Six vs Half a Dozen

I've not been up to much apart from work, reading and watching DVDs. There has been the odd "can't be arsed anymore" day at work but I'm sure that's just part and parcel of working full time, whatever you're doing. I think also this has to do with my having expected to have wrapped up the project a while ago, and things keep cropping up which take ages to fix (I won't bore you with details). As a consequence I'm pretty bored of the project. I'm sure when I start a new one my enthusiasm will be renewed. All in all it's fine though and still enjoy aspects of it, usually when I fix a niggling problem.

Since starting work again it's become obvious to me how much I need to fill my free time. After work and especially at weekends I find myself at a loose end in terms of what to do. Having moved jobs and housing and had several periods unemployed over the past few years, I've lost touch with many people whom I've befriended. Consequently I haven't really developed any meaningful relationships as such and have been a bit reclusive lately. I've managed to fill my time mainly with DVDs etc, but soon they will run out and I'll have seen them all. What then? Well, last week I went along to play 6 a side football with some people from work. I found out that it's a regular thing and there's usually enough players every week to make it at least 5 a side. I really enjoyed it and in fact I surprised myself with some decent touches, and even a couple of goals! My team still lost though but it was all in good fun. There was none of that taking it too seriously which has put me off such events in the past. I don't mean I don't take it seriously, of course I do, but I mean it was always those arseholes who had been playing for years who think they are great and refuse to pass to and berate those "inferior" players who aren't as skilled/experienced, instead of just accepting who is in your team and giving everyone a chance.

On the night I did ok for someone who hasn't played in well over a year. Certainly no Steven Gerrard but I gave it my best shot. There's a good chance of getting a regular game so hopefully I'll be able to gradually improve, both in technical ability and fitness. My lack of the latter certainly showed, as I was aching for 4 days afterwards!!

Anyway I believe excercise shouldn't be seen as a chore and I also hope to start playing badminton on a regular basis. I've never been a fan of the gym, with its machines which resemble devices of torture and bright lights etc. I always found that kind of stuff a bit repetitive and boring. I hope to get into running outdoors again (which, let's face it, beats running on the same spot indoors), which ultimately should improve my fitness and then I'll be able to compete more at football. Sport for me is the way forward.

++ BREAKING NEWS ++

This just in - after a reader mentioned that the title of my new blog was, I quote, "mince", I agreed and have changed the title. "Soccer-Holics", because of my addiction to Pro Evolution Soccer, and "Anonymous", because of all the anonymous readers. A fitting title. Also sounds a bit like "Alcoholics Anonymous".

Attack of the Guest Blogger

Rangers beat Dundee Utd 5-0 last weekend and it was all down to Super Ally and Walter Smith, yep that's Rangers not crap anymore and destined for great things and many glorious riches .... but haven't Falkirk beaten Dundee Utd 5-1 TWICE this season? Home AND Away .... WITHOUT Ally & Walt and all the while still remaining MINCE?

The answer is oui. Now I wasn't the biggest supporter of Walter Smith when he was touted as a possible Scotland boss but he has done a fairly good job .. he's got a little lucky here and there but performances have been night and day compared with the previous manager's. I don't understand why Rangers fans are happy to take him away from Scotland though.

Whatever club you support or even play for ..... What is better?

Winning the 13th best football league in the world (SPL is officially the 13th best seemingly), infact their target this year is coming 2nd in the 13th best league!!

OR

Qualifying for and competing in a European Championship or World Cup?

Am I a moron or are Rangers' fans all just small minded fools who prefer to the first option to the latter. NOT that I am saying Scotland would have or will qualify for Euro 2008 but our chances have taken a dunt ... Ally McCoist says he couldn't have refused Rangers and said to himself later ... 'What If?' Well I am sorry but a true Scotsman should be saying that about leaving the National side 'What If you've just buggered up your country's best chance in a decade?'.

Guest Who?

As promised, this weeks post will be by a guest blogger. Knowing me, Duncan Fisher, knowing you, Martin Tocker - aha. Martin was the winner of the guest competition and has earned the right to be heard.
Next week, it'll be back to moaning, self pity and, if you're lucky, maybe a Muslim joke or two.
Take it away, Martin...

"On My Word - Unleashe Rant..."

As a result of wanting to get several issues off my chest, this could be a long post...

Working 9 To 5...
First up, the new job; it's with the NHS, developing databases and reports for laboratory data. So far, I make it 12 weeks since I started - if I play my cards right I could beat my personal best for time in a job (19.5 weeks). My contract was recently extended so that's a start. Generally I've received very positive feedback for all my hard graft. I think I'm just making up for lost time when I was unemployed and doing bugger all with myself except moaning on this very blog.
To an extent I've been liking the job (enjoying is a bit of strong word to describe work) and am still basking in the glory of getting offered it at all. Turned out I was very lucky - after 6 months unemployed, and with no chance of getting a good reference from my previous job (for reasons I wont go into), career-wise, things were looking bleak indeed. One day, when on S1Jobs, I decided to broaden my search criteria and search in Ayrshire, not just the Glasgow area. The first one I saw was for database developer. I sent my CV, was called for a brief interview (INTERVIEWER: "Can you do it?", ME: "Ok."), and a few days later, had the offer! No questions asked, no references requested.
So far it's not quite been the social hub I was hoping for, but there is at least enough chat to make it bearable. Some of my fears of such a job have been confirmed, i.e. a bunch of quiet guys sitting looking at a screen for 8 hrs per day, hardly saying a word. It is like that to an extent, but there is some conversation, just not as much as I'd hoped. I suppose it is work after all, and we're not there to chat, laugh and have a good time (welcome to the "real world" - sigh).
Despite this I'm happy with it and because I concentrate so much on the project, I'm one of the worst culprits for disappearing off into my own virtual world of SQL and periodically checking email, hoping for the offer of a Nigerian farmer to give me a share of his father's gold in exchange for my bank details to temporarily hold the wealth.
I was pleased to hear we will be getting moved to another, bigger office shortly, so that should freshen things up a bit.

It's Life, Jim, But Not As We Know It
The major downside to all this is that I'm back living in Prestwick. After leaving my previous job, I moved back with my parents for a temporary period. After having lived in the city, I just find it depressing; in Glasgow, there is always a buzz of activity, a vibrancy about the place, a feeling like things are going on. In comparison, you go into Ayr town after work and it's like a ghost town. I have no intention of living in Ayrshire for more than a few months. However, there may be the chance of a permanent contract at my current place, so I may at least keep working at the same place for a while. I'll cross that bridge if and when it comes.
What I think I will do is move out of my parents' again - I really miss the independence, being in control of your own life, as regards shopping, washing etc, doing your own thing without feeling you have to answer to anyone. It would be best all round I think. I'll look at renting a place in Ayr for the time being, that way my commute will be cut down. I also miss having likeminded flatmates whom have similar interests to me and are of a similar age/attitude. Also, the process of going round to view flats is something I find enjoyable. If I see any French or Polish people, however, I'll steer well clear (for reasons I wont go into).
It might be a bit of a gamble but if it goes tits up, then there's always housing benefits to fall back on if I'm struggling to pay rent.

Antisocial Behaviour
Generally my social life at the moment is poor. My best friends are myself, my DVD player and my TV (how sad is that), with the occasional PES tournament. I've become a bit reclusive, and it's getting a bit dull. I just feel a bit isolated, and nearly everyone at work has spouse/kids etc and nights out are about as rare as a total eclipse of the sun. With the dark winter days, there's not much incentive to go anywhere, and living in Prestwick, I don't particularly want to venture out anyway, so it's a bit rubbish in that sense. I've seen a lot of films recently, particularly over the festive period, and purchased several DVDs, most recently I'm Alan Partridge and Knowing Me, Knowing You. Comedy classics.

Caffeine Detox
For the first time, I was thinking of having a readers' poll. I was considering going on a caffeine detox for a week, as I probably have been drinking too much tea and coffee. In fact I think I've had a constant supply of caffeine in my bloodstream for as long as I can remember. What do you think, readers, should I go cold turkey on the caffeine? Cast your votes. ROCK AND ROLL!!!

P.s. some degenerate fool suggested that for this blog I should have a guest blogger to contribute some material, and so for next weeks instalment the blog will take a slightly different format. If you can email me your contribution (duncaaan@hotmail.com), I will pick the best one and publish it next week, for all to see. Rock and roll.

Heeere's Dunky!

I was seriously thinking of retiring from the blogging scene for good but due to overwhelming demand, I've decided to continue. There will be no more random shite (unless it's particularly funny) and the format will be one post a week, every Sunday with a more introspective approach, as before. Be warned though, if I get bored, I'll just stop altogether.

Well, to round up the first week of 2007, not much really happened. I hosted a PES (Pro Evolution Soccer) tournament, which was fun. It's going to be tough going back to work again, and no doubt the Monday blues will kick in tomorrow but it's better than being unemployed, as I was for 6 months of last year.

My contract was extended from 19th Jan to the end of March as they have several projects in the pipeline. Since the beginning of June I've been living back with my parents and I'm getting itchy feet again and am quite keen to move out, as I miss the independence. My dilemma is whether to stay until the end of March (maybe a safer option) or move out ASAP, which if I do I'll no doubt feel much happier but if my contract ends on 31st March there's the possibility of being unemployed again with potentially several months still on the new lease. There's always housing benefit but I've had enough of filling out forms over the past few years to do me for a while.