Nearly recovered

It's Thursday and I'm in Munich and I'm almost recovered from the National Television Awards a couple of days ago. I didn't imagine it would take it out of me so much! Did have a great time though. I didn't give any autographs or interviews this year, but the red carpet was busier this time. Also I was having far too much of a giggle with the gang so I wasn't really looking at the crowds. The after show party was excellent as well. I didn't eat much and probably drank too much champagne, but I don't think I harrassed anyone. Highlights for me were meeting Lou from Neighbours (totally nice guy and so down to earth) and Dermot O'Leary who was utterly charming. Also danced with a couple of the really pretty girls from The Bill which was cool. And gave Reg from The Bill my half-finished Vodka-Red Bull. Oh the memories....

It was a struggle getting up the next morning though and really needed a bacon sandwich, but London City airport is a lacking in greasy spoons. Bad planning on my part and I will make sure I'm not going anywhere further than my front door next year!

Going back to London in a bit and then have a busy series of parties and do's for next few days. I can feel the endurance event that is the run up to Christmas already starting. It seems to get earlier and earlier each year.

Munich and the mountains

The edge of Munich with a nice view of the mountains in the background. Again taken from a church tower in town. Also my first attempt with the new 200mm lens that I bought for the camera - I think it works.

Munich

Munich taken from the top of one of the church towers. The two buildings in the foreground are in the town centre and are the main churches. The tall tower in the centre background is the Olympic Park,

Dachau

Dachau concentration camp. A moving and yet also very tranquil place. One of the most interesting visits I've done in a long time.

National Television Awards night

Going to the NTA tonight which should be fun. Am going through the strange rollercoaster of emotions before going out. Some minutes I'm well up for it, then I can't be bothered and feel tired. Then I'm buzzing once again. We're strange animals! Bought some Red Bull for the girls in the office and put Marilyn Manson on the stereo and they both became well aggressive. Bit worrying. They've now gone to 'get ready'. So I reckon we'll see them in a couple of hours.

Have planned the week quite badly though because have an early flight to Munich in the morning. So might try to get the last train home tonight. Would be good to be in bed by 1am I reckon. We'll see.

Have been eating donuts all afternoon in preparation for this evening and feel a bit sick now. Might go out for some fresh air.

Thoughts for Friday

I was thinking about my time in the bush in Zimbabwe 10 years ago. and about the profound life change experience I went through during my months out there. I was e-mailing my friend and co-conspirator from that year, Paul, and I started to think more and more.

It's a time I remember very fondly and is certainly a time when I learnt a huge amount about myself, life and others. I still keep my diary from that year with me and read it from time to time. Especially when I'm going through a difficult phase because I find it puts things into perspective. I have one of the photo albums with me in London as well and it does cheer me up. As an aside I think that year was the first time I got interested in photography as well, which I'm getting back into a lot at the moment, so life is kind of doing a bit a loop at the moment.

I've found that I've been very focussed on my career these last few years and it's starting to dawn on me that there is a hole in my life. It's not stopping me from doing anything, but I do think I am missing out on something that I maybe had before. I think there are several reasons I'm starting to feel this. I'm starting to feel the weight of responsibility a bit with the job. Times are tough at the moment and we're having to lay people off and close magazines. It's the harsh reality of life, but it's never easy. Especially as I'm close to some of them. I don't particularly fear for myself, but I guess it subconsciously makes you think about your position as well. As I'm getting older I think I'm realising that work is not everything. It's just a job. I care about what I do and I will push the extra mile for the company, but there is more to life. I'm starting to resent some of the work stuff encroaching on my life. This is also partly because my partnet, Janet, and I are very close and she's good at kicking me in the butt if I get too absorbed in work or myself. Coupled with the fact that we are talking about settling down together and I don't want to be so focussed on something like work that she is neglected. Does that sound weird?
I think that may be a reason why I'm diving into photography and the blog. It's something new, but linked to my previous interests. And yet it's still something creative and interactive. I'm also reading a lot more books again which I think is helping me to expand my mind and horizons.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I'd love to pick up the journey again. I guess I'm a little worried that I may not be able to get as into it as I did all those years ago. Or maybe I'm a little worried that I may realise that what I'm doing is not what I'm destined to do, which is a little scary.

Just a few thoughts and stuff that those concerned might want to know about. To them I say thank you.

Is it just me????

.. or does Blogger take on a life of it's own sometimes and just randomly decide to not work. Or change links and stuff. For some reason bit's and pieces on the blog aren't working. Unfortunately haven't got time to sort it out today. Maybe if I just leave it (like I did last time) it'll just fix it itself?!

Janet and my blog

Just found out that Janet has been reading my blog. Which is worrying. Maybe I need to be careful what I write in it now. But that would defeat the object of a diary. But if I want it private why do I put things online?

Same shit, different day

Another week is drifting by. Slowly. For some reason I've been feeling shit since Monday. I still can't decide if I am actually ill or not. Maybe I'm just feeling sorry for myself. It may be that I've had too much of my boss this week. I normally manage to avoid him for three days of the week at least, but he has been hanging around a lot recently. A bit unnerving and extremely irritating at the same time! And I've just found out that he's not going back to Australia until December (he normally goes early November) so we're stuck with him for an extra month.

House/flat/mortgage/rent thing is not really progressing either. Several people have come to the flat, but no-one has made an offer yet. It is early days, but I need to sell the flat to still go through with the house. I don't think I'm stressed about it, but maybe I am? Maybe that's why I'm edgy at the moment. I even got into a fight with janet last week about nothing. Which also pissed me off.

Maybe I'm SAD (seasonally adjusted disorder). I need more light.

So, to try and cheer myself up I've bought the Marilyn Manson Greatest hits CD. I'm confident it will have same effect as when I play my Metallica CD's - I always think that they are suffering more than me and so I feel better. I've also been looking for a full-sized Stormtrooper uniform to buy. So far no luck, but if anybody knows where I can buy one that would be much appreciated. I just quite fancy driving around London in Lolita in full Stormtrooper uniform. I'm pretty confident I can derive many hours of pleasure from it. And the uniform would be great for parties. I was thinking of Darth Vader, but he's a bit passe now. And white is the new black anyway.

Site update

Have managed to do some work on the blog and I think it looks gorgeous. Please let me know your comments.

Dom's week from hell

My bad week started off with things all going wrong at work. Biggest issue of our biggest magazine and I couldn't get the biggest item of the issue produced. Lots of stress, liberally mixed with swearing at people who couldn't answer back (unfair, but necessary unfortunately) and then putting on brave face to the outside world. Sort of succeeded on the final bit because everyone still thinks I am their rock (to coin a crap expression!)

Got that sorted by Tuesday evening. Cue much sighing of relief. Was tempted to drink to celebrate, but resisted.

Wednesday was amusing to begin with as Munich airport was fog bound. I was the last of four people to leave London (0930 flight for Dom - no getting up at 0430 for me this time!!), and somehow the first to arrive. The others had been diverted to all sorts of airports around Germany to wait fog out. I waited in business lounge in Heathrow. Spot the mugs!!
Day then got significantly worse when buyer of my flat pulled out. Bastards. Which left me completely in the shit because I still really want to buy the house I found.

Cue three days of running around trying to find alternative solution to still keep house process moving. Have been given some options and will analyze them to see if I'm comfortable with them. Everyone around me has given advice (which I'm grateful for), and I still have no idea what I'll do.
Bad week also got to me and caused me to be a shit to Janet and 'bit of and atmosphere' last night. We kissed and made up, but I was a bit of a shit really. I seem to have a great ability to push those I care for most away for the most stupid reasons. No idea where this skill came from, but seems to be in the genes or something. Maybe I was a shit when I was young? Must ask parents/family/friends about that one.

In between all of the above have tried to keep job going, laid off three people (which didn't help the situation) and bitten my tongue.

Roll on the week-end and some r'n'r!

Finally back up and running

I won't even begin to tell you about the week I'm having. I'll save that for tomorrow when I plan on not having a lot to do. But have finally managed to redo the blog. Retyped in all of the bloody settings and everything and hopefully it all works again now. So I'm chuffed about it actually. And I plan to try and keep it more updated. Am also back in Munchen so will upload some more pics hopefully.

Tequila Sunrise Rose

Tequila Sunrise rose. Stunning look and smell.

Conkers

Never try to teach a German to play conkers! Chidhood education is very different in the two countries!!

The Greenwich Timeline

The Greenwich Meridian - GMT.

I'm having a nightmare (again)

For some reason my blog is not behaving and when I add links and things it starts not showing posts and stuff. Don't understand why and it's giving me a serious heache trying to work it out.

Aaarrrrggghhhhh! Noooooooo

For some reason my blog seems to have dissapeared. Most of the template seems to have been deleted. Don't think it was me. Might have been. Surely not though. Am gutted though. am hoping that if I leave it then it'll come back. I still seem to have all of the posts on my settings bit though. very confusing.

New Additions to the blog

I've added some links which you can click on. Please leave me a message or drop a pin on the map. Please ...

I'm crap - really I am!

I've been working on my blog, but not posting anything for ages now. Still waiting for the changes to all appear, but hopefully things will be cool when they do! To the extent that even my father has wondered where I've gone! I'm still here though. It's been a tough few days at work which has left me stressed, drained, pissed off, and extremely hungry for some reason. I've always claimed to be a bit different, but I've never been hungry through stress before. It normally has the other effect!

Janet came over at the week-end and we went all arty taking photos of everything and everyone. We also went and tried some exceptionally fine wines at Vinopolis which was most agreeable. Hopefully wine tasting (or drinking if I'm being honest) will become a joint hobby when she comes across next year. I've joined Vinopolis so we can go back as much as we want for the next 12 months. One of the staff even recognized me from the last visit so I'm not sure what to think about that. Do I go too regularly or was I really pissed?

Also finally caught up with an old friend in Sweden who is going through a big life change moment. I just want to say that I think this is totally the right thing for you to do, Paul. And I wish you all the luck.

Am off to Munich again tomorrow for a few days. Apparently it's snowing in Bavaria already which is cool (or cold!). Hopefully Janet and I will get some skiing in soon.

Finally I've been most rash and entered the Nike 10km run in London at the end of November. It's a night race around the centre of town. Should be a laugh (like the London Marathon!!), and I am looking forward to it in a very sadistic way. Nike are organizing training runs every week, starting tonight. So I've brought my leggings and slinky jacket (style over substance obviously!) in and I'll be down there at 6pm on the dot. Apparently it's 'only' 5km! so that's Ok then. It will be fun running with others though. Update soon if I survive tonight!

Things about me

This is a work in progress, so bear with me on this one.

1. I was born in Winchester, England.
2. I lived there for 5 days.
3. I was then taken to a transitionary foster home for 6 weeks.
4. And then was adopted by my parents.
5. My natural mother gave me up because she felt she couldn't give me the life she wanted for me.
6. I will never forget that incredible act.
7. I have had and am having a wonderful life and wouldn't change anything for the world.
8. I then lived in Somerset, England for 2 years.
9. We then moved to Nivelles, Belgium with my dad's job.
10. We thought we would be there for 3 years, but ended up staying for 7.
11. I think all this moving around when I was young sowed the seeds that make me a traveller today.
12. I have a younger sister called Mima.
13. We used to have epic fights, but now we are close.
14. I grew up in a local neighbourhood in French-speaking Belgium.
15. While I was there French was my first language.
16. I spoke it with my friends, sister and dad.
17. My mum never learnt to speak French. It made talking to each other a bit more interesting.
18. I am still friends with people from Belgium.
19. I am a Piscean.
20. I moved back to the UK when I was 10.
21. It was hard moving back to a small village, but maybe it was more strange for the local kids than even me.
22. After 2 years I went to a private school away from my new friends.
23. It was hard at times, but I really enjoyed my 7 years there.
24. Not sure if the school always enjoyed me ...
25. I took a year out after school because I had had enough of classrooms.
26. So I went to Zimbabwe and became a teacher in a school!
27. I lived in a mud house in the bush for a year.
28. I had no electricity and had to pump my own water out of the ground.
29. I was teaching classes of up to 50, aged from 12 to 26.
30. I was only 18 at the time!
31. It was hard, but rewarding. I would never want to be a classroom teacher again though.
32. I taught Maths, Commerce and Geography.
33. It was the toughest year of my life and I was pushed mentally and physically beyond what I thought my limits were.
34. In retrospect this was a good thing.
35. I got to go to some amazine places and have some fantastic adventures.
36. Despite having a hard year I fell in love with Africa and it will always hold a special place in my heart.
37. I went to Bangor University in North Wales, to study French.
38. I spent 4 years learning more about life and having adventures.
39. The third year was spent partly studying in Belgium and partly travelling the world.
40. The latter taught me more.
41. I have visited England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Spain, Canary Isles, France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya, Nigeria, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bali, Fiji, Mauritius, Australia, USA, China, Macau in my life so far.
42. I consider myself very lucky.
43. There are many more places that I will visit.
44. I left university with a 2:1 degree in French and Modern France.
45. I work in publishing.
46. I fell into it completely by accident, but I really like it.
47. I always wanted to do a creative and positive job.
48. I started off as a journalist, but didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
49. So I moved into a more specialised area called production, where I still am today.
50. Last year I changed company and became a production director.
51. I take this responsibility very seriously, but also find it ammusing to be in this position at my age.
52. My friends tell me I'm very ambitious, but I'm not sure.
53. I associate ambition with being a bastard, and I don't think I am one.
54. I prefer 'motivated'.
55. I work for an international publishing company, with magazines in the UK and Germany.
56. I can speak English, French, German and some Spanish.
57. I was never good at German at school.
58. I now speak it regularly.
59. My girlfriend is English.
60. The majority of my girlfriend have not been.
61. I travel a lot now.
62. Sometimes it gets me down, but I think I would miss it if I stopped.
63. Business travel is very different to leisure travel.
64. I have a penchant for Belgian chocolate.
65. And ice cream.
66. I live in London.
67. I have recently bought my second property there.
68. I am a countryside person.
69. Putting down roots in London scares me sometimes.
70. My new house has a shed which is very exciting for me!
71. I have completed two London Marathons.
72. I have a cellular dislike of running.
73. But I like to challenge myself so I run for charity.
74. I also like motorsport in all forms.
75. I am trying to learn photography.
76. It's my first new hobby for a while and I'm really, really enjoying applying myself to something new.
77. I love spending time by the sea.
78. I used to enjoy exploring when I was younger. Since moving to London I have done it less.
79. I have learnt cross country skiing this Winter.
80. I like learning about computers and playing games.
81. I also have a growing DVD collection.
82. My other hobby is wine.
83. I am looking forward to having a proper wine store at some point. The house I currently own does not have a cellar.
84. I like New World wines, but my favourite red and white wines are French.
85. I don't like beer.
86. But I have just been to the Oktoberfest and had a really good time.
87. One of my favourite drinks is Gin and Coke, with Lime and Ice. I am slowly converting the rest of the world to this great drink.
88. I have a sweet tooth.
89. I love sunsets.
90. My favourite season is Spring.
91. My favourite city (so far) is Barcelona.
92. One day I would like to buy a property near the city and live there permanently.
93. My favourite food is Italian.
94. I mostly prepare my own food.
95. I am not a Rabbit, but I do like salads.
96. I'm feeling hungry now.
97. I don't like Raddishes.
98. I always get up early in the morning, even on holidays.
99. I'm not good at wasting time.
100. 2pm to 3pm is the hardest time of the day for me.
101. I can't believe I made it to 101.
102. I don't like spiders.
103. I don't like snakes even more.
104. And I think I am beginning to dislike non-personal work.
105. I am an Adidas person, not a Nike person.
106. I am a PC person, not a Mac person.
107. I like Garlic a lot, but it does terrible things to my gut.
108. Doesn't stop me eating it though.
109. I believe that, despite all that is going on in the world, we will be OK as a race.
110. I once did a photoshoot dressed as Father Christmas while sitting in a Formula 1 racing car. And yes it was a tight squeeze, but I did get all the way in!