New Year, Same Old Gubbins

Hello Readers,
I have posted my 'Blog Re-Visited' up a day early this week. I'm out and about all day with work tomorrow so here it is. Once again new comments are in brackets. In this classic entry from eighteen months ago I talk about my Christmas and New Year break. I don't really get homesick out here, as it's pretty ace, but I love a British Christmas. This blog entry made me quite nostalgic for the ace Christmas and New Years Emma and I have had. It will be very different this year spending it in America with just the two of us and only a couple of days off work.
See you Monday for a new entry!
Marc x

New Year, Same Old Gubbins
January 2007

It's been a while hasn't it? I haven't written a Barry Blog in a good few months. I'm not quite sure why. The muse wasn't there, and I'm not talking about those godawful whining rock twerps. I have also been dead busy doing lots of stuff. But it's a new year and all that gubbins so I should put fingers to keys once again. I feel you lot have been deprived of my ramblings so I have returned like Lazarus.

Since I last wrote a blog I got engaged (My word, and to think I have been married almost a year now). I know this will upset a lot of ladies out there in internet land but that is life I'm afraid. I am now thirty so the time is right for the face of London Town to hand in his badge. I think this is a very good age to get married. My teens and twenties were a social whirl but you can't be rock n' roll 24-7 when you get to my age. And to be honest give me some hob nobs, a cup of tea and the love of a good woman rather than going out clubbing any day of the week. I always had the hob nobs and the tea but its a lot better with the three.

I shan't write too much about my engagement here as my blogs are more about things like how often I go to the toilet. I am not one for talking about feelings and things on the interweb. A lot of bloggers could learn from me. Even though I am a loud mouthed buffoon some things in life should be private - even in this crazy internet age where people write all and sundry about themselves. But I can tell you that the big day will be on September 22nd. If you don't know me well enough to be invited to what is turning out to be the society event of 2007 you can still send a present. I need to book a band actually. I haven't been given many jobs yet but that is down to me. I best get thinking. If you have any ideas let me know. I thought a swing band would be good but then last night I thought it would be ace to have a band that does covers, as this would mean I get up and do a number. Which I'm sure everyone would love. (The wedding was brilliant and the best day ever. I ended up booking my mates band 'Allergy' who did indeed do some ace covers. I sung a few songs including 'Daydream Believer' and 'Modern Love'. It was skill.)

I also did the first batch of exams of my post graduate thing back in December. It was harsher than getting hung (a bit of topicality there for all you current affairs fans). Sitting in a big cold room on a rickety desk is still as terrifying ten years on. I did loads of revision and everything but I really didn't enjoy two exams which were three hours in length. I wrote so much I thought my hands would fall off. Imagine if I fail these exams. It would mean I would have four exams to do in June. Sod that for a barrage of bananas. (I passed the exams you will be pleased to know. And I went on to take another which I also passed. So I have a post grad diploma in marketing. To go on further I need to do a big case study which I plan to do when I return to the UK.)

I am growing my first beard at the moment. Can you believe that I am thirty and that I have never grown a beard? I think its something that all men have to do at least once in their life. I don't plan to keep it but I shall see grow it to a proper beard length. I haven't shaved since Christmas Day and I would say that you would now class what I have as beard rather than stubble. Lots of people at work today are telling me it's good. I believe them. It doesn't age me. Instead I look a bit less camp and it gives me a rock n' roll edge. I think though once it turns into a beard proper I will look like a farmer. (After a week I had to shave it off. It looked ace but it was so itchy I almost scratched my face off).

Before Christmas Jim Bob, Neil and I did a DJ set supporting Little Man Tate at the Boardwalk in Sheffield. It was great and everything but we had to DJ on the stage. I don't know how Fatboy Slim does it. What do you do when you are on a stage rather than on a DJ booth on the side? I just pretended to look at what to play next, and every now and then I jumped up and down. Money for old rope but having said that I was terrified. Next time I will buy some sweets and stuff to chuck out to the crowd.

I am sad Christmas is over. I ruddy well love Christmas. I had a brilliant time watching TV and eating. I flippin' well love watching the the TV. And I love eating too. I have had so much chocolate that if you cut me I would bleed it. Luckily I did go for a couple of sneaky 12k runs that kept most of the weight off. But in the main I didn't move from the sofa. The misses and I needed to do it. It's important to relax. I started off the Christmas break feeling rundown with a rubbish cold. Now I feel content and happy. Well I would be if I wasn't back at smelly old work.

I thought Christmas TV was superb this year. People always moan about it but I had lots to watch. My favourite things were Doctor Who, Dracula, The Ruby Of The Smoke, Big Fat Quiz Of The Year (how funny was Russell Brand and that chap from The Mighty Brush - or whatever its called?), Vicar Of Dibley (admit it, it was dead funny), Sarah Jane Smith Adventures, Wind In The Willows, the list goes on! And there is still This Life to look forward to tonight. I am at the football so I shall watch it when I get home. I remember when This Life was first on. It was towards the end of our uni days and we would sit and watch it (on a Tuesday I think) with the thought that we too would be moving to London very soon. And like them we would be in a shared house having lots of crazy adventures. Its bonkers to think that was ten years ago. (Sadly the 'This Life' re-union show was a bit rubbish).

I read the Billie Piper autobiography over the xmas break (!). Do you know that she calls David Tennant by the name of David Ten-Inch. Because apparently he has a huge penis. I wonder how she knows. I bet they have done the business. Actors and actresses love doing the sex. They never stop according to all the gossip rags.

I went out this New Years Eve. I don't normally but I went to one of Neil's yearly parties. I pretty much invited myself and he luckily let me come. I had a great chat with his future father-in-law (he is getting married next year too). He used to be David Bowie's driver back in the 70s. He has lots of good anecdotes but my best one involves him telling Angie Bowie to stop showing her ladies bits off. She never used to wear knickers and she used to sit with her legs wide apart, up on the dashboard (when they were parked up waiting for David who was going about his business). She got a lot of attention from people walking by but she liked it. If you asked me its no surprise her and David got divorced. You wouldn't find Iman doing that kind of thing would you?

Anyway that will do for today.

Bye. And Happy New Year. xxx