2012 In pictures and profanities!

Here we are again!

Still loving the exclamation mark, sorry about that, it's a habbit that won't die easily. I often re-read my messages to other people without exclamation marks, and I sometimes think they look dry or emotionless? Perhaps I've conditioned myself in such a way, that I can't live without exclamation marks?!

I guess the most disappointing aspect of my annoying habbit, is that I disappoint myself with my appauling grasp of the English language and also general grammatical skills these days. Pretty sure saying 'and' after a comma was frowned upon at some point too. Let's not even get start with there, they're and their!

I've drawn you in with the promise of pictures and profanities. This still might happen, let's not run away and get bored just yet. These things are always a hoot, afterall! (This one's intended!) F**L.

Bet you're really disappointed now that you assumed seeing two **'s meant a sware word. Ha!

It's another end of year post, pretty sure it was only 4 days ago I was writing a similar post for the end of last year.

I really don't know where this last year has gone. I mean, it could quite easily still be January of 2012 and I wouldn't question it for a second. If it is, then I must have stumbled on the toilet in some elaborate accident and invented time travel. Don't be disappointed that it's in the form of a fiesta instead of a Delorean, I can only work with the tools I have to hand. Equally, you will now know why I may be wearing a plaster on my forehead next time you see me.

So, 2012, well, I started this a few days ago and saved it, mostly because I genuinely couldn't remember much from the year apart from everything that's happened since August.

It's been a very emotional Christmas, and to have tears from all on Christmas day was a different experience, it was always going to be difficult this year, but it made me appreciate what I have and the family I have around me, both still present, whilst also remembering the past.

R.I.P Gran x

As for me then, I guess, I've really had to think about what I personally did this year. In reality, actually quite a lot. I set out this year with my initial goal to 'get fit' again, as most people do, but for me I'd signed up with work to do the Yorkshire 3 peaks challenge. For those unfamiliar, this is the Dales peaks, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough, all in 12 hours.

Oh. My. God. I think that's three words used in suitable order to explain how I felt when I finished. Admittedly, I had endeavored to train much more than I did, but I did prepare and think, albeit much less than I wanted, the preparation I did do made just enough difference to get through it.

Although unable to walk properly for nearly two days afterwards, it was a thoroughly amazing experience, as was the general experience of becoming better acquainted with the Peak District. Such a beautiful place, really took me back to my childhood spending hours up on the moors. 

Generally though, it really did get me back on the active band wagon. The following month, I finally took the plunge on something I'd mulled over for a while and bought a bike. Having had many a failed attempt at finding some physical activity I'd enjoy outside of football, I decided to give it a shot.

My idea was mostly to go out road/path riding, I always loved cycling when I was younger, and I figured it was a great way to start a more active/fitter lifestyle. 

If I only knew what I'd started! It was around the same time, that a couple of friends and a new friend, had started to do the odd forest route. So having learnt how to ride a bike again (Seriously, I swore blind I was going to fall off going round corners when I first got back on the bike after years!) I was eventually talked into going along and trying a red route (kinda medium/hard level) course in Nottingham.

It turned out to be an amazingly fun day, although very tough. As my confidence gained, I was soon gathering pace on down hill sections and absolutely loving it. I was sold!

This eventually lead to what was one of my favourite weekends of the year, heading up to the lakes with the lads for a mountain biking weekend! Having never been to the lakes before, I jumped at the opportunity, and I always love camping. What a fantastic weekend, the course was difficult but so rewarding. Although I did have my first high speed off, but thankfully, I threw myself down and landed softly! To finish, we we're gifted with a beautiful clear night and the opportunity to do some star gazing. I even saw my first ever shooting star!

This much physical activity for me these days, usually means an injury is just around the corner. While taking up cycling, I'd also been enjoying playing football as a kick about again. Unfortunately, I also started to play in net again. In the end, the inevitable happened again, and I dislocated my shoulder for the 3rd time! Surprise, surprise eh! 

In all honesty, I was enjoying playing again and was picking up on form, I think everyone that knows me, knows how much I'd missed it, so to have one last shot and to be able to play well, including a brief competitive appearance in a league, meant enough to me to at least be able to personally justify my decision. That will be that now though. Although I'm still enjoying the kick about, just outfield!

Of course, there's been a couple of  'Daves' thrown in for good cause, aside from the shoulder again, I managed to pick myself up two damn speeding tickets! Given my tag as the 'captain slow' of our group, it was quite an achievement. Specially given that my second was behind a caravan on the way to the lakes! Although a bottle of lemonaid had just exploded in my boot, so we we're at least experiencing a pleasant, although rather strong, smell of lemon during the incident.

In general, it's been quite a year. Certainly one I will remember for many reasons, fortunately the majority of them are good. There's been many reasons to come out of this year optimistic, I feel I've grown personally, developed hugely professionally and there's many reasons to be excited about the prospects for 2013!

What does 2013 have in store? Well, another one of my best friends weddings for a start, whilst also our bassist Andy and Jo's wedding coming up quite soon! I've also now signed up to do the national 3 peaks having been spurred on by the yorkshire ones! There's also a chance I'll be doing the 170 mile way of the roses cycle too, but we will see how training goes!

So, I think an exciting 2013 lies in store, I'm optimistic and excited by all the opportunities and potential the new year is to bring, personally and professionally, and hopefully it will bring a bit of luck with it! I hope you can wish me all the best and I'd equally like to say to all of you, that I hope 2013 brings you every success and happiness! Here's to a prosperous new year!

Thanks for reading!

It's about time this world got a grip!....

So!

Was looking for some kind of catchy title this time, I thought an apparent rant at this world would catch your attention and perhaps, make you read this. I've realised recently I have a habbit, that probably has been going on for a while. It's mostly to do with the word 'Cheers' and the exclamation mark. I over use both massively.

I thought I'd get that out of the way, because as I progress and I settle into this blog, at least one of those old habbits will arise and I will be able to look back, not on life, but on the start of this blog and realise I was right! If it doesn't work out that way, then this section won't be so memorable, but I appreciate you sticking with it so far.

So, again, with the So! It just feels appropriate, never quite sure how to start the next chapter or paragraph. Infact, in a way, I feel like that's an accidental metaphore for my life and moving on sometimes!

From looking at my history, I can see that it seems to have been over a year since I had a chat with myself over a text box on the internet. I guess some people call that blogging, I don't know how long that term will be around, it always felt like a trend, given my intermittent interest in it (others might also call this lazy-ness) it might just have been. Time will tell!

I guess I'd usually look back at what was going on last time I blogged, but I have no idea! All I can start with is 2012 and where I find myself now.

Where I am now, I'm not really sure, theirs a lot gone on, I guess I need to get this out of the way, so the next few paragraphs will be very personal but are important to me to get down in typed words, because I've not yet been able to really put everything into spoken words, it would be nice to have something on virtual paper.

So on behalf of me and all of my family, I'd like to wish a final and very sad Good Night to Annie Joyce Dodsworth, Mother and Grandmother to an amazing and very loving and proud family.

R.I.P Joyce 'Annie' Dodsworth - 16-08-2012

I have a very emotional personality, I have no doubt everyone who know's me is aware of this, therefore for me, it has been a difficult time. But of course, it has been more so for my family and my parents. I feel closer than ever to them, and sometimes life has it's way of resetting your priorities.

Unfortunately my Grandfather, Dennis Dodsworth has become an alzheimer's sufferer, so I feel like I need to get down in, albiet electronic words,  a few personal memories, that I hope I will be able to look back on.

I guess the earliest is my first school years, so many times I went back to my grandparents house for lunch or afterschool, for some reason boiled eggs springs to mind, always soldiers when that occured of course! Curtesy of Grandma! I struggle for earlier real memories. As I got older, I remember Grandad's random home made pinball board, which was ace! As was some equivalently random horse racing game, which you strapped a green piece of cloth to the table, put the metal horses on and a handle you spun caused vibrations and the horses to race the course! Ha ha

Grandma playing her cream coloured keyboard towards christmas time is something that will always stick with me, which I'm glad because that was grandma. Jam tarts, tea! Reading her diaries, I'm glad I'm remembering her as Grandma and also really enjoying how much she loved us all, I loved her just as much.

Memories are important I feel! I, well,  I'm forgetful as hell day to day, but It's sometimes good to really look back and appreciate some of the memories you can dig up!

Thank so much for reading this far if you have, because I appreciate this is definitely one for me to print out in the future, but look I need to break away from that now, so thank you and here we go!...

Hey!, So, look, it's been emotional, but I feel I need to lighten the mood! Nothing quite like a Dave to get that one going again!

So guess what I did? Well,  I chose to get involved in having a 'kick a about' with the lads again! Just playing 5-a-side with a group of us as a friendly match every week, for me, the first time well, since 2009 before I dislocated my shoulder for the second time! At this point, not playing as a keeper!

From my point of view, I just needed to get active again so much, I spent so long doing nothing, after spending years being inactive and unfit! This was going to my active year! I mean, I didn't do too bad, I did the yorkshire 3 peaks in under 12 hours, I want to beat that time and do it again but it's me and I did it! :)

Well, had such a good run with the wednesday lad's, for me, I couldn't not play as a keeper again! So I did slowly start to get into it! But, I also had decided I was going to get a Bike, mostly because I'm not one to go out bloody running! I got the bike and since, well done some good mileage, enjoyed it, and also really started to get into proper forest mounting biking! I've been to sherwood pines and also a route up in the lakes near lake Conniston!

But, here's the Dave! Unfortunately, I got a bit carried away with being a keeper again, just over 2 week ago I unfortunately dislocated my shoulder again, just as I was starting to also join the kick about with the work guys on a monday night!

In reality, I knew I would probably do it again, just kinda gutted it didn't take that long! But, I knew the risks, but this time I'm happy to leave it behind. I've impressed the work guys enough to play a league game, so I played a competitive game again, I reckon my Wednesday weekly lot will miss a keeper (mostly because I don't know when to pass and can't run, hence, best place for me!) and well, right now I can't wait to get back on my bike!

The paramedic in the ambulance told me a couple of things, one, I should volunteer for the scouts locally (I'm actually going to look into this!) and two, that collar bones is the most common injury they get from MTB.

So, this has been emotional, but I guess next time we meet here on my blog, I'll be recovering from a fractured collar bone! Ha ha!

Seriously, thanks to everyone reading this, this is one I want to treasure, but I also hope you guys all enjoyed the read still.

If I was going to do a Jeremy Kyle final word, I'd tell him to shut up and go to bed.

Thank you!

Dave x

A bloggin' good summer!

Well now, good evening!

You join me on this random Tuesday evening, of which I am free of work tomorrow due to attending my sisters graduation! I'm very much looking forward to it, as a very proud and extremely happy brother! Congratulations Claire, the hard work may not be over yet but you've taken a very positive step forward towards your future and you've shown everyone what you're really capable of! :-)

I can hardly believe it's already been 6 months since the last time I bored you to death with my ramblings. It was Christmas apparently! I just corrected the spelling of the sacred period to include a capital 'C' because google chrome became angry and underlined it with red. Got to do what the computer tells you is best now! (It's currently angry because I've not put google with a capital G, I feel the need to rebel.

So, where are we? Christ! Blooming July! Already! So far, all I can say about this year is how blooming quickly it's gone! Well, not really, time is flying, but it's been a year of important steps so far! For one, I'm now blogging from own abode!

It's taken awhile, but while buying is still on the agenda, if you're going to rent, then this is an amazing place to be! Fantastic gardens, drive, garage, I couldn't feel more at home! I do miss seeing my family every day though. Not everyone has a great relationship with their family, but my family are fantastic. They've always let me be independent and I've always tried to do my own bit, so I'm lucky enough to be able to say I simply miss their company over the expectation that my washing and ironing is done! Love you guys!

I do share the house with a mate, Andy, who is now labelled as 'sex pest', which is god dam hilarious! This came after Mr Sheard's stag do which comes later! Well, actually, he was simply labelled this by the other blokes on the weekend! Ha ha! Anyway, So far, I do think it's been a great place to live! However, me being me, I have managed to imprint a rug with the iron! Andy, some how, god only knows, managed to break the door off the washing machine!

Of courses, I can't remove a burn from an iron burnt rug, however I can get on ebay and buy parts to fix a washing machine! ha ha! Job done!

I'll let you take a breather if you want, I know I tend to drag on! I'll give you three full stops, are you ready? Make the most of them, I don't offer this much, really, ok, on the count of three...too late! You've missed them!

Sorry, that amused the hell out of me!

I don't think I have much else to say about this year. What's happened? Well not much.

Well, actually, I have had the most epic of weeks during the first week of June! It all started with a rather spontaneous weekend mini cruise to Rotterdam during the final weekend of may. What a great weekend! It literally is a cruise on a boat over night, day there and then cruise back. With a mini casino, great bar, live music and erm, well simply choppy sea's on the way back. I discovered my sea legs need pharmaceutical aid!

So, anything else?.....Oh.... wait, yea only Ian Sheard's ruddy stag do! Liverpool, from what little I remember of it, is a brilliant night out! I've already ear marked it for a tourist visit. But what a great weekend, it was fantastic to share such a great two nights and days with what was a brilliant mix of guys, big shout out to you all! Albiet, my luck meant the poor sod's who drove down in my car experienced a puncture! Then I ripped a pair of shorts on the hard shoulder! Oh yea! Rock AND Rip!

Still, we can't forget Mr Nick Feather for literally being the god father of the whole event! You we're a true legend dealing with us lot that weekend and you deserve a lot of credit! Many thanks!

So far, what a great year! Theirs still alot to come from my life and I'm sure all of yours, but so far, so good! Here's to the 6nd half of this year! :-D

2010! My Review!

So, really! Where did 2010 go?


I mean, only 12 months ago, I was probably still hungover from Christmas Eve! This year was much more civilized! Great night and thank you so much to those who came along! Thank you! How quickly has time passed! 2010 has been another year of high expectations, but for me, I guess I didn't really know what to expect!

I love how we're creating traditions! I mean who'd have thought that hey?! And what a fantastic night to choose! Christmas Eve! I really hope in one way or another we keep that going! I know we're all so busy and living our own lives, but wow, what afew years run we've had! Some epic eve's!

I will never stop loving Christmas, I'm finding it's more difficult to hold onto the charms of it realising I'm getting older, having to more often than not work most of it and struggling to take the time out to savour it, but I do my best! If you can't be merry (And I know you know me, I don't mean drunk! I mean happy!) this time of year, then what excuse do you have?! haha

With new years just, well less than day away almost, what better time to see out the year in blog!

Can I just take a second to acknowledge for some reason itunes is playing me Kylie Minogue! What the hell. I need to fix this. Ok, fixed. Apple have some wonderful '12 days of xmas' app thing, a Kylie EP was one of the first 'gifts'. Didn't realise it would force it down my throat while I was quite enjoying a Reef album I've just been kindly gifted by my sis's BF Ben! Cheers Ben btw!

Anyway, randomness aborted. How about a recap! Alot of this is ground already covered really, I think not too far after christmas this year I got told I was eligible for shoulder surgery. As you know, that happened (Was only a little abit....ok, abit more....ok ok .... ALOT...scared before hand!) and went well! Still someway to go recovery, but it's good and it's not far off normal again!

Well, my kind of normal. I appreciate I do live a whole different kind of normal to you loyal fans at times! haha! 

Unfortunately, due to such surgery's there was no epic holiday to speak of this year, but I did have an amazing weekend in June seeing Green Day at wembley! Fantastic weekend all round, starting with England before they ruined our year, and finishing with an early train and a late coach! Great weekend!

No festivals this year though! I am gutted. I love a good festival.

I do remember a dark period during time off in July in which I became addicted to Table Tennis on the Wii. Seriously, it is addictive! It's ridiculous! I played the other day actually, I've reached a points total that keeps placing me against a 'champion' and has a whole like, erm new 'CHAMPION' style introduction music to the match, you know much more trumpet that anyone ever needs to hear. Not that I've anything against brass bands. Or Orchestras. Or classical musicians. Ah damn. Well look, you need to hear it, it's like a, erm, well, an, no, not an, definitely a, a, hmmm, is it a, a, well, a fanfare? That looks right to me.

Look, just come to my house, play damn table tennis with me, we'll reach the champion and you can make sense of this huge mess I just got myself into!

I think I went AWOL during the period between July and like, well, October! What on earth did I do during that time?! I missed Leeds fest, I didn't go camping, was I abducted?!

Oh! I forgot June! Christ, Toucan Riot's first gig! Wow, what an Epic night that was! Also my wonderful Sis's Birthday (R' Claire...I might start calling you that, Sorry... :)), and also my parents bdays! Who will soon become legends amongst Toucan Riot regulars, here's to Mum (Margaret Aka Marge to one or two of you :)) and Dad (Maurice!..Aka...where I get my drinking from! :))!

That was my year really up until October! Mucho's recovering from el'surgery'o and getting back to work and also driving again! I had to catch the fricking bus, and kids kept throwing bricks at it!

Anyway, so came October! At which point, I got introduced to the complexities of navigating my way to Sheffield with nothing but a communication crippled phone and an Andy! haha (Nick, should have listened to you!) What a great old school rock night! It really did take me back, I guess the old days at home with a busy Rios are long gone, but theirs hope, or at least we have an option for a weekend away! Which a week or so later led to Penny's epic house party, again in Sheffield. Who'd have thought Mr Sheard would be out dancing Dancing Andy! Epic. Really!

So the busy run upto Christmas began! Our time to shine! That is, us as Toucan Riot! Having only played one gig all the way back in June, we returned to a Bonfire night weekend to play our second ever gig! Boy, what a great night! Having taken so much time and me personally being responsible for us having such a long break due to my op, it was amazing to play again! The support was again, from family, friends, friends of friends, fantastic!

Next up, Keighley! Quite soon after too! End of the month! To me, this was the big one, playing somewhere I've/we've never played before, miles away from home, on a Friday night after work! Well, wow! Just wow!  You guys that have supported us so far, EPIC. For you guys that made that trek, thank you! Thank you so much!

Also, what an effort for the folks I shared a hotel with that night! We got snowed on, (I LOVE snow!) we got takeaway pizza delivered to the hotel (Andy fell alseep!) we left takeaway pizza in the room.......good, proper, rock 'n' roll times! I loved it!

All in all, a fantastic lead up to the Christmas Eve and Christmas Period I've had this year!

I think, If I have to summarise, this year to me has been about building for the future and stability! With a little bit of craziness thrown in for good measure! In building for the future, I refer to recovery from my ruined shoulder and also saving to ensure I have control of it! In stability I'm finding friendships new and old and a stable job!

Sure, theirs aspects of my life I'm looking to improve, and gaps in the jigsaw that is my life I'm looking to fill, but, theirs no reason not to be optimistic about the coming year! No regrets!

I'm slowly but surely learning that every minute of your life and every second you have with the people that are precious to you in your life are invaluable. No regrets, no hard feelings.

I hope I take confidence from this year, and I hope I go anywhere near half way towards the aims and targets I set myself for this coming year! I hope you all join me for the ride!

I sincerely hope you all have had a fantastic Christmas and have and make the most of what should be a fantastic new year!

Thanks for reading! I'll see you in 2011!

Dave!

It's almost november and some guy in a mask knocked on my door...

Happy Halloween everyone!

I needed to get that out of the way I guess! I hope you've all had a cracking weekend of ghoul's and ghosts and what not! There was no dressing up for me this year, which btw, doesn't mean I went out trick or treating naked. Jesus, would you really want to put people through that? haha!

Still a good weekend all round! I randomly went to the dog races, which is something I've never done before! It was a randomly cool night, however with the overly complicated complication of trying to figure out the odds and what dog to place my hard earned on! Seriously, I'm sure horses ain't that complicated! Although, boy oh boy, them bloody things we're fast! I can see why they're called Grey hounds! I don't think even colour could keep up! 

So what's going on, what's changed? Not an awfull lot unfortunately. However I am nearing the completion of my 3rd and final stint of shoulder injury recovery! It's not going to be far off being normal again soon! I wish I could explain to you the frustration of spending the best part of nearly 3 years of your life in a constant state of recovery! And recently it's been bloody killing! The ups and downs are unbelievable!

Don't get me wrong, I think, or I'd like to think that I've done my best to make most of the time during this, but bloody hell. I've joked so much about it but being able to scratch the back of your head with either hand without feeling a slight twinge of pain or feeling uncomfortable (that excludes you girls with long nails who scratch yourselves accidentally!) is bloody underrated! But hey, I hope most of you are lucky and fortunate enough to not have to endure this!

It's another year almost gone though! Where does the time go?! I never expected 2010 to be epic but it has slightly disappointed. I don't think I really honestly made the most of it this year, this is though in fairness, partly because I wasn't expecting to have my operation so soon nor did I expect it would take this long to recover! I am gutted I missed my friends Engagement because of it! 

It has been another learning curve though! The one constant this year has been my  job for a change! Which has been great. I continue to try work hard and I'm seeing the opportunities to learn are coming thick and fast, which is what we need to really progress and push forward with our careers I guess! In that respect, I cannot complain for a second! 

This is also true in life outside of work I guess!

I say and hear the saying 'you learn something new every day' but I very rarely stop to think, what would life be if we didn't learn something new every day? Or at least every other if you sleep for most of the day after a hangover? haha 

To me that's life, a continual progression, a learning process, with each day that passes you should take something, however little, from it that helps you to enjoy the next and every other day that your blessed with. 

I think perhaps recently I haven't quite been living to my own mantra. Getting too comfortable, I think in life you need to make things happen for yourself. Be willing to learn, but also be willing to take risks.

I know risk is gambling effectively, but hell, where would we be if we didn't try? To not try is to give up before you even started! All I need to do is perhaps be abit more daring and believe in myself a little bit more?

It's always easier said than done, I'm pretty sure alot of you will feel the same but I'll do my best to lead by example! 

I am looking forward to a great Christmas Period, hopefully a decent time to catch up with friends and family, take stock, have a good time and look forward to a positive 2011!

Another year,another chance to finally get a grip on this thing we call life and everything it has to offer!

All the best and as ever, I hope you enjoyed the read! 

Well well! Time for a blog....

So then, how are you?

Don't feel obliged to answer, unfortunately I don't have the priviledge of hearing you reply right now!

However, if it was me, I'd respond with what have become a low number of automatic response's, each one of which have a varying level of wanting to say how I feel, to returning a standard diplomatic response that fits all conversations! It's amazing, I mean this is mostly in a work situation, you know, talking on the phone to a colleague who you're not actually sure you've met in person, replying nicely to a question of 'How's it going?' (How Generic is that now?!) to.. 'Yea not bad! Not Bad!' to a 'Err, yea, I'm ok, been a long day!' That goes out to those on the other end of the phone that I genuinely feel like I've started to get to know and have a good banter with!

You can always judge how chatty/friendly the other person feels with you as well as to how they've responded! Think about it next time this situation arises, you'll be surprised I'm sure!

So anyway, that got abit random! Would you expect anything else?

I do hope this finds you all well! This is my second big blog in my new blog home! More of you need to figure this out and click follow by the way!

I guess you're all wondering whats going on then? Well right now, I'm enjoying the wonder of spotify and the amazing classic band Starship! Given how much I love journey, you only need to hear one starship song to understand why I'm enjoying this so much!

Right now, I'm in an incredibly amazing situation. I'm now full of nerves with it only being a week to this day until I have the big shoulder operation! To say I thought I had so much riding on this would be a massive understatement! I know you all know the story now, weak shoulder = things where they shouldn't be.

I'm no mathematical genius, but any equasion that only has one operational symbol in it is usually fairly easy to understand!

So I guess it's not going to offer the quick fix I'd hoped. Unfortunately since first causing the injury, physio's and doctors alike have established I'm slack jointed. So It was kinda written that doing what I was doing in Net was going to lead to this! The op is pretty mega for me, they're repairing some damage to the 'labrum' (look it up! along with dislocated shoulder!) and also tightening the ligaments and tissue that have been stretched. I've also chipped the bone on the tip of my shoulder and the ball on the end of my arm! My surgeon sounds pretty confident however he's admitted it will only be as strong as it was before the initial dislocation!

What does this mean? Well, I'd be taking the same risk I wasn't aware I was taking being awsome in net at 5-a-side unfortunately! So, I've taken the decision to leave that behind now. I may still play outfield, but doing something you know your not good at for the sake of it, well, it never offers the same appeal! I hope to get fit afterwards and train towards playing in net at 11-a-side. This is the one area I've never achieved what I thought my potential offered, and also the one area I would be willing to take the risk to try raise my game to! It's going to take some work to rediscover any form I may have had but hell, it if get's me fit it's worth it! And should I pull a Shay Given while trying to satisfy my natural instinct of something to prove, well then I Know I've tried and my shoulder can relax knowing it may be slack, but it's put in a good shift!

I HAVE MASSIVE NEWS! I thought I'd leave this to the end, but TOUCAN RIOT, yep a band that I AM IN actually finally played a gig last week!!!!! First of all, THANK SO MUCH to any one reading this that came along! It meant to the world to me, the buzz was amazing! I achieved something I never set out to achieve! We've put in so much time and effort into practicing and keeping our heads down, we've all got our own lives outside of this band so it's meant alot of will power. But I can say, hand on heart, it was the most amazing experience! The nerves before hand we're something I'd never even imagined, i thought'd I'd be relaxed but my god was I wrong! I was hitting highs and lows I've never thought possible for those 3 hours between setting up and sound checking to actually playing! Amazing!

Fortunately for us, we pulled a crowd thanks to all you amazing people! We've had such good feedback and offers of regular spots, so for those who missed out, keep your ears to the group for september! We're planning ahead, unfortunately I'm out for this month due to my op, but I will return in august, at which point we will expand our set and arrange dates for Sept!

Honestly, thank you thank you thank you thank you so so so so much! It was amazing!

So I'm drying up, well, I am but my shout out's are definately not!

How can I fail to mention this? I would like to send a massive congratulations out to Jane and Chris who became engaged this year! Two of the nicest people you will ever meet! I wish you both a life time of happiness and Janey, might want to stay away from those cocktails on your wedding day ;) Chris will remember all about that night! haha! Love you guys!

Ofcourse, I'm not going to forget Ian and Jade! Jade bless you, I hope you read this because oh my god, I've never and will probably never hear a guy talking about his intensions so much and with so much intent as he has! He's a dissapointment to man-kind! haha! You both are immense, all I can say Jade is we'll try keep him honest on the stag do! All the best and be it sling or not I'll be there a pint on the engagement! :) Claret and Amber! (Ian would have shot me had I not Pushed that button! ;))!

Epic epic epic epic epic year!

My new 'Final Thoughts' section is something hope to carry on, so I'll finish with this.....

This has so far been another amazing year, my life seems to keep telling my something, of which what I'd try put in summary is......Make the most of the opportunities you're given, don't be afraid to work bloody hard and step out of your comfort zone for something you think's worth keeping, and finally....For god sake make try make the most of every minute you're given! I don't always do this and I should!

You all fucking rock! Thanks a million for every minute of you're time i've ever spent!

Wow..a new blog..with a new home!

Well, evening all!

What can I say? A new blog, with a new home and a fresh face! I figured it was about time I made this abit more, well, cleaner? More accessible? I don't know really! I just always read technology blogs on blogspot and ended up here on google's answer (or maybe buy out?) to it!

I had to mention technology early, just so you remember it is me, Dave Jones, of whom's blog your reading! So!

Last.FM is playing me Damien Rice at the moment and it's a brilliant song! I'm loving Last.fm at the moment, I'm not being paid to advertise them by the way! My love of it has mostly been born from an idea a couple of friends had, that a group of us should go old school and send each other mix cd's! The idea was to create a track list of songs we've all listened to and loved recently, or by our standards the last year!

However, I'm soo behind with the music times, I find it so hard to keep up now, rarely listen to music channels, never download music (illegally!), I've just found myself lagging behind. So, I hit last, and well, I hope this isn't cheating too much, but my track listing that I'll be sending out soon is now hugely comprised of alot of music I found on there! I've found loads of new artists I love and I'm now listening to on a daily basis on my short commute to work!

I don't know what everyones opinion or feel of music is, but for me, it's always been a huge part of my life, I've really enjoyed this opportunity to think about my musical taste again and not only share old songs I love, but have now discovered new songs and artists that I'm already going to share that I've only just discovered myself and already love! Never give up on such simple gestures as mix cd's or the hand written word, I haven't sent my cd yet, but already the ones i've received feel so personal and have reminded about how inpersonal the internet really can be sometimes!

So anyway, you must be wondering what madness is going on with me these days? Well, over 6 months in now at the place of work I call Zenith! I couldn't feel more at home to be honest! Since September last year time has flown by! It's crazy!

Almost as crazy as my luck I guess! Since my last bulletin, I'm thinking perhaps my luck has improved some what. I'm sure you're all aware of my crazy shoulder situation, well this year, only last month in fact, I finally had my consultation regards potential surgery and so it is to be! I'm going to have a CT scan on my shoulder to establish the extent of the surgery required and finally, I shall be operated on!

Have to be honest, I'm terrified! I'm under no illusions that it will be a case of a quick anesthetic and suddenly everythings fine. It's not going to be the case! These things take time, and for a person like me who is hugely impatient, it's been a trying time! I've learnt alot about myself though over this 2 year period since I first did my injury. Mostly, give me solid hope, and I'll put soo much effort in. But as soon as the hope becomes a distant maybe, I immediately assume the glass is half empty and tend to think 'Whats the point?' BUT...and I use bad grammer and capitals for a reason, the single most important lesson I've learnt is, NEVER EVER take any ONE nor any THING for granted!

I was hoping this blog would catch afew more laughs than I expect it will, but at the moment I guess I'm feeling more grown up! Don't get me wrong, for those that know me, I'll always have story's to tell, I'm generally cursed and this hasn't changed! However I guess maybe right now, as much as I've joked recently about being an old man, maybe I am actually getting on abit? ;)

I hope you enjoy the read and I look forward to my next eventfull report!