Strange Dream

Had a rather odd dream last night...

I was driving back from somewhere down south with at least two passengers (people from church I think - can only remember 1 of them for sure, but have some vague sense of who the others might be - don't think it's important though - just people I'd seen that day). Driving back, we get to a road junction and make a turning, only to find that we are in something like a Euro-tunnel station. It is like we're coming off the train, even though we've not been on one. Also, we are definitely too far north for this by miles, much nearer the midlands.

Next, we are on foot in the building, and they want to charge us the toll for having been on the train through the Euro-tunnel. We keep telling them that we've not been through it, so we shouldn't be paying, but they insist. We refuse and then we try to get out of a door by pushing, but we can't. Then for some reason, one we've not been pushing opens for us to easily walk through, so we go through that to the next bit.

However, on the other side there is already a police officer, as this next area is immigration. As we've only been in the UK, we don't have passports. We explain this, and point out the photo id we do have on our driving licences that at least shows we are from the UK, but he's having none of it. He says he's going to have to destroy the driving licences. At this point, I say I want some normal police (ie. not immigration), and tell them that if they examine the CCTV cameras around the roads they'll find the proof that we can from the nearby roads, and not from the tunnel. I also tell them they should sort out the roads so it doesn't happen to anyone else, and let us go on our way.

I wake up before I find out what happens next. I'd like to hope that the police turned up and sorted things out, but I'll never know. Then again, I doubt it's particularly important. Just weird what happens in the dreams you remember.

Oh No, Not Again

This is getting a bit annoying. This time my car hasn't broken down, but it has been broken into. Luckily nothing appears to be missing so far (although I'd best double check that). Right, time to ring the police. Ciao for now.

Do cars like being ill?

It feels like they do. My car was due for MOT, and booked it in for Friday, but couldn't drive it Wednesday onwards as it would then be out of time (yes, probably should have not cut the timing so fine). Anyway, took my trip to London in the company's Vectra (which I have to do anyway for businness trips), and they kindly let me borrow it for Wednesday evening. Thursday evening took my car to the garage. Friday, public transport was sorted (strangely it is easier to get a bus from my house to Coventry than it is to get it from here to work, which is much nearer), and thought I'd be sorted for the weekend too, but then the bad news came.

Rang the garage to check on progress late afternoon, and discovered it had failed. Yet another outlay, this time for the CV gators. They say they'll try and fix it on Saturday morning. Ring again on Saturday, and it turns out they can't fix it as they had some problem or other. They're going to do it on Monday. I unfortunately have to somehow pick my parents up from Coventry on Sunday without the car.

Still the cloud has a silver lining, and they say they can give me a courtesy car, problem solved. Still, they want to give me a Ka. Not good for suitcases (even my 306 needs one to be on the back seat, so a Ka will be no good). They check, and can give me a Mondeo Estate, so once again sorted. I just hope I can pick up my car on Monday evening - Oh, and that it doesn't break again any time soon. Still servicing soon due. That'll be great I'm sure.

Perfect Weather

I probably have moaned far too many times about the weather this past year. Really it's not that bad. Today however is perfect. Just nipped out to grab lunch and the sky was blue, the temperature not too hot or cold, the breeze in just the right quantity. A great day where you can easily be thankful for the world we've been so privileged to live on. Now I just need to raise my game to being thankful in all circumstances...

Car Illness

My car was ill again. This time turned out to be the brakes. Is now feeling much better, with new rear brake cylinders and brake shoes. I hope it will remain healthy for a while now. Still was a pain last weekend. Probably did me good doing a little walking. I'm greatful also to all those who gave me lifts (although I doubt any of them read this).

I have some pics to put up on here of my sister's graduation. They shall eventually appear in the photos section of the site. But first I will have more blogs to write. I think I have two subjects to cover over the next few days, so for once it might actually be worth reading this. Then again, as it's a blog, some things might just be too much about random stuff going on with me. See what you think.

Bad Day

Not only does my car need a new exhaust, but I also needed to ring security to get out of a car park tonight. Let's hope tomorrow is better!

Off to italy...

...will post my photos when I get back. Make some interesting posts for me to read when I get back. See you all in just over a week.

PS. if you are bored, try to think of as many lyrics/bands/albums/songs with places in the title. Lyrics is worth 1 point - there must be loads of them - but if you can come up with bands or songs I think that should be worth extra points - dunno how many yet. Leave them as comments hear, or tell me in the pub next week.

A Good Roasting

Did Roast Pork for a few friends today. Very enjoyable, will have to do again some time. My roast potatoes went down fairly well (I'm glad I did them properly rather then using the cheat frozen ones), but I think next time I do red cabbage, maybe a little less time in the oven will be better.

Hectic

Preparing for yet another trip (the second this week) down the M1 tomorrow. Yet another day in what appears to be an ever more hectic work schedule. Hopefully things will calm down in about 3 weeks.

The Quest for Cheese and Endurance

Did the whole laser quest thing last night with Patrick & Lucy and Mike. Great fun, we lost the first game, but won the next 2, and Mike managed a high score somewhere.

Following this, and a short trip to the Jug in town we went back to becky and lucy's house, along with a few others. The idea was cheese on toast and playing pictionary, but the pictionary never materialised. Instead, we ended up with a random competition on how long we could hold plank position for (hands together, hands and elbows on the floor, tips of toes touching the floor and body lifted off the floor horizontally). This is a surprisingly tough thing to do. All this between about 12 and 2 in the morning.

Tim Bowker set the time of 1 minute, and I managed to beat this with 1 min 15 seconds, but then the experts stepped in. Becky making about 1m35s and Mike and Patrick put in suscesivley longer times, both over 3 minutes.

Still, nicely up in time this morning for breakfast at Zebs with the same crew. Full english, with extra cheese, and fresh orange juice. Nice stuff, highly recommended. And then Foppage, (my tenner went on Nitin Sawnhey - Human and Björk - Selma Songs, but I think Patrick did a quite nice job with 2 full series of Allo Allo for the same amount - Which he is quite cable of reciting from!)

Right that's enough of this random tale. Maybe next time I post will be more thought provoking...

Routine

I think it is about time I got things into more of a routine. So from now on I am going to try to structure a bit better the time between 11PM and 8:30AM so that I get enough sleep and I'm not in a constant rush.

Hot and Cold...

...or Music, Dance and Prayer.

Well, an exciting weekend all round, so time to blog about it I think. So here goes...

Cold 1

Well, friday night, started with some food in browns, to avoid going home from uni, just to come back to cov. Then, on to Coventry Cathedral. It was freezing! But the London Community Gospel Choir soon got everyone warmed up. Got to chat to some friends in the interval, and get hold of one of their fine CDs too. Grund!

Cold 2

Saturday, once again to Coventry Cathedral, which was once again cold! This time, for my confirmation. A great opportunity for me to state my faith publicly again, and to receive much prayer and blessing. We started with a little explanation of how everything would work, so that when we got to the service itself, we could worry less, and concentrate on god more. Then tea with the bishop, where some of us ended up in a random cake eating competition (I blame the kids for starting that, no adults involved of course (hmm, right)).

Anyway, after this, back to the important stuff. The service was good, and Bishop Colin prayed for each of us in turn, for a greater filling of the holy spirit. At the end of the service we all lighted candles to signify our comming out of darkness and into light. It was very encouraging to see so many people there, both being confirmed (about 180) and supporting (nearly 2000!).

Of course, although this was good and a blessing to me, it is still the small event. The main important event was of course my baptism, which I am thrilled to have done. Now though the important thing is how I continue with my spiritual journey, and my relationship with God, how I can follow Jesus better. For this I have much reading, action and of course prayer to do...

Hot 1

Next day, Sunday, was introduced to the Church at St. Pauls (all those baptised and/or confirmed, or having renewed vows stood up in church during the service for everyone to see, and some video of the confirmation service was shown), and then lovely roast turkey in a yorkshire at the Cask. Then, that evening, the heat of bright lights on the stage, as we (the University of Warwick Symphony Orchestra) began our performance. Great fun, we performed a selection from "The Armed Man" by Karl Jenkins with the chourus, they performed, "The Three Kings" by Dove, and then we played "Symphonic Dances from West Side Story" by Bernstein. After the interval, Tchaikovsky's Fith Symphony (with a really beautiful horn solo, by the first horn).

Hot 2

Finally, rounding off this, with Monday night. My usual Ceroc dancing. This week's intermediate routine started with a couple of nice easyish moves, but the third move, very tough. You either got in knots, and needed long arms not to, or got the crouch bit wrong, but hey, all fun :-). Freestyle, once again exhausting, and hence, hot!

Anyways, until next time, Ciao Ciao, M

Sisters, Hucknall, Food, Whiskey

Saw my sister in Hucknall today (The ickle big one, or one that is younger than the other one, but older than me), which was grand. Was up there with parents, and people they know, and people my sis knows.

Anyways, had some lovely food at the Hardwick Inn (Game Casourole in my case), and once again (as we always do when there), sampled some of the whiskey (the place has 200 different ones!). Finally worked out what it is that makes a good (in my opinion very smokey in the throat, but very smooth, not harsh in the front of the mouth) whiskey. It would appear the secret is sherry casks. Bowmore darkest has this, and so do some of the others we tried. Grund!

Fireworks

Kenilworth fireworks were rather fine tonight. It is amazing how they can keep going for a whole 30 minutes, and be good all the way through. Quite sensitive work, at moments, which louder bangs and bigger lights for the musical climaxes. Good to be with friends too, although we did get split up a bit, so there were a few smaller groups by the end. All good though, was a good night

Also, was very happy to bump into a couple I went to Uni with, and haven't seen in a while. So in case you're reading this, Hi Dan and Ali. I really must make an effort to catch up with old friends more. On that note, I shall bid this blog farewell

Dave's Charity Ceroc Ball

Once again, Dave's Charity (British Heart Foundation) Ceroc Ball was excellent. Music, dancing, chatting, good atmosphere - very fine indeed.

The next one is on the 21st of April 2006, which happens to be the day before my 26th birthday. How handy, I can enjoy the dancing and celebrate my birthday at the same time! Of course, if this is to happen, then some more people I know will have to come, and to do that will involve getting tickets early. Consider yourselves warned in advance

It's Only a Cold

Nuff Said.

Apparently Asda don't stock...

...Garam Masala. Randomly discovered this when going to buy the ingredients for this recipe. Still, the staff were helpful enough, and I was directed to Michaels Supermarket on bath street. It appears that this tiny place has loads of random spice type ingredients that no-one else has (like what I needed, Monosodium Glutimate - which I didn't want(!!!) - and huge bags of spice, the size of bags of sand in a builders yard). Got the Garam Masala, and Mustrard Seeds. Very Yummy recipe - Highly recommended.

Stuck...

at work. M40 jammed, and it goes all the way back to the tech. park. Oh well, try again in a bit - just sent out a scout - well actually someone said they try to leave, and give me a ring.

nackered

Well, another good Ceroc sesh, but so knackering. We appear to be over the whole shortage of women issue, and into a new shortage of men. This means we end up getting hardly any break, but still, it's all good fun.