I'm getting good at not posting!

It's become somewhat of a habit of mine to stop writing and posting and the likes, informing my loyal readers of everything that's been happening.

I could say that's because not much has really been happening; I still don't have a job, despite a few interviews (being told I am "too qualified") and trial days, but the jury's still out on that one. Still some possibilities. I have been doing a bit of acting (another post to come) and various organising, visiting family etc etc. So I haven't been doing nothing per se.

In fact, given that I am unemployed and don't really have anything to do, I don't know where the time has gone.

I have resolved therefore, to be more productive with my time! That includes more frequent, informative, insightful, intelligent, witty blog posts. I hope. At the very least, more nonsense to read. Hopefully more pictures to peruse too.

Three good things about being unemployed: I have plenty of time to write; I've been watching lots of films and TV shows and so have lots to talk about there; I was at home, wide awake at 1.30pm UK time when Wisconsin Badgers football tickets went on sale in Madison at 7.30am, and so was able to get season tickets for next year! YES! 3rd time's a charm.

Now I just have to get back to Madison!

Where have I been!?

It's been almost a month since my last post. A month! Not quite though, so it hasn't been such a huge fail. Just a little fail.

My excuse is that I have just been too busy with life, but of course, that's not really an excuse. I have been pretty busy though, and feel I deserve some leniency; after all, leaving two jobs, packing up a whole apartment, flying to California, running around California, flying to England, and then piecing my life back together here has taken up quite a lot of time.

So, what's been happening then?

Well, as I am sure a lot of you know, I'm back in the UK now for the summer. My visa expired, university ended for Nicole, and so it was farewell to Madison. I reluctantly resigned from my jobs in the Capitol, hoping to return after the Summer. My boss took the office out for drinks and snacks to the local Irish eatery, and I had a fun time reminiscing about my experiences here, gulping down a final glass of Wisconsin beer (Spotted Cow of course), and eating some yummy fries, sliders and wings.

Then it was back home to finish packing and cleaning the apartment before we had to depart the next day. Oh how I hate packing. Seriously...it really doesn't get any easier. Having a life in two different countries really does get annoying you know. That, and having too much stuff.

So, we left as much stuff as we could in our apartment (since we know and trust our sub-lettor), and I still ended up leaving with two huge full cases, weighing 49lbs, and 65lbs. That meant some overweight fees at the airport. But, it had to be done. Wouldn't want to leave a favourite item of clothing behind now would I?!

Once that was done, I managed to squeeze in a trip to a bar to say bye to some people from my other job at work. They kindly bought my some nice beverages, as I had a fun farewell to Madison. Then it was back home, more last minute packing and cleaning (though Nicole stayed up even later) and a few hours of sleep before we were on our way West.

More on the flight in another blog. We arrived safe and sound in California, and spent a nice few days enjoying the company of Nicole's family, celebrating birthdays and championship victories, relaxing and running errands, and preparing for departure from the US. Oh and I got some sunbathing in too...perhaps a little too much.... or too little protection....

Sun burnt and skin peeling, I returned to the UK, along with Nicole, last week. Since returning, we've been running around like headless chickens somewhat, trying to get various tasks completed, catching up on goings on, visiting friends and family etc.

A day after we arrived, we had a quick trip down to London, to attend a club night Nicole just had to be a part of. It was nice walking around Camden, and then the night was rather entertaining-ClubLad- rubbing shoulders with band members from One Night Only, Ellie Goulding, and Ginny from Harry Potter. A few hours sleep at a youth hostel, and then, after a pleasant walk taking in sights of London (and a reminder to put up pictures from our last trip to London 10months ago), we were on the train heading North again.

After finally unpacking and getting sorted, I have the wonderful task of getting a job. Those pesky, time consuming, annoying things which are necessary to be able to afford life. And even finding a job to apply for is proving rather difficult, let alone actually being offered one. I'll be making lots and lots of applications this coming week, and most likely wandering around begging for one... if you know of any available jobs, please do let me know!

Most recently though, things have been looking up a little; I had two meetings with casting agencies about being a TV extra, and have some paid work this Monday. If all goes well, I may have to make a new section for the website, detailing my acting exploits of late!

For now though, it's back to more job apps.

Me? Watching Sports?...More Americanness

Monday night, sat watching the Lakers game. The weekend, spent discussing the draft and watching college football highlights. Last Thursday, another Lakers game. Last week I even watched some baseball!

Anyone who knows me from England would never describe me as the kinda guy to sit and watch sports. It just never really interested me. I could watch the occasional important soccer game from time to time, most likely when it was United in a final, or England in an international competition. Even then, I’ll be the first to admit I got a little bored. I’d happily play any sport, but watching it, just wasn’t for me.

Well, watching soccer still hasn’t really changed, though again, England in the world cup will still have me. But American sports.... different matter. I think I am a football junkie now. I have really come to appreciate the skill and tactics of the game, even recognising some of the plays now. I am loathe to miss a Packers and Badgers game next season, and I feel like I might even find myself watching various other games too, both in college football and the NFL. I even watched some of the NFL Draft, the weekend where NFL teams pick up new players straight out of college.

On the subject of the Draft, it’s an interesting process. Too big a fanfare is made of it sure, but I like how it’s set up. Instead of professional teams picking up new players based on how much they can afford to pay in contracts, they are assigned positions in a queue, and simply get to pick the next best available player, or a player they particularly want. Your position in the queue is based on how well you performed the previous year...in reverse. So the worst team last season gets the first pick in the draft, the option to pick the very best available new player. And the team which won the Superbowl- the Packers this year- get the last pick, No.32.

Multiple rounds follow, picks are traded for better positions, or more players, and a saga unfolds. I like it because it means the teams with the most money don’t get to dominate, and by having the better teams pick later, it keeps a nice amount of fairness and competition in the game.

A similar process takes place in the NBA, the professional basketball league. I used to play basketball a little in high school (yes despite my height), but these guys are something else. I first started watching the Los Angeles Lakers in 2009, when they won the NBA championship. We saw the playoff finals, and since then, the Lakers have been my team. (In fairness, I was a Laker when I was 4 too, with my very own Lakers bomber jacket!)

These past few weeks, I’ve been back into basketball, watching as the Lakers seek a third straight NBA championship. I’ve seen them play the New Orleans Hornets and now they’re playing the Dallas Mavericks. I’ve also caught the Chicago Bulls playing, and Miami Heat and the Orlando Magics. I know players, I know plays, and I am hooked.

I even watched the Brewers play a baseball game, though I confess, that wasn’t my thing. That was a little boring. Some more watching though, and who knows? Heck, I even read the sports section in the newspaper!

P.S. The Lakers lost by one basket! :(

Monks, the Church and King Henry VIII

They didn't go so well together. Many beautiful monasteries were left in ruins. However, so well built were these buildings, that much of the ruins still exist today, as Nicole and I found out this summer, when we explored Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire.

For once in England, the sun was shining too! Some very nice examples of the beauty the English countryside has to offer. In case you haven't seen them yet, here's the public link to the Facebook album, and a few samples from it! Enjoy.

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO ALBUM

The ruins

The view from the crows nest

Out in the fields!

Osama Bin Laden- Lest we forget.

So they got him. Or we got him. You see while it may have been a small number of brave US soldiers who finally stopped one of the world’s most dangerous men, in many ways it was a team effort. And it wasn’t just the US who stopped him, though they did have the largest stake, and as always, lifted the heaviest load.

No, WE stopped Osama. The West. The world. Civilisation. The world joined together in unity after 9/11: East and West, Christians and Muslims. The world was one in its shock, fear, disgust and animosity to a small group of individuals who saw fit to try and terrorise the world. At times they almost succeeded. But they never did. For there was always reason and sanity to fight against them.

It’s been a strange day today. Almost surreal in fact. All the Facebook and Twitter updates; the endless news feeds, stories and different takes; the passing comments and jokes. On the one hand, I can understand why crowds gathered in front of the White House chanting “U..S..A..”, or why New York residents were jubilant beyond belief. But on the other, these people are cheering and rejoicing at the death of a human being, albeit an evil one.

Now is the time for us to show our humanity, to show our fair and peaceful nature. We must be the better man. The soldiers who carefully and respectfully dealt with bin Laden’s body according to Muslim tradition began this process, despite being at the front line of Osama’s war against them. We should emulate their example and show the Islamic world that we are caring and respectful, lest we give them reason to dislike and distrust us. Us cheering at Osama’s death could in some ways be seen just the same way as we see Taliban fighters cheering at the death of coalition soldiers.

We should not forget what bin Laden believed in. For forgetfulness breeds ignorance, one of the reasons why Al Qaeda evolved to fight the West. The better we understand their motives, the better we can challenge them, disprove them, and protect the world. This should be Osama’s legacy.