Well, I've just this moment finished playing it. Wow!

Without trying to get too tied down in hyperbole ... ah screw it ... that was pretty much the best game I have ever played. The attention to detail in every area is astounding. It's like playing an Indiana Jones film. In fact, it's as good as Raiders the film and better than most action films released in the last 20 years. Don't want to give any spoilers away so won't go into the story but the voice acting, art direction, script and pacing are amazing.

This truly is a work of supreme art.

The only bad points are:
a) it ended, and
b) every (action/shooter) game I play from now on is going seem bland/stale in comparison.

If you're a fan of video games you owe it to yourself to play this ... even if it means visiting someone with a PS3.

... and any of you out there who like Star Wars and/or MMOGs.

http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-now-accepting-beta-applications.ars

Get your geek on. ;)

Burn update:

Had dressing re-done today. Have got infection in 3 of the 4 burn areas. Nurse very concerned about one of them as the infection has spread over half my leg. Nice! :)

I am legion!

I'm thinking of opening a book on when they'll want to amputate. All this from a singtle sliding tackle in a game of football. *sigh*

Ouchy!

Played football for the first time since buggering my knee last Feb/March(??) All good and knee held up fine. Not so good was the fact it was a hot day and the pitch was bone dry.

I can tell you that grass burns are not funny in any way shape or form. About 5% of my left leg is without skin. I'm basically being treated by the medical profession in the same way a person with 2nd degree burns is treated ... I guess because I have 2nd degree friction burns.

So decision to cut out through ball that probably would have led to goal not so good afterall ... especially as we ended up losing the game 4-0 any way. :(

I have a new found respect for people like Simon Weston. I can't imagine how the hell they cope(d) because it really bloody hurts and I've only got a few pathces of badness on my leg.

Was fantastic. Really nice weather and a relaxed atnosphere. Lots of booze consumed and didn't get stung by the invading armies of Waspor once. :)

Was good to see wildwinter and greatbigshowoff again as well.

Traffic wasn't so good though (there and back) and poor Bethan must be sick of the inside of our car.

Yes - I invented a new Verb. :p

Had a chat with my teacher last night (which was my third lesson) and we decided that I should do grades. He recommended the Rock School exam stuff so I said OK. All good. He then said I should start at Grade 3 because 1 and 2 would be far too easy for me! Chuffed and scared in equal measure now.

So I have bought the course book and CD and will be learnanating as best I can. Some of it scares me looking at it but my teacher reckons I shold be able to handle it.

All this was sparked off by trying to learn the lead to Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath with all its string bends. I reckon I can nail that though with a bit of effort. Then he taught me the hook from Parisien Walkways. I almost sounded like some kind of muscician. Huzzah.

Fingers are killing me though - stupid string bends. Also, the action on my guitar sucks. Tonight I will ne lowering the bridge as much as I can whilst avoid fret buzz. Will also fix the intonation whilst I'm at it.

All in all - Yay! :)

Well - doesn't time fly. It doesn't seem like it was 365 days ago that I was wandering around Pontefract in a daze wondering what the hell I was supposed to do as a parent.

Yes - Bethan is 1 today and yes, I still wander aropund in a daze wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do as a parent. ;)

So ...
I've had my electric guitar for about 18 months now and decided it was about time I actually learnt how to play it properly. With this in mind, I had my first paid for lesson on Tuesday just gone.

I was expecting to be told that I had some pretty bad habits. I do, but no where near as many as I feared. Picking hand has a tendency to move to high above the strings and I'm not keeping my fretting hand straight enough. The latter is going to be a bit of a bitch to correct but I am determinedTM to get it right.

Was shown some exercises to help finger strength and speed, which I was already aware of as it turns out. One of the main reasons for lessons though is to make me do the practice. If I know I'm paying money I'm much more motivated to do it right.

The other main thing I wanted lessons for was to learn how to play lead guitar and not be intimidated by it. Was surprised my teacher just slapped on a backing track, told me the key was in E and said off you go! Talk about liberating! I already knew the minor pentatonic scale (which is what a large majority of blues, rock and metal solos are based around) so knew the basic notes I was "allowed" to hit. Fantastic. Traded phrases with the teacher and actually felt like I was a real guitarist making real music. :) Don't worry - it was probably awful but getting over the initial fear was brilliant.

Next step is to start practising my scales and other exercises with a metronome - I've got one but never bothered to use it. This will change - oh yes indeed.

So very, very tired today. Weekend was fantastic and I really, really enjoyed myself. As others have mentioned already, level of kit and roleplay was absolutely top drawer.

I was going to do a hot or not but pretty much everything was hot as far as I was concerned. My group are fantastic. We got to stride around looking pretty impressive and were very effective. Bethan loved it. Jen had a great time as she got to go fighting loads.

Can't wait for the next one.

I have discovered lastFM. I'm actually impressed. It is now my only other social networking site. Predictably I'm urasni on there of anyone else is interested in the sort of music I listen to.