Next Page »

[464] Moving on January 25th, 2007 – 1:43am Posted in Events 3 comments

I now have a key to my new place, which in some small way seems to signify the beginning of the end. (Or, the start of a new beginning?) We spent today packing up everything here, too, and it already feels a much colder, lifeless place. I want to get out of here as soon as possible. It’s as sanitary and cleansed as a fresh prison cell and even looking at the bare walls is a constant reminder of where things went wrong, so I’ve no desire to put up with this situation longer than I have to. I’ve started to feel like Geoff from Marion and Geoff, and that’s no good thing.

I handed in my notice at work not long ago, and it’s a relief. Another four or five weeks and then I’m free to cut my ties with Manchester, a place I called home for a while …read more.

[463] A ticket to ride January 23rd, 2007 – 9:49pm Posted in Events No comments

There is something explicitly wonderful about Karen Carpenter’s voice. She’s my female Bill Murray. If you like her, I understand you; if you don’t, then I’m struggling.

[462] Painting over the cracks January 21st, 2007 – 2:57pm Posted in Thoughts 2 comments

Friday was an exceptionally odd day. I spent it finishing off painting the main room in this flat, which was a very bitter-sweet experience. You see, it’s quite normal for the “decorating your new place” phase to come at a happy point in a relationship; you don’t, after all, move in with someone when things are going badly. To spend a Friday afternoon in painting gear wandering around like Michaelangelo on cheap bitter, painting a flat I’m leaving in less than two weeks following the decay of a relationship was, then, very odd. It brought back a lot of memories of when we began painting the place – we’d just moved in and were full of enthusiasm (perhaps, in hindsight, blind enthusiasm, but that’s by the by now), the weather was warm, daylight spanned a true day, a set future seemed in place. To revisit those times but in my …read more.

[458] Why pubs are rubbish these days January 21st, 2007 – 2:47pm Posted in Bad Things No comments

Pubs are rubbish these days because you can buy eight pints of ale for £6, twice what you could get for the same sum in even the cheapest pub in town, so every fucker sits at home supping their cans watching shite “on the telly” or “a DVD” and then fucks off to bed without half the conversation and exchange of intelligence and wit that a night in the pub entails. What’s the cause? – cheaper ale in offies or more expensive ale in pubs? – probably a bit of both. It seems more rational to many people to spend their money on material things than transient nights with people; I understand the attitude, but can’t say it’s my own. It’s one thing that grates with me, because the pub is my natural environment – it’s where I somehow instinctively feel at home and social, so to have it eroded …read more.

[461] Blacklist January 20th, 2007 – 11:56am Posted in Bad Things, Thoughts 5 comments

Two years with Lois, and the resultant break-up, have left me with a litany of songs which I’ve decided to blacklist in the interests of self-preservation, for the foreseeable future at least. Ironic is one to avoid, Echo by Incubus too, and Blow Out by Radiohead. They’re all songs I love but listening to them now is one of those triggers of bad memories, and I’ve learned there’s nothing glamorous about inflicting pain on yourself.

[460] Time January 19th, 2007 – 12:50pm Posted in Daft No comments

I’ve just noticed that I’m starting to meet people socially who were born in the 1990s.

What the fuck?!!

[459] A memory January 17th, 2007 – 11:40pm Posted in Thoughts No comments

Last weekend, I found myself talking to a young lad – probably 16 or 17, younger even than Lark – who clearly liked a girl who was out at the same time. He was so withdrawn, I instantly connected with him. That’s one of the weird connections I still feel, even since I’ve grown out of it – I still feel a bond inside with shy, reserved people. There’s something about them that sparks my interest, maybe a suspicion that rather than talking non-stop about anything they talk stop-stop about everything.

This lad, whose name eludes me in the fog of war (drink), was a lovely chap. He reminded me of myself ten years ago. Confused, scared, perplexed by the apparent complexity of it all. As the night wore on and his hesitation to speak to her became more apparent, I had a natter with him. As my corrupt memory dictates, …read more.

[456] Acceptance January 15th, 2007 – 12:36pm Posted in Events, Thoughts 1 comment

After a long period of denial, the final stages of grief have passed in a blur for me. I was pretty down for most of last week, but retrospectively I think it was a lot to do with the tiredness caused by the bug I had, a post-New Year hangover, a touch of the January blues and the realisation of my situation with Lois kicking in. Towards the end of the week I picked up a lot, though, and in the end had a good few days; Thursday was the Witton quiz, which gave birth to Cider-Man, Friday was a few drinks with my mum and her workmates then a night in, and Saturday was a combo of seeing my family and a jaunt to Accrington to catch up with several people I’ve half-known for years. I spent Sunday having dinner at my grandma’s and then taking it easy at …read more.

[455] A room with a view January 13th, 2007 – 4:49pm Posted in Events, Good Things 1 comment

Did I mention that I got that room in the flat?

I’m looking to move at the end of the month so I hope you can join myself and Lois on Saturday 27th for a farewell few beers to this place. It’s been an odd six months here, but it’s time now for a new beginning.

[454] Beauty January 12th, 2007 – 10:42pm Posted in Good Things, Thoughts No comments

I don’t trust my rational self for a second; I know when I’m inherently attracted to someone when I only have to see them and my breath deepens, my pupils dilate and my mind clears of every thought but of them.

Next Page »