How Many Toy Stories?!

Sunday's a meant for lazing around and catching movies on the hoof. We're heading to the cinema to watch Toy Story 5 tomorrow, so Rebecca wanted to refresh her memory with the fourth one. It sure is the black sheep of the bunch (maybe 5 will be even moreso, TBC). While it still has all the heart you'd expect, the pacing and sense of humour is way out there, disconnecting it all from the previous movies. I mean, it's still a good time, but it ain't exactly hall of famer. Guess we'll see how 5 holds up tomorrow.

Calm Before the Warm

The calm before the warm today. It's also one of the only weekends we have coming up without any plans so we enjoyed being coach potatos. I was playing games and reading my book for the most part, quietly chipping away at my hobbies. Since it wasn't so hot we roasted a chicken today so we wouldn't have to put the oven on to cook so much over next week. That and we stocked up on ice creams. Bring it on heatwave.

Backrooms

Bided my time today doing all the usual bits and bobs. The main event was a trip out to the cinema with Rebecca a couple of my old work gang to watch Backrooms. We've done quite well in getting through some modern horror films together now, I guess we all just commiserate together in our fear. This was our first attempt at a big horror film on the silver screen though and it was a huge success. It helped the film was just the right amount of scary. Lots of disconcerting imagery, liminal spaces and handheld cameras. Considering most of the film consists of great actors looking concerned as they silently navigate a labyrinth, the tension was maintained throughout and it went by in a heartbeat. We've been really treated to a lot of horror films that don't fit into the 'quiet, quiet, bang' category in the last couple of years and I'm a firm believer that horror should delight more than it scares.

Ragu

Set my focus timer (the one that plants a little tree on my phone and tells me to not look at a screen for a couple of hours) and got to writing. I'm tugging at a couple of threads that have been left dangling and fraying for a while now. Things I've wanted to work on for a while but convinced myself I didn't have the time. Well, as luck would have it, time is all I have. That and a set of notepads and some fountain pens. 

When I wasn't focused I was hanging out with Rebecca. It was our 'anniversary' last weekend so we marked the occasion today with a trip to a very nice restaurant. Wine, fried artichokes, aioli, ragu and a pistachio panna cotta. What dreams are made of. Bristol in the summertime is a wonderful time and place, Dan and Jamie felt it too because they were nearby getting drinks out so we joined them to enjoy the cooling summer evening. 

Jetlagged at Home

My eyes jolted open a little after four this morning. I had no cause to be awake at that hour but my brain decided to kick itself into gear and start thinking about nonsense which made me restless. Defeated, I got up and got a very early start to my day, but it meant I was totally sapped of energy. I knew I was in for a late night too though as I signed up for some online games this evening, it was someone's birthday so it was bound to be a blowout. In fairness it was very much worth staying up for as the games of deception and teamwork was played with the perfect crowd. So ready to start the day properly tomorrow though.

Consolation Work

Thought getting up early was the secret ingredient to siezing the day but instead I hit roadblocks everywhere. Sat down to write but nothing came naturally. Went for a run but ran out of steam too quickly. Played a game but couldn't get past a tricky bit. I was half convinced that the day was out to get me. It 'almost' didn't feel deserved when I got a message for a week of work coming up. Naturally I jumped at the opportunity but I still couldn't shake how it felt like a bit of a consolation prize.

Bank Holiday Anyone?

Set myself out on a power morning to do a speed run of all the errands that went on ice over the weekend. Freezer defrosted. New toaster collected. Cat food pouches recycled in store. Brake light bulb replaced. Weekly shop completed. I managed to do all this before the coffee in my travel mug was cool enough to sip. With the chores done I gave our new TV a spin with some games and two movies. It basically sounds like I invented a Bank Holiday Monday today.

MS Paint Me

I aided Rebecca's parents in cooking a slap up breakfast for us. That was the hearty meal I needed before lifting out their old TV into our car and later loading it into our house. Did a little cable re-arrange and spruce in honour of the the living room centerpiece. At long last, we join the modem era and have access to HD live broadcasting. No more will Bake Off nights or Eurovision be witnessed in standard definition! 

I actually wanted to play around with it a bit more but I got suckered into some online games with some chums. We were all influenced by social media to get this new game where players hide themselves in a funny map, then paint themselves so they match their surroundings. I outdid myself by recreating the texture of a wooly jumper, all with the same tools as MS Paint. We had so much fun that we lost all track of time too. Only our yawns betrayed us and made us realize that sleep is probably a good idea.

There's a Plane

A bus and a train was all it took to get us to see some planes. The royal fly past took place today and it's become semi-traditional for us to join Rebecca's folks in doing some plane spotting. I mean, they already knew the order of every aircraft that would be going overhead so it was hardly spotting, but it was still a day out. Rebecca conked out asleep when we got home so I got to reading and pottering around, it's kinda nice being bored in someone else's house, it's like being on vacation but your phone already knows the wifi.

Fast Paced Friday

Tended to my cowboys briefly then went out on another quick run. I'm getting to a point now where my old pace is returning, I was dying the first time I ran a little quicker but it keeps getting easier. I packed a bag too as we were back off to London once again for a weekend celebrating Rebecca's Dad's Birthday. I'm mostly just here for vibes but it's always nice enjoying a change of scenery.

Cowboy Problem Solver

Had a pair of back to back bad night's sleep this week and now it's payback time. I slept in til a bit too late, but even Rebecca knew I needed the rest so she let me kip. At least I felt good and fresh for attacking my writing desk again. This time I was determined to crack the next Western campaign I've been cooking up. I hit a couple of roadblocks recently that kept me from really running with my idea. I nailed the setting and the scenario, but the actual activities for the players was a little up in the air. I got my problem solving hat on though and ironed those kinks into a crisp, clean line - these cowboys shall go to the ball.

Writing Spree (Thanks Stephen King)

Perhaps I internalized Stephen King's 'just lock yourself in a room and do some writing' mantra a little too much. I went to bed with a short article idea about Zelda last night and typed it all up this morning and afternoon. A thousand new words, written and edited in just a couple of hours, easily one of my best ever writing sprees this year. 

You can read the piece here - it's intentionally tounge-in-cheek and is more statical and jokey than anything else. But it was a joy to write, which is what it's all about.  

Ocarina Remake

Got up early to finish up playing a massive and flabby game about being a Yakuza in the 80's (aptly titled Yakuza). At times it has the heart of a John Woo Asian Action piece, with dramatic moments of bromance and bravado, but in between that it's a lot of tapping A to get through the dialogue. I also just about finished up ready Stephen King's memoir 'On Writing' which Rebecca thoughtfully got me as gift a while ago. There's lots of nuggets of wisdom in there, chief amount them being you just gotta listen to your gut and get writing. Good advice and always nice to hear one of the modern greats saying it. 

I did a little run now that the weather has cooled off a bit. All of this was to bide my time as I approached the  start time of the latest Nintendo Direct. The rumour were true, the final announcement of the show was a remake of Ocarina of Time. My heart has already decided that I'll always prefer the original, it's dreamy art style and sound design. But I look forward to seeing how they approach this remake and what bells and whistles they could add to the greatest game of all time.

Cereal Box Boy

Still watching the rain roll down the window as we enter June. I had to time my trip to the supermarket carefully so I didn't get soaked, but instead I got too hot carrying everything back. I realized last week that the bulkiest thing I get in the shop each week is my jumbo box of Fruit & Fiber. Most weeks I can't fit it in my bags so I end up clutching it through the park. I really hope I don't get a reputation as the cereal box boy.

I did a couple of other life admin but today, including putting in for the couple days work I did yesterday. As I sat dreaming about what my newfound riches could get me, a letter from HMRC came through the door. Inside was a massive tax rebate! I flipped over the Chance card of life, and it smiled at me. Thought Monday would be gloomy, but things are on the mend.

Book Club... Today?

Our plan was to hit the road back to Bristol pretty early after breakfast, but a overly long lie in altered our plans. It was just nice not to have a little cat attacking my feet for once so I slept without fear. We got back in good time ultimately AND I got to do some prep for my impromptu online book club meeting tonight... Which turned out to be in two weeks time. I'm just a man out of time these days. 

House Cooling

The cat attacked my feet at the exact moment in my dream that an unspeakable horror was chasing my through a ever-shifting corridor. Needless to say I was jolted awake with a newfound fear of God. Otherwise it was a calm morning. Porridge boiled on the stove and Don't Tell the Bride re-ran on the telly. 

Rebecca hit the streets in search of some final Birthday gift bits for her friend we were due to visit this evening for a 'house cooling' party (they're moving out). Rebecca and I split the drive up to London and caught the trains the rest of the way. All I know is that four hours somehow passed and all we were doing was chatting, now I'm on a night bus en route to bed. Today was our dutiful day, tomorrow we'll veg out on the couch. 

Rivals Episode 6

 Did part two of van driving, going back and forth to a handful of bases and dropping kit off. I bumped into even more familiar faces today, we've all been scattered across the four winds since Rivals but people still remember their work besties.

Speaking of Rivals, my old colleague invited Rebecca and me over to watch the mid-series finale episode tonight. Ever since reading the script for this particular episode I've been ravinous to see it put to screen. Today finally came and we all laughed, cheered and gasped at all the big moments. I had a silent smile the whole way through though as one thought kept turning over in my mind: 'They bloody did it.' 

Almost No Van

Had the morning to myself to do my usual spate of pottering and trying to do some writing. Come midday I was off to work! First point of call was going to pick up a van the Production team hired for me. I cruised up to the hire place, sunglasses on ready to take on the world and make some dollar. Then they declined our reservation as it needed a payment off a 'credit' card, not a debit. So I broke the bad news to the team and we were sent off to another hire house, where we faced the same trouble. This repeated a few more time as the daylight was burning, all the while we had no van to do the kit ferrying we were brought onto do. Nearly three hours into the day we scrambled and got a van for me to drive, then we were off to the races. Got to see a bunch of old faces along the way, and I'll get to do it all again tomorrow. 

Van Man? Sign Me Up

Got a stroke of luck today when an old colleague offered me a few days work for tomorrow and Friday. It will just be driving a van but I will be doing it for a Bristol shooting crew which means I'll keep my hand in. I mostly stayed indoors otherwise, marvelling at how quickly the weather flopped from rain to shine. All the while sharpening various writing projects, as one does when sat at the writing desk.

Commiserating Pint

Tomorrow was a new day. I made some bigger steps forward and made sure I abided one of the golden rules: Be Kind to Yourself. I gave myself some time for work and some time for games, not giving too much of a damn about the silent judgement I impart upon myself. 

I also had something to look forward to in the form of a pub trip with some old colleagues. A couple peeled away closer to the time but that left a distilled group of us that had a good laugh at the pub and commiserating where appropriate. 

Monday Monotony

Walked into this Monday with some lofty ambitious for getting some things done. I'm trying to tackle another small writing project amidst a few other things. What ended up happening is I just over thought my next moves and paralyzed myself. I shook off some of the guilt by going on a run and ticking off some to do jobs but I still reckon I could have done more with the day.

When you write a daily blog it puts into perspective how you always need to try doing something noteworthy each day. Every moment is precious and it's a mite frustrating when you go to bed feeling the same as when you woke up. We'll try again tomorrow though.