Sometimes reputations outlive their applications, it's a line from one of my favourite films of all time Empire Records, more specifically it's a line from the song Sugarhigh by Coyote Shivers made especially for the film. It's a line I've often thought of when I think of some of the people from my past. Some people will always be stuck in a box in my head as to what they were and not what they've become. It's wrong of me to pigeonhole them like that but I think we're all guilty of it.

We all know that students never need an excuse to go out and get drunk. In fact I was took part in a three day bender to celebrate the changing of the games machines in a pub. We started drinking at approximately 10.30am on the Monday and lasted until 00.01 am on the Wednesday. I know technically speaking it wasn't three complete days, but continuous drinking with no sleep, it's a feat that I have no illusions that I would fail spectacularly these days. 

The skyline of Boston is dominated by one thing. St Boltoph's church, more commonly known as The Stump. The tower standing at 266 feet 6 inches high is the highest parish church in the whole country. It's a symbol of our little market town that is known the world over.

This weekend saw the ruby wedding anniversary of my parents. 40 years of being together that's almost the entire span of my lifetime, the world has gone through so many changes in that timespan. We're able to do so many things that they could only of dreamed of back then. Society has changed indescribably, but through all that my parents have stayed together. They've had three children....one of which is amazing, the other two are passable. They've urged each other on and got degrees, purchased their own home, they've renovated that home, paid it off and are now enjoying 'van life' with their recent camper van purchase and are planning to travel the country in it.

15 years. 5479 days. It's a long time isn't it? Well that's what milestone I hit this weekend at The Bowl. It's by far the longest time I've been employed by a company and for the vast majority of my time here I've enjoyed it.

I've always loved reading, Kev, Dave and Scott will tell you of the time I read a whole book in the bath in one go. The fantastic Are you experienced by William Sutcliffe. It wasn't a long book, only 180 pages or so but apparently taking a two and half hour long bath was a little on the odd side.

Saturday February 1st 2025, approximately 13.05pm. Location The Parcel Yard, Kings Cross Station.

Before I begin this entry I want to make a public apology. Emma, I'm so sorry my spelling, punctuation and grammar is abysmal. I humbly bow down to you and beg for forgiveness. So with that out the way let's get down to what was one of the most fun filled few days I've had in many a year.

And I'll sing the blues if I like..  Yes I know  the last blog entry was all about music and I've started this one off with lyrics but forgive me, but the fact is that this is a tune and a half and deserves to be listened to at every given opportunity.

I am good at many things in this world, I can cook half decently, I'm not bad at photography or writing but the one thing I can readily admit that I'm hopeless at is anything musically related. I can't carry a tune, my singing is awful and apart from a half hearted attempt to learn the recorder at primary school I can't play an instrument either. So with that knowledge in mind I'm sure you'll laugh at my latest purchase, a shiny acoustic guitar....

I'm a bit of history fan, always have loved looking at the past, loved a trip to a museum or a castle, I can spend hours reading about famous historical events or listening to podcasts, for all those who love British history I fully recommend the British History Podcast, it covers our beautiful little islands history from the very beginning to at the time of writing this, the Norman conquest.

It's kind of hard to put into words some of the feelings I've had in the past. I've touched on my struggles with my self confidence in previous posts, it's always been there in the back of my head like an itch that can't be scratched.

Another year older, definitely a bit wiser. A lot more focused on getting out of Boston, the old CV has been updated and made to look as sparkly and appealing as possible and will be submitted to anywhere I think would be a good fit for me. I'm not sure if I want to carry on in the hospitality industry, after all I've been doing it for over 20 years maybe it's time for a change? I'm not going to rush into anything, it's got to be the right move for me but that's enough serious stuff for the minute, after the last entry I need to lighten the mood around here!

Now I've said some of these challenges are silly but personal to me....this is one of those. Now for people who don't know three of my most prized possessions are Pingu, or to give him his full name, Sir Pingu of Pinguington I, and my two penguin stones. Pingu has been with me since birth and has gone with me from place to place, always proudly on display, he's been a confident, a source of comfort in the worse times of my life, a study partner and most importantly my assistant manager when it comes to Football manager. 

Memories can be a funny thing can't they, for example I remember the smallest details from a night out that I had over twenty years ago but ask me what I had for dinner yesterday and I hate to admit I struggle to remember. With everything that's gone in my life this year I've been on what I've dubbed my 'reconnection tour'. I've reconnected with so many people from my past, Emma, Rhi, Dave, Kev, Sott, Nayf, Ash, the list goes on and in the new year I've got more lined up.  I'm a different person to what I was all those years ago, I've got older, I no longer feel the need to steal every bus stop poster that I come across, I don't feel the need to get drunk every day ending in a 'Y', I still quote movies and TV shows with alarming regularity and it's still a dream that I perform a swanton bomb onto Edge in front of a live WWE crowd, maybe I haven't grown up quite as much as I thought.....