Car Mechanics

I totally just won £176 from a £5 bet on a football accumulator. Just had to get that off my chest straight away! It was most useful in the purchase of a new travel guitar ready for my month in north America in just over a month. And added to that, it came in handy when buying the unicycle that will form one of my weekly tasks. I managed to get a good deal on Gumtree from a guy in West Hamstead.

Always a little sketchy though when buying stuff from people you don't know. Especially when you walk into their flat and they lock the front door behind you. At this stage, alarm bells generally threaten to make themselves heard. These bells get louder when their two massive bulldogs round the corner and begin clawing at your legs. At this point, tales of the recent murder just round the corner are useful so I was pleased that this fella filled me in on all the details.

Luckily I live to tell the tale. He was actually a really nice guy and if he hadn't been, he was only little. So anyway, I ended up traipsing around North London with a small guitar and unicycle on my person. It drew quite a few stares and one group of school boys dared me to ride the unicycle down a large flight of stairs. I told them where to go.

My task this week was to learn some basic car maintenance and repair. One of the more useful and worthwhile on the list and it is an area that automatically makes me a real man. Already being well manly, this merely served to refresh a few skills. It actually uncovered an actual problem on my car that I was able to fix so everyone wins. Here's proof...

So there you have it. You may notice the car oil on my face. This is from the trials of my work and is categorically not fabricated in any way for effect.

So next week. My leg has improved from my marathon but it still needs some time so the unicycle will have wait. In the meantime, I will divert my attention towards memorising the periodic table. Until next time.
W

Marathons and Origami

Another packed week this week and great success all round! As mentioned, the weekly task was to learn some origami. I think the exact word I used was 'exquisite'. You can judge for yourself as to whether my work can be regarded as exquisite but, as I have highlighted before, my baseline artistic skill is hovering around primary school level at best. Once again I draw your attention to my drawing of a horse, which I might post on the blog one of these days, and so the following should be viewed with this in mind.

Obviously they are self explanatory so I don't need to label them, such is their quality.

As I mentioned, it has been packed and I have been working last minute on the wards but that wasn't enough to keep me away from the local karaoke evening which I thought was worth a mention. However, the highlight and indeed a major personal achievement that I am genuinely proud of (not to imply that my paper creations are anything other than life changing) was the half marathon.

The event had been jeopardised by the snow and on a personal note by the failings of my right knee but thankfully it behaved itself until around a mile and a half to go. By then there was no way I was stopping so I let the adrenaline carry me over in 1 hour and 57, which is better than what I was aiming for. Literally everyone I know that also ran (2 people) were significantly faster than this but it was satisfying either way. Aside from the race itself, one of the most challenging aspects was fitting the race number on the front of my shirt with safety pins. Seriously, it is well hard. I mean it took me ages.

So here are a couple of pictures just to prove that I did indeed run and am not fabricating any of this.

Anyway, as I contemplate what it means to have legs that have simply not worked since the race, I look forward to next week, which will bring an exploration of basic car mechanics. I'm hoping will increase my manliness tenfold.

W

World map: Part two

So it's been two weeks in the making but I did it. Pretty difficult this one but I'm pleased to say all countries in the world are in this drawing with their capitals in brackets. Took me a while but I think it was worth the wait.

 It' s been pretty hectic with all interview related things for next year but as of today that has been completed. Splendid.

Gun Hill Riffs have also been in the studio this past week and although there is no finished product we are well on the way to three or four newly recorded tracks so that is something to look out for in the next few weeks. Rest assured I'll post them when they are ready for public ears!

Other than that I've simply been knuckling down at Westfield shopping centre in a secluded corner of the vue cinema floor, writing some more of my novel and watching people being interviewed for cinema jobs. Some aspects of this have been hilarious, not least the candidate who was left with the interviewer's notes and was quite nonchalantly sneaking detailed peaks at the forthcoming questions.

For the next week, I will be doing a spot of locum work and then there is the small matter of a half marathon which has my name on it. If I survive this, I will be back with another blog and some samples from this week's task - namely exquisite origami.

W