Munchkin the game

When my Aunt was over, she said she tried to get me a game named Munchkin which is a card game based on role-playing games like Dungeon & Dragons, except far simpler. She couldn't buy it in The Netherlands so gave me the money to buy it over here, I picked it up in a shop in Central London.

I played it last night for the first time against a friend who was the first to introduce me to role-playing games when we were at school.

The game in itself is very amusing and doesn't last half as long as most normal role-playing/fantasy games do. It has echoes of the novels by Terry Pratchett and Tom Holt in it.

If you enjoy comic fantasy authors or role-playing games you'd probably enjoy this game but if you're into serious games only, forget it.

Masters Tournament final

As you'll know if you read my Blog I went to a live match at Wembley Arena last week. I was watching the final last night and Ronnie O'Sullivan proved he's a genius at the table and a genuinely caring human being, the compassion he showed to Ding at the interval and at the end of the match showed that's he not the really selfish man that a lot of people make him out to be.

Shaun Murphy's comments about Ronnie's exemption of talking to the media were typical of the crass, totally unsympathetic comments we've come to expect of the former World champion. He's supposed to be a committed Christian, well how about a little compassion and/or forgiveness Shaun? Ronnie has his problems and an exemption from talking to the media to help him conquer those problems is no great hardship, after all he did give an interview to Steve Davis during the tournament and after the trophy presentation. Or is it just sour grapes because he's a far better player then you?

Wembley Stadium

As I can view the new Wembley Stadium on my way home is was interesting to get up close last night. A few photo's attached:

Firstly two photos from a distance with the arch lit and half lit:

Then a couple of photos up close at night:

Looks impressive up close, doesn't it?

Just hope it looks as impressive inside once it's finished and it's finished at least for this year's FA Cup Final.

Saga Insurance Masters tournament

Last night went to the Saga Insurance Masters Tournament at Wembley Arena:

I'd never been to a live Snooker match before so was somewhat looking forward to it. I wasn't disappointed. The match was Peter Ebdon versus Ding Junhui (the 19 year old Chinese sensation who's already won three ranking tournaments). Although Ebdon won the first two frames, Ding then won five in a row therefore requiring only one more to win. He came close in the eighth frame but lost it narrowly. The ninth frame was close but Ebdon conceded it when he missed an easy ball and left a red over the pocket when all Ding needed to do it was to pot the red.

The atmosphere was sensational and so different from watching at home, as you're only a matter of a few metres from the table you don't and can't miss anything.

Scottish Devolution and/or Independence

The Chancellor has been complaining over the fact that the UK is in danger of breaking up into its constituent countries. He's blaming the Scottish National Party (SNP) fort his but I actually think it's because he knows that if Labour lose control to the SNP they'll hold a referendum on full independence and if the answer is "Yes" then he and all other Scottish MPs will lose their Westminster seats.

The Conservatives have said that Mr Brown is intimidating Scotland by the"fear of the economic consequences of going it alone".

Let's not forget that without the support of the Scottish MPs in the last parliament the Government would have lost the vote on Tuition fees.

Should Scottish MPs be allowed to vote on purely English matters in Health, Education, Transport, etc? Or should English MPs only vote on purely English matters? Should a Scotsman be able to become the Prime Minister making decisions for England but nearly nothing that actually affects his own constituents.

Party

Was invited to a 30th Birthday party of a friend I've known for 19 years.

When I first met up with him after we'd both completed University (despite me being older than him I'd spent longer at uni) we were both living in London and both looking to move out. We ended up living in the same house for 11 months with another man we both knew.

At that time he called very few friends of his by their first name, at that time he did call me by my first name, but now I seem to be the only person he calls by a nickname with the exception of his wife.

He calls me "George"!(Long story and there are differing versions depending on whether it's me or him telling it)

Two things about his parties are:

a) You can usually tell who's going to be there to some extent

and

b) Most people will be working in computers from one angle or another.

I was last at that house for Bonfire night (5th November) last year and the majority of people who turned up were the same crowd.

I forgot to take my camera but I've asked for some photos as there were some people taking photos and if I get them and think they're appropriate I'll post some, either added to this post or as a new post.

My flatmate

My flatmate, Danny, has a terrible sense of humour,

Often when I make a totally innocent comment he'll come out with something that some people may find slightly amusing. For example I remarked to him that I'd bought a new iron and his comment was "We had a pressing need."

If this was an occasional thing I wouldn't care and may even find it amusing but it's nearly every day. A friend of his was round recently and when Danny said something. his friend asked me "How have you managed to live here so long without killing him?"

He also has a habit of sending me tasteless jokes by text message that he normally gets from a friend who lives on the South Coast, here's the last two:

(sent on 31 December 2006) - What an ignorant twat! I just rung Saddam to wish him a happy New Year and the bastard hung up!.

(sent on 15 December 2006) - Apparently there's a dyslexic Santa on the loose near Ipswich. He keeps leaving prozzies under the trees.

I don't know what you think of these but they both brought a smile to my face. Soory, i do have a rather sick sense of humour.

I will be publishing more of Danny's retorts as above in the hope of stopping him. I'll publish some of the jokes as well as at least some people will find them amusing.

Back to work and families

The Winter holidays are finally over and it's back to work for me.

It's really strange being back in the office after over 2 weeks off and it's still really quiet as a lot of people are still off.

Over the weekend I met up with my Aunt and one of my cousins who I haven't seen for a long time as they live abroad and aren't over very often.

We went to a restaurant that I'd never heard of called Baltic in Southwark. Drank far too much alcohol, I think I was a student when I last drank that much alcohol in one sitting, although as it was mainly with a meal it wasn't too bad, except for the dessert which was a smoothie made with raspberries, vodka and champagne!

Winter Camp 2006-2007

Just got back on New Year's Day from JLGB Winter Camp 2006-07.

From a personal view it wasn't a particularly good camp due to being violently ill in the middle. I've never been that ill on camp with one exception.

Overall in my role as Platoon Officer, it was a very good camp. Out of eight platoons we came second overall, we were the highest placed boys' platoon (no mixed platoons this camp). We won the activities, the boys' inspection (for the best kept room) plus a few other second and third places. Considering that for about seven boys (out of 16) it was their first Winter Camp- it's a good result.

My platoon:



I have to praise all the boys, especially the Sergeants (16-18 year old members) who did a sterling job.

I'd also like to thank Robert Rams for his kind text after camp, especially since he wasn't even present this year.