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  Today I took some time out to just get a hold of a few things that were rolling around my head. I don't know about you, but since all things pandemic happened, the absence of 'normal' for so long has meant that things have been happening on a day-to-day basis, and as changeable as circumstances would allow. Of course this was necessary and key to how I initially coped with this most unprecedented of scenarios, and taking things one day (or week) at a time [planning supermarket trips, carrying on working, staying sane] was eminently suitable. But now that things are 'opening up', that restriction on movements and limitation of options, have all but been removed; and I think apart from the initial rush to go see the most important people in my life in person again; I've been handling things on a ad-hoc basis still, with very much an attitude of 'this sounds like a fun and good idea, let's go with that'. Which has brought me to a June holiday in Norfo...

Today is the first day I have lived in Leeds more days than I have lived in my home town. As with most statistics, this milestone is arbitrary; but it seemed appropriate to mark this with a little post.

  Did you hear...? (Image source: Josh Bowell ) I'm writing this on the morning after Joe Biden was finally confirmed as the 46th President-elect of the United States. It is also the first time in over five months that I have had the mental buoyancy to write a blog. This will be a fairly short post though - but I wanted it to sit as a reminder of where my head is this morning, over and above the last four years: - Right now, I'm happy. This morning I have learnt both the definition and practice of ' joyscrolling ' - if you are anywhere near a device, I can only heartily recommend it. Sure, there will be caveats to come - they've already started - I don't think Biden is going to be the best president; but he will as sure as shit be better than Trump. Coronavirus has not gone away - and it could well get worse over the winter. The Conservative government is still a slippery snake, burying the admittedly positive outcome of yet another BoJo U-turn, right in the mi...

I am thinking about and posting this blog as I watch the live stream of Dragon capsule 'Endeavour' carrying it's human crew (and Tremor the dinosaur! First dino in space! Take that extinction meteor!) towards the International Space Station. What was particularly exciting was seeing the capsule fly overhead from just outside my house . As I've posted before, I love space stuff like this ! - What I haven't been thinking too much about, or posting about has been the situation on the ground in the USA - arising from the killing of George Floyd. And I am far from qualified to comment on the nuances of the whole situation; but clearly there are all kinds of wrong things occurring now (as they have done for years and years; this is just the latest in a seemingly never-ending list of race-based injustices), which is as unsettling as ever. - It has been interesting to see how there is obviously a coordinated effort across Nasa/SpaceX to avoid mentioning anything about the ...

It is certainly a bold time to be making predictions; when the whole COVID-19 situation could hardly be considered to be approaching anything such as 'over'. And yet - what else am I going to occupy myself with, on another Sunday(?) afternoon - than making wildly speculative motions in the direction of the unpredictable future?! - And the outlook is particularly bleak. In fact I don't recommend reading on; this is mainly to exorcise my own thoughts; with the only consolation being that I can always go "I told you so..." at some unspecified time in what we currently laughingly refer to as 'The Future'. = Very little will change. Okay that's not true at certain practical levels; shopping will always be a practical inconvenience for the physical necessities at supermarkets; much more other shopping will be enforced to being online only; the workplace especially will be significantly transformed - to being a place you drop in once i...

There's nothing like watching a fresh video from Philosophy Tube in the bath, to bring you down in times like these. Not because the content of the video was particularly depressing - as ever the topics are lit up with Ollie's infectious whimsical spin; and the eventual conclusion is that - yes, the universe is a dark meaningless void; but by being creative you are directly rebelling against that. And I like rebellion. Have I mentioned that I have created an entire creative framework in which to challenge the absolute fundamentals of society? In fact I spent this morning drafting the first annual financial report from the Department of the Treasury (aren't you all excited?!), which tickles both the MoGian heart of my operation, and the excel nerd within me. But even this leaves me a little lost. - Rebellion is typically against the status quo, and the status is most certainly not 'quo' these days. Which is news to absolutely nobody read...

Strange times indeed; even so that I am regressing to a Live Journal-esque state on here and following the suggestion set forth by one of my friends on The Socials... I believe the idea is to choose 10 albums that greatly influenced my taste in music; and I will be crediting those who brought me to each of them: What began my musical journey. Thank you Andy C. It is only now, completing this blog entry, that I realise what an influence this had on my classical favourites. Thank you Cousin Anne. Another soundtrack, but this time laying the foundation for the bombastic symphonies soon to come - and my first Zimmer... Cheers Mr Paulos! The person who nominated me above, had more than returned the favour by introducing me to the wonderful worlds of Nightwish. Much obliged Andy D. Turns out metal can be shouty AND fun. Danke Shell. The gateway drug to Ayreon, Devin Townsend and so much more. Thank you both, Will and Mike. So much beauty in sadnes...