So three biggies are toppled this month, saving £500, career decision and finally, payrise.

Achievement unlocked: More than a fistful

This one wasn’t quite as tough as I’d originally anticipated. I’d envisioned every lunch being baked beans and cardboard but by cutting back on a few things and being tight with take-aways, charity giftage, Christmas and avoiding full-price retail releases for games I managed to get £100 a month into a savings account. Boy was it worth it! I made a couple of pence interest…

I shouldn’t moan though, at least I know my holiday this year is covered financially and that’s way better than my usual situation which is panicking that the overdraft won’t hold out for the entire duration of my stay away.

Achievement unlocked: I immediately regret that decision

For too long have I been floating around IT and drifting through the various areas it has to offer. I’ve done a lot from hardware support to software support, from first through to third line support. After two false starts I’ve clawed my way back into the web-related arena (just hit the big twelve months) and been lucky enough to make the decision between coding or marketing. I’ve finally plumped for marketing and although the lure of messing around in the back-end of WordPress or trying to redesign my site every few months won’t be going anywhere I can finally say I have a focus and something to work towards going forward.

Achievement unlocked: Cross my palm with silver

Heavily tied into the previous achievement my decision to become less of a ‘jack of all trades’ was inspired by the chance to go permanent for the company I’ve been contracting for. As part of that process I was lucky enough to wangle in a payrise. Pretty damned good eh? Well, hell yes, BUT this momentous occassion also means that I am now going to be earning the most I’ve ever earnt.

You may think that is logical, I mean you don’t often get a payrise and earn less. However I’ve spent ten years trying to claw my way back to the salary I was on when I left my second full-time role. Finally I have managed that task and I have to say that a stone has been lifted from around my shoulders. Ten years of taking a step forward and two back have come to an end and for once I feel like I have a future that isn’t overshadowed by my past.

2012 has started off with the most amazing first month. It hasn’t all been great though as I’ve lost another grand-parent, but mostly, as years go, it hasn’t totally sucked from the get-go.  2012 may be the year the world ends, but it’d be the one year where I’d go out smiling as opposed to a twisted hulk of rage, hatred and bitterness. Probably.

Everyone brought their partners, which was nice, so I got to revist three old friends and meet 3 new people. One couple I had seen relatively recently so they didn’t quad-up my achievement *sadface*. In addition I don’t get triple the cheevo score. Achievement aside I had a great night all in all and very interesting to hear what had become of people since we’d last spoken. As usual I’d probably managed the least progression across the board, no partner, no tales of adventure and certainly no hefty salary with which to slap people about. It didn’t matter though as ultimately these great people were just as I remember them being and it took me to a happier place, mentally. On my drive back home instead of concentrating on the road I stared up at an angle towards where the windscreen meets the roof and wistfully transported myself back to the heady days of Sixth form over a decade and a half ago.

So far this has been my most enjoyable achievement, the result of which is a step closer to my achievement goal and a much needed nourishment of the soul. Living as I do in a cocoon of lonely bitterness, it was enjoyable to burst out and join the butterflies, even if just for one night only.

Another achievement down and starting to run out of the quick and easy stuff!

Next time I’ll use the webcam, my drinking and phone recording skills suck the veritable balls….

Oh, yes, this is littered with spoilers and profanity, so tread carefully all who read on…

ZOMG, totally busted by Imperials for crossing Morrowind/Skyrim border. Taking me for punishment. #EmpireSucks

posted: 17 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Been tied up so unable to skweet, just got free. A dragon attacked us! A fucking dragon!! W00t! #crazyshit #run

posted: 17 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Escaped from dragon with an Imperial guard. He wants me to join Imperial army, Lulwut?! They tried to kill me?!

posted: 17 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

It’s cold but I like it here, pretty flowers everywhere. I ate some blue ones. #TummyAche

posted: 17 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Found a mining cave, went in to say hello but got attacked. They weren’t miners. Killed them all & slept in their beds lol!!

posted: 18 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I just unlocked the “Newbie” badge on @RimSquare

posted: 18 First Seed via RimSqre

Took all of the cabbages in carts at Riverwood, they didn’t mind. Shopkeep asked me to get a claw back too. #chores

posted: 18 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Drunk adventuring FTW. I’m totally desecrating the dead right now! Check it out…

posted: 19 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Got the claw back but not before I found it it was a key. Kept the treasure for myself. Found some weird letters on a wall. #Awesome

posted: 19 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Punched a chicken to death in the street…no-one cared! Am going to Whiterun, this place is dull.

posted: 19 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Some bitch elf beat me up, I think it might have been @denoraek. Nobody helped me

posted: 19 First Seed | @chicken via Skwitter

Got bitten by a wolf, looks infected, bad times.

posted: 20 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Found a farm, people keep saying I don’t look very well & should get some sleep. :/

posted: 20 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

EUUW! I’ve got crabs!! Well, what’s left of the mudcrabs I found crossing the river anyway. #NotTheSTD

posted: 20 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I just ousted Jarl Balgruuf as Mayor of Whiterun @Rimsquare

posted: 20 First Seed | @denoraek via RimSqre

Hey babe, want to come to the mead hall later? I was an adventurer like you, once, until I took an arrow to the knee.

posted: 21 First Seed | @guard via Skwitter

Spoke to the Jarl, told him about the dragon attack. Found some people called ‘The Companions’ who want my services.

posted: 21 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Got a girl-crush on the Jarls dark-elf second in command. She’s hawt! <3 #sexy

posted: 21 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

More dragons! This dickhead wizard wizard & the sexy elf want me to help fight it. Sucks to be me.

posted: 23 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Ha! That was easy, dragons suck teh ballz! Shit got weird though, something happened to me when it died. #weirdedOut

posted: 23 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I wish @guard would stop bothering me about his dragon-fighting cousin…I’m the dragonborn, okay?!

posted: 24 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek Hey babe, missed you at the inn for the dragon killing celebrations. I used to celebrate, once, until I took an arrow to the knee.

posted: 25 First Seed | @guard via Skwitter

@denoraek Didn’t appreciate the explicit DM, I’m not interested in a night under the stars with a bottle of skooma. #blocked

posted: 25 First Seed | @irileth via Skwitter

#FollowFredas @denoraek @irileth @guard My dragon killing homies!

posted: 30 First Seed | @jarl_b via Skwitter

Got me a slave housecarl & I’m a Thane of Whiterun! In your face @irileth!

posted: 30 First Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Sent housecarl home, stupid wench set off every trap. Needs to look up ‘sneak’ in a dictionary too. #grumpy

posted: 1 Rain’s Hand | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Sorry for lack of updates, snowstorm cocked up the signal. Have been working loads for the Companions. #money

posted: 12 Rain’s Hand | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Went to meet Aela tonight, she’s only a fucking werewolf!! WTF!…brb they want me to join. Aela’s hot.

posted: 14 Rain’s Hand | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek @companions Shut up, that’s a secret!! =[ You think I’m hot? =D

posted: 14 Rain’s Hand | @aela_huntress via Skwitter

Lolz I’m a werewolf! I think I killed someone bare-clawed style…feel like hungover or something though!

posted: 15 Rain’s Hand | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek Hey sexy, when are you back in Whiterun, got a great story about the time I took an arrow to the knee!

posted: 24 Rain’s Hand | @guard via Skwitter

This gang attacked the companions & killed our boss. I’m going to try and take over. #Winning

posted: 29 Rain’s Hand | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

More walking and questing. #sameoldshit

posted: 3 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Went to this remote place to help ghost of companion leader. Am now leader! Woo! =D

posted: 2 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek @aela_huntress Did you cure yourself too? That’s not gonna go down well with some…

posted: 2 Second Seed | @Farkas via Skwitter

@denoraek @Farkas Just Deno did, sadly, I thought there was some animal magnetism between us…

posted: 2 Second Seed | @aela_huntress via Skwitter

@aela_huntress @Farkas I thought so too…and there still is..

posted: 2 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Massive crush on Aela, she’s so sexy. #Girlcrushextreme

posted: 4 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Took a ride to Windhelm on a horse & cart. Boy said he was going to be an adventurer so I shot him in the knee with an arrow. #slowTrip

posted: 4 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I just unlocked the “traveller” badge on @rimsquare

posted: 4 Second Seed | @denoraek via RimSqre

Windhelm is so racist! Totally going to sue for racial abuse when I get back to Whiterun. Is it cos I is Dunmer?!

posted: 4 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Broke into this orphans house, weirded out by the skeleton & shit he had there. As I was caught I pretended to be Dark Brotherhood.

posted: 5 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek Go home Dunmer, Nords don’t need your kind stealing our Dragonborn rights!

posted: 2 Second Seed | @ulfric_sc via Skwitter

Crap now the kid wants me to kill some old lady…maybe later. :/

posted: 5 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I am at Dawnstar @rimsqaure

posted: 7 Second Seed | @denoraek via RimSqre

The sea!! No-one can sleep apparently so I’m going to a temple with Erandur to kill a ghost or something. #questing

posted: 7 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Erandur ran into the temple to unlock a door, now he’s vanished. Great. WTF, dude?! Screw this I’m going back to town. #QuestFail

posted: 7 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Another dragon attacked me and a bear, killed them both. Heh. Bags full of shit though, can’t run!

posted: 9 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Oh god this is soooo annoying but I don’t want to leave anything behind #encumbranceIsShit

posted: 10 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@HouseCarlWench Can you come and meet me to carry some of this crap?

posted: 10 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Made Health Potion(alc) and Weak Poison(alc) in last 24 hours. Craptr.rim/denoraek

posted: 12 Second Seed | @denoraek via Craptr

I am at Whiterun @rimsquare

posted: 13 Second Seed | @denoraek via Rimsqre

Sucks, I have to go up a mountain to see some beards because I can shout like dragons or something. #sigh

posted: 17 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Got lost and found some giants and mammoths. I can haz mammath burgerz? lolz

posted: 18 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Selected wrong satnav destination, am now in Riften. There’s a dead thief in the centre of town…I took his stuff.

posted: 19 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Some guy called Brinyolf or Brynjolf or something wants me to steal something. Sounds like a laugh.

posted: 19 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I am at Thieves Guild, Riften @rimsquare

posted: 20 Second Seed | @denoraek via Rimsqre

It all makes sense now, he’s in the thieves guild. I have to give up public skweets for security reasons

posted: 20 Second Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Hey babe, haven’t seen you about, just checking you havent taken an arrow to the knee. Write me.

posted: 21 Second Seed | @guard via Skwitter

@denoraek Where’d you go off to? Assignment? Could you tell us what to do now?

posted: 24 Second Seed | @aela_huntress via Skwitter

@denoraek Lol, Farkas just went mental in werewolf form when we threw a stick. Aww.

posted: 25 Second Seed | @aela_huntress via Skwitter

Back! Am now Thieves Guild leader so I make the rulez! Bored of stealing though, want some action back in my life.

posted: 2 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Killed the old lady for that kid, Aventus, then a naked courier delivered a picture on some paper. Weird man. Going for nap.

posted: 4 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Noise woke me up, think there’s someone in m-

posted: 5 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Freaky. This woman Astrid was from Dark Brotherhood. She lined up 3 people and I had to chose 1 to kill! Killed them all. 1/2

posted: 5 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Hate bitches and their mind games. That showed her, heh. 2/2

posted: 5 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I am at Dark Brotherhood Sanctuary, Unknown @rimSquare

posted: 6 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via rimsqre

Some mentalist jester brought a skeleton to the sanctuary, he talks to it. This shit is messed up. Might leave this gang.

posted: 9 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek Spare some change for a veteran?

posted: 9 Sun’s Height | @Noster via Skwitter

Astrid made me spy on the jester, I had to get in the coffin with the skeleton! Euww! It stank. The skeleton spoke to me. #freaked

posted: 11 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek Seriously, spare some change for a veteran, I need money for Skyrim Fried Chicken.

posted: 11 Sun’s Height | @Noster via Skwitter

Found a book about how to cast fireballs. Fried a rabbit, lol. Told a guard and he said I should go to Winterhold College.

posted: 12 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@Noster I’ll give you a gold piece and some singed rabbit hide, but stop spamming – I’ll block!

posted: 12 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Sorry for the lack of skweets, mad shit happened with the Brotherhood. Bitches be crazy, yo! oh yeah, I’m now the leader! Woo!!

posted: 22 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Was just laughing at how I’m the boss of everything. Next thing you know I’ll be archmage, roflmao. Battery low

posted: 23 Sun’s Height | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek Something we said? We haven’t seen you in ages…we need orders…I’ve been naughty & need disciplining!

posted: 23 Sun’s Height | @aela_huntress via Skwitter

@denoraek Could you come to Winterhold? We need students!

posted: 23 Sun’s Height | @TheWizz via Skwitter

Denoraek has walked 73.8km in 9 hours #SkykeRunning

posted: 5 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skyke

Got new battery from Dwemmer ruins…looking for a staff for mages and taking ages.

posted: 5 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I just ousted Savos Aren as Archmage of Winterhold @rimsquare.

posted: 5 Last Seed | @denoraek via RimSqre

^^ Seriously, you couldn’t make this shit up!

posted: 5 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Sigh. More dragon attacks. Should probably see what these Greybeards want. #yawn

posted: 7 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

FUS-RO-DAH! Doesn’t have the same effect in a skweet. Remind me to show @aela_huntress and post a vid, she’ll love this.

posted: 9 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Bought a flame retardant rug for my living room! Didn’t even burn when I dropped a torch!

posted: 11 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I’ve been all over the Dwemer ruins for @Arniel with his stupid soulgem and now he’s ignoring me when I try to give him back the gems! The cheek!

posted: 13 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

For the love of Talos these people are lazy. No sooner have I finished a job than another rolls in!

posted: 14 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek I’ve thought about your plan…let’s do it.

posted: 15 Last Seed | @jarl_b via Skwitter

Saw @jarl_b today, we’re gonna trap a dragon. lulz.

posted: 15 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I think this guard has alzheimer’s, he’s told me five times about his dragon hunter cousin. :/

posted: 15 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Just trapped a dragon using l33t shouting skills. I’m like a god. Seriously, bow before me. #jokingButNotReally

posted: 16 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

I really shouldn’t have eaten that glowing dust. Feel ill now. #blech

posted: 18 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Made Major Health Potion(alc) and Cure Poison(alc) in last 24 hours. Craptr.rim/denoraekh

posted: 18 Last Seed | @denoraek via Craptr

@denoraek Just DM’d you a question…what do you say? xx

posted: 22 Last Seed | @aela_huntress via Skwitter

Happy days! Aela and me are getting married tomorrow in Riften. Bring presents. That means you @MavenBBriar. #stingybitch ;p

posted: 23 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

@denoraek @aela_huntress Gratz! Can I DJ at the reception?

posted: 23 Last Seed | @jarl_b via Skwitter

@denoraek @aela_huntress Spare some unwanted wedding gifts for a veteran?

posted: 23 Last Seed | @Noster via Skwitter

@denoraek @aela_huntress Need mead? I can supply the finest!

posted: 23 Last Seed | @Talen via Skwitter

Hmm elswyr fondue, my favourite! thanks @aela_huntress xx <3

posted: 25 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Stocking up for long trip to save Skyrim. Went to get a horse from @louisle, but which one?!

posted: 26 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

How did this guard find out I’m in charge of the Dark Brotherhood? Aren’t we a secret organisation! #FFS

posted: 26 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Have to leave phone here as it won’t get any signal where I’m going. Final battle time! Laters!

posted: 27 Last Seed | @denoraek via Skweetdeck

Hey babe, I was going to fight Alduin, once, but then I took an arrow to the knee. Good luck!

posted: 27 Second Seed | @guard via Skweetdeck

Let’s start at the top. The platform (or at least the installer) no longer runs on Adobe Air, it’s now some windows installer. Whether that is a good thing or not I am not sure, depends if the change means the program will become more vulnerable to being tracked by IT or able to be breached with any potential OS flaws.

When it loads it now occupies a permanent slot on the toolbar and taskbar. Previously I was able to have just the icon in the taskbar making it far less obvious I had Twitter updates flying by in the background if I was sharing my screen (especially as Win 7 allows you to hide icons on the taskbar too).

Clicking the X to close the app is no longer customisable, previously you could choose to minimize app to the taskbar, useful for those moments when the CEO circles your desk. Now it just closes the app completely.

It was customisable where shortened links used to bring up a screen showing you the full URL that it led to, now it opens in a new browser window immediately upon clicking. This means I’ll be going back to not trusting short URLs anymore unless I 100% trust the poster as being savvy enough not to link to a dodgy site or giving enough info about the link to warrant a visit.  This was one of the best features imo, why it has been removed befuddles me.

Removed a couple of versions ago was the deck.ly functionality which allowed you to post more then 140chars with a shortURL to the full post.  Whilst I understand why Twitter (now owners of Tweetdeck) might want to force the 140char limit – succinct messages being kinda the point of Twitter, I suppose – it was a useful feature and stopped the horrible ‘multi-tweet’ where the user now just breaks the message out over several tweets instead (particularly painful during a busy timeline).

Lack of settings shows a heavily depleted version of what used to be a great app.

The custom colourisation feature is missing now, so no more cunningly colouring the Tweetdeck UI to look similar to other applications open on the desktop. The whole settings area is completely stripped back to offer very little in tems of customisation.

A number of media items, pictures, etc used to open up in the Tweetdeck client, now they open in the default browser. Irritating when I have my web-apps open full-screen in IE and then a much smaller window in a script-blocked, ad-blocked FF for the odd checkup on news, links etc.  It wouldn’t be so bad but there isn’t even a right-click option to copy the URL, instead I now have to highlight the URL and CTRL+C/CTRL+V into a safe browser. Having someones photo open up full-screen on the second monitor isn’t what I’m looking for from a discreet twitter client.

Basically this seems to be an attempt to coax people back into the browser version of Twitter. Meh, Tweetdeck Fail and other such memes…

Whilst not a mind-blowing film in any way it did give me a new appreciation for special effects, acting ability and suchlike before the power of the green-screen and CGI.  Sure, I’m not likely to choose it over Anchorman or The Big Lebowski as a comedy of choice, but it was watchable and at points was quite humourous.

Having seen it I would now be open to seeing more films of the black and white era, just nothing as old as Metropolis. I think I need dialogue, the placards popping up every few minutes as something I didn’t get played out on the screen was a massive bore. Just like foreign language films with subtitles, I couldn’t persevere with it. I guess I need to be fully immersed in the visuals and audio.

In an attempt to try and get one of my achievements out the way and enjoy a good challenge I opted into NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and initially was doing okay. Then I realised that November is the worst possible month to try such a feat. Firstly there is the collosal slew of games releases ready for the Christmas build-up, then there is my birthday which usually renders a weekend obsolete for anything but gaming and drinking. On top of that I’ve been more socially active and with an added review of Assassin’s Creed to turn around I’ve officially handed in the towel on this year’s NaNo attempt. I’ll be back next year with a plan and proper schedule clearance. As NaNo so wonderfully fitted with one of my achievements to write a book I will continue what I have started, but I anticipate it’ll be February or March before I get time to complete it.  I’m a little sad to abandon the small band of local NaNoWriMo peeps but I’m afraid the time has come to accept my defeat.

With the Special Effect gaming marathon out of the way I still seemed to have a little charitable capability left flowing through my veins. This resulted in getting pressured recruited into doing Movember and deeply regretting the move almost instantly. Initially it wasn’t too bad, hidden by stubble and slow upper lip growth and I was able to mostly escape un-noticed. But a week in and the mo was beginning to gain ground, by week two it was a bedraggled caterpillar lying across my upper lip. Week 3 brought more bushyness and the 70′s porn tash began to take over making people stare as if they couldn’t decide if I was a paedo or indeed trying to get into retro porn.

I tried a pipe tash but got it all wrong so had to shave and start those bits from scratch when I had my courage back. The horshoe was next on my list, at least I might look sterotypically gay but I’d be less embarrassed and hoepfully less gawped at standing in the Waitrose queue at lunchtime.  After its unveiling I had comments ranging from “I have a lot of time for that” through to “That’s brave”. Ultimately I’ve come to accept that looking like a dick for a month is a small price to pay for greater awareness of prostate cancer, even if this morning I got mixed up and said pancreatic cancer to some people in the kitchen. Ah well, that’s probably a good cause too, to be fair.

It would be remiss of me not to mention I’ve been gaming, heavily. Initially with NaNo and other things I’d staved off the gaming but when the chance to review the new Assassin’s Creed came along I couldn’t say no. On top of that recent big releases such as Rage, Space Marine, Skyrim and Saint’s Row the Third sat untouched which went against every geeky fibre in my body.  After the Assassin’s Creed assignment (viewable here – a great addition to the series) I started my trip into Skyrim. I shouldn’t have – particularly when also reading the George RR Martin’s Game of Thrones books. Winter is indeed coming. In gaming, in reading and in reality it is all Winter and rather than facing a cold evening jog when I wasn’t able to arrange a squash match I instead opted for the virtual fireplaces of Skyrim, roasting my leeks and adding salt to any ingredient I  can find and then cooking it.

Needless to say once I started back down that dark path it is all that has consumed my thoughts whilst I work, drive or do anything that lets my mind wander. I race home, screaming obscenities at slow drivers going 40 in a 50 zone, I have to get back to Skyrim dammit! Every precious second spent behind some selfish bastard pootling along is one arrow not let loose from my quiver, flying from the dark corner I’m secretly crouched in through the eye socket of an unsuspecting bandit. That or wandering in snow. I also seem to do a lot of that.

I’ve been training for my fasting next year where I’ll be skipping booze, take-aways and fizzy drinks. So far the cola has been the hardest, a couple of slips with the vodka too but I’m a lot less scared about the prospect than I was when I initially created the challenges.  Other than that life has been trundling along at its usual pace of slothery. I’ve turned back to online dating to see if that can aid me in getting out there and meeting new people, so far it isn’t really working to be honest…I never learn.

Next week I go into hospital for a minor op. I’m not leaving hospital afterwards as a woman or anything, but I’ll be out for a couple of weeks and have already classed that as gaming catchup time. With any luck I’ll maybe make it to 88,000 gamer points. If I could hit 90k by Christmas I’ll be a very happy chappy.

So that’s life with me…I’ll likely do a write-up of Skyrim and Saint’s Row 3 but will see how the mood takes me.

Oh, if you are wondering, I could do with some socks for Christmas, black ones. They don’t have to be ninja socks but thick, sound-deadening ones are preferred – my reasons for those requirements remain my own. Failing that, just get me Microsoft points or arrange for a charm potion to be imbibed by me before meeting Sheridan Smith, Abbie Cornish, Anna Torv or Stana Katic. I know, such fantastical whimsy. A boy can dream, no?

Yesterday I struck up conversation with not just one but several complete strangers. To put some context into this, in order to help chivvy myself along with anotehr achievement (writing a book) I’ve signed up to NaNoWriMo (www.nanowrimo.org). In doing something totally outside of my comfort zone I decided to take a trip into Oxford and attend the kick-off meeting. Being the second person to turn up I had little choice but to engage one of the organisers in dialogue.  I started simple, “So…come far?” I enquired…turns out she hadn’t. After a few seconds of silence and glancing around the cafe where the meet was happening I decided to push forward, “Done this many times?”, thankfully the answer was a fuller one and I found myself the confidence to smile, and introduce myself to others that turned up.

I was there for about an hour and a half and spoke to anyone that came to my end of the table, upon leaving I had a brief intro/farewell to those I hadn’t met at the far end. In the excitement of the event I forgot to grab a photo as proof, but I was there and I spoke…ask anyone else that attended!

Last weekend I had the opportunity, nay honour, to forgo sleep altogether for 24 hours and instead dedicate that time to what I enjoy the most, playing video games. It just so happened that at the same time I was able help raise money for an excellent cause. I believe that would usually be referred to as a “double bubble” win.

It was a glorious victory, both myself and the ever lovely Kat (www.startledthewitch.com) managed to hold our own against the onslaught of tiredness and acheive our goal. We have raised £625 at time of writing which is no mean feat. In addition to the smug feeling of making the most of my weekend time I also get that nice warm glow from knowing you’ve done something for the greater good. We were raising charity for SpecialEffect (www.specialeffect.org.uk) and I have to say that the encouragement from them was great. They retweeted our gaming marathon posts, provided personal thank-you notes and even joined in on a gaming session with Kat. This is no faceless charity, the @specialeffect crew are truly dedicated to their cause and I know that the £625 will be making a difference where it matters.

I played Gears of War 3 for around 20-21 hours of the event, with Bejewelled 3 taking the pace down a little for the final few hours. In that time I managed to complete the campaign on 4-player co-op, go waves 1-50 on horde, 1-12 on beast more than a couple of times as well as some solo vs bot matches. It’s a testement to Gears of War 3 that the switch to Bejewelled was purely because I was making silly tired mistakes (running into AI chainsaws, etc) rather than being bored of the game.

I have to admit that the whole experience would have not been so fun had it not been for Rich, Loz, Bry, Chris, Anton and my little bro who between them covered off a significant portion of the day by joining me in Gears. When they had all gone to bed Mark and Kat were there for me to fall back on for gaming buddies. It was only the final four hours of my marathon where I was truly without an online buddy. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the twitter and facebook support from old friends, colleagues and gamers that were tied up in other things, every message helped, brought a smile to my face or reminded me that I was streaming the entire thing over the web for all to see!

There are a few things I’ll never forget about the day:

• Having something in my eye from about 3am onwards making me blink and rub my eyes like a madman until one was dry and bloodshot.
• Having Chris arrive with a rescue package containing chicken & mushroom slices, Monster Munch and Haribo.
• Creation of a new phrase, “going the full Tetley”.
• Seeing the night/day/night/day cycle from my living room and getting blinded for an hour as the sun rose.
• Feeling guilty for not playing everytime I took a loo break.

To everyone that donated, thank you – you are awesome.

In other achievement news, I took a cursory look over a dating website yesterday evening. I didn’t sign up with a paid account, just added in a few details to see what it matched to me and was a bit taken aback when I recognised the first face in the list…the new girl at work.  I haven’t mentioned anything to her, and it certainly isn’t anything I’d pursue but I found it rather amusing that of all the single people out there this site thought we’d match! I wonder if I’ll come up on her lists and if she’ll say anything…is that stigma of online dating still about, is it something to be embarrassed about? I don’t think so but then maybe I wouldn’t announce it to the office either.

I also took a quick look at my weight. I was 16.2 stone when this kicked off, this morning I was 15.10. It was most likely due to lack of breakfast so I’m not chalking up a weight loss yet, but if it keeps going in that direction then I’ll be happy.

Anyway, one cheevo down, many more to go.