As I'm off to Cardiff to see the gorgeous Han for the remainder of 2006 (which reminds me, is there anything I must do in Cardiff? We're there for two days, and also New Years Eve. A good place to go on New years would be appreciative too - does Cardiff have a Walkabout or a Barracuda?), I'd thought I'd do a quick year in review for 2006. Be warned, this is a long post, and it gets annoyingly mushy towards the end.
So, 2006: What did it do to me? Was it a good year? That kinda thing that's everywhere at the moment. Only this one has less Jimmy Carr. Re-fucking-joice.
Looking back at January - April, I actually realise how miserable I was. I was doing too much, drinking too much and resting too little. I kinda was the smily, happy Rhys you were accustomed to, but I was not happy. Suppose it didn't start well with me getting dumped 3 days into the year, but I put on a brave face. It wasn't all bad, I was living in the house of trouser with friends, and did have some good times (a couple of nights out and my birthday, sans the rejection email). But the whole eating shit, drinking loads and working in a high stress job with no rest eventually took it's toll on me.
Hate to say it, but that was a defining moment for me. When you're lying in a hospital bed, with wires attatched to you that you look like something from Ghost in the Shell, you look at life differently - maybe I was doing too much, and chasing the almighty dollar in the worst possible way. It's horrible having people come upto you saying "ooh, we never have 22 year olds with heart trouble in here", cheers doc, thought the NHS wasn't supposed to judge. It still effects me, my trip into hospital. I do get - uncomfortable chests every now and again, and have been pretty much burping constantly for the past two or so weeks. Normally I'd put it down to diet or something, but because of my history it does scare me a bit. However, I know that whenever I'm with friends or watching TV or something, it goes. I think it's psychological, but I'd like to make sure, and see if the NHS can do something about it. I know it sounds pathetic, and I don't want to do it believe me, as much as I love her to bits - my mum has been less than supportive and doesn't understand what I'm going through.
The problem is nobody does I suppose, people do try, but unless you've been in my situation (22 years old and wake up one morning with heart palputations, with no real cause except circumstancial evidence such as bad diet, stress), any words (particularly "oh, just put it to the bavk of yout mind, just enjoy life!") are little comfort. I mean, physically I'm fine - I have a half an hour walk to work every day without fail, plus 3 10 minute walks through the day (i know it's not much, but I can do it) - it's just mentally I'm still a little screwed from the events in April.
Ironically, in future years when I do get my head sorted, find the cause of my constant belching, and live a long and prosperous life, the trip to the hospital could be a blessing in disguise. I returned home and quit my job at the call centre. Ironically I was offered a promotion for a position that paid nearly £400 a week (which, for a 22 year old living up North is huge money) in order to stay, but at the time there were more important things to me than money. I applied for a few jobs around the North Wales area - but generally limiting myself to administration work. On one search, I did feel adventurous and look for IT jobs, and on page 14 out of 14 I found a web design job for Colwyn Bay. I applied, thinking "I'd never get it, they'd want somebody with experience". Lo and behold after a 2 hour of the most brilliant-yet-informal interview ever, I got the job.
I don't reallty talk much about my time in work - reason being is because my work colleagues read this blog. Truth be told I am happy there. I go through times of not enjoying it and all (everybody does), but overall I'm doing something I like doing for money. I've learnt so much from my work colleagues - both using software I never knew existed before (Groupmail is my baby!), and also in design (I now see things design wise and say "that's clever"). I know for the fact that rhyswynne.co.uk would still be available and there would be no forum nor toplist if I hadn't of got the job I am in today. So you've got to be greatful too! It also gave me money, and time to blog (though - contrary to popular belief - not in work: I usually blog the night before, give it a 11:00AM timestamp then publish it before work). Both of which lead to a holiday.
Ironically I first met Han on Myspace, when she joined a long dead group (this is our first ever conversation), however things kinda blossomed where - unusual for me - I kinda started e-mailing her when she was in China, just out of curiositiy (seeing if she was interesting to talk to), and she was! MSN then phone number soon followed, and I then arranged a holiday - which was originally "have a few days away near where Guy lives", but became "see a few bloggers, especially Han". It was at that point that actually I had begin to have a bit of a fertile spell with the ladies, getting a few dates of varying successes (which - for Han's sake - we won't discuss here). I'll be honest though - and this is the truth, not me being mushy - I was prepared to let all of those dates fail because I was going to London. If Han turned out to be "just a friend", that would be cool. However, if it turned out to be "a bit more", it'd be unfair for everybody. I just needed to know. After two days, I knew, and was happy with the result.
It's odd. Han and myself have spent less than a week together in person. Our relationship at the moment is usually Skype. After January 1st, I don't know when I'd next see her. I dunno whether - even though we've had 2 months of going out - we're still in "New Relationship Territory". However, I am unbelievably happy at the moment. I tried to describe it to Sibley (who, bless him, is probably sick of me talking about the poor girl at the moment). I used a terrible euphanism: "You know when you're walking down the street, and you see somebody, and you think to yourself 'They....look different. Are they a celebrity?'. It's a bit like that.". My mates are probably sick of me talking about Han, but I don't care. She really is fabulous and we get on fantastically when we're together, and nearly as well when we're apart (though blame skype for that). I know that she'll probably e-mail this paragraph all about her with "less-than-3" in symbolic form underneath it, I know quite a lot about what makes her tick. She's understanding for someone so stubborn (she puts up with my "bad boyfriend woe is me" rant whenever I forget what her third favourite anime movie is), and I'm happy just talking to her and picking her brains and see what makes her tick. I share ideas with her about web pages and vice versa. She likes me belly, unmuscly arms and unbelievable geekiness. I like her gorgeous face, boobs and amazing bottom, as well as her geekiness and her humour. She makes me laugh! Christ, no woman makes me laugh! Women are the least funny gender (not racist, truth), and occasionally I feel like my luck's going to run out, she'll come to her senses and leave me, but then she texts me saying "we just got married.....in the Sims". I don't find it stalkerish, I find it amusing, because that is what Han'd do. Relationship wise, I've had relationships that are for a reason, and for a season. This is definitely the second one at the moment, may push into the third category eventually, but - realistically I'm just happy with a girl who I really, really like.
So, my resolutions for next year? Learn to drive and get fit. I have a reason for both now ;).
Happy new year everbody! This blog will be quiet for a good part of next week, but there is a very good reason for it. Some of you - be it me telling you or checking your referrals may know - but the rest of you will have to wait until 2007!
Q. What has James Brown, my phone, and Liverpool's Title Chance got in common?
A. They all died over the Christmas Period.
I was going to say "Gerald Ford", but it was too soon. Anyway, my phone half died unspectacularly. It still works, just very temperatmental - text messages taking forever to arrive etc. My diagnostic was the battery was loose, which didn't cause the phone to crash - but the battery was holding in the SIM. I could've either got a new battery, or a new phone.
Oops.
Meh, I had it 2 years, and I bought it 2nd hand anyway - it's lasted me so well, and still in an ebayable condition. It's a Sony Ericsson K750, and it's fucking ace. I admit, I'm still playing around with camera though - below is a picture of my ace firefox T-shirt Rick got me.
Tis a work of genius that tee. I also took a photo of the japanese instructions for my alarm that Han bought me, if anybody could give me the general jist of it, it would be much appreciated, cheers. Click here to read the instructions. EDIT: Further to the mysterious commenters request, I am most interested in this paragraph. As I said, it's the best I can do, if somebody could give the jist to that paragraph, I'll be eternally greatful. Cheers Oscar for decoding it for me!
The video player is pretty standard too, but I'm happy to have one. I've recorded a few videos - alas Mum made me delete her hilarious rendition of "Flying Without Wings" with me, Wiz-Style Guffawing in the background. All videos recorded so far have me in the background either saying "Put it on Youtube" or "Send THAT to Tim and Helen". Catchphrases that are pathetic, unfunny and annoying. Much like any other catchphrase then.
On top of all that, the thing which I like most of all is the applications and games, they're fucking ace! Essentials include Ridge Racer - yes, it's only slightly worse than the arcade original, an old game called The Chaos Engine, a good athletics game and Opera Mini, which makes browsing the internet a joy on my phone - I will never be without the net again! And no, I won't be looking at WAP porn on the way down to Cardiff.
In other news, I have been nominated for an award at "Blog About Your Blog" - click here to go to the post about it. Go here, vote me, vote fast, vote often!
Merry Boxing Day everybody! Hope santa emptied his sack at the end of his bed and left you everything you so desired. Christmas in the Wynne resident was a lot quieter than previous years, some may actually argue it was decidedly unfestive. It didn't help with dad wrapping our presents at 10am Christmas Morning, in front of Soccer A.M., setting a new Wynne record. I even spent a huge amount of time online - ironically I spent ages reading this - though mainly speaking to Han.
I will share some of my new toys which I got online.
My main present is a smoothie maker. Yes, I do drink a lot of real fruit smoothies, (it's all I drink in coffee shops, being caffene intolerent). This gave mum licence to get me anything smoothie related including - but not limiting to - straws, books, fruit, nuts, ice cream and drinking chocolate.
Han also got me two wonderful presents. The first is an Atari Paddle Game similar to this, which is annoyingly addictive. I played Pong for half an hour when I should've been in the pub. It's that addictive. Her 2nd present was a Nintendo alarm clock shipped in from Japan. All the instructions are in japanese, so I can't figure out a few things
Rick took the biscuit with the most "unexpected (yet coolest)" present, which consisted of a Firefox t-shirt. Aled got me the excellent Tekken 5.
I got two other books (other than the afformented "Smoothie Book"): Blog Digest 2007 by Justin McKeating and a "How to Win at Internet Gambling". Why mum? It's the gift that will take from me!
As well as all this, I got some ace golf balls, and the usual beer and chocolate.
As far as the day went? It was mainly wake up, pub, lunch, sleep, Vicar of Dibley, sleep. With all speak to Han, eat nuts and play with our toys inbetween.
In other news, the forum now accepts guest posts on the introductions and guest forums. If I get spammed out of my boots, it's going, but hopefully I can attract a bit of banter there. Go! Now!
Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
Not even a mouse
It was there Rhys sat
Bored off his tits
"I'll have another blogging party"
"They're surefire hits!"
He rang his dearest girlfriend Han
"Bring tunes or this party blows"
"I'll bring my iPod, and my Mac Powerbook"
"No way I'm I trusting your Windoze"
"Fine!" said Rhys, taking Han inside
When suddenly, there was a ringing door bell.
Four jolly americans came through the door!
They were, Merrick, Randi Jessica and Manuel
"Here you go Rhys!", said Manuel, "a gift"
"Wow" said Rhys, "A brand new xbox!"
But no time to speak more, the next guests arrived
Jake, Lottie, Jenny, and the rest of Punclox
It was just bloggers who came to these parties
Mates also flock to these do's Guy, Sibley, Ian, Tom and Z come
Though only for the free booze
Ally arrived next to the feast,
And she brought some homemade wine Celeste brought some Caviar from a London hotel,
And Tilesey some steaks on which to dine.
Lasty the Aussie Contingient arrived. Fern, Dan and the Demon Spawn. My namesake also arrived, and gloated
"What England will never have is a Shane Warne."
Midnight arrived, and each guest raised a glass,
And the host Rhys proclaimed, with such delight
Merry Christmas to all bloggers, all my readers and friends
And to all, a fucking good night!
Despite the fact I'm not feeling 100% festive, got hungover to buggery, and wishing I'd asked Santa for a new phone - I'm happy. Nadolig Llawen i chi gyd!!
During that moment discribed in the last post with the Spice Girls, this below was the article I focussed on, in the North Wales Weekly News. All spelling mistakes are intended.
"Beer at £1 a point is on offer in the social club for this Saturday's home game against Woodley Sports (3pm). Spectatorsa will also be given a voucher wich allow admission into the Boxing Day game at Cammell Laird for just £2"
£1 a point? I doubt even Chelsea have stooped that low....yet, sure though a few of the regulars would club together and cobble about a hundred quid to make the title race beyond doubt! That is shocking "professional" journalism. Sack the proof reader. Meh, could be worse: one of my friends think we're playing Camel Lard on Boxing Day.
So yeah, if you fancy a few drinks on the cheap, and a quality game of football today, get your heiny down to Llanelian Road for a quality game of football. Go! Now!
Ah. We've all been there. We sit in front of the TV watching "Nature's Greatest Miracles", and then. Two anmials start humping away at each other like rabbits. Usually, they are rabbits, but even so. It's very embarrasing.
However, I've experienced worse tonight. I was watching the "20th Greatest Christmas Songs Ever" on Magic with my Mum and brothers, and this video came up.
I looked up 3 or 4 times duing the video: mainly to look at Emma Bunton at her prime. But by god! I never realiesd the subtle undertones in the video. Okay, they're hardly subtle - the line "I wanna make love to ya baby!", isn't exactly playing hard to get. But those nights I spent alone with a copy of Smash Hits and this song on repeat. I just feel.....dirty. Call me naive, but I thought it was all about Marriage (the 2 surnames becoming 1: doubled barrelled, I assume), I had no idea it was about fucking! I lead a sheltered childhood!
Last few days, I have been fairly busy in work. However, I've had a lot of rest bite, and found a doozy of a game.
Kdice is a multiplayer, Ajax based strategy game, that is far far too addictive. It's a bit like Risk, but a lot simpler, and a lot less imposing. Simply dominate the board with your dice before the opponent does the same. Simple. Yet a hell of a lot of fun.
If you do decide to join, my profile with fair to middling stats is here. Add rhysboy84 to your friends list, and I may give you a game.
Right, I'm off to the pub now. Aled turned 18 today so I feel it's only right I take him out for a few drinks. I don't really fancy it though, so have asked a few of my mates to join me. Hopefully it will all be well when I go down there, and the beer gets flowing.
, and it's brill! Best games so far are 
