Public Transport: An Andrew Guide.

Right all, as I spend on average 3.5 hours a day on public transport (and no-one interesting comes to my work anymore) I've decided to publish a guide (along with my observations) about how to get the most out of Public Transport (which isn't much) Also, I mention the best things I've seen in the last 5 months of travel. Or worst. I guess you should decide.

That explains it.

Rule 1 of Public Transport is that no-one talks about public transport. Or talk while on Public Transport. (It's one of those, I get mixed up.)

The reasons for this are to avoid certain situations, the most obvious of these I shall link to here. Other reasons include:
1. The fact that people feel the need to discuss drug dealing on buses. While pushing a pram. While a police officer is talking to the bus driver.
2. Talking about that guy you did stuff to last night. I'll try and type what she said. "Aiiiiiieee, ah put his cock in mah moooth but deed heee thank meh? Ah dae hink soo."
3. Swearing. Usually just a minor breach. Not when there is a child in front of you. Or on your lap. (See video again)
4. Talking about that girl who did stuff to you last night. I'll try and type what he said. "Ayyye, she shuckked mah bawws last night. Was abslute qwalitee mahn"
5. Talking about "young people these days." Yes, I know that most of us aren't exactly shining examples of humanity, but we aren't all trackie wearing, buckie drinking teenagers that wouldn't know the meaning of abstinence if it was tattooed on their boyfriends stomach/girlfriends tits (Delete as appropriate)
6. Arguments in general. If you start an argument on a bus, you lose that argument. Case closed.
7. If you talk like I typed earlier, you should be supplied with a gag as you get on the bus. More extreme offenders should be attacked with staples.

Rule 2:
If a window is open beside someone, ASK BEFORE YOU SHUT IT. The last thing I need on an hour journey with a fine range of Scotland's public is to be trapped with the smell of the combined genital sweat of 5 years of busy bus schedules. If a window is shut beside someone, ASK BEFORE YOU OPEN IT. The last thing we need in December is some idiot in a t-shirt complaining of the heat. You want cold air Mr T-shirt, get off the bus and walk.

Rule 3:
If you have a small child with you and it is perfectly happy sleeping, DO NOT WAKE IT UP. 9 out of 10 times, the baby will screech with a fury that is usually reserved for those going to hell for mass murder. If the baby is screeching before it gets on the bus, invest in a dummy.

Rule 4:
Children between the age of 2 and 5 are banned. This age group will cry, wail, sing, shout, screech, scream, run up and down the bus, bang on the windows, trip over bags and generally make a nuisance of themselves. And this is only 5 minutes into the trip.

Rule 5:
If a bus journey will take longer than 4 hours, noise is to be kept to a minimum. Some people might want to go to sleep. Or you could just get drunk and sing sectarian songs all the way from Glasgow to London. That's your choice.

Rule 6:
Avoid racism. 


Rule 7:
You should remember that we are all suffering the same indecency as each other. Buses have never been enjoyable. Ever. Buses will never be enjoyable as any bus that becomes "fun" becomes a coach. (And even some coaches have been known to suck the life out of people that get on them)

Rule 8:
Buy a car. Get a driving license. Learn to drive. (Not necessarily in that order)

Hopefully, this guide will help you all obtain happy(ish) travelling on any of Scotland's fine examples of public transport. That's if they actually arrive on time. Please note that all examples I have used (except the video) I have witnessed first hand. Yes, Fife really is that bad. I also apologise for the voice you had to use in your head to read my examples and the fact I had to type that out. I'm going to go Grammar Nazi on Facebook to make up for it.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Some snazzy photos and a trip to London.

Hello all, I know it's been a while. A month or so, but who's been counting.
I suppose I should let you all know why I've not been posting. Well, if I'm honest, I haven't had any ideas. This post is just me wittering in circles about having no ideas. Eventually, I'll get off the no idea boat and say something interesting...
...
...
...
Pomegranate.
That's interesting. Right? RIGHT?

Ok, lets chat about events that have gone on in the month I've been incommunicado. Well, one sticks out.

I went to London. To see my first ever gig.

For some reason, those words just don't seem to exude the correct amount of feelings that going to my first ever, honest to god, gig, with support bands, big speakers and standing up for hours. That kind of gig.
I went to see Within Temptation. RIGHT, before the bombardment of "Who are they?" or "Emo band" Go and listen to them. Then you can complain to me. I recommend "Sinead", "Ice Queen" & "What have you done." What are you waiting for? Go do it.
Anyway, no matter what you all think of me for it, I enjoyed it. I got a chance to unwind. I got to jump up and down, shout out what few lyrics I do know and shake my fist at a stage. Yes, I don't know why people do that last one either, but it feels immensely gratifying.
London was great fun. It did drag on a bit once the feet started to swell up and exhaustion kicked in but I managed. And I believe I put a brave face on it. Apart from Friday morning, I apologise for my crankiness.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I had the time of my life and I am very glad I went. It's about time that I relaxed this year and I think that this was one of the best ways I could "let my hair down."

Also, here are some photos of my London Adventure.

A strange man touching my cock.

Enthusiasm 101

There's always one person...

Derp

I DON'T WANT BEETROOT STICKS

When in doubt, eat.

Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Andrew Talks #2 : Welcome to the world of tomorrow!

Right then, while I was working away earlier today, Zoe decided to tell me about something she was doing for Philosophy.

What if civilisation ended tomorrow?
(Well, she said something much more complicated and with lots of unnecessary words so I simplified it.)

(This is how I would imagine this world to be. Feel free to do your own posts/comments about it and send me a link to it. I want to know what you all think of this.)

Part one (For those with no imagination)

Right, all governments have fallen, religion is dead and there are no rules. Imagine a world after an atomic war or a meteor impact and you're about the right image.

Like this, but with no snazzy jumpsuit. Or gun. 

Society has crumbled around you and, lo and behold, you are alive. Against the odds, you have survived the end of civilisation.

The question is, now what?

Part 2: Here's what.

As the world has no rules you can do whatever you want. For most, this amount of choice will drive most people insane. We have been brought up for centuries on law and order. On the fact that we cannot do certain things because we will be punished. There is no punishment now. Remember that bully from high school? You could beat his brains in with a stick in this world and no one would bat an eyelash.

Weapon of choice.

For people who have always suppressed their desires due to societies views, ultimately, there will be a lot of people with caved in heads.

Other people may try and hold on to their ideas of civilisation. Some people will try to form new countries, new nations but most will fail. Some will succeed but they won't be anything like democratic. People will flock around charismatic/powerful or strong leaders who can offer protection to their people. More than likely, there will be many people who have ambitions of forming "The Kingdom of Geoff" (or similar) and will jump at the opportunity to have people following them and their ideals. Religion may reboot at this point, with the head of a tribe being divine and/or "chosen by the gods" to reinforce the idea that they are in charge. 
The problem with this is the fact that people are mortal. The leaders of these tribes and gangs will die, leaving a power vacuum. The tribe will either drift apart or will kill each other to become the new king.

Currency will become meaningless so a return to a barter system is inevitable. Some things will retain their value (Gold, jewellery, etc.) Some things will become much more valuable (Technology, weapons, food.) And some things will become fairly worthless. (Xbox, PS3, iPods) Another thought is of the role of a woman in this society. Would the woman become just a thing for making more children? Or would the women be dominant? That's not a question I'm willing to answer. Too much arguing between you all.

Slavery will likely start again. Those unfortunate enough to have no tribe (or have a tribe that is conquered by another) will become a lower class forced by lash, whip or gun to do the bidding of their masters.

Here's the main reason I think civilisation collapsing would mean the end of humanity.

Guns > Democracy. 

Let's say civilisation collapses and I meet you and some others in the crumbling ruin of a city. I have a gun and I tell you that you are now my property. Of course, some will fight back, but, as I have a gun, they will be killed. There is always a choice and in this case, the choice is clear. Be a slave. Or die.

In the end, I think there are three options as to what could happen:

1) The human race adapts as we have done since we learned to walk on two feet. We create a new world which has learned from the mistakes of the past. (Not likely)
2) The human race makes the same mistakes we have before, as we always do. The world created is a mockery of the world we live in now and most likely will not be a nice place to live.
3) The flickering flame of the human race is extinguished entirely. Disease and hunger kill many but ultimately we destroy ourselves in an orgy of violence, destruction and war.

I look forward to hearing your ideas on the subject and on welcoming you to the "Kingdom of Andrew."

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

University challenge & Fighting against stats.

Hi all. Let's talk. Let's talk about a subject that is very close to my heart.

Me. (In hindsight, I'm close to all of my organs. Except my kidneys. I hate my kidneys.)

This is week 3 of 2nd year for me. Having survived a brief avalanche of work and enduring at least one 5.45 am wake up a week, I'd say I'm coping.

Coping. Not excelling, not struggling, coping.

I've never claimed to be naturally talented at Chemistry, I've always just enjoyed it. Playing with chemicals, making things & bunsen burners. Those are the things I like. Those are the things I'm good at. Just look at my grades for last semesters lab work.

Semester 1 - A 

Semester 2 - A

I can do lab work. I am competent. (I'm not here to blow my own trumpet)

However, theory, theory is where I struggle.
After missing a key lecture on VSEPR last year, I struggle with that. No matter who I ask. No matter how many times I read through it in the text book (to date 24 times) No matter how many times that question comes up in the exam...
There are some things from first year that just didn't stick. Look at my grades for Chemistry Theory last year.

Semester 1 - D

Semester 2 - A (or B)

The reason I don't know whether I got an A or a B for semester 2 is because when I got the letter with the grades on it, my one concern was the bit that said "You are invited to return for a second year." I think that's understandable of me. I was expecting to resit something (Either Chembob or maths) and it was an extremely pleasant surprise when I got told I didn't need to.

The problem is, my semester 1 knowledge is flawed. I've been to remedial chemistry/consolidation chemistry/chemistry for idiots (whatever you want to call it) and I still don't get some things. Like organics. And VSEPR. Oh well, back to the books...

The thing is that I know that 55% of people that got "encouraged" to go to these Consolidation Chemistry workshops will fail. Statistically, I'm already only 45% likely to continue into 3rd year.

On this sobering note, I have to say that my already miniscule social life will have to suffer. As will my voluntary position as a Swimming coach. As will my paper round. As will my life.

I don't have to do well at uni. I want to do well at uni. And if that means I've got to chop off my leg, I'll ask which one.

(I would prefer to cut out my kidneys though.)

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Arrrrrrrrrrgh, A Pirated Post.

You can yo your ho ho and shiver your timbers, today, is International Talk Like A Pirate day. (Before anyone says "Want any DVDs?" It's been done. Many times. It's now not funny.)

So then, how am I celebrating this glorious day, which I have off of uni (Thank you Bank Holiday...) Am I drinking a fine bottle of grog or a dusty glass of rum? Am I walking off the plank or lubbing some land?

No. I have not.

Right, in other news, I went to Fat Sam's in Dundee on Saturday night and I must say, that I did actually enjoy myself. Me. In a club. With people. And dance music...Right, in other news, I went to Fat Sam's in Dundee on Saturday night and I must say, that I did actually enjoy myself. Me. In a club. With people. And dance music...Right, in other news, I went to Fat Sam's in Dundee on Saturday night and I must say, that I did actually enjoy myself. Me. In a club. With people. And dance music...

I don't normally enjoy being trapped like a sardine in a tin. Or having random drunk people bash into me. Or spending £3.50 a drink... But, somehow, and I have my suspicions as to why, I did enjoy myself.

However, I now don't want to spend a lot of money for a while. For understandable reasons.

To round off, I'd like to say Fat Sam's wasn't as bad as some people told me it was going to be. Also, there are a lot more homeless people on Dundee's streets than Edinburgh's. Just so you all know.

Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

Blog from a bus.

Hello everyone. I am currently moving in a vehicle travelling at roughly 40mph so excuse any errors or bloodstains on my laptop.

Yes, that is right, I bring you this blog post... FROM A BUS.

Yeah, now that the interesting bit is done, on to the boring stuff.

Hi guys, I'm back at uni again. Doing Year 2 Chembob. Hopefully I perform better this year than I did last. My timetable isn't perfect, but I wasn't expecting much anyway. Only real big news is the fact I have to get up at 5.20(ish) to get to uni on time. I think it'll make my morning attitude interesting to say the least.

This isn't a long post. Just thought I should post at some point during September. Will be back with more regularity once my life gets interesting. (That will be soon.)

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Introduction music, French words & Outdoor Pools.

So then, s'up world.

*Cue intro music* (This can be any song you want)

Muscles, Emotions & Drugs.

It's been a while since we've had a deep, meaningful post and I'm feeling particularly fantastic today so I'm going to get all touchy-feely with you all today.

For those of you new to my blog, that was sarcasm. (The fantastic bit)

Yet Another Day In The Life Of A Raith Rovers Pieman.

There isn't going to be much Pie related news today, so don't worry.

I call this post in my head...

Yet Another Day In The Life Of A Raith Rovers Pieman: The tale of Horse-woman.

Party and whatnot.

On Thursday night, I went to a party. Yes. Social activities, I know. Shocking. This isn't going to be a story of how drunk I/you/others got. This is not going to be a story of what happened.

It's a story about gender stereotyping and modern expectations.

On my honour...

Right. No idea how this post is going to go today. Just going to type everything that I'm thinking. This is quite obviously a bad idea, but you know what? I don't care.

Let's rock.

Needless Filler Post.

Hi all. Once again, I'm here to plump up the cushions for you and allow you all to sit down and have me talk at to you.

Take a seat. It'll only cost you a few teeth.

As some of you know, I'm off uni now. Free. To do what I want to do. (Kudos if you get the reference)

So, if I'm free, how come I'm more bored than I ever was at uni? How come I feel so much more isolated than I ever did in my cell at uni? How come Kirkcaldy is so much more boring than I remember it?

Well, I don't have the answers for these questions and I doubt I ever will. Hopefully, life will get a tiny bit more exciting soon and I can blog properly about something. So, once again, I ask you, please comment with a topic of discussion for my next blog. Make it as obscure/interesting/strange or fantastical as you can and I'll do my best.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

Andrew Talks #1 : "The Rapture"

Right then, I am here to discuss one of the failed things recently...

I am of course, talking about "The Rapture."

No. That's a Velociraptor. Idiots. 

Obviously, some people in America truly believed that Jesus was coming. That everyone left on the Earth was in for a lot of suffering and torment. Well, umm, awkward much?

We're all still here. Well, I am, which is what matters. I even gave it another couple of days, just in case they missed it by a few days. Purely because I know that all end of the world situations will involve zombies. Well, they have to. Or else.

Americans were going crazy on the night of the supposed "Rapture" spending children's college funds, selling houses and generally being as hypocritical as most religious nut-jobs I know. Do the Gospels tell us that it's impossible for a rich man to get into heaven? I think you'll find the answer is yes. And selling all your stuff and buying all your worldly goods, WHICH CAN'T GO WITH YOU, makes perfect sense.

So then, God obviously doesn't want us yet. Or maybe he's decided to be merciful and postpone our execution.

Or maybe we should stop worrying about what might kill us and what WILL kill us.


Climate change (which many Americans deny responsibility for), Meteoric Impact, Melting of Polar Ice caps causing mass flooding, Alien Invasion, Terrorists getting a "dirty bomb", Nuclear warfare,  Biological warfare, Regular warfare (world war 3), Zombie apocalypse, Flipping of the Magnetic field of the Earth, Destruction of the ozone layer, Sun going supernova, Sun imploding, Sun exploding, Rogue Black hole, The exapansion of the Universe stops, Second Big Bang, Evolution of other animals, Evolution of disease, Drought, Monsoons, Tsunami, Earthquake, Hurricane, Tornado, Nuclear Meltdown, Robot apocalypse, We're all actually in "The Matrix" or Horrifically mutated hamster/ostrich hybrids eating all the cheese in the world.


All of these I will worry about more than the rapture. Well, most of them. Well, some of them. It's about time we, as the human race, took responsibility for cocking up our planet and stopped looking for any reason to stop worrying about it. "oh, the world will end in 2012 anyway..." They've said things like that before. And look where we are now.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

The Traditional Relationship Post.

((I don't really know how I can fit this in but if you want to see Alannah's blog about this, it's here.))


Well, as is traditional on this blog, when my relationship goes in the shitter, I have to do something here...
Right...
Where to begin...

Well, let's be honest about some stuff.

1. Changes.


Both of us changed each other. Mostly for the better I think. I corrupted you with my nerdy ways and you corrupted me with fashion...
There were a few things I tried to change about you though. Your ability to smile at someone and then go and bitch about them behind their back for one thing. I never liked that. I always wanted that to change.

2. My Friends.


There are a few places that will soon be off-limits to any partner in the future and this is one of them. I will never again let someone influence who I talk to. Who I go out with. Who I go to see. And who I'm friends with. I didn't like that you pushed me away from people (however unwittingly) and I don't like that I let you. This won't happen again. Ever.

3. Spoiling.


There's no other way to put it. You spoiled me. You bought me presents, coffee's, meals, random crap and assorted goodies. As much as I appreciated this, there is only so much a guy can take. This is when the dreaded "gender roles" monster rears it's ugly head. I am a guy. I am meant to provide. I'm not sexist, I never discriminate against sex, religion, sexual preference or race but none of that can help the feeling that I'm not providing as much as you were.
Also, my nature finds it hard to accept things I consider "charity." I appreciate things because I have done them/earned them/paid for them. I appreciate the occasional gift but when every time we go out, you insist on paying, it did feel like I was on the sidelines, not contributing at all.

4. Optimism.


Never again will I look so far forward. I fell into the same trap I usually do. I don't take it one day at a time. I was optimistic about something. Life has shown me consistently, and without fail, that when I look forward to something it balls up. It's good ol' pessimistic Andrew from now on, you hear. Good things are meant for good people. And obviously, I'm not good enough.


To end, I'd like to say thanks for all the support you've all given me. Thank you to Alannah for giving me a very nice time. I'm sorry it's over, but it is.

I've started a dailybooth (if any of you actually care, feel free to check it out) and a VYou account. You can ask me questions there and I'll respond (in video and sound) as soon as I can. Link is here. (Or click on the VYou tab on the left of this page)

Thanks all.
Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

St Andrew.

I want to share something with you all. This is a copy of my "tribute" page from my advanced higher physics class. I had nothing to do with the production, writing or photoshopping you see here. Credit goes fully to Christopher Iskanderos and Irving "Pebbles" Hanvey.

Enjoy.

This is a page dedicated to the great St. Andrew 'Astronomy' McArdle. The "St" is not to be confused with "Saint". It in fact stands for "Studly", hence Studly Andrew 
'Astronomy' McArdle.


It is undocumented as to when or where St. Andrew was born, however most experts say

he was born around the time Jesus went to High School, and in the middle of the Red Sea. Although this is widely rumoured, it is thought that his parents were a blue whale and an otter. Others also believe he travelled his way up through the centre of the Earth using some sort of tunnel mechanism. This theory was majorly endorsed by St. Andrew on many occassions, but yet to be put to mainstream use, much to St. Andrew's strife.

After St. Andrew was "born" in the Red Sea, he swam to the nearest country, which happened to be Yemen. In this country St. Andrew discovered basic morales in life and grew up on them. His early life took place during the Ice Age, where he survived by eating ice and accidentally inventing what we know now as ice hockey. He also grew up in the Stone Age, where St Andrew helped develop using rocks to hit things instead of the brow bone. He made a living out of wrestling elderly camels for money. He has never lost yet, and the camel community have been petrified of St. Andrew to this day, as a result St Andrew has been known as 'The Middle Eastern Avenger' for centuries.

In Yemen, St. Andrew had a strict intake of weasel souls and weasel souls only. The soul supply came from the weasel farm St. Andrew would harvest on weekends. The soulless weasels would eventually end up contributing to St. Andrew's army against the Scandanavian in St Andrew's victory of the Great Viking Head Bash in 1805.

St. Andrew has had many partners in life, estimated at around 347 women and 9 earthworms. St. Andrew has helped to repopulate Yemen with all of his partners, and it has been discovered that St. Andrew has contributed in at least one obscure way to 70% of the planet's population. However, all of St. Andrew's romances have come to a tragic end due to the result of each relationship becoming too close.

Due to a mild medical disorder, St. Andrew has an extremely powerful gravitational pull, and has crushed every single partner he has had. In extreme grief, St. Andrew swam to Scotland as an escape from reality. A mere blank canvas at the time, St. Andrew took the population of sheep and created a super species, now known as Scottish. This however had terrible consequences. Accidentally, St. Andrew ate too many carrots, and created a ginger race. St. Andrew has openly apologised for this on numerous occassions.

In actual fact St. Andrew is as bald as a bowling ball, and singlehandedly keeps every head polish company on earth afloat, however, after accidentally killing an ox, he tore all of it's hair off and wore the hair in memory of it. 

In Scotland, St. Andrew found relief from the magnitude of stress he was under in Yemen where he was involved in so many tragedies. He managed to make newer and evidently more enchanted friends. He even met his best friend to date, Lawrence (left). St. Andrew and Lawrence have been through many epic adventures together, too many to count on an abacus.

St. Andrew also spent his time in Scotland investigating the night sky. This time ended up being the invention of astronomy. St. Andrew is the discoverer of astronomy, and leading expert in all things astronomy. Every planet and their moons are said to be named after all of St. Andrew's life partners, in memory of their crushed bones.

St. Andrew has since grown to realise that his life is wasted without someone to share his sheer passion with. This has made him build up the courage to find a new partner, whose name is unknown to the general public, but they are widely believed to the the person pictured (right). 

It is thought that the relationship has lasted so far as the couple have never been within a 10 metre radius of each other.

St. Andrew has led a great legacy so far, and the history of his legend will live on for as long as everything is right in the world.

Celebrate the life of St. Andrew yourself every 30th of November, and make the world a better place.

A new beginning.

Well then, it's been a while since I blogged last. I blame stuff. Lots of stuff. Lots of stuff which never happened and I am using as an excuse for my extreme case of writers block. Anyway, lets pretend you never read that.

Let us descend upon wings of flame into the depths of my dark and twisted mind.

Shall we?

Yes.

1st Level - Conscious Mind.

This is the level that plays outside a lot. Well, I say outside, I actually mean it's there. And it's noticeable. It's like standing in front of a car and it beeps it's horn. The conscious mind is the sound of the horn. Pretty hard to miss. My conscious mind is constantly thinking. A lot of people talk about how they can "turn off" or "unwind." My brain seems to lack that ability. I'm always thinking about something, whether it's Chemistry, Warhammer, RPG's, songs, puzzles, people, "what-if's" and so on. I can't "turn off" and it worries me. Why does everyone else have the ability to think of nothing (some more than others...) and I don't? And worrying about that means that I'm constantly thinking about that. It's a vicious cycle.

2nd Level - Subconscious.

This level doesn't come out often. Occasionally, it wrenches control from the conscious for about two seconds before dominance is restored. It is nowhere near as noticeable. Imagine jumping off a building with a bungee cord on you. Now, imagine the sound of the cord snapping. (It's not loud... especially compared to wind rushing through your ears.) That's what it's like. You have no idea it's happened. But it's fairly important and it's soon going to have consequences. Exactly like that. My subconscious only really comes out when I doodle. As I lack the ability to "turn off" my subconscious comes out when I'm doing something I'm not very good at. Drawing. Therefore that nice doodle. It's actually a drawing I did. Drawing has much nicer connotations than doodle... Anyway, that was off topic. BACK ON TRACK ANDREW! There. Back. My subconscious probably will one day rebel against my conscious mind and my sanity will snap. I hope for your sake, that you aren't in the room at the time. It could get messy.

I'm no psychologist, so I have no idea what else rattles on in my mind. But I can have a rough guess...

Because you can never have too much Chuck.

Anyway, I think this distinctly proves that Chuck Norris is everywhere on the internet. I think that's the story I started with anyway...

Peace out bubs. 

Andrew out.

#100 - It's time.

Ladies. Gentlemen. Children and trolls of all ages, I bid you welcome. Welcome to my 100th post. For the first time ever, honestly, I think I can say *takes breath* it IS blog 'o' clock.

I have a few words to say, thanking you all for staying with me, blah, blah, blah...

-Insert generic big headed actor speech here-

Big headed actor.

Ok, I've made it. I have survived 100 posts. I never thought I'd get this far. I never thought that the blogger in me would stay alive this long. So honestly, thank you for the encouragement you have given me.

Right, other matters...
Happy St Patricks Day!

Andrew + Beer + Bavaria = OH HELP ME PLEASE!

Thats all the Irishness out of the way then...

What else did I need to say today...
Oh, that's right. I started blogging on the 17th of March, 2010...
So that makes it "notsuchafail.blogspot.com"'s 1st birthday!

Remember this cake? Points to who can guess the post. 

Yup, it's almost as if I planned it... *looks shiftily*

Right, now onto the rambling that's made me semi-popular. I am not asking for much for my blog's birthday. I want you to like it. (Or dislike) Ok. There is a box at the top of the post saying like (or dislike) and I'd like you to click one of them. Thank you. If you want to share this on facebook/twitter/your blog that is your choice and I won't force you to. Likes (or dislikes) are all I want.


Anyways, there isn't really much else to say at the moment. I am still living off the high that only the birthday of a loved one can bring you. (Yes, I love my blog, deal with it.)
My blog has, and always will be, a place of refuge for all my silly little thoughts and big serious thoughts. It's a place where you can come to find my point of view. If you want to ask me to blog about something, ask. I'll do my best. As I always do when it comes to this thing. In a way, it's my success story. And I don't want it to end.
Hopefully, I will keep doing this for a long time and people will care about what I think for a lot longer than that.


So, say it with me y'all.

Peace out bubs.

Andrew out.

#99 - Other (Please Specify)

The votes are in. The people have spoken. I have been told to post about Pokemon.

Pokemon - Andrews View

For many people, Pokemon was a first love. When it was released on the Game Boy, the Game Boy's popularity rocketed. Needless to say, Nintendo have been releasing Pokemon games like there is no tomorrow. If something sells... SELL IT!

As for my early experiences with Pokemon. I didn't have a Game Boy. Still don't. I have a "borrowed" one from Zoe but "shhhhh" with Pokemon Red, also from Zoe. So, my early experiences with Pokemon were the TV show and Pokemon cards.

The TV show is possibly one of the most memorable TV shows I watched when I was younger. It made little or no sense to me at the time, it was Japanese and most of the main characters could only say their names. Needless to say, I was hooked. In my opinion, it's probably the most sensible cartoon to come from Japan (which isn't saying much I suppose...)

The trading cards... Oh the days of primary school. You'd go into school in the morning with Pokemon cards weighing down your pockets. At breaks, lunch & sneakily during class you would battle, trade or admire other peoples collections. Nowadays, that sounds like a euphemism to me. I miss the days where the most important matter of the day was finding some chump who wanted to get a "Mankey" so bad, he'd trade a "Shiny Charizard"

Nowadays, Pokemon seems to have calmed down. It was just a fad. Followed by Yu-Gi-Oh and whatever replaced that (Ben 10 I think.) but Pokemon lives on. In the hearts of the crazy addicted fan boy/girl. Or the nostalgic Andrew.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

#98 - Who's winning now?

Almost there...

Right, I was planning on making this blog about who are the winners in the world. Who has the most stuff, is loved the most, etc.

BUT...

Recent events in Japan have made me decide that it would be inappropriate and callous to talk about things like that under the circumstances.

Right now in the world, I feel that there are no "winners." There are people that are losing slightly less than others, but loss is everywhere. Whether it is the loss of money that you had temporarily won. The loss of a loved one to distance, hatred, natural disaster or death. The loss of everything you owned as a wall of water 10 feet high sweeps everything normal about your life away. The loss of your livelihood in Australia after flooding. The loss of life in Libya and the Arab nations. The loss of everything normal in New Zealand after the earthquake there. The loss of entire towns in Japan.

This puts my life here in Britain into perspective. We moan about the weather when it rains for a week, or the snow is more than 6 inches thick, or there is no rain for two months. What about other countries around the world? Do you not think they have it a little worse than us?

A few moments after I realised how bad the Japanese crisis was, the jokes began.
One particular stood out to me.
"Run for your lives Japs, Godzilla's coming for you."
Needless to say, I am no longer following that person on Twitter.
What annoys me most about this is that the person lived in the US. Land of the free. The home of all peoples. Well, go f*** yourself. I'm fed up of people who have absolutely no idea about matters thinking they have the right to give advice or joke about it.

Natural disasters aren't funny. People dying is NOT Funny.

I know that this blog will make no difference at all. I know that no one is going to change how they act towards things because of some rant from a 18 year old student but damn it, someone has to try.

If you can donate something to the relief effort, please do. Every penny helps.


In conclusion, f*** you Charlie Sheen. Give one episodes worth of your money to the Japanese relief. You aren't winning. You're just losing slightly less than 98% of the world.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

#97 - Lent again. (Already!)

Well, lookie here. 3 posts to go! (I really am hyping this a bit too much...)

It's the time of year again that I hated last year. Lent. The time of vegetarianism. That was a difficult challenge but I am glad I did it. I now know the pain and suffering that vegetarians must feel at not eati...
No, vegetarians do not eat meat for their own reasons and I am fairly sure they don't miss meat. However, I did.
I was watching one of the many YouTuber's I was subscribed to (Dan Brown/Pogobat if you must know) and he declared "Vegy week." A week in which he would not eat meat. He struggled through and succeeded. Great Dan. Now do it for 40 days... It gets tougher.

Anyway, enough about last year. This year. This year, I have not given anything up. Nor have I decided I will do anything special. Life is difficult enough as it is at the moment and I do not need more stress to add to my already apocalyptical levels.

"But Andrew. You're living the dream! At uni! Getting drunk!"
- See last post...


In other news, I have finally caved to pressure and started posting my music thing on faceboogle. Who knows maybe someone will like something I do.

Anyway this post was mainly to let you all know I am still alive. And I am still "winning." (Thats a clue about my next post...)

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.

#96 - "It's not all fairy tales and roses Andrew..."

(Almost there people... 100 is around the corner)

I apologise. The following account is about me, my life and how I see University.

It's bad.
It's bad here.

It isn't the fact that I don't like Chemistry. I do like chemistry, specifically physical chemistry, but the amount we get to do is pitiful. This means that a fair chunk of the subject I am here to do, is not my cup of tea. I don't mind transition metals. I don't mind main group. But organics. My Thursday lecture. I hate. I do not like Organic Chemistry at all. With it's curly arrows, it's reaction mechanisms and all the stupid, pointless, boring information that you need to memorise.

It feels good getting that out my system...

Right, next up. My accommodation. Apparently, it's getting pulled down after I leave apparently. GOOD! My room felt like a jail cell until I got some posters up. It still feels like a jail cell if I'm honest. Well, closer to a room in a psychiatrics hospital. It's not because I'm crazy (well...) It's because of the isolation. I'm a loner by nature but I do like to socialise. Occasionally. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to go on most of the Fresher week events with the rest of Pentland because I was under 18, so I never got a chance to get to know people and conversely, they never got to know me.
My room itself is isolated. It's squeezed into the gap between two corridors. I'm in a bit doored off by itself. With a corridor with 4 rooms on the right and 5 on the left. Doored off. I know that doesn't seem like much but it feels like a wall. My room is different to the other rooms I've seen in Pentland making me feel even more different. The kitchen is downstairs. The lounge is upstairs. No one has any need to be on my floor apart from to see the warden or to go to sleep.

See, just writing all this is putting me in a bad mood. Honestly. Well, "I've started so I'll finish."

I'm in catered accommodation. This means I get all my meals cooked for me. I don't need to do any cooking. So, the kitchen contains a fridge, a microwave and a kettle. This doesn't bother me. I'm not a big fan of cooking. What I miss is the option to cook. The option to have a bacon sandwich at 10pm. That kind of thing. All catering shuts at 8pm. I have to buy junk food if I want anything else after that. (I can buy fruit, but it's not fresh) I've steadily been gaining weight since I came to uni. And I think it's because of the choice of food. I know that they are trying to keep it healthy, but when every day the "healthy option" is also the "vegetarian option" things get a bit boring. (Nothing against vegetarians... You should all know that)

I have made friends. At Watt Gamers. I go once or twice a week. That is pretty much the extent of my social life here. I sometimes go to "Our Union." A bar so lacking in atmosphere it should be called the ISS.
I thought that moving out would make me more independent from my parents. I thought I'd finally be out from under their shadow. No. My parents pay for my accommodation. I go home most weekends to get my washing done for free. I get free food and board when I go home. And I have never, ever thanked my parents properly. One day, I'll make it up to them. One day, I might get the courage to show them this post and show them how I feel about Uni. I have a brilliant girlfriend. I have loads of friends. I have a Fantastic mum and a Amazing dad. Even Dene's ok. But, for some reason, I feel more alone than I ever have. More cut off in my cell here than I could have imagined after receiving my "ticket to freedom" bearing the word "unconditional" on it. I don't like university nearly as much as I imagined I would. I thought it would all be like 6th year. When I was finally beginning to be more confident. Be more me. Be liked by other people. But I got here. And I crawled back into my shell.

It is because of all of this, and the fact that this is a lot of money to be asking my parents for, that I have decided that I will be commuting to university next year from Kirkcaldy. From my parents house. Bubs, I'm coming home.

I hope that, if you are at university, or if you plan on going, or even if you are already here, that you have a better time than I have shown here.

Peace out bubs.
Andrew out.