Dark Alex's Really Long Post Thread.

[Alex]

Last full day of the course tomorrow. Think I've talked everyone into sitting the exam tomorrow afternoon. I am fairly confident about passing it, although my life would be easier were I to fail it. I don't honestly care wither I do or don't though. I won't deliberately fail it, but you never know when a total brain fart might strike.

Caught a glimpse of the Warrant in our building. I think it is my old flight sergeant from the Falklands. Decent bloke (and the one I did my first Pingo for).

Man, that guy looks terrible in a dress!

Supposed to be going out for a curry with some of the guys tonight, but want I really want to do is just sit by myself and listen to my music. I don't often get the chance to do that anymore, life has moved on and while I might miss doing that sometimes, I don't regret my new life at all. Hell, I wish me and Kristi had met 10 years earlier and had a whole tribe of kids, but we didn't and if we only have Ash to bring up, then I'll still be happy.

Life only gives so much. It is up to all of us to make what we can out of it and build on it. Make the best life for yourself that you can, or just waste it, and wonder at the end why things didn't turn out better for you.  No matter how bad you think your life has been, or how hard I promise you, there is someone out there who thinks compared to them, you've had it easy and have nothing to complain about. Hell, I was very lucky to survive long enough to make age three. I've nearly died a few times since then, had a kidnapping attempt, someone trying to murder my girlfriend, a girlfriend who liked to cut me open while I slept, lost two babies and no end of other bad s**t between then and now. I don't think that life has been unfair, or overly hard to me. I'd be surprised if everyone else out there, couldn't match those with other equally bad things. It's important to remember though there has been lots of good stuff in there too, and every so often I just need to stop and think of what has went right.

[Alex]

Went out last night in the end. Had a King Prawn dish that was supposed to be hot, but had no bite to it at all, although it did taste really nice, and a couple of pints of Cobra. Some of the group went out for more drinks afterwards. I couldnt have managed to fit anything else in though, felt totally stuffed and went home with the other lightweights.

Besides, we are sitting our computer based exam today. A headfull of beer might not help that.

Continuing to work through all the music on my phone. So far I am working through the letter 'F' (currently 'Fluff' by Black Sabbath. Seems to be rather windy outside today. Lots of people are complaining about the weather. Oh, the inhumanity of a five minute walk in such conditions! Mighty woes and a gnashing of teeth!

People keep telling me there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing.

I wonder what the people caught in the double hurricane earlier this year would think of that advice?

[ER]

Bah, any Midwesterner can tell you, bad weather absolutely exists.

[Alex]

Well that is the exam is none and dusted. One question was worth 36% of the total marks, and the pass mark is 75%. Thing is, I made a mistake during that question, so I am not sure how I've done. Not that I care if I've failed. It means I don't have to do weekend callouots W00T!.

Two (out of seven people sitting it) of the guys doing the exam walked out around the 25 minute mark saying they'd had enough and couldn't complete the exam, and at least one other person had the same problem on the same one as me, so I guess I'd say it was a tough exam. We are the first people to have sat this particular version of the test.

Was asked to go out for a few drinks to watch football. The two teams playing are the ones who were playing the night I bumped into some fans from the losing side, and ended up getting 180 stiches around my left eye, and half my face needing rebuilding, not to mention getting a knife through my leg as an afterthought.

Might pop along for a pint, just to be sociable, but I don't see me staying to the end of the games. Always thought it was a game played by people who had no other useful function in society anyway.

If I can make York by half eleven tomorrow then I'll get home pretty damn early. If not... well as long as I get home Friday I'll be happy.

[Alex]

Turns out I passed the exam dammit. I find it impossible to deliberately sit down and answer enough questions wrong to fail an exam. If I don't want to pass I rely on not revising for it (can't do not paying attention during lessons either), and my bad memory.

Not bad enough it would seem.

So here I sit on an overcrowded train (and yes, it would be nice of me to offer my seat to someone else I guess, let them sit but a combination of cunning and luck got me this seat, and I don't feel charitably towards those who lack these attributes, and none of them look pregnant so I'll keep it thanks).

Watching the sea out the window as the train cruises along the coast. It is a dark and stormy afternoon and the sea is grey, but fairly calm. I think I am coming home on the tail end of a storm.

Hopefully Ash won't have completely forgotten all about me by the time I get home. Kristi was telling me he would only sleep on my pillow (please see my earlier post about everyone wearing my clothes and add that to the list). Passing through Kirkcaldy just now, another mark off the list of places I need to travel through to get home.

Surprised how busy this train is. I expect later journey's on Fridays to be this busy, not mid afternoon ones. Did everyone finish work early today? When since did they start offering early stacks on Fridays in civvy street (major reason for me joining up right there)?

Hmm, the trolley woman is making her way up the train. I've not eaten much today and might actually have to cave in and buy something to eat. I hate doing that because of the inflated prices on the train, but more importantly I need to eat something. Can't do what I used to do when I was younger and go three days without eating.

Someone has put their luggage in the aisle which is going to stop the trolley. Hmm, they will be told to shift it. I wonder if this train is normally this crowded. I am feeling sorry for the people standing, but not enough to join them. I am a fan of either longer trains, or more frequent ones, but hey the companies get the full price of your ticket wither you sit or stand so I guess they don't really care.

Handy hint though if you ever find yourself travelling on an overcrowded train. Stand in the middle of a carriage, rather than the vestibule. If someone gets out of a seat you are in a much better place to grab it after them.

The one problem with having my man cave all perfectly set up the way I want it, is that I resent any attempt to send me anywhere else that involves me being away from it.

Plus y'know, I like to get back to Kristi and Ash and Dagon.

Passing through Leuchars now. Used to be an airforce base here. Now we have one flying base left in Scotland. I've seen a lot of flying stations close during my time in uniform (when I joined up we had Lossiemouth, Kinloss and Leuchars, now only Lossiemouth remains). Funnily enough the non-flying ones, not so much. Go figure. Hell, we've even reopened a non-flying base recently. Maybe after Brexit they'll decide Britain needs to return to having a decent sized military again. While we were part of the EU, the UK veto'd having a single European army. Once we are gone I'd imagine France and Germany will ge their way. Traditionally we'd never have stood for any kind of single power on the continent (we have a long history of helping out weaker nations on the continent against stronger ones, hell, during the Napoleonic War we were paying the wages for several countries armies to able them to remain in the fight. I don't think that was done as loans either, Britain was wealthy enough to pay for it all. When you think of the full scale of that conflict, it really was a world war in all but name (not the only conflict that is worthy of the title of world war, but didn't get it). Even the American War of Independence was just one theatre in a conflict that spanned the globe. Just as an aisde, did you know the troops the UK sent to the US were mainly second line formations? The sugar plantations in Cuba were seen as being a more valuable asset and the best troops actually got stationed there. The government decided that if they were to lose the sugar plantations they would no longer be able to afford the war. I think towards the end of the war, more experienced units were sent. Anyway, I digress.

Be nice to come back to nights next week, nice and gentle easing back into work after the sheer hell of a whole 5 days away!

I can see a bunch of empty seats throughout the carriage now, but the vestibule crowd (at both ends of the carriage) can't. Like I said, middle of the carriage.

Anyway, I should finish up wittering on here and go witter elsewhere.

[Alex]

Got home a couple of hours later than expected due to the Edinburgh to Aberdeen train running a bit late. In theory this gave me time to go get something to eat, however I figured since December means later opening hours, I could get to the local hobby store and pick up some paint brushes instead so I can do some more minature painting.

If you aren't willing to pass up food for your hobbies, can you really count yourself as a fan?

Kristi had food and beer waiting for me and Ash was super excited to see me. Spent half an hour or so giving him loads of attention before putting him up to bed as it was way beyond his bedtime already. Unfortunately while he slept, he woke up at midnight and decided to be super awake from this point on. He is in theory having a nap right now, although I can hear him gurgling and laughing away to himself. Tempted to get dressed and take him out for a walk.

And just as I say that, Ash zonks out.

And that is us back from our shopping trip. Got almost everything I want for Kristi (two more things to pick up), some presents for Ash (including a big army play set with 3 1/2 inch figures, a base, a tank, jeep, helicopter and weapons for them all. It is just a shame he will have to wait a couple of years to play with it, although I did get him some things he can play with just now as well). Every time we went into a store Ash would start screaming. Take him outside and he was fine.

Guess he doesn't like capitalism.

[Alex]

Upset a load of people on one of the wargaming forums I am on. One of them posted that he was fed up of people calling his figures toys, so of course I asked if he played games with them. He said yes, so I said then they are toys and told him to get over yourself. There are a few people who are blustering, huffing and a puffing about that. I've been playing with minatures for around thirty years now and I am not ashamed to call them toys, and I am not going to pretend they are anything but. I really don't see a difference between them and the plastic soldiers I used to play with when I was five, and my head isn't jammed far enough up my own arse to pretend otherwise.

Besides I love winding up people who take themselves way too seriously.

The rest of the family are sitting watching some old American TV show (Hee Haw, if anyone out there knows it). For some reason when mum, Elizabeth and Kristi are all together it is the show of choice In theory it is a comedy show, but it has a lot of country and western songs in it, so it jumps from comedy sketches to the most depressing and miserable songs in human history.

I long ago came to the conclussion the C/W fans are manic depressives who skip the manic part.

My friend Cato, told me the manic depressives prefer to be called bipolar these days. I told her hill billy's prefer to be called sons of the soil, but that ain't happening either (I am sure I heard that in a film or something, but I can't remember what it was exactly).

Currently some guy is singing about how most of his family picked cotton, except for him and his dad (who worked in coal mine and died young). Oh, and the narrator is going to be hung in the morning for killing someone. Yup sounds like country and western music to me.

[Alex]

The friend Kristi went out shopping with turned out to be feeling really unwell. Kristi was telling me she was getting out of breath just from short walks. You could hear her voice didn't sound fine. I tried to get her to contact the NHS 24 helpline, but she promised she'd call it when she got home. I am suspecting Bronchitus, but I am not a doctor so she needs better advice than I can give.

After she drove off I contacted her son, and told him to make sure that she did make the appointment. Sure enough when she got home she wasn't going to contact the doc's. Told her hat the next time she turns up at my house ill, I am going to jump in her car and drive her to A&E. Anyway, Aiden phoned the helpline and then handed her the phone so we are more or less bullying her into getting help.

[indianasmith]

You know, with the proliferation of self driving vehicles, I can see the next trend in country music . . .

"The Day My Truck Left Me"

[Alex]

Actually got a fair nights sleep last night. Today both the cat and baby seem to want on my lap, but only when the laptop is there too. If I put it down to pay them attention, they wander off.

Kristi is baking ginger cookies and I am considering tonights gaming session. Hopefully the party will finally reach the trial, get that out the way and then they can start looking at claiming their castle.

Of course that isn't going to be quite as simple for them as that. They have several tribes of hostile humanoids who have long since claimed the land the party has been awarded lordship of, and one way or another they are going to have to deal with that. Possibly they could even turn it to their advantage and broker a peace deal that leaves them with an army to call on, should they need it.

My money is on fire and death though.

Unfortunately Ander's headset was broken, Kristi and Ross were running late and I'd had no word from Russell so I decided to call the game off and hopefully we can reschedule for Tuesday.

Then it just occured to me, that since I am on nights next week I can't run a game dammit.

[Alex]

Woke up feeling refreshed this morning.

Yeah 03:00 this morning. Ash woke up within the hour and it ended up with all three of us wide awake. I finally managed to fall asleep around 07:00, but the alarm went off half an hour later and I'd to get up to see my mum and sister off. We all went back to bed feeling shattered but Ash decided not to play along. I slept until 11:00, then I got up and sent Kristi to bed.

Five minutes ago, Ash finally fell asleep.

Nothing important normally happens of a nightshift. I am sure I can sleep there right?

Sounds like a busy flying day. I can hear a lot of jets taking off. Ah, the sound of freedom. Wonder what the sound of military oppression is like? Presumably a more evil sort of jet roar? Maybe like Starscream. Just one of those things like the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter, an angel* and a devil. It just depends where so stand in relation to the fence.

*If you don't think you could ever confuse an angel and a demon, then you need to read a bit more. They were both the same thing once and seriously both of them get up to some pretty nasty s**t. Anyway I digress.

[Trevor]

Besides I love winding up people who take themselves way too seriously.

The only thing I take seriously is my work - 29 years already - and anything else, including myself, not so much. 

I watched Sunshine on Leith again over the weekend and thought of you. 

[ER]

Woke up feeling refreshed this morning.

Yeah 03:00 this morning. Ash woke up within the hour and it ended up with all three of us wide awake. I finally managed to fall asleep around 07:00, but the alarm went off half an hour later and I'd to get up to see my mum and sister off. We all went back to bed feeling shattered but Ash decided not to play along. I slept until 11:00, then I got up and sent Kristi to bed.

Five minutes ago, Ash finally fell asleep.

Nothing important normally happens of a nightshift. I am sure I can sleep there right?

Sounds like a busy flying day. I can hear a lot of jets taking off. Ah, the sound of freedom. Wonder what the sound of military oppression is like? Presumably a more evil sort of jet roar? Maybe like Starscream. Just one of those things like the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter, an angel* and a devil. It just depends where so stand in relation to the fence.

*If you don't think you could ever confuse an angel and a demon, then you need to read a bit more. They were both the same thing once and seriously both of them get up to some pretty nasty s**t. Anyway I digress.

Considering the Bible talks about angels undertaking acts of mass destruction, maybe the difference in angels and demons is one stayed obedient.

Oh, and angels don't make anybody throw up pea soup.

[Alex]

Besides I love winding up people who take themselves way too seriously.

The only thing I take seriously is my work - 29 years already - and anything else, including myself, not so much. 

I watched Sunshine on Leith again over the weekend and thought of you. 

I can't say I have ever watched that one. I'll assume since you've watched it more than once though, that it is one that you enjoy. 

[Alex]

Woke up feeling refreshed this morning.

Yeah 03:00 this morning. Ash woke up within the hour and it ended up with all three of us wide awake. I finally managed to fall asleep around 07:00, but the alarm went off half an hour later and I'd to get up to see my mum and sister off. We all went back to bed feeling shattered but Ash decided not to play along. I slept until 11:00, then I got up and sent Kristi to bed.

Five minutes ago, Ash finally fell asleep.

Nothing important normally happens of a nightshift. I am sure I can sleep there right?

Sounds like a busy flying day. I can hear a lot of jets taking off. Ah, the sound of freedom. Wonder what the sound of military oppression is like? Presumably a more evil sort of jet roar? Maybe like Starscream. Just one of those things like the difference between a terrorist and a freedom fighter, an angel* and a devil. It just depends where so stand in relation to the fence.

*If you don't think you could ever confuse an angel and a demon, then you need to read a bit more. They were both the same thing once and seriously both of them get up to some pretty nasty s**t. Anyway I digress.

Considering the Bible talks about angels undertaking acts of mass destruction, maybe the difference in angels and demons is one stayed obedient.

Oh, and angels don't make anybody throw up pea soup.

Ah, the old question about serving in heaven or reigning in hell.