Sorry for the long time beetween blogs, a lot has gone on and a lot of miles travelled!

Picking up from the previous blog, we headed out on Friday and actually managed to find the Irish bar this time around. We got drinking in there and after about 3 hours randomly met a couple – Mario and Dana, who we ended up becoming good friends with over the rest of the trip. They are really cool people – so we drank with them the rest of Friday, and we were originally supposed to go out on the saturday as she had a friend “Lisa” who apparently would love me for my accent (lol..) but that never materialised – apparently the Americans do not like young men, no matter how “cute/good looking y’all are” – crazy!

We went out on Saturday to the Irish bar again and then off to somewhere new, tried a place called Voodoo Lounge but it was wayyyy too expensive, and it was full of chinese guys in Baseball caps thinking they were gangsters – ya huh… So we headed to the “Britannia Arms”, and sank about 4 pitchers of Newcastle brown before calling it a night about 2am, even if during the process of downing my pints, a random Irish man stuck his finger in my mouth searching for hidden coins during the “Coin” game (weird man!).

The Saturday day we went to San Francisco, which was a bit underwhelming. The Golden Gate was cool, and the drive to/from San Fran was fantastic, but the place was a bit over touristy for me so we headed back after 3-4 hours.

During the following week, we were actually working in the SJ offices rather than training, so we had a little bit less energy to be out on the drink every night, but we still saw a few decent places, including an authentic mexican, 2 real authentic indians (which were amazing!) courtesy of one of our Indian born colleagues, and various other places we frequented. We also went to a “Tied house” for a team event, needless to say enough beer was consumed there to hold our reputation

The flight back from San Fran was a killer. Royally hungover from our last night in the Irish bar with Mario and Dana ($100 tab), we had to wait in the airport for 4 hours as our flight was delayed for an hour, before finally getting onto the plane and sitting there for 12 hours. Getting the taxi home from Heathrow, i was having physically keep my eyes open – horrible journey!

The week back at home has been a welcome return to normality, a bit of shopping as i wiped out my food/toiletries, and then sorting out my broadband for my flat, etc. This weekend we’re going to a halloween party in Birmingham hopefully at Lockwoods place with Gibbagio – need to desperately sort a costume ASAP!

Anyway, till next time.

2 days on and just thought i’d thought dump just before my memory refreshes and i forget it all!

Since my last blog, the weather has improved significantly – for one we arent driving through 12 inch swalls of water on the road! Its around 77-80oF here at the moment which is all well and good but we are sat in a class room where the air con is ice cold.

The Wednesday night we headed to a bar called “Billy Berks” which looked like an old american bar so we were .. apprehensive about the food, but true to form the book was definitely not a depiction of the cover, best food of the trip by far. Ended up having a few beers at the bar afterwards watching Boise St play… someone!

Last night we headed out to Gordon Biersch again for some quick food and to watch the San Jose sharks only to find out the flaming game was in Washing and as such we forgot the timezone and missed the game – typical!

Tonight heading out to try and find the Irish Bar v2 – we walked right past it in our hunt for it on Wednesday so hoping for better things tonight!

Sam

Just a quick blog while im on my lunch break in the US. We flew out on the Sunday just gone (10th) and the flight was pretty brutal to say the least – 11 hours sat on a plane (i didnt bother getting up as the plane was soooo cramped).

The fun and games started straight off the bat, getting out of baggage claiming etc we had to find the car rental place, only to find we had to get a tube basically to the Car rental building? How strange. Once there we managed to find our car and it took us about 30-40 minutes to A) Get out of the car park and b) get the car controls under.. control!

The hotel room was OK, nothing fancy and the freezer compressor makes a racket so that was promptly unplugged and defrosted. The first night we arrived we decided to head to a place called “Gordon Biersch” which was cool, had a few beers and a pizza before heading back for some needed sleep.

Monday was spent in trading before heading to a fancy resteraunt called “E & O Trading Company” which turned out to be more expensive than first thought! We followed that off by heading back to Gordon Biersch for some whiskeys and to watch the ice hockey which San Jose lost!

That nights sleep sucked, as i woke up at 4am and couldnt get back to sleep, so Tuesdays training was spent trying not to die of jet lag. Tuesday night we took it easy, had an early night and grabbed a McDonalds which is not as big as you’d expect over here. Ended up watching “Ghost Lab” also – about a bunch of yanks who run around hunting ghosts with technology. Pretty hilarious!

Anyway, this week we’re off to a few more resteraunts on the light rail train into down town, and hopefully off to San Francisco providing that the weather picks up – we had torrential and tropical thunderstorms the last 2 days with around 8 inches of rain and 60mph winds so it hasnt been the picture perfect california so far!

Sam

Well hello RSS Fiends.

After what seems like an age i have decided to return to the blogosphere. So much has happened in the past 2 weeks that i dont know where to begin.

1. Moved to Reading
2. Started new job
3. Passed driving test
4. Off to the US of A

Lets start from the top. I did indeed find a very nice place in Reading as already mentioned living smack bang in the city centre. For those of you who are friends of mine on Facebook there are pics up on there! The move was interesting, but thank the lord there is a lift because a lot of my stuff is bloody heavy. Unlike my move north from Swindon to Manc, my move from Manc to Reading did not have any casualities (RIP Digimate monitor 2007!) and went pretty much without a hitch – except for dumbass here forgetting to pack the back panel of my desk so it was wobbly as hell for 10 days!

I started my new job last Monday at BlueArc and i have been getting up to speed on all the procedures, quirks, etc and actually getting useful as soon as possible. The job itself is fun and will definitely benefit me in the long run, and it is so bloody nice to work in a large company again – such a relief.

Other than work and moving, the only other Reading stories are football and nights out. Locky and Sukh came down the weekend just gone and we went out with Raj and had an awesome time in Revs in town, definitely one for the record books. Ended up watching F1 in bed in the morning with Locky afterwards (lol..) followed by a nandos and a mega super sunday football session which was claaaaaaass.

Also started footy again after a year out, and good lord am i unfit. I played with the BlueArc lads on Wednesday and i thought i was going to collapse i felt that tired! Needless to say 10 minutes spent in goal to catch my breath back gave me enough time to admit how much of a fat bastard i now am (lol..). Played in a competitive match on Thursday night for the HP Team and we lost 7-6, but it was great to get back into it – i particularly enjoyed battering their “hard man” all around the pitch at every opportunity, hard my arse!

Finally, to top off my cracking year bar one “black mark”, i passed my driving test at first attempt with 0 majors and only 4 minors Which is a massive relief. I’m finally rocking a pink driving license, woop. This week ive got 2 more footy games then i’m off on training courses in California for 2 weeks or so which will be great, even though my sister keeps sending me stuff i have to apparently buy from abercrombie and fitch.

Anyway, off to catch some Z’s before another sickeningly early 6.30am wake up call.

Sam

Well here we go. Its been a month nearly and not a lot has changed.

I’m still single, i tried my hardest with Fran to try and get back with her and make it work but she is having none of it. She said that it doesnt feel like a relationship anymore, but we both knew that would happen when we went to Uni and that we would get back to normal after it so i dont understand her. Its her choice and i have to live with it, but obviously i’m gutted. I lost my best friend this month basically – the worst part is it feels like she doesnt give a shit, which makes it worse.

Anyway, other than that i’ve been pretty much getting on with my life. Got my driving test this Thursday which i’m looking forward to, even if i dont end up buying a car.

I went to Preston 2 weeks ago to see Louise and went out for a few drinks etc which was fun. Other than that i’ve been house hunting in Reading, etc and managed to find myself a lush city centre apartment smack bang in the middle of town.

The journey down there and back up wasnt fun – very long but it was worth it. Went out at night with Gibbs and the HP lot which was a good laugh and had a good time so definitely looking forward to getting moved down there in 5 days time.

Other than that, nothing interesting folks. Apart from i’m going to the USA with work for 2 weeks in California Good stuff!

Well as suspected, my trip to Leamington was a disaster which ended up in me and Fran breaking up. Apparently she needs “time” but i think she was just making an excuse to break up with but try and spare my feelings for some reason. Oh well, 2 years down the drain – so i’m chuffed about that one (not).

On the other hand, i am now actually employed – i managed to secure the job in Reading (well bracknell) and i should be started in the next 3-4 weeks woop. I cant wait to get down there and get cracking with it all; the only pain is i now need to find a house to rent etc. Not fun.

Finally, i’m moving out of Salford for the final time this Saturday – so we are having a massive night at Jillys to commemorate this glorious occasion lol Then im back home in Lowton before heading to Preston for Freshers week to see Joe and hook up with Louise for a few drinks.

Adios!

One week / 8 days on and it seems life is getting slowly worse!
Since not getting that job i have been plugging away applying for jobs to not much avail. Couple this with the great news that my relationship seems to be on the brink of failure, i havent been the happiest bunny.

I went home the weekend just gone to get away from it all, take stock and get some perspective and i have come back to Salford marginally happier. I’m down in Reading this Thursday for a final interview after which i’m going to meet up with the boys etc for a few beers.

After that i’m going to Leamington to see Fran which is probably going to be a not so pleasant day given all that has gone on and been said. Fingers crossed we can work it out but i suspect her mind is already made up on moving on.

My aim for the next 2 weeks is get this job in Reading, move down there, start work and get my life back on track after a disastorous 2009 so far.

Sam