Distraction

Pretty much have gotten into the swing of things since moving into my new apartment. I feel like I have lived here for so long. My housemate is cool, we went out last weekend first to his mates apartment and then to the Deep , it was metal night! My housemate doesn't listen to metal and I'm not sure how much Rock he even listens to but he had a good time, pretty spent most of it laughing at me and his mates singing karaoke.

One of the few nights where I haven't blacked out.
I'm worried for myself regarding these black outs. Sometimes the have been from a point in the night until I wake up the next morning, other times an hour (well, I think an hour) or just a whole section of the night.

Work has been good. I now can't last any longer than 5 minutes on the train without falling asleep. I have tried to read stuff and I just can't cause I'm asleep. I have even had cups of coffee in my hand, drinking them and falling asleep, waking up now and then to drink more coffee and then fall asleep, again. Only once (touch wood) so far I have missed my stop, I woke up two stops after mine one morning, I had only fallen asleep just before my stop. Most of the staff is Swedish which is cool cause they know I'm learning Swedish and will speak with me in Swedish to see if I'm learning, the Danish guys are even more impressed when I understand Danish. The two languages are very similar but the pronunciation is completely different.

My Swedish class is fun. I'm getting to know some of the guys in the class quite well, most have the same story, moved over here for a Swedish love. But they are all still going out with theirs. What is really good is I have to be there twice a week, in a class with a teacher. I can email and say I won't be there but if you don't email and miss three classes you are out of the class. After 3 classes I had the chance to take a test to see how well/bad I am doing. I got 20/45 which wasn't great but after three class of Swedish, it's really good. We had another test the other night just so my teacher can see how well he is doing at teaching us. I need to work on certain bits of grammar and spelling. Knowing where the accents are would help.

In contrast, the computer programming course I am taking is the opposite. I have to rely on me to do it. So I have loads of different distractions to help me not to do it, like the internet and TV. I started to watch House recently but so I would still have time for my course, I watch it with a mate of mine so I can't watch it unless she is here. I now also have the same set up for Lost. My housemate stop watching it around season 3 so I have just gotten there and now I will only watch it if he is here, but I had a great Sunday last week, pretty much watched half of season 2 in one sitting, I think about 12 episodes. What i should have been doing is my computer course. I have handed in my first assignment on the deadline date for the second assignment. I have had to resubmit it cause it doesn't work right. I still have to do assignment 2 and the deadline for assignment 3 is coming up soon. What am I doing today? This. I need to get it together. At least I won't sit down and watch House and Lost, well until my housemate gets home!

Since I'm off today I have to go and change my phone into my name and pick up a book I ordered for the computer class. I might go and meet a friend for coffee just so I don't have to do this assignment. I know I am making distractions for myself, why can't I just sit down and do it? I also have to clean around the apartment and do a few other bits.

I'm sick that I missed this:

and will miss this tonight:

There are so many shows on in Dublin. So many good shows with all the Local bands and some amazing Touring bands. There always seems to be a big gap in between shows here.  

This is the next show that I am going to:

It will be (hopefully) the second release show for The Fuckyoufingers who are releasing an 7" on my mates label Jaguar Trust Records. Check them out, they are awesome. Also I think it's the first show Hårda Tider will have in 2010. 

Actually check out all the bands, they are class!

Hårda Tider http://www.myspace.com/hardatiderhc

Retaliate (USA)  http://www.myspace.com/oxnardretaliate 

Nitad http://www.myspace.com/nitadstockholm

Commitment Crew http://www.myspace.com/commitmentcrew

Undergång http://www.myspace.com/undergang

Forever Young http://www.myspace.com/foreveryounghc

Stay Hungry http://www.myspace.com/stayxhungry

The Fuckyoufingers http://www.myspace.com/thefuckyoufingers 

Bad Intentions http://www.myspace.com/badintentshc  

For The Record http://www.myspace.com/fortherecordhardcore

Lose The Life http://www.myspace.com/losethelife

I think after that is Sista Sekundens release party:

and then H20 are playing in Copenhagen at the end of April.
Set some shows up in May in Dublin for me. Demented Promotions.

My old housemate is coming over this weekend. Can't wait. And mister Joe Panama is making his way over in April. The Lad. The Best.

New everything

Recap and any new things:

So 2009 was awesome, I had a great time. I had moved home and started commuting to work which a little annoying but that was probably the low point of 2009 for me. I quit my job and built a shed and then moved to Sweden. (see rest of blog for details!) I was in Facing which is one of the main things I miss while I am in Sweden. My family and friends are the other things.

2010 has been awesome so far. Tomorrow (later today) I'm moving into a new apartment. I'm sharing with a breakdancer that I haven't met yet but the guy that owns the place and will have the other room when he is in Malmö is cool. I have a job, full time and i'll be doing 9-5 Monday to Friday! Can't believe it since I'm back working in Urban Outfitters in the Copenhagen store and shifts like that are unheard of in a clothes shop.
I will be starting a Swedish language course real soon and then will probably have to learn Danish! I'm finding the difference and similarities between those two languages and English really interesting.
Also will start learning computer programming soon as well. My course starts probably this week but I'm moving first and I'm heading home for the weekend for this:

I can not wait. I miss Irish shows, probably cause I know all the bands and the people in them. It will probably be the best show for 2010 for a few weeks anyway. So many shows on this year in Dublin thanks to Demented Promotions. Missing these is not fun. Although when I get back there is a great weekend in store for me here with this on:

It's going to be amazing. The local bands in Malmö are so good and it will be really good seeing this venue so full, I hope. 

I'll start my studying for the computer programming when I get back and set up properly in my new place. It's a class sized apartment so buzz over and have the laugh. 

2009 was class, don't listen to the hype! 2010 has been class so far and I think it's going to be a good year. I recommend that everyone should go on some sort of adventure. I'm in a country in which I can't speak the language having a laugh. It's a challenge by next year I'll need a new challenge! 

Time

I tend not to be very personal on this cause I am relatively a private person. So this post will probably be kinda cryptic except for when I can divulge about my own exploits that may or may not make for a good anecdote.

Today was the anniversary of something that happened 4 years ago for me. The first anniversary of this day for the other person involved was a surprise. They had not expected it. There was slight deal made the second year. The third year it was on my mind the whole day but the deal was made from the other side. This year there is little to no communication. This was saddening. It was my fault, I was a dickhead over the weekend. If I had not been a dickhead, a joke may have been made. It probably wouldn't have gone down to well because there really is little communication. Sometimes being civil can take a lot out of you.

That said, today was a good day. I got to hang out with a new person, I will be hanging out with them at the weekend also. I also hope to have good news tomorrow that was related to today but will wait to hear it myself first.
Tomorrow will be a good day. I'm going to hang out with Amy in Copenhagen before she gets her flight home. I would guess she is looking forward to hearing an Irish accent and to be able to talk at her speed and not worry if she will be understood. I am looking forward to that but I haven't slowed down my speech while here. Might have to repeat myself a bit! I still need to find out from her how she was traveling from Umeå since it seems to have been a bus, a plane and a train. Nights in hostels in different cities and another plane. Maybe she just wants to see Copenhagen. The Climate Change talks are on in Copenhagen at the moment. I have only been over there twice since I first saw the sign for Hopenhagen, the first time they were just setting everything up and today it was snowing so I didn't feel like having a noisey around. Maybe tomorrow. It does look impressive. That green ball in the centre of the picture is one of the main items on display. It's like a world projector screen. There has been riots in Copenhagen because of these talks but I live in my own little bubble and don't really know any details.

It was also pretty disgusting out but it was snow, I like snow. I do however want it to stick, which it did not. It kinda looked like it was sticking on the other tracks as I was getting the train back to Malmö. There was no snow when I got back to Malmö.

I have had the feeling all last week that this week was going to be good and that everything will be alright. Last week was a good week and this week has been ok. The weekend was awesome but there has been some repercussions. I saw Matt & Kim, they supported The Sounds. Matt & Kim were awesome, they are the happiest people playing music. I really enjoyed them. The Sounds put on a decent show but are very much like the other bands in their genre. The lead singer has Karen O's wardrobe. Malmö is their home town so I would have like to see something great. None the less I was in great form heading to the every once in a while metal club that happens to have Karaoke! This is were it's fuzzy. I remember buying more than one beer, I do remember singing Billy Joel's classic "Pianoman", I am pretty sure I have also sang that at the marvelous Fibbers Rock Karaoke but that also could be fuzzy. I also remember talking to a friend of mine that was staying in my apartment this weekend at said metal club. I did not remember the texts that I had been sending to see were they coming to said metal club. I also do not remember singing the Police classic, "Roxanne" which I do remember an excellent performance of it at the marvelous Fibbers Rock Karaoke. I also don't remember being a dick to another friend of mine who happens to have a video of my "Roxanne" performance from the said metal club which I think has had them forgive me, I hope. I have a vague memory of being at an afterparty and then arriving home. Now the timeline of this night goes as follows, Matt & Kim 8pm, The Sounds 9.45pm, Distortion @Deep Nightclub 11pm, after party sometime after 5am ( i think), getting home, I had thought that was around 6am, actually it was 10am. 10AM!! I don't remember seeing daylight. I woke up and my clock had said 7.30. I then fell asleep thinking it was 7.30am. I woke a little while later and saw it was 7.45pm. The last time I lost a whole day was after my 23rd at which I had been drinking Jack Daniels at 9am, I saw the sun come up so that wasn't as bad. NO daylight, today is the first day that I feel alright.

This memory loss has happened too often since I moved here. I am actually worried for myself. This weekend was strange as I remember most of the night but certain parts are gone. Other times that this has happened, I remember to a certain point in the night and then nothing until I wake up. That can be the worst.

I am going to be home from the 23rd till the 4th. This will be the first Christmas and New Years which I won't be working in the last 6 years maybe, definitely worked every New Years over the last 3 years. I don't mind working New years but something tells me that I probably wouldn't be able to work on New Years this year. I do still hope that I will be able to watch Jools Holland's Hootenanny and have 6 Dutch Gold as that has been the case for the last 6 years.

The new year should be great, I'm looking forward to it. I have a place in a college in Malmö to start studying Computer Programming starting in January. The Swedish course that I have been applying for since I got here should hopefully start in January. I should have a new apartment to live in, and by should I will cause I have to move out of this one. And if all is going well I will have a new job. Here's hoping. Time has changed everything for me. I hate waiting for it to change.

Shows

I have seen people talk about how hard it is for new people to feel welcome into a music scene. Some people usually are thinking about what are the reasons that this person is here. Sometime negative reasons come out first, sometimes it's positive.

I am slowly become part of the Hardcore scene in Malmö. Facebook and Google have been helpful in finding out about shows but by going to shows I have found more about the scene and people here. I am the outsider, this guy from Ireland but the sense of community is unreal. I feel welcomed.

First show I went to was the Social Circkle show in Utkanten. That venue is amazing. It was a really good gig and although the turn out was around 50 people (maybe a few more) they made it better by taking the equipment off the stage and playing on the floor.

Check out Pretty Whores and Commitment Crew. Social Circkle don't have a myspace but you can check them out here: http://www.nowayrecords.com/ 

Unfortunately at the next gig I was at in Utkanten, We Live in Trenches had to pull out, which is a shame

because I was really looking forward to seeing them live.

Skitkids (skit is kinda sounds like quit when pronounced, it mean shit) and Symptom put on a great show regardless. The turnout was really good for this show and included a good variety of people, it'd be nice to see that variety at home sometimes.

From that show I got talking to a few people that have been able to tell me about whats going on and where. Because of that there would have been no way I would have found out about the Punx Only show. This is in a Tattoo Studio that the lead singer of Sista Sekunden works in/owns(I'm not sure if he owns it). The place is tiny. With 50 people the place would be jammed I think there was closer to 80! It was amazing. All the bands were so good, Sista Sekunden have so much energy and a great presence. I was wondering how could anyone follow them but Beyond Pink have the skill to take a crowd for themselves. They don't take any prisoners.

Following Beyond Pink was Big Hands. I had been drinking with the guitarist/vocalist and the bassist for a good part of the night, the guitarist had been drunk since Wednesday. By the time the were playing I was also pretty drunk. Big Hands were awesome as far as I remember (swedish beer is working to destroy my short term memory).

This week I had my first out of town show. Considering that Sweden is huge, out of town shows will probably be more often than in Ireland. So far I'm not sure if Hardcore shows follow the same town playing format as in Ireland, for example if

Stockholm = Dublin then

Gothenburg would = Galway and

Malmö would = Cork and maybe

Uppsala might = Belfast BUT

there's Jönköping, Linköping and Norrköping, in theory they could be Westmeath/Carlow but seem to be much more active than Carlow. I will be going to see Ruiner in Jönköping instead of Gothenburg for two reasons, I'm flying back from Ireland that day and Jönköping is better apparently. Now as far as I can tell Malmö Hardcore and Jönköping Hardcore seems to be the most active but I haven't really got a good gauge on it because this week was my first and second out of town shows.

This was also the first time I was in Lund on purpose.  It's a University town and is pretty close to Malmö, kinda like Maynooth is to Dublin. The town that I briefly saw is really picturesque.

Hemgården is a youth centre that has a venue (small venue,  80 people comfortably full) computer access, a cafe and I have been told a recording studio. It's a great set up. This gig was free but you could donate to help the bands out.

This was an EP launch for Jönköping/Malmö Big Deal and to start a two week euro tour. Vicious band. Values, another band from Jönköping. I had been hanging out with the singers from both bands the week before and both of them took me by surprise when they hit the stage. I can't wait to see both of these bands again. I was really happy at this gig as well because Malmös Beyond Pink had been added to this show, they really know how to have fun on stage and enjoy playing. The also did an awesome cover of What's my age again.

The second gig again was in Lund and in Hemgården. I had gotten to it late because I had gotten a lift to Hemgården (community) for the Big Deal/Values show and had gotten the bus for this show. I had no idea where I was going. So unfortunately I miss the first two bands and only got the last few songs of Balance's set. I really wanted to see Balance, so a bit pissed I missed their the start of their set. They are now on a four day tour with Hårda Tider who also played this show. Hårder Tider are an amazing band, the singer gave me the lift to Lund for the previous show and again completely blown away once he hit the stage. Vicious band that just destroy all in their way. Also this gig had the diversity that the Skitkids gig had, many of them left after Hårda Tider though. Shame.

Pressure were the last band for the night. I was told that Broken Distance and Critical Point pretty much had the same 7 guys playing whichever instruments for each band. Good since they all from Faro, Portugal and on tour. The only configuration I saw was Pressure, who had some good tunes but the in between song chat of saying loads but saying nothing, for me was their downfall.

Again thanks to that community aspect, the singer-guitarist of the Pretty Whores gave me a lift back to Malmö, via another gig, Deportees from the great heights of Umeå are great musicians, soulless songs though. They looked like they had feeling but there was no feeling, everything that they played went in one ear and straight back out.

I'm in Ireland next weekend and I can not wait for this! See you there.

Meh

Meh has become a key word over the last few months. My sister uses it to answer questions. Generally when she is being asked what her thoughts are on anything. It's pretty much how I feel today. Didn't really want to do anything today. Haven't done anything. I could have gotten the Flu Vaccine today, decided against it. A friend got it yesterday and has spent all day today sick, not into being sick even if it is only a small side effect. I haven't had a flu vaccine before so I think i'll keep it that way.

Today wasn't all unproductive, I did try to get my network to have open NAT settings. I have a strange set up. I have a usb dongle from Telenor to connect to the internet, I also have a Phillips router that is connected to my mac by ethernet. My internet is shared from the usb connection to ethernet, so then my Xbox can connect to Xbox Live and Connect360 which is a great program, if you have a Mac and a Xbox get that program. But although I have all the settings correct it still has Moderate NAT settings. the routers homepage hasn't got an option for "Open, Moderate, Strict" NAT settings. It's annoying but I can connect to Xbox Live so that'll do for the moment.

I am trying to not spend all my time playing Xbox though cause I do need to get a job. I got another "Thanks for your application but we're going with someone else" email today. Nice of them. So far they have been the second company that has replied to my application. I need a job because I'm getting really bored of looking for jobs. The Google translate translations aren't as funny as they were. Handing out CV's is ok, I'm guessing my complete lack of Swedish is what is holding me back, or my previous work experience sucks.

I have been granted an exemption for the entrance requirements for the computer programming course I applied for in September. So I'm guessing I nearly have my place in the course which I should have anyway cause the course is done online. Waiting. Always waiting. I have Wine installed on my computer so I can run windows programs on my Mac however it may have not been properly installed the first time, maybe because I lost patience with it the last time. The Wine package comes with various Windows software which it is installing (for the last 4 hours) the ones that I have selected from the list. Some may come in handy for my college course. I have been messing around with my Mac, in between hunting jobs, for example installed Ubuntu Linux on a partition and on a spare external hard drive. Neither seems optimal so reinstalled Snow Leopard. Unfortunately there seems to be something wrong with the external hard drive that I was using because now it tends to freeze when in use. There's nothing on it but it won't format properly either. I might have to put it back into Cinderella (my old PC) and try from that side.

I really need to play drums. I have the snare from my practice kit in my room. The rest of the kit is in storage down in the basement. I forgot to bring the muffle skin for the bass drum so it's not going to work well in an apartment. Hopefully will get something going band wise. Would be great to just play a kit for a bit. Guitar Hero world tour just doesn't cut it. I've been to a few gigs here which have been good. The venue that they put shows on is awesome. It's in a building which is in an Industrial estate. They call it Utkanten, which kinda means outskirts. It's a gig venue and has gym equipment and computer stuff and a bicycle repair workshop and a kitchen. It's a DIY activity centre. Check out it's page and if you can't read Swedish go to Google translate.

Day 10 of Novembeard. Not as itchy as other have been complaining about. I wish I wasn't cockeyed sometimes.












Meh.

SNOW

It just started snowing! I fucking love snow! Strange though cause I was told it probably wouldn't snow here that much cause it's so south. Don't care. Probably going to have the same battle as at home of "is it going to stick?" at least for this week anyway!

I got my right of residence the other day so, now I can be put on the waiting list for the free Swedish for Immigrants course that I want to do. I was told I'll be waiting till January. Not good.

I might try the adult education place down the road and see if I can get a course there. I need to get a job and I think it'll be hard without any Swedish. Hopefully the places I applied in Copenhagen don't mind an English speaker, but then I might have to learn Danish!

I applied for a computer programming course that is due to start in January and it's now in it's preliminary evaluation of my application so thats looking good I think.

And Novembeard/Christashmas has begun, it's day 4. I should smile.

...

I'm getting a bit restless. I have been waiting for a while now for this piece of paper that I need to sort out things like learning Swedish and having a bank account. It also would be nice if any of the jobs I have applied for would give me an interview or something. So far I think two place have sent me a "thanks for your CV...." which is a generic automated email! Yipee!
Google, though has been the best. Pretty much have Google Translate open all day along with Google Maps. Some of the translating skills are funny. Stockholm was translated as Ontario and Sweden has come up as Canada and Malmö was translated into Cape Town.

Cooking is something I am enjoying. I tend to be making Italian stuff like lasagna, bolognese. I'm going to try a Ragu sort of thing some day soon.