JP's Corner of The Blogosphere

Evening dudes. I hope that you've enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend; I've had an awesome time. As you will know from my previous posts I spent it down in West Wales, and it turned out to be quite a packed few days. I enjoyed some good walking and some time chilling out and reading (still Harry Potter, but I have to concede that JK Rowling has written this one well). On top of that we had some good social times; a friend of Sam's was staying with us and we saw various other friends throughout the weekend. Saturday night was a highlight - we had what turned out to be quite an eclectic group round for a BBQ (always a good move). The group included an old work colleague of my dad's, his wife and their 12 year old daughter, plus his wife's cousin and her husband (who have a house in the area) and their 27 year old daughter. It was all beautifully random, especially as we didn't even know everyone's surname but the whole evening went really well. Following the BBQ ...

I'm currently 3000ft above the countryside in West Wales, somewhere near the end of the M4. With my MiniDisc player supplying me with a tune by Van Halen, I have to say I'm enjoying myself. Over and Out.

I'm just about to set off for West Wales, which will be a pleasant place to enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend. I'm just waiting for the decision to be made as to how I will get there. Plan A is to fly, and I will enjoy the views of the M4 jams from the comfort of a Cessna 172. Plan B - if the weather does not permit flying - is to be the passenger in a TVR. Oh what hardship.

Having made the mistake of deciding to empty the draw under the bed in which everything usually gets put when I'm tidying up, I've found I'm actually quite enjoying sifting through the pile now on my bedroom floor. It's amazing what I've found actually; a £5 book token has made it all seem a bit more worthwhile, whilst for sheer randomness the award so far must go to the key from the Youth Hostel in Trier (Germany) or the 'Good Luck' card to someone called Erik, from someone called Tonia, wishing him luck with "'Hair". If you are either Erik or Tonia, please feel free to offer me an explanation.

I see in our local paper that the cinema fiasco of the last 10 years is continuing as the Councillors now decide how to raise the subsidy for it. The clowns in the Lib Dem party seem to think that charging for the town-centre carparks is the fairest way of doing it. The thing is, the reason the whole saga has dragged on for so long is because the same Lib Dems don't want people to drive to the cinema and won't provide the car-parking demanded by the cinema companies. By this logic, the users of the cinema will all walk, cycle, get the bus, or drive to Reading/Basingstoke where it's cheaper (or free) to park and contribute nothing to the subsidy. It will be those people needing to drive in to town for other reasons who end up paying the bulk of the subsidy, and the extra car parking charges could encourage yet more people from the nearby villages to start shopping elsewhere. Has anyone else noticed that the appeal of Newbury is so low that the 'prime retail outlet' i...

It's been quite a pleasant week thus far. Yesterday Sam and I had a day out on the Dorset coast, in Swanage which is where we used to holiday as kids. The weather was glorious and we had a fantastic day. We parked outside Swanage itself at the 'Park and Ride' and caught the steam train in to town, which was fun. Highlights of the day included watching a bit of Punch and Judy on the beach, eating an ice-cream, visiting the picturesque village of Corfe (home of the Castle) and paying a visit to the world's greatest fudge shop. Quality. The weather on Monday was less good, and our planned jaunt to the Isle of Wight was postponed so we went to visit some friends instead which was fun. They have a seven year old who was frighteningly intelligent; she sat around reading and drinking tea, which makes her very cool in my book. I'm not quite sure why - for students it's the norm but for someone of her age it's just not quite what you expect...

Recently it's been as though I've been hosting a polite dinner party in my corner of the blogosphere and I've managed to avoid the topics of religion and politics for a while. How boring. I was watching an episode of Danny Wallace's 'How to Start Your Own Country' which I'd taped whilst away in Norfolk, and I was struck by the guy who wanted to join Danny's country because he was fed up with this one. "The government's bent" he said, and the more I've thought about it the more I've realised he's right. Obviously it's occurred to me before that our government isn't honest (which government is?) but I feel that the current situation is worse than it's ever been. Let's look at some of the recent goings on. Firstly there is the issue of immigration. You may recall that Tony and his cronies were quick during the election campaign to slam the Tories for their statistics. They told us it was all exaggerated lies and sca...

So, here I am. Back in civilisation. I'm absolutely knackered but it's been an amazing week. My role on the camp was to look after one of the tents and its occupants and generally be 'one of the team' heading up the activities. Part of the briefing was to give the kids the best holiday we could, and I hope we succeeded. I really enjoyed being able to be a kid again and partook in all sorts of activities from crab-fishing to a high ropes course - an assault course at 40ft up in the trees has to be one of the most terrifying things I've done, but it was so rewarding. Needless to say, the kids were fearless... I lived on six hours sleep a night and my diet somehow included an excess of bananas (blame Q for ordering too many) and Wonka Bars (mmmm). It was also very cold for August, and very windy at times, but that didn't stop us having a good time. The location - a cliff top on the North Sea Coast - was incredible. Highlights included going on a putting trip with j...

Is it more impressive that I can blog from Norfolk or that I can blog from the middle of a camping field? Either way, I'm doing both simultaneously just to prove a point. Dudes, it's been an awesome week, and details will follow on my return when I'll have a bit more time...

Hello folks. Sorry that my blogging skills have been a bit pants this week; no real excuses I'm afraid. Tomorrow I am going to help for a week on a kids' camp in Norfolk, which will be fun. I'm really looking forward to it but reading through the leader's booklet has made it dawn on me that I am going to have to be responsible - for some 9-14 year olds. Argh. It's quite likely that I will be completely out of contact so I'm afraid that this posting could just be an oasis in the lack of postings desert. Do keep checking though in case I do find an opportunity to share my thoughts next week, and I promise that regular postings will recommence on my return. Before I go however, I have a few things to post about. Did anyone see Danny Wallace's "How to Start Your Own Country" on BBC 2 on Wednesday? I thought it was great personally; highlights included a trip to 'Sealand' - an independant state on an old military fort in the North Sea - and an i...

Well, not really. But a question nonetheless. I've been wondering from a blokey point of view who gives the best advice when it comes to dating the fairer sex; women or blokes with a lot of experience in that area? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts, though (surprising as it may seem) I'm not in desperate need of any actual advice at the moment.

Thanks to Anthropax , I ended up taking one of these bizarre personality tests, and apparently I'm a Hippie. Worryingly, some of the detailed analysis is probably not especially inaccurate - though I've never smoked anything in my life, let alone pot. I include the results for your viewing pleasure. Hippie You are 42% Rational, 85% Extroverted, 14% Brutal, and 14% Arrogant. You are the Hippie! Characterized by a strong sense of extroversion, irrationality, gentleness, and humility, you no doubt frolic through fields preaching peace and love to all! You are probably either very spiritual or needlessly paranoid about "the man", like most hippies, as a result of your focus on intuition and feelings over cold, brutal logic. You are also very, very social. And like any hippie, who would have no qualms about hitchiking across the country just to meet some interesting people, you too love to interact with others, even complete strangers. Because we know most any hippi...

So there I was on Tottenham Court Road, at lunchtime and I passed a 'Subway'. "Mmmm" I thought. The trouble is, it had no seating area which didn't sit well with me having two bags and the street outside being a bit rammed. So, I decided to tube it to Leicester Square on the basis that there'd be somewhere to sit and surely another 'Subway' (by this point the Meatball Sub really had taken my fancy). Popping up in Leicester Square however I found McDonald's, Burger King, some random Italian places but alas no Subway. Then, just as I was about to give up, salvation came in the form of a man with a placard. You know the type; usually the placard says 'American Golf Sale' and you're just left wondering how much he gets paid to do that. This time however, the placard said 'Subway' and pointed me in the direction of my tasty meatball sub. So it just goes to show...

Greetings from Mornington Crescent Tube station. I'm led to believe that this is of some significance if you're a Radio 4 listener, but I'm not so if someon e would care to enlighten me... I've not got a lot else to say other than it was one of the more bizarre tube stations I've been to; I had to wait in an initially deserted corridor for a lift to the surface. On with my travels...

Not quite as random as Ramsey Island but very cool nonetheless, this post is coming to you from the Tate Modern, where I'm sat with a pot of Earl Grey and a view of St Paul's. How cultured. Following a quality lunch at Lincoln's Inn (thanks, Eleanor!) I've enjoyed something of a reflective afternoon. Shortly I'll be meeting my cousin, which I'm looking forward to. Until next time...

I've been catching up with a lot of friends recently, and it's been great to learn that my corner of the Blogosphere does indeed have visitors; thanks guys! Apologies for the slight lack of postings recently, but it's one of those times where lots is going on and I lack anything in the way of a routine. Last week I enjoyed a day back in Oxford, which was quality. I'd had enough of a break from the place to really appreciate it again when I was back. It just seems to attract the beautifully random and highlights of my day included seeing my scout, my notetaker and lunching with a friend who somehow has earned himself the nickname 'Skittles'. This weekend was my aunt and uncle's Silver Wedding celebration, and they had decided to get the entire family together. This included such relatives as my dad's cousin's children and other such random relations and it was a fantastic day, even if I was completely confused as to where everyone fitted in. As a ...

Hello folks! I had a wonderful weekend in Ireland with Stan; we stayed in the Wexford area and explored the sunny South East. The weather was beautiful and I really enjoyed my first taste of the Emerald Isle. We stayed in Wexford, which was quaint, if a bit small. It was the sort of town where we were able to come across the same drunk piper on no less than four occassions in no less than four places in about as many hours. It did appear to have some life though, and we were priviliged to witness the reopening of 'The Back Room' in the Centenary Stores, which seemed to draw in the crowds. And if that wasn't enough excitement there was always the Harry Potter launch, which saw the streets filled with kids who really shouldn't have been out in the town at that time. With all the various costumed people and street entertainers it was all a bit surreal. One thing that really impressed me about Ireland was the hospitality and friendliness of the people; it really has t...

I came back from Ramsey again this afternoon having had a very pleasant afternoon. The weather was glorious and I saw deer, ravens, oyster catchers, seals and a pair of rather large butch lesbians. This evening I came across an ad for Radio Pembrokeshire in a local newspaper, and I quote: "102.5 Radio Pembrokeshire - a local success story. Official radio audience research has once again confirmed our place as the most listened to radio station, out of all BBC and commercial stations across the UK." I wonder who they surveyed to come up with such blatantly biased statistics? Still, I for one found it amusing. I also booked my ferry ticket to Ireland for the weekend. Two of us are heading over and staying in Wexford, which should be a laugh. Do any of you know the area, and do you have any recommendations? Being a cheapskate, I won't be using my phone to blog whilst abroad, though you may get another post before I cross the water. Bye for now...

Number One: Ramsey Island. A small island off the Pembrokeshire Coast with only two houses and a warden as the only resident, Ramsey is pretty remote, especially in blogging terms. Life is pretty good, it has to be said. Thanks to Nick for his comments; has anyone else parted with money for terrible music? Comments please...

...you'd know what on Earth possessed me to buy The Best of Wham CD. I bought it a long time ago and found it during my epic clear-out. To add insult to injury, the sticker on the box implies I parted with £16.99 for it. Ouch. On the subject of music, I made a rather more successful purchase the other day when I picked up the best of Van Halen double CD for just £6.29. Bargain. Despite being very '80's' in places I'm very pleased with it. Eddie Van Halen pioneered various guitar techniques and some of the guitar parts are sublime. The album also contains such classics as 'Ain't Talking 'bout Love', with its catchy riff. Incidentally this particular song is about casual sex, and I was amused by the person who'd commented on SongFacts.com saying "I wish I'd known the theme before I had it as the first song at my wedding dance". Hmm. Currently I'm enjoying a relaxing few days in Wales. The weather might be lousy, but it's g...