Update

Just a quick update this one. Due to technical difficulties it is not possible to record and post a video of my task this week (world map including all capitals) which is just as well because it is well hard. But nevertheless it is well on its way and it will be up in a few days ready for my next blog. I see no shame in allowing two weeks for the completion of this task.

It has been another busy week. I had my interview and have been knuckling down on the novel. As well as that, there's been the half marathon training to keep me busy (and my legs sore).

News on a classic celebrity spot though! I'm pretty sure I saw Angelica Bell the other day. On telling most people this, I'm met with blank stares but trust me she is a celebrity and that's that. Look her up if you don't believe me.

Stand by for the main blog end of this week, complete with more world map shenanigans amongst other things.
W

Rubix Cubes and snow

I thought this week, due to the weather I'd get creative and so I spent a little time on making something a bit different from the snow. This is what I produced.

I am of course joking. This is simply an image I found on the internet. My artistic skills are quite simply appalling. For those of you that thought otherwise, even for a split second, you obviously haven't seen my drawing of a horse.

In reality, I've been working most of this week and it's been predictably busy but good to get back on the wards either way. As such you'll remember that I set myself a task that took into account the limited amount of time I would have. I hit the world of rubix cubes. Some of the people that solve rubix cubes are simply astounding and I was aware I would never get to their standard but my aim was purely to be able to solve a rubix cube. I am pleased to say I have succeeded and here is the proof.

Hope you enjoyed that. So, next week I have a few things lined up, one being more non year out related activity, in the form of an interview for next year. However, there is also poker, getting stuck into my novel, a step up in my half marathon training and the next installment of my foray into adult gymnastics. I'll let you know how it goes!

The task in amongst all of this will be completing my world map drawing from early on with added capital cities.

W

Snowboarding!

Firstly, happy new year to you all! I previously documented my escapades in adult gymnastics and rest assured I shall be pursuing that further this coming month in preparation for my backflip. I will also be stepping up my training for the half marathon next month. It has been alright thus far but took a bit of a hit over Christmas as can be expected.

Already I am nearing the half way mark for my year out, which is mental, so expect a bit of a summary in the next few weeks and further exciting plans for the new year. However, I need to write about the manner in which I brought in the new year, namely my holiday to France, specifically Les deux Alps. This is where I was introduced to the awesomeness that is snowboarding.

I could get carried away and ramble on for page after page about every little detail but I will make an effort to condense things. First things first, it looked like this...

Now I'd never been skiing or snowboarding before so I had no idea what to expect. Needless to say, there are very few places that I have been that could rival the location. Tick. So, I thought I would try my hand at snowboarding following various recommendations from a number of individuals. Turns out me and snowboarding got on quite well (unlike some people - you know who you are). I am now completely hooked. Another tick.

I should probably mention here that, although I managed to avoid wiping out anyone on the slopes, it wasn't entirely uneventful. Picture the scene... I'm a day or two into it, feeling a bit more confident, on a relatively steep part of a beginner slope. It's narrow and there's an instructor teaching around a dozen small children how to ski just below me as I'm making my way down the slope. Naturally, one slows and, in this case there being literally no where to go, I came to a stop.
  All fine so far, feeling relaxed and with a bit of time to kill. Now I'm not proud of this, but I am a firm believer that one should not break wind in an enclosed public space if they can help it, so what better place to do it than on a mountain surrounded by fresh air? With this in mind, I deployed my fart, satisfied that no one would be bothered by it. How was I to know that at that exact moment, another small girl was careering out of control directly towards me on her skis? As she ploughed into the back of me, she caught the full force in her face. To add insult to injury, I flew into the air and landed right on top of her. This became known as a 'Will Special'. I did not make this phrase up and I do not condone it.

I should make it clear, she was okay, albeit probably a little mentally scarred but these things happen. Anyway, crude anecdotes aside, this was one of the best holidays I have ever been on. I can think of countless reasons why... the location, scenery and existence of snowboarding among them but most of all it was the company that I went with and also the people that we were lucky enough to meet when we were there. Big shout out to all of the Chalet Ruby inhabitants! 

As well as that, everyone was happy. Be it drinking beer and watching strippers halfway up a mountain at 3 o'clock in the afternoon while listening to loud, avalanche inducing house music, or in the bars and streets of the village. Simply a cracking way of life.

But all good things must come to an end (for now) and I have been revising for an exam all this week. Then I'm back on the wards next week. So must go. But mark my words, this does not mean I stop, for I will be recommencing my weekly tasks, effective immediately. This coming week while I am grinding out some proper work, it shall be mastering the rubix cube.

I leave you with the result from the combination of a delayed flight at Bristol airport and a display model of an ipad foolishly left at the mercy of the public.