Onward!

Ah, December. For me it means three distinct things.

First, Becky's birthday.

Second, the juggling act that is figuring out where I'm supposed to be going for Christmas and when I can actually go. When you work in hospitality, you work all the hours people don't. The Christian part of me doesn't really care for Christmas anyway, Easter is more where it's at. I don't recall Jesus commissioning any national holidays anyway. Would have been nice though.

Finally, the financial juggling that has to occur this time of year. Sure, I can spend some cash but I know that January has 'pay your energy bills' written all over it. Woop.

Anyways, the reason I'm scrawling is that I realised that during the chaos that is December we are on the verge of a new decade, and that is exiting. This last decade will probably be remembered for a lot of negative things; Violence, War, Financial market crashes. But for me, this closing decade paints a different tale.

For me, the first ten years of the 21st Century was a time of great change for the better. I got a degree in a subject I really enjoyed, I met and married my wife, found a great church, changed jobs a few times. I spent 2 years playing Final Fantasy XI, a game I have fond memories of. I joined the next generation of consoles, went through a few cars. My sisters brought some awesome kids into the family. Even had some dentistry done.

When I think about it, quite a lot of good stuff went on in the Noughties, and it leaves me hopeful for the next ten years, whatever we decide to call them. Who knows what I'll get up to now I'm in my thirties? I expect it will involve tea.

Well, Final Fantasy XIV comes out next year, so that's my MMO sorted out at least. But in ten years time will I be in the same job? The same house? Who knows, and that's the best part about this December. In the midst of all the chaos of trying to figure out which house I'm at on Boxing day, and trying to remember if I bought so and so their present I can look toward the future and dream.

This next decade should be excellent. Bring it on.

Matt's Blog- The Reboot edition

Hello! Regular visitors may have noticed one or two changes to my ol' blog. A change is as good as a rest and all that. There'll be a few changes to the way I blog too. Today's entry is just a quick update really, so here goes.

Things are still plodding along at Cook HQ. All the usual stuff getting done. However, it is the run up to Christmas and wouldn't you know it, all sorts of car related stuff has decided to rear its head. Woop. This time of year is always expensive and I'm mostly prepared for it.

Work is still going well for both of us. Enough said, I guess.

Since my last update, I've been playing Fallout 3 pretty solidly, finally got all the trophies for it last night. I got it in October, so two months later I'm thinking it was money well spent. I'm not sure what I'll be playing next. Maybe I'll look into my older games and have a replay before I trade 'em.

Finally, I've been doing some writing and drawing in my mini office. Good stuff. Actually I'm off to do a bit of drawing now. See you later.

Whoa!

Hey, did any of you lot see where September went? Seems like I'd only just started it and now it's almost over!

Well, things are slowly ticking along at Cook HQ. The bills are getting paid, the washing up is getting done, the nights are drawing in and I'm totally out of whiskey. I should sort that out. Truth be told, the reason this month has gone real quick for me is the fact that I've just got my head down and got on with things.

Everything is running as it should be right now. The car is working fine, our finances are ok, work is good and I'm even remembering to put the bins out each week. I know that there may be some challenges ahead, but they aren't for a few months and I'm taking steps to make sure these challenges are met and conquered.

The only thing I'd change is that I actually sit my butt down and do something creative instead of saving the world on my PS3, but there are a few things I have to do before I can do that. For instance, I'm out of paper. Oh, and arty pens. Mmm, pens. I have taken one pretty good step though. I finally got around to turning the Dining Room into a sort of mini office, as I mentioned last month. Just gotta wait til payday and then I'll go buy me some stuff and use the dark nights to come as my cue to get drawing and writing.

Gaming wise, there's not been much new on my PS3. The last game I bought was Command and Conquer Red Alert 3, which I finished ages ago. I did replay Bioshock and I've been ploughing through some unfinished buisness on Oblivion. Talking of unfinished Buisness, I'm still working on Sacred 2, but taking a break.

However... I've recently borrowed Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood. It's a shooter set in the Wild West. Yee-haw and all that, what? I suppose once I'm done with it it'll be back to Sacred 2. Time will tell though.

So then folks, that's it for now. More news as and when.