Capiiiital

This week I've been to visit our glorious capital, for a course with work unfortunately. Although it has been a good course and nearing the end of it I can say that it's an area of development I'd like to pursue.
One thing I noticed when arriving in London was just how extremely chaotic it is, I mean the rush at lunchtime, you'd think we'd had the 4 minute warning and I think I will be having nightmares about the tube for the next 10 years hehe. I can see why people visit though, it's quite a site when you're walking through and looking at the attractions, in my case without looking where I'm going but that's another story.
So much so I will definately be returning to really go over the place with a fine tooth comb, but in the company of the girlfriend, which I have missed like mad being down here on my tod and can't wait until I get back on Friday to give her a hig bug, or something like that :)

Anyhow that's what I've been up too this week.

Pint of blood anyone?

So I went to give blood today for my fourth donation. All was going swimmingly until I had to lay down and actually start giving, as the nurse decided the vein that has been used for the past 3 donations had a pulse, so a different one had to be selected. A little weird I though as I've never had any problems giving from that one before, but I kept schtum and let her continue.
She found one just to the right and started to drain me of my livelyhood...err blood and then the fun started. Firstly the machine was malfunctioning so the blood had to be measured by weight and not by the computer as usual, then my blood didn't want to come out of this new vein so they thought it would be good to jiggle the needle about (ow!) which did bugger all to help and just plain hurt. The problem was two pieces of tight tape that were holding the valve to my arm restricting the flow, which is nice to know...

Needless to say it was an absolute nightmare and I sometimes wonder why I bother to donate, when you get nothing apart from a large bruise :(

I will however continue, as no matter what people say it does make you feel like you've done something that will possibly save a life.

Noah takes a photo of himself every day for 6 years.

Thought this was an amazing video, just goes to show how much you can change, or not in 6 long years. Freaky.

May!

Well it's been a quiet month, I've been putting in a good few hours on the Snowbourn server (LoTR Online) which is still really enjoyable, mostly down to the excellent game community and the fun in gaming with someone (Girlfriend ^_^) . It does do a great job of making time fly too, a whole afternoon can dissapear so quickly, but it is good fun.

Apart from the gaming, not alot has been happening. I will get back to you soon.

7 Days in.

Well I have completed my 7 day free trial of Lord of the Rings Online and I am impressed. I mean if you after a mainlyPvP; 40 man raid focussed MMO then I don't think this one's for you, but if you do enjoy some really nice story driven questing, smooth graphics and an extremely friendly and helpful community then wait no more!
I do enjoy playing the game, and the fact I've got my better half playing too adds to that enjoyment as you're never questing on your tod, which can and will put you to sleep if you do it for too long. However, I do miss the PvP elements of DAoC days, which do make an MMO much more appealing to me atleast and I think it would be nice to have that choice.
I think I shall be giving Age of Conan a try come October '07, with it's PvP orientated style and most definately dabbling with Warhammer Online come '08. In the mean time though I shall continue with LotRO.

So that's what I've been up to the past week.

Biscuit Rap

Two Pints at it best, this is side splittingly funny. Enjoy.

A WoW beater?

OK, so after having a brief (ok 7 months) dabble in the that well known MMO World of Warcraft, finding it to be very monotonous and all in all quite boring, unless of course you have a spare 12 hours a day to create that "perfect" group, and wander through high level dungeons that really does make time seem like an after thought I decided it wasn't for me.
Now I'm reasonably settled in my new abode with my girlfriend, Stacey (she'll love the mention) I though it would be a good time to check out some of the new, appealing to me MMO's that are due for release in the coming weeks/months.
Enter Lord of the Rings Online, which is an RPG based on the amazing Tolkien novels. At first I was a little scepticle as it is being created by Turbine, who put together D&D Online, which has bombed but I kept looking through the reviews, videos and screenshots. It's due for public release the 20th April and I must say I'm rather looking forward to it.
It does not bring any new real innovative features apart from MvP (Monster vs Player combat) where you can take the form of mobs and dish out damage on the good guys (I mean, who wouldn't want to become an Orc and bludgeon a Hobbit, or is that just me ^_^), but it does look stunning and graphically leaves WoW at the start line.
Just from reading a number of promising reviews and looking at all the media that is available I think I will give it a go! At least until Warhammer Online is out.

For more info, videos, screenshots and lots more I'd advise you to visit the official LotR Online site at - clicky