EvilRuss

A Slow Recovery

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:51:35 GMT

So, another week as gone by. A much better week for me.

Monday night was my birthday, got very, very drunk, forgot a lot of problems and felt a lot better the next day.

Resolved some of the issues I have with some people and managed to save a friendship just about, though it wont be quite the same again.

Thursday was the funeral. It was amazing, very fitting, the Egyptian piece was very moving and very appropriate. And there was a lot of people there, upwards of 100 I would guess. Just shows how many people's lives Crys touched.

I was hoping for closure on Thursday, but after the funeral I started to get into an odd mood and it got worse as the night went on, part of which was self-pity, which annoyed me a little but I guess is just one of those things. Looks like it's going to take a lot longer to get over this than I thought.

Friday was harder than I expected and I had to take a half day from work. Had a more normal feeling day today and hoping things will stay that way, but just can't tell.

I watched the news today and saw an article about Barack Obama. In all this, I had forgotten how happy I had been he had won the election. Not so enthusiastic now I guess but perhaps that will recover.

Only time will tell.

Rollercoaster of a Week

Sat, 15 Nov 2008 20:49:54 GMT

One week later and things have improved at least.

My post Saturday was grim but was perhaps not the worst moment of the week.

Plenty of people have been absolutely amazing and it is at times like this you learn who are the people you can rely on. Top of the list is Rich, who is doing such a fantastic job staying over at Viv's that I just can't praise him enough. Crys would have been very proud.

Kerry (and Morgan) have been great too. Could not have got through the week without them. Some people from work, one of whom I've not been that close to until now, have been great too.

(I'm certainly over the worst of it, I suspect, and am trying to do normal things and have some fun. Frustrating that every contingency I made to ensure I had something to do tonight has fallen through, but otherwise I am enjoying the weekend break.)

On the down side, there are those people who's reactions are less than helpful. In fact, I am as much, if not more if I'm honest, upset by their behaviour than I was about Crys's actual death.

Some of those people I would expect no less from, and while I am angry and annoyed, I'm not that surprised. Then there are those who you think you are close to, who you think you have a connection with, who offer support and then when it comes to it actually let you down, I guess because talking about your problem instead of their's is not that interesting.

I'm really not ready to give any more details here, I'm sorry to say, though I have spoken to enough people that I am coping with it. Suffice to say Wednesday turned into a really bad day for me, when I was not expecting it to be, after being let down twice.

I'm still very hurt about that. And worse I have not been able to tell the person concerned what they did and not sure when or if I will be able to. It could ruin a very important friendship but then, what sort of friendship is it really?

Death of a Close Friend

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:11:43 GMT

Have not posted for a long time, but events compel me.

My close friend of 20 years, Crys O'Regan, killed himself yesterday.

Very cut up about it. Most horrible experience of my entire life to date.

Some of my friends are clearly dealing with it by making jokes, not about this but about other things, perhaps to take their mind off it. I'm finding it very hard to join in at the moment, though I smile because I don't want them to feel awkward.

Crys was, to me, one of the two most important friends I had. The other being Febs. I don't think I will every truly forget him.

I've told people who need to know in the party and at the Council, in part so they don't bother me but also to try to make it feel more real. Or perhaps to stop me feeling quite so empty inside, and either cry or get angry. It has not worked.

While I could and probably would punch anyone who did not know Crys who does anything to annoy me at the moment, I still feel rather numb on the inside still.

I guess I will have to keep waiting until I'm ready.

Russell T Davies Leaving Doctor Who ....

Tue, 20 May 2008 22:41:46 GMT

So there is a God ...

Ford's Cave In - And Stand Up for Your Consumer Rights

Tue, 13 May 2008 19:10:37 GMT

OK, after losing my car to a chav strike last year, I decided not to buy another Mazda. Go with a well known, big company. They'll look after me, right .... (can you see what's coming?)

So, I brought my wonderful Ford FOCUS CMAX in September last year. Three years old, just 9000 miles on clock. £8000. Not bad. Had no problems with it except it's poor fuel economy.

Until last week, when it broke. Nasty grinding noise. Stopped, called RAC. They came and looked at it, drive it a bit, very bad grinding sound. Drive shaft on passenger side broken. Recover to Ford garage.

It's OK, thinks me, I paid £400 for an extended, three year warranty and its only 8 months into it. Ford mess around for a couple of days before starting the repair. When I case them, they say, yes the warranty covers the drive shaft, but that has also damaged the gear box mounting (or something like that) and subsequent damage is not covered by the warranty, they want £120 + VAT before they will do the full repair.

WHAT!?! Says me. No way, that's outrageous. I will talk to Trading Standards and get back to you.

So I ring those nice people at Consumer Direct (who are absolutely brilliant), who tell me the warranty may or may not say that (I checked - it did) but that did not affect my statutory rights. They tell me to call Ford and say I want a repair under the Sale of Goods Act 1979, as the car I paid a lot of money for broke after 8 months and therefore was not of satisfactory quality.

I do that. Their Sales Manager insists I must pay for the extra repair. I tell him (with advice from Consumer Direct) that I will send a recorded post letter demanding my rights within 14 days if he does not agree now. "You do that" he says.

So, red rag to a bull, I do. Sent it yesterday by recorded post. Sent a copy, also recorded post, to the finance company who gave me the £3000 interest free credit I used as part of the purchase. (Apparently they are jointly and severally liable under the Act as well!)

The letter arrived at Ford this morning. By 10am they were on the phone to me, well Mr Field, as a gesture of good will, they will pay for the extra repair. I said that I had hoped that the £400 I had paid for an extended warranty would have already got me that, but never mind.

By 2pm my car is ready for collection and Hey Presto! I am mobile again. All it cost was £2.16p for two recorded post letters.

Just goes to show - stand up for your rights. It's always worth it. And we have more rights in the UK than anyone realises.

Busy!!!

Sun, 11 May 2008 22:49:26 GMT

Gosh, I am busy since the election.

Been having meetings with various people, to try to get more people involved and secure our base in the ward I represent, as well as getting on with case work that I had to leave when I lost my seat.

I have been on the radio already, stirring things up and I am looking for other issues to cause trouble with.

I am also looking after our candidate in another ward who is currently suing the Leader of the Labour Party in Coventry for defamation of character after he made false allegations that a photo in our leaflet was doctored. Not only was that not true, but this Labour guy accused our candidate of blatant dishonesty and misleading voters in scandalous way, and he took these allegations to the local paper and radio.

Our candidate is furious at his good name being attacked in this way. The rumour has even gone about in the local area where he lives. So he has now sent a solicitor's letter demanding an apology and retraction, otherwise legal action will follow! Hopefully, the arrogant, personal-attack first and ask question later, Labour Party in Coventry will finally be brought to heel.

I am also trying to get a former Labour Councillor who stood as an independent to join us. I don't know if he will yet, but it is worth a try, he was treated dreadfully by the Labour Party in Coventry.

I am also starting preparations to be a parliamentary candidate at the next election.

All this while having no car because of the robbing bastards at Ford, on which I will post another time.

Phew! I thought I would get a break after the election.

Voters Are Strange

Sat, 03 May 2008 23:16:06 GMT

I must share this little story.

Some of you may be aware, part of the campaign on election day is to go around knocking on doors of your supporters encouraging them to vote.

Well, one of my helpers told me that one supporter that he called on was very concerned about the prospect of an asteroid strike and thought we should be hoarding food. However, this person did find enough time between fitting themselves up with "The End of the World Is Nigh" poster-boards to cast a vote for me.

Now this may say something about the type of people who vote Liberal Democrat, but, of course, party loyalty prevents me from making such a comparison ...

VICTORY!!

Fri, 02 May 2008 02:48:39 GMT

I won!

By an nice margin of 188.

The full result was:

Lib Dem 1694
Labour 1506
Tory 482
Green 170

I was tempted to do a Side-show Bob victory speech ... wuh ha ha ha ha ha haaa!!! But I decided against the idea.

Phew! Exhausted. Going to sleep now for the next few days ... then I'll start stirring up trouble.

Election Day Tomorrow

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 22:00:05 GMT

So ... the big day is almost here.

Rather tired but have paced myself better this week. Having the whole week off work helped.

Been amazed by the offers of help from work colleges and friends this year. Been a great support and encouragement - cheers guys!

The 'mood' on the doorstep appears to be better this year than last, although I remain unsure of the result now (I was certain I would win last year!)

Had all sorts of problems. Poor turn out of candidates (12 out of 18 - less than the BNP or the Greens!!). Party members exceeding their authority and upsetting other people. Two (totally baseless) accusations from the Labour Party that we have broken the law. One, arrived today, amazingly suggests we doctored a photo on a leaflet and made it look like our candidate was presenting a petition to 10 Downing Street when it was only presented to Coventry Council. Labour don't realise he did both - fortunately he still has the letter from Tony Blair's office acknowledging it!

After a year of disappointment and lack of enthusiasm, it looks like I might be back .... who knows. Will post up the rest when I know it.

Charles Dexter Ward - Good but ruined by Call of Cthulhu

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:02:45 GMT

Finished The Case of Charles Dexter Ward last night.

It got better towards the end, increasing the pace and coming to a good ending. The racist element are limited to a small section early in the story.

The ending may have been predictable, I can't be sure because as soon as certain things were mentioned it brought to mind a Call of Cthulhu RPG spell that turned out to the central crux of the story and ment I knew exactly what was going to happen at the end.

Disappointing, I would rate the story as quite good, if slow at the beginning, rather like At the Mountains of Madness.

There is one bit in the story that does not get explained and is a bit of a 'cop out'. For those who know the story, it is Dr Willett's departure from the underground towards the end.

Other than that, enjoyed it. I will now start to look for other Lovecraft stories to read.

Any suggestions?

Shattered

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 15:56:33 GMT

I have been taking it easier this election, not quite so much late evening delivery and canvassing. I want elections to be less stressful for me, so I can keep at this job for longer. There is no point in putting everything into it and then losing and feeling really demoralised, as has happened over the last two years.

But even my reduced schedule has started to get to me today. I had to go to a residents meeting this morning to meet some new people and I have someone from the West Midlands Lib Dems coming to see me anytime now, with campaigning in between.

There is only about 11 days left, but I really could do with going to sleep, waking up the day after the election and seeing what the result it. But this is the busiest time of all and what happens over the next few days will be vital to the outcome.

Oh well, back to the grind. Sunday evening roleplaying is my only real break.

The Case of Charles Dexter Ward

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 13:11:27 GMT

A while ago I read H P Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness. The Lovecraft omnibus it was in also includes The Case of Charles Dexter Ward, which I have decided to start reading.

Nothing much to report at the moment, except the usual slow build up and repetition, which is again annoying, but I remember from 'Mountains of Madness' it does help to build up the atmosphere.

At story tells us (not much of a spoiler here) that Charles Dexter Ward has gone mad. He seems to have had a personality change. The narrative then begins to focus on one of his ancestors, who Ward also took an interest in and seems to have been a thoroughly evil fellow.

One point does come to mind. It has been alleged that Lovecraft was a bit of a racist. It has been said that the bad guys in his stories are always white / western, while their lackies are usually not.

This is a little noticeable in 'Dexter Ward'. One particular sentence does seem to support this:

" ... [This dreadful relation's] only visible servants, farmers and caretakers were a sullen pair of Narragansett Indians; the husband dumb and curiously scarred, and the wife of a very repulsive cast of countenance, probably due to a mixture of Negro blood."

I realise this can be considered not usual for the time period, but it is a little distracting, especially as it goes on later to describe the only people who would be sailors on his ships were "mongrel riff-raff".

I'm not going to let this spoil horror effect I am hoping will emerge, but I find it a little distasteful.

Zimbabwe

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:59:50 GMT

I am very annoyed about events in Zimbabwe. I really started to hope that Mugabe would accept the result of the election and step down. How very naive of me. I really must stop being so foolish if I am going to be a successful politician.

People like Mugabe do not back down. They do not listen to reason. They are convinced of their own rightness and will not accept they are destroying a country and not helping it.

That is why democracy is so important. I only hope that the situation in Zimbabwe helps to show those who are disillusioned or critical of democracy in Britain how precious our freedoms are and what can happen when they are taken away.

A general update

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 14:58:56 GMT

First episode of Dr Who season four - poor, silly nonsense. Some good bits. Liked Donna and the surprise at the end. I hope next week's is better - looks it.

Election - getting on with it. Labour are indeed rather unpopular. Gosh, could I win this year? How ironic would that be? After all the hard work last year, I lose, after a weaker campaign this year I win? Democracy - remember, it's only the least worst form of government. It's not actually a good one.

Work - got a half decent wage rise this year, because they have finally realised we are underpaid. I think what helped was when they tried to recruit some new staff in our department and found they were all asked for far more than the existing staff were on and had less experience than us. That is not to say we are low paid, last year with my Councillors wages on top I was a higher rate tax payer. Some others in the department are without extra income. But that is because I have a highly professional, graduate job.

While I am on that subject, I have facing a financial squeeze since losing my Councillor's income. The repayments on my new car have not helped, but I have been forced to cancel some optional extras in my life, including Sky. I guess in part I have got used to an more costly life-style and needed to reign myself in. But it is expensive living on your own ... if only I could find a house mate / partner / live-in cook / cleaner / slave to share the bills with. Oh well.

A visit from Gordon Brown

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 20:58:06 GMT

Election news.

Gordon Brown came to Coventry this year and launched Labour's local election campaign in Upper Stoke ward - where I am standing.

Coupled with the amount expensive, colour leaflets the Labour party are delivering in Upper Stoke shows that this ward is a national target for Labour. You thought these were local elections, oh no, this is about them making gaining in Coventry which they can talk about on TV each though they loose elsewhere.

Boy, it's going to be tough this year. If it weren't for the fact that Labour are in freefall in the polls at the moment, I would in be real trouble. As it is, it's going to be interesting.

P.S. Apologies for not posting earlier. Been busy. Election work has begun in earnest.

CHILL - Story Two

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:34:25 GMT

Finished off a longer, slower CHILL story tonight. It ran to six episodes in the end and was a lot slower and more investigative and moody. It seemed to work though, and ended well.

Could have wrapped it up quicker but was not sure quite how to do so without it becoming too blatant and I wanted it to run at the pace the players set. Overall happy but would not run it quite like that again.

You can see the log I kept of the whole story at www.darksecrets.org.uk/chill. It needs eiditing and the quality of the write up does vary. I write the log as we play and I started off making just rough notes, but later on I wrote up events properly.

In other news:

Politics - began campaigning in ernest this weekend for local elections this year, including signing up a new member. Woo hoo.

TV - Torchwood has turned dull recently. Back to the old, poor, self-indulgent stories lines in the main. Still better than last season though. Supernatural is going well. Ashes to ashes is awesome. Wished I had watched Life on Mars now and will as soon as I can. The Palace, a great series, really enjoyed it, it even ended will. Will miss it and I hope they make another seaon.

Work - dull, dull and even more dull. Got a good review for last year even though it was not one of my best. Oh well, made up for all the other things that went wrong last year, like losing the election, losing my car, having an average holiday to Russia, getting the flu etc etc.

LRP - went to a good Dark Door game last weekend. Died a bit early though. Had to go to bed after that because of a nasty cold. No doing much with my own games now until after local elections.

That will do for now. I pledge to post again within 7 days - see if I make that one.

AoE Post Game Report

Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:29:32 GMT

OK, so I promised to report.

Well, have very mixed feelings. The game sees to have been well received and went OK, but the players left before the whole thing was resolved because they were running low on ammo and things were getting tough, so disappointed with that.

I guess the last stage was not obvious. But with a little time they could have worked it out, especially once they worked out Silver Nitrate instantly took out the lycantropic bad guys they had been shooting up a lot.

It was a very large group and they took a long time to decide things, as I thought, but was quite happy for the game to run on to midnight, as it was 10:30 and it was all over. At least this time the run short was not lack of plot, like in the last one.

The good news is, as I said, most players seem to have enjoyed it, including the new ones I was very nervious about (they left without saying goodbye but had since posted to say loved and want to play again!)

Anyway, that was my last major LRP project until after the local elections. My election campaign is getting behind and must decide time to that now.

Torchwood Again

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 22:20:17 GMT

Well, having seen the latest episode tonight, that's three good Torchwood's in a row! Wow, they seem to have got their act together.

Initially, I feared we were going to have a re-run of the first season story where three people from the past arrive in the future and it's all about their relationships and how they copied, but that did not happen and there was a proper sci-fi problem to solve.

It was still a little embarrasing watching Jack and Ianto kissing, but that's my issue. And it felt much more part of the scenary than deliberate, as the first season felt.

Yes, I am very hopeful for the future of TW.

In other new, the next Aspects of Evil game is this weekend. Having the ususal panic, although I am calmer than I usually am. Perhaps because we have planned this one to death and it's a case of getting the execution right.

Fifteen players! Over 10 crew (never sure what the final figures are until the day). A lot of work done by Febs on props this time. I think he is feeling the strain a little, because I nag him to do a really good job and do little things that help make it look better but can take a lot of time to do.

Anyway, will post again with a review once its done. Promise.

Torchwood

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:56:29 GMT

Radio Russ crackles into life ...

Torchwood was very good this week. More disciplined and a proper sci-fi story. Even the sexual references were amusing. Although I think one of the biggest problems with the new Who/Torchwood writing crowd is they have so little respect for continuity if it gets a laugh or looks good. The old woman at the start of the first Torchwood episode was a case in point. (Ultra secret organisation and some old lady on a street corner knows about them ...)

Last week's was also good and the gay bit was OK in places as I accept it is a feature of Time Agents. What I don't accept is the rest of the Torchwood team have to be sex-mad too.

What else while I am here? May as well stick to the entertainment theme.

Seen Aliens Vrs Predator Requiem. A guy at work summed it up well when he said it was fun to watch but don't think too hard about it or the plot (what little there is) falls apart. Nice ending though.

Very much enjoying The Palace on ITV1 as well. Clever, well made series with lots of interesting characters. Although it has the slight feel of an ITV series, it is good quality and the sort of thing the BBC should be doing. I particularly like the scheming older sister and George the playboy prince.

TTFN

Getting better & Urban Exploration

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:54:31 GMT

Went to the Doctor today re: flu. Nothing he can do except give sympathy and tell me to drink plenty of fluids. Viruses.

I am feeling a lot better though, after an entirely wasted week. Went to the pub for lunch with Febs to cheer myself up. Turns out he's had the same thing. Was a bit too much exertion, though, had to go to bed for a couple of hours afterwards.

Febs did introduce me to a fascinating concept - Urban Exploration. People who break into old, derelict buildings and take pictures of them! It includes asylums, chemical plants, underground rivers, you name it, they've filmed it. There is a forum where they post most of there stuff, fascinating ... http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/index.php.

They would make great settings for LRP, if we could just make them safe somehow ....

The Bloody Flu!

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:03:16 GMT

Been down with a nasty case of the flu over New Year. Fifth day and counting!

I am feeling a little better today and have not spent the whole day in bed.

This is the second time I have had this in four months, the last time I got it at the end of my Russian Holiday.

I think this year I will go for the flu jab.

Oh ... and Happy New Year to everyone!

Something New and Something Old

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:07:29 GMT

Inspired to write again ...

Vince Cable, acting Lib Dem leader until the leadership election is over, used a great put down today at Prime Minister's Question Time, suggesting that Mr Brown had gone from Stalin to Mr Bean in a matter of weeks. It seems to have caught alot of people's attention.

Pity really that Parliamentary procedure is now just a pantomine, but if you can't beat them, join them.

On a totally different point, was talking today about Father Christmas. I was roped into being Santa at a local community centre while I was a Councillor. I was a bit worried, not quite sure what to do. Was re-assured I would be fine. Amazing how scary playing that part can be. Anyway, I was dressed up and waiting for the kids. When these tiny 3-5 year olds arrived, I Ho Ho Ho'd, and wished them a merry and what did they do - cried and ran to the corner of the room.

Although I tempted some of them with a prezzy from my (pre-arranged) sack, most just would not come near me and their mum had to get the present.

There it is. Official. I am a crap Santa.

They invited me back the next year, but I turned them down.

Successful Game At The Weekend

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:16:03 GMT

At last something to post about. Been quiet recently.

First Aspects of Evil game worked OK. It ran short and was not quite dangerous enough, and five of the monster team left early, but it still worked and most players appeared to have liked it.

Will have a few photos etc at some point, but not yet.

I should be doing more politically, but am a little disillusioned at the moment. Just feel that my effort will be wasted on people who are not in the mood the listen.

Queens speech today. Government want to extend detention time to 56 days. Mixed feelings. They have not needed the 28 day powers they already have as yet, but at the same time if they need it they should have time to detain people longer.

But at the same time the Police are too much of a law unto themselves. I fell out with a local Police Sergeant while I was a Councillor because he would not accept any criticism. They do a tough job though, and I imagine they feel everyone blames them and they get little support.

My political opinions are all in the air at the moment. Need some time to let them settle down I think.

The Dark Door

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 18:20:31 GMT

Helped crew a Dark Door game at the weekend.

The Dark Door is a 1920s Lovecraft horror LRP game system that I know a number of people at and some of them play in my game. They are clearly people with a bit of money to spare, as they pay about £60 to play and spend a few hundred pounds on costumes and equipment for their characters. Attention to detail is awesome and some of the sites they use are amazing.

This one used a place called Featherstone Castle in Cumbria. As the name suggests, it is a castle, although not medieval inside, more like a stately home with servant entrance and some nice rooms, although it is also a bit tatty and has more of a youth hostel feel too it.

But is it damn nice and once you get to know your way around is amazing.

Game was great fun, but hard work, as we were the kitchen staff and had to arrange a five course meal on Friday night. I know now what is was like to work as a servant in a 1920s house!

Journey was long, from junction 2 to junction 43 of the M6 and then off a side road for 20 miles. Took 5 hours each way. Phew! Nackered. Took yesterday off work to recover. But great, will go again and want to play again next time!

Ming Campbell - A great leader to the end

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 21:46:41 GMT

So Ming has resigned.

A mixture of sadness and relief. Sad he has gone, I liked him, relief that talk of how he is too old will finally stop.

I always thought that, while Charles Kennedy was popular, he was not a strong leader. He lacked the killer instinct and worse could not make his point quickly and precisely. The fact that he hung on for so long and had to be pushed showed to me a lack of judgement.

Ming was criticised from the start and the way Kennedy was pushed out left him holding the baby. But I felt he was a stronger leader, made his point better on the TV, even though he was constantly on the defensive. He was a former olympic runner and a QC. I think if there had been a hung parliament next time, he would have been the perfect leader for some hard-nosed negotiation with either party for a coalition.

And I think he showed how good a leader he was in leaving when things were starting to go bad and realising there was no way back, the age issue was stuck in people's minds. He proved how good a leader he was by taking the right decision swiftly and decisively. I will always respect him.