I've been really quite on here so will probably keep this one brief so I can publish some catch-up posts pinned to more accurate dates. There's so much that has happened this year that I still haven't really blogged about and it doesn't seem right to only just mention things properly now... So, I'll get back to that. I have a list of topics I want to write individual posts about over the next few weeks to fill in the gaps and keep my mind active. Here's the list:
University Of Derby
Graduation
Spain
More Illness
Guitar Lessons
Music Production
NIAHAS
Kill The Moon
Open Mics
It's not a huge list, but it's still a big gap to cover.
This year has been a challenging one. At the start of the year, I don't think I quite had the right mindset. It was a bit strange going back to what still felt like a new environment. I new my way around the UoD campuses but I still hadn't quite settled in and the lack of new friends yet influx of many new faces made me feel overwhelmed during my final year. It was the one thing I was worried about, "fitting in" and it was just so difficult since social groups had already been formed long before I had got there and it was a hard thing to break into. Those that I did work with, I massively appreciated. To say how big their music department is, I felt like I only came away with a handful of friends. It's a strange thing. Nevertheless, it went fast. The course was over by early May and Graduation followed a couple of months after. This takes us to July. I had not long recovered from a throat infection and was still feeling the stress of University even after Graduation. I finished my degree with a high 2:1 and still feel like if I had made extra efforts in places, (mainly my double module which really messed me up) I could have scraped the first class degree that I wanted but at least I know by the calculations, I wasn't far off the mark.
With studying over, it was time to put focus on the band, Kill The Moon. We reformed in April this year and performed a handful of gigs this year with a few different drummers along the way, Michael Ives now being our new drummer. I'll speak more about this in another post but I'm proud of the direction that we're going and we're now focusing on getting some recordings down.
July sparked the plan to go back to Spain with Will Giddings. This was probably on the biggest things of the year. possibly topping graduation since I'm still a bit salty about my results. We planned to go in August for a few days over a week. We had two hotels booked and a rental car, no real idea what we were doing once we got there except that one day we may have had the chance to see our friends, which we did. We found lots to do once we settled. We eat out a few nights, found a bike rental place, saw some flamingos, watched people cover themselves in mud. Ha. We were really close to the beach for the first few nights. At our second hotel, we were more inland. We found a local pool to visit, a McDonalds and one day went into the city of Murcia where I found a guitar that I brought home with me, after running around like a manic trying to find a flight case for it! It was an incredible holiday. Stressful but well worth it.
When we returned, I was ill again within a few days. I remember being called in for a night shift then when I turned up my ear went a bit weird. Little did I know that this was the continuation of an illness saga. I had an ear infection/ Weeks passed and there were still things wrong. A few more weeks passed, I passed out at home from a high temperature. I went to the doctors the next day to be told I now have a kidney infection. More antibiotics were given and eventually it passed as a bigger-picture-problem but my hearing hasn't yet still fully returned. My ear still feels blocked and I feel like fainting/blacking out from being to hot my still be a problem every month or so. I blacked out in public a couple of months ago, it wasn't fun.
These last few months of the year have been focused on recovery, band and music production. I'm still proud of the recording that me and Jake threw together in a week in October. It's nice to finally have something to show even if I know it's not perfect yet. These studio recording will be what we really need, I think I just wanted to make use of what I had. It's been nice that some friends have supported us by buying some of our merch, it helps spread word more than anything as I don't really make much back on it, but any sale goes back in towards more. It's like a cycle, except it's business. I've been working with a friend to make tracks for him and record his vocal, I'm essentially his producer at the moment. His artist name is Jem The Ruff Diamond and he aims to launch his own record label, Boombox Entertainment in the new year. This has been one of my focus points, allowing me to start earning from my craft. I did teach a few guitar lessons this year too but I need to get back into promoting that locally and see where it takes me. I just don't want to end up making myself too busy!!
December has been nice, the early part I managed to catch up with friends on a night out, we had quite a big crowd. As Christmas drew closer the days seemed to be going to fast. It's always over too soon. Now, it's new years eve and we're counting down the hours left to 2020. I don't have any new year resolutions this year but I am going to try to remain focused more. I have a few of tracks to finish in January which when completed will help me save up. That's one goal I have for this year, just to save a little, but it's hard to do whilst working part-time so a combination of this and the small hours work keep tipping on me will help. There's always going to be car insurance that pulls my income down and I'm not looking forward to paying that this year, will definitely have to shop around. There is a gig I'm eyeing up in the Netherlands. I might be able to justify it since it's not as far as a holiday to Spain but I'll have to see nearer the time, that isn't until July anyway. Will need to see what happens with Brexit!
Tuesday 31 December 2019
Thursday 26 September 2019
More Illness, For Over A Month
It all started (again) once I got back from Spain. Not immediately, it took a few days. I was generally achey the day we got back (Wednesday 14th August) but it wasn't until the Saturday later in the week as I was about to start a night shift that my ear started to ring. At first I thought it had just popped so, sort of waited for something to happen but I fast realised that something wasn't right but I had to just suck it up. Working nights is lone work, so there's little to no support if something goes wrong. I figured that I wasn't exactly dying so I'd somehow survive the night. The problem was afterwards when I realised working Saturday night take you through to Sunday morning when no where is open to be seen to. This meant that I had to wait another day. Sleep was hard. My poor ear was absolutely ringing in pain, I'd never known anything quite like it.
I had to wait until the Monday to see a nurse about my problem who gave me the same antibiotics as before, a weeks worth. After that, a week later, the pain had gone but I still couldn't hear very well. Two weeks on, I had another appointment. My usual medical centre was busy so they sent me up for an evening appointment at Ilkeston Hospital. I was seen to pretty quick but given nothing else and told to give it more time and give it another two weeks. At this point I was starting to get really stressed about my hearing coming back. Two weeks is already a long time to live with only one functional ear.
I waited and by the time I was dues to see some, little did I know that I had picked something else up along the way. I mean, I really didn't know and two nurses missed out on telling me but thats partially my fault for not realising what was going on with my body and focusing too much on my hearing problem. Naturally, I thought it was all related. It wasn't until I saw a doctor last Friday that I knew of my new problem even though by that point I reckon that I had already had it for a week. I had been struggling sleeping again, very feverish, back pain, no appetite and my temperature was ridiculously high, so high that the doc was concerned I could contract sepsis. I've had a kidney infection. The back pain was in fact my kidneys screaming at me in pain, fighting infection but at least this is nearly over now. I take my last antibiotic in the next hour and the pain has really eased off today. There's still little bits but I've been more active today, or rather it's been a lot easier for me to move about.
Yesterday, I was still slow but I can feel myself picking up now. I've just been taking it easy. I wanted to get some recording done today but I just ended up playing The Sims most of the day, eating better and blogging. I still won't be 100% for another three weeks but I definitely feel like I'm getting there now and I swear if I get ill again this year... (Ugh!)
I've missed this. I feel like I have so much to catch up on. So much has happened since my last post in June, which ironically was also about illness. But, yes! Spain, I went back to Spain. I haven't mentioned that, before that was Graduation. I'm a graduate now. These all need their own seperate specific posts really, not a short outburst on this one.
The good news for now is that I'm on the mend.
I had to wait until the Monday to see a nurse about my problem who gave me the same antibiotics as before, a weeks worth. After that, a week later, the pain had gone but I still couldn't hear very well. Two weeks on, I had another appointment. My usual medical centre was busy so they sent me up for an evening appointment at Ilkeston Hospital. I was seen to pretty quick but given nothing else and told to give it more time and give it another two weeks. At this point I was starting to get really stressed about my hearing coming back. Two weeks is already a long time to live with only one functional ear.
I waited and by the time I was dues to see some, little did I know that I had picked something else up along the way. I mean, I really didn't know and two nurses missed out on telling me but thats partially my fault for not realising what was going on with my body and focusing too much on my hearing problem. Naturally, I thought it was all related. It wasn't until I saw a doctor last Friday that I knew of my new problem even though by that point I reckon that I had already had it for a week. I had been struggling sleeping again, very feverish, back pain, no appetite and my temperature was ridiculously high, so high that the doc was concerned I could contract sepsis. I've had a kidney infection. The back pain was in fact my kidneys screaming at me in pain, fighting infection but at least this is nearly over now. I take my last antibiotic in the next hour and the pain has really eased off today. There's still little bits but I've been more active today, or rather it's been a lot easier for me to move about.
Yesterday, I was still slow but I can feel myself picking up now. I've just been taking it easy. I wanted to get some recording done today but I just ended up playing The Sims most of the day, eating better and blogging. I still won't be 100% for another three weeks but I definitely feel like I'm getting there now and I swear if I get ill again this year... (Ugh!)
I've missed this. I feel like I have so much to catch up on. So much has happened since my last post in June, which ironically was also about illness. But, yes! Spain, I went back to Spain. I haven't mentioned that, before that was Graduation. I'm a graduate now. These all need their own seperate specific posts really, not a short outburst on this one.
The good news for now is that I'm on the mend.
KILL THE MOON - GIG @ THE CHAMELEON, NOTTINGHAM 08/10/19
 |
| Poster designed by Emily Jane, singer of Alice's Ants. |
Thursday 15 August 2019
Spain 4-0 Journal
Monday 5th
Flight 06:45am to Murcia International.
Arrived 11am Spain time.
Collected rental car early.
Expecting KA, received Citroen C3.
Drove around rental car park to get used to new car, right-side gears and keeping right.
Drove from Murcia International Airport to Sen Pedro del Pinatar for Hotel Paloma.
Found on street parking close to hotel and potential car park.
Trouble checking in because of it being a reservation and the language barrier but was given two rooms for our stay.
Room 303 with single beds for 2 nights and room 301 with a double bed for 3 nights.
Unpacked and settled into room.
Text Kirst.
Went for a wander around San Pedro del Pinatar, saw flamingos.
Wandered down across Lo Pagan beach front for an ice cream then wandered back to the hotel.
Went back out in the evening for food at El Paraiso and shared a pizza then wandered back across Lo Pagan.
Played on a few playground for a short while, mainly the climbing frame and the swings.
Found a fun fair and had a quick look around.
Tuesday 6th
Saw a blue mustang parked outside our hotel.
Lidl for cobs, ham, shower gel and plasters. (Will’s new trainers had been rubbing)
Couldn’t get a space on the car park when we returned so had to street park.
Vanilla Coke from local shop on top beach front.
New flip flops for the beach. Black with blue flamingos and straps.
Ate ham cobs on the beach.
Reply from Kirst that we should be able to see them Thursday!!
Went into the sea for a while.
Sand everywhere.
Sat with feet in mud bath.
Saw lots of muddy people, covered head to toe.
Saved some ham cobs for the evening before we went out.
Moved the car into the car park before heading to the fun fair (by foot)
Found an amazing gift shop with the perfect gift for the Proctors.
Found that the fun fair does not open fully until 9pm when it starts to get darker.
Discovered bar Idolo tucked away, nice bar. Had one drink in there before the fun fair opened.
We both went on three rides which were very good value for the duration you’re on the ride.
Bumper cars.
Jump and Smile (basically)
Totem (like bull ride)
The last one was very physical but absolutely hilarious.
We brought a couple of drinks (water) to chill out for a moment afterwards and found an outdoor gym area.
We decided that we wasn’t going to go on any more rides even though we had only spent 9€.
We went back to bark Idolo for one last drink and then headed back to the hotel.
Wednesday 7th
We had to pack up and change rooms in the morning then unpack and resettle into our new room.
Shopping for water and snacks.
Brought cheese onion lays, two waters (each) and a can of strawberry Fanta.
Bike ride day.
Cycled to top of mud baths until it is restricted for cyclists because of above power lines and then back to beach front.
Headed to Torre De La Horadada, managed to reach just past the tower.
Total bike ride time approx. 3hrs 30mins.
We were knackered but it was extremely fun.
10€ for 4hrs bike rental, the kept hold of my passport though.
We went to Maggies in El Majon for food in the evening. I had chicken and chorizo pasta and Will had a cheese burger.
We went to Corner Music Tavern for a drink afterwards then headed to the beach for some fresh air.
We found a volleyball tournament and the atmosphere and local community spirit was incredible.
We walked back to Corner Music Tavern to check out the musicians performing that weren’t on until 23:30, stayed a short while for a few songs and then headed back to the car.
Thursday 8th
Proctor dayy.
Rough start struggling to sleep in new room. I think I managed 4 hours. Will got up quite a few times in the night. I listened to my iPod to try to help me get back to sleep but ended up just resting instead. I did drop off for another hour or so later in the morning.
When I woke up, Will had disappeared without telling me where he was going and his phone hadn’t been working.
I lost Will.
Gave him some time but then found home downstairs in the café.
He had had a small breakfast on his own.
We went out later in the morning so that I could grab something.
I brought 6 churros with a chocolate dip and they were perfect.
We wandered down to the ice cream place we went to before so that will could have an ice cream.
He dropped most of it then we headed back to the hotel.
When at the ice cream place, we had sat on a step instead of the seats and I didn’t realise that I had chewing gum stuck to me me, rested on our balcony window and smeared it everywhere by accident.
Gave me something to clear up.
We headed to the car for just after 13:30 so we would get to Torre for 2pm.
No problem with traffic and the Proctors villa was easy to find really.
We got there a few minutes early.
A few welcoming hugs, we came baring gifts.
I had brought Kirsty a t-shirt from Primark with her slogan, “make it happen” written across the front and a pack of tractor top trump cards.
I had brought a cat mosaic ornament, hand made in Spain for them both, for Lisa to open.
We had a drink with them at their villa before we went out for a light lunch at Bar Willy’s.
Both me and will had two small baguettes with bacon and cheese. Kirsty had chips and egg and Lisa had ordered chicken kebab with a portion of yuka chips.
After this we wandered to a few more bars.
The next one was on Mil Palmera beach, I just had water here after my quad Malibu and coke at Bar Willy’s.
Kirsty was struggling with the heat.
We walked up into the small shopping/bar area and went to another bar in that area so that Kirsty could cool down. She brought a new vest that was lighter to help herself out too.
We then headed for the plaza in Pueblo Latino where I just had a coke and water.
Lisa went back to their villa early to get a head start getting ready for the evening. We finished our drinks then headed back.
We had both brought some spare clothing with us just in case we either ended up staying over or going in their pool so we had something to change into for, for the evening.
We went to La gamba for a drink first then Red Corner In Plaza Nueva for food where I had spaghetti bolognese. Will has a massive pepperoni and bacon pizza to himself. Kirst had a BLT baguette and Lisa had a veggie Sandy with chips.
I absolutely scoffed down that meal, it was amazingly delicious and a great portion size.
We finished out drinks and headed for the main square and went to Bar UK.
I caught up a little with Teresa, a lady from Birmingham who I met last year and we both met a few of Kirsty and Lisa’s friends.
Myself and Will just had one more drink here but the girls had a couple.
Kirsty and Will went to fetch some of our stuff out of our rental car.
When they got back, Kirsty called us a taxi as Will was starting to drop off.
He had just had a massive (6 shot?) Jack Daniels and coke from Red Corner that he struggled with but finished.
It took a short while for our taxi to arrive.
Our driver got a little lost and confused but it was less than 17€.
We were pretty much straight to bed when we got back to our hotel room.
It wasn’t until we got in the taxi that I realised we had been out and about for 12 hours!!
13:30-01:30
Friday 9th
I slept pretty well last night but still only managed to get about 6 hours. I think it was the sun rising that woke me up.
I like to leave the curtains open slightly so that only a little bit of light comes though and it’s not too intense to wake up to.
Started listening to music to ease me back to sleep again but jest ended up getting emotional about how special the twins are to me. Made me think that everyone needs friends that make them that happy.
“Get yourself a friend that makes you cry with happiness.”
I’ve spent the last hour and 20 mins catching up writing all of this up to here so that we don’t forget a thing that we have done. It’s been amazing so far.
…
Cont.
We got up late since we had a late night.
Walked to Kirsty’s from San Pedro Del Pinatar.
Stopped off at Corner Music Tavern for a drink and snacks.
Took us about an hour including the small break.
Stayed at theirs for a good couple of hours chatting and then left them to get ready for their last night out.
We headed for the Chinese shop for some little bits, I brought some post cards, fake Pokémon cards and a couple of key rings. Will brought some tattoos transfer books and we both got some water.
Headed back to the car to set off to La Zenia.
Ended up on the AP-7 which is a toll toad that cost us 3.95€, it was more direct though.
We stayed at the shopping boulevard for quite a few hours, wondering whether or not to see The Cages.
We diced not to in the end and just headed back to our hotel after having a subway for dinner.
I brought a couple of shirts from La Zenia and a cheap PSP game.
When we got home we were both on our phones to our parents for quite a while.
Saturday 10th
This was the end of our stay at Paloma Hotel and we had to be out by 12. We got out early and had coffee before we left, we both agreed that the coffee is really nice there.
We nipped into Lo Pagan so I could get some more bracelets to take home for friends.
Drove into torre so that Will could have a quick go in the car, just how it feels 1st and reverse.
Headed to Lidl for food to keep us going for the next few days, a couple of cobs, ham, plasters and Ameretto. We got a loaf from Lo Pagan.
Headed to hotel number two.
It took about half an hour to get there across the RM-
Once we settled in we did nothing for the rest of the day.
Sunday 11th
We had breakfast at the hotel at about 10am
Text Kirst about Will saying he’d not slept but didn’t hear the storm.
They were flying back this morning.
We tried to see their flight take off but must have been on time so we missed it.
Found a pool to go to in Murcia, 10 minutes drive away.
*pool name*
We got lost on the way up by missing the exit but got there in the end.
5€ entry and it was beautiful.
Afterwards on the way back we found an Aldi, small shop and a McDonald’s which we stopped off at for food.
Then we headed back to the hotel.
In the evening we decided to head back towards El Majon and Torre since there is nothing where we are.
We went to the Corner Music Tavern for one then moved on into Torre.
Got a bit extra cash out from the ATM to last us the last few days and then settled at Bar UK for one.
We moved to Plaza Nueva for a couple more where we bumped into Sheila & Tereasa whom I met that year which made a great night.
Sheila paid for one of our drinks, we gave them both a lift home since Sheila helped Will our by giving him some earplugs to help him sleep.
It was a tired drive back to the hotel, aided by Will being a spare pair of eyes but we got back and in bed for around 02:30am, possibly our latest night out.
Slept like a baby for about 8 hours, I was so tired. We both were but it was a great night.
Monday 12th
We missed breakfast at the hotel because we were both so tired this morning.
Even I didn’t get up until after 10pm and Will was ready for 12 midday.
Went out for food, but tidied the hotel room ready for our departure in the morning.
We were ready to go home.
Tuesday 13th
Early start.
Drove from the hotel to the airport.
Dropped of the rental car before 8am.
Flight home to EMA from Murcia.
Flight 06:45am to Murcia International.
Arrived 11am Spain time.
Collected rental car early.
Expecting KA, received Citroen C3.
Drove around rental car park to get used to new car, right-side gears and keeping right.
Drove from Murcia International Airport to Sen Pedro del Pinatar for Hotel Paloma.
Found on street parking close to hotel and potential car park.
Trouble checking in because of it being a reservation and the language barrier but was given two rooms for our stay.
Room 303 with single beds for 2 nights and room 301 with a double bed for 3 nights.
Unpacked and settled into room.
Text Kirst.
Went for a wander around San Pedro del Pinatar, saw flamingos.
Wandered down across Lo Pagan beach front for an ice cream then wandered back to the hotel.
Went back out in the evening for food at El Paraiso and shared a pizza then wandered back across Lo Pagan.
Played on a few playground for a short while, mainly the climbing frame and the swings.
Found a fun fair and had a quick look around.
Tuesday 6th
Saw a blue mustang parked outside our hotel.
Lidl for cobs, ham, shower gel and plasters. (Will’s new trainers had been rubbing)
Couldn’t get a space on the car park when we returned so had to street park.
Vanilla Coke from local shop on top beach front.
New flip flops for the beach. Black with blue flamingos and straps.
Ate ham cobs on the beach.
Reply from Kirst that we should be able to see them Thursday!!
Went into the sea for a while.
Sand everywhere.
Sat with feet in mud bath.
Saw lots of muddy people, covered head to toe.
Saved some ham cobs for the evening before we went out.
Moved the car into the car park before heading to the fun fair (by foot)
Found an amazing gift shop with the perfect gift for the Proctors.
Found that the fun fair does not open fully until 9pm when it starts to get darker.
Discovered bar Idolo tucked away, nice bar. Had one drink in there before the fun fair opened.
We both went on three rides which were very good value for the duration you’re on the ride.
Bumper cars.
Jump and Smile (basically)
Totem (like bull ride)
The last one was very physical but absolutely hilarious.
We brought a couple of drinks (water) to chill out for a moment afterwards and found an outdoor gym area.
We decided that we wasn’t going to go on any more rides even though we had only spent 9€.
We went back to bark Idolo for one last drink and then headed back to the hotel.
Wednesday 7th
We had to pack up and change rooms in the morning then unpack and resettle into our new room.
Shopping for water and snacks.
Brought cheese onion lays, two waters (each) and a can of strawberry Fanta.
Bike ride day.
Cycled to top of mud baths until it is restricted for cyclists because of above power lines and then back to beach front.
Headed to Torre De La Horadada, managed to reach just past the tower.
Total bike ride time approx. 3hrs 30mins.
We were knackered but it was extremely fun.
10€ for 4hrs bike rental, the kept hold of my passport though.
We went to Maggies in El Majon for food in the evening. I had chicken and chorizo pasta and Will had a cheese burger.
We went to Corner Music Tavern for a drink afterwards then headed to the beach for some fresh air.
We found a volleyball tournament and the atmosphere and local community spirit was incredible.
We walked back to Corner Music Tavern to check out the musicians performing that weren’t on until 23:30, stayed a short while for a few songs and then headed back to the car.
Thursday 8th
Proctor dayy.
Rough start struggling to sleep in new room. I think I managed 4 hours. Will got up quite a few times in the night. I listened to my iPod to try to help me get back to sleep but ended up just resting instead. I did drop off for another hour or so later in the morning.
When I woke up, Will had disappeared without telling me where he was going and his phone hadn’t been working.
I lost Will.
Gave him some time but then found home downstairs in the café.
He had had a small breakfast on his own.
We went out later in the morning so that I could grab something.
I brought 6 churros with a chocolate dip and they were perfect.
We wandered down to the ice cream place we went to before so that will could have an ice cream.
He dropped most of it then we headed back to the hotel.
When at the ice cream place, we had sat on a step instead of the seats and I didn’t realise that I had chewing gum stuck to me me, rested on our balcony window and smeared it everywhere by accident.
Gave me something to clear up.
We headed to the car for just after 13:30 so we would get to Torre for 2pm.
No problem with traffic and the Proctors villa was easy to find really.
We got there a few minutes early.
A few welcoming hugs, we came baring gifts.
I had brought Kirsty a t-shirt from Primark with her slogan, “make it happen” written across the front and a pack of tractor top trump cards.
I had brought a cat mosaic ornament, hand made in Spain for them both, for Lisa to open.
We had a drink with them at their villa before we went out for a light lunch at Bar Willy’s.
Both me and will had two small baguettes with bacon and cheese. Kirsty had chips and egg and Lisa had ordered chicken kebab with a portion of yuka chips.
After this we wandered to a few more bars.
The next one was on Mil Palmera beach, I just had water here after my quad Malibu and coke at Bar Willy’s.
Kirsty was struggling with the heat.
We walked up into the small shopping/bar area and went to another bar in that area so that Kirsty could cool down. She brought a new vest that was lighter to help herself out too.
We then headed for the plaza in Pueblo Latino where I just had a coke and water.
Lisa went back to their villa early to get a head start getting ready for the evening. We finished our drinks then headed back.
We had both brought some spare clothing with us just in case we either ended up staying over or going in their pool so we had something to change into for, for the evening.
We went to La gamba for a drink first then Red Corner In Plaza Nueva for food where I had spaghetti bolognese. Will has a massive pepperoni and bacon pizza to himself. Kirst had a BLT baguette and Lisa had a veggie Sandy with chips.
I absolutely scoffed down that meal, it was amazingly delicious and a great portion size.
We finished out drinks and headed for the main square and went to Bar UK.
I caught up a little with Teresa, a lady from Birmingham who I met last year and we both met a few of Kirsty and Lisa’s friends.
Myself and Will just had one more drink here but the girls had a couple.
Kirsty and Will went to fetch some of our stuff out of our rental car.
When they got back, Kirsty called us a taxi as Will was starting to drop off.
He had just had a massive (6 shot?) Jack Daniels and coke from Red Corner that he struggled with but finished.
It took a short while for our taxi to arrive.
Our driver got a little lost and confused but it was less than 17€.
We were pretty much straight to bed when we got back to our hotel room.
It wasn’t until we got in the taxi that I realised we had been out and about for 12 hours!!
13:30-01:30
Friday 9th
I slept pretty well last night but still only managed to get about 6 hours. I think it was the sun rising that woke me up.
I like to leave the curtains open slightly so that only a little bit of light comes though and it’s not too intense to wake up to.
Started listening to music to ease me back to sleep again but jest ended up getting emotional about how special the twins are to me. Made me think that everyone needs friends that make them that happy.
“Get yourself a friend that makes you cry with happiness.”
I’ve spent the last hour and 20 mins catching up writing all of this up to here so that we don’t forget a thing that we have done. It’s been amazing so far.
…
Cont.
We got up late since we had a late night.
Walked to Kirsty’s from San Pedro Del Pinatar.
Stopped off at Corner Music Tavern for a drink and snacks.
Took us about an hour including the small break.
Stayed at theirs for a good couple of hours chatting and then left them to get ready for their last night out.
We headed for the Chinese shop for some little bits, I brought some post cards, fake Pokémon cards and a couple of key rings. Will brought some tattoos transfer books and we both got some water.
Headed back to the car to set off to La Zenia.
Ended up on the AP-7 which is a toll toad that cost us 3.95€, it was more direct though.
We stayed at the shopping boulevard for quite a few hours, wondering whether or not to see The Cages.
We diced not to in the end and just headed back to our hotel after having a subway for dinner.
I brought a couple of shirts from La Zenia and a cheap PSP game.
When we got home we were both on our phones to our parents for quite a while.
Saturday 10th
This was the end of our stay at Paloma Hotel and we had to be out by 12. We got out early and had coffee before we left, we both agreed that the coffee is really nice there.
We nipped into Lo Pagan so I could get some more bracelets to take home for friends.
Drove into torre so that Will could have a quick go in the car, just how it feels 1st and reverse.
Headed to Lidl for food to keep us going for the next few days, a couple of cobs, ham, plasters and Ameretto. We got a loaf from Lo Pagan.
Headed to hotel number two.
It took about half an hour to get there across the RM-
Once we settled in we did nothing for the rest of the day.
Sunday 11th
We had breakfast at the hotel at about 10am
Text Kirst about Will saying he’d not slept but didn’t hear the storm.
They were flying back this morning.
We tried to see their flight take off but must have been on time so we missed it.
Found a pool to go to in Murcia, 10 minutes drive away.
*pool name*
We got lost on the way up by missing the exit but got there in the end.
5€ entry and it was beautiful.
Afterwards on the way back we found an Aldi, small shop and a McDonald’s which we stopped off at for food.
Then we headed back to the hotel.
In the evening we decided to head back towards El Majon and Torre since there is nothing where we are.
We went to the Corner Music Tavern for one then moved on into Torre.
Got a bit extra cash out from the ATM to last us the last few days and then settled at Bar UK for one.
We moved to Plaza Nueva for a couple more where we bumped into Sheila & Tereasa whom I met that year which made a great night.
Sheila paid for one of our drinks, we gave them both a lift home since Sheila helped Will our by giving him some earplugs to help him sleep.
It was a tired drive back to the hotel, aided by Will being a spare pair of eyes but we got back and in bed for around 02:30am, possibly our latest night out.
Slept like a baby for about 8 hours, I was so tired. We both were but it was a great night.
Monday 12th
We missed breakfast at the hotel because we were both so tired this morning.
Even I didn’t get up until after 10pm and Will was ready for 12 midday.
Went out for food, but tidied the hotel room ready for our departure in the morning.
We were ready to go home.
Tuesday 13th
Early start.
Drove from the hotel to the airport.
Dropped of the rental car before 8am.
Flight home to EMA from Murcia.
Thursday 20 June 2019
Illness & Confusion
This is the first time I've had a clear mind in a long time and it's came at the wrong time. Well, actually, I'd say more yesterday than anything. I'm recovering from some kind of super throat infection at the moment and have been put on antibiotics. I've lost about 7lbs since Thursday when this illness really kicked in from not being able to eat because of an uncomfortable pain at the back of my throat and only put back on a small amount from my first meal yesterday.
I was doing alright, starting to feel better until yesterday evening and now the pain when swallowing as returned. It's not as bad, but still sharp. I don't know what I'm annoyed about the most now though. I woke up early this morning because of the pain and eventually ended up listening back to some of my album that I had submitted (it's been graded now and everything) and noticed my track "Disappointment" is missing an entire lead guitar track that I know was recorded and ready at the time, it just somehow got accidentally missed out. It irritates me because I didn't get the best grade for it anyway and I just think that if this was included in the mix of this song like it should have been I might have actually got a better grade as this one little track adds lots of detail and feel to the song, it's a bunch of lead melodies played all the way through and a solo.
More than anything, I can't believe I've only just noticed this now. How could I not notice? Did my brain just assume it was there because I know exactly how it sounds from hearing it so much in the mixing process? Was this a psychoacoustic problem or just a genuine mistake? Either way, whichever it was I'm hella' pissed about it now. If I were less stress I imagine that I would have noticed. Even if including it would have only added me say 5% extra on my grade, even though that wouldn't be enough boost my average to the next tier. I'm gutted and bewildered by how this could have happened.
Never mind. I think I still got a high 2:1 in the end so I suppose I can't complain too much even if it isn't the first class degree that I was aiming for.
I was doing alright, starting to feel better until yesterday evening and now the pain when swallowing as returned. It's not as bad, but still sharp. I don't know what I'm annoyed about the most now though. I woke up early this morning because of the pain and eventually ended up listening back to some of my album that I had submitted (it's been graded now and everything) and noticed my track "Disappointment" is missing an entire lead guitar track that I know was recorded and ready at the time, it just somehow got accidentally missed out. It irritates me because I didn't get the best grade for it anyway and I just think that if this was included in the mix of this song like it should have been I might have actually got a better grade as this one little track adds lots of detail and feel to the song, it's a bunch of lead melodies played all the way through and a solo.
More than anything, I can't believe I've only just noticed this now. How could I not notice? Did my brain just assume it was there because I know exactly how it sounds from hearing it so much in the mixing process? Was this a psychoacoustic problem or just a genuine mistake? Either way, whichever it was I'm hella' pissed about it now. If I were less stress I imagine that I would have noticed. Even if including it would have only added me say 5% extra on my grade, even though that wouldn't be enough boost my average to the next tier. I'm gutted and bewildered by how this could have happened.
Never mind. I think I still got a high 2:1 in the end so I suppose I can't complain too much even if it isn't the first class degree that I was aiming for.
Sunday 19 May 2019
An Open Letter To Anyone Who Thinks I Don't Care
Firstly, I do. I do care. I think everyone forgets about everything I've been through over the last few years because I'm so tied up with the stress of studying. People forget that I chose to do that to help further myself and obviously it's going to effect who I am. Higher Education has been a process that has changed me as a person, mostly benefiting myself but it's meant putting a lot of time and effort into me which most of the time I don't even realise and then find it hard to relax with having hardly any free time to breathe deep. The only times I really had space were during my visits to Spain.
Please don't assume I don't care because I've been worn out. This last year of study has been particularly hard with it being in a new setting and my final year, especially the last few weeks and if I'm honest it I makes me feel worse when people say it in any context. I know I don't always show it but, I do care and I get that it's hard for me to prove with these words alone. I used to post on this blog much more frequently but I've been way too busy to even compete with how much I used to push out on here.
Hearing it gives me this red haze that I can't deal with. That ol' game of who's who. Who's said what and I know. It might be that I've been told it more frequently but it's hard to show it when my focus was on other things, but I still don't agree. I care, I know I do. I'm just really shit at showing it. If that doesn't sell it enough, most that knew me pre-2016 would know that even back then I never wanted to lose a friend ever again and if you didn't know that maybe you didn't ever know me.
The fact I'm typing all this at 00:28am.
Much Love
xxx
Please don't assume I don't care because I've been worn out. This last year of study has been particularly hard with it being in a new setting and my final year, especially the last few weeks and if I'm honest it I makes me feel worse when people say it in any context. I know I don't always show it but, I do care and I get that it's hard for me to prove with these words alone. I used to post on this blog much more frequently but I've been way too busy to even compete with how much I used to push out on here.
Hearing it gives me this red haze that I can't deal with. That ol' game of who's who. Who's said what and I know. It might be that I've been told it more frequently but it's hard to show it when my focus was on other things, but I still don't agree. I care, I know I do. I'm just really shit at showing it. If that doesn't sell it enough, most that knew me pre-2016 would know that even back then I never wanted to lose a friend ever again and if you didn't know that maybe you didn't ever know me.
The fact I'm typing all this at 00:28am.
... Also, I'm ok. I'm better than ever actually. Just had the best Sunday shift in a long while and it's a nice thought that I'm potentially not at work until early June after this Tuesday, but on the contrary it would be nice if some friends would check in on me more often. It's been a fairly lonely eight months or so at Uni...
Much Love
xxx
Monday 8 April 2019
Time To Focus
It is now essentially my last month or so at Derby and I've still got plenty of work to be getting on with. My album project is coming along alright although there are parts that I'm struggling to finish, lyrics that don't want to emerge. Structurally it is all down and there are just vocals parts and a few bass and guitar tracks to record. Most of it is all in one project which takes up about 6.2GB but I have a newer track that I've saved separately purely because that's how it was started. Non-surprisingly I still need lyrics for that one too as at the moment I only have part of the first verse. I figured this weekend that this is the week that I really need to push myself if I want to get everything done on time. I have a few performances coming up which solve themselves almost but, I also have a report to start due in at the end of this month.
I've had a few new opportunities arise recently, my band Kill the Moon have reformed after about a year of silence, I'm trying out playing bass for a blues/rock/pop band and Phil, one of the lecturers has offered me to play a gig with him in September because he recons my playing style suits what he plays. It's all quite exciting but, I can't help but feel like I'm seriously running out of time fast this semester. It's gone way too fast and I've not done enough in the time that's past. It's still redeemable but I will really need to push on hard this week. I suppose the third and final year is meant to be stressful and this is where it's at with me. I was gonna post some blog posts today and push on with some research today but I'll save it for when I get home now. I think I need a break before I head off to do some session work and maybe spend some time on my album if I have the time.
It's only a two hour session...
I've had a few new opportunities arise recently, my band Kill the Moon have reformed after about a year of silence, I'm trying out playing bass for a blues/rock/pop band and Phil, one of the lecturers has offered me to play a gig with him in September because he recons my playing style suits what he plays. It's all quite exciting but, I can't help but feel like I'm seriously running out of time fast this semester. It's gone way too fast and I've not done enough in the time that's past. It's still redeemable but I will really need to push on hard this week. I suppose the third and final year is meant to be stressful and this is where it's at with me. I was gonna post some blog posts today and push on with some research today but I'll save it for when I get home now. I think I need a break before I head off to do some session work and maybe spend some time on my album if I have the time.
It's only a two hour session...
Tuesday 12 March 2019
A Strange Few Months
What a strange couple of months it's been. I feel like I've not quite fully been in control of everything but still somehow managed to get plenty enough done to survive this long. It's nice to feel like I'm finally taking back control. I'm not sure if it was just the show I'd been watching on Amazon Prime that's fucked with me or if more rather it's a combination of that and gaining weight again. I've put a stop to comfort eating now and have lost a bit already which has made me happier. To think, how thin I was in June last year. All that I achieved to benefit myself and I need to do it all over again, maybe loose a stone or again to be where I was then. Hell I miss it. I was talking to a new colleague at work about all the holidays I had last year and the craziness of Spain. It's raining here now and it's been ridiculously windy lately. I miss the sun. We had fools spring the other week when it was actually quite warm for the time of year. I need it to dry up again so that the leak in my bedroom doesn't get any worse.
But, no. I've really perked up these last couple of weeks which is great. This is exactly the time that I need to be in the right frame of mind. I've done so much recording lately, tweaking midi data. There's still a lot to be done for my album project but I realised something that I should have when the module was presented to me. This is actually fucking happening. And actually, if I wanted to, I could release it as a physical product because it is very real and it's something I feel like I've been working on since I started playing guitar which was almost 12 years ago now. It's making me realise just how much this really counts and the potential. Where could this take me if I do release it? and what could this lead to?
I've been hoping since the start of the year that my previous band will reform into something new and exciting again and I'm still excited about that for when it happens. I just want to start gigging again and get out there. Ideally, be able to make a living off music. The Music Production Show was last week at the University of Derby. I've just typed out a massive blog post about it for extra credit on my EIPP module so I'm not gonna write about it again just yet but it was quite insightful. I'm going to a gig tomorrow, Thomas Leeb is playing The Running Horse in Nottingham and I'm quite exited for that at the moment, then I have another gig to go to Thursday night to see Left-Hand-Lane at Albert's Bar, Nottingham. Which reminds me, I sill need to mix what I recorded with them. Absolutely, love their sound.
But, no. I've really perked up these last couple of weeks which is great. This is exactly the time that I need to be in the right frame of mind. I've done so much recording lately, tweaking midi data. There's still a lot to be done for my album project but I realised something that I should have when the module was presented to me. This is actually fucking happening. And actually, if I wanted to, I could release it as a physical product because it is very real and it's something I feel like I've been working on since I started playing guitar which was almost 12 years ago now. It's making me realise just how much this really counts and the potential. Where could this take me if I do release it? and what could this lead to?
I've been hoping since the start of the year that my previous band will reform into something new and exciting again and I'm still excited about that for when it happens. I just want to start gigging again and get out there. Ideally, be able to make a living off music. The Music Production Show was last week at the University of Derby. I've just typed out a massive blog post about it for extra credit on my EIPP module so I'm not gonna write about it again just yet but it was quite insightful. I'm going to a gig tomorrow, Thomas Leeb is playing The Running Horse in Nottingham and I'm quite exited for that at the moment, then I have another gig to go to Thursday night to see Left-Hand-Lane at Albert's Bar, Nottingham. Which reminds me, I sill need to mix what I recorded with them. Absolutely, love their sound.
Tuesday 26 February 2019
This Morning
I was up last night until about 1am working on a new song for my album project at uni. Meticulously editing midi data to that I'd played in to be in-time. It was a fairly complex piano part, not too difficult to play mainly problems with latency that put it askew. So, it was a late night and hell I'm feeling it this morning. Once I packed away, saved up and shut down my Mac, I relaxed with my iPad for a bit. It's kind of normal for me to still be awake going into the early hours now, like 3am but I found something last night that made me so angry, I'm not even sure it's worth the effort. This kept me up most of the night, once I found it. Something had resurfaced, a problem that maybe wasn't quite resolved but was made civil at least. The problem was meant to be dead and buried almost 5 years ago, but no this is the gift that keeps on giving.
I never thought I'd have to say this but I think now is the time to cut all ties with the past. Or as much as possible. It made me realise how easily researchable I am because of it and if an audiences views are corrupted and they figure that it is me it's not exactly going to be an easy life a simple re-published mistake. I'm going to be making changes to this blog page and slowly erase history for my own protection. The audience don't have a name, just a band name so it figures. I will censor old posts, delete the Facebook page (that's not public anyway) and maybe even try to delete the youtube videos. One things for certain is I need to try to get this video down that slanders me, if I'm unsuccessful at least I'll be protected without links.
I'm really not shocked that this has happened. It's almost like I've been expecting it, which is why I check up on a few people from time to time. I need to be the better person in this, but I'm not letting her get away with this. Hell no.
>edit: I've decided against deleting old posts because it just shows how much work and time I invested in this. What a shame.
I never thought I'd have to say this but I think now is the time to cut all ties with the past. Or as much as possible. It made me realise how easily researchable I am because of it and if an audiences views are corrupted and they figure that it is me it's not exactly going to be an easy life a simple re-published mistake. I'm going to be making changes to this blog page and slowly erase history for my own protection. The audience don't have a name, just a band name so it figures. I will censor old posts, delete the Facebook page (that's not public anyway) and maybe even try to delete the youtube videos. One things for certain is I need to try to get this video down that slanders me, if I'm unsuccessful at least I'll be protected without links.
I'm really not shocked that this has happened. It's almost like I've been expecting it, which is why I check up on a few people from time to time. I need to be the better person in this, but I'm not letting her get away with this. Hell no.
>edit: I've decided against deleting old posts because it just shows how much work and time I invested in this. What a shame.
Tuesday 12 February 2019
Fun and Illness
This semester is starting to feel quite loose since I only really have to in on Thursdays for a full day. I do have other timetabled things throughout the week, specifically on Mondays and Tuesdays but there's hardly any point to them as not many show up and the Tutorial on Thursday is pretty late. There's another tutorial slot on Thursdays which makes more sense to attend since I'm in all day anyway. I seem to have clung to playing bass for the live performance module, it seems to make more sense and fit better with our arrangement including piano, vocals and percussion. Jordan has an interesting instrument, shaped like a guitar with the similar purpose of a cajon with added extra bits and it sounds pretty cool. Not 100% sure how it should be mic-ed up yet though but it really does sound great.
It has been a slow month, even though we made a lot of progress in our practice session last week. I haven't really focused on anything else. I was hoping to get all the bass tracks I needed to record done by the end of last week but I'm still trying to get it done this week. Motivation was the problem before and now I'm ill. Not as ill as I was this morning, but every time I sneeze or blow my nose my right eye twitches and quite frankly I'm sick of it already. I think it started from when I went out over the weekend
It has been a slow month, even though we made a lot of progress in our practice session last week. I haven't really focused on anything else. I was hoping to get all the bass tracks I needed to record done by the end of last week but I'm still trying to get it done this week. Motivation was the problem before and now I'm ill. Not as ill as I was this morning, but every time I sneeze or blow my nose my right eye twitches and quite frankly I'm sick of it already. I think it started from when I went out over the weekend
Thursday 31 January 2019
First Full Day Of The Spring Semester
Ok, so I've reached a point where I really need to sort my life out. I feel like I've wasted this month and could have done so much more with it but instead I've been lazy and slept in most days. It's only just occurred to me that the end of the month is now and I'm starting to feel like I'm running out of time, with my Uni stuff. I mean, I still have 3 solid months left and the most of May for one or two modules but it's starting to feel like I'm cutting it rather fine to get the grading I'm after. I've got a taste for earning a first and I want more. I got my grades back officially last night and turns out I got 75% for my Recording Project and 64% for my Research project so, I just need to keep that up. On top of that, I really need to get on with recording at home. I'be been borrowing an AKG C414 to use at home but I just haven't been motivated enough to actually do anything with it this time. Last week was fairly unproductive two but I got a decent amount down the week before.
I was really early this morning because I thought it was a 9am start, turns out it was 11am and I had completely forgot and probably not even read the email that Phil had sent out because the info didn't even register. This is why I need to be more focused, although the early get up was a good workout in itself. I used my error as an excuse to get a Maccies breakfast and then take a few photos of the layering of frost around. A lot of Derby was still white when I got there and there was a thick fog as I drove into the city.
I'm feeling a little more positive after a couple of lectures at Uni today and being put into a band for my Live Performance module. Looks like I will be playing a mix of guitar and bass for this project so I'm pretty happy with that and I'm happy with who I'm working with two. We're all pretty easy going about song choices and seem to get on really well. I felt quite welcome going back today actually, I rather shortly caught up with a few students that I worked or crossed paths with last year and now I'm working with some of them again. I feel somewhat inspired from John's lecture today, even if it did drag on a little, but I've gain new options and ideas for my coursework from it. On reflection, I probably shouldn't be writing for this personal blog and rather should be writing the on that goes hand-in-hand with my some of my coursework.
I'm going to make a move now, since I've done most other things I wanted to do. Time to get some more recording done for this album project! Even if it is just a couple of guitar tracks!!
I was really early this morning because I thought it was a 9am start, turns out it was 11am and I had completely forgot and probably not even read the email that Phil had sent out because the info didn't even register. This is why I need to be more focused, although the early get up was a good workout in itself. I used my error as an excuse to get a Maccies breakfast and then take a few photos of the layering of frost around. A lot of Derby was still white when I got there and there was a thick fog as I drove into the city.
I'm feeling a little more positive after a couple of lectures at Uni today and being put into a band for my Live Performance module. Looks like I will be playing a mix of guitar and bass for this project so I'm pretty happy with that and I'm happy with who I'm working with two. We're all pretty easy going about song choices and seem to get on really well. I felt quite welcome going back today actually, I rather shortly caught up with a few students that I worked or crossed paths with last year and now I'm working with some of them again. I feel somewhat inspired from John's lecture today, even if it did drag on a little, but I've gain new options and ideas for my coursework from it. On reflection, I probably shouldn't be writing for this personal blog and rather should be writing the on that goes hand-in-hand with my some of my coursework.
I'm going to make a move now, since I've done most other things I wanted to do. Time to get some more recording done for this album project! Even if it is just a couple of guitar tracks!!
Friday 25 January 2019
January
January hasn't quite gone to plan so far but I've been reasonably productive in-between avoiding every responsibility I have. The original plan was to record everything this month for my EP project. Whilst that may have been too much to ask, I have also become quite lazy. I can't pin point when it started but it was at the start of the month. I think There have been a total of two, maybe three days where I have been up and about before 12 noon. I've been oversleeping and feeling rather tired from it even though I'm not doing anything. Despite this, I've been itching to go to the gym but still haven't. One good thing is that I have managed to lose a small amount of weight that I gained over Christmas but there is still plenty more that needs to go before I feel fully comfortable with myself again.
I got my grades back on Monday. The weeks before that I had almost convinced myself that I was going to get a referral for one of my modules but turns out I've passed it so thats a bonus. In fact, I passed everything from last semester so that is something to be proud about, that I have survived thus far. 55% and 75%. I'm reasonably happy with that too. I'm especially happy with 75% for my recording module since to say it was meant to be group work, there were a few times when it felt like it was just me doing all the work. It was a hinder at the time as it meant it took longer to set up sometimes but it meant that I got to engage with it all more and I feel like I've actually taken a lot from it. We went out for a meal for dads Birthday last week, the same day I got my grades so I delivered the news there and then. We just went to the festival and then gave Dad his presents the next day, on his actual birthday.
It's been a strange evening tonight, I had my first go at faking what I do. I had a band in the studio to record a music video of which they had already recorded the music so was just in-essence playing along. It was a bit weird, but comfortable. I didn't have to do much and that was probably the weirdest part, in fact I probably made more work for myself than I had to.
I've been playing guitar late tonight and learning the solo from the song "Jane" by The Waking Hours. It's probably the most therapeutic thing I've done in a while. I got another guitar about two weeks ago, another Washburn but I think even after giving it the TLC it very much needed, I still favour my MG-47. More for reliability than anything, I really prefer the neck on my new KC-40V.
I must add that I'm really looking forward to the Live Performance module this year, but that could change once I'm sorted into groups. I'm open for anything, guitar or bass and not too fussed on genre and I'm just excited to rehearse and perform again. There will still other things I'll have to focus on, like the recording of my album that I've been neglecting and a small music business research project but actually when I think about it, it seems pretty short. This either means I'm know what I need to know and maybe am finding it somewhat easy or it's just an oversight. No doubt, I will find out soon enough when I start to panic about deadlines being close.
I've been playing guitar late tonight and learning the solo from the song "Jane" by The Waking Hours. It's probably the most therapeutic thing I've done in a while. I got another guitar about two weeks ago, another Washburn but I think even after giving it the TLC it very much needed, I still favour my MG-47. More for reliability than anything, I really prefer the neck on my new KC-40V.
I must add that I'm really looking forward to the Live Performance module this year, but that could change once I'm sorted into groups. I'm open for anything, guitar or bass and not too fussed on genre and I'm just excited to rehearse and perform again. There will still other things I'll have to focus on, like the recording of my album that I've been neglecting and a small music business research project but actually when I think about it, it seems pretty short. This either means I'm know what I need to know and maybe am finding it somewhat easy or it's just an oversight. No doubt, I will find out soon enough when I start to panic about deadlines being close.
Tuesday 1 January 2019
A Year of 2018: Summary
Again it's been a while since my last blog post, almost two months this time. It's only what I expected as things have become more busy. My, what a year! I'm not sure where to start with this one. You would think it would make sense to start from the beginning, so January but most of the highlights seem to start in the summer. Spain Tour, my first time abroad and then flying back out on my own and back another two times. Mental. There was other things before, it's just taking more time to remember them after a more than usual intake of alcoholic drinks throughout this year.
I went into this year worrying about my Realise performance for my HND which, admittedly I never really got in to but still at least sorted it out and did it in the end. It was the biggest stress of the entire course and totally would have benefited from a better theme other than myself. Although, the theme did bring subtle positivity about perseverance in pursuing achievements. That's something I forgot about until now. It was great to watch the other students on my course do their thing for change too, as well as the other students on other courses watch me perform for change. I'm really struggling to think of many other major things prior to this, so much that I've had to look back through my own blog to recap. This year has obviously had an effect on my memory. I remember reaching the painful point again where it was time to leave college (again) and not really wanting to, but then it wasn't really over when it ended for me anyway. Scoffin gave me a distortion pedal as a thank you for all the work I've done. Still massively honoured from that and I still keep in touch now by going to his gigs occasionally.
Oh, yes... The other things were having to sort out which Uni I was gonna finish my studies, adding stress to my HND. School gigs also happened again, except I played drums this time and experienced the horrors of the seat falling throughout the set. Great fun, but that part wasn't. Exceptionally great when one of the kids tried to throw one of the vocal monitors. Great memory. Terrifying, but great. Then there was the industry week performances to end. I got into a relationship we had a couple of dates, even a double date at Nandos. He met some of my closest friends but that all ended faster that I thought it could... All in-between doing the rest of my coursework, whatever that was! And there was that time when My mac Mini's hard drive failed. Not long before some major deadline too, that was fun!
When I was invited to go on the Spain Tour, I had my initial doubts but still for some reason rather spontaneously agreed, at the time without passport in hand! There was a lot to sort out, find out in what seemed like a short space of time. Passport application, EHC card, suitcase, something else. I don't regret the decision at all as it lead to having the best week of my life. A week away from parents, support-teching for live music gigs in a couple of bars on the south coast of Spain with friends that are life-long. Staying in villas with pool to share between us. I impressed myself that week. I spoke with everyone, even those that I didn't know as well. I'm usually rubbish with that kind of stuff. I experienced my first hangover and still went into college. There are many amazing photos and great memories from this experience. Only about 200. The gap between the end of tour and experiencing a Derby University was just as phenomenal. All tour friends kept in contact with the group chat and we met up for nights out, meals, gigs and bowling. I even went to their graduation. Then there was the whole going to and from Spain again and again. I remember the strangest feeling boarding the early flight to Murcia thinking, "I know where I'm going but I don't know where I'm going." Some slight anxiety about potentially getting lost and coughing all the way. I made it in the end. Mini golf. When I was home again, I wasn't. Homeland UK was warm too. I hadn't been back an hour and I was already off back out for a drink with some guys from tour. Then I was back off to Spain again for two weeks less than a month later, after Mablethrope at my parents caravan for a day. It was a good deal bringing Chantelle along as she took me to the airport the next day. Beautiful sunset on the way home. 5am starts. Go karting in the sun... go kart crash! More drinks. There's one lady that's certainly made this year so great and that's Kirsty Proctor, I find myself forever thankful for all the effort she put into making the tour happen and for her and her family for allowing me to stay at their villa the other couple of times. Drinks and food It's been lovely to get to know them too.
I really wanted to go to DMU and still kind of wish I did but, I'm quite grateful that Derby offered me a place although, everything from September through to now feels like a blur. I do remember it much clearly than the first half of the year though so that's something. Planning to record my two EPs for my Creative Studies module. I've had many bands in the studio at Derby, some of them familiar faces and some new surprises. To list them: The Jellyfish Are Calling, Left Hand Lane, Red Six and The Half Eight. Having these guys in the studio, in some cases having to engineer them myself has made me accept that I can call myself a producer these days, even if maybe there is still room for improvement on the mixing an mastering part. Nights out with some of the tour crew resulting in late Wednesday evenings and trying to make 9am lectures Thursday morning sober. Hell, I even experienced my first of being ill from drinking. I should never be allowed proseco again. Mum had to deal with me that day and I just laugh about it now, especially since dad says he can keep it down but was throwing up too a couple of days later. Brilliant. He didn't know I knew either. Ha. Also, HND Graduation and seeing Joe Bonamasa live at the Motorpoint Arena.
I think I've about covered it. I could probably still type more but I'm not very good at this anymore. Last year (2017 to avoid any confusion) I posted 60 times, 2018 a measly 17. That's an all time low since 2013!
So, resolutions then... probably about the same as last year to be honest. Christmas has made me fatter so a healthier diet is in order (once I've finished my chocolate) and no doubt I'll be back at the gym soon. Maybe tomorrow actually, depends what I get into. I got really good at controlling what I was eating before the summer and I need to get back to that mentality again so I can get back to my comfortable weight. The ultimate goal in around 9st 2lbs. That's where I was at in the summer and it worked for me although a little less would still be healthy for me.
It's more goals I need to think about then anything. I probably seem quite weight conscious but I does help my confidence too when I feel more comfortable.
I went into this year worrying about my Realise performance for my HND which, admittedly I never really got in to but still at least sorted it out and did it in the end. It was the biggest stress of the entire course and totally would have benefited from a better theme other than myself. Although, the theme did bring subtle positivity about perseverance in pursuing achievements. That's something I forgot about until now. It was great to watch the other students on my course do their thing for change too, as well as the other students on other courses watch me perform for change. I'm really struggling to think of many other major things prior to this, so much that I've had to look back through my own blog to recap. This year has obviously had an effect on my memory. I remember reaching the painful point again where it was time to leave college (again) and not really wanting to, but then it wasn't really over when it ended for me anyway. Scoffin gave me a distortion pedal as a thank you for all the work I've done. Still massively honoured from that and I still keep in touch now by going to his gigs occasionally.Oh, yes... The other things were having to sort out which Uni I was gonna finish my studies, adding stress to my HND. School gigs also happened again, except I played drums this time and experienced the horrors of the seat falling throughout the set. Great fun, but that part wasn't. Exceptionally great when one of the kids tried to throw one of the vocal monitors. Great memory. Terrifying, but great. Then there was the industry week performances to end. I got into a relationship we had a couple of dates, even a double date at Nandos. He met some of my closest friends but that all ended faster that I thought it could... All in-between doing the rest of my coursework, whatever that was! And there was that time when My mac Mini's hard drive failed. Not long before some major deadline too, that was fun!
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| Spain Tour 2018, landing in Alicante. Taken by Matt Horobin. |
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| Recording Left Hand Lane at Derby studios 2018. |
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| Nottingham College HND Music Production Graduation, 2018. |
So, resolutions then... probably about the same as last year to be honest. Christmas has made me fatter so a healthier diet is in order (once I've finished my chocolate) and no doubt I'll be back at the gym soon. Maybe tomorrow actually, depends what I get into. I got really good at controlling what I was eating before the summer and I need to get back to that mentality again so I can get back to my comfortable weight. The ultimate goal in around 9st 2lbs. That's where I was at in the summer and it worked for me although a little less would still be healthy for me.
It's more goals I need to think about then anything. I probably seem quite weight conscious but I does help my confidence too when I feel more comfortable.
- Lose the Christmas weight. Definitely. As immediately as possible
- Be more active.
- Complete BA Popular Music with Music Technology
- Limit Facebook usage.
Completing my BA sounds a bit silly to be put on the list but, it is still a work in progress and there is still a lot of work to be done. I drew in my calendar last week all the recording time I'll need to make use of this month to be on track. As for Facebook, I do love it and how it makes it so easy to keep in contact with everyone but I need to start limiting myself. I probably do have two addictions right now and thats sugar and Facebook, both are rather like diving me a dummy for an hour or two. I've found myself sat up until 2am scrolling, not able to sleep properly and then not able to get up in the morning so I need to sort that. Might start by deleting the application from my phone soon, I'll keep messenger though. I hardly talk to anyone anyway!
I'm certainly glad my first semester at Derby is over. It's been hard, but I love it.
Hears to the next one!
Happy New Year!
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| 2018 in many pictures... |
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