Number of the Beast...

...is 15 stone 10 lbs.

Oh dear. I joined a gym.

At least I got the framework for my writing project sorted. Its gone from a novel to a series of short stories based on... well, lets see how that goes.

The movie thing hasn't moved much, I've just been playing with Windows Moviemaker. Will have to move things back to September.

I have a crash course in Japanese to get through, my wife's parents are making surprise visit to England. Its coming along but I'm screwed really.

But over the last three months I've learned that I can't/ won't push through my goals when they are stacked up against each other. That being the case I reboot, set goals over a year see what happens.

Ah, better get to bed. its 4.50am, and I'm in a small hotel room in London. I'm supporting my friend (with the business in difficulty) with a important meeting which could turn things around for him.

Matane.

Lost...

My last post was in May??!!

Ah, I think I should have thought this out a bit more before I started this. I got self conscious about the blog and questioned why I was doing it.Well I'm over the naval gazing, but what is there to do at this point. Probably just recap the past few weeks (well, months) and what I'm doing at the moment.

In general

• I got rid off one of my 3 cars through an auction place. (£50. Great.) The second car is going back to my mate over the weekend (I wasn't able to sell it for him) as soon as I put another 6 months of tax on it
• I took my wife on holiday, to Malaga, which was terrific. We're going to try and get away again to Barca later in the year
• My brother is making a reasonable recovery and also had a baby boy. (We went to see the baby on the weekend.)
• My friend's business is still in trouble. I've helped out with some concept development and general support but really I've mainly been less of a friend and more of a pain in the ass for him. Well, its because I think he has to start thinking about how his nice piece of software can make money, as opposed to it being so good, someone will buy it. Lets see what happens.
• My Japanese is as good as it was 90 days ago BUT I did manage to get hold of some good language materials, so am hoping to progress that soon.
• On the work front, we have some of our people in jobs now which is good, some of the fledgling businesses I mentioned, that is a tougher prospect but lets see what happens...

And I rediscovered 'The Young Turks', an American internet news/ comment outlet. I love these guys. For example:

Ok I said that originally, my 100 ends on August 14th, which gives me 9 days.

I'll weigh myself tomorrow, and see what I can do to sort out the filming and writing between now and then.

Nothing like a bit of pressure... but why not, what else am I doing?

Slip sliding away

I seem to start my blogs with "what a day/ week/ xxx".

I'll have to cut that out. In the meantime, what a week.

Friday out drinking with friends and family


Saturday, sampling Persian cuisine,


Sunday, watching the Great Manchester Run,


Then friends dropped by, children stayed over and today... blah blah blah.

Excuses for doing f*** all.

I've put on weight, find my self under pressure at work after initially working my way into some space and still have 3 cars in various locations around the city. No progress in any area, and not even the discipline to update the blog. I'm such a dick.

Ok, its still May at least. I'll give myself until the end of the month to get things back in order. I'll have to weight myself tomorrow. Tsk.

The only positive thing I think I've done it to start reading blogs. There is some fantastic stuff out there. Will put up some of the Manchester blogs as soon as I figure out the widget thing...

the sun shines even on bleak landscapes

For all the fear with which i took the train to Birmingham, it was not so bad.

He looked better... apparently the last time i was him, he was still weak from the excess blood loss from his 'minor surgeries'.

And the reason for his improvement? His wife that I hadn't seen for almost 20 years, laughing and surprised to see me. I thought I was an idiot at that point, he had plenty of support and something to do.
But as we walked to the station, we talked about his plans to leave for somewhere and gain his freedom to do something.

As vague as that. As suicidal as that.

We'll see what happens.

nothing new

I find myself compelled to cancel my meetings tomorrow, and take the train to Birmingham.
I'm sure I'll meet up with AJ, we'll sit in his sweet shop, talk for a couple of hours, I'll try to get back to Manchester for 5.
He's one of my oldest friends and alcoholic. Nothing new there. We've talked for hours about how booze will kill him if he doesn't stop. Nothing new there either.

Last week he was in Manchester, we met up as usual, caught up on news, hugged our goodbyes.

But.

Something bugged me for days after that. I think now, that perhaps in that goodbye there seemed to be 'less' of him than previously.

I don't know. But I'll be on the train.

olds and eggs...

Its been an interesting week.

I unexpectedly have made more progress than I thought in the first 7 days. I've bought a new car (an old Audi which appeals to me because of its 'classic shape'. Or it appeal will once I've fixed the exhaust), made progress in getting people 'work placement opportunities' and have appointments lined up next week for individuals with business ideas. I also managed to run all the way up the stairs (12 floors).

I'm quite pleased but wondering if I've set my sights too low.
No, I'm sure I have.
Lets see what happens by next week, I'll amend if I'm still doing ok.

In the meantime, I'm back in touch with a couple of old friends, one of whom is from primary school, and has done well (, lots of project management stuff for high profile companies). I could only be impressed and hand him my business card. Somehow, the act of doing that can be a great equalizer.
And the other friend, we dropped out of a marketing course together a good few years ago. Friday should be laughs and beers.

At the moment my morning routine involves, stretching, drinking a pint of water and opening the front door to pick up the single egg and 'egg spring holder' that has appeared there for the past 10 days. I pack my bag, eat, heat water, shower, boil the egg for 3 minutes and on the way to work leave it on the door step of the old lady that lives on the ground floor. Hm.

Day 1

wow... what a day... I don't think I got single thing done that I originally planned to do, between calls and meetings.

I think for this 100 days, I'm going to be more structured.

So what are my main issues?

• lose some weight (only one pair of breasts in bed at a time), enough to change my appearance
• settle in my job roles (I help people into work by finding them work placements and help others set up new businesses)
• buy a new car (my old one died recently)
• decorate our place

But that stuff is fairly fun of the mill. I think maybe I also want to

• take my wife on holiday
• and do an 'Apprentice', take £1000 and double it
• write my 'book idea' (ha)
• learn some basic Japanese (which again, would please my wife)
• make a short film.

In the background of all this, my kid brother is ill with sarcoidosis, which we found out recently and my friend's company is in big trouble. I want to do my bit to help. Actually no, I want to turn them both around.

It would make sense to work out what Day 100 would be. And its the end of the working week, Friday August 14th.

I'll be 44 by then...