What a year, what a year.
2009, everyone seems glad to see the back of you - me, I'm ambivalent.

I had some great successes this year - I passed all the entry tests for the Fire Service. Sadly I was pipped to the post for a job though.
I came over all brave and had laser eye surgery - hope that pays off...
My climbing came on leaps and bounds.
We bought a camper van, and kitted it out ourselves.
I finally went to Fontainbleu, and to Orkney - two places I love and will be returning to.
Plus. I got a new job - which I start in two weeks.

2009, you weren't so bad at all.
And if you were, I've forgotten all of the shitty bits already.

Vignette: on being a feminist

Context: I've just been offered a job with a charity that works with disadvantaged young women. I think this is pretty rad, so I was telling my boyfriend all about it last night...

Me: It's going to be great to work somewhere where being a feminist is actually a good thing!
Him: Being a feminist is always a good thing.
Me: Haha, I wish everyone thought like you.

It;s fresh and it's new*, it's a mixtape for you

Pour vous, a Spotify mixtape: V&M's comp

Named for the folk who I originally made the mixtape for (and who left it in a van by accident - but that's another story). Lacking in the punk rawk sound you might expect from a blog named 'Travelling Punk', but conventions are for folks in suits who carry laptops.

Sadly missing the following tracks off the original pressing, not available on Spotify**:
Behave - Slumber Party
Angryman - The Bees
Morning Sun - The Beautiful Girls
Little plastic castles - Ani Difranco
Modern girl - Sleater Kinney
Oregon - The Maybellines
Plastic girls - The Minds

Enjoy
x

* It's SNFU, with Erics had a bad day...

** Oh Spotify, why you lemme down like-a this?

This weekend I...

• Took 4 hours to get from Nottingham to Sheffield via the M1. The motorway was closed because of an accident
• Saw a pheasant explode under the wheels of a car
• Lost a false tooth when I 'held' the rope in my mouth as I was about to clip at the climbing wall. Luckily it came off into my mouth and was not lost forever
• Made my wrists and elbows ache bouldering in the cold at Burbage North
• Enjoyed my last days of climbing outdoors for a while - I'm going to be out of the game for a month after having laser eye surgery this week.
• Eek.

The universe is in control. Is out of control.
I might try and choose my destination, attempt to plan my route, but forces outside of my control affect the path and influence the outcome.
Employer
Financial system
Environment.

A fork in the road.

On the way to work this morning I was caught gurning in frustration at myself by a Paul O'Gady look-a-like.

While out running before work I was also spotted dancing on a pedestrian island (while waiting for traffic to pass - not just for fun).

Coffee - cheaper than food and an appetite surpressant.
Good news to the hungry and broke among me. Will I survive until dinner on one cup alone?

What do you do when you don't want to do the the thing you're doing anymore...
And you realise that what you really want to do is so far out of reach because of damned genetics...
And you don't know what else to do...
Because there is nothing else and there never has been?

Is this the correct time to have a quarter life crisis?

I wish I ran a music review blog, where I reviewed surf punk cds all day long, and record labels sent me free stuff.

First off, I need to learn the art of reviewing.

I love this time of year, when you have to start digging your winter coats and jumpers out.

When spring comes you tend to abandon all those wintery comforts double quick and embrace the 'hot' weather, even before it arrives. The coats, hats and woolies are bundled away - not touched for months. Then when the temperature dips you rediscover them, slip them on a snuggle down against the chilly wind.

It's not quite the same rediscovery in the summer. I shed layers and find my summer clothes underneath - I've been wearing them all winter long for insulation!