Nicky Bond's Blog, page 15

Birthdays, Bangers, and Books...

Ah, cheers Phoebs!Since my last post, I've turned forty-five. I don't usually enjoy being an odd number, but a multiple of five is better than a double-digit ending in one, three, or seven. (IMHO. I've found some people don't care either way. Weird.) Besides all that, the person I live with also had a birthday and turned fifty. My multiple of five was over shadowed and pushed out of the way by a multiple of ten. Shit happens. The upshot was, a bunch of my in-laws and family were partying hard in...

Closure, Culture, and Comt��...

Hello Pier Head, looking good!I must provide closure. Last time I did a weekly update - a fortnight ago - I was all poised to bag some lovely Eurovision tickets when they were released the following day. Did I manage it? Did I buggery. Like the legion of Eurofans I follow on Twitter, I was unsuccessful. But what a morning it was. The online community of fellow ESC obsessives was out in force. Sharing stories of the queue, posting pictures of Ticketmaster's notification pages as they happened, co...

Closure, Culture, and Comté...

Hello Pier Head, looking good!I must provide closure. Last time I did a weekly update - a fortnight ago - I was all poised to bag some lovely Eurovision tickets when they were released the following day. Did I manage it? Did I buggery. Like the legion of Eurofans I follow on Twitter, I was unsuccessful. But what a morning it was. The online community of fellow ESC obsessives was out in force. Sharing stories of the queue, posting pictures of Ticketmaster's notification pages as they happened, co...

Time Marches On, Equality Should Too...

A reconstruction of
my general thoughts
in 1993.I remember sitting in Biology in 1993. I was bemoaning the fact that my latest sibling was on the way and I said to my teacher (shout out to Mr. O'Callaghan!) 'When the kid's my age, I'll be thirty!' I was in shock, and filled with - let's face it - the understandable disgust an almost fifteen-year-has about their parents procreating. He answered back, 'There's nothing wrong with being thirty,' and that was that. End of conversation. I think he expec...

Tickets, Tomatoes, and Terrific TV...

You'll have heard already, of course, but the date's finally been announced when Eurovision tickets go on sale. Tuesday 7th March, at 12pm, via Ticketmaster. Since Liverpool was announced as the host city, I've had regular messages from all sorts of people, asking when tickets will be available. I'm clearly seen as some sort of Eurovision oracle. Well, so be it. Heavy is the head that wears the crown - but what a fabulous crown! Anyway, tomorrow's going to be interesting. I imagine Ticketmaster ...

Dough-Based News and the Privilege of Knackered...

You want a waffly preamble to lead us into the weekly update? Naahhh. There's loads to chat about, so let's hit the ground running. Ready?.. Steady?.. Splat!
Writing NewsThe third draft continues. This past week, I've been focusing on the opening chapter. It's a tricky thing. The book is supposed to be a seamless continuation from the first Leeza McAuliffe story. Some people won't have read that. I can't assume prior knowledge but nor can I overly explain who's who. Occasionally it's simple. When...

Reconnections and Spar the Pharmacy...

If I were a cat, I'd look like this.Phew. Typing these words is providing a mini-respite in the midst of an action-packed week. Most of my weeks are not action-packed. Most of my weeks are in front on my laptop, like this. But the past week has been busy, busy, busy! I've had a house guest, you see. All the way from Australia. My cousin's here, and as a result, I've had a bit of a life. We've been out for meals, drives into town, and tourist sight-seeing. It's quite the thrill. At the moment, I'...

Healthy, Nutritious... Fiction?

If we count New Year's Day as the close of play, it's been six weeks since the festive season ended. For most people, January arrives and the thrill of party food wanes. The ease of throwing six brie and cranberry parcels into the oven for a speedy tea, is overtaken by the craving for nourishment and balance. Vegetables re-enter the equation as meal times aim to fuel effectively, instead of providing half-assed energy levels muddied by intermittent indigestion and the shits. 
It's much the same w...

On Being a Spoilt, Grateful, Cavewoman...

An artist's impression of me waiting for the kettle. If I looked like Justin Timberlake.Here are three Monday morning facts for you...

1. My boiling tap broke recently. 2. I had to use a kettle. 3. It was hell. 

Yes, I have a boiling tap because I'm a wanker, and yes, it was out of action whilst a part was procured and a plumbing expert sought. But blimey, the wait was frustrating. Not waiting for the tap to be mended. No, I'm talking about the wait for the kettle to boil every time I wanted a cup...

Fractions, Pizzazz, and a Touch of Sally Albright...

Fractions for everyone!If you love a fraction - and who doesn't enjoy pizza and cake - then you'll be excited to hear we've boxed off a twelfth of 2023. It took the blink of an eye, didn't it? Time flies when you're having fun. It goes just as fast when you're not, but let's not get bogged down by details. Did we make the most of the first twelfth of the year? Did we do all the things we said we'd do, after Christmas? Nah, we're not Wonder Woman! I'm using the royal 'we' there although I like to...