New Beginnings Never End

In the near two months since my last life update, a lot has happened. Pretty much all of it good.

I have a new job! As of the end of April I work at The London Dungeons, with the official title of Dungeon Keeper. "Oh, so you're an actor there then?" No, I'm a ride operator. Which in many ways is preferable to a performance role, at least for me right now. I still get to dress up, slap on make-up, and play a character all day, but I have a lot more freedom than the actors to improvise and interact with guests - a lot of the job is health & safety focused, so I can shout at people if they don't listen to me - and the actors are on fixed-term contracts for six-month stints, whereas my job is guaranteed hours and permanent. Huzzah! That's not to say it can't get boring and incredibly repetitive, but the team I'm part of are absolutely top-notch and we have plenty of ways to entertain ourselves as well as guests (most recently I've developed an angry Welsh persona if anyone really irritates me. Somehow shouting with a thick accent is far more satisfying and people seem more genuinely terrified of an angry Welshman.)

In other news, I'm finally dragging Charlotte and Fin to London to live with me, and I'm barely containing my excitement at the prospect. We've managed to secure an excellent-sized flat in south east London, bartered the price down, and now all they've got to do is find jobs. Speaking of which, if anyone wants an experienced Events Coordinator or an Administrator who's done pretty much everything you can imagine, get in touch. Soon. They're going to be snapped up quick.

Now, if everyone else I know could just get on with moving to London my life will be much easier. Until I move again, and you all have to relocate with me. That's the deal now, minions.

Auditions and Job Hunts

It's no secret that I'm looking for a new job. My manager knows, my colleagues know, I've been dubbed with the amusing nickname Captain Jumpship© by one of my fellow acting colleagues (I'm determined to write a series of best-selling children's books based on this character, which he has promised to sue me for unless I give him a 50% share of the profits. I'm sure we can come to some arrangement.) Since I arrived back in the big city I've had one promising but ultimately fruitless job audition (it was an acting job) and multiple applications without response.

It is at these times that unhappiness rears its melancholy head and my trademark smile fades somewhat. Not permanently, of course, and the resulting waves of elation/mild sadness which can change hourly make me feel somewhat bipolar.

Of course opportunity is everywhere and I'm pretty certain that when I do find a new career it will be exactly what I need. And until then there is always the odd audition to keep my spirits up. Had one this afternoon for Rowntrees (the sweet company owned by Nestlé) for a fruit pastels advert. I didn't sign a non-disclosure so I see no reason not to tell you that much, but I'll refrain from saying more because that would spoil any surprise if I did get the part.

Dry Spell

Despite some obvious connotations, on this occasion this referring to my decision to give up alcohol. It's a sort of lent-post-lent idea. Yesterday was Easter Sunday, and my first day of not drinking until my birthday (25th of june approximately 3 months away.) During the course of the evening I was offered four drinks all of which I had to politely turn down and settled instead for a large pint of apple juice after work. It's a shame really; yesterday would have been a very good drinking day. I wasn't too happy overall, for some reason. I'm still not entirely sure what's wrong with me at the moment, it's probably a culmination of things, but I don't have time to sit and work through then at the moment, seeing as I'm headed back to work.

Aside from completely foregoing alcohol, I'm cutting down on two more things: fried food (especially chips from work, which I eat far too many of on a regular basis) and Starbucks. At this point anyone who knows me may be thinking, "Alcohol and white hazelnut mochas? Impossible!" But that's the truth of it. Mainly for health reasons (I'm trying to uncover the buried muscle I found during The Tour, most say I'm crazy, that it's all myth, but I know the truth) but also because my finances are not as stable as they once were and I need easy ways to not spend money.

So a favour of you, dear minion: should we be in one another's company for a period of frivolity, please do not tempt me with the above substances. And also, please forgive the lethargy which comes with losing a major caffeine intake, and the irritablness that comes from everyday life.

The Reunion

It has been a few weeks since I saw London, and longer since I had any time to enjoy the great city, so this weekend was a welcome break. Plus a tremendous chance to get as drunk as possible for one night only.

Saturday saw the AIS London reunion, an annual event which I've previously missed due to prior commitments and performances, also living in York didn't help matters. However, having been once I can safely say I will be making every attempt to return in the future. A free two-course meal and an open bar lead to my being pleasently full and more than a little inebriated. The company wasn't too bad either, the youngest attendees had finished school after Richard and I had finished university, and the oldest of the bunch had graduated before I had reached high school. A nice mix and some very interesting conversation about old friends, current affairs, and the future of the school.

One thing I felt overwhelmingly this weekend was a sort of homesickness. Not for London as such, but for weekends with friends, for pub lunches, for spontaneous artsy outings, basically for having irregular working hours and a location which allows freedom for activity during spare time. Not that I'm not enjoying this job, I'm just looking forward to being back on my own schedule.

Toilet Blogging

In today's society, I don't think anyone should be able to put their hand on their heart and say, 'I have never used my phone whilst on the John.' Mainly because I don't understand why it should such be a shameful activity?

Throughout history people have been bored whilst doing their business. In WW1, they sat around and played cards. Newspapers, magazines and books are a staple in many household lavs, to the point where there are books specifically published for bathroom reading. And so, with a lengthy and somewhat overly informative introduction out of the way, I find myself blogging on the bog.

But enough of the scenery, today marks my last day in London before I head off on my travels tomorrow at lunchtime. For those unfamiliar with my current travel plans, they are as follows: York until Sunday, then Ayr for a couple of weeks, then hopping, skipping and jumping around the Isles performing to school groups and possibly more. I've already rabbited on about saying goodbye and how much I'll miss it all and how excited I am, so now the metaphorical TimeCompass© is pointing me forward. To the future!

Echoes of 'the future' are heard around the room as glassware noisily clatters together.

Thank you. Now obviously as far as I can guess a great deal of the next six months will be spent outside of Ol' Smokey, so this particular blog becomes a little obsolete. As such, I shall be creating a new blog! With blackjack and hookers tales from my various towns and trips, sure to entice, astound, amaze and astonish! Now I've just got to pick my colour scheme...

(Click here for the new blog, minions!)

Like A Rolling Stone

Sorting my clothes into my 'coming with me' bag and my 'going into a friend's loft' bags, I get a certain sense of déjà vu. It feels like I was doing this very recently.. then I look around my room and realize I was only doing this recently. I've lived in this room for barely three months and back everything goes into boxes and bags.. at this rate I honestly wonder why I unpack anything ever.

Not that I'm unhappy, on the contrary, this is the most excited I've been whilst packing up all this stuff.. but for a moment the future is on hold and the present demands procrastination. So the past draws my thoughts back to June of last year.

At that time I was just throwing everything into bags, moving in with Charlotte for a few weeks while I prepared to move properly all the way here to London town. It was a busy time. Moving it all to hers was the easy bit. Then I had to sort some of it into storage, sort what I could into transportable bags, and leave some tokens behind with her. It was emotional. It was difficult. Not just for the two of us, but for me and the whole city. I was leaving behind my four years of independence, my university, my job, my house, my friends, even my bear. (For those who were not aware, I have a teddy called Snail, who had been with me since I was 8 years old, and currently sleeps next to Charlotte, watching over her for me. He's the only one I would trust to do so.)

Above all the job was the hardest to leave. Don't misunderstand me, leaving Charlotte was hellish but I knew we would see each other regularly, and we do. Leaving a job I'd held for over two years, though, leaving that warm, safe environment, that was worse than leaving home. That's me leaving behind financial stability and security, opportunities in Theatre I'd only dreamed of having before, and people who truly cared for and supported each other. The leaving party they threw for me was one of the best nights I've ever had.

But everything changes. And if you've heard my life story, you'll understand that staying still isn't something I'm very good at. So here I am, a year and a bit later, packing my things to leave London (for a while, anyway), and again it's the job that's going to be hardest to say goodbye to.

Granted I'm coming back to work over my Christmas break, and yes I'll be there again for the long term in February, but still. I'll miss 'em. And I've been assured that I'll be missed too. And that's nice, I suppose, because if people don't miss you while you're gone, then you probably didn't do much good whilst you were there.

There's some food for thought, minions. Eat up.

Le Grand Escape

Chapter 1

In which Adam attempts to leave the country,

tries his hand at vlogging,

and speaks some French.

Yes, minions, this is my first (and likely only) foray into the mystical world of video-blogs. So grab a snack, crack open that beer you've been looking for an excuse to drink, stick on your headphones, and enjoy yourself.