The Next Step

So making decisions and taking steps are hard we know this. You've got the four major decisions as an adult that take place at the end of school/university, jobs, and at the start of marriage or kids.

However life is full of those little ones that annoy you along the way. The average life of a 21 year old is rather complicated - at that point in life where you are between studying and a job, or travelling and settling down. There are plenty of opportunities to do whatever whenever, especially in todays economic climate the right decision is important to make. Taking a year out to (according to the tax man) work for free doesn't make the student loans company happy, or Natwest for that matter, yet shouldn't I be focusing on the fun things in life now rather than when I have people relying on me to provide for them?

It is my confession that this totally scares the crap out of me, in several months time this decision will have to be made again, just as it had to be made last year. That decision involved me making a major change in my life, personally I think then it was the right decision and while people may have got hurt in the process, myself included it is not a regrettable decision. By the end of this summer however, this may not be the confession of a tour guide, perhaps it will be the confession of a teacher, a student (again), a husband, a father (Ok maybe not that soon but you know what I mean). Decisions have to be made to factor in everything in life that has to be addressed.

Then of course is that 5th major decision that no one really enjoys admitting.

That L word.

In the past, people I am close to have made the wrong decisions about following that special someone, to the other side of the world, a different university, a new city and some of them have been mistakes, some of them however have not.

This provides an interesting conversation as to exactly what one would do when put in that situation, I guess I'll find out at some point but for now procrastination is the key. Decisions will be made, later.

Cau for now

It's that

Shephards Pie

It's weird how feelings can manifest themselves, from one thing to another, and not just good feelings, bad feelings also. How quickly things can turn is quite amazing; whether it be about a certain subject, political allegiance, a person, or everybody's favourite; the opposite sex.

Everyone has that honeymoon period, whether it be in love, sport, music, or making shephards pies.

In love - everyone has experienced the feeling of those first few weeks/months/years in a new exciting relationship where everything is racing. You can't bare to be apart, they are the first thing you think of in the morning, the last thing at night. Unfortunately, routine eventually takes over, which is what leads some people to get into twisted sex games and seek out adventure, but is there really much wrong with routine?

In sport - when a new player arrives, or a coach, or under new management, everybody wants to play well for them. Especially if that particular team is having a rubbish year, it's a new leaf a chance to turn things around and a great opportunity to make the most of it, unfortunately this eventually wears off unless more changes arrive, but even then athletes get old, their skills fade, but won't you always have those memories to look back on with pride.

In music - it's always the latest sensation, when a brand new act bursts on to the scene with a brand new sound taking the world by storm. The haircuts, the fashion trends, the whole world looks at you. Unfortunately this excitement will eventually wear out and everyone is playing the same sound you brought to the table a few years before, the women all start looking the same and the life grows tiresome. But to inspire a generation with music that touches peoples hearts is truly something to hold on to.

In shephards pie - you start cooking it and become really good at it but if you cook it everyday, you'd probably grow tired of its taste. I do love shephards pie though. ;)

Just some random thoughts, keep looking on the bright side of life folks, this world has beauty in it, although it may get stale at times, there is always the reason you were happy in the first place, hold on to that and you'll be happy for the rest of your life.

Monkey Writing

There once was a boy named Harold who had a lot on his plate so he ate it, and then he fancied something to drink, the problem was is that it never really panned out that way.

You see Harold couldn't find the drink that he was so desperately after, someone must have drunk it he thought. This made Harold angry so he decided to go in search of whoever drunk his favourite drink.

He went upstairs and asked Henry. Henry assured Harold that it was not him as he doesn't even know what his favourite drink is, to which Harold replied "well how do you know you didn't drink it, if you don't know what my favourite drink is to begin with?".

Henry said, "you have a point there Harold, maybe I did drink it, but if I did it was by accident so what are you going to do about it?"

At this point Harold got a pen from Henry's desk and stabbed him in the face.

The end

Bureaucracy

Working for a major corporation is like being in a CRUFTs competition; Jump through this hoop, walk this line, sit, beg, then we might give a treat.

Nearly everybody has been in the position of doing something where the reward may not always be worth it. Ultimately I can't complain because never will I earn money this easy again, but I do have good knowledge that it happens in any major company, we are the puppets they are the master. Even for those people who are lucky enough to own their own small business that they live comfortably off, they still have to report to the tax man, Union officials, and essentially have to meet the demands of those who own a slightly bigger company. Herein is where the problem lies.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the socialist regime and even parts of a capitalist program, never in my life do I want to be ruled by communism but on paper it doesn't look that bad does it?

Everyone working for each other, helping one another out, you scratch my back - I'll scratch yours attitude. Why can't people just live? Why is it that we need to report to 'the man' that we have to pay the powers that be to continue to be the powers that be when quite frankly the powers that be can occasionally be assholes.

Now, I 'm a fairly laid back guy, some people call it lazy but I choose to take the less pessimistic approach (it's not like it takes any extra effort), so I am willing to let things slide. Life can pass me by and if I get shouted at told off, then I'll make some sort of effort to settle problems but if I quickly realise some people just aren't worth bothering over I won't bother. There is the odd moment inside of me though that when another one of my fellow puppets occasionally pulls back on that string when the master may do an incorrect movement and I think 'damnit you're right'.

Like I said quite frankly I don't give too much of a damn if I know I'm right and someone tells me off for making the smallest insignificant problem but occasionally I want to shout back as well and let the puppeteer what an ass he is being, so I do admire those people who give it a go.

Unfortunately this world will never go back to the state of friendly back scratchers so those people at the bottom of the heap like you and I, just have to look out for each other and hopefully the dog owner will feed us the odd treat or two.

Until then we've always got bureaucracy.

Your step by step guide to utter relaxation

Turn on the hob

Put some water in the saucepan

Place the saucepan on the moderately warm hob

Grab a mug

Grab a tea bag

Open the fridge, get the milk

Open the cupboard, get the sugar

Put tea bag in mug

Search the apartment for a clean spoon

I've been looking for this sock

Put the sock in the washing machine

Aha!

Take on me, take me on

Focus

Wash the crud off the spoon

Hmm, need some new washing up liquid

Water is starting to boil

Grab the oven gloves

Pour contents of saucepan into mug

Replace saucepan, turn off hob

Use the spoon to squeeze the tea bag and stir

Remove tea bag, place it on top of the pile that was once a bin

Add some milk

Add one sugar, stir

Stir the opposite direction

Stir in the original direction

Tap the spoon on the mug twice and dump it in the sink

Take mug to couch and sit

Get up and grab biscuits

Return to couch

Aaahhhhhhhh

Typical Conversations with tourists; make it your checklist!

Tourist: What did you study?

Me: Creative Writing with Drama

Tourist: Drama? (chuckles) I thought so

Me: (fake chuckle) Yeah

Tourist: Where are you from?

Me: Wales.

Tourist: Oh...

Me: It's in Britain

Tourist: Ooooohhhhhh right I know

Me: So where are you from?

Tourist: The US

Me: (wow that American accent really threw me off, how f*&@ing stupid do you think I am asshole? the US is a big f*&@ing place, you wanna be a little more specific?) Oh cool which part?

Tourist: So what do you do here?

Me: (are you serious?) I'm a tour guide

Tourist: You don't study or anything?

Me: Nope just a tour guide

Tourist: (interesting career choice)

Me: How long have you been traveling for?

Tourist: 3 months now

Me: Cool where else have you been?

Tourist: Well I've been to London, Paris, Amsterdam...

Me: Oh cool

Tourist: Munich, Berlin

Me: Nice

Tourist: But next we're going to...

Me: (I wonder what bagel I'll have today)

Tourist: ...Krakow...

Me: (I haven't had the Caprese one in a while) Oh cool

Tourist: ...Bratislava...

Me: (Wow that girl across the street is pretty) Nice I wanna go there

Tourist: ...Budapest...

Me: (Should I go out tonight?) Oh I hear that's split into two like, Buda and Pest

Tourist: Yeah that's what I heard, I can't wait to go there

Me: (la di da di dooby doo)

... more to come

Ciao for now

The first sign of insanity is talking to yourself

Hello how are you?

Oh I'm ok how's things, long time no write.

Yeah I know been busy recently... well I say busy, I've been drunk a lot and not had time for such internet escapades.

That's Ok, it's good to see you so have you just been getting drunk or doing anything more exciting?

Umm...

How's work?

Picking up actually, the weather is tolerable, as are the tourists and money is improving.

Good good I'm glad to hear it.

How about you is there anything new going on in your life?

Lots! but you know how it is, tourists in and out, friends coming and going, some in America, some coming back from America, others busy with people, me being busy with other people etc, wish I had more time for everyone I wanna see tbh but this life is a hectic one

True that, anyway I better go man catch up with you later.

Yeah definitely I'll give you a post in a bit.

Cool, ciao