Hello Internet, my dear friend. It has been quite a while, I know. Yes yes, I’ve been eating. No, I’m fine honestly. In fact, I’m better than fine. This year has been incredible for me, and I’m about to tell you why in a lengthy, over the top post. Internet, prepare thyself!!
So, what have I been doing? Everything, and nothing, I guess. In September 2014, I started my course at Rotherham College, studying humanities (History, English and Sociology to be exact) in an effort to gain the points I needed to attend university this coming September (that’s September 2015, do try and keep up). Needless to say, I have excelled in my assignments, achieving 30 distinctions and 3 merits so far (the other 12 points are yet to be graded, but I'm expecting another 12 Distinctions) meaning that I am all but guaranteed to get what I need for uni.
To me, this means a lot more than just “Oh, I’ll be at uni for 3 years, nice.” No, to me, this has proven that I am capable of success on an academic level. After dropping out of 6th form way back in 2007 (yes, it’s been that long) I had doubted myself and my abilities. However, this year has shown me that I am more than capable of not only passing this course, but getting nearly a clear run of the highest grade possible. This has given me a huge boost in confidence and can only mean good things for me in the future.
So, you ask me with barely contained interest and excitement, what’s the plan now? Well, I have an exam in just over a week (it’s on Othello if you’re wondering) and then I’m done with college. I’ll carry on working at the weekend through the summer, but I’ll mainly be spending my time with Alfie.
That has been the hardest part of this year. With college 9-5 all week, and then working all day on a Saturday, Sundays have been the only day I have been spending with Donna and Alfie. I’ve had the various holidays too, but it’s still been hard not seeing him as much as I’d like. I’m not complaining though as, in the end, it will all be worth it. Only another 4 or 5 years to go.
Outside of college, there’s not a great deal to mention, or at least not of any great importance anyway. I’ve recently started gardening. Not like a young Allan Titchmarsh, but I’ve been dipping a (green) thumb in and growing some nice flowers in the border in the front garden. I’m particularly impressed with my sunflowers, which are shooting up nicely. I’m even growing some tomatoes round the back!
Speaking of the back garden, I have brought ‘operation decking’ out of its long slumber. Hopefully, I will have it finished within the next few weeks, meaning that this year there will be a BBQ every week in our back garden. Alfie will also have somewhere to play while I’m lounging around, being the whimsical, care free guy I am.
The only other things I have been doing really are watching a hell of a lot of classic Doctor Who and playing a hell of a lot of Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate. The prior is part of my ongoing quest to own every (available) story of Doctor Who. I’m working my way through the DVD collection, buying them, watching them, lending them to a friend, then placing them on a shelf and looking at them with glee as my collection grows. I have just (last week it was) watched ‘Spearhead from Space’ after a rather tearful goodbye to Troughton (I was chopping onions, I swear). The first episode of classic Who to be done in colour did not disappoint and, I have to say, I really, really liked Pertwee as The Doctor. I’ll more than likely do a separate blog post at some point, focusing solely on Doctor Who.
The 2nd thing I mentioned (MH4U for all you slackers) has slowly taken over my life. I have played a couple of earlier games in the series (Tri and then 3U) though they were essentially the same game. This, however, is all brand new and boy, does it show. If you're new to Monster Hunter, just try to imagine a game made up purely of the most intense, over the top boss battles against some truly huge monsters. Got it envisioned in your head? Ok, now forget that, because I guarantee that Monster hunter 4 Ultimate will be better. How good can it possibly be? Well, I bought it at launch (13th February 2015, just over 3 months ago) and so far, I have put around 260 hours into it. Just to put that into perspective, I also bought ‘Animal Crossing: New leaf’ when that launched (first date I played it was 14/06/2013, nearly 2 years ago!) and so far on that I have played 220 hours! I’ll just let that sink in for a minute…oh you’re back. Good. So, yes, I have a slight problem. The game is just so damn good! If there is anyone out there that is on the fence about getting this game, I can do nothing but sing its praises. The best thing about it? I’ve not finished it yet! (although, you don’t really ‘finish’ Monster Hunter).
That’s all that’s been going on for me pretty much. Alfie has continues to grow and learn and do everything that little boys do. He is now in his big boy bed, can more or less eat with cutlery and can successfully tell you what sound dinosaurs, dogs, cats and ducks make. He loves playing outside with his football, but he also enjoys watching Doctor Who with me. The best thing about being a dad? That would be when I get in after being at college all day, and Alfie sees me, stops what he is doing and runs to me for a love and a hug. That feeling is the best thing in the world and nothing will ever compete.
That, my friends, is about all that’s happened this year. Now that I’ve finished with my assignments, I should be able to post more regularly. I should also be starting a new painting project alongside 2 friends soon. They have already begun, but I have had to postpone my contribution due to college commitments. Starting next week, however, I will buying, building and painting some Doctor Who miniatures. My first piece will be a 28mm model of Patrick Troughton’s Doctor (my favourite, in case you were wondering). I’ll be posting pictures and a diary up here of how I am getting on, so keep ‘em peeled.
Righto, that’s me done for this week. Keep it real.
J-Fuzz out!
