The Weekend through Monday
Phew, busy week so far, so I’m only getting this up today…
Paul was at the Download Music Festival this weekend, watching dozens of the world’s best alternative bands, like Metallica, Tool, Korn, Lacuna Coil, Deftones and Prodigy on an exceptionally hot and sunny English weekend.
Back in SA…
Friday
On Friday evening I met up with Kate and Warren at the Pavillion and, too late for the 7:45 movie, and fed up of shouldering our way through gangs of 15 year olds, we went to Fego to have drinks, snacks and just chat.
We also did some browsing around Exclusive Books (Kate shares my views about tedious traditional fantasy but recommended the Earthsea series by Ursula LeGuin, which I am far more receptive to seeing as LeGuin is such a literary legend), and Look & Listen, where I picked up a few very cheap DVDs (50 First Dates, one of my favourite rom coms of recent years, and Danny De Vito’s excellent family film Matilda, based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story).
Afterwards, Warren and I got our air hockey fix at the arcade, playing 5 games straight.
Saturday
I’d probably classify the first half of my Saturday as demo-day, as I loaded up and put 4 new PC games through a trial run (and it was so nice to be able to play them on high graphics settings with my new card). Anyway…:
Knights of the Temple II- Fantastic idea (a Crusades era game) and quite nice looking, but God awful control-and-camera combo. I gave up after about 5 minutes when my knight plunged off the pier and drowned.
Blazing Angels- Unbelievably, I’ve found a flying game that I actually like! With user friendliness more in line with Crimson Skies, in this WWII flyer you aren't punished for the slightest mistake you make in the air (typical of oh-so-serious flight sims). In Blazing Angels the controls are simple, you get limitless ammo and it's easy to fly, especially with a gamepad- the vibration feedback when you are on full throttle is a nice touch. Actually, there are a lot of fun touches. You can hear the Germans taunting and yelling when you engage in combat, as well as English forces complaining about being outdone in the air by a Yank. Oh, and it runs like a dream as well.
I don’t know if I’d pick it up at full price but as a R100 Ubisoft XClusive Best Buy, it’s definitely worthwhile.
Condemned: Criminal Origins- Oh my! My definite next purchase. From the makers of FEAR, this game is like actually being in a sordid, dark serial killer movie a'la Se7en. Take the beautiful graphics and scares of FEAR and make the game more gritty and realistic. When you run out of bullets, there is no more ammo to collect. You have to wield pipes and 2x4s and engage in some excellent melee combat with mad drug addicts and killers who come out of the shadows at you.
Tomb Raider: Legend: I haven't finished the demo yet, but sheesh, what an all-round improvement. Lara is far more real in every way, the world she explores is stunning and the puzzles can be quite challenging.
Anyway, on Saturday afternoon I went bodyboarding with Micah at North Pier. Surprisingly, even though it’s Winter, the water is warm. I didn’t even need a wet suit. What I did need is an extra set of lungs. Despite one really cool ride back to shore, I had a few very nasty wipe outs where I was under water for ages, disorientated, just waiting to float up to the surface for air. It didn’t help that my borrowed board was too big for me, robbing me of some essential control, and I haven’t got used yet to swimming and walking with waps (bodyboarding fins). At least I have developed a new respect for bodyboarders and surfers who don’t flinch when a massive wave heaves itself up in front of them.
Back at Micah’s, after a shower to warm up, I gave the Samurai Jack PS2 game a trial, and it’s quite enjoyable. Although a family game, there is quite a bit of diversity- there are upgrades to choose and buy, combos and some tough boss battles. Plus, the more injured Jack gets, the more naked he becomes, just like in the TV show.
Sunday
On the sunny Sunday I met up with most of the Durbs gang at Botanical Gardens for a lunch time picnic. I was on potato salad duty while Shirley provided some excellent lemon and garlic chicken pieces, sweetcorn and a chocolate cake.
Back home in the late afternoon, I finally finished Dan Brown’s Deception Point. It actually ended up being vastly superior to Brown’s other non-Robert Langdon book, the very crap Digital Fortress. If you can get past Brown’s simplistic writing style, stereotypical characters and lecturing tone (he’s always imparting information, whether you want it or not), it’s an entertaining page-turning adventure. There is an especially thrilling sequence towards the end of the novel involving a Delta Force squad hunting their prey on a research ship.
Monday
Monday was my grandmother’s birthday. I made my way back home from Jiu-Jitsu (During which I clung to consciousness while grappling against 2 big guys who showed no mercy) to join the family in a proper, delicious 6 course Chinese meal- chicken soup, followed by chicken and prawn springrolls, chicken chow mein, a beef and peppers dish, ice cream with caramel sauce, and fortune cookies. My cookie gave me the message, ‘A dramatic change of scenery soon- all for the better’.
There was a helluva lot of food, and it was a very pleasant evening of socialising, and then relaxing on the couch, watching the action-packed Ghana vs. Italy Football World Cup match.
----
Oh, I had a long MSN chat with Paul on Tuesday evening. Things are really good with us. This 2 weeks so far is the longest we’ve ever been apart. At least I’ve had my routine to keep me occupied during the week. By the sounds of it, travelling alone, and spending time chatting to Jackie has given Paul a really good sense and appreciation of what we have as a couple. At least I’m guaranteed some more hand holding when he gets back.
Paul was at the Download Music Festival this weekend, watching dozens of the world’s best alternative bands, like Metallica, Tool, Korn, Lacuna Coil, Deftones and Prodigy on an exceptionally hot and sunny English weekend.
Back in SA…
Friday
On Friday evening I met up with Kate and Warren at the Pavillion and, too late for the 7:45 movie, and fed up of shouldering our way through gangs of 15 year olds, we went to Fego to have drinks, snacks and just chat.
We also did some browsing around Exclusive Books (Kate shares my views about tedious traditional fantasy but recommended the Earthsea series by Ursula LeGuin, which I am far more receptive to seeing as LeGuin is such a literary legend), and Look & Listen, where I picked up a few very cheap DVDs (50 First Dates, one of my favourite rom coms of recent years, and Danny De Vito’s excellent family film Matilda, based on Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story).
Afterwards, Warren and I got our air hockey fix at the arcade, playing 5 games straight.
Saturday
I’d probably classify the first half of my Saturday as demo-day, as I loaded up and put 4 new PC games through a trial run (and it was so nice to be able to play them on high graphics settings with my new card). Anyway…:
Knights of the Temple II- Fantastic idea (a Crusades era game) and quite nice looking, but God awful control-and-camera combo. I gave up after about 5 minutes when my knight plunged off the pier and drowned.
Blazing Angels- Unbelievably, I’ve found a flying game that I actually like! With user friendliness more in line with Crimson Skies, in this WWII flyer you aren't punished for the slightest mistake you make in the air (typical of oh-so-serious flight sims). In Blazing Angels the controls are simple, you get limitless ammo and it's easy to fly, especially with a gamepad- the vibration feedback when you are on full throttle is a nice touch. Actually, there are a lot of fun touches. You can hear the Germans taunting and yelling when you engage in combat, as well as English forces complaining about being outdone in the air by a Yank. Oh, and it runs like a dream as well.
I don’t know if I’d pick it up at full price but as a R100 Ubisoft XClusive Best Buy, it’s definitely worthwhile.
Condemned: Criminal Origins- Oh my! My definite next purchase. From the makers of FEAR, this game is like actually being in a sordid, dark serial killer movie a'la Se7en. Take the beautiful graphics and scares of FEAR and make the game more gritty and realistic. When you run out of bullets, there is no more ammo to collect. You have to wield pipes and 2x4s and engage in some excellent melee combat with mad drug addicts and killers who come out of the shadows at you.
Tomb Raider: Legend: I haven't finished the demo yet, but sheesh, what an all-round improvement. Lara is far more real in every way, the world she explores is stunning and the puzzles can be quite challenging.
Anyway, on Saturday afternoon I went bodyboarding with Micah at North Pier. Surprisingly, even though it’s Winter, the water is warm. I didn’t even need a wet suit. What I did need is an extra set of lungs. Despite one really cool ride back to shore, I had a few very nasty wipe outs where I was under water for ages, disorientated, just waiting to float up to the surface for air. It didn’t help that my borrowed board was too big for me, robbing me of some essential control, and I haven’t got used yet to swimming and walking with waps (bodyboarding fins). At least I have developed a new respect for bodyboarders and surfers who don’t flinch when a massive wave heaves itself up in front of them.
Back at Micah’s, after a shower to warm up, I gave the Samurai Jack PS2 game a trial, and it’s quite enjoyable. Although a family game, there is quite a bit of diversity- there are upgrades to choose and buy, combos and some tough boss battles. Plus, the more injured Jack gets, the more naked he becomes, just like in the TV show.
Sunday
On the sunny Sunday I met up with most of the Durbs gang at Botanical Gardens for a lunch time picnic. I was on potato salad duty while Shirley provided some excellent lemon and garlic chicken pieces, sweetcorn and a chocolate cake.
Back home in the late afternoon, I finally finished Dan Brown’s Deception Point. It actually ended up being vastly superior to Brown’s other non-Robert Langdon book, the very crap Digital Fortress. If you can get past Brown’s simplistic writing style, stereotypical characters and lecturing tone (he’s always imparting information, whether you want it or not), it’s an entertaining page-turning adventure. There is an especially thrilling sequence towards the end of the novel involving a Delta Force squad hunting their prey on a research ship.
Monday
Monday was my grandmother’s birthday. I made my way back home from Jiu-Jitsu (During which I clung to consciousness while grappling against 2 big guys who showed no mercy) to join the family in a proper, delicious 6 course Chinese meal- chicken soup, followed by chicken and prawn springrolls, chicken chow mein, a beef and peppers dish, ice cream with caramel sauce, and fortune cookies. My cookie gave me the message, ‘A dramatic change of scenery soon- all for the better’.
There was a helluva lot of food, and it was a very pleasant evening of socialising, and then relaxing on the couch, watching the action-packed Ghana vs. Italy Football World Cup match.
----
Oh, I had a long MSN chat with Paul on Tuesday evening. Things are really good with us. This 2 weeks so far is the longest we’ve ever been apart. At least I’ve had my routine to keep me occupied during the week. By the sounds of it, travelling alone, and spending time chatting to Jackie has given Paul a really good sense and appreciation of what we have as a couple. At least I’m guaranteed some more hand holding when he gets back.
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