assassin is also on the shelf unpainted...

I wonder what an assassin with space marine give support base would look like.....

Painting projects still on the shelf

Completion of praetorians
Leftovers of space marine battle force
Ogre kingdoms
Death korps of krieg
Lizardmen
Flames of war open fire boxed set
Dark vengeance boxed set

Death skulls significant progress over last free days

As title. All to table top standard. I might get these finished for the end of the week.....that would mean they will be off my desk after approx ten months!!!!!!!

Still got the following left to complete:

Base all infantry models.
Paint truck
Paint war bikers
Assemble and paint lootas

painting apitheny

The objective when painting a miniature is yo captures the mood of the model.....not to paint the physical details that have been sculpted!

This is why y death skulls tks see coming together relatively quickly today. Three paint is being put on little slapdash but it the colours, washes and combinations see working to create the right image gorgeous s death skull Ork army

helicopter

Grandad bought me a gyroscopic helicopter....it's fooking awesome!

Can get some really good control and because it's from a UK manufacturer it's really easy to get replacement parts for repair (essential as it is crashed often!)

airbrush E13Iw detailed name

130ef91

airbrushes

Veda wd 180

E31w

boxing day thoughts

Laying I bed after Xmas.....all in all a pretty Shit Xmas!

notes

Things still seem different since I got my pass result...

BEng (Hons) MSc (Eng) MICE CEng

feelings

It's Xmas eve.....and I just don't feel that Christmasy!!!!

I can't get thoughts of work out of my head........

Thinking of painting some flames of war and dark angels later though. However, I really should get the orks finished!

wedding before Xmas

Sat having a Shit before Xmas in a new Brighton toilet

picked up rower

Picked up rower for £30 tonight...had my first go...not bad but not great.

Pasma training at Holt tomorrow.

Exec visit today. Best the site has ever looked apparently...he seemed like a nice bloke and I chatted to him ad much ad anybody else. Seemed very interested in me.

body at start

Got to get serious

did workout for first time in long time

Gotta get addicted to those endorphins....must be in bedtime shape of life for wedding

sense of achievement

Need yo srsrt living by this principle again. Tim I'd starting to loose faith in me send I've lost confidence of client. Time gorgeous a change of attitude after Xmas

Ireland

Visited Ireland for the first time today...and measured concrete cover. Now sat in Belfast international drinking Becks waiting for my 8:30 flight back to Manchester....maybe should have gone to/from east midlands or Leeds Bradford? H won't even be home as shes in Warrington tonight

sense of achievement

Gave my bike a looking good clean yesterday and feel pretty happy with it...finding it  very hard tks get motivated at work today...and the rest of the recent past....my positive attitude has made the difference in the past...must boot it into place now!

I haunt painted in fucking ages though, need to get those orks finished over Christmas

Sunday morning thoughts

2012:

I worked for arup

I worked in london

Interserve promoted me to 'engineer'

I learnt how to ride a motorbike

I became a chartered civil engineer

I am not doing well in my job

All in all its not been a bad year.....

I've been chartered for a week

I got annoyed with terry this week. He has lousy confidence in our pre pour checks.....I hadn't done them to be honest. But I have to ask, do I want to be checking steel ahead of concrete pours as a chartered engineer.

This week has not been a good performance from myself. I have done next to no work.

I need to get a little more disciplined.

latest thoughts

I kind of enjoyed it when Paul was away...today didn't enjoy it so much........

more letters after my name than what's in it

BEng(Hons) MSc(Eng) MICE CEng

I am a chartered civil engineer

Today I received confirmation that I am a chartered civil engineer......

civil exam result tomorrow

I'm a tad nervous....I keep having thoughts about passing but its highly unlikely it will happen if I keep thinking like this!

CPR email

Had an email today warning me that I would be receiving my CPR results on Friday....I still havent told h that my results will be issued on Friday. Enjoying the 'secret' but also like the idea that I can't talk about it!

designer stubble

I trimmed my stubble for the first time yesterday.....part of hrs image change?

favourite thing ever

Chinese food

You've been framed

Family on the sofa

My favourite sat night

very relaxing bath

Feeling good about life at the moment. I hope I've passed my chartership but I have to stop 'assuming' I have.

If I fail I've decided that I'm going yields sit behind the topsoil mound facing south and decide my plan of attack.

If I pass I'm going to email Helen with my signature saying thank you and couldn't have done it without her

CPR

Found out yesterday that CPR results will be emailed out a week today...should be a tentative week waiting on pins

annual review

Very inspirational talk from j today during my annual review.

He would bet his mortgage on me becoming a pm and said that I need to set my objectives as high as Tim currently is.

Now need to prove that I can do internals as well civil and structures.

Told him I'd be starting my mba in September.

Feeling good today....my salary is not too bad and I am looking to play the long game with my future...I must not be jealous of others!

job thoughts

Monday morning shit......

Thought about job this morning but it might just be Monday morning blues.

I need to remember that at the moment I am going through the process of finding out 'what I do'.

Through school I kept my head down and focused upon my goals....I didnt pay any attention to what others did. Now h is earning a lot more than me (as are most of my friends) but I can't let it distract me!

I need to hang tough for my civils result, keep discovering what it is 'I do', save for my wedding and keep my focused on my own objectives (not getting distracted by the achievements of others)

professional behaviour

Must behave in a more professional manner at work than I did today....anyway, annual review tomorrow

end to the weekend

Just finished my takeaway.....watch the end of Tim, drive home, want over the girlfriend and sleep until work tomorrow.

Shift didn't go on the cross trainer....I'll do some press ups when I get home

full weekend

This weekend I've:

Drove to Birmingham

Went the pub

Went for breakfast

Went to the races

Went to the pub

Had a great wank

Had a breakfast cooked for me

Drove to Sheffield

Went bowling

Went to the cinema

Lusted over a mate's sexy bird

Ordered takeaway

Watched Tim Minchin

Waited for take away

Thoughts about said bird in lingerie.......

Back is less sore but my wrist is sucking killing!

new project

I was talking with c

heesy

the other day and told him I need another project...I wa

s

wrong.

The time up until my civils

exam is time for me to relax and enjoy not having something to think about. When I get my results I'll either have to resit or, I will have passed, and I'll move on to planning my m

ba

I can't do the mba before I get married....I dont have the money for it. I'm not sure how much debt I'll be in after this wed

ding.

tame day at the races

Down to Cheltenham yesterday for terraces. Didn't get a singl

e

winner! But did see some fit wom

en

thoughts

I don't dislike my job....I just want to get paid more

feel like leaving

Back to thoughts about my future......h's recent promotion and salary rise had left me feeling inadequate.

I've looked at jobs but I'm not sure that construction is where I can improve my prospects. A career change / industry change is not beyond reach but I have no idea where I would go.....

Tim had already dashed my prospects of promotion or a payrise and I don't rate my chances of being in an influential position for a very long time!

I saw Simon today. He was a pm when I met him 6 year ago and he's still a pm now!

innovation day

Not very innovative stuff really!!!! Some interesting points but nothing amazing!

innovation day

Just sat outside the national motorcycle museum waiting for inter s innovation day to start.....there's plenty of insignias in the car park so I can only assume I'm in the right place!

Kind of wish I'd have pet my suit in the car....adds further evidence that I can't leave anything for her to do.

And I navigated to this location without relying upon sat nav....in fact I actively ignored it and stuck to my map reading!! The sat navs thoughts actually confused matters!

I'm starting to get apprehensive about my chartership results......

And my jealousy of Helens sucess is leading me to think I need to leave icl to get my career moving. However, I may not be as good as I think I am. I can't threaten to leave and hope for a bigger pay rise....I have to leave but do so in a way that means I can always come back. However, if I came back I would never get promoted much higher than pm.

Still not sure what to make of this high flyers programme....I don't think anything will come of it! It's secret for a reason and it stands little chance of getting through icl's conservatism.

chances of promotion

Chatted with Tim this morning about my chances of being made into a full senior engineer....he asked what my motivation was. I told him it wasnt the title and I know the money won't be increased. I told him it was about my future prospects. He told me I shouldn't worry about future prospects as my name had been mentioned by directors as being part of a 'high flyers' initiative......

The truth is that it is about the money and the only reason I'm asking is do that my pay will be something like h's. It's jealousy that is driving my thoughts at the moment not fear of limited future development.

Tim openly stated that he would not promote me to senior engineer at this time if it was his choice. But he did say that maybe I should have w's job at Leeds e. A familiar project that poses minimal risk to the business.

I don't know what to do....I need to get more cash but I need to ensure that my future can continue to grow...

another audit

Got audited again today....only a single non compliance when we were expecting three. Will celebrate by going to work on motorbike tomorrow.

Also asked Tim to be made up to a proper senior engineer...will have to see how our chat goes tomorrow

good poo

Dropped out like a rocket!!!!

Paul seems happy with how it's gone whilst he's been on holiday.....let's see what he thinks when he learns a little more! He's not here on Wednesday for QA audit.....get mike to myself....should be fun!

Saturday morning

Yet another unproductive Saturday morning!

lists

One of the opening comments of this blog was that I am a habitual list writer....however, I am starting to get to the point whee I think I bike writing lists more than I like actually doing things. I need to stop writing lists and start doing more doing!

fitness apithany

Fitness is all about allowing your mind to wonder when you are exercising....using that activity to actually solve or mull over a separate problem. This brings there benefits...you get fit, you solve either problems and your increased fitness levels help your brain function better meaning the problems you have to mull over can be more serious ones that before you my well have felt unable to face

today

I haunt blogged for a while......things are going reasonably well at the moment. Tim s had few negative comments on his visit today. This morning's labouring made a difference. My paperwork and temp works is still behind but it is pretty low risk stuff....I've said that now the deck will fall down!

Sex has been good recently....watched a porno with her last night for the first time! 50 shades has really changed her outlook on a few things! Anal and porn for a start!

Mba is still on my mind. And civil result seems less and less favourable.....

sense of achievement update

Recently bought para fitness book....I want to start a new fitness regime with the objective of being hunky for my wedding. Want to be able to  fuck without getting tired.

Feeling pretty good with myself at moment

Nipple tassels will always do something special though I've never seen them.....predictive text works!

jct training course

Interesting few dsys. No hotel....boring course....no sex...but a little breakthrough with structuring my approach to the next five years.

yesterday

spoke to ian r yesterday in the carpark...he commented that i 'have what it takes'. nice to hear.

she's up for anal after reading fifty shades of filth.....

planning the next five years

plan is not yet complete....difficult to write a pkan when your not sure what you want or what you need to achieve....this all, does of course, assume that i have passed my civils exam! a very deadly assumption

personal update

ive been very happy at work in the past few days....not sure why, my shoulder still hurts quite a bit but new driving position actually helps.

good poo

currently sat in trap 2.....quite satisfying.

wasting a morning

and quite enjoying it. good fun jumping off the wardrobe last night.

out on the bike this afternoon followed by dinner with my old boss later

audit audit audit

i have never been audited so much in my life!

however, i think i have survived the worst of it thid week. feeling pretty good atm!

dreading work

i was worried sbkut comung bsck to work todsy but its been ok

dark vengeance

i bought dark vengeance boxed set today! i'll get those deathskulls finished and get on with it.....need to think if a succesor chapter rather than having dark angels, something like tbe ones i saw in gw meadowhall might be good?

lots of hot pretty legal teens at the event today....tight as fuck!

is this what i want?

i found this picture yesterday.... i think i want one. but, can i control it?

allerton grange

currently sat outside allerton grange high school waiting for a hired day to start...feeling a bit tired this morning.

possibly the sexiest picture I've ever seen

This is a very hot, frustrating picture!

first bike clean

I cleaned my fazer for the first time today. Gave it a blast with the jet washer, decreased around the swing arm and then polished the tank and body work.

It wasn't the most thorough clean but it's good enough to get all the shit off and keep it looking good.

I think I'll have to give it a deep clean in s few weeks with some tooth brushes and pipe cleaners.

On a separate point I've noticed some rust on the pipe and the down pipes. Perhaps should think about changing the downpipes for stainless steel ones?

space hulk

H read the entire space hulk rile book this morning in before whilst I downloaded pbl. I think we will be having a game later on!

out on the bike

Did my first small bit of filtering today.....the intention was to go to Salford by crystal peaks and pick up dome cleaning products. The traffic was horrible and I didnt fancy practicing my clutch control around so many cars....I don't have any cleaning products though! Just having a cup of tea while the bike cools and then I'll give it a jet wash.

productive day

Hair cut

Grass cut

Removed some trees

Path weed killer sprayed

Bought pressure washer

Learnt a little about bike maintenance

Read white dwarf

Pizza later

Still lusting after Lucy on homepage of new phone.......

bolt died today

As title

Bolt died because I didnt look after him correctly.

He had shit left in his cage which made him ill and then he wasn't treated regularly enough which meant he never get well.

This US the second animal test has died because I haunt looked after them properly....little rotary the guinea pig was the same.

There is no way that Helen was to blame...I should have taken control if the situation and looked after him. H couldn't even get him it of the tank...how could the expect to look softer him?

galaxy s3

Third is my first post from my new galaxy s3

And the gorgeous pic above will be my screen saver

?

test

Test test test

?

Horny

Have felt very horny this afternoon and this evening. Want to fuck her very dirty but she won't have none of it. This will be the last friends holiday I volunteer for....it's been nice but as always ultimately a waste of a week.


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Reading material

Completed whilst on holiday in Greece:



Currently being read:


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Blood angels

My blood angels are one of my favourite armies. They were very easy to paint, they look exceptionally good on the battlefield, I couldn't give a shot how they play!, I have a strong tactical base, people liked them at GW and I love the cementy / ruined bases.

Question is, should I expand them and build some urban scenery to go with them? Fuckin right I should! Or should I build some some enemies to go against them? I'm thinking the chaos half of the dark vengeance boxed set should be urban based and reinforced with some chaos terminators.

However, still have a grey knights army to do....maybe this should be an army in a day (like he black Templars) now that I don't have any motorbike lessons to pay for (perhaps don't tell Helen about my purchases!)

Necron army in a day would also be good though, I'm feeling heavily washed silver with red source lighting from the gauss weaponry.


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Now until xmas

I'm looking forward to the period between now and Xmas.

Mortorbiking at the weekend. Painting armies in the evening.
Saving up for a wedding.
Working hard but working smart.
Not working too hard.
Plenty of kinky sex.
Perhaps buy an airbrush?
Perhaps buy engine bars?
Definitely going to buy 40k6th Ed.
Need to get fit, lean for wedding.

I would like to paint a 'two tone army' similar to the necrons that blue table painting painted. Something that individually looks ok but on mass looks fantastic. A dirty brown rusted colour would be my preferred colour with some form of bright red. On a completely separate note, I may buy a box of tactical marines just so I can try my hand at some imperial fists.



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Peeved a girls in bikinis today....so wrong but so good. Kinda wish it was a swingers holiday, of course I wouldn't want to be sharing


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View from hotel

I'm currently sat in Greece, on a friends holiday. Arrived yesterday....sat by the pool. All today.....sat by the pool. The view is something special

Night


Day



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Greece

On the way to the airport now


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Oh and watched the kids film Dennis


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Today has been a good day

Went for a ride on my bike
Met Helen for breakfast
Bought shorts and t shirt
Collected and fitted top box
Bought new carryall from Argos
White dwarf arrived
Pizza for tea
Kinky sex later
Must get packed first though


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Ice review

I don't think I showed a broad enough range of experience.....only seemed to talk about presentation and reports.

However, there was a very definite structure to the interview. I also fluffed the 'insurance' question. I simply didn't think of the insurers being the ruthless guys who would get their money back should the hit bolts fail.


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Interview done

Interview complete. I have no idea how it went, they commented that they had so many more questions and could talk for a few more hours. But the guy on the left told me he was the one that was askin the questions and that it was almost impossible to enforce a collateral warranty. He corrected me on the commercial question and said he didn't want a tech answer. I don't think I answered him very well.

I think I have failed on code of conduct and commercial.


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It's now

It is the morning of my chartered professional review. I feel nervous that I will fail but I'm looking forward to the challenge.

I slept very well last night and woke at 5:47.


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Diary extract

After all that has happened it has came to this.....



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Chartered professional review tomorrow

I am actually sat in a hotel room waiting for my review tomorrow morning.

It feels like I have been preparing for a life time. But tomorrow I will have my chance to sit and potentially decide the rest of my career.

I am actually enjoying the wait, reading through my notes and imaging how I will answer the questions. I look forward to reading my sharpe book when I get into bed though.


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Mick reviews yesterday

Went reasonable well but I am seriously doubting my ability to pass.....


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Mock review tomorrow

I have my mock chartered professional review with mike and Tim tomorrow. Presentation isn't formed and havnt had a single run through...I'm hoping all my past presentations will give me the experience to get through this one


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The view from lake district room

This is the view from the room in which I have studied today




I have studied the 2007 cdm regs and a hse guide to h and s in construction.

Very different to my plan to work on my presentation but, they day has not been wasted.

Must remember to slow the process down and focus on a particular issue at any one time. If I get panicky and rush I'll loose all effectiveness.

I forgot to put stamps on the self addressed envelopes.....reviewers will think I'm a dick!

Read se good notes on the dark angels and flesh tearers at lunch time. Very interesting stuff, dark angels seem dark indeed and I look forward to painting them up!

Post saved in archive as no Internet connection last week in lake district

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Fourth ride out

Had my fourth ride out today, starting to feel more comfortable on my bike.

Had a close call with a White van, he should have been clear on a roundabout.....I nearly drove into him.

Waited in rainbow for 3 hours and they did not manage to get my topbox fitted successfully. Will have to go back not next weekend but the weekend after next. Looks like I'll get the plate for free though....

Gs's still look very appealing, only problem us they cost £10000!

Motorway was fun but the wind is a bit of a bitch. I cant see a motorcycle being fun everyday on a commute.

Just trying to get stuck into my CPR presentation now....


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The purpose of this report is to explain how I became involved in murky, addictive world of Warhammer and Warhammer 40000. I intent to write approximately 600 words in one hour as a test for my ICE written assignment. This document must be interesting, to the point and produced efficiently. I first became involved with the Games Workshop hobby whilst still in Junior School. During year 6 I travelled to the Lake District with Mr Gallagher and his Year 6 class. We went for a long walk and to get back to the hostel the clas shad two options; walk back or take an open top bus. I chose to take the open top bus and on that bus a class mate of mine, Joseph Keenan, had a small promotional pamphlet. If I had chosen to walk back to the hostel I never would have read that pamphlet and not have spent many thousands of pounds creating fantasy battles. The pamphlet was stuffed with colourful images of beautifully painted miniatures fighting across wonderfully detailed table top battlefields. I was hooked! When I returned home to my parents, it wasn’t long before I was trawling through the Argos catalogue looking for the Games Workshop starter box (Argos was £40, £10 cheaper than the Games Workshop store). I decided upon the fantasy boxed set that contained Lizardmen and Bretonians. I chose this above the Warhammer 40k option as it contained 8 more figures. Its funny to think that my gaming experiences could have been so different if I had have chosen to fight my battles in the 41st millennium. My involvement for the hobby was spurred on by Mr Cartwrights Friday evening wargaming club. I did not know this club existed until he mentioned after one of our Friday afternoon history lessons, but I attended the following week and thoroughly enjoyed the splender that was the Franco Prussian war in 6mm (this battle is now a distant memory but it is probably the most impressive battlefield that I have seen). I digress…. Following the purchase of the Warhammer Fantasy boxed game I set about painting my first army. I chose the Bretonnians, they were the noble Knights similar to something from Camelot. In my dads garage I set up a small painting station from a fishing seat and an up turned bin. I knew nothing of undercoating or acrylic paint and instead used gloss paint supplied to me by my uncle Graham in coffee jars (these paints were stolen from the British Army’s supply stores, I doubt any body cared). MY first efforts were extremely poor. The archers had yellow and red tunics, black boots and a black bow. The faces were not painted as I did not have a colour that resembled flesh tone. Having read the Battle Book supplied with the starter set from cover to cover, I decided upon my first visit to a Games Workshop store. I had been further seduced by the wonderful models pictured in the publication. MY intention was to purchase some ‘spearmen’ for my Bretonnian army. I was ignorant of the fact that they were actually called ‘man at arms’ and my purchase plans were futile as I had no money to buy more miniatures and my parents would not readily part with there cash when approximately 80 models remained unpainted at home. I stumbled on with the hobby for a short time. I then visited Games Workshop another time for hints and tips on how to paint my lizardmen. I was under the false impression that the scaley critters would be difficult to paint. I was proved to be wrong. The store manager base coated some of my Saurus warriors green and some Skinks blue and then continued to show me simple techniques such as dry brushing. In a very short period of time I was the proud owner of 4 ‘perfectly’ painted miniatures. My idea for an army of glittering Bretonnian Knights was cast aside and I became the creator of a cold blooded Lizardmen Horde. My Lizardmen army was my first, and potentially favourite, army. It contained numerous skinks and saurus warriors and was supported by lizard swarms, a terradon and spitting salamander. The majestic leader of this army was a Slann Mage Priest held aloft on a palanquin. MY efforts to construct this miniature were disastrous. I never got the shoulders of the four saurus warriors to line up with the sections that supported the palanquin. In later life I learnt that I should have chopped the ‘slot key’ from beneath the feet of the saurus to ensure they lined up. At the time my engineering mind was not so well developed. Just over a year ago I purchased a second slann model that was cast in approx 1998, I intend to address my inability to successfully complete the slann model. I fought my very battle with my fully painted Lizardmen army. I fought a young St Catherine’s student named Lee Costello. The battle was 2000 points. There were no particular rules for army selection. I had very few models and so bumped my army upto 2000 points by taking extremely expensive character models. Lee chose to take 1000 points of Bretonnians supported by 1000 points of Dogs of War. Very few models in his army were painted and to this day I believe that his selection was ‘beardy’. I suffered a massive defeat but was proud that my army reflected the effort I had put into it. Lee’s marching metal and plastic did not hold any visual appeal. I spent many years looking over numerous White Dwarf magazines in my parent’s house. I would sit quite contently for hours on the arm chair beneath the bay window looking at items I couldn’t hope to have. Two articles really made an impression, one was ‘Orks Drift’ and the second was ‘storm the trenches’. I couldn’t possibly hope, at the time, to recreate these battles using my own models due to two factors: • A distinct lack of money to purchase the models • A fading interest in the hobby due to lack of playing partners, parental support and a fear of ridicule if any one found out I was a table top gamer. As I grew older my interest in the hobby faded. I never lost my interest completely but during VI form and university I did not involve myself with the affairs of the fantasy realm or the 41st millennium. After six years of study I was the proud owner of three a levels, a bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and a Masters Degree in Engineering. I moved into the adult world and began a full time job with a construction company. I cannot remember the exact trigger but at some point I travelled to Sheffield City centre, entered Wargames Emporium and became the proud owner of an 6mm Baccus American Civil war Union Army. I split the pack in two and created a small Confederate army and Union Army. I even created a four piece modular terrain board upon which they could do battle (it was however a little tight). I was back into the wargaming hobby! MY next significant purchase took me by surprise. I yearned back to my childhood days and googled the White Dwarf article ‘Orks Drift’. I then purchased the limited edition Praetorian 24th boxed set from Ebay.com for approximately £300. The box was shipped to me from America and I became the proud owner of a platoon of the emperors most polished foot sloggers. To complement this purchase I bought around 100 Black Reach orks, much to my surprise I enjoyed painting the orks much more than the Praetorians. To this day the Praetorians remain unfinished yet I have moved onto my second ork army! I enjoyed paining my ‘Orks Drift’ ork army. Each and every miniature was painted to the best of my ability at that time. But it has not been the most challenging army I have painted. This title definitely goes to my White Scars recon force. White is renowned for being an extremely difficult colour to paint. I used Lester Bursley’s method to paint my white scars. It is a relatively simple technique but provides extremely striking results (yes, my efforts are not as good as the Golden Demon winner himself but I am content). The idea is to undercoat white, wash black and then highlight up to a crisp white edge again. The method works for infantry and vehicles alike. My miniatures were proudly displayed in the window of a games workshop store, testimony to the method rather than my painting ability I think. Having spent so much time completing my White Scars I felt in need of a break. MY love for the hobby was high but I couldn’t stomach more tedious, highly detailed, labour intensive work. It was for this reason that I began to look at the Army Painter range of products. Army Painter is fantastic. It will not give you individual golden demon level results but it will provide you with a fully painted army, that en-mass, looks extremely impressive. I decided that I was going to speed paint my first army using the dipping technique advocated by Army Painter. However, I chose Ronseals quick drying wood stain. A fifth of the price, comparable results and indoor friendly water based mixture (better option all round in my opinion). My first dipping foray was a skaven army constructed from the Island of Blood starter box. I did not bother buying the boxed set, I just bought a skaven ‘half’, additional clanrats and a doom wheel. I painted this army in a week. The objective was to have a coherent, table top quality army that looked impressive when held at arms length. I was pleased with the results and have ha comments when I have taken the army to Games Workshop stores. My success with the skaven, and left over dip, made me think that a 40k speed painted army was a good idea. I chose to dip a tyranid army comprising only of genestealers. This army was painted quickly and also is perfectly acceptable table top quality. I have always been a fan of producing armies with ‘natural’ opponents i.e. painting two armies at one time. This brings a number of benefits: • Varies what you have available to paint • Your armies always have and opponent (this probably stems from my lack of playing partners when I was growing up) So, I ensured that my tyranids had suitable enemies in the form of some dipped blood angels. Many people will say that it is foolish ti try and dip marines as they have multiple blank panels on the model. This is true to some extent as dipping is more effective for organic models eg Tyranids and skaven. However, if you manage your expectations and realise that you are getting a completely painted army for relatively little effort, then I believe you will be happy with the results. I am currently painting my second ork army. These will be deathskulls and the idea is that they will be used to counter my Death Korps of Krieg army that currently resides unpainted and unpainted on my shelf. A second ork army is always a fantastic idea for any ork player as it then means the world of gorkamorka is open to you (yes gorkamorka is silly but if you play it like a stupid ork then it is very entertaining). When my ork army is complete I am not sure what I will paint next. I am intrigued by the release of the 6th ed 40k boxed set, I believe this should be a compulsory purchase for all hobbyists. You will only kick yourself in future if you do not shed should hard earned cash on it now! I hope you have enjoyed my story. I am sure some of the points will echo with many readers (particularly leaving the hobby to chase women and then returning later in life) and I am sure that some will think this is nothing but pure drivel. The choice is yours gents! MY advice to new / young hobbyists: 1. This is a hobby, not a lifestyle. 2. Enoy the hobby but remember it will always be there, beautiful young women will not, therefore pursue the women! 3. Talk to everyone you can and ask their advice 4. Evaluate advice and choose which points to act upon. 5. Its your hobby, no one else’s. Do not try and emulate the achievements of others. Be happy with what you achieve. 6. Set realistic goals 7. If you buy it, paint it and use it! 8. Listen at school, get an awesome job and then you will have the money required to buy the plastic crack we are all addicted to!

Today I collected my bike!

Today I collected my bike from the dealership! Got a free universal plate and top box, only had to pay the £63 for the bracket.....not £200 as I expected for the whole lot. Nervous ride back from the dealership (first gear is a bit weird and it's high pressure on the wrists but I'll get use to it).

Had a little bit of a better ride this evening, had to dodge the thunderstorms though....was quiet nervous pulling out at a junction, much to the annoyance of a very nice lady. I spent 5 mins in the garage with the bike when I came back in....even managed to get it on the centre stand!




Another point as well....I picked up £336 worth of helmet from smc this morning. It has a fog proof plastic insert, I was a bit sceptical but it really works (note the foggy edge of the visor to the right)



The fazer is much smoother than the BMW x country I learnt to ride on, however, I think at this point I prefer the low end power of the BMW. This could all change in the next few months though.....other than my poor control trying to turn right into my road the fazed has not 'scared' me with it's power (but then again, I havnt yanked on the throttle!)


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So close to exam

I am so close to my chartership exam.

Earlier this evening I feared that I had taken my eye off the ball and had fallen completely behind. However, this evening I have stepped back from the situation, drank two beers and eaten cheese in toast, and developed a plan:




This will a test of endurance and organisation. I've done it before and I need to do it again...I can't let this slip through my fingers!


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Good day

Good day at work today. Not much work done on ice but I feel I am more preparing myself mentally for the challenge rather than 'revising'


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Blowing up

My dad once commented that he never worried about people ruining me (paraphrasing) but he did worry about me ruining things for myself...I Definitely think he was right.

Since starting work back with icl I've been extremely aggressive and abrasive. Simple fact is that I'm not as good as I think but I am good enough to be in the role I am. I am essentially stuck were I am so I need to get on and a bloody good job. There is no point being an aggressive, overly ambitious, under achieving fool. I must maintain the quiet, authoritative, confident, robust style that I have always tried to nurture.

Must slow down the working day, get the right answers first time and methodically get things done


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Work and ice

Yesterday I was ready to quite icl.....today I had a reasonably good day....it's a torturous circle for h listening to me moan


It is 27 days until my ice review....I am starting to get very nervous about my ability to pass. There are two options...I'm either going to crash and burn because I think I'm better than I really am. The second is that I actually understand what is required and am over complicating issues.

One thing remains definite, I must do more practice exams and maintain a calm cheerful approach through the review process......that's what separated me out through SHCC and LWA must learn to keep it now


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I'm a motorcyclist!!!!

Yesterday I passed my mod 2 exam with 1 minor. I now have an unrestricted motorcycle licence!!!!!!

Sense of achievement is fairly high at the moment. Next battle will be chartership.

Can't believe how expensive bike stuff has been and I still havnt bought a fooking helmet!!!!


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Question?

What will be the objectives for the next ten years?...........


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This time 10 years ago

This time ten years ago I was stacking shelves in the Marian square kwiksave for £3 an hour....I learnt alot doing that job. Not much that is directly of use but more about how to maintain a good work ethic.

I did my first 12 hour days working in that shop. It was the kwiksave job that got me a job in the spar, it was the lpool spar that got me a job in the Sheffield spar. It was the Sheffield spar that kept me in work for that first summer after first year...it was my shit time in shef spar that made me determined to get a job in industry and get sponsored.

It was the sponsorship that got me through Uni and allowed me to get a job with interserve.

It's the job at interserve that has meant that I am sat here now studying for my chartership exam that takes place in only five weeks.....

10 years since leaving school, some much has changed but so much has stayed the same.

I think I can be proud of what I have achieved in the last ten years.


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Mod 1

Today I passed my mod 1 motorcycle test.

I completed my emergency stop at 65 kph. Got told by the examiner to slow it down a bit.....and them got a minor fault when I did the avoidance at 48kph!!!!!

Slow control was good though. Lessons later in the day were quite good.

Was shot at roundabouts, turning off the indicator and doing the lifesaver when turning left....must get these nailed before the mod 2 next Tuesday.


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General update

Spent £335 at hein gericke today, the benefit was that the stuff was worth £400 quid. Got 20% discount because there closing down!

Good sense if achievement at the moment. Mme slot went very well, only fluffed one u turn but still managed to salvage that!

Fuckin awesome!!!!!!!!!




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CPR application

Today I sent my application to the ice to sit my chartered professional review....I also met Ian r....very polite but certainly has an aura about him.

Must get the reports finished so that I can get cracking on interview revision and exam practice!


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We havnt spoken for a while

Went to a fishing meeting at handwriting working mens club last night...pint of bodys very enjoyable.

Meeting with smithy tonight that I havnt prepared for at all!

Application to compile tonight for Chartered professional review....holy shit!

Very poor h+s inspection from Greg. Most if his stuff picked up on last inspection hasn't been done!


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Update

Things are going reasonably well at the moment...
Image change has stopped
Sense of achievement is reasonably high
Next week is the beginning for CPR applications...must get it in for Friday!!!!!!
Today has been less productive than planned but I have enjoyed the break and feel ready to go again tomorrow!
Looking forward to the release of 40k 6th edition, watched a little bit of a bluetablepainting batrep but that was clear as mud.......
Was thinking this evening whether or not I could assemble, undercoat, paint and base an army in a day?


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Grahams comments on ice reports

Grahams comments on ice reports will forever we've ad a reminder of how worthless my contributions to interserve have been....

The point of this statement is that today I was an arrogant prick in work and probably over stepped the mark with j and p. So much so that p had a closed door discussion with Jason about my daily diary writing.

My career to date has really not been that impressive and I really have got a long way to go!!!!

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Professional review update

Today has left me with a good sense of achievement....

Unblocked the drain
Mowed the grass
Got rid of some weeds from the drive
Cleared some of the garage
Saw little brother
Reviewed project report in light of tims, mikes and Grahams comments....not 100% complete but made good head way with revision b of the project report


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Yesterdays comments

Yesterday I was down on my relationship....nurses outfit and some Victoria secret lingerie and a delivered curry has sorted that out!!!!

Today I'll do a bit round the house, have my brother over for lunch and then do some report revisions!

Painting will have to wait today (will also have to keep up with the tennis to see at what point murray gets spanked!


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Lure fishing

Did an hour or so of lure fishing behind American golf this afternoon. Saw a pike in the margin and foul hooked a tiny perch.

Educational session, feel a little better about casting and it's nice to use that expensive braid I bought!

Also, picked up some soft rubber lures from backside tackle. Very good action!


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Fucked up das

Kk fucked up bookings today and I lost out because some other cock booked his mod 1 before me......and I was the only one willing to sort it and had to fall on the sword!

Anyway, mod 1 and mod 2 are now booked.....here's hoping irony fuck them up! If i do I'll have to sit do my tests somewhere that have tests on Saturdays (Wakefield maybe?)

Now picking h up from train station....why am I so low about our relationship at the moment?

Need to get on with report revisions and interview and exam prep!!!!!


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Good thoughts

P has just informed me that Tim thinks the sun shines out of my arse.....apparently Tim has told me I'm going places in the company.......it's nice to know that tim thinks this but let's see how it translates into actual progress in my career

On the plus side mike w informed me today that Ian r has agreed to be my ice sponsor (I wonder what mike said to convince him....?) Graham will also be my sponsor (but I wad hoping \ expecting this anyway)




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Sense of achievement

Not talked about this for a while.......

Fairly content with my attitude to the world at the moment. I don't think I'm doing the best of jobs at wakefield buy that'll change when I get a reliable it set up.

Painting is going well
Next biking lesson is Saturday
Fishing is ok

I got draft versions of my reports done before I went to Whitby. They were nit well received by papa smurf or Tim....I think I've come across as a pompous twat...however it doesn't matter along as I get chartered in september. However, I am realising now that it is very possible that I will fail and my experiences to date with inter have not actually been that great (or valued)!!!!

Change of image has all but ground to a halt....but I am Happy with my image at the moment...maybe some new clothes when I can afford it.

Probably won't offer to pay mum and dad for portion of holiday in Whitby....this will allow me to stay within the £200 budget I set. And I got about £60 worth if lures and braid out of that budget!!!




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On the shelf and work bench

On the work bench I currently have a 1000 point irk death skulls army.

On the shelf waiting to be painted I have:

2000 points of lizardmen
1000 points of deathskorpsofkrieg
1000 points of Ogres
Half battleforce of marines (WS?)
Grey knights assassin
300 points of praetorians


On the list of possible projects I have:

Death guard army
Grey knights army
Extension to blood angels army
Ork bomma



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Orks progress

Made some good progress on the orks today. Painted for about 6 hours.

All the regular ork boys now just need a wash and basing before they are complete.

I went a bit 'bluetablepainting' style on the application if blue but I think it works quite well. This army has been on the work table a long time now so needs to be off sharpish!!!

Lootas still aren't built and the arms for the bob bikers aren't primed.....

I deinaty prefer the mass look of army painting tater than the elitist single miniature golden demon standard....but us that just because I can't do it?

I'll try and get them all washed tomorrow














After a wash they should look something like this...




I quite like them to be honest....

Thoughts still drifting towards the purchase of deathwatch nurgle army next.....but what about purchase of grey knights!!!! Or painting what's currently on the shelf....see next post!


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No fishing in whitby

Went to robin hoods bay....no fucking water!


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Whitby

A few days off in Whitby with the family. Shays-long in the bed room should make for some discreet mucky fun!!!

She looked really hot in her leggings and little vest top when I got home.....could have fucked her there and then!

Will need to get her in a new outfit sometime soon...,,


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Ice reports

This evening draft versions of my ice experience and project reports were sent to 8 chartered civil engineers.

Tim commented to me on the phone today that the first 6 pages of the project report were a bit 'clunky' and will need some reviewing. However, he did also comment that it is evident that much work has gone into them and I shouldn't be too worried.

Heres hoping that our 5pm meeting on Thursday yields some constructive advice and realisation that I can do much more than is currently being asked of me!





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Appealing miniature.....

I think this might go well with 40k sixth edition.......may just be a compulsory purchase if the box contains chaos space marine scum!!!!



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Attitude towards money

We are almost into the 12 month run up to my wedding......attitude towards money has to change!

There has to be a fucking good reason for me to separate myself from my money....already given a rant on buying lots of drinks and getting completely pissed on nights out....now it's time to start thinking about every day things.

iDisks go to Phils wedding because it would cost too much....I have ignored Otley runs because they cost too much money......today I didnt buy screen wash because I was sure I had some at home in the garage.

Tight to start justifying all expenditure and planning expenses and not breaching the budget!!!!!


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Ork progress

One hours work tonight and I've got all the weapons painted up on a 30 strong mob of boys...they still require a good wash of badab black (couldn't give a shit what new name is!).

Must get these boys finished before buying the new 6th edition boxed set!!!

Still got to undercoat the biker arms and build the lootas!!! 5 weeks to get em done.....not golden demon standard individuals....a good solid, coherent, well painted ARMY!








Psnotice the new desk layout, old desktop retired. Replaced with dualscreen laptop!!!!!!



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40k sixth edition

Whit dwarf got delivered today....40k 6th edition rule book will be released at end of the month.....my guess is that the new starter set will be released at end of July....which I will be buying no matter what!!!!!

Now the deal with myself us that I get my second irk army finished prior to buying 6th edition. I have five weeks before I can get my paws on the starter set but....I have to work on chartership also!!!!


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Two weeks back on site

And I've found out the design manager is a year younger than me!

Oh well, careers going no where but.......still got to be good at it!



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First draft reports submitted

Today I gave a draft copy of my experience and draft reports to the senior project manager. Feels like there is a weight off me.

I've also got my man room tidied up which has been depressing me for a while.....I think I'll have two separate work areas....painting and studying. Week after next I'll get the garage sorted....


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Stag do!

Had stag do last night....was a bit quiet but curry was delicious!

Mild in punch bowl was a bit keen with the non Christians...daughter was smokin to!


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Pay rise / senior engineer

Gareth suggested that pay rise details will be delivered some time this week....eagerly awaiting.

I am listed as senior engineer on hq job....actual grade within the company doesnt reflect this. Can't help but feeling that icl are getting something for free......however at lwa I was kind of senior engineer as well as graduate engineer, at least now I only have to be a senior engineer

Overheard a telephone conversation today...I wonder what 'w falls off the back of g' means...particularly when discussed between a com ad and a od.


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Paid for bike

Today I gave rainbow motorcycles permission to take the remaining £1800 out of my account for my motorbike. Rainbow will store it for me but they didn't seem too happy about me not having my test booked!

Two days back at interserve. Atmosphere seems a bit frosty....maybe they don't thinking as good as they used to think I was...maybe balcony steel has something to do with it?

Good progress this evening on my project report. Just got the summary section to write and the first draft will be done. Goal is still to deliver the first drafts to readers on Monday. Will be hard going but I think if I stay as focused as I did this evening I'll be ok....appendices, diagrams and figures won't be quite there but everything else will.

Still quite tempted by a fishing seat box but am not quite sure that I actually want one....may be it's just the 'look' that I'm after?


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Next time at Aston

I think next time I go to Aston I'll fish the lake with the island. Short range float work will do me good. Next pay packet I will invest in a new float rod and some 6lb line for feeder fishing. A good reel would probably be a sound investment but today has proved that my little cheapy is up to the job.

The tungsten rig weights made fantastic float stops. Much better than dragging split shot up and down my line.


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Biggest fish ever!!!

Today I set out with the objective of catching a carp. I got the biggest I've ever caught!!!!!




I didn't fish very well.

Didn't plumb depth correctly
Didn't cast well
Didn't feed sensibly

However, the change to the feeder from the float really made the difference....and I got the reward!

Next time I will plumb up effectively, do it first without adding a single split shot to the line. Then I will mark that depth on my float rod using a rubber band. With this datum set I can bounce around over depth / under depth all I like.

Pellet rigs worked well to hair rig some sweet corn...I think they little White maggot I also added may have helped attract the carp.

Boillies weren't up to much but I kind of expected that.

Aston feed pellets worked well when they were melted down with some water and blended with some method mix ground bait.






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Incorrect post

The list below is actually incomplete and therefore incorrect....I missed out black libraries dead men walking!!!!

Well over ten read!!



Chickenhawk
Micheal macintyre
Alan sugar
Roadside crosses
The day of triffids
Shantaram
The man who broke into auschwitz
Memoirs of lt winters
Pig island

And currently 100 pages into Simon scarrows book 'the gladiator'

I have reached my target of ten books with the completion of pigisland but my ice progress is not going as well as could be. Hopefully this week will bring it back on target!







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Something to look forward to

Looking forward to getting a piece of this...




After watching this....

http://mobile.spankwire.com/video/show/title/don___t_tell_mommy_1/id/306482

Won't quite be the same but it'll do for me!!!!




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Good morning

This morning I was up at 7:30 and have dragged my project report up to 2804 words with 5 sections still to write. It isno where near a finished article but I do get the feeling that there is enough in it to be worthy of ceng standard....this may bite me on the arse later!!!!

My plan is to get the project report first draft complete for Monday....I'll then give it screw days rest whilst I go over my experience report.

When the reports are finished I need to through them and try and identify potential for questions during the interview.

I think my reports are now back on track but my 'ice syllabus' is way behind schedule.


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First 550cc day

Yesterday was my first attempt at the 'big bikes'. Kyle mentioned that I actually rode thebigger bike better than the smaller bike....
However, riding the backs in the afternoon was on quite an easy route. The day began on the 125 bikes and I made a few fundamental errors riding these!

1. Changing direction on junction after other guy went the wrong way...test fail
2. Pulled up in a bus stop....test fail
3. Stopped at Amber light, locked up back wheel and nearly through myself off....test fail
4. Got lost going to smc and drove dangerously to get back with Kyle...test fail

Next two lessons are booked and should now look to book my mod 1....but getting a week day off to book it will be a bitch!!!


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Arup update

Only one week left to go at arup and two of those days are bank holiday.

Then back to construction site work...I believe I will be the senior site engineer but I don't think anything in my role will change since my last three years. The only difference now is that icl can fully hold me to account for all the fuck ups made in the command chain above me.

New pm is a man if procedure and policy. GL seems to believe he is a parerwork guy with little thought for getting the job right...I don't doubt GL's thoughts but am not sure I trust his ability to form the judgement.

I believe the procedures and paperwork can actually be used to strengthen site activity. They are but a means to an end to help you do your job properly and prove that you have done your job properly.

There is a place for all the paperwork provided that all the shitty site coordination and headless chicken work is done beforehand.


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Keep net

Picked up a keepnet this morning from backside tackle, £35 but looks to be good quality. Got a net bag from Aston park fisheries £20....added bonus is that it fits my bloody awkward chair in!

I wish I had bought a pint of maggots from either of these shops....maybe will have stopped me clanking in my first match this morning!

I think I need a trip to Aston park to get a carp under my belt.....maybe a a good quality reel loaded with 8lb line and a new float rod (but what's wrong with the kingfisher classic I've had for best part of 15 years....)


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1st ever fishing match

At syndicate lake this morning. Complete disaster, not a single fish!

Got some bites on the feeder but nothing at all on the pole float. I dont think I Plummed the depth right on the pole float.....next time I think I need to plumb the float without the shot having any effect on the float. Must be plummet hard on the bottom and float in the water (not the plummet in the bottom, float cocked by the shot and a heap of crumpled line between shot and plummet!)

Not confident casting the feeder with a load of other anglers watching.....or holding the pole at a comfortable angle when fishing.


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Chickenhawk
Micheal macintyre
Alan sugar
Roadside crosses
The day of triffids
Shantaram
The man who broke into auschwitz
Memoirs of lt winters
Pig island

And currently 100 pages into Simon scarrows book 'the gladiator'

I have reached my target of ten books with the completion of pigisland but my ice progress is not going as well as could be. Hopefully this week will bring it back on target!







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First time at syndicate lake

After work tonight I went fishing. Bait was in the water at 19:10 (after some faffing...really must get rigs made up).

Used 1oz method feeder. Dynamite methods ground bait dampened with sweetcorn juice. Got a few good bream like one below.




They do tend to fight like a wet sack.

Then I got into a barbel.....my first ever!!! Fought much harder than the barbel and when i saw those ted find I knew I was into something special!



Also saw two massive carp cruise right beneath my quiver tip!

There's big fish in their wonder if I can tempt them out this summer?!

All in all an excellent trip of just a few hours, well worth the expense of new pestering gear, rod licence and lake membership. Matt Hayes was right, you can't catch 'em sat in your armchair!


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Motorcycle theory test

Today I passed my motorcycle theory test


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Pig island

This morning I finished reading pig island by mo hayder.

I started reading this book in march of 2010 and for some reason, over two years later, I've just finished it.

Was a good read, not the greatest but had a very good twist at the end. Probably worth a read for the last 6 pages.

Next I will be moving onto 'the gladiator' by simon scarrow.

I will update the lust of all the books I've read whilst on placement at arup this afternoon.


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New toy

£600 to insure and it's gonna cost damn near £3000 to get to ride it but fuck!!!!!

Promise only what you can deliver and deliver what you promise!

Say what you mean and mean what you say!






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First ever motorbike

On Saturday I placed a deposit on a 2001 yamaha fazer...total cost will be a further £1800. I still havnt passed my test and my tutor doesn't seem overly impressed by my performance so far.....I can really do without Phils stag do this weekend but I'm sure it'll be fun when I get there

Presentation to directors tomorrow also....should be good for a laugh! I'm not well prepared but I think my presentation is simple enough to be clear and effective.

Also joined a fishing syndicate on Saturday morning, £35 a year but it will give me some enthusiasm to have a go!!!!


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Msc paid for

Today I paid off the final £710 off my graduate development load for my masters. I feel quite proud.......

The masters was essential to get chartered, I got a distinction and finished top of my class. All of that would have been pointless if I fail in September....time to knuckle down!

I'll get through the presentation on Tuesday and then have a concerted effort to crash through the reports, interview prep and exam prep.


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Meresbrook

The place with the hills


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125 day

Stalled once
Put foot down in u turn
Still shit with turnin signals off
Too hesitant on a hill
U turns not tight enough
Going too far out on the left turns (must hug the kirb!)
Check the fucking blind spot!!!!!!!!!
Do the life saver...it's a life saver for a reason!!!!!!!!!
Not on big bikes yet, kyle doesn't think good enough yet

Must get through next Saturday without stalling once and really get the slow control sorted on those horrible hills (can't remember what the areas called at the moment!)
Found a fazer in smc for 1500 quid, dealer got down to 1350...but lyles advice is right. Don't bother buying a bike until passed test and test rode a few bikes....there will always be a fazer for 1500 quid because there at loads of them around!!!!



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Career progression

Today I had a conversation with icl director. I will shortly receive a pay rise (more than most) but I will only be promoted to site engineer...not senior engineer as hoped.

I will be pulled out if secondment early to start work on site in the waky new police station.

Frustrating part is that I will be required to act as a senior engineer and 'report to the con man' - something I have been doing for last four years.

If he comes back with a pay rise that takes me to 33k then I'll be happy....I'll have the pay rise and hold tight for a further pay rise and change in title.

If the pay rise is less than 20% I will sit tight, do my job to the best of my ability, sit my chartership exam and then start looking for another job. I will not threaten to leave, I will find a job, hand in my notice and leave. I would only stay if icl offer me more money (but I refuse to tell them what the new offer, even if it exists, is)

All of this ambition relies upon two things:

1.
Me being as good ad I think I am....which in practice I'm probably not.

2.
There being other jobs that I have a reasonable chance of getting.

I can't walk away from a job that pays for a roof over my head, it's a time served industry and there's nothing I can do to change it....ambition will eventually be found annoying by my superiors.


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125 day out

Nearly killed a group of cyclists
Nearly got killed buy a silver car
Stalled on a hill.....
Good learning curve but it is fair to say I'm not a natural biker!!!!
More practice though!!!!!

Went to rainbow motorbikes and was very impressed by the orange gs 650....Kyle keeps sayin there the perfect beginner bike...I'm tempted, certainly is the better option than a cruiser....particularly when am trying to stay alive on the horrible hills of Sheffield!
Must learn to know what gear I'm in!



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Aspiration for raising children

Give them enough money to do something ........ But notebough to do nothing!


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Good weekend

Friday night steak
Saturday night steak
Sunday Ikea and good sex
Now sat in my new chair under the window...I believe being sat under a window in the warm when the weather is shit outside is one of my favourite things in the world!!!!



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Why exercise is important

It's boring
It's hard work
It's easy to stop
You only do it for the feeling when you have finished
That's why it's important


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Good evening....

6km on the cross trainer, 100 stair press ups, 60sit ups, cheese on door step toast, beer, top gear

Experience report has all but stalled this week but I think I need a break from it....kind of over thinking it and getting bored!


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Mums painting

Not my best effort......

Colours are off
Form is bad
Rhs is blank




Mum willblike it just because I've painted it but ultimately.....it's shite!



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Just thoughts

She provides the shopping, cooking, baking, washing and social. I am grateful for these things. However, the things I value: clean house, looked after pets, well decorated house ate all lacking....I need to provoke a reaction in her and force action. This also includes taking away some of the things she does ie getting a wash on and deciding how the house should be worked upon. I need to take a hard look at myself and get myself in order!


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Bolt cleaned

Cleaned kids (snakes) tonight. This must become a weekly routine, h is good at the cleaning but she's shit at the motivating!!!!

Bolt went straight out of his bag and into his water bowl for a massive drink. H was right, it is amazing how he drinks, more worrying is that he went straight for a drink when he is stressed....it shows how poorly we have looked after him in the past few months!!! I must check his water daily.




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Early start

Got up early this morning and did 100 sit ups and 100 press ups. Came home from work and did 5km on the cross trainer whilst watching a bluetablepainting battle report....kind if made me want to make a eldar/dark eldar army...still have much to paint on the shelf though!!

Bought a couple of books today...simon scarrow and another mo hayder at lunch today with birthday waterstones vouchers.


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Sense of achievement and image change

Sense of achievement fairly high at the moment and image change is going reasonably well. My fitness regime is settling into place (I am now running 5km without stopping). Clothing remains the same and my hair is still shit but feeling a lot better about myself!!!

Little report:

Ice reports: behind schedule
Orks: behind schedule
Reading: good
Ice research: behind schedule
Bike lessons: going well. Three booked
House cleaning: poor
Golf: indifferent
House 'changing': slow
Wedding plans: winning h over
Buying a bike: alright


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Mums painting

Painted mums birthday picture tonight....started offs extremely badly but it kind of came together. The butterfly was supposed to be White but the overall painting needed some colour so the butterfly ended up blue!!!

Not as good as Helens heron but if you squint a bit it looks acceptable! I'll buy a frame tomorrow. If it looks shit in the frame then I'll have to it again
(not the right way up!)



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Hein Gerrick

This morning I spent £210 on motorcycle equipment. £160 on boots and £50 on gloves. The boots are twice as expensive as I had planned but the boots I got are extremely comfortable...I would much rather pay now snd get really good quality stuff rather than have to buy twice!


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Good advice!!!!

I do plan, or have ever had, lead at the point of a bayonet...but these rules are very useful for using elsewhere in life. As winters says himself, business is in no way shape or form comparable to war but I find the advice below very useful.....




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Arup: change of project

I have 11 weeks left on my arup placement and I think I'm in the process of changing projects.

I will be moved off kasc and move onto trumpington.

Kasc was very much calculation and analysis based. Trumpington will see me putting together scheme design stuff and a RIBA stage c report.....all very different from kasc!

This change in project will bode well for my presentation to directors in may. I will have seen arup the big machine mobilised on a massive job where I was doing detailed design...now I will see the tight knit arup team and work on a smaller conceptual design job.

Sense of achievement fairly high at the moment...though i did miss a planned 5pm run last night (not cool) will have to do one tonight rather than go to the pub, then might settle down to some painting (orks wont paint themselves!!!!)


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Books read whilst on placement

Chickenhawk
Micheal macintyre
Alan sugar
Roadside crosses
The day of triffids
Shantaram
The man who broke into auschwitz
Memoirs of lt winters

To date, hope to get over 10 in total before returning to icl on 9th June



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Presentation competition

Yesterday I won the ice region presentation competition. The prize is about £100 and I may have the opportunity to write up my experiences and have them published.

I only entered so it would look good on my review application but I had hopes for winning. The 3 judges unanimously decided that I should be the winner.

Papa smurf was there to watching presentations (nice to have an ally in the audience) and he has a meeting with Gareth this morning...nice to know heat 'plug' me to the MD today. Shouldn't have mentioned defects in my presentation and was quite unsettled by a question from the audience on differential settlement.
I was well prepared for the presentation and knew I wad there to win. However I was still very nervous before and during the presentation (papa smurf sees this as an advantage, as does h, but I'm not to sure.

Ivelearnt that presentations, even short ones, take a lot of preparation and you can never wing it. I will never live down the embarrassment of my presentation during the smsts course when I literally fell on my arse and made myself look like a tight tit!!!!


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Broke 1500!!!!

Officially broke 1500 sometime in the last few days!!!! Now on 1508 views since starting the blog....yes it's not viral and yes it's not very much and true most of the hits are probably from me but damn it someone somewhere is reading my shit!!!!!


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5km

5pm on the cross trainer without stopping this evening...feels quite good. The audio books definitely make a difference. Will think about converting it upto a round three miles.

Presentation to the ice tomorrow on geotechnics. Spent a whole day working on it in arups today (bloody good job too....I didn't realise last night how shit it was but now I'm slot happier with it!)

Bit of book time this evening and one more run through if the presentation. Three times on the tram tomorrow and then twice at lunch. Must remember to get a good luck at the venue before having to stand up in front of the crowd....relax, remember why your doing it...it's so you van say in your experience report that you. Actively participate in ice events and that I am professionally committed.


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Erm a day.....

I have done nothing all day..
Watched everton lose the semi final, watched the grand national, done no work on presentation or experience report.
Have enjoyed watching band of brothers though and did run 5km on the cross trainer without stopping...watched slot of Niro too.
Found a good blog as well...very good looking dipped miniatures...makes me kinda want to do a demon army. Must remember though, I am not making any more model purchases until 40k 6th edition is released


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London dump

I received an email today from g....it's funny how something so simple can lift your spirits. He is happy for me to do the presentation and says it will count well towards my civils. The stuff yesterday with the praise for w must be forgotten, I've got to stay focused on my objectives and ensure I provide for my family. Essentially that comes down to a few things:

Technical understanding
Integrity
Honesty
Able to communicate
Present 'items' in the right way
Present 'items' at the right time
Don't mince your words
Be prudent with praise (then it's valued)
Promise what you can deliver
Deliver what you have promised
Don't over estimate your own abilities
Accurately assess ability of others
Tackle a problem ad early ad possible...buys yourself time
Always present a professional image
Do not lower tousled to others
Don't get comfortable and smarmy




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Trap 2 update

Always imagine the shot you are going to hit.....must be part of the Pre-shot routine


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Trap two extension

Must practice the ball trick also


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Report from trap 2

After watching the masters at the weekend (and all of Monday) I'm getting back into my golf...the putter is set up in the living room and I've been to the range twice and pitch 'n' putt once. Range reminded me how important good practice is Ie not going with other people who are just plain distracting.....the problem is being able to translate the stuff on the range onto the stuff on the course. I will aim to play 'bogey golf'....one over for each hole, played sensibly from tee to green and then when on the green relying on endless practice to sink those all important putts. When I miss a putt I must plan and execute that little routine to ensure I don't scramble my brain and miss again.

Practice areas:

Off the tee
Middle irons(Inc off tee short holes)
Chips around the green
Bunker shots
Chip and run
Putting when off green
Putting
Planning a hole / aiming wisely
Remaining cool
Aiming to not loose a ball
Pre shot routine
Pre putting routine
Post putting routine
Glove etiquette
Correct clothing
Correct drinks and snacks
Regripp irons
Try out hybrids to replace 3 iron

More updates to come.....




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I really don't blog enough anymore!

Did 5pm on the cross trainer last night....felt pretty good, got into a bit of a rhythm but I'm pretty sure that thing will shake itself to bits soon!!!!!

Must work on geo presentation tonight and the rest of the week. Weekend is reserved for some serious progress on the experience report! Quite nervous about presentation next week....might make a bit of a dick of myself....mustn't lie either, never know what will get back to the team!


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Golf and cross trainer

Watched 5 hours of golf today from the masters last night....I didn't want bubba to win but he did deserve it after that recovery shot on 10

3.5 on the cross trainer also....feels good and is easier when listening to an audiobook / music on the iPhone.


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Lava bases...

Should the entire army have lava bases?

Works with the colour wheel as a good member of dakka dakka pointed out!






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Ork progress update: all skin!

Over the past two days I have painted every piece of ork skin in the army (apart from the biker arms that are not even undercoated!)

Pretty simple:

Orkhide foundation base coat (completed weeks ago)
P3 wurm green coat
Thakara green wash

Gives you something like this.....









One day to go until bank holiday and no trip to London tomorrow!

Jct training course over the past two days was pretty dull but I did get alot of painting done in the holiday and this afternoon due to the early finishes!

I would hopeto have this army finished before the release of 40k 6th sometime in the summer...no more purchases before 6th is released....but I am very tempted to get some kills kans for this death skullz army!


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Ork progress

Jct course
Stuck in hotel
Painting desk
Ork progress




Updates to the blog arnt a frequent as they should be!


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Dead men walking

Just finished reading black libraries....wasn't the worlds greatest read but definitely worth a go!

iBooks on the iPhone is the perfect way to read geeky warhammer books....no one can see that your reading them!


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London

London update from trap four!!!!!

Chilli was good
Mock review Monday
Good chat at lunch
Lookin forward to 4:20


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Bolt

Can you guess why he's called a red tail?!



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Shantaram completed!!!!!

First time I've read a book anywhere near 900 pages long!!!!


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Boom 800

Shantaram....nearly done! 133 pages to go!


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Bonus?

It looks like I may have got a £600 (after tax) bonus.......motorcycle licence!!!!!


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Shantaram update

Broke page 700 today, he's smuggling shot into to Afghanistan to fight the russians to impress his adopted afghan daddy....hope to get to page 800 tomorrow as will be spending 5 hours on public transport! Only 233 pages to go!


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Tonight

3.5km on the cross trainer
30 push ups
30 sit ups
Watch miniwargaming battle rep
Drank beer
Ate pizza
H is bowling
London tomorrow
Must focus attention on prep for hassan meeting








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Long awaited update

Orks have progressed very little
Work is going reasonably well
R did his ice review earlier this week...thinks it went ok
Cbt training on Saturday
Rugby to watch Saturday
Back to Liverpool Saturday
Ice presentation in 2 weeks
Might paint praetorians after orks are finished...but need to have a go at deaths korps of krieg
Really looking forward to 40k 6th Ed in the summer
On page 550 of shantaram
Holiday villa is sept with l and s is on
Currently having London dump



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London dump

That's all really!


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Ork progress

Right, fist thing....as it was my 26th birthday recently I received a gift from my fiancée...a new daylight lamp(amongst loads of other awesome things)! Males painting so much better and as such I would recommend it to everyone.

My set up




Second thing...this morning I've got the skin basecoat completed on a 30 ork strong mob and 6 nobz! All completed with citadel foundation ork hide shade



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Feel better afternoon

Conservatory
Shantaram
Spray paint
Wooden spoons
Bly tac
Box of orks
Glass of coke

The result.....a primed army!



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Ork update

Boxed up and ready for sn afternoon of undercoating and reading shantaram




Feeling a shitload better now though. Faint headache and nose doesn't work properly but a million times better!


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Heron done!

Not bad for about 2.5 hours work!!!!




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Heron

Finished, just drying and waiting to be framed




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H's heron

I promised to paint h a heron picture a very long time ago...I was off I'll yesterday and managed to sort out my motorbike cbt so today I'm painting h the picture!

Work in progress!




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Pointless note

Exercising tonight has made me feel good.....must get addicted to endorphins!!!!!

I'll give it two more weeks of current exercise and then buy some weights, two months and I'll buy a rowing machine


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Good day but feeling a bit shite

2.4km in 5:48 without stopping
30 sit ups
30 press ups

H away on training course, good tv show at 9.

Looking to get a mountain bike for about £300. Orks show little progress and my interest in painting is a bit thin on the ground today!

This is funny though....




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