27

05-01-2010

It isn't a magic number, it just happens to be the number of years I have managed to not kill myself while living on Earth. Not entirely impressive, but since it means I have beaten my current record of twenty six years I think I can put it in the win column.

So, first things first: Happy New Year to all. Did you all have a good Christmas/New Year/Insert-religious-specific-seasonal-holiday-here? I certainly hope so.

Mine was both fun filled and packed. Christmas with the family, some days spent with the Lady Friend's family, a funeral to attend, my mates birthday drinks, lots of driving around the country and finally my birthday itself.

The usual presents made their appearances (I am sort of easy enough to buy for) with books and dvds being the main stock. The gifts from the lady friend did stray from the norm it has to be said. For instance the ticket to Ireland against Italy in the Six Nations was a big surprise (and a reason to wish away the month of January so that the game is nearer). Plus my birthday (which I still think she went a little overboard on but let's not stir that nest) began with two nights in a really nice hotel up in Antrim so that we could claw some 'us' time out of the Christmas madness.

The hotel was a place called Smuggler's Inn and is just down the road from The Giant's Causeway. I am something of a nut when it comes to old Irish and Celtic stories and had never seen this wonder of nature. Many a picture was taken. Plus I have a liking of places old, I am not sure why that is. Give me an old looking hotel with wooden panels on the walls over a modern looking place any day of the week.

Smuggler's Inn had a real old feel to it, it was a great relaxing two days.

Not to mention that I now am the proud owner of an easel and oil paints and brushes. My love of painting was killed in my school years when my art teacher never liked any of the colour images I produced. But now she is long gone (well hopefully still alive but no longer a critic of my work) so I can get back into that little side hobby of drawing and art.

Of course the writing suffered a lot during the break, but when you can't find two minutes to yourself you can't really expect to find thirty odd minutes to write. I plan on getting back on track with that this week, maybe even starting tonight, who knows.

Then again I have oil paint and a blank canvas, I might just call in sick to work tomorrow.

Blue_jester