Billy Young's Blog, page 22
February 24, 2012
24th February 2012
I have to say a happy birthday to my daughter Tammy, she turned fifteen today. As with every parent I look at her and wonder where those years have gone. We all do it don’t we? One minute you’re holding them in your arms then you turn round to do some thing and when you turn back they’ve grown far too much, hehehe.
Manager Allen continues to put his foot down at work to the chagrin of some of my fellow colleagues. I just see as him trying to establish his authority which is to be expected. Slowly though those that are unhappy are getting used to him but I don’t think it will happen over night. It can’t be easy though for those that have worked there longer than myself as they are used to a more relaxed attitude towards break times than Allen is willing to give them. I must admit though that I did enjoy the more forgiving way it was before he arrived but we are there to do a job if you know what mean?
I voted in the competition at Absolute Write and now need to wait to see how I did or do. It wasn’t easy picking three as all the entries had a lot going for them and none stood above any of the others by any great deal. It took much rereading before I got it down to the just three. I will know hopefully by next week and will post my poem and report who the winners were next week. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Manager Allen continues to put his foot down at work to the chagrin of some of my fellow colleagues. I just see as him trying to establish his authority which is to be expected. Slowly though those that are unhappy are getting used to him but I don’t think it will happen over night. It can’t be easy though for those that have worked there longer than myself as they are used to a more relaxed attitude towards break times than Allen is willing to give them. I must admit though that I did enjoy the more forgiving way it was before he arrived but we are there to do a job if you know what mean?
I voted in the competition at Absolute Write and now need to wait to see how I did or do. It wasn’t easy picking three as all the entries had a lot going for them and none stood above any of the others by any great deal. It took much rereading before I got it down to the just three. I will know hopefully by next week and will post my poem and report who the winners were next week. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
February 17, 2012
17th February 2012
Well the poetry contest is now under way. There are twenty six entries in total which I am slowly reading through trying to pick three. It isn’t an easy task as the poems on offer are all very goods. It makes it hard to cut all the entries down to only three but it has to be done. I spend some time this weekend losing myself in them and see which ones speak loudest or touches me most. That I suspect will leave me with around half to attempt to find some winners.
I’m at the boring part of RPG’s where I’m running around a swamp levelling up. If you have ever played a RPG before you’ll know how it goes. You run around the countryside, the swamp in my case, fighting battle after battle till you are levelled up to a point you feel you can continue the game. All the levelling up makes the game a little easier later on so it is important to get it just right. Unfortunately it can get very repetitive so it takes a bit of restraint from continuing with the storyline but in the end it is worth it.
The new manager at work is beginning to cause rumblings at work. Several colleagues have been moaning to me about Allen’s ideas and it didn’t go down well with some when he demanded everyone back to work after lunch. It being Friday everyone was a little slow in finishing their lunch, me included. Mondays and Fridays I think are the same every where in that respect. The last day of the week you are just looking forward to the two days off. At the beginning of the week though you have the rest of the week in front of you so feel it draining at you. Still it is his job to drive the workforce to the task at hand when they aren’t in any hurry themselves. As for the grumblings they’ll settle as everyone gets used to him.
I’m at the boring part of RPG’s where I’m running around a swamp levelling up. If you have ever played a RPG before you’ll know how it goes. You run around the countryside, the swamp in my case, fighting battle after battle till you are levelled up to a point you feel you can continue the game. All the levelling up makes the game a little easier later on so it is important to get it just right. Unfortunately it can get very repetitive so it takes a bit of restraint from continuing with the storyline but in the end it is worth it.
The new manager at work is beginning to cause rumblings at work. Several colleagues have been moaning to me about Allen’s ideas and it didn’t go down well with some when he demanded everyone back to work after lunch. It being Friday everyone was a little slow in finishing their lunch, me included. Mondays and Fridays I think are the same every where in that respect. The last day of the week you are just looking forward to the two days off. At the beginning of the week though you have the rest of the week in front of you so feel it draining at you. Still it is his job to drive the workforce to the task at hand when they aren’t in any hurry themselves. As for the grumblings they’ll settle as everyone gets used to him.
February 10, 2012
10th February 2012
We got a new production manager, Allen, this week at work. He the sort that helps out and isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty which is a great blessing. Especially when your dragging a ton weight into the cold store as I found out the other day. There’s a small rise between the intake bay and the colder store that makes it tricky when moving the pallets of goods. Even with the pallet-truck the heavier loads are a struggle to get over the incline when you’re doing it yourself as is often the case. Anyways with Allen around to give us a push I soon had ten tonnes of sheep’s lobes speedily stored away.
The poem I have been working on for the contest at Absolute Write is finished. Though I will check over it this weekend one last time before entering it to give it a final tweak. I had my son read over it this week to give me his opinion, not an easy task. When asking friends or family you often find them not wishing to upset you so they say what they believe you want to hear. Sadly that can mean that you get a false sense that what you have done is really better than it could be if they were more honest. It is always important if they do say good things to be the annoying one and ask them to point out something that could be improved. I always find that if you wheedle a little you can get some little gems that can help your writing. Don’t worry about upsetting the family they’ll understand if they really love you. After a while they’ll end up giving a more real critique that can be a great boon.
The poem I have been working on for the contest at Absolute Write is finished. Though I will check over it this weekend one last time before entering it to give it a final tweak. I had my son read over it this week to give me his opinion, not an easy task. When asking friends or family you often find them not wishing to upset you so they say what they believe you want to hear. Sadly that can mean that you get a false sense that what you have done is really better than it could be if they were more honest. It is always important if they do say good things to be the annoying one and ask them to point out something that could be improved. I always find that if you wheedle a little you can get some little gems that can help your writing. Don’t worry about upsetting the family they’ll understand if they really love you. After a while they’ll end up giving a more real critique that can be a great boon.
February 3, 2012
3rd February 2012
Well I got the first proper draft of my poem down. This weekend I will be doing more editing of it as I managed to do some earlier in the week. I’m planning in dropping the opening stanza as I feel I don’t really need it. The second one would make a better opener anyway and in a way say what the first tells you without say it so directly. It allows the reader to see rather than be told which is a good thing I think. There are some other parts that will need revising as well as the ending lines. I’m not sure of them I might need to come up with another final stanza, maybe I might add on a few lines that would have more of an impact. I have much to think about when I get back from the opticians tomorrow.
I’m also looking forward to the rugby this weekend. The Six Nations starts tomorrow.
Scotland has England to face. It should be a great game but before them there is the France v Italy game. Sunday I will also be watching the Wales v Ireland match. Though it will really be Scotland that I’m routing for the loudest tomorrow, all the other games are to just be enjoyed, somehow it is different when it’s your country though isn’t it?
I feel I might be struggling this weekend to fit everything in. With the rugby, my poem, some gaming, the opticians (I’m over due an eye test by several months), and some more SVQ studying to do. Not worth worrying about though as it won’t make it done.
I’m also looking forward to the rugby this weekend. The Six Nations starts tomorrow.
Scotland has England to face. It should be a great game but before them there is the France v Italy game. Sunday I will also be watching the Wales v Ireland match. Though it will really be Scotland that I’m routing for the loudest tomorrow, all the other games are to just be enjoyed, somehow it is different when it’s your country though isn’t it?
I feel I might be struggling this weekend to fit everything in. With the rugby, my poem, some gaming, the opticians (I’m over due an eye test by several months), and some more SVQ studying to do. Not worth worrying about though as it won’t make it done.
January 27, 2012
27th January 2012
It has been an exciting week regards to the poem that I’m doing for the competition. I started one called The Gamer on Saturday though I wasn’t really happy with it. Still I decide to leave it till this weekend and have another crack at it. On Wednesday though will at work loading the dicing machine inspiration struck. At break I wrote down the beginnings of my new poem. Over the rest of the week the idea has been fermenting away and I’m now sure of how I am now hoping to take this to create a something that maybe worthy of the competition.
As for the other poem, I will come back to that at a later date hopefully. Of course the idea for that one came from me playing The Witcher which is coming on good. I’m now onto the second act and being forced into choices between two different sides that will lead the game in separate paths. This makes the game similar to the second one and gives it replayiblity. Act two seems to be larger as well as more complex than the first act. Luckily there is a guide if I get stuck with the game which is lucky as I may have to use it because I’ve got so many active quest at the moment. Too many and I’ll start to get lost not knowing what I’m doing, hehehe.
It was Robert Burns night on Wednesday. As is tradition I didn’t get my tatties and neeps till Thursday. Magz had forgot to get the turnip so Tammy and me, the only ones in the house that like haggis, had to leave it till then to get our Burns Supper. In the end it was all the better for it. Though there were no speeches or poetry, other than in my head, and not a snifter of whisky. As for the whisky I’m not a great drinker so that wasn’t really missed.
As for the other poem, I will come back to that at a later date hopefully. Of course the idea for that one came from me playing The Witcher which is coming on good. I’m now onto the second act and being forced into choices between two different sides that will lead the game in separate paths. This makes the game similar to the second one and gives it replayiblity. Act two seems to be larger as well as more complex than the first act. Luckily there is a guide if I get stuck with the game which is lucky as I may have to use it because I’ve got so many active quest at the moment. Too many and I’ll start to get lost not knowing what I’m doing, hehehe.
It was Robert Burns night on Wednesday. As is tradition I didn’t get my tatties and neeps till Thursday. Magz had forgot to get the turnip so Tammy and me, the only ones in the house that like haggis, had to leave it till then to get our Burns Supper. In the end it was all the better for it. Though there were no speeches or poetry, other than in my head, and not a snifter of whisky. As for the whisky I’m not a great drinker so that wasn’t really missed.
January 20, 2012
20th January 2012
Well no sooner than I posted last weeks post and I was hit by computer problems. Dust had built up in the graphics card causing it to overheat which meant I had to strip it out to give it a good clean. It’s amazing how much of a dust haven the inside of a computer can be. Luckily no damage was done and my system was up and running in no time. It does go to show that Friday the thirteenth still got me even if it was in such a minor way, hehehe.
The troubles with my fence post continue. I sorted it again on Saturday but yesterday as I came home from work I noticed it was again leaning out of place. I might mean I need to tighten up the bolts and put an extra nut on each of the bolts to act as a lock to hold them secure so they don’t loosen up again. Though I’ll also have to make sure I secure the existing ones more than I seem to have managed so far. I’m sure now though that I will need to replace the post in the summer as I can’t see it surviving another year, especially when the storms hit again.
Another thing to do this weekend is to try and come up with a poem for the latest competition at Absolute Write poetry forum. This one has the theme of visions, dreams or nightmares. So far I have had only half glimmers of ideas for it nothing solid so I have my work cut out. Maybe one of those little embers might find a bit of brush to burst into life, we’ll see. I have until February the fourteenth to come up with something and make it as good as I can so not loads of time when you throw work into the mix but enough. Add some gaming to the weekend and I have a busy time over the next couple of days.
The troubles with my fence post continue. I sorted it again on Saturday but yesterday as I came home from work I noticed it was again leaning out of place. I might mean I need to tighten up the bolts and put an extra nut on each of the bolts to act as a lock to hold them secure so they don’t loosen up again. Though I’ll also have to make sure I secure the existing ones more than I seem to have managed so far. I’m sure now though that I will need to replace the post in the summer as I can’t see it surviving another year, especially when the storms hit again.
Another thing to do this weekend is to try and come up with a poem for the latest competition at Absolute Write poetry forum. This one has the theme of visions, dreams or nightmares. So far I have had only half glimmers of ideas for it nothing solid so I have my work cut out. Maybe one of those little embers might find a bit of brush to burst into life, we’ll see. I have until February the fourteenth to come up with something and make it as good as I can so not loads of time when you throw work into the mix but enough. Add some gaming to the weekend and I have a busy time over the next couple of days.
January 13, 2012
13th January 2012
Hopefully you haven’t had a unlucky Friday the thirteenth. Mine has been a mixed day but not to bad.
I got my fence fixed but some more windy weather is forcing me to go out this weekend and see if I can make it more secure. I didn’t get round to sorting the gates but tomorrow is to be dry though cold and cloudy. Still if I wrap up warm as well as have a few tea breaks I might just get everything ship shape.
I was a bit of a naughty boy last Saturday, staying up to around three in the morning playing The Witcher. It is like many games very addictive. I suppose that is why we play them. The same can be said of a good book that you can’t put down. How may people have found they can’t put down a book till they reach the end? I know when I was younger I was like that with a few books. I would read right through the night only putting it aside after I had reread the last page at least twice because my eyes were struggling to stay open. I’m glad I haven’t done that for a while and I don’t think I could. As I was playing the game last week I found that I began to get turned around and set off in the wrong direction. It was then I knew I had to save and get to bed. It is for this reason I haven’t played it all week but will be getting some gaming this weekend. That is after I see to the garden.
I got my fence fixed but some more windy weather is forcing me to go out this weekend and see if I can make it more secure. I didn’t get round to sorting the gates but tomorrow is to be dry though cold and cloudy. Still if I wrap up warm as well as have a few tea breaks I might just get everything ship shape.
I was a bit of a naughty boy last Saturday, staying up to around three in the morning playing The Witcher. It is like many games very addictive. I suppose that is why we play them. The same can be said of a good book that you can’t put down. How may people have found they can’t put down a book till they reach the end? I know when I was younger I was like that with a few books. I would read right through the night only putting it aside after I had reread the last page at least twice because my eyes were struggling to stay open. I’m glad I haven’t done that for a while and I don’t think I could. As I was playing the game last week I found that I began to get turned around and set off in the wrong direction. It was then I knew I had to save and get to bed. It is for this reason I haven’t played it all week but will be getting some gaming this weekend. That is after I see to the garden.
January 6, 2012
6th January 2012
I hope you all had a good New Year. We had more stormy weather that has caused more damage to my fence. Now I have to got to B and Q to get something to brace one of the fence posts which snapped close to the ground. I’m hoping to find dome metal plates to bolt it back together. While I’m at it I have to fix both my gates as the second one was torn down. The gates themselves need some TLC before I can re-hang them. Going to B and Q will give me a chance to think about what I’ll be planting this year. One thing that I will be growing again is peas. They did really well last year even though it wasn’t that great a summer. It was on the news this week that it was one of the wettest on record which I can believe. Let’s hope this year will be better.
I posted the poem that I wrote for the competition on Absolute Write on GoodReads.com, I’ll also post it at the end of this post. I unfortunately didn’t win any prizes but that was to be expected given the high standards of the other entries. It was fun though so that is the important thing and was why I did enter after all. Though the poem “Unseen” is of a more serious nature as you will see.
I also plan on playing The Witcher this weekend. I finally got the bug to play earlier this week and now can’t wait to get back into it. That is the way with games though isn’t it?
Anyways here is Unseen.
She wanders like a ghost
invisible to all around
only a strong human scent
driving the sightless crowd aside.
Hugging tightly to her possessions
the few things of happiness
from a broken childhood,
the baby never born-
beaten from her,
the lover that threw her aside.
Like a phantom
she slipped among the cracks
falling into the darkness,
the fog of mental collapse;
no-one to offer aide.
So she came to be
a spectre upon the street,
scavenging the discarded
from alleyway bins,
fighting maggots for a morsel
to ease her hunger.
Sleeping in doorways
till the long arm moves her on
to begin again
the never ending march
till final rest
under unmarked turf
in a corner of nowhere.
I posted the poem that I wrote for the competition on Absolute Write on GoodReads.com, I’ll also post it at the end of this post. I unfortunately didn’t win any prizes but that was to be expected given the high standards of the other entries. It was fun though so that is the important thing and was why I did enter after all. Though the poem “Unseen” is of a more serious nature as you will see.
I also plan on playing The Witcher this weekend. I finally got the bug to play earlier this week and now can’t wait to get back into it. That is the way with games though isn’t it?
Anyways here is Unseen.
She wanders like a ghost
invisible to all around
only a strong human scent
driving the sightless crowd aside.
Hugging tightly to her possessions
the few things of happiness
from a broken childhood,
the baby never born-
beaten from her,
the lover that threw her aside.
Like a phantom
she slipped among the cracks
falling into the darkness,
the fog of mental collapse;
no-one to offer aide.
So she came to be
a spectre upon the street,
scavenging the discarded
from alleyway bins,
fighting maggots for a morsel
to ease her hunger.
Sleeping in doorways
till the long arm moves her on
to begin again
the never ending march
till final rest
under unmarked turf
in a corner of nowhere.
December 30, 2011
30th December 2011
Another storm hit this week leaving my garden gate off its hinges. I hoped my son would fix it while I was at work. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t with him so it is still propped up against the side wall. With the New Year just a couple of days away I don’t think I will find the time to repair before the bells. You know how busy this time of year is but I am off until Wednesday so maybe I’ll get it sorted before then.
Christmas was a good one this year though it was quiet. I hope you all had a good time as well. I got a couple of computer games Oblivion and The Witcher-Platinum Edition. I haven’t started them or even done anything other than sit them on top of the printer. I just haven’t been in the mood to play them. I will eventual get playing sometime next year. Having played The Witcher 2 it will be interesting to see how the story began with the bonus of having the add-ons. Some fun to look forwards to in the coming year in losing some time in gaming.
It’s funny how we so often try to lose ourselves in thing. Be it TV, the internet, games, etc, etc. If it wasn’t for that time lost to hobbies or whatever life would be rather boring don’t you think? It is those things that take us away from the mundane day to day that makes life, like family, worth living. We work all week to provide for the essentials but it is when we get the time to indulge ourselves we can enjoy those selfish moments without guilt. If only there was more time to do so without impacting on those we love. Sadly the ordinary daily things are needed as a balance so we get the full joy from our leisure time. Here’s hoping that you all have a great year to come and that you all find plenty of time to enjoy your diversions. Happy New Year.
Christmas was a good one this year though it was quiet. I hope you all had a good time as well. I got a couple of computer games Oblivion and The Witcher-Platinum Edition. I haven’t started them or even done anything other than sit them on top of the printer. I just haven’t been in the mood to play them. I will eventual get playing sometime next year. Having played The Witcher 2 it will be interesting to see how the story began with the bonus of having the add-ons. Some fun to look forwards to in the coming year in losing some time in gaming.
It’s funny how we so often try to lose ourselves in thing. Be it TV, the internet, games, etc, etc. If it wasn’t for that time lost to hobbies or whatever life would be rather boring don’t you think? It is those things that take us away from the mundane day to day that makes life, like family, worth living. We work all week to provide for the essentials but it is when we get the time to indulge ourselves we can enjoy those selfish moments without guilt. If only there was more time to do so without impacting on those we love. Sadly the ordinary daily things are needed as a balance so we get the full joy from our leisure time. Here’s hoping that you all have a great year to come and that you all find plenty of time to enjoy your diversions. Happy New Year.
December 23, 2011
23rd December 2011
Two days to go and everything is ready for the big day. I’ve even wrapped Magz’s secret present then hid it away again. I’ll give it to her after all the other gifts have been stripped of their paper. I know, how mushy am I? But it is Christmas only once a year so I’m allowed, hehehe.
I see a lot of people have left the shopping to the last minute. I’ve never really understood the excitement people get from the frantic rush. Then there is the crowds pushing their way to find a bargain. Personally I don’t think that there every really are any to be had. I think the retailers just play a game of clever deception when it comes to those last few days’ sales before Christmas to drag the multitude in. Still I suppose shops have to do something to get people to buy especially as the internet has taken a large slice of business over the past ten years from them.
As you can tell I prefer the quiet Chrimbo and with the next four days off I’m planning on just that with the family. You can call me boring if you want as long as I still get to sit back with my slipper on I don’t mind. I’ll sit back and watch some telly with a hot mug of tea, hehehe.
I do have to vote in the poetry competition. I’ve already read most of the entries scoring them as I go to whittle them down to the ones that I like best. So far that means I have four winners so I have some tough decisions to make. After I have finished reading the last few I have to read then I will reread all the ones that I scored highest and hopefully find my three favourites. At least I will have plenty of time to savour the work of others.
Hope you all have a great Christmas and don’t get caught out in the crowds. Well that is unless you really love the great seasonal dash.
I see a lot of people have left the shopping to the last minute. I’ve never really understood the excitement people get from the frantic rush. Then there is the crowds pushing their way to find a bargain. Personally I don’t think that there every really are any to be had. I think the retailers just play a game of clever deception when it comes to those last few days’ sales before Christmas to drag the multitude in. Still I suppose shops have to do something to get people to buy especially as the internet has taken a large slice of business over the past ten years from them.
As you can tell I prefer the quiet Chrimbo and with the next four days off I’m planning on just that with the family. You can call me boring if you want as long as I still get to sit back with my slipper on I don’t mind. I’ll sit back and watch some telly with a hot mug of tea, hehehe.
I do have to vote in the poetry competition. I’ve already read most of the entries scoring them as I go to whittle them down to the ones that I like best. So far that means I have four winners so I have some tough decisions to make. After I have finished reading the last few I have to read then I will reread all the ones that I scored highest and hopefully find my three favourites. At least I will have plenty of time to savour the work of others.
Hope you all have a great Christmas and don’t get caught out in the crowds. Well that is unless you really love the great seasonal dash.
