The Stars are Underground

I really should do this more often as it ends up that I have too many things to write about.

1. The Frames in Glasgow last Thursday. It really was very good. I must say that this was the first time I had seen the Frames or Glen Hansard live. Glen has an amazing energy about him, a great entertainer (despite his rather psychopathic glare at times); his voice was great and the sound was very good in what must be a tricky venue (the Arches - built under Queen Street Station). I Am Kloot supported...wasn't overly impressed at first impression, except with the drummer who looks like the archetypal stoner jazz drummer.


2. Manchester Not the Nationals Ultimate tournament. As 2 of our players dropped out on the Friday we left it remained for the 5 of us to play all the points all weekend. This was tiring, but surprisingly not much more than usual, at the time but the main point was the pain that endured in my legs and back for at least 3 days after we finished. We did ok, coming runners-up in the 'Plate' (10th). We beat Stirling (our arch rivals) convincingly, however, which made everything else irrelevant. Visited the curry mile and enjoyed on Saturday night.


3. Douglas Coupland, Life After God. The first Coupland book I have read. An impulse buy from Fopp for £3. Not exactly what I was expecting at all. I really enjoyed his style-the short chapters and tight prose really kept my attention (I did make the mistake initially of thinking that all the stories from the same narrator). I especially liked the apocalyptic part, for these kinds of things interest me (see earlier posts). I think I'd like to read more, recommendations?

4. I'm trying to do some recording again, finding it enjoyable (I am fascinated by all the wee production thingies you can do, even with my limited knowledge and age of the Cakewalk program I'm using), but ultimately futile - perhaps it is slightly narcissistic to want to perform songs that you've written? - as I do not have a band to play with and few musically like-minded individuals with which to play.

Finally got all the stuff to send off for my elective today, so should get that on the go.

Hopefully won't be this long again before I post.

Dave.

Back in the USSR

Hello all. Back.
This was the first time since 1st year that I had been particularly apprehensive about returning to the flat; for a number of reasons - after the break-in earlier in the year I was concerned that all that would be left would be the chipped plates in the cupboard also I had forgotten to feed to the fish with a slow-release capsule before I left; furthermore this year, more specifically this half of this year, will probably be the busiest I have experienced in my 22 years.

Things to sort out this year:

1. Medicine wise:


• Pass finals
• Do 4th year project
• organise & go on elective
• chase record of achievement boxes
• any other work for each block


2. Organise wedding and get married
3. Buy a flat
4. Later in the year I'll have to start applying for jobs (this I ignore for now)
5. Not go mad (this may be the most difficult)

So that's not too bad, but quite a lot to start the year off with. Planning and general hard work will probably have to suffice rather than some ingenious plan to ignore everything and hope it falls into place (unless you have any better ideas?)

Anyway, to my surprise the fish managed to survive 3 weeks of not being fed...they must go into some kind of hibernation, clever.
Also the flat was as I had left it before Christmas, another reason to be grateful.

Right, time to unpack and figure out where I'm supposed to go tomorrow.
Happy New Year.