Alcoholics Anonymous!

Rumour has it that the blogging world has missed my many pearls of wisdom extensively. Bearing this made-up, ego-boosting statement in mind, I have found within me a new urge to digress my thoughts to the public and conceal them in the immortal time capsule that is written word. Rather than formulate blogs of constant drivel, I decided to choose a topic. Hmm… Alcohol!!! The cause of and solution to all lifes problems has not been such an ominous presence in my life of recent weeks. My new found enjoyment of teetotalism, or in actual fact moderate drinking, stems from feeling healthy, the possibility of my chin numbers declining and revelling in a bank balance that does not sink too fast. I can conclude that I am in no way addicted to it. Of course I take zestful pleasure in a refreshing beverage after a hard day but no more so than anyone else enjoys their treats and luxuries. The thing I would struggle to leave behind is the jokes that accompany it. In hindsight I believe I created a character for myself that relied on alcohol as a joke. Not that I was acting, I may merely have exaggerated certain aspects of human kind in my demeanour. Examples being laziness, in not bothering to walk to the bar, or being tight with money such as squabbling over whose round it was. These do cause me to chuckle. Maybe I became too consumed by these ways that my friends couldn’t actually see any other side to me. They may find it shocking to see the cultured being I am that delves in books such as To Kill a Mockingbird and ballets. Ha now my plans of not spouting nonsense have evaporated quicker than my dreams of playing the guitar like Jimi Hendrix. As a young one I believed I had discovered the deal of the century. A salesman offered me a brand new guitar for £5 but in retrospect, when he said ‘no strings attached’, I should have taken his word literally. Oh dear that joke sounded better in my head. In fact it’s hard to make a good quip without succumbing to levels of crudeness and vulgarity. I shan’t be sinking to such depths because, dare I say it, I am whipped like ice cream. Talking of ice cream, the man who used to sell us our 99s and lollipops in scorching sunny days of summer past, perished recently. The police found him covered in nuts, chocolate sprinkles and strawberry sauce. Apparently he topped himself!!! Ha, heard that one before? Well to further your horror (Or rather laughter if I’m lucky), I witnessed the incident first hand. Guess what I did? ICE CREAMED! Get it? No? Ok, time for bed!

ELVIS What Now My Love (Best Picture & Sound Quality)

Elvis Presley - An American Trilogy {live}

Hero 2: The King

To those that know me, they will probably have realised I’m a big Elvis fan. Not one of those jumpsuit-wearing imitators, as I believe that does the biggest selling artist of all time an injustice, but rather a fan of the man himself. It was his name and stardom that brought me to research who he was. It’s not that I want the fame (and fortune) that these icons had but I am intrigued as to why they had it and what they did with it. You could add to this list of curiosity, people such as Sinatra, Martin Luther King, JFK, Malcolm X and so on. Reading about these people captivates my mind. And then it dawned on me. All these people and many more, happen to be dead. They say it is a great career move, with the most recent case being Jacko. I tend to agree with this statement although one also has to think what could have happened if individuals such as Dr King had not had their lives cut so depressingly short. Death seems to add an extra element of mystique and wonder to these icons, for now we can only hear them through tapes, sound and memory. They seem so distant to our normal lives. There may well be so much we never know… So maybe the above is why I started to read on one of, if not the, biggest entertainment star ever to live. Thus listening to his music followed. Casting aside certain cheesy songs and cringe worthy films (Which were probably not made on his accord), I honestly believe there has not been a better singer. He may not have written his songs like the Beatles or had the lyricism of Dylan but for pure out and out talent, not many come close. He could do the rock and pop with ease but it’s the gospel and soul music I adhere to most. I hope these videos prove it and if people still question the talent then there must be some underlying issues. Yet ridiculous talent does not make someone a hero or someone to admire. A few footballers spring to mind although not Becks. He is a total champ of a person and more a chump of a talent. There are two things I really admire about Presley. Firstly, this man from humble backgrounds had a painful existence near the end of his life. The separation from his wife and child were things he never recovered from and the people around him did not help. If a lesson is learnt, it is that all the riches in the world can’t buy you happiness. It sure is lonely at the top. You may say everyone has tough ordeals to go through and there are many worse things to battle with. I agree. But in hearing the emotions in his voice, it is hard not to sympathise and relate to. Secondly, the other tribulation he had, similar to many of us, was his spiritual quest. He was a Christian but struggled with it and I learnt that the road for spiritual knowledge is never complete. The man had pillars in his garden to all other major religions such as Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism etc. This is something I heavily relate to. He was willing to keep reading and learning, which encourages me, when I’m slipping to do likewise. I believe an educated person studies these important parts of life and in reality never ceases to do so. So when I hear his gospel music, I hear the doubts but I also hear the willingness to believe. I like that. After reading over this, maybe I like the man because, although these kind of people seem from another world, they are in fact just like every one of us.

P.S. I had stopped this hero list because I did not want people to think I idolise others. I don’t. (I also stopped it, as it’s hard to get any decent gags in!!) I just wanted to say why I’m interested in these people and how they have influenced me. After all to try and be like someone else is to waste your unique self.
My next hero on the list is big though so stay tuned!!

The Festive Season

Saw a few people the other week for the first time in three years and the first thing they noted was ‘bloody hell, you’ve put weight on’ and ‘what you been eating?’ Not quite the entrance I was hoping for. That brought the curtain down on a Christmas that flashed by in an instant but there were events a plenty to remember. What was at first a winter wonderland, the village turned into an apocalyptic vision with buses cancelled, broken down cars all around, people falling over and so on. Yet the one thing you can count on is the pub being open. Christmas was lovely even if Santa didn’t turn up. Think he got the sack. I got a few books and cd’s, which I was delighted with but my most anticipated gift must have got lost somewhere in Lapland. I really wanted that shoe polish! Luckily my brother did not get much. I want to teach him some humility rather than becoming money-orientated. Having cash in the bank may well have ruined my authentic university experience. Whilst students debate whether to go cold or stick another £20 on the gas meter, I consider whether to risk another £20 in a hand of poker. Whilst they gulp down Tesco value cider, I’m in the club sampling vodka martinis. As they contemplate broken down washing machines, I’m reading the financial times at the laundrette. Anyway there was one slight disappointment this festive season. The much yearned for village nativity play had to be cancelled. They couldn’t find three wise men or a virgin in the village! Ha, this blog has dissolved into one cringe-worthy joke after another. In all seriousness, it was great to see family especially my grandparents. I owe them so much and, a bit like my later life due to university fees, will always be indebted to them. Their battles with technology always humour me. Well my Grandma is ok; she can text! But my grandfather - one day he was getting aggravated when trying to change channel. Trying to get BBC1 on, the TV had other ideas remaining on Deal or No Deal. After his third attempt pressing the button to change station, I explained belatedly that he was pressing buttons on the phone. Good job he wasn’t after channel 9. When old, I sure want to be like these two. Happily married, putting their feet up with plenty family and friends. And to think, they met all those years ago at Queens. It makes me think, despite all my previous adventures, my life has barely begun…

First of Many!

I think this is one of the major things that separates us completely from animals. Some of the stories, songs, ideas people create are bewilderingly brilliant. Mozart, Shakespeare, Dickens et all had mesmerising minds. Without knowing where this renewed inspiration has arisen from, my futile dream of emulating these legends has been reborn. Since my return from the shackles and restraints of university reading, my mind is free and I’ve been writing all sorts of things from blogs, story plans and poems to raps and jokes. This is a return to the old me I believe. I used to write all the time but as I leave my youth behind, I’ve maybe left this attribute behind also. I’ve been too lazy for it, too busy and so on but not now. A trip down memory lane takes me back to the first year of college, where I demanded and commandeered my ex girlfriends video camera to make a film of life. Haha grow up kid you could say but it was fun, even if Spielberg could still sleep safe. I captured general banter and had people doing sketches, pranks, and interviews with random people including Boris Johnson who happened to be in town. Crazy. It’s a shame it never made the big screen!! At the minute, I’m looking at this dormant floppy disk that contains a story, which I’m fond of. But due to my family’s technological hindrances, I cannot get a hold of this enchanted tale or finish it. If you know anyone who’s got a computer that uses floppy disks still, please enlighten me. The story isn’t extravagant or flash. I’m into this style as I find it more realistic and subtle. Check out films such as Gran Torino and Million Dollar Baby to see what I mean. My story features a young adult coming to grips with the loss of his father, girlfriend and the dull realities of his life. It looks at the changing relationships of family and friends and in doing so captures social problems/issues such as depression, fatherless homes, wavering faith and love amongst other things. It may not be the highest standard. My lack of patience made me rush it, as I wanted my thoughts to immediately transfer onto page. However it’s my blueprint that hopefully I can build on. You’ll see Eastwood directing it in the near future. So the moral of this blog, keep your passions whatever they are and keep your dreams alive. I’ll be uploading numerous blogs soon… stay tuned!

Can you meet me halfway?

Well, well, well. The end of another term is nigh and there is much to reflect upon. Living at uni sure is the full experience! I wanted to report on all my favourite memories however I have failed to pack as of yet and I don’t want to run after the plane like Pierce and Halle. A further hindrance in my attempts to escape to the village is that I have agreed to a pub visit at 4. This probably sums up this term. Rarely does a day go by without a jaunt to the Bot or union. We are part of the furniture there, the bouncers and bar staff know us, my lifetime aim is complete. I think you know you’re an alcoholic when you always read the word larger as lager. Ha, I’m only kidding. I know I could settle down. Yet beers with the boys have been a great highlight. I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed the challenges living here has produced. If there are ups there are downs. Life is a rollercoaster aint it Ronan. November was when I had this down but with help of others, I think I came through it and am now looking forward feverishly to next term. Other highlights include being cooked for by many people. I love being waited on. My Swiss chef certainly rules the roost and reigns supreme in the cooking department. Sorry Hedwig. All in all, it has been great and come the end of third year, I most definitely will cry.
My friend has the tattoo ‘carpe diem’ emblazoned on his stomach. Although I won’t applaud the absurdity of it (Tattoos are only cool on black dudes), the saying rings true. Time hurtles by faster than I head to the kebab van after a night out. So in hope to make the most of the moment, I catalogued some New Year resolutions. In all honesty these promises one makes at the turn of the year are like the Anthropology society. Keen and enthusiastic at the start but it will inevitably peter out. However 2011 is different and I shall stick to my oaths like chewing gum to a table. Numero uno is to improve my memory. I seem to forget names all the time and places where I’m meant to be. Secondly to be less of a bottle job. If you want something, grow a pair and get it. Secondly, I am finally going to see more of this world and nothing will prevent me travelling to foreign lands. Those Europeans won’t know what’s hit them when the R Kelly lands. And my final resolution is… I forget. Hey ho. Well I must dash. Peace and love. R Kelly has left the building.

p.s. dont know what the title is about and do I really look like this dude? (although slightly more handsome and suave!!