2017 Goals

I could have called this a New Years Resolution post, but to be honest I don't really believe in them as such. I believe however, it's a great idea to have goals, it's a great way to stay focussed and work towards things you dream of achieving. 

Exercise
I currently do about 0% exercise, unless you count walking.. I keep telling myself 'I'm going to start running', 'I'm going to join an aerobics club', right now I may not have the money to start that club, but there is no price on running. I've figured I'm all about the excuses. This could not only be what I am needing on my body, but on the mind also. It's not something I've ever stuck to before, but it's something I aim to try work at, even if it takes a while to get into the swing of. 

Charity Run
I've done this before back in 2012, I did the 6 Mile Sport Relief run, it was so much fun, and it felt exhilarating afterwards to know that you have not only achieved running 6 miles, but knowing you have helped other people. To do another run is something I am looking into, I'd like to be able to go further than 6 miles this time, and ideally I'd like to run for the MIND charity. Watch this space! 

Try New Foods
Okay, one of the things I am the worst at in this world, is trying new foods. I am probably the most picky eater in the world. If I don't like the look of it, smell of it, or name of it haha, I won't go near it. SO, I solemnly declare that from 2017 on, I'm going to start trying things. I am getting better, slowly, but 9/10 I still won't try things. Originally I was going to try one new thing a week, but that's probably a bit out there, so I will stick to when the occasion arises and someone says "have you tried this" I won't just say yeah (because I don't like the look of it) heck I'll just go for it.

An Adventure Abroad

Annecy - France

The last time I flew away from this country was August 2014, for my 24th Birthday, to Paris. Before then I had only ever been abroad once, when I was about 10, with my family to the Canary Islands. Unfortunately, it's not something I have been able to do since, but it is a goal to work towards for next year. I'm currently lusting over the thought of Rome, Switzerland or Finland. Another place I've always wanted to go in Europe is Annecy in France. There is a something so comforting about being somewhere where no one knows you for miles, or even understands you, kinda like being a ghost. When I was in Paris, I honestly thought at one point, "hey, i'm outside, and i'm not anxious", and for the majority of that trip, not all of it, but the majority, I was somewhat at ease. I want to find that solace again. 

Start Saving
I'm a long way off from saving at the moment, in fact before I start saving, I need to actually pay off my overdraft (which is quite worrying at the moment), but I would love to start being able to put some money away. I'm not getting any younger, and moving out is something I want to work towards, so actually starting to save those pennies, is a must. 

Keep Posting
I really enjoy writing, I have said before how I think it therapeutic, and well, fun! Especially when it comes to music. In 2017 I want to post more material, for myself more than anything. I want to share my music experiences more regularly, and improve on my writing skills, one way of doing that is to keep them neatly together in the form of this blog. 

Bullet For My Valentine - The Poison 10 Year Anniversary Show

It has to be said that The Poison was one of my favourite albums from my teenage years. For me, it was one of those gateway albums, that got me into loving the music that I do today.

So 10 years ago, on the first time around with The Poison tour, I unfortunately never got the opportunity to go. Admittedly, after Bullets first album, never other release after that, just didn't do it for me. I lost interest, which I think you will agree is perfectly acceptable. However, when this tour was announced, the inner teenage me got just as excited as I did the first time around.

Killswitch Engage, absolutely killed it. They are a band i've never had the chance to see before either. I was never a major KE fan, with their entire back catalogue and knowing every song word by word, but after this show, it has inspired me to listen to them more. Jesse's vocals are absolutely insane, practically identical to listening from your musical device, and for that alone, they cannot be flawed. 

Another thing to take full notice of during their performance was the chemistry they still seem to pack as a band. Like I said, this was my first time seeing these guys in the flesh, but i've seen live videos before, and how they manage to always keep up their energy and bounce off one another is amazing. Hats off to them. I would even go as far as saying they put on a better performance than Bullet did - not to say I enjoyed either one of their performances more.

To be quite honest with you, It would not have bothered me if Bullet performed absolutely terribly, I probably wouldn't have noticed. I was way to in the moment, and losing my voice in the process to notice too much of anything going on. This is definitely one of the most awesome shows I have been to this year. It was like taking a trip back in time, momentarily. 

I'm very much appreciating the fact that bands are starting to do 10 year anniversary tours of these albums we grew up listening to. I think it's a fantastic way for us old greebos to reunite and celebrate the music that we grew up listening to. 

x

Why I Dropped Out From The World Of Social Media

Before we get into this post, let me start by saying I do not mean in this post to offend anyone or say that just because I have deleted all my social media, is not me saying that you should too, or that I am any better than anyone else who does in fact have social media. 

It's been almost 2 years now since I made leap into deleting my Facebook account. It was the early hours of January 1st in fact, you could say that was probably the most New Years resolution i've yet had. About a month or two before that I started down this trail of opting out of noisy internet world by deleting all other forms (Instagram, Twitter, etc).

Building up to this moment, I had been considering it for quite some time, and now i'm out of it, I can see the why people would chose to have these platforms, but I can also see the other side, the scary side. First I will explain why I had been considering leaving these platforms behind, even way before switching off the light on Instagram. 

Whether you like to admit it or not, social media can be addictive. You can find yourself constantly refreshing these pages, scrolling aimlessly, it's a great way to procrastinate and a great way to absorb time from your day. I did in fact do this, towards the end of the life of my accounts, I didn't do this as much. I didn't update my status 6 times a day, but during years before that, I definitely did. It can become an unhealthy obsession in a way, and i'm not saying every single person is like this, but from what I have seen, a lot of people are. 

Another reason I deleted my accounts was for my own mental health. It was one tiny part that I feel a lot better without now. It hasn't cured me, but It is one less thing to worry about. If you knew me well, you would know that I am quite the introvert. There was always something that made me uncomfortable having a hundreds of people on my account, knowing my every move. When the majority of them people I would never have met, only met the odd time, or just not close to. I like now that people can contact me via text if they need me or want to talk, instead of having an online version of myself, the only thing I have to show of myself is the real me, I now have no worries of who's seeing me or judging the online me. 

You know when you see a status, it looks like its aimed towards one person, and then that one person see's it and it kicks off.. I don't miss that. There is always one, we've all seen it. I've had it done to me too. Personally now, if I have a problem with someone of something, I can't broadcast it to the world, I deal with it heads on. I can go to that person, personally, and sort out any conflict, no audience needed and it's a lot less drama.

There are so many thing's I can say I don't miss and I can honestly say I can't name one thing I do miss. Even when it comes to bands and music, I get my updates now from music pages, or I just go check out things myself. I don't miss seeing other peoples updates all the time, or liking other peoples material to give them a brief sense of satisfaction. It's a popularity test I no longer want to be part of. 

One thing that I do find highly irritating, is the constant "why did you delete Facebook", "You should get Twitter back" should I? Why? Maybe I should ask you why you haven't deleted it? I hear it all the time, and It is quite saddening that it has become alien to some people the thought of someone not having these platforms. And although you could argue I still have this blog and YouTube, I think everyone has their line, and these in my eyes fall slightly different. I use YouTube as another form of 'television', if you like. And this blog is just a way to express my creativity. 

Now it's gone, I don't find myself on the internet as more, I find myself doing other things with my time. I started reading books more, being more creative and doing things I love and enjoy. I no longer have to worry about what people think about me online. If I want to show someone pictures, I'll do it with them personally. I even have took to having photographs the old fashioned way, by printing them and putting them in a scrapbook, there is nothing more special than keeping hold of awesome moments like that, rather than posting them on Facebook to later on be forgotten about.  

I feel a lot better without it, I feel refreshed and it is honestly one of the best things I have ever done. If you are considering it, i'd say go for it. Your future self might even thank you for it.

Underoath Rebirth Tour 2017

2017 is looking up to be a fantastic year. Only the day before this was announced I was sitting looking at the Australian tour announcement and praying that they were going to grace us UK citizens with their presence. IT'S HAPPENING..

On a more personal level, me and my other half have been discussing this for quite some time now, and what is even more perfect is the London date falls on our anniversary. 

I have a prediction here, you can say whether you agree or disagree, but as a Slam Dunk Festival veteran (I just made that up haha), I'm sensing a little Slam Dunk appearance might be in store? I mean it would make sense seen as they are lurking about Europe around that time..