So, I finally have my blog back online. I can't begin to describe how great it is to have it up again but I figure this post I wrote on New Years is a pretty good indicator of what I've been like without it:
I'm suffering from Blogging withdrawal symptoms. Obviously you're reading this so my host is paid and I'm back to blogging but at the moment, as I'm writing this I'm really missing my weblog. I can't articulate how frustrating it is to no longer have this little window out onto the world, my depository for all the little thoughts which prick my consciousness hourly, the flickering panes of daily sights I preserve with my little camera and whatever musings I might have to offer. Without my blog I almost feel suffocated..
It's true, without this site or my counseling I didn't have an outlet and just ended up bottling things up. Ironically I seemed chirpier to those around but that was more a case of entirely ignoring myself rather than being engulfed by my mood, two extremes of decidedly unhealthy behaviour. Even with an appearance which was leagues sunnier than what I could have presented a few months ago people commented that I was withdrawn. Thank heavens they didn't meet me in November. I'd have wrought an evil tide of melancholy over Christmas ;)
In the time since Christmas I have caught a nasty cold, been treated with anti-biotics and in the past week following the completion of my course of penicillin, had the symptoms return.
I wrote an entire coursework piece for Property Law without access to my notes, unit guidebook and materials; possessing only a text and a lot of time spent in the Law Library. I then proceeded to find said notes today, they had been filed with my brother and sisters' stationary in the dining room.
Finally, having handed in the coursework on Friday the 16th, I have spent all the time since revising for a test on Thursday. Upon completion of that unit exam I have another few days of revision to look forward to culminating in an exam on Tuesday. The new semester begins on the following Monday.
3 weeks of solid work/revision followed by 6 days relaxation - Bring it!
I had the good fortune to be watching BBC Parliament when a House of Lords debate on the Guantanamo Bay detainees was aired. One Lord brought up an exceedingly interesting answer to the problem of what to charge the British citizens with when America shuffles them into our care.
Treason.
Yep! That's right!
They're subjects of Her Majesty the Queen. They've engaged in active military combat against Her Majesty's forces with aims detrimental to the United Kingdom. If it can be proved that they fought against british soldiers they are guilty of Treason!
Stick that in your pipe and smoke it Mr. Galloway!
I knew there was a reason we still had those laws :)
Kebeol has been without my writing for some time in the wake of the winter holidays. I'll start churning out the articles again as soon as I'm more settled. Speaking of which, the green light has been given to search for property who's rent is priced at around £150 a week. Huzzah! A place to stay.
Another 'thank you' must be offered to Richard and Lee, who have kindly leant me the use of their sofa on several occasions this past month. In fact, as Richard put it, "Louis lives her on Sundays".
This is because I can't get into London on time for my counseling on a monday without donning a red cape and wearing my underpants on the front of my trousers and as I must take all pains to conceal my secret identity I try to keep exposure to a minimum. Besides, it was the NFC Playoffs - or the semi finals for the SuperBowl.
Yes that's right. American Football. Don't ask me why but it's not all that bad to watch.
Now America has made some bloody crap sports up in its time.
Baseball is so atrociously boring that it actually makes cricket look exciting - and that's a game we invented to last 3 days! Cricket's just an excuse for England to be liberally stomped on by countries who used to be part of the empire! A visit to a one day international is like viewing the rosetta stone only with "Suck it up pommies!" spoken in 6 languages.
Basketball can have its ludicrously over-enthusiastic commentary condensed into a transcript which reads like this:
"A Scores
B Scores
A Scores
B Scores
A Scores
Oh wait! A Scores again!
B Scores
A Scores
B Scores
A Wins!!!"
And yet, I stayed up till ridiculous o'clock watching a number of men in stupidly tight trousers, playing a game which lasts 3 hours with only 60 minutes actual play time.
It has half the openness of actual Football, it is never 'the beautiful game' and one would never experience anything as exquisite as a Beckham free kick or a Roberto Baggio finish amongst its staccato plays and interrupting runs. Yet I'm hooked.
Bring on the Superbowl - indeed I judiciously recommended to Lee that he ought to organize a Superbowl party of some variety at his flat this year. One where people actually watched the sporting event.
It has however, become inescapably clear to me that the logic of creating a game, with periods between play just long enough to warrant a trip to the kitchen for a drink or some chips, is sound.
Tomorrow another