problems have been created by the chap who covered me but I've gone past the stage of caring too much. It will hopefully be fixed by Wednesday and we can all move on.
After all that, I enjoyed what was possibly the best weekend of my life in Newcastle. The journey there was hellish, a whole 6 and a half hours. 2 of these hours were because we were stuck in a traffic jam caused by a pile of sand in the road, leading to single-lane Friday night A1 traffic. You couldn't make this up. When we finally got there, all 5 of us enjoyed a weekend of major antics, banter, jokes and good old-fashioned fun with highlights including Moore vs Chubby Dancer, Colin vs Scottish Sock Lady, 3 of us vs Polish Bouncer, Mitten vs The Joker, Triples, Forming a Band on the Street finished off by Beddoe and Colin falling asleep in the bathroom. Shall I go through them all, one by one?
Moore vs Chubby Dancer I believe it was in a place called Sam Jacks, although I'm not totally sure. There was a lady walking round offering ... "personal" dances to anyone for a set amount of money. Us as a group had decided already that we were going try and embarrass shy and retiring Moore, and this was the perfect way to do it. I paid the lady a fiver, (well worth it trust me), and filmed her "brushing up" against a kneeled and visibly embarrassed Moore who couldn't have looked more awkward if he was an comic book salesman in a brothel. Comedy Gold.
Colin vs Scottish Sock Lady Also on Friday, Colin spent some of the night in pursuit of a buxom Scottish lady who was just leaving some club in a complex called 'The Gate'. Her and her friend, (who me and Beddoe "distracted"), were just staggering home when Colin pounced. I've no idea what they were talking about, but Colin ended up giving her his socks in return for a kiss. Which we naturally got on film.
3 of Us vs Polish Bouncer Upon getting back to the Travelodge that night, at a truly superb 3.30am, we were so loud. Something hilarious had happened with the taxi driver, (although I can't remember what), and we were all laughing whilst also trying to keep quiet, obviously leading to more laughter. Imagine me, Beddoe and Colin, all drunk as skunks, shouting along the corridor without a care in the world? After a while of this, the Polish bouncer who was manning the doors came upstairs and gave us a "final warning", threatening to chuck us out if we weren't silent immediately. Oh, and at this point, Colin's trousers fell down. Standard.
Triples On to the Saturday night, we were coaxed into this new "club" called Luna, who were claiming to sell triples for £2.99. I was sceptical, but ordered a triple JD and coke none the less, and made sure I watched her put 3 measures of JD into a glass. In fairness, she did, and I was charged the promised £2.99. I only had 1, not wanting to go overboard like previous trips like this. Beddoe on the other hand...? Let's just say it contributed to his state later on...
Forming a Band in the Street After being complimented on my new shirt, which had, 'You Know You Want to Tweet Me' printed on the front and my bright blue sun hat, myself and Colin persuaded two Mexican men to give us their instruments on the street. They were buskers, but for 5 minutes, myself on the guitar and Colin on the keyboard/harmonica/piano thing, we were entertaining the streets of Newcastle. Sadly, my guitar skills didn't gain any money.
Colin and Beddoe Fall Asleep in the Bathroom Speaks for itself, but those triples didn't go down to well for Beddoe, who I found slouched in the bathroom on our return at about 4am that night. Colin joined him for a snoozy on the bathroom floor, and I do have photographic evidence!
...
It was a phenomonal weekend, and I even got back in good time to watch Bedford CC record the 2nd of their 2 wins in my playing absence. Overall, I think it was the best weekend I've ever had. So many stories to tell, and everyone had a good time. Many thanks to Marriott, who drove us there and back, and generally spent the night making sure we didn't get into more trouble than we did!
But, you guessed it, as soon as I walked in from the pub quiz that I attended after the cricket, at about 11pm, a wave of anxiety hit me as I remembered the troubles of work. I have developed slightly more resolve than I had when I started in the world of work a few years ago, where I would of probably walked out in fear of being severely reprimanded by now.
Just in the last couple of hours though, I have been reading through a few other blogs on here, with similar topics, and realised something. A lot of people went through their adolescence and early adulthood with severe depression and anxiety, which affected every aspect of their lives. They couldn't go out in public because they were so nervous, their friendships affected, and therefore I presume their overall happiness. I am perfectly fine in social situations, but when it comes to work I am devilishly scared of getting things wrong. But generally, I do have many, many good moments, such as this weekend for example.
Many people don't have that, and I have to remind myself that I am somewhat lucky. Even if sometimes it feels like I'm the unluckiest person on the planet.
...
P.S. Mitten vs The Joker has been eradicated from my memory. Major case of a super pair of beer goggles going on with that one... Oops!
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