Friday, May 13, 2011
Welcome to 2011
Or at least welcome to the May of 2011!
Only been 17 months (edit: 29 months!!!!!) since my last blog. I've been inspired after reading some blogs - perhaps the greatest blog ever - my own ;)
I got the bug again after showing my friends at work a before picture of me before my op. No, not a sex change op (thanks Jess, Cat and Lucie) but a face changing, bone crunching, jaw dropping (hopefully not literally) op. You can see the blog way back in Aug/Sept of 2005. Called 'Changing Faces'.
I would link it, but I simply can't be bothered!
So what's new with you, fellow reader? Can't just talk about myself all the time can I. How very selfish. What's that? You want information from me? Ok!
So, I'm currently working in a genetics laboratory. I finished Uni with a 1:1, went to Central America for 3 weeks. Did a bungee jump. Came home and got an admin job at the lab I did my sandwich placement at while I was at Uni (mmm, sandwiches) and cried for 16 months while I remained in that job being paid about half of what I would be paid if my Uni degree was actually being used. Frustrating, to say the least. Especially when I had interviews for jobs I was trained to do, but kept on just missing out! Argh.
Fortunately, a job upstairs in genetics appeared. I planned for the interview. I toured the labs for the interview. I even bought a new tie for the interview. And then I got into the interview. Uh-oh. Worst interview EVER.
Forgot even basic science. And heard back about a day later to hear, "We're sorry. But you were unsuccessful this time."
Someone shoot me now.
But that's not where the story ends. For I was desperate. And when I am desperate, I do things out of the ordinary. I actually went to speak to the boss who rejected me. A perk of working in the same building!
And I must've been fairly impressive during this talk because a couple of weeks later she offered me a temporary position in the lab :) I was ecstatic! I think my reply to her email went something like this:
Boss: "Hi Tom. I am happy to announce that we can now offer you the temporary position as we have managed to free up the money from HR. Would you like to accept the position?"
Me: "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you!"
The funny thing is I'm not even joking. She was probably tempted to rescind the offer! So that's where I've been since Jan 10. It's much more enjoyable, much more challenging and I've met a lot of great people.
Gosh, so much more has changed in the past year that one blog just simply isn't enough to go through them all. I'm certainly not the same person I was though. And after reading my old blogs that makes me both happy and sad...
Oh. Although I do have a beautiful girlfriend. And if you ever read this, hi Tori x x
Thursday, January 01, 2009
And...
Gah!!
I did it... now we wait...
Friday, November 28, 2008
"Perculiar People" ?
So, the church I go to used a have vision statement which said that everyone in the church were 'a perculiar people'.
As a teenager, when I first started going to my church, I was quite happy to stand out from the crowd, to be different and to say the things that I knew would separate me out from other people. In essence, I was chuffed to be considered 'perculiar' as the gift from God that went along with that title (eternal life) seemed a pretty fair trade off!
However, as I've grown and been to Uni and had a few years in the 'real world', I've wanted to be accepted and integrate myself into those new areas that I've been faced with. I didn't want to be considered as a perculiar, or a strange, or a weird person anymore.
I think in some respects, I thought that if I could be more like those people, I could relate to them better and so have a greater chance of bringing the Gospel to them.
However, in doing so, I've diluted myself down and forgotten what makes me, 'Me'.
Maybe the time is coming for me to turn the corner. For me to remember what it means to stand out and to be different. Not for the sake of being different, but different because of what's at stake. Different because it's the right thing to do. Different because the truth is in me.
I've been hitting who I am because I've been trying to fit in. To not be considered weird.
And I'm not weird. I'm just in truth.
As a teenager, when I first started going to my church, I was quite happy to stand out from the crowd, to be different and to say the things that I knew would separate me out from other people. In essence, I was chuffed to be considered 'perculiar' as the gift from God that went along with that title (eternal life) seemed a pretty fair trade off!
However, as I've grown and been to Uni and had a few years in the 'real world', I've wanted to be accepted and integrate myself into those new areas that I've been faced with. I didn't want to be considered as a perculiar, or a strange, or a weird person anymore.
I think in some respects, I thought that if I could be more like those people, I could relate to them better and so have a greater chance of bringing the Gospel to them.
However, in doing so, I've diluted myself down and forgotten what makes me, 'Me'.
Maybe the time is coming for me to turn the corner. For me to remember what it means to stand out and to be different. Not for the sake of being different, but different because of what's at stake. Different because it's the right thing to do. Different because the truth is in me.
I've been hitting who I am because I've been trying to fit in. To not be considered weird.
And I'm not weird. I'm just in truth.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
The World According to Me
I can't actually remember the last time I did a T.W.A.2 ... been a while.
Anyway, me, Gem and Nammer were round Loz's the other day playing the 'Name Game'.
(I've just realised that rhymes!)
Nami: He's the current Prime Minister
Tom: ... Tony Blair!
Anyway, me, Gem and Nammer were round Loz's the other day playing the 'Name Game'.
(I've just realised that rhymes!)
Nami: He's the current Prime Minister
Tom: ... Tony Blair!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
How would that be for a package?!
As most of you know, I don't have a job at the moment and so I've decided this week that I need to get my jogging groove going by going... erm... jogging.
I'm not the best jogger in the world and I seriously think I've got some sort of genetic condition predisposing me to not being able to jog or run for long periods of time.
Don't be fooled into thinking I'd be excellent at the 100 metres either, cos I ain't.
But a few of my friends have done Race for Life this year, and the year before, and the year before, which is only 5km. I say *only* 5km because surely, being a footballer and cyclist, I should be able to comfortably run 5km off the bat right? Right??
Wrong.
After weeks of football training, a few long rides and a couple of 1 1/2 mile jogs, I decided I'd attempt 3 miles yesterday (that's almost 5km, but not quite). I'd never felt so dead after a run in all my life. I mean, me and 'Nelly' went on a bikeride last Monday which we thought would be an 18 mile round trip (to the Severn Bridge) but ended up being about 30 miles and I was still more fresh after that than simply doing 3 miles in 20 minutes!!
I walked around after my run to warm down and thinking I'd done so, sat at my PC for 20 minutes, sorted some stuff and attempted to get up. I quickly realised my calfs weren't up to the task and stumbled around the room for a bit. They had pretty much turned to jelly.
The good thing is my legs actually feel fine today, so my recovery rate must be pretty good. I went for a shorter run to the post office to get a stamp for a speeding fine letter (GGGGRRRRRRRR!) and this actually (finally) brings us to the title of my blog.
Cos the guy in front of me had a package worth £2,500.
... Which he'd put in a Ambi Pur box.
Can anyone say 'drugs'?
I was tempted to grab it and run, but knowing my own endurance I don't think it would've ended with me looking quite so pretty ;)
I'm not the best jogger in the world and I seriously think I've got some sort of genetic condition predisposing me to not being able to jog or run for long periods of time.
Don't be fooled into thinking I'd be excellent at the 100 metres either, cos I ain't.
But a few of my friends have done Race for Life this year, and the year before, and the year before, which is only 5km. I say *only* 5km because surely, being a footballer and cyclist, I should be able to comfortably run 5km off the bat right? Right??
Wrong.
After weeks of football training, a few long rides and a couple of 1 1/2 mile jogs, I decided I'd attempt 3 miles yesterday (that's almost 5km, but not quite). I'd never felt so dead after a run in all my life. I mean, me and 'Nelly' went on a bikeride last Monday which we thought would be an 18 mile round trip (to the Severn Bridge) but ended up being about 30 miles and I was still more fresh after that than simply doing 3 miles in 20 minutes!!
I walked around after my run to warm down and thinking I'd done so, sat at my PC for 20 minutes, sorted some stuff and attempted to get up. I quickly realised my calfs weren't up to the task and stumbled around the room for a bit. They had pretty much turned to jelly.
The good thing is my legs actually feel fine today, so my recovery rate must be pretty good. I went for a shorter run to the post office to get a stamp for a speeding fine letter (GGGGRRRRRRRR!) and this actually (finally) brings us to the title of my blog.
Cos the guy in front of me had a package worth £2,500.
... Which he'd put in a Ambi Pur box.
Can anyone say 'drugs'?
I was tempted to grab it and run, but knowing my own endurance I don't think it would've ended with me looking quite so pretty ;)
Monday, September 01, 2008
Poem Numero... 10?
The tangeble touch You seem to be hiding,
I can only wait for so long without minding.
Yet You say "Hold on", "Be Patient", "Just wait".
"My love won't delay, it will never be late."
In a World that's cracking, crumbling, falling.
When all my emotions reflex into mourning.
I know Your words are truth and life.
I'm just finding motivation hard to find.
I've peered into the past, and seen my reflection,
But the person I was is lost in deception.
He saw the endless possibilities with you,
But you threw away, seemingly out of the blue.
I've found myself since, but just need Your touch.
For You to come now, to just lift me up.
For faith to be stirred and freedom to reign.
To forget my pride, and be me again.
I can only wait for so long without minding.
Yet You say "Hold on", "Be Patient", "Just wait".
"My love won't delay, it will never be late."
In a World that's cracking, crumbling, falling.
When all my emotions reflex into mourning.
I know Your words are truth and life.
I'm just finding motivation hard to find.
I've peered into the past, and seen my reflection,
But the person I was is lost in deception.
He saw the endless possibilities with you,
But you threw away, seemingly out of the blue.
I've found myself since, but just need Your touch.
For You to come now, to just lift me up.
For faith to be stirred and freedom to reign.
To forget my pride, and be me again.
Monday, April 14, 2008
L.A. Baby
So I went to LA last year in September. I know it's a bit late but I just wanted to mention the fact that I...
Met Will Smith.
It's true
Also, typing on laptops is really, really difficult.
Peace out
Met Will Smith.
It's true
Also, typing on laptops is really, really difficult.
Peace out
