Archive for July, 2009
Job Centre, Family Visitors & Crap Movie
by Matt on Jul.29, 2009, under Blogs
Good day all, its the weekly update time, so here we go, hold on the ride starts here.
Last Thursday was really nice, well it didn’t start that well as had to go to the Job Centre Plus for what they call a 13 week interview, their creative minds are simply outstanding. They must have had a think tank to come up with that name. The meeting was of course mind numbingly boring not to mention frustrating, this bimbo tried to advise me how to get a job. Like hello, there is a recession on & I don’t want one of the jobs advertised at the job centre, toilet cleaner for 20p an hour.
But after that it all got a lot better as my mum & step father came to visit which was great. I always love seeing them as they live quite far away now so I don’t get to see them as often as I would like to. P was off as well so it was good for us all to catch up. One of the reasons they came was as it was my best friends birthday & they get on well with him. So we spent some time in the flat chatting & catching up in general. They had recently been to Germany to visit some relations my mum has there so she told us about her trip. They brought some lovely salami over which is delicious.
We then went to find something to eat (yes Chuckles we are eating again) which turned into a more difficult task than one would imagine. The first place we went to was closed due to a power cut, the second one didn’t have a big enough table for five, the next, I cant remember but some reason or other. So we ended up in West India Quay at Bar 38 (where a certain friend had got drunk & walked away without paying a few months ago). We sat outside as the weather was nice, my mum has always loved the sun. The meal was really nice, I had a elderflower cider which is my current fad. My mum loved it so ordered another one, fucking hell, we nearly died when the bill came, the cider was five fucking pounds, its only about £2.80 in Wetherspoons. What a rip off.
We then came back home made a coffee (my mum loves the frothy coffee that I make 
& chatted some more before they had to go, which is a pity as I have to admit I do really enjoy spending time with them, they have been brilliant over the year & I couldn’t wish for better.
& chatted some more before they had to go, which is a pity as I have to admit I do really enjoy spending time with them, they have been brilliant over the year & I couldn’t wish for better.I had a second interview for a pert time role on Friday afternoon so had to dress smartly, which is something I have got out of the habit of doing since not been working, but I actually enjoy it, I don’t like the full suit thing but I do like trousers & shirt. Was supposed to hear on Monday but still waiting now to hear feedback, watch this space please.
Saturday was the monthly fun day, yes it was time for me to bathe Milo. So I decided to do it at 
my best friends place this month. It seems that Milo hates all types of water (I have had to carry him to the park the past 2 days as its been raining) but
particularly hates the falling type, showers being one of those. Over the angel & I walked to East India Docks where my friend lives, we got in, not mentioning a word of what was coming up. Then I got Milo, carried him to the bathroom, he then cottoned on as to what was happening & decided to politely decline my offer of a bath by scratching the inside of my leg. But in the bath he got, I managed to shampoo him & clean him completely without much of a fuss, he did look forlorn & as if I had strangled him or as if he were beaten, poor boy the trauma of being washed. Then I needed to use the shower to get all the soap out, he struggled, he scratched then a miracle to behold was upon us, he stopped & allowed me to clean him thoroughly. So a clean, lovely smelling & softer Milo appeared.
my best friends place this month. It seems that Milo hates all types of water (I have had to carry him to the park the past 2 days as its been raining) but particularly hates the falling type, showers being one of those. Over the angel & I walked to East India Docks where my friend lives, we got in, not mentioning a word of what was coming up. Then I got Milo, carried him to the bathroom, he then cottoned on as to what was happening & decided to politely decline my offer of a bath by scratching the inside of my leg. But in the bath he got, I managed to shampoo him & clean him completely without much of a fuss, he did look forlorn & as if I had strangled him or as if he were beaten, poor boy the trauma of being washed. Then I needed to use the shower to get all the soap out, he struggled, he scratched then a miracle to behold was upon us, he stopped & allowed me to clean him thoroughly. So a clean, lovely smelling & softer Milo appeared.Sunday P was off of work, so we decided that we wanted to take a stroll, perambulate round Brick Lane as had not been for ages. So we got lumbered with our friend again then off we trotted. First of all we got some food, they had some Thai curry which by the quickness in which it disappeared I can only assume it tasted good, I however had got some sweet & sour chicken & rice, what a mistake. The chicken was chewy & only luke warm, with hardly any taste, the rice was cold & lumpy, so I left most of it. But on the plus side at least it gave me something that I could moan, whinge & go on about. We then walked up the lane, how much complete & utter rubbish do people take there to sell, & more to the point which brain dead, tasteless people actually buy it thinking ‘oh that will look good on me, just what I need a Primark top from 3 seasons ago, never mind I wouldn’t wear this seasons let along 3 past one, here have £5 for the crap I will not even use as a duster’. I don’t get it, call me a style guru if you will but I refuse to be seen in dirty, smelly trash that should be thrown away not sold. Oh I have rambled again have I???? Oh well hey ho there you go that’s me for you. We had a good time though.
Tuesday was rather a busy day for me, considering I don’t have a job & my idea of being rushed off my feet is to go straight from a movie to the park with Milo. I firstly met a good friend who I hadn’t seen for ages, he kindly took me for lunch. We chatted & caught up, talked about phones, how surprising is that??? Not! But as regular readers will know, I enjoy catching up with friends & like see my friends, I appreciate it when people take the time to talk & communicate, its what makes friendship good,m that you can sit & just chill whilst you chat. We then wandered down to Commercial Road as I had to go, guess where? My favourite place, the bloody Job Centre.
It seems that some lunatic in the DWP has had the marvellous idea that the solution to the fact that we are in the grips of a recession & unemployment is at a high, is to get people to have weekly meeting with an officer from the job centre, the idea behind this is that the officer, who is on a salary just above minimum wage, advises you on your CV, how to apply for jobs & checks you are seeking employment in the right way. Because of course they would know!!! The idiots don’t even understand what I do let alone help me find work, I have to explain each time what it is that a PA does, they then look at their screen, like they understand it, & say that they think I am doing all the right things to seek employment. ‘No do you think, there was me thinking I will do it wrong & waste my time as I have little else to do with my time!’ What really grates me is that as P works I don’t even get any benefits whatsoever, the twats still say I should do their stupid meetings though. Don’t know why I don’t just spend the time banging my head against the wall as the effect would be the same outcome.
So I, being me, had written to the Centre manager to complain about the victimisation (that’s how I see it at least) that I was being subjected to by his idiot brainless officers. So he had invited me in to talk about my issues (how long has he got). I have had a few meetings with him & loathed as I am to admit it, he is a nice guy, complete opposite to the dregs that work for him. So in I went & we sat & I moaned & generally twittered on about how crap the DWP policy is, how it cant help me, how its no good for anyone with half a brain, then I got an email, my tone when I receive one is the Tardis, as usually happens when I meet with him we digressed & it turns out we are both Dr Who fans so we were discussing that for ages. Which in turn made me late for the interview with the pleb that called himself a Job Centre Adviser, advisor my arse. He started to say I am late & why, where was I as I sat down. I took great delight in petulantly telling him I had a meeting with the Centre Manager, that took the smug look off his dumb face, & gave me great satisfaction, the meeting was not a complete waste of time then.
I then had to head to the dentist, though not my regular one. I have to have a wisdom tooth out, I 
think I may have mentioned it a month or so ago as it was causing me extreme pain, the likes of which would cripple a lesser man than I. So I had to go to this specialist place as I have needle phobia & cant stand them, I also funnily enough have an aversion to pain. So if I need a tooth to be taken out I am put under an anaesthetic so I am out & cant feel anything or see the needle, I have an inkling it may also be so the dentist doesn’t have to put up with my stopping him every 3 seconds to ask how much longer, how much more pain, how many needles, will it hurt, can I eat, can I drink, will I be able to walk, will I need hospitalisation. So I had my assessment & the dentist at this clinic is great, he is really patent & takes the time to explain what he is doing & what needs to be done on my cavernous gob. It transpires that as well as the wisdom tooth removal I also need a filling so he will do that whilst I am under, so one less trip to the dentist required, great. I am booked in for the 24 August to have all that done so that will be fun.
think I may have mentioned it a month or so ago as it was causing me extreme pain, the likes of which would cripple a lesser man than I. So I had to go to this specialist place as I have needle phobia & cant stand them, I also funnily enough have an aversion to pain. So if I need a tooth to be taken out I am put under an anaesthetic so I am out & cant feel anything or see the needle, I have an inkling it may also be so the dentist doesn’t have to put up with my stopping him every 3 seconds to ask how much longer, how much more pain, how many needles, will it hurt, can I eat, can I drink, will I be able to walk, will I need hospitalisation. So I had my assessment & the dentist at this clinic is great, he is really patent & takes the time to explain what he is doing & what needs to be done on my cavernous gob. It transpires that as well as the wisdom tooth removal I also need a filling so he will do that whilst I am under, so one less trip to the dentist required, great. I am booked in for the 24 August to have all that done so that will be fun.Today was a washout. I have this friend & we go to movies together, I tend to choose the films that we see. Today I was enlightened as to why this is. He had chosen today’s film, & to cap it all it was in the West End sop I had to traipse all the way to Haymarket to meet up with him. As usual he was late, what is it with people these days, why is everyone late, I don’t get it,, how hard can it be to get somewhere on time? So he turns up late, I am apprehensive as another friend has said the movie (I am not going to spare the movie by not saying which one it is, its Anti Christ) is rubbish. So into the cinema we go, I say to the lady, well girl really, who is serving at the ticket kiosk that I heard it was crap, this is someone who is supposed to be selling the movies to the public, she says she saw part of it on her break & she thought it was crap. So in we go anyway, me being kind thinking will give it a go. Well its worse than In thought, I rarely, in fact I can only remember it happening twice before but I firstly fell asleep, as did my friend, then we walked out of the movie, I have never in all my days seen a movie that goes absolutely no where that is tedious to the point that you would rather have teeth pulled than endure it. But hey we then went to the Apple store to look round there which was good as I got to vent my steam by completely slating the iPhone, one of my favourite pastimes.
I have as ever been going to the gym moist week days, I have found a way that makes it less of a chore, less of torture & a way that I can endure it a little easier, I listen to BOOM! so for all of
you who go to the gym I can highly recommend getting it on your iPod or whatever & listening whilst working out, it helps me so am certain it will also help you. Chuckles gets a great mix of cheesy dance mixes with really cool music, in fact I am loathed to admit I almost fell off the treadmill last week as was trying to dance on it! I even ask Chuckles for some of the tunes & have made a mix of them on mu iPod that I listen to the days I don’t have a podcast. But don’t be doing that as he will say No, fuck off dudio. I yet again digressed, so have been going to gym & I am actually getting definition, I have tits no more. I got into a pair of trousers & a shirt last week that were too small before, hooray.
you who go to the gym I can highly recommend getting it on your iPod or whatever & listening whilst working out, it helps me so am certain it will also help you. Chuckles gets a great mix of cheesy dance mixes with really cool music, in fact I am loathed to admit I almost fell off the treadmill last week as was trying to dance on it! I even ask Chuckles for some of the tunes & have made a mix of them on mu iPod that I listen to the days I don’t have a podcast. But don’t be doing that as he will say No, fuck off dudio. I yet again digressed, so have been going to gym & I am actually getting definition, I have tits no more. I got into a pair of trousers & a shirt last week that were too small before, hooray.Stan has been rather good the past week & no trouble whatsoever, he is a sweet little doggie, as for Sid, well I don’t think I will even go there as he is very naughty, never does as his mummy tells him, runs off, eats crap. He really should take a leaf from the angel that is Milo’s book, Milo always behaves & does as he is told. Mind you their Mummy, Sid & Stan’s not Milo’s, needs to calm down & not stress so. She had a lot on her mind the past week & was a right moody cow, but thankfully things are now looking up (thank you Mile End, rot in hell Royal London) so she is a bit more cheerful. You would think she would be effervescent as she gets top see me each morning, who wouldn’t love that!!!!!!!
And that my friends is another week for you, I thank you for reading & look forward tom seeing you here again next week, I bow out for another week.
Birthdays, Racing for Life & Food!
by Matt on Jul.22, 2009, under Blogs
Its the time of the week for you to be entertained so with no more ado, here it goes.
Not much happened in the latter part of last week, was just movies & walking the adorable boy that is Milo. Along with little Stan & the monster dog from hell known as Sid the Satan. But come the weekend had good time.
On Saturday we had a friends birthday party to go to. I was at first dreading it as it was out in 
Woodford, which although is London I think of as deepest Essex, its zone 4, so I thought would need passport to hand along with jabs. Joking aside it was a really nice evening, the party was at a club in a housing complex. Its the kind of place you don’t often get in London, the people all know each other & are friendly, its quite scary when you first go that people are not ignoring each other & are actually talking!!! There was also my nemesis, karaoke. The only reason its my nemesis is because I have a voice that can waken the dead, it is truly terrible. To everyone’s delight I flatly refused to get up & sing, but I did enjoy watching everyone else singing. Especially enjoyable was when my friends were doing the dance steps to songs, always enjoy that. So all in all was a good evening, must have been as we were supposed to leave at 10.00, but stayed until 11.15.
Woodford, which although is London I think of as deepest Essex, its zone 4, so I thought would need passport to hand along with jabs. Joking aside it was a really nice evening, the party was at a club in a housing complex. Its the kind of place you don’t often get in London, the people all know each other & are friendly, its quite scary when you first go that people are not ignoring each other & are actually talking!!! There was also my nemesis, karaoke. The only reason its my nemesis is because I have a voice that can waken the dead, it is truly terrible. To everyone’s delight I flatly refused to get up & sing, but I did enjoy watching everyone else singing. Especially enjoyable was when my friends were doing the dance steps to songs, always enjoy that. So all in all was a good evening, must have been as we were supposed to leave at 10.00, but stayed until 11.15. The reason we had to leave the party early was as on the Sunday I was volunteering (doing my bit for charity) at the Hyde Park Race for Life. As regular readers will know I have been volunteering for this all summer. Most of you know the reason why I got involved with this work, so I don’t need to go over that, but still P asks if I have to go, each & every time. I love him to pieces but I do hate it when he was there, he saw what it was like when my dad died, so the answer I want to shout at him is yes I have to go. But enough of my moaning (okay so that’s not going to happen) on with last Sunday. So as usual I got there at 6.00, yes that 6.00 in the morning, which meant getting up at 4.30, hence leaving the party early. Like a fool I had eaten bread the day before so first thing I
did when I got there was hunt out the loos, thank heavens for portaloos!!!! I helped to set the main area up first of all then I was delegated to be a course Marshall, what this meant is that I had to have a fluorescent yellow vest on (which I may add is not my colour, as I am dark skinned it just looks sickly & clashes with my skin tone) and a headset (something else I hate as it looks so naff, but also you tend to shout as you have these voices in your ear so when you talk to people you compensate by shouting. I took it off last time but got told off as people were trying to contact me & I was oblivious). I had to stand there & stop idiots crossing the road (how can people be so stupid as to try & cross when 17,000 women are running past) some fools were even cycling down the road. But the atmosphere on the whole was really good, the women I really admire as they run for a great cause & not one moans.
did when I got there was hunt out the loos, thank heavens for portaloos!!!! I helped to set the main area up first of all then I was delegated to be a course Marshall, what this meant is that I had to have a fluorescent yellow vest on (which I may add is not my colour, as I am dark skinned it just looks sickly & clashes with my skin tone) and a headset (something else I hate as it looks so naff, but also you tend to shout as you have these voices in your ear so when you talk to people you compensate by shouting. I took it off last time but got told off as people were trying to contact me & I was oblivious). I had to stand there & stop idiots crossing the road (how can people be so stupid as to try & cross when 17,000 women are running past) some fools were even cycling down the road. But the atmosphere on the whole was really good, the women I really admire as they run for a great cause & not one moans. I was however exhausted by the time I had finished at 2.30 in the afternoon. It doesn’t sound like hard work but it really is as you don’t stop & are constantly on your feet, no time to eat, & you don’t realise just how much time is passing whilst your working. So I got on the bus & dragged my tired old carcass home, where Little P had cooked me a fantastic roast dinner which was delicious. He had also exceeded previous limits by making from scratch Panacotta (which has no cheese in it despite the fish wife thinking it had), it was amazingly yummy as he had put extra vanilla in it, one of my 2 favourite flavours.
Monday was our best friends birthday, he is 39 now, doesn’t time fly, I remember him when he was
18, just come down from Sunderland, was a shy, very shy, slim, quiet young guy. Now he is still shy, not so quiet, dam right moody at times,m not so slim, but he has been my best friend since then. I do take him for granted & do tend to shout when I don’t need to, which is not good as he has always been a good friend. So anyway Monday was his birthday so he came round & decided that he wanted to go for a walk with Milo (he adores Milo, as does everyone but he more than most) so we went down to Shadwell Basin which is always a nice walk.
18, just come down from Sunderland, was a shy, very shy, slim, quiet young guy. Now he is still shy, not so quiet, dam right moody at times,m not so slim, but he has been my best friend since then. I do take him for granted & do tend to shout when I don’t need to, which is not good as he has always been a good friend. So anyway Monday was his birthday so he came round & decided that he wanted to go for a walk with Milo (he adores Milo, as does everyone but he more than most) so we went down to Shadwell Basin which is always a nice walk. We always take him for a meal on his birthday as well, & this year he decided he would like to go to Water Margin which is a nice Chinese buffet at the O2. So we went there, it was really nice to sit down & eat a nice meal, though its rather hard for me to stay being nice & making the effort as its his birthday But manage it I did, & even managed to stay nice on the way home as well.
But manage it I did, & even managed to stay nice on the way home as well.Today was another filled day, I am such a social butterfly I am at a loss as to how I will manage when I start working again, I am not sure I will be able to keep my hectic social diary along with movies, and work, not to mention the looking after, & generally pampering of Milo. But I am sure I will prevail.
Oh yes I was going on about today wasn’t I. So at lunch time I set off to Old Street as was meeting a friend for lunch. Its a lady that I use to work with, she is one of the exceedingly few at the place that I got on with & liked, one that was helpful, friendly & had time for people, a rare commodity at the company in question. It was good to see her, she is looking really well & settled in a nice job that she enjoys, which I am pleased about as she deserves it. I always like to keep in touch with people so seeing her was a joy. I took Milo as she is another of his many fans. He enjoyed him self as got some more attention, not to mention a few tit bits, which are always good from his view point, a easily bought boy is Milo, a treat & he will be anyone’s friend. We then walked home & had an hour before I had to go out again, so I used the time to give him a groom.
I then had to rush, well I say rush, as much as you can on a bus in London, so I guess I had to rush to the bus stop & then sit whilst it ambled its way to the West End. I was going to meet P, who had been at a managers meeting with the idiot manager of his who has the brain of a goldfish with Parkinson’s, at that crap company that he works for (despite me & most people knowing he can do much better) Carphone Shithouse. So we met up & guess what we decided to do, have a go, one go, ho try, go on, okay then but its hardly septic Peg stuff. We decided to go eat, so off to Covent Garden we headed, now 2 poofs heading through Covent Garden do you think we made it straight to eat or do you think we detoured via a couple of shops, hard one that. P got me a jumper & T Shirt in Nigel Hall , which is by far my favourite shop in the whole universe.
We ended up in TGI Fridays which I surprisingly, given I am a stuck up opinionated snob, like. The atmosphere is a bit loud (especially for someone in my advancing years), but the food I like, its filling & quite tasty, the service is usually really good though today it was quite slow. I was surprised by how busy it gets.
I have as ever been going to the gym all week, & I have as ever been hating every minute of it, but when one is as fat & old as I am what choice do I have. In fact of late all that gets me through it is listening to the fabulously fantastic Boom! podcast. If you have not yet subscribed I would urge you to do so, its great.
Now it is gone midnight & my mum & step father are coming tomorrow, so I should be in bed but so is my devotion to you, my blog readers & friends that I am sitting here typing at this time of night, its quite a feat given that I have Milo sitting on my lap & he insists that the touchpad & keyboard are in fact his pillow & there for him to press as he sees fit. So with a few final words, those being the usual shout outs (as they use to say at raves) to my long suffering (suffering in that she has to put up with what is known as ‘that bloody dog’) friend, to Stan & a big hello & thank you top you, for reading, I do appreciate it. If you have any suggestions for this blog please let me know.
Shows Not Seen, Interviews & Thai
by Matt on Jul.15, 2009, under Blogs
Hello all & sundry, how has your week been? Pretty quiet from this end, but still I will enthral you with the details
Last Thursday I went to the west end to see a friend for coffee, well I was in the west end as going out with another friend (the one who passes wind in the cinema) so arranged to see my other friend before I met her. So I met up with my friend who sat & moaned about how hungry he was, I dint see how he could be as there is hardly anything of him, so how he could need food is beyond me. But I gave in & accompanied him into China Town as he wanted dim sum, along with a good kicking in my opinion So I sat & chatted with him as he stuffed his face with Dim Sum, how do small people eat so much & still stay small, P does it too, its so annoying. But it was good to see him as I don’t get to chat with him often & he is a really nice guy who I enjoy chatting with.
So I sat & chatted with him as he stuffed his face with Dim Sum, how do small people eat so much & still stay small, P does it too, its so annoying. But it was good to see him as I don’t get to chat with him often & he is a really nice guy who I enjoy chatting with.The I headed up to Oxford Street as was meeting my friend there. She works at Arcadia, when not passing wind, & as I waited outside I was watching all the people coming out of the office. I always thought fashion was about looking cool & with your identity. But it seems I am wrong a every girl who came out of the office looked the same, same clothes, same hair, same walk. How awful it must be to be young in this era When I was their age (god I sound old) we dressed with a flare of our own, stamping our signature on the way we dressed, these girls just looked drab & with no individuality whatsoever. Oooops apart from my farting friend of course.
We were due to meet up as I had a ticket to go see a television programme being filmed, 8 Out of 10 Cats. Now last time we went to see a show you will recall that she arrived late & we did not get in to see it. The woman is jinxed I swear. This time we were there in ample time & queued like good people. As we got to the front all these production company people turned up. My belief is that we as licence payers should take priority as the production people can see the show any week, I therefore think the amount of people from the production company watching a show should be limited to a few. But alas my thoughts were not taken into consideration, why not I have yet to fathom. Where was I, oh yes, so we got to the front of the queue & then into the BBC. We sat there for an hour & 45 minutes before we, along with others, were told that unfortunately there wasn’t enough room in the studio so we would not be able to get in. Admittedly they took our details & promised us tickets to other shows, which they have provided. So my farting friend & I left the studio & decided to go to Westfield. In we went & looked at furniture (my friend has just got a new fabulous flat), whilst I continuously moaned, insulted, swore about the shitty company that Little P works for!!!! We then trundled downstairs to Wagamama to get something to eat, well we wouldn’t go there to choose furniture would we now.
Last Friday was pretty full on. I had 2 interviews scheduled. A couple of years ago I applied for a job as PA at a modelling agency, Dynamite, did the application process & everything, but in meantime I got another. But I became friends with the owner of Dynamite & we stayed in touch. I was for ages convinced he was gay, despite him informing me he wasn’t, he is the most straight man who looks & acts gay I have ever known!!!! So last week 2 of his friends had said they needed a part time PA & he very kindly recommended me. So I had arranged to be interviewed by both on Friday. I had to get up extra early as still had my parental duties to take care of, so off out I took Milo for his morning constitutional. I then came home & got myself tarted up, um I mean ready, suited & booted, well shoed.
The first one was in Islington & for a lady with a PR company (no not Edina Monsoon). I got there early, which is a bit of a habit of mine, the interview lasted an hour & a half so I must have really done well or bored her to sleep & not noticed that she was in fact asleep!!! But either way I left there feeling quite positive, which is rather unusual for me as I generally hate interviews.
I then headed to my straight but should be gay friends office as its close by. I wanted to catch up but also thank him for the recommendations which I am really grateful for. So it was good to see him & catch up, we always seem to end up discussing phones & Blackberries, maybe I am a tad obsessed!
I then headed off to the west end as the next interview was in Knightsbridge, just off of Belgravia Square. It was for this lady (who is really cool, I really like her) who is managing a hairdressing salon, or is it called boutique? Either way I was too early again, I must make note to self to try & time it so I turn up on time rather than too early for appointments. It was quite freaky as the day that I had spoken to her & made the interview appointment I was listening to Radio 2 (I am always listening to it if P not in as hate TV) & there was this article on the Steve Wright show about hair & this guy was on it & I heard them mentioning the salon he works in as it is the same one that I was going to for the interview, isn’t it funny how these coincidences happen? So I had the interview & got to meet the hairdresser as well, & got to meet the guy I had heard on the radio, it turns out he is hairdresser of the year.
I got a call from the lady yesterday for those wondering & she is wanting me to start so sorting out the logistics etc & should have done so in a couple of weeks, how excited am I, cant wait to start.
On Sunday I took Milo for one of our walks. We didn’t get very far, just to the park opposite. But I had a
really nice time as it had been quite a manic week of rushing about & so the opportunity to chill out with Milo & just play was very much welcomed. The park has this part that has been allowed to grow pretty wild & is called (rather imaginatively!) The Meadow. Its rather fun as where Milo is of the size of a large rat he can hide in the long flowers & grass quite well. Its amusing to throw a ball for him & watch as its like watching a tram as you can just see this tail cutting through the undergrowth. He also has this habit of laying down when you look away, okay when I am playing with my Blackberry, so I look up & have no idea where he has gone to.
really nice time as it had been quite a manic week of rushing about & so the opportunity to chill out with Milo & just play was very much welcomed. The park has this part that has been allowed to grow pretty wild & is called (rather imaginatively!) The Meadow. Its rather fun as where Milo is of the size of a large rat he can hide in the long flowers & grass quite well. Its amusing to throw a ball for him & watch as its like watching a tram as you can just see this tail cutting through the undergrowth. He also has this habit of laying down when you look away, okay when I am playing with my Blackberry, so I look up & have no idea where he has gone to.Later that evening after we had been to the movies with a friend of ours (I mean P & I not Milo & I) we went to the Wagamama in Canary Wharf, its the best one as far as we are concerned. It was a nice meal as we were with a good friend so was nice to relax, enjoy the food & talk.
Yesterday, in the evening we headed, well I met P (late he was as usual) at West Ham station as we were going to our friends place before going to dinner. The friend is a old one, in both senses of the word. He is really bad at keeping in contact so its always nice to catch up & see him. He is in the process of having his house done up & the kitchen & breakfast room is looking really nice, I am very impressed with it as its lovely. The place is going to look very nice once its finished. But the reason that we had gone to see him is because there is this Thai cafe not far from where he lives. Its an amazing place as in the daytime it is a English cafe & in the evening this lovely Thai family hire it. They do really nice Thai food, the menu is pretty extensive with dishes for all tastes, I hate spicy food but P & our friend like it & we all had dishes we liked. The prices are very reasonable too. Its kind of like a Thai cafe as you would find in Thailand (so P assured us), a great place & the people that run it are really nice.
As ever I have been to the movies this past week, but only twice & saw the same film both times, which is an indication that its an excellent movie, review is on the movie page. Also been going to the Torture Chamber & predictably have been hating it as much as always.
If you look to the right of this blog you will see a button called ‘Boom’, what is this you ask yourself? Its 
a really cool podcast that a friend of mine does, its retro dance music mixed with new stuff & is totally fabulous, I have subscribed & now find it invaluable, its amazing as work out music, or just to chill to. It is done by the one & only Chuckles, & I have to say he does a fantastic job, I have been given freak looks several times this week as have been listening to it & smiled, or caught myself jiggling along the road. I even almost fell off the treadmill as was running in time to the music. I really would urge you to go get it, & guess what, its fucking free, they say nothing is for free, well this is & its totally unmissable, go get it now.
a really cool podcast that a friend of mine does, its retro dance music mixed with new stuff & is totally fabulous, I have subscribed & now find it invaluable, its amazing as work out music, or just to chill to. It is done by the one & only Chuckles, & I have to say he does a fantastic job, I have been given freak looks several times this week as have been listening to it & smiled, or caught myself jiggling along the road. I even almost fell off the treadmill as was running in time to the music. I really would urge you to go get it, & guess what, its fucking free, they say nothing is for free, well this is & its totally unmissable, go get it now.The usual quick hello to Stan, who was nasty to the adorable Milo this morning & a hello to the naughty & greedy Sid. My fondest thoughts to their mother who is having a tough time at the moment due to the ineptitude of the crappy London Hospital so a warm cyber hug goes to her. To all else my love & regards, see you next week xxx
Gay Pride & Gay Icon
by Matt on Jul.08, 2009, under Blogs
And so another update for everyone to enjoy reading! Am writing this on a train & am pretty tired so please excuse any errors, of the spelling variety.
The latter end of last week was pretty quiet, just walking that little Milo, going to torture myself, and movies, which of course you can see what I thought of on the movies page of this fine blog site.
Saturday came upon us & it was Gay Pride. It was the second one that P & I had attended together as he has been working most of the past ones. So this year he ensured that he was off, it was also Milo’s first Pride as he 
was too young last year to come with us. We al got ready, well P & I got ready & P got Milo ready, it seemed to me that Milo took longer to get ready than we did, he also needed more things taking with us than we did. So once all were gathered & ready off 
we went. We got the bus which is always, on hindsight, a mistake when you are needing to be somewhere on time. But we got to Bond Street, the appointed & what do you know P’s butch lesbian friend was late, then she couldn’t find us, how hard can it be, we are outside Vodafone, not exactly MENSA stuff. Then we watched the parade. which I found to be very disjointed this year, most of it looked like shoppers had just decided to walk in the road, there seemed little organisation. One thing, & I think thing is the correct term, that we all found funny, as well as frightening, was this girl who had a bullhorn, chanting, okay screaming, that ‘we are queer, we will not live in fear’ well if you were to see her you would not think she would be in fear but all around her would be, she made John Merrick look rather appealing, and was built like a deformed hulk.
was too young last year to come with us. We al got ready, well P & I got ready & P got Milo ready, it seemed to me that Milo took longer to get ready than we did, he also needed more things taking with us than we did. So once all were gathered & ready off we went. We got the bus which is always, on hindsight, a mistake when you are needing to be somewhere on time. But we got to Bond Street, the appointed & what do you know P’s butch lesbian friend was late, then she couldn’t find us, how hard can it be, we are outside Vodafone, not exactly MENSA stuff. Then we watched the parade. which I found to be very disjointed this year, most of it looked like shoppers had just decided to walk in the road, there seemed little organisation. One thing, & I think thing is the correct term, that we all found funny, as well as frightening, was this girl who had a bullhorn, chanting, okay screaming, that ‘we are queer, we will not live in fear’ well if you were to see her you would not think she would be in fear but all around her would be, she made John Merrick look rather appealing, and was built like a deformed hulk. So after the disappointing, and scary march we headed to Soho. Now I am old enough to remember when Pride was help in one of the parks, Brockwell, Clapham, Hyde etc & now it is held in Soho with the stage in Trafalgar Square, which makes it a complete mess & it just doesn’t have the same level; of solidarity nor the fun aspect it use to have. But it was fun anyway. We met my (this is confusing) aunties husbands sister & a couple of her friends so that was cool, we headed to Soho Square & had Pimms, how civilised are we then? But I had previously been drinking cider, everyone else lager!!!! The cider P had got & it was lovely, I had to have a further 3 throughout the day to verify this. It was elderflower & lime. When he gave it to me I thought, how completely vile, I then tasted it, it is divine, so refreshing, it will now be my drink of choice wherever they sell it.
So a good time was had by all, later we headed to the place that P had discovered, that was mentioned last week, the Malaysian place. There were 5 of us by this point (more on how later so stay tuned, don’t touch that dial). The food was again really nice, & it was great to sit outside & watch the world go by as we chatted & ridiculed (okay I did) all the freaks passing by, it was especially interesting when these 2 guys were arguing, wearing tutus, kind of looked ironic.
After this we called our best friend to come & collect Milo (after we had fed the little cherub) as he was getting quite tired by this point & we had a birthday thing to go to. So when he had been carried away (he has to be carried as if is on floor he refuses to move if is being taken from P & I), we headed down towards Leicester Square, only 3 of us by now, P, the butch lesbian & yours truly. It was a good friend of ours birthday event, she had arranged it at K Box which, for those who don’t know, is a Karaoke place based on the oriental idea. You have a room & select the tunes/songs whatever yourself, the bar is outside. Our entrance was greeted with a rather loud screech fro our drunken, or just mad, friend introducing us with the immortal words ‘the gay pride is here, my gay friends’ & there was I thinking my masculinity would fool all & sundry! I am gifted in many ways but being able to sing is definitely not one of them, so I did not want to have to watch the grimaces so for once kept my mouth shut & made do with winding up the butch lesbian, always good sport I find as you don’t get some human rights freak trying to stop you.
I have to put a little sentence about Milo here & his day. I have to say that he behaved impeccably & really did P & I credit, apart from when he decided it was time to go toilet in the middle of the street in Soho, but one hiccup is amazing I think. The place was packed & he remained well behaved all day, it was also hot which he is not a big fan of. He really did us proud. In fact I think it is more than safe to say that he got far more attention than we did by far, he was petted, stroked & played with all day, he must have thought it was his birthday.
Sunday I was supposed to go & volunteer at the Race for Life. But I am ashamed to admit that I did wake up at 4.00, I even got in the bath, but when I got out I fell back to sleep again so I didn’t make the Race, I do feel guilty but I was just exhausted. But I have to say it was delightful to spend a nice quiet & relaxing day with P.
Tuesday saw me getting on a train & heading to Manchester. A friend of mine had very kindly the other week offered me a spare ticket he had to a Madonna concert. I was of course thrilled as there is no way I could go otherwise, not in my current situation. So on the train I was, travelling up to the North. We had planned it so that both out trains arrived close to each other as he doesn’t live in London but in Devon. Though to here him talk about it I think it is a remote spot somewhere in the asshole of the land as he despises, or seems to, the place. So his friend picked up up from the station, he had kindly arranged the whole trip. I hadn’t been to Manchester properly for quite some time & was aghast at how much it has changed, it looks really good, a great mix of gothic & modern buildings. So we were given a quick tour before we picked up my friends friends wife, if that makes sense (sometimes my policy of not mentioning names makes things rather difficult to follow don’t you find?). They took us for a really nice meal in this new restaurant, it was completely lovely. I had never had risotto, sheltered life I have led, so thought would try it, like its so nice, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My friend & I were then dropped off close to the arena (how cool is this, the arena is called Manchester evening News, but they shorten it to MEN, so a gay icon was playing for loads of poofs in a stadium called MEN, all very apt we thought). So in we went. We had been given tickets to this VIP bar & that was great as it was nice to sit & relax beforehand rather than having to mix with the dregs drinking lager from plastic glasses. We sat down at our seats at about 8.30, & the seats were amazing, really close to the stage, just to the side of it so we had a great view. Let me explain one thing here, my friend is completely obsessed with Madonna, he has been to see her over 20 times, I kid you not, & all over the world. So he was bubbling with excitement at seeing her again, poor love hadn’t seen her perform since November so was in rehab.
I personally hadn’t seen her perform for years, & I had forgotten just how good a show she does put on. She 
really is an excellent entertainer & the show is breathtaking. When it first started its
really loud (showing my age again), she has less dancers than last time I saw her, but that doesn’t make the show any worse, the stage set is just outstanding, with these massive screens showing images the centre of it, over the end of the stage is this circular screen that comes & goes throughout the show, it leaves you awestruck. The whole show is completely amazing & I enjoyed every minute of it. There are these 2 dancers in particular that you cannot stop watching, they are Japanese & move in this amazing way, at one point they even moon walked, on their knees, they are mesmerising. Where Madonna gets the energy from one cant imagine, but she is to be commended that at 50 she can still have you watching her every move & you enjoy it immensely. The show was quite simply awesome.
really is an excellent entertainer & the show is breathtaking. When it first started its really loud (showing my age again), she has less dancers than last time I saw her, but that doesn’t make the show any worse, the stage set is just outstanding, with these massive screens showing images the centre of it, over the end of the stage is this circular screen that comes & goes throughout the show, it leaves you awestruck. The whole show is completely amazing & I enjoyed every minute of it. There are these 2 dancers in particular that you cannot stop watching, they are Japanese & move in this amazing way, at one point they even moon walked, on their knees, they are mesmerising. Where Madonna gets the energy from one cant imagine, but she is to be commended that at 50 she can still have you watching her every move & you enjoy it immensely. The show was quite simply awesome.So today I am now on the train way home, very tired as I don’t sleep well when am away from P, I am so used to having him there with me & next to me that its quite unsettling when he isn’t so I don’t sleep too well. Still he is off today so I can see him when I get back.
My usual weekly hello to Stan & the ever so naughty, & now almost bald Sid, he really is a bad influence on my little treasure, I thank heavens that Milo is so good & doesn’t succumb to the bad behaviour that he witnesses from naughty Sid.
I will be updating the movie page as well, over the weekend I will also begin the restaurant review page, I haven’t forgotten it.
That my friends is this weeks update, I do hope you have enjoyed it, & that maybe it has brought a smile to your face. As ever I thank you for reading & hope to see you again very soon.
More Interviews, Walks & Gerbils!!!
by Matt on Jul.01, 2009, under Blogs
Wow so this week I have a real challenge in writing this. P has said I swear to much (its all Sid & Stands mums fault as is her influence) so I have said this week I wont swear here. Is it me or has this past week gone slower than usual, especially the weekend?
First of all I would like to wish Sid & Stan’s mum a very Happy birthday, okay that’s the being nice out of the way so now on with this weeks update.
Last Thursday I had my 13 week meeting with the Job Centre, I loathe going there at the best of times but to go & be questioned on what am I doing to find a job for half an hour is tedious. I really wouldn’t mind too much but when I don’t actually receive any benefits I do find it a bit of a waste of my time as they never offer me any helpful advice whatsoever, nor do they give me any constructive criticism even, so all in all its just time that could be better spent, in the gym or movies, um I mean looking for a job.
On Thursday evening I met P in the west end & we went back to the Malaysian cafe that we had found, I had
the same dish but thought would try a different drink, I had soya milk, I was always put off it before as associated it with hippy veggie weirdo’s, a bit like tofu. But it tasted really nice, so its now my drink of choice, & guess what, no fat in it, yeay for soya milk. P had 2 dishes, I have no idea how he stays so little as he eats the same amounts a a blue whale, its so not fair at all. As usual though the meal was really nice.
the same dish but thought would try a different drink, I had soya milk, I was always put off it before as associated it with hippy veggie weirdo’s, a bit like tofu. But it tasted really nice, so its now my drink of choice, & guess what, no fat in it, yeay for soya milk. P had 2 dishes, I have no idea how he stays so little as he eats the same amounts a a blue whale, its so not fair at all. As usual though the meal was really nice.Friday morning I had a second interview at the BBC for the job that I had gone to be interviewed for the previous week. It was at 9.15 in the morning so I had to get up & ready early, I usually get up, well am got up, early as have to feed then take out Milo, but I tend to just do my teeth & drag a pair of track suit bottoms on (Don’t even comment as there will never ever be a picture taken & released of me in track suit bottoms) so I take him out looking like I have escaped from Essex. But anyway last Friday I had to drag my carcass into the bath early & get myself looking respectable (its a hard job, do hair, shave, have to remember to remove piercings) in my suit. But oh it was a joy on this occasion. I have to admit the last time I pit this particular suit on, its a slim fit one, I had to really breathe in to get the trousers & jacket done up & they looked ready to burst should I move to fast or in certain directions. As you all know I have been trying with sheer desperation to lose weight after I put on enough weight to sink the QE2. Well I put the trousers on with trepidation, but I was aghast, they slipped over my thighs (manly from all the walking & cycling) & did up with no effort whatsoever. I was overjoyed. Oh but wait I was talking about the interview right. So I get there & I think it all went well, I answered all the questions. I have to say this interview was harder than the first as the 2 ladies were not as conversational as the previous weeks, they were a lot tougher as well & more formal. Just have to wait & see now, fingers are crossed though, which will explain any typos here.
In the evening P & I went to the movies. Afterwards we decided, okay P did that we would go to Wagamama at Jubilee Place. We like it there, the food is really good for you & tasty nice, 2 statements you rarely see together without a isn’t in it.
On Sunday my best friend & I took that angel known as Milo out. We went along our usual route of up the canal. This didn’t get off to a fantastic start as when we got to Mile End, where we were scheduled to meet our friend, it started raining. Rain is not good at the best of times, but if Milo is with me its a nightmare, let me explain if you will. If you take him out & its raining he sits in the doorway & flatly refuses to move, I have to pick him up & carry him to the park where he will get on the ground under a tree & go to toilet, then he will refuse to move from under the shelter. So we got to Mile End & it started to rain, under the trees he heads. So we waited the rain out, then continued on our way. I would have been content to go home at this point but our friend wanted to go to Victoria Park, for the scenery you ask? To see the dogs? Because walking is good for you? Nope because he wanted some chips, you can take the northerner out of the north but you cant, well you get the picture.
So we then headed back to his flat as I wanted to see these gerbils he was looking after, okay that’s an excuse, 
I wanted to nose round his flat as hadn’t for quite some time. So we get there, I have my nose round, then we decided to get the gerbils out. So we got them out on the bed, in came little Milo, jumped on the bed, looked at the gerbils and ………………….started playing with them (you thought he was going to eat them didn’t you?) there are 2 gerbils & he alternated between them both. The dog never ceases to amaze me, he is so soft & so friendly, you have to love him (he never eats shit, never ignores you when you call & call him, never disappears into bushes). My friend then picked up the gerbils as he thought Milo was nipping them, it turned out, are you ready for this? He was kissing them, licking them!!!!
I wanted to nose round his flat as hadn’t for quite some time. So we get there, I have my nose round, then we decided to get the gerbils out. So we got them out on the bed, in came little Milo, jumped on the bed, looked at the gerbils and ………………….started playing with them (you thought he was going to eat them didn’t you?) there are 2 gerbils & he alternated between them both. The dog never ceases to amaze me, he is so soft & so friendly, you have to love him (he never eats shit, never ignores you when you call & call him, never disappears into bushes). My friend then picked up the gerbils as he thought Milo was nipping them, it turned out, are you ready for this? He was kissing them, licking them!!!! When we were leaving it was raining quite hard, so I decided to get the DLR to Westferry & then the bus home, so as to keep under cover (& save my arms from the weight of Milo) as much of the way as possible. The little git refused to move so I had to carry him to the station, then when we got to Westferry I had to carry him to the bus stop & hold him whilst we waited, 20 minutes, for a bus, then carry him home from the bus stop. I do often wonder who is the dog & who is the master!
On Monday I joined a new gym. I used to go to LA Fitness but the noise was just too much, they play terrible cheesy pop music & have it so loud that it drowned out my iPod, even when I had it on the loudest setting, so I couldn’t concentrate on my workout. So I joined a new one, its the same one that Sid & Stan’s mum goes to, but hey no where is perfect Its much more refined there. The place is smaller but there are less people there, its cooler, but best of all the music isn’t on loud at all, I can actually hear a podcast on mu iPod let alone music, its bliss.
Its much more refined there. The place is smaller but there are less people there, its cooler, but best of all the music isn’t on loud at all, I can actually hear a podcast on mu iPod let alone music, its bliss. Today I had quite a nice day, went to gym, this morning then came home & had a nice bath to cool down. My
best friend & I then took Milo to the park where I sat & relaxed, I had to try to sort my tan out. I am fortunate enough to tan easily, the downside of this is that where I had been wearing a T Shirt I had very tanned arms but a paler body (not as pale as my friend who is a northerner so looks almost albino so I wanted balance it out a bit. It worked as am getting there, am hoping that I can get a couple more hours in as then it will blend in fine. But I lost track of time, as I looked at my watch & it was 5.15, I had to get in, have a bath (I am so clean) & get out as was supposed to meet a friend for coffee, & gossip, at 6.30.
best friend & I then took Milo to the park where I sat & relaxed, I had to try to sort my tan out. I am fortunate enough to tan easily, the downside of this is that where I had been wearing a T Shirt I had very tanned arms but a paler body (not as pale as my friend who is a northerner so looks almost albino so I wanted balance it out a bit. It worked as am getting there, am hoping that I can get a couple more hours in as then it will blend in fine. But I lost track of time, as I looked at my watch & it was 5.15, I had to get in, have a bath (I am so clean) & get out as was supposed to meet a friend for coffee, & gossip, at 6.30.I cycled so made it on time. We met at Patisserie Valerie, I love it there. I had an ice coffee & it was really nice, must go back for another actually. But the best part was catching up with my friend. We had seen each other recently but always with our prospective partners there so couldn’t have a good old gossip. So that was nice to sit in the sun, chill & enjoy a nice chat. Note to self, must set up again soon.
That’s your lot for this week, will leave you wanting more, does it feel good? See you very soon I hope.
PS, not one swear word, phew that was hard.
-
Howdy. Welcome to Matt Unplugged!
Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to join the discussion by leaving comments, and stay updated by subscribing to the RSS feed. See ya around!
