Classic Me to Classical Music - The Short Journey to Being Boring

This blog could not get any more boring. For the most part I agree with that statement because my writing over the last year or so has taken a turn for, what one might call, the philosophical - or just downright rubbish. Long gone are the days when I would sit down twice a week and make a fool of myself for the entertainment of others. Admittedly that was not the aim of my writing, but in hindsight I can't help but feel that my weekly log of embarrassment brought smiles to more faces that I care to think. 

Nostalgia Continued - My Brief Glance at Ramblings of a Teenager

I've not been writing enough recently, or at least I'm not writing the stuff that I want to be. The final semester of university (or at least undergraduate) is starting to swallow up all of my waking hours, with very little time for myself in between library sessions. Tonight, therefore, I am happy to say that I have found a moment to sit down and relax with a beer and some good television - finally got around to watching last weekend's Musketeers! 

Of course I can't be working all of the time. I have pretty good staying power and focus when I want to, but I am also a pretty astute procrastinator when the right distraction comes along. Tonight I want to tell you about another trip down memory lane that I took this week. It seems that every post that I write just now it looking in my past, but I suppose that's what an impending end does to people.

Elvis Will Save the Day

Until about ten minutes ago this was going to be a post about stress and frustration - I'm glad I waited. I just found out my first exam result of fourth year and I did better than I thought I would - a lot better. The feelings of uncertainty and anxiety about university and finishing up me degree have, for the moment at least, melted away - my furrowed brow morphing into creases from the smile on my face. 

I'm going to write my original post anyway, but it will have a more optimistic tone about it now. I've been making life tough for myself recently and this weekend it has come to a head. I've neglected my university work over the last few days, with socialising and procrastination getting in the way of things a little. I've also made a couple of bad judgment calls recently which have seen me question where the old Martin has gone - and whether he will come back again. So with these thoughts sloshing around in my head, I knew I needed to go somewhere I could get better again; somewhere where everything I need is in one place. That place is the work of Elvis Costello.

The Beauty of the Past

This post is five years in the making. To be completely accurate, it is five years and nine days in the making. On December 23rd 2008 I opened a Notepad file on my laptop and started to write about my day. The event that set me off was the messy capitulation of a high school romance; a break-up that I oddly owe so very much to, in hindsight. Every day from that moment on I would write an entry, some longer than others, in what would be called 'Diary of a Boy'. Between that youthfully painful day and the 27th of May last year I typed thousands upon thousands of words, as I mapped out four and a half very important years of my life.

Another Year, Another Year

When I saw the last dregs of 2012 slip away I felt like I had done a pretty good job. Having nailed my exams in May of that year I went on to enjoy a great summer of sport; a summer which culminated in me taking the plunge into the world of employment. The start of third year was tough and was to be a sign of things to come, but for me 2013 couldn't cause me too many problems. Aside from being on one of the lower parts of Edinburgh on New Year's Eve, I felt like I might be standing on top of the world.

Some Comments from University and Home, Literally - Part 2

Since Part 1 was published earlier on, I've slowly lost the enthusiasm for writing this second post. Aside from the fact that I used up most of my good ideas earlier (there was potential for three separate posts in there!) I'm also suffering from post-uni lethargy. But the show must go on and will not let you diehards down tonight! 

We all know that symmetry can be quite beautiful - the more symmetrical your face, the more attractive you apparently are - so I'm going to go with the three section structure that I used earlier - now to try and think three things to write about. Just kidding, I've got a few belters up my sleeve for tonight.

Some Comments from University and Home, Literally - Part 1

It's not everyday that I'll start a blog post in the library but I've decided to take a short break from competition law to write about a few wonderings of mine. Also the table of dark-rimmed classes opposite is getting restless which doesn't help concentration much - more on them to follow. I don't feel like I've been writing particularly well recently so this post is an attempt to rediscover my way with words. This post will come in two parts (I think that might be a first for me?) so keep your eyes peeled for both installments!

The Morning Plan of Action/Madness

So I'm a bit fed up with things at the moment. OK, so I've got my future sorted out and I'm smiling and laughing more than I ever have before, but something just isn't quite clicking at the moment. What I'm trying to say is that I'm boring myself. I'm fed up with not get out of bed when I plan to and when I don't start uni work when I want to. I'm fed up with taking an extra five minutes in the shower just because it's warm. In short, I'm losing patience with myself at a time when I should on top of everything. With all of this in mind, I've resolved to do something about it - I'm going to get out of bed.

Old News, New Future

My voice always sounds that little bit clearer when I write. That's why I have chosen this medium to tell my readers some good news this evening. It also feels fitting that I should have a post in my blog about this. My whole blogging experience has mapped a huge numbers of changes in my life over the years and I feel that the first page in my new chapter should be on Ramblings of a Twenty-Something.

I might as well just get on with it then because I fancy getting to bed after a long day in the library. Tomorrow marks three weeks since I received the best phone call I have ever received in my life. I knew I was getting the call but I wasn't sure what the person on the other end was going to say - yay or nay? Thankfully it was the former as I became the delighted recipient of a traineeship offer. I haven't stopped smiling since.

A tonne of stuff has happened in the last three weeks which I don't need to tell the world about. I am, however, at liberty to say that I am the happiest I have ever been and have never had quite as much self-confidence as I do now. Just a couple of months ago I was fretting about what I was going to do with my future. Fast forward to now and, well, you get the picture I think.

The reason why I didn't tell everyone? It doesn't really matter all that much now. I didn't want to sound like I was bragging at a time when people hadn't heard back after applications. I also don't like being the centre of attention. I told the people who I wanted to tell and then decided to let it come out on its own eventually. Then I came to tonight I just felt that I needed to let it all out! Something felt right about me putting together this post.

So that's me. I know that others are still waiting to hear back and others are unsure about what they are going to do over the next few years. It will amaze how how the right thing pops up when you want it hard enough though. Trust me.

Thanks for reading.

Martin.

Best Album of 2013

I am not a great one for getting involved in reviews. I don't particularly enjoy reading reviews in newspapers because I only end up disagreeing with what's written; it's amazing how often I think other people are just wrong. With this in mind, I am going to tell you very briefly what my favourite album of 2013 is and why. Feel free to not read or disagree - goodness knows I would do one of those two if I was in your position.

I've bought a load of music this year. This is not really any change from the norm really but I've embraced MP3 downloads this year more than ever before and have had to get an iPod with a bigger capacity as a result. Up until this week I didn't really have a favourite album of 2013 because I listen to such an eclectic mix of music that it's difficult to nail down a 'favourite' across genres. However, these last few days my ears have been treated to the most brilliant music I've heard for a long time. To put my choice into context here are my 'other' favourite albums of 2013:

• Bad Blood - Bastille
• Anna - The Courteeners
• Days are Gone - Haim
• Too Weird To Live, Too Rare To Die! - Panic! At The Disco
• Modern Vampires of the City - Vampire Weekend
• Paramore - Paramore
• The 1975 - The 1975

I should point out that those are just the albums that I have enjoyed all the way through and are exclusively releases from this year. For an example of other music I've been listening to a lot this year, I have delved further into Elvis Costello's back-catalogue and been handsomely rewarded for it. Katy Perry has also been doing a lot of 'roaring' in my ears recently as well - one can only wish that was a euphemism.

Anyway, onto the big one. I heard the first single from this album last week and hated. I thought it was a bit weird and, as it was played on the radio programme that is supposed to wake me up in the morning, I was not in a very good place to appreciate it. I persisted though and £4.99 and many hours later I have come to the conclusion that Lorde's album, Pure Heroine, is simply magnificent. Listen to it and listen to it a million more times and then try and disagree with me. I ain't no professional music reviewer but I think you'll find I'm right - at least I sound like one...

Thanks for reading, listening and agreeing.

Martin