Days 231 to 250

I really got behind on updating this blog, I had intended to record what I got up to while looking for a new job (and starting that job), but being unwell kinda kiboshed that and it became more a record of my shopping (!) and then it stopped being even that. Now that I’m feeling better, this is me starting to get it back on track. So I’ll do a couple of big updates to get up to date and then it’ll be something more involved/interesting (?).

During these twenty days:

1. I had our garden rubbish removed, who know, stuff like old planet pots, old kids toys and tins of paint, that accumulate in the garden/garden shed that you don’t want/need, but can’t go out with the household rubbish.

2. There were three New Comic Book Days, with lots of good books:

3. I brought the Two Lone Swordsmen remix 12" of Primal Scream's Stuka:

4. Read the novelisation of John Carpenter’s Escape From New York (which provides more background for the main characters and is a decent novel in itself, I think you would enjoy even if you haven’t seen the film), Katie Shelly’s My Pretty Vampire (a great read, that reminded me of those weird 70s and early 80’s horror films) and a load of other great comics (being unwell I'd kinda gotten behind on reading what I was buying, but the more I felt better the more I wanted to read, and listen to CDs, watch DVDs, go out, etc) and re-read (5 Oct) Warren Ellis’ Normal, which is a great locked room mystery crossed with science fiction/the use and abuse of technology. I also got Book Of Lies, which includes a section by Grant Morrison on Pop Magick, aka using magick to make your life better:

 

5. Brought some more DVDs and CDs:

6. I also started exercising properly (again!), which is basically a long walk and free weights, with the idea that the walk will get longer and that I’ll eventually a gym (to get access to better weights and equipment).

7. I had an appointment with the GP Practise nurse for an ECG, which turned out to be fine and didn’t show any signs for concern and all I need to do is lose a couple of stone, which should be easy peasy! Then a week later (5 Oct) I had an appointment for 24 hour blood pressure monitoring, which is always fun, except for when you have to sleep with it on, which I find to be practically impossible, and when it gets sweaty, which happens after about half an hour. Fun times.

8. I got the latest issue of Modern Toss (#10) through the post:

9. On my walk I noticed that one of the streets is called Seymour Road:

And the next road is Blur Street and the next is Gorillaz Avenue, the next The Good, the Bad & the Queen Parade, yes this was a very bad Blur/Damon Albarn joke and a sign that I’m still not back up to full speed. If I was fully healthy it would a lot funnier.

10. I listened to Black Grape’s Pop Voodoo, which is really great. I had worried that after all this time that the album wouldn’t be any good, that it would be a pale imitation of the nineties albums. But, it isn’t it takes that sound and updates it and has the same tongue in cheek, oddball humour and stupid smart lyrics.

11. I also watched season one of Wynonna Earp, it had taken me a while to watch as I thought it might be just a Buffy rip-off. But it isn’t, while it shares some of the same tropes and humour it stands on its own feet and has its own perspective. You should watch it and I hope that Netflix gets the second season soon.

12. And I got a slightly Satanic new £10 note, which has now been used to pay the window cleaner.