Morning all,
I promised pictures but as yet I only have one. It was too dark to get the huge snowman on, but this one I believe is taller than me - that's a feat in itself.
I call him Frank, in honour of my favouritest girl in the whole world, Jenn.
It's my neighbour's snowman. There's another one on the right of the pic in the distance, and more off shot on the right again. It's a convention!
I will get out tomorrow when it's still light and take some more, especially of the huge one round the corner.
And I'm not one for resolutions :) I am one for fact though, and it's a fact that my blogging has dropped BY HALF in 2009 in comparision to 2008 and I'm sad about that. I'm not really sure what to do to remedy it though. I don't want to blog just for blogging sake but I miss being able to keep track of my life through my blog.
So off to work I trudged today. There's a bit of snow on some of the roads but still, not enough to grind the country to a halt so I am here greasing the cogs of industry ensuring our company doesn't go bump in the night.
On my way in to work, I spot a couple of people behind an estate car which appears to be struggling to get into the flats where I used to live. It was causing problems as there were cars waiting to turn in on both sides of the road so I stopped in the nearby bus stop (sorry, needs must) and got out. I joined the two people behind the car and advised the best policy would be to rock the car until it starts to move so along with the driver who gunned the engine, the three of us behind the car rocked it until it was free and moving. Happy driver (he yelled "Thanks everyone!!") and happy wasters sitting in their warm cars waiting to turn in but not nice enough to get out and help. Me, I went to work with a smile on my face knowing that for once in my life I have done some good.
In other news, there are some lads round the corner from our house who I believe are working on the largest snowman in history. It's base is way taller than I am, and they needed a ladder to get on top of it. I will post pics if I get round to it.
The office was sent home at 2pm today in preparation for what the BBC hilariously have named Frozen Britain - a play on their usual Broken Britain theme. Apparently there are blizzards headed for Manchester - well according to the news reader anyway. The usual sites are showing no such warnings and the clear skies I've seen for most of the day while I've been awake are pretty contradictory to this theory but we will see. Apparently we have ordered a snow plough for 2am. If he walls my car in I will break his nose. Ahh, the old PeteGraham returns.
Hope all of my Vox neighbours are safe and as warm as possible in this inconvenient weather.
I'm confused. I was under the impression the highways agency was there to keep our highways running smoothly, yet on my way home this morning I find the roads thick with snow. Fine, for the side roads. Mmm, bit worrying for the main roads but motorways? The so called backbone of our nation? Snowed over?? Where were the gritters and snow ploughs? I was nearly taken out by a speeding lorry who deemed my 30 mph was not quick enough for him. Slightly further up the road I undertook him while he was stuck on the motorway going nowhere and I was coming off at the junction.
Eventually I got to my street, pulled up to get on our drive and....nothing. Wheelspinning. Bollocks, my car was now blocking half if not more of the road. I didn't worry, just rocked back and forth in reverse and third and eventually cleared it. I drove back round our street which is kinda horeshoe shaped onto the main road and tried again. This time I just aimed for the drive and hoped for the best. An hour later, I'm home. Snow rocks!
I lifted the rear warehouse door earlier on to see what the weather was doing. I was greeted by the following. Actually quite pretty and it isn't often I'll say that about Salford...
Pretty painful... See what I did there, because covered in snow it's pretty but by god I bet it's painful. Right, I know, I'll get my other coat...
It's snowing outside. Whereas most countries measure it in ft and in, I'd say there's a good 1cm of settled snow right now. Probably be the same in the morning when I leave. Ahh, I love driving in the snow, but at least if I crash I'm MOT'd...
Car number 2 is due it's MOT. I'm currently sleeping for night shifts. Oh no wait, no I'm not. I'm in our local Kwik Fit waiting for our car to be passed or failed. Turns out the previous owners bought the car and registered it in a period of the year when no bloody garages are open, or none of them are taking on work. Thankfully, due to both of us working and to my daft shifts, we are fortunate enough to have a second car (read: old banger) to get us about while I couldn't drive the main one because it wouldn't be legal. That's a laugh in itself. Because of this albeit minor inconvenience I looked into what MOT's are really about. For those not in the UK, an MOT (Ministry of Transport) certificate is basically a yearly roadworthiness test on any car 3 years or older.
What I read astounded me.
The MOT checks the roadworthiness of your car ON THE DAY it was tested. The reason our government wants you to have MOTs is to ensure car safety. This loosely translates to being yet another tax on us, the working people, who are taxed in this country already up to the hilt. On a car, we pay an initial road fund licence when bought new. We pay a yearly road tax, which allegedly goes to the upkeep of the UK's roadways and motorways, but I happen to know that most of our motorways tarmac is way past it's use-by date. We pay a tax on petrol, then on top of that we pay VAT on the petrol AND the tax. We also pay insurance tax. Incredible.
The most annoying thing is the MOT has to be done yearly to ensure you are keeping your car defect-free, yet the MOT only covers the day you took it in to be tested. So whether or not you have a valid MOT certificate, your car may well develop a defect an hour, day, week, month, whatever after you had it tested so your MOT is invalid!! The real kicker is that insurance companies (the second most corrupt organization in the UK after the police) won't pay out if you don't have an MOT, and the fuzz give you a 60 quid fine if they catch you without one. Road Tax and MOTs are just government earners. Insurance, while I believe is far overpriced, is a necessity and one I fully believe we should have and should come down hard on those who don't.
Mind you, without Road Tax and MOT where else would this group of clowns running the country claw back the huge financial deficit we find ourselves with. Breathing tax?
Here endeth today's rant. Other than being very tired and grumpy I'm in a very good mood :)
Sorry hon, I couldn't be bothered typing them all out so I stole them off your blog and modified the answers :)
1.) What did you do in 2009 that you've never done before?
Wrote "2009" at the end of all the dates
2.) Did you keep your New Year's resolutions?
Yes, completely. My resolution was to never again make resolutions.
3.) Did anyone close to you give birth?
My gorgeous fiancee
4.) Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. Rest well.
5.) What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
An Australian Visa - and a job.
6.) What did you do on vacation?
Vacation? What vacation?
7.) What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Becoming a father.
8.) What was your biggest failure?
Failing to land a job which had my name written all over it. Mind you, I suppose that was more the person offering the job's failure. They needed me, they just didn't realise it.
9.) Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing worth mentioning.
10.) What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Aston being born - a year ago today actually!
11.) What was the best thing you bought?
Brutal Legend. EPIC game.
12.) What day from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
2nd Jan - I saw Jemma give birth and helped as much as any man can in that situation.
13.) Where did most of your money go?
The bank.
14.) What song will always remind you of 2009?
Savior - Rise Against
15.) Compared to this time last year, are you:
• Happier or sadder? both
• Thinner or fatter? same
• Richer or poorer? poorer
16.) How did you spend Christmas?
At home with Jemma and Aston, then out at my folks, then up to her folks.
17.) What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spent more time with Aston, but I have to work to pay the bills
18.) What do you wish you'd done less of?
Ate.
19.) What was your favorite month of 2009 and why?
January. Aston. Enough said.
20.) What was your greatest musical discovery?
Rise Against. Oh and Tchaikovsky.
21.) What concerts did you attend?
Oasis/Kasabian/The enemy
22.) What was the best book you read?
Too many to choose from, and I don't care that my answer is a cop out.
23.) What did you want and get?
I didn't want anything. Wanted all efforts to go on Aston
24.) What did you want and not get?
I didn't want anything
25.) What was your favorite movie of this year?
Taken
26.) What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a small gathering of close family and friends. Oh, I took most of April off too ;)
I was...umm...ahhh...30
27.) What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Someone giving me a Visa.
28.) How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
I don't follow fashion. I like comfortable, neat, smart clothing
29.) What kept you sane?
Sane? What? Aha hahahaha hahahahahaha. Erm....the meds do a good job....
30.) Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jenn.
31.) What political issue stirred you the most?
Obama becoming President. I don't care that he's the first Black President, he doesn't deserve credit for his colour, nobody does. He deserves ultimate credit for the job he is doing and the changes he's made/problems he has overcome in such a short time in office. I hope he continues to make a difference.
32.) What was a much needed change?
Pass
33.) Who did you miss?
I don't miss many people. Jenn tops the list though.
34.) Who was the best new person you met/got closer to?
Jenn of course, and Elyse - you're both lovely.
35.) Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Redundancy is getting closer. Don't just sit and hope something good will happen, cos it won't.
Yeah, all those jolly wishes.
New Year's Eve, I worked from 7am until 3am today and I came back in again at 3pm this afternoon. Hopefully I'll be finished by 6am but I really hope you all enjoyed the fun and frolics that accompany a new year celebration. There's nothing better than watching others enjoy themselves especially as I woke up at 11am hangover free today. Sadly had a headache but not alcohol related.
My friend and his family live in Sydney near the Blue Mountains. At 1pm here we were chatting via msn and I wished them all happy New Year which felt odd at lunchtime!
Makes you think of your family and friends - whom you may or may not still be in contact with - at this time of year. Can be quite hard, especially when you've had recent losses.
To all my Vox friends and neighbours, I wish you a very happy, successful and prosperous - in love, life, finance and everything in between - 2010. I look forward to reading about all your exploits and occasional mischief (GOF, Snowy). May you all stay happy and healthy.
Pete
I'm going to go ahead and conform with the rest of modern society in the "reflection of the passing year" in the spirit of the celebrating the quickly approaching New Year.
I honestly don't even really remember what I did on the eve of '09. . . all I remember is riding a motorcycle on January 1st with the understanding that "whatever you start the new year with will be how you spend it." (-Dad's random Boy Scout friend with a Harley) which seems relatively true for this year. My 2009 was filled with adventure and new experiences. I went to Cape Cod, Seattle, turned 21, dumped my wife, went to a life-changing Cirque Berzerk show, moved in with a boy, went to New York, began arrangements for a big move. . .
2010 promises to be equally as exciting, but hopefully less dramatic(?). Spending the evening at Joel's in Glendale, see Jack & Sarah, seeing Albert, Steve and Jamie get married, going to CES, and that's only January.
Carrying on with my mission of self-reflection, I've had a lot of time to do that today. Andrew encouraged me to keep my mind on other things for the day, which I have attempted, but I'm an overly-analytical person, especially of myself.
Last night, I got frustrated. In fact, I've been voicing a lot of frustrations lately. Which frustrates me EVEN MORE because in the end I always take my arguments a step too far and don't organize my thoughts, which makes my whole point feel pretty much void. So then I've brought up an empty issue that might not completely mend itself because I feel compelled to back off so as not to rock the boat. Mostly, this is because I can't stand people being upset at me. For some reason, I feel like all of my relationships are incredibly fragile and that by voicing anything I might have an issue with, I'll rock the boat enough to tip it.
But then when I do speak up, it's more damaging than helpful. Or at least, that's how it feels.
Last night's issue made me realized that I need to let go of my insecurities. Really, it's the root-cause of every issue I've brought up. Not to mention, my insecurity is the root for how to drive people away. I was wronged before, sure, but we all are. And love is about trusting that THIS ONE, THIS TIME, it'll be different. And it already is. Since day one my life has changed for the better. Instead of getting so worried that the same thing will happen again, I guess the trick is to meet someone who fools those instincts and worries.
In conclusion, my New Year's resolutions are essentially these:
-Release my past and accept the present.
-Trust my future.
-Push my limits.
-Know my limits.
-Love completely.
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