One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four.

Provided I finish this blog within the next twenty-five minutes, I will technically be able to say that I've managed to keep up with this! I haven't left it too late, I've merely strategically timed my day in order to fit in as much as possible. I haven't been lazy, I've purposely scheduled time for intense relaxation in order to leave enough to write this. So there.

Anyway, onto this weeks events...what has happened to me recently that's of interest? I'm going to go against the traditonal route, by starting at the end and working backwards. I've just got in from the pub, where some friends of mine were performing a few songs. They are known as the Potatoes of the Night; I challenge you to find a more awesome name. And while you're looking, try to find a more awesome pair of guys. I can't think of anyone I'd rather chill out with in a pub and watch play a few classic tunes. For a start, their hair is second to none! Few have follicles as frivolous as this mighty duo, completing the true rock appearance with leather jackets. Their music was great too, serving up a series of classic rock hits, mixed in with a couple of modern numbers, their set is sure to mesmerise your musical taste buds. Seriously, if they ever play in your area, give them a try, you won't be disappointed.

Now, I'm going to move away from being a star-struck reviewer by assessing how I came to be in this situation. I am acquainted with this duo of nocturnal vegetables by my good friend Kat Ross, who I am mentioning in this blog in an entirely altruistic sense. She did not ask or threaten to maim me if I didn't. Nope, I honestly am genuinly just mentioning her through my own total free will. Honestly. The story of how I know her is best left for another time, not least because I'm very lazy. But it is through her I came to know this band, and if it wasn't for her (if a little misanthropic) unique brand of personality, I wouldn't have come to know the joys of musical spuds.

In other news, I seem to be attracting nutters that mutter. I don't know if it's just me, but lately I've noticed more and more people mutter as they walk past me. Usually they're of the older variety so they may have destroyed their brains with a whirlwind lifestyle of drink, drugs and many other wild and wonderous pursuits. That's what I like to think, because the alternative is that it's something to do with me. Do I have a giant sign following me about saying "Please talk to me about joining The Rape Society - We do the hard work, so you don't have to."? I wonder, because as I mentioned, recently I've noticed a fair amount of muttering being seemingly aimed towards my person. Has anyone else been in a similar position? Please let me know, or else I might catch the muttering bug myself...

I think that's about it for this weeks thoughts, not a lot else has really happened. My first term of my second year at university is starting to near it's end, and thus all my work is starting to actually become more vital to be completed. I really should get on that, but I'd much rather ramble incessantly at the internet. Damn you digital network of communications! If anything particularly interesting does come up however, you'll probably not be the first to know, but I will share in due course.

On that note I think I'm finished for this week, with a few minutes to spare before midnight. Get in. All that's left is to prove you with a final thought: how was life even possible before the internet? It is actually beyond me.

~ Toby

Such Great Heights

Greetings all in blogland, we're on blog number three now and still going! Wonder how long I'll manage to keep this up...?

I'm writing today from the lovely Welsh city of Cardiff! How did I end up here you ask? Well, you probably didn't ask or even care - but if you're reading this you apparantly have nothing better to do, so I may as well tell you! It's been an interesting week, better than the last at least so I suppose that's a good thing. So let's get going with this weeks top ten moments! Well, three.

A little while after posting last weeks blog, I went off to watch a brand spanking new episode of Doctor Who, and I figure everyone must have seen it by now so I can talk about it. If not, stop now and go find it on iPlayer, then come back. It's called "Waters on Mars" or something. You can't miss it. Go on, we'll wait for you. Done? Excellent, I can carry on! All I'm going to say is...oh good Lord of all that is holy, evil David Tennant! Ahh! Now I don't swing that way, but still, I like evil Doctor! I think it's nice to see a vulnerability in his character, makes a nice change. Now I absolutely can't wait until the Christmas special...

In other news, I have recently aquired a new addition to my bodily decoration. That's right kids, I got a new tattoo! I payed £100 to have a needle dragged painfully through my leg for half an hour, yep I'm clever. My saving grace is that it looks absolutely brilliant, at least I think so. I won't tell you what it is, merely that it's the title of a song by a certain band that I may or may not have a mild or strong obsession with. It's still healing, and that patch on my leg is still hairless which is a very odd sensation, but give it a couple of weeks. I'm really pleased with it, and glad I got it done. I've wanted it for a while, and I just felt that now is as good a time as any. I think it's also that I feel like I'm expressing myself, which makes me feel a little less insane. Usually a plus!

The final fantastically wonderful event that I'm going to share with you lovely people is how I arrived in Cardiff. A friend of mine goes to university here, and invited me for a visit. The ticket was expensive, but I thought why not, let's go to Cardiff! And now I'm extremely hungover, hurray. Worth it though, I had a great night, it was nice to just get away from everything for a little while. The journey up was rather eventful in itself, but I won't bore you with all the details. One thing in particular really stood out in my memory though. I understand that people have bad days, and don't always want to be friendly, but I think a little effort can go a long way to making others feel comfortable. I'm talking about one of the conductors on one of my trains. Some people love their jobs, and this man was clearly among their number! He was just kind and friendly, and what really amused me was when he peppered his announcements with interesting additions. For instance, rather than saying "We'll shortly be arriving at Bristol", instead he said "Welcome to Brunel's marvellous creation, the bustling metropolis of Bristol!". This and the other things he said really struck me; he didn't have to say them, but he put in a little extra effort with huge results!

So whatever your name is Mr Conductor man, I tip my hat to you! Thank you for making my journey much more bearable, and cheering me up with your amusing banter. Anyway I think that's all from me for today, so I guess all that's left is to leave you with a little thought. There is a special type of mitten you can get that's designed for two people to hold hands inside: they're called smittens. I think that's lovely.

Have a good week everyone!
~ Toby

Consistency

Of course, the problem with making a blog and deciding to update it relatively regularly is that I actually have to do it. Bugger. Didn't think that one through now did I? It's been a pretty eventful week, so I'm not quite sure where exactly to start. I realise the beginning is traditional, but traditional is predictable and boring, and being the crazy, exciting person I am...I'll start at the beginning.

I may have told a teeny weeny little fib. This week was pretty eventful, but it was mainly one event stretched over the week. I'm involved in a lovely little theatre group, and we performed our piece on Saturday - which involved lots and lots of lovely rehearsing. I think we pretty much did something for at least an hour or two every day of the past week leading up to Saturday? It was busy busy busy. It was a physical piece, which essentially meant lots of moving about. I'm still quite tired from it all! But rehearsing can only prepare you so much, and come the moment of truth you can never truly be prepared for what happens...

I know we weren't. The peformance went absolutely brilliantly, and we'd planned on a lot of audience interaction. We hadn't planned on the almost full-scale philosophical debate that occured around the end of the piece, which was wonderful! I was feeling very proud of myself! I also managed not to mess anything up (that I'm aware of), which considering it was one of my first proper performances outside of a school setting I'm rather pleased with!

Unfortunately, not everything this week has been good. Sadly I have recently rejoined the ranks of the singles club. I'm sure you care deeply, but it's my blog and I say what goes, so there. Don't worry though, I'll survive, I'm a survivor, it's what we do. Not that I'm bitter or anything, but it still stings a bit. On the plus side, it has made me realise what amazing friends I do have, and their support means volumes to me.

Well I think that's a fairly large waffle...and I'm quite hungry, and now I'm thinking about waffles. Thank you brain. Anyway, hopefully next week's entry will be a tad more interesting, sorry! Though I've just recalled that last week I ended with a thought, and I like the idea of this being regular tradition. So here is this week's thought: just because a tomato is a fruit, that doesn't mean you need to make juice from it!

~ Toby

A fresh-faced fresh start!

The first time I started this blog, I made about two posts in it's whole two-year history. Not minimalist, just pure laziness! However, I've decided that I'm going to change that. I'm going to makeg a regular weekly post every Sunday, at least. I may make more, for example if something interesting happens in my life that I must share with the internet, but if not there should at least be one every week. Not that anyone cares, since I think I had about three readers before? I highly doubt the masses will be screaming at me for more, but you never know. Someone might have a slightly more boring life than mine! Oh well, musn't grumble! :)

My main reason for restarting this entire operation is to partly keep my writing hand in; with all the things I'm involved in lately I haven't had much of a chance to write regularly, so hopefully this will help with that. Also the myriad of thoughts currently circulating the pink organ science calls my brain are starting to drive me a little mad, so if all goes to plan this will make sure I don't end up dancing naked on top of a bus screaming "Good heavens there goes my lemon collection." Yes, I'm probably insane already, so it's probably a lost cause, but worth a try!

There are three thoughts that I'm pondering at the moment. One, it is very, very, very cold. It feels like my testicles have shrunk to the size of marbles. Easily rectified with another pair of pants, but still - very cold! Second, my V for Vendetta poster keeps falling down. I put it back up everytime, but it falls off at least once everyday...I'm blaming the government, that seems to be the trend these days. It's probably a massive conspiracy, targetted at radical free-thinking minds like mine. Bastards. Though it might just be shitty blu-tac combined with gravity. Who knows. Besides, as Bill Bailey tells us, gravity may be a CIA plot to keep us on earth. Scary stuff eh? Finally, I watched a bit of news the other day (yep, I'm that cool) and saw Gordon Brown and his wife on it. Now, political opinions aside, what is she doing with him? I mean, she's middle-aged sure, but she's definitely far more attractive than him. My theory is that he's amazing at sex. It's the only way.

Well, thank you for listening, that was rather long wasn't it? I do apologise. Here is a lovely thought to end with: Mr Kipling certainly does make exceedingly good cakes.

~ Toby