Back on Form (And 10 Reasons I'm Lucky)

Thank you so much for your kind comments. Even thought the whole thing was a bit of a shambles, I've bounced back and feel happily back to my usual self. I also have some amazing things to feel grateful for:

1) On the 6th November (my birthday) Star Trek Girl and I are driving to Amsterdam to spend three days drinking good coffee and wine, eating nice food, wandering the canal-sides, looking at art and admiring clogs. 

I usually go to Italy but my friend has never been to Amsterdam, is half French so used to driving on the other side of the road, speaks six languages, and I haven't been since I went for a boyfriend's birthday around 15 years ago. We've booked a lovely little apartment through Air BnB that comes with two bicycles and is right near the museum district. It's going to be great!

2) My American client has just renewed the contract on my flat so I have at least another year being able to live by myself in my gorgeous, bright, happy little home.

3) I've just had a bumper month work-wise. I'm making around £300 per month in passive income through download sales which I aim to take up to £1000 within a year. I have lots of interesting, satisfying work and I'm still able to work completely virtually.

4) The last time I took my little cat Treacle to the vets for a check up, they said her heart murmur was a lot less severe than they had initially thought and that it might've just sounded louder because she was stressed. So she's pretty much fine.

5) Two books of beautiful poetry arrived through my door today. Winter is coming and it always makes me want to read poetry and ghost stories for some reason. A Scottish friend often posts poems up on Facebook and, after a particularly gorgeous poem the other day (Infinity by Giacomo Leopardi) I asked him to recommended some books and I ended up buying The Bees and Love Poems by the Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. 

6) I'm dating someone new. I decided to go back on the dating site for a month and have been on four dates with a guy called Peter. I wasn't sure if he was 'romantically interested' so I asked him on our fourth date last night if he was (we're all busy here pal) and he said he was interested but that he was a bit shy when it came to these things. He also finished a five year relationship at the end of last year and I think he's a bit out of practice!

I don't feel any urgency, but dating has certainly cheered me up and restored my knocked confidence - which was the point.

7) I've been planning another trip away. I've mentioned this before, but I'd really love to go on a  three-day winter break on the island of Sark. It's a Dark Skies island and I want to take a good book, go on some brisk clifftop walks, then cosy up with a brandy and read in front of an open fire. How lovely does that sound?

8) A friend is coming up from Cornwall today, another friend from London is joining us and we're going out for sangria and dinner at a Spanish tapas bar before heading to a Mogwai gig in town. My Cornish friend is doing some work for them so we're all on the guest list. 

9) I went to my first Star Trek Convention the other week. It was brilliant to be around other nerds, to see people just wandering around in Starfleet uniforms and to not feel awkward discussing the common ancestry of Vulcans and Romulins! I loved it.

10) After I got dumped by email and had a horrendous eye infection that left me taking a five-day, four-a-day course of hardcore antibiotics, a friend sent me a lovely card from Devon saying how wonderful I was, my best friend came through as she always does and was an incredible source of support, another friend came over with paleo cherry and chocolate scones, my cousin called me to see if I was ok and another two friends came over to cheer me up.

So actually I have a pretty good life, things are pretty peachy and I did not let that bloody loser get me down! 

There's Star Trek Nerds On The Starboard Bow Captain!

* Warning - this post contains references to nerd items such as gaming and Star Trek terminology. You may choose to look away. I will understand.

Since earlier this year I've been going to loads of Meet-Up groups in my local area. I've mentioned the website before because, whatever you're into from different sports and rambling to pub lunches and wine tasting, there's a group for you. I've been going to a gaming group and I LOVE it.

It started when I checked out the weekly email that tells you what's going on that week whether you're a member of the group or not. I glanced down, saw the words Star Trek and was hooked. Someone had bought the Star Trek Attack Wing (STAW) game and wanted to know if anyone was up for playing it in the pub that Saturday. "Only Star Trek geeks need apply - who's in?".

I WAS!!

So I went along that weekend and played STAW in a room above a pub for hours with 3 blokes I'd never met. It was brilliant. Since then I've been going regularly to their gaming sessions and learning how to play all kinds of things - I'm still completely into STAW though and even bought my own copy of the game and played games at other group member's houses. In fact, I'm hosting my first game today!

Oh yes, five guys (I know them so I won't be attacked and murdered in my own home) are coming over later to play STAW. We've even bought our own ships and might even play in factions. I don't own any Federation ships yet - apart from what came with the base game - and prefer to play 'baddie' ships.

I feel like I've found me 'tribe' with the group. It's really relaxed, I'm never the biggest nerd in the room, I can discuss Star Trek and other nerd subjects such as Android and Smart Watches (I have my eye on a Samsung Gear 2) without fear of ridicule and the games are really fun. None of my other friends really play anything more than Scrabble so it's great to meet new people and be introduced to new games and things. They're people of all ages so it's not like I'm some old granny hanging out with the kids either.

I think you need to keep learning as you get older as it's really easy to stagnate and get into a rut with the same people talking about the same old shit. I go to the Movie Club group and am a member of a few Social Groups too. I go to pub meet-ups and lunches and all kinds of things. But the gaming group is definitely my favourite one. 

Live long and prosper. x

Into Darkness - The Verdict

I've been a somewhat surprised that it's been over a week since I went to see the new Star Trek and haven't mentioned what I thought of it. And that my friends is because I am reeeeeeally reluctant to admit that was a little bit disappointed. Not a lot... but a bit.

Yup the film that I had awaited for 2 long years wasn't as I had hoped. It was spectacular, don't get me wrong there. It looked brilliant, the effects were awesome, it was pretty exciting and it hasn't lessened my adoration of the franchise at all - but there were some bits that were more than a little cheesy. 

I think JJ Abrams tried to keep on doing his nod to the fans thang and frankly he should stop it. I don't need the wink, wink, eh, eh look at me referencing old School Star Trek for the fan boys - we don't need it. The first film was a nod enough and now he should just get on with the business of making brilliant, dark, awesome sci-fi films and not bringing up what's gone before.

The old franchise of films failed because they started to become parodies, and the new one will go the same way if he's not careful. Star Trek shouldn't be a comedy and I shouldn't have to be cringing inside every 20 minutes in case another naff over-obvious reference or wisecrack get's an airing. Which it sometimes did.

Like I said, the film was still very good; Benedict Cumberbatch, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, and Chris Pine are all scrummy, I'll probably go and see it again at the cinema and 'regular' non-Trekkers will love it I'm sure. But as a Fan Girl I want to say enough with the references JJ,  it stops here - we get it. Now please boldly go and make some shit-hot films and refrain from making Star Trek a parody of itself. Because if you ruin it then I will personally hunt you down and phaser your ass.

It Feels Like Christmas is Coming!

* Warning - geeky blog post 

2 loooooooong years ago the wonderful J.J Abrams blew us all away with a new and improved re-booted Star Trek franchise, and in a few equally long days I will get to see the much awaited second film: Star Trek Into Darkness and I CANNOT FREAKING WAIT!!! In fact, I can feel the excitement welling up inside me just typing this.

I feel fit to burst with excitement about the prospect of seeing the new film and have barely been able to contain myself during the lead up. I sqeeeeeeal out loud every time I see a trailer and eeeeeek inside when I see one of the posters in the street. I know it's geeky but I fucking LOVE Star Trek. I'm a proud Trekker and I don't care who knows it.

I must have seen the (now old) Star Trek film at least 20 times and saw it 3 times at the cinema alone. It is brilliant. The actors were so perfectly chosen for their roles and even the copious lens flare doesn't (inertial) dampen my adoration of the new franchise. Tonight the friend I went to visit in France arrives on a business trip, and next week Star Trek Girl aka La Tarzane (the clue's in the name there) will also be in the UK for a couple of days so the timing was perfect for us to see the new release.

Both of them are also shameless Trekkers and therefore the perfect people to watch the film with. Next Sunday we will use the tickets that I purchased within minutes of them going on sale weeks ago and sit back and watch a 3D masterpiece - for it will be so as the trailers are magnificent and initial reviews are also promising - plus we just fucking love Star Trek so I foresee no complaints (I hear it's a non-stop action-packed onslaught which sounds simply brilliant) and I totally fancy Benedict Cumberbatch as well so a free added bonus for me.

Funnily enough although I adore Star Trek I'm not that fussed about the original series or even the films before the reboot. I do watch The Next Generation, Deep Space 9, and I love Voyager as well. Most people prefer DS9 out of them all but I'm a Voyager gal personally.

J.J Abrams has also signed up to take on the next Star Wars film and he's such a brilliant film maker that I reckon he'll do a great job on that too. Although to be honest they couldn't actually get any worse. 

If I'm this excited now, can you imagine how I'm going to be next weekend?!

Internet Dating - Boring Already

Well the dating thing is becoming both interesting yet decidedly boring at the same time. I have now been on 3 dates and this is how they went:

Tuesday night (Steve) - We met, he was pretty sexy, we flirted a lot and got very drunk together. Whilst drunk he said I was 'fit and opinionated' which was actually intended as a compliment at the time. I suspect he is a common garden 'Brighton Serial Dater'.

Brighton is one of those places where you could just continually have very short-term relationships or 'scenes' with someone and never take it anywhere. Basically, if you're not sure if you have a boyfriend or are just 'seeing someone', then you don't and you are. I think he just likes meeting with people and flirting with them, whereas I'm just too old and tired of that shit now.

Interestingly, he said at one point "don't think about it; why are you still single?" and I replied that I'm not always tolerant to other peoples ways, I don't like compromising and I'm wary of someone else having a say in my happiness - so that was worth the price of the drinks alone!

Saturday afternoon (Richard) He was funny, he seemed genuine and he also liked Star Trek. Not sure if I could see myself with him, but would be happy to know him as he was interesting. He did prefer DS9 to Voyager though but this is always a matter of contention.

Saturday afternoon (Matt) because I'm a skilled multi-tasker and I want some time to myself this weekend, I scheduled 2 meetings in the same afternoon. Matt was very nice and we got on well - He also seemed very genuine and likeable. We met in the Pavilion Gardens and, after eavesdropping on some pensioners discussing the Lady Boys of Bangkok who are here for the festival (I've seen them; they're very good and not a bollock in sight) we went for a walk along the pier. Although he was very agreeable, there wasn't anything that made me want to spend more time with him though.

Others - I was emailing an architect but I think I caught him out when he mentioned a step-daughter; when I asked if this was the same daughter he'd previously mentioned, he never wrote back so I'm guessing he was just a lying twat. Plus he is only 5'7" and I like to wear heels - shallow yet true.

Another guy has also asked if I fancy a coffee - his message was very brief, his profile was fine, and his picture was OK - but after I replied, another picture became available and he wrote back with a longer message. I then became to suspect that he was a special needs person who had been hiding it well. The second picture looked like a grinning retard so I'm not going to be pursuing this one further.

I've signed up for 3 months so we'll see; however it's noon and I'm still lounging in bed eating some fizzy Haribo, and if I had a boyfriend I'd probably have to share them. I also suspect I'm happier than most people I know.

JJ Abrams May You Live Long And Prosper!

So, I went to see the new Star Trek film last night and it was un-fucking-believable; I can now die happy in the knowledge that I have seen the most exciting action film ever made! It was so good I still can't believe it.



It was so fantastic I'm not sure where to start - I love Star Trek anyway so I knew I'd love it, preview audiences and reviewers were giving it the thumbs up and I couldn't wait. I just really hoped I wouldn't be disappointed... I was not!

From the minute it started it was full-on action; there were explosions, implosions, fight scenes, evasive manoeuvres, monster chases and planet-wide destruction. The baddies were suitably evil and appropriately sexily attired, there were in-jokes, comedy moments and the whole thing just looked fantastic. JJ Abrams has almost rebranded the original and, if you're not a Star Trek fan or know nothing about the series then this film really is for you.

I loved that all the new cast really resembled the original characters they were portraying; Bones was familiarly moody, Chekov couldn't pronounce his W's ("Wulcan is under attack") Kirk was staggeringly gung-ho, and Spock was very... logical. (Zachary Quinto is outrageously sexy) thankfully there wasn't a duff actor amongst them.

I can't recommend this film highly enough; it is simply the best film I've seen in a long time (and I've seen a LOT of good films this year!) the pace is exhilarating; there's edge-of-your-seat excitement, action aplenty and the whole thing looks absolutely incredible. My advice to you would be to just drop whatever it is you're doing and go & see it NOW!

Geek Anticipates

The new Star Trek film opens on Friday and I can barely contain myself. I've always loved the series, although strangely I've never been a massive fan of the original. I can't even explain why I love it so much as I'm not even really a sci-fi fan - it just makes me happy and I can watch it all day. I even feel excited just looking at the above picture!

This new film has been a long time coming and I have been beside myself since I first saw a snippet of trailer on the website; even then not much was going on and they were just welding the outside of a ship. It's more the anticipation I think - and now it's like Christmas is 2 days away! When I saw the first 'proper' trailer I nearly wet myself.

On Friday my friend and I are going to the flicks after I finish work at 4.30 and basically we're just hanging out down at the Marina until we get in. We both have unlimited cinema cards which is usually great but it means we can't pre-book. We don't even care if we have to get the tickets for the midnight showing and come back such is our determination (plus she's going to France the next day)

Squuuuueeeeaal!!!