Positive steps to improve my life
Nov. 12th, 2004 01:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
luckykaaAn introspective journal entry.
I realised a short time ago, that I was in a bit of a rut in my lifestyle. So I thought I'd do something about it. So, the first thing I did was work out what was wrong and needed to be changed.
I'm single. I don't like living in London. I don't like sharing a flat. I have no friends in London. I have no friends who live locally. My evening seems to consist of chatting online, watching telly, and generally not going out. I dislike my job. I have to work.
Having to work is not something I can do anything about just yet. Self employment would be nice, but I don't have the skills (or maybe just the self-confidence) to do that on my own. But for now, I think I need a job. And actually, the current one isn't too bad. I've put my foot down and refused to take part in any pre-crunch overtime. The people are friendly. The problems are that everyone else who works here is football mad, whereas I have no interest in the game, and that commuting to the other side of London is quite unpleasant.
I could simply move closer to work, but given that I'm pretty much committed to working in London, I do rather want to stay south of the river where I can get to Sussex, Woking and Bristol by car or train without too much hassle. I work in an area that's notable for having 3 prisons within easy walking distance.
So, I decided I need a new job. I've submitted my CV to one agent and one company directly. I once liked the idea of working for Criterion, but since EA bought them, they seem a lot less attractive. Not just because of the well publicised rant by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ea_spouse, but because I'd already heard a lot of bad things about EA. So, I applied to a games company in Bristol, and sent my CV to one of the few agents who got me an interview last time I was unemployed. I have an interview lined up. Godalming is slightly better location-wise than North London. Even better - They have a studio in Brighton.
Finding somewhere else to live is something else I'll have to wait for. It does rather depend on my getting a new job since I have no idea where I'll be working in a few months time. But if I end up working in Godalming, anywhere along the line is viable. I could actually afford a studio for less than I'm currently paying, or a place with a bedroom for well within my budget. That sorts out the shared flat and job issue at least.
Having no friends, being single, and doing nothing in the evening are all essentially the same problem that can be solved in one go. I tried some online sites to solve all these, but it's not really that easy to find the right group. Meetup.com seems a little scary. For some reason, I think it will be full of strange weird people. Not sure why. However, my mother confirms that this sort of social meeting up event do seem to attract a certain type - at least when she went to clubs advertised in the local community centre. I've met some people from online dating sites, but it never really worked out. The online dating thing has its own set of problems. Firstly, it's very hard to find the right person. Everyone always seems a little too... I'm not sure what the word is... possibly too normal for me. There seems to be a glut of cloned blonde trendies who like clubbing. The other problem is that when I do find someone who speaks esperanto and paints cats as a hobby, they're often a little reluctant to actually meet up. Something about me being a psychotic axe murderer or something.
But I found a solution.
I've been tempted by acting for a while. Except apathy, apprehensiveness, and indecisiveness have always stopped me from getting anywhere in this. But I decided I really ought to look for something. So, I went to the library. And asked whether they had any information on amateur dramatics societies or anything like that. Strangley, they didn't, but they did suggest Batterea Arts Centre across the road. This is an organisation that specialises in helping performers get started. Something that tempted me there was a series of "After Hours" workshops for adults, once a week. So, I thought I'd sign up for the physical theatre course.
I decided physical theatre probably isn't for me, but the workshop was rather fun. So the following week I thought I'd sign up for the workshop on putting on a production. Except by the time I got round to it it was sold out. So I thought I'd book the following weeks's lighting workshop instead. Except that was sold out. Given this, I thought I'd better sign up for the acting workshops pretty damn sharpish. So, I did. I went along to the first one. And I was very pleased with the 4:10 male:female ratio. The first workshop was about use of texts. Analysing, working out who the character is, and what words are important. The chap taking the course was very encouraging, very patient, and I'm looking forward to the following week.
Someone I spoke to briefly also chatted to me again. Very briefly, but it was nice that someone remembered me. I really need to encourage a few people to go to the bar afterwards next week. The place has a fully licenced bar. Where are all the alcoholics?
Finally, I decided to go to clubs and meetings if the topic interests me. I met a few boardgamers last weekend after a post on an LJ forum. And played a few games of Settlers. And drank lots of coffee, and got in the way of Starbucks closing time. And this weekend, I'm meeting a bunch of obsessive Sci-fi nuts at a local pub.
Still not sorted my life out, but I think I'm out of the rut.
I realised a short time ago, that I was in a bit of a rut in my lifestyle. So I thought I'd do something about it. So, the first thing I did was work out what was wrong and needed to be changed.
I'm single. I don't like living in London. I don't like sharing a flat. I have no friends in London. I have no friends who live locally. My evening seems to consist of chatting online, watching telly, and generally not going out. I dislike my job. I have to work.
Having to work is not something I can do anything about just yet. Self employment would be nice, but I don't have the skills (or maybe just the self-confidence) to do that on my own. But for now, I think I need a job. And actually, the current one isn't too bad. I've put my foot down and refused to take part in any pre-crunch overtime. The people are friendly. The problems are that everyone else who works here is football mad, whereas I have no interest in the game, and that commuting to the other side of London is quite unpleasant.
I could simply move closer to work, but given that I'm pretty much committed to working in London, I do rather want to stay south of the river where I can get to Sussex, Woking and Bristol by car or train without too much hassle. I work in an area that's notable for having 3 prisons within easy walking distance.
So, I decided I need a new job. I've submitted my CV to one agent and one company directly. I once liked the idea of working for Criterion, but since EA bought them, they seem a lot less attractive. Not just because of the well publicised rant by
ea_spouse, but because I'd already heard a lot of bad things about EA. So, I applied to a games company in Bristol, and sent my CV to one of the few agents who got me an interview last time I was unemployed. I have an interview lined up. Godalming is slightly better location-wise than North London. Even better - They have a studio in Brighton.Finding somewhere else to live is something else I'll have to wait for. It does rather depend on my getting a new job since I have no idea where I'll be working in a few months time. But if I end up working in Godalming, anywhere along the line is viable. I could actually afford a studio for less than I'm currently paying, or a place with a bedroom for well within my budget. That sorts out the shared flat and job issue at least.
Having no friends, being single, and doing nothing in the evening are all essentially the same problem that can be solved in one go. I tried some online sites to solve all these, but it's not really that easy to find the right group. Meetup.com seems a little scary. For some reason, I think it will be full of strange weird people. Not sure why. However, my mother confirms that this sort of social meeting up event do seem to attract a certain type - at least when she went to clubs advertised in the local community centre. I've met some people from online dating sites, but it never really worked out. The online dating thing has its own set of problems. Firstly, it's very hard to find the right person. Everyone always seems a little too... I'm not sure what the word is... possibly too normal for me. There seems to be a glut of cloned blonde trendies who like clubbing. The other problem is that when I do find someone who speaks esperanto and paints cats as a hobby, they're often a little reluctant to actually meet up. Something about me being a psychotic axe murderer or something.
But I found a solution.
I've been tempted by acting for a while. Except apathy, apprehensiveness, and indecisiveness have always stopped me from getting anywhere in this. But I decided I really ought to look for something. So, I went to the library. And asked whether they had any information on amateur dramatics societies or anything like that. Strangley, they didn't, but they did suggest Batterea Arts Centre across the road. This is an organisation that specialises in helping performers get started. Something that tempted me there was a series of "After Hours" workshops for adults, once a week. So, I thought I'd sign up for the physical theatre course.
I decided physical theatre probably isn't for me, but the workshop was rather fun. So the following week I thought I'd sign up for the workshop on putting on a production. Except by the time I got round to it it was sold out. So I thought I'd book the following weeks's lighting workshop instead. Except that was sold out. Given this, I thought I'd better sign up for the acting workshops pretty damn sharpish. So, I did. I went along to the first one. And I was very pleased with the 4:10 male:female ratio. The first workshop was about use of texts. Analysing, working out who the character is, and what words are important. The chap taking the course was very encouraging, very patient, and I'm looking forward to the following week.
Someone I spoke to briefly also chatted to me again. Very briefly, but it was nice that someone remembered me. I really need to encourage a few people to go to the bar afterwards next week. The place has a fully licenced bar. Where are all the alcoholics?
Finally, I decided to go to clubs and meetings if the topic interests me. I met a few boardgamers last weekend after a post on an LJ forum. And played a few games of Settlers. And drank lots of coffee, and got in the way of Starbucks closing time. And this weekend, I'm meeting a bunch of obsessive Sci-fi nuts at a local pub.
Still not sorted my life out, but I think I'm out of the rut.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-12 06:38 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-17 02:01 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-17 02:47 pm (UTC)Cities and Knights enlarges the game from "play it in 45 minutes if we get on with it" to "takes all evening". I like it, but it is perhaps not something I'd want to play as often as basic Settlers. If your friend's friend is a fairly hardcore gamer, she'll enjoy Cities and Knights, but on the whole I'd be inclined to get Seafarers first to break them in gently. Then get Cities and Knights if they want *more* < grin >
Starfarers is scarily expensive and it's not quite as good as the basic game, so I wouldn't bother with that at this point, and the other expansions that I know of are more like scenarios, with relatively limited replayability.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-18 12:18 am (UTC)We just started playing Settlers of Catan last weekend, but even after the first game it seemed addictive. Except for the fact that the number everyone seemed to roll most often produced sheep! Some of us had over a dozen sheep for a few turns, and we ran out of sheep cards. Naturally we vowed never again to assign that number to sheep ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-18 01:17 am (UTC)In "Cities and Knights", the island is intermittently attacked by barbarians. Players can buy Knights, and overall if there aren't as many Knights as Cities, the barbarians win. This is most unpleasant as it means that the player with the fewest knights will lose a city (it turns into a settlement again). There are also lots of extra things to buy and build, and a whole load of new types of Development card. The game's only real flaw is the same as the basic Settlers flaw, only magnified. This is that if a player has a bad starting position, they are doomed, and of course that the game supplies positive feedback so once you get ahead, you're likely to get further ahead. For this reason, we do advise novice players to try to prevent them from choosing inferior starting positions.
The other expansions worth buying are those for the basic game which allow 5 or 6 people to play.
Ah yes, sheep. "Does anybody want any SHEEP?" You'll be pleased to know that in Seafarers, you can use a sheep and a wood to build a ship.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-18 06:06 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-18 06:17 am (UTC)Darn it! I would love more people to play Settlers with, and I bet you don't live in Surrey...
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-18 06:36 am (UTC)Oh-- I'm an American-- I assumed you could tell by the way I mangle the English language. I live on the East Coast of the U.S. (And, since the issue is pretty much inescapable, no, I did not vote for George W. Bush. Ick.)
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-18 06:52 am (UTC)This mostly seems to mean that I like real pancakes (fluffy, with butter and maple syrup), meatballs and spaghetti, and can pick the passport I think will be less emabarrassing on the day.
Glad you enjoyed the trousers dilemma :) I think almost every woman I know feels the same sense that the clothes in shops were designed by mysogenistic tossers.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-18 07:00 am (UTC)Well I've been slacking off for awhile now... time to go and finish chapter 12 before class this afternoon! Too bad you don't live over here-- it would be fun to meet up and play, as you said.
thanks for your advice :)
Starfarers
Date: 2004-11-18 01:33 am (UTC)Geeks are good :)
Re: Starfarers
Date: 2004-11-18 06:15 am (UTC)oh, geeks... I think I was born one. I'm not a programmer (tho several of my friends are), but I like stuff like archaeology and science fiction, so I'm used to "normal" people not understanding what makes me tick. Did you ever watch any Kids in the Hall? I'm a big Mark McKinney fan, because his characters were as goofy as I am (and probably he is in real life).
...hee..hee...hee...
Date: 2004-11-12 02:13 pm (UTC)I think he would be a great goth : )
Re: ...hee..hee...hee...
Date: 2004-11-12 03:25 pm (UTC)I would make a great goth. I wear lots of black and ummm... well, that's about it really. Except I hang around with other goths at times.
Re: ...hee..hee...hee...
Date: 2004-11-13 03:29 pm (UTC)Re: ...hee..hee...hee...
Date: 2004-11-14 10:22 am (UTC)Hello, my name is Lesya
Date: 2004-11-14 11:06 am (UTC)My friend has the same problem? I meen she doesn't like her work. I think that It is very important to like your work/ So I wish you good luck:)
Re: Hello, my name is Lesya
Date: 2004-11-14 02:15 pm (UTC)Thanks for your kind words.
(no subject)
Date: 2004-11-15 06:28 am (UTC)Please:)
one question...
Date: 2004-11-17 08:18 am (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-17 10:04 am (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-17 12:56 pm (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-17 02:02 pm (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-17 02:46 pm (UTC)hey, sorry to barge in on your journal. I've been posting to the EA page a lot because I spent most of last year close to the company, and I saw one of your comments. so... blame them ;) (at this point they're becoming general scapegoats anyway. Just picture it... "Hey, my kid broke his leg." "Ah, Christ! Damn EA." :)
Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-17 11:18 pm (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-18 12:26 am (UTC)I'm a writer. Sometimes I come across other journals that I like because I enjoy the writing style, or the person's point of view. Yours seems interesting. Anyway, thanks again, once we get the hang of the original game I'm sure we'll want to get into it more with Seafarers.
Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-18 01:20 am (UTC)At least, that's the tale I was told.
Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-18 06:23 am (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-18 07:32 am (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-18 09:15 am (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-19 07:30 am (UTC)Re: one question...
Date: 2004-11-19 02:48 pm (UTC)