Just stopping by to say that I should have updated many times lately, but due to being a customer of BT Broadband (i.e. not being able to go online from home) and extraordinarily busy at work, I have not had the chance. I also got a new job, so will be working at least every day for 24 days in the transition period. Almost six days down, 18 more to go. Yay...

Went for an Indian on Friday to celebrate the new job; very nice meal. Think I may have found a new favourite there.

Spent my holiday (obviously not being able to go online) studying a lot and playing a bit (this is officially The Autumn of All The Major Game Releases, which has led me to spending money I don't actually have on games like Hellgate: London (PC) (running between the tube stations shooting zombies and aliens, brilliant), Football Manager 2008 (PC) (leading FK Tønsberg to Champions League glory for sure...just have to get them promoted from the 2nd (3rd) division first), Crysis (PC) (a must-have for my DirectX 10-hungry gfx card and Vista x64), Tony Hawk's Proving Ground (PS3) (I'm sure I can skate like a pro in the real world if only I could bring my PS3 controller along), Assassin's Creed (PS3) (over-hyped, over-hyped, over-hyped; good gfx, but boring so far) and Bioshock (PC) (Another DirectX 10-game, this one with almost disgusting violence). And I still haven't really played Caesar IV and X3: The Reunion which I bought many moons ago. I just installed them and left them hanging. Stupid.

New game coming up: Rock Band. Seems really, REALLY cool. I could finally learn to play the drums, haha! Unfortunately the price will be around GBP 150-160, and for that amount it is definitely not worth it.

Also went to the Norwegian seamen's church a couple of weeks back to visit their Christmas fair. Nice to see some proper Christmas decorations for once (I never knew Harrods was tacky until I visited their Christmas department a few years ago, followed by a short trip to the Princess Diana memorial in the basement), and also to stock up on some highly needed Norwegian food. Proper mustard, pickled herring in tomato sauce, Sphinx chocolate, YUMMY. I already made plans for my Christmas dinner weeks ago, so am really looking forward to that.

And on that note, I do not want any Christmas gifts this year - I have been trying to persuade people to stop giving me stuff for Christmas for years now, but it has been very difficult. Hopefully last year's expensive parcels made a few people think again. :D I would much rather friends and family spent their money on something nice for themselves or some charity or something. I am actually happier without all the gifts because I always end up with a bad conscience when people buy me things. In other words: Better for everyone!

However, what I should be doing (and, to a certain extent, am doing) is writing something. Not just anything, although that is good exercise, but something to help my play idea along. I have several ideas, but should really be concentrating on just one at a time. After all, I'm a complete novice at this and need to learn a lot about myself and procedures before I can start calling myself a playwright (although I have printed business cards with that title on them already, LOL!), never mind having been published. Ahem. The problem is I keep sidetracking myself by reading fascinating history books that I claim are relevant to my writing (The English Language and The History of Theatre), but are in effect little but tools of procrastination.

OK, back to work, last day of my shift here, then three days training at the new place, then six more days here, two of training, seven here and HOPEFULLY a weekend off before the real job starts. Oh, happy day.

Labels: gaming, Norway, personal, writing