Life and all that

I’m rubbish at keeping a blog I have decided, I have things I want to talk about in my head but none which I want random people to read. Pretty sure that’s what blogs are for. Maybe it’s because I’m not an angst ridden emotional teenager and I want to keep my private life to myself.

Anyway, what have I been doing. World of Warcraft wise, big success. We finally cleared Ulduar (ignoring the horrible hard mode boss) and have moved on to Icecrown Citadel. We’re already 2 bosses through, the prospect of clearing all the raids in Wrath before Cataclysm is released is looking surprisingly likely! I’m really pleased for our little crew, from such small beginnings, etc. It’s also nice to be killing bosses who drop good loot as well, I’d forgotten what that felt like. Helps to gear up some of our more reluctant raiders. Oh, also invited some new people to the fray, a level 80 rogue and a level 13 paladin – friends of friends, both at Lancaster Uni. I like making new friends, so fingers crossed they’ll fit in well

Real life time now, I’ve got so many exciting things coming up this year I can’t quite contain myself. It starts on the 3rd of March when my brand new 27″ iMac is delivered. Then on the 12th March the F1 season starts (yes I am UNBELIEVABLY excited about that), then the 15th of March I am FLYING TO CALIFORNIA to visit Matt and Lea. Yes you read that right, I am finally making the trip to the states I have always wanted to make, with the added benefit of seeing good friends when I am out there. Then I come home, and I have booked my Motorbike training for the 3rd April, and then  I might be going to Paris (conference submission pending). Then in May we’re making plans to possibly go to Turkey for the F1 Grand Prix!!!!! And in June, Heather wants me to go on a cheap holiday with her too!! My passport will be getting a real work out.

I have a feeling this is all going to make me very poor but I just can’t bring myself to care.

Been thinking a bit about what I might do when I finish my PhD (I know, putting the cart before the horse somewhat given I’m still frantically working on PhD stuff, but humour me). I’m not sure I am cut out for a career in research, well not in the sense of sitting in Infolab working on specific projects, I try but I am learning my brain just isn’t in it. I feel a bit like I want to get out and see the world – I guess this is still some hangover from not having a future anchored to employment at the university any more, and probably why I am going traveling/experience mental in 2010. Of course my ideal employment would be something in the glamorous world of Formula 1, but I doubt I am mathematically clever enough to even dream of a technical job, and everything else is being in the right place at the right time, and knowing the right people. So I’m back to what was my original idea as a kid (other than joining the RAF, which I guess isn’t off the cards either… I just don’t think I ever could bring myself to be physically fit enough these days ), something in the Foreign and Commonwealth office, I can be diplomatic right? I’m being purposefully vague, I know more about this than I’ll bore people with, but there’s a few possible avenues in that direction I could explore, and I guess traveling, studying, and meeting new people are all useful experience for such a career.

Been feeling a bit weird recently, sort of homesick for my parents’ house. I think I just miss having someone look after me. I have lots of friends in Lancaster of course, and beyond, but there’s nothing quite like being looked after, and fed, and just being able to recline in the living room watching crap on TV. So what I’m saying is I want a servant. No, wait that’s not right… Seriously though, I went home for the weekend and it was really nice, lovely warm house, very relaxing. Of course parents are parents, they get on your nerves a bit, but I reckon with a real internet connection staying there would be really good. As long as I had my desk and everything else of mine down there. I think really its just like being in a bubble, nothing to worry about, forgetting about the real world, just letting it pass you by. And I can’t really do that, I have things to do and a PhD to finish!! Makes me wonder what I’ll do when I reach the end of my funding though, come November. I think its likely I’d just move back there for a buffer, bit of breathing room. We shall see.

Anyway, lets end on a less introspective and boring note. Television! I have regained my appetite for television. Firstly, I am becoming something of a Doctor Who nerd, of the highest order. I’m ridiculously excited about the new series starting soon, and I’ve been re-watching loads of the 2005+ stuff. I’ve downloaded some original Who, but I am struggling to work out where to start watching it all. It’s complicatedly ordered and impossible to order which upsets my digital OCD. Other than that I watched the new series of Silent Witness on the BBC and it was amazing. Literally amazing. I recommend people go watch it, I’m sad it has ended, and on such a whimper really too. I didn’t even know it had ended, got excited when I saw there was more on TV and then realised it was them re showing the previous season. Which I haven’t seen so that’s sort of good but… Lastly I’ve finally got around to watching Life on Mars (series 1 so far so no one spoil the end for me), and that is amazing too!!!!! So many TV shows, so little time.

Will end here, I have rambled enough. Removes my guilt for untimely updating for a while at least.