Sometimes, even I surprise myself but then sometimes it is difficult to meet the expectations of your friends, not matter how much peer pressure they lay at your door. If I could describe my life at the moment, it could easily be summarised with the latest television advert from Virgin Trains (I am sure you will have seen it over the weekend).

All you need to do is replace Ed with Teg (or Terry more likely) and the theme is pretty much the same. Although I have yet to learn how to play The Final Countdown by Europe on the keyboard. Some people hate having their photograph taken, and I was the same when I was younger. However, as you grow up, you realise they are relatively harmless. Although, this was the time before Facebook and FlickR and Twitpic, camera phones and even digital cameras. In any case, I have never really been that bothered by photographs, even though have been some shocking photographs posted online in the past. My real problem is video. I do not come across very well in footage and I find that my voice is terrible, it sounds so different from what I speak like in person. (Although I am sure many people will disagree). How was your weekend? Mine was action packed but not until late into Saturday evening. It began as a rather tame affair. I got up at around 8am and after breakfast, got started on a few jobs. The flat needed a major clear out and clear up. Football Focus was on half an hour earlier, so I watched that before then finishing the clear up in the kitchen. I had to clear up after fajitas on Friday night. I watched a double episode of Dolls House during the day because I had not watched last week’s episode yet. It was the season finale, like many US shows and everything was rapped up well enough for a second series but will it happen? I do not think so. Good conception for a show but it was never going to go the distance. Then it was a case of getting myself ready for the night ahead. 4Music are having a US of MAY theme for this month and on Saturday evening (not for the first time) they played Jackson’s Saturday Night Anthems. Now this has to be the perfect way to get yourself ready for a night out. If The Way You Make Me Feel does not want to make you want to get up and dance there is something seriously wrong with you. It was not the first time the world famous Michael Jackson back catalogue was being used as the build up to Saturday night but once again I only caught a handful of songs towards the end of the slot (5pm to 7pm if I remember correctly). There is some chronological order to proceedings as they ended with You Rock My World. But as expected they use the shorter music video version so you miss the classic line from Billy Drago, “I think he wants to die!” (2:06 in the YouTube video link) Nige and Div came around to pick me up, but just like Pav and Em a few months ago, they drove to Chestnut Crescent and not Chestnut Court. Never mind, I was able to wait at the top of London Road and wait for them to find me (which they did, not helped by my poor directions over the phone! They found me and we were on our way, it took a little longer than I expected but never mind. Like Nige said there is no point rushing there and burning all that extra fuel. We stopped at the services on the M27 and Nige got us some snacks. I shared a Kit Kat Chunky with Div, while discussing plans for their forthcoming wedding. All this talk of marriages does make me feel old and very much single! Nige had estimated an ETA of around twenty to nine, and was pretty much spot on. It was a strange moment when we pulled off the dual carriageway (which leads to Bournemouth), we were in the countryside with a wonderful view across the New Forest. The sun was just about to start setting in the distance and there were horses roaming free on the road. It really was a surreal experience but we were less than a mile away from the Burley Manor Hotel. We drove through to the Charcoal Suite, parked up and the party could begin. Div was a bit anxious to go in first, so I obliged and saw Deun and Kev in the corner but looking across towards the bar, I heard a roar of “Terry”. That was quite a reception and I was just a nobody making his rather pathetic entrance. Talk about perfect timing, the happy couple were just about to have their first dance. The wonderfully romantic Can’t Help Falling In Love With You. Obviously the 1993 UB40 version, not the 1961 King Of Rock and Roll rendition. So before I could even really say hello to my friends and respond to the warm welcome, I had to get the camera out and start clicking away (as did everyone else around me). Rather than go into all the details of the night, I can refer you to my latest FlickR set.

It was a great night, those of you on Facebook will have been entertained by not just more photographs but three very exclusive videoes, which I am well informed have also found their way onto YouTube. Pav was hoping I would embed them on this blog but there is no such chance. I will all those shannigans to the facebook world and not let it interfer with the business of my blog. The only problem with a good night out is the morning after. I was in a very bad state. I got up around 9.30am and managed to get out of bed and crash on the sofa, but it was no use, I had to lie down. After a few minutes I realise that there was little chance of making the gym this morning and better to get back into bed and rest. My dream was very strange and actually felt real in the sense I woke up and it was gone 4pm and now the all the supermarkets were closed. It was only when I actually came around that I realised that it was only midday and I had not completely wasted the day. I got up about thirty minutes later, had some Start and then tried planned to make the most of the day, even in my rather sorry state. I had a quick shower, which helped and then headed to Tesco. On the dual carriage way up to the retail park, I was overtaken by a black mark two Toyota MR2. It was going at least 70, if not faster perhaps even pushing 90. (The limit on the road itself is 50). Then as I came up to the roundabout, I noticed the MR2 on the roundabout, facing the wrong way. The fool had driving so far around the roundabout but lost control and was now the wrong way around and facing traffic. For a split second I thought I was dreaming but it had happened and then without a care in the world, the driver did a quick wheelspin, turns the car around and shot off back into Newbury. Things like this can only happen in West Berkshire on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The supermarket was busy but I had a defined list of things to get and I got everything I wanted and was in and out within the hour. Then back to the flat, I tried to find something productive to fill my time and even had dreams of heading to the gym (although that was not to happen). I jumped on the computer after putting all my food shopping away and then realised that I had not eaten anything and was just drinking tropical juice. So I raided the cupboards and made a peanut butter bagel, that filled the hole I have to say! In the evening I watched Valkyrie. I had hoped to catch the movie at the cinema, back in February but the theatrical run had come to a close (the day before infact) and we had to watch Benjamin Button instead which was perhaps more suited to the occassion. It was very good and all the cast (mainly British actors) provide a great performance. There is not a lot for Tom to do, but when he is called upon he delivers as you expect but this is no Jerry Maguire. The concept of the film is to re-tell the story of the 20th July Plot and prove that even within the brutal regime, there were men (and women) willing to stand up to the might of Nazism. The resemblence between Cruise and von Stauffenberg is uncanny and he does protray the character very well, particularly in the final scenes. There is a cold chilling atmosphere to the film from beginning to end and perhaps the greatest point when Adolf has to sign the new Operation Valkyrie plans. I would highly recommend this movie, sure there is a little bit of Hollywood gloss to proceedings but it is generally true to real story and proves just how close they were to completing the coup. I remember reading a text book at school, during GCSE History about this subject and my teacher almost laughing at the fact that Hitler had the traitors hung by piano wire. It was true and the film does deal with this element very well. I have a very busy week this week, not just at work. Tomorrow I am going to hit the road for the full Bayer 10k route with the girls from the 7th Floor. (Well actually that is not technically true as my office does not have a seventh floor, well not even a third). Some of my colleagues from Med Info will be running the whole route and James decided to add me to the group. That should be good and I will be glad to see what time I clock up, so I have something to beat for the event, which is just under three weeks away. On Wednesday I am out office all day in Newport carrying out a software upgrade, which should be fun. Nice to have a day out of the office and get away from Newbury (sometimes I feel rather trapped by the small market town). Even if that means an early start and no gym in the morning and a potentially very late finish. I know I am going to be busy for the rest of the week, so will not get another opportunity to blog until Friday, with a preview to the weekend.