..no passport required!

 
Being rather late in picking up The Musical Baton...

Total volume of music files on my computer?
According to iTunes, I have 6522 Songs, 18.2 days, 24.3 GB.

The last CD I bought was?
Neil Diamond - The Greatest Hits 1966 to 1992

Song playing right now?
Back Again by Boy Kill Boy

Five songs I listen to a lot/mean a lot to me?

Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley (Surely one of the greatest songs ever)

We Come One - Faithless (Glasto 2002, sun setting over the Pyramid Stage, 40000 people dancing one of the greatest musical moments of my life)

Disco Down - Shed Seven (York's finest, sadly missed, great times at gigs with Kev and Steve)

My Own Worst Enemy - Lit

Scar - Missy Higgins


I'm passing on the baton to...

Anyone reading this blog.... anyone??
posted by Martin at 8:24 PM

 
Following yet another post from paj, I'm ashamed to discover that it has been nearly a year since my last post.

So, what has happened? My lodger has moved out, and I now have a lovely new office. My godson has been christened. I spent a wonderful time in Ireland. I've visited various people. paj and kaj left for the Antipodes, and returned for a brief visit. My priest has left the church, meaning a busy time for the warden. I still work in Solihull.

Sitting here and trying to think of something to type might give the impression that not a lot has happened recently - which is as perplexing to me as it may be to you. I wonder if it is simply that what I do is just terribly mundane, or it seems so to me. There have been no major lifechanging events in my life, I've not got married, had kids, moved, or or got a new job. So why doe it seem that the time since my last post has passed so quickly? Perhaps as we get older, time appears to pass quicker, as it represents a smaller fraction of what's gone before? Who knows...
posted by Martin at 7:35 PM

 
Sorry, meant to apologise for the inordinate gap between posts. Since my last post, I have; moved offices to Solihull, and now commute in less time than when I worked in Coventry; been elected Churchwarden of my church; just returned from a great weekend in Brighton on a Stag Do (although we went and watched cars go up a high loudly and quickly first, at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. I also spent an enjoyable Friday night with Mr and Mrs Johns. Lovely.
posted by Martin at 6:56 PM

 
Following a post by paj, it appears that my most played tracks on the ipod are American Idiot, Crashed the Wedding, Shrip, Ocean Avenue and On Standby. Whether this is a comment on the quality of my musical taste, a reflection of the songs on my 'faves' playlist, or as a result of the sad (accidental) deletion of over 2500 tracks, I'll leave up to you to decide, dear reader.
posted by Martin at 6:52 PM

 
OK so its been a while since my last post. Sorry.

I did take the job in Worcester, but the SAAB has been saved from the prospect of an early retirement by giving sterling (yet expensive) service over the last few months. Also as we're moving offices to Solihull soon, the situation isn't looking so dire.

So what else have I been upto? Not much, home for Christmas, work, home work ad infintium. I never really appreciated how lucky I was working in the same city that I lived in before. I hate commuting. Anything from 45 mins to 2.5hours to drive 50 miles. Not fun.

Anyways, when I've got more to say, I'll be back! Pip Pip!!
posted by Martin at 10:22 PM

 
Good news! I have (finally) been offered a job. Pinky's (prospective) employers are a large multi-national corporation, who have decided that I am an irreistable propostion for them. I now just have to decide if I want it...

Unfortunaley, the new job is in Worcester. Only 50 miles away, true. Just off the M5, also true. However, whilst not living as close to previous jobs as Mad, this is by far and away the longest commute I've every considered. 2000 miles a month. Filling the car every week, not every month. I fear the SAAB might be getting an early retirement...

Finally, came across this today. Most amusing.
posted by Martin at 12:46 AM

 
Whatever next?
posted by Martin at 2:19 PM

 
Part of being unemployed entails fortnightly visits to the Job Centre. Upon my visit there yesterday afternoon, the chap on reception had a bomb threat phoned through. Rather concerningly he had to phone his boss to discover what to do, and then proceeded to wait approximately 5 minutes before decided to evacuate.

Now when the staff left, they all went to an emergency assembly point well away from the building (out of sight, and by the Registry Office for those of you who know Cov), whilst us "Jobseekers" were simply told to leave the building, and mostly hung around at the front, by big (5m x 2m) windows, under a huge overhang.

Whilst I appreciate that the Government is attempting to reduce unemployment, surely a little more guidance to the Jobseekers wouldn't have gone amiss. In a real situation, surely right outside the building is the worst place to be?
posted by Martin at 3:06 PM

 
Following a recent post by paj, I feel that the time has come to try and update this more frequently.

Since I last posted, various things have happened, principal being the ending of the relatinoship between myself and my former employers. I understand that these things happen, but I hope it never happens to you. So if anyone wants a Marketing Database Manager (stop shouting Junk Mailer in the back!) let me know...

posted by Martin at 2:19 PM

 
Tonight's blog comes from my friends Kristi and Dave's house. Having had a curry I now feel very fat and slightly drubnk. I really should learn from Mad's examples, and not blog when pished!
posted by Martin at 11:14 PM