Blast From The Past - From Yours Truly

I'm in shitty form these days so there's no point blogging with nothing positive to say. However, I just remembered that I used to blog on Bebo (remember that?) absolutely years ago. So, what I'm going to do is post a few of my early entries here and let you compare the tone of 23-year-old Brian and 28-year-old Brian. How did that happen...? Make of it what you will. It starts off during my PGCE, and the last post is from my early days in Korea, many moons ago. Don't I sound happy?

Drink free zone4/29/06 Well, not had a drink for THREE WEEKS. That may not sound like much to you but, for those of you who know me best, it's a long time!! Must say it's bloody good too, believe it or not. I still go out, I still do the whole socialising thing BUT when I wake up in the morning there is the lack of that strange throbbing sensation (keep the thoughts clean...) in the head that used to mysteriously affect me following a night on the piss. There tends also to be a bit more cash in the pockets as, surprisingly, we non-drinkers (ah the irony) tend to not drink Coca-Cola at the same frequency as beer (or vodka, sambuca, whiskey, tequila, all of the above...). Seriously speaking I feel amazing. I recommend it. The only major flaw is that people constantly seem to feel that I would like to be reminded that I'm not drinking (alcohol) on nights out. It also seems to put people on edge. BUT interestingly no-one notices I'm not drinking until I tell them so. I'm not famed for being shy and retiring. I think I'm going to keep it up a while longer. It would be nice to just maybe have the odd beer or two on a night out, but I know myself too well. One becomes ten - simple as. Anyways, just thought I'd share my little social experiment with you all. We have Ofsted in school this week and I have my last (hopefully) Uni observation on Thursday so its going to be a busy one. Picked up a good quote from school; "Worry is like riding on a rocking horse. You can do it all day, but it won't get you anywhere!" Thought it was cool. Anyways, do be in touch,

take care,

Brian

	Drink free bullshit...	7/19/06
	Just to confirm the obvious - I am no longer drink free. Two months was cool. Life is better with a bit of booze - double JD and coke anyone? x

Seoul-tastic 12/3/06 Well I've been here four days now and it feels like I've done a million things already. First off I better say that I love it! My flat is ok, rough n' ready like but does the trick. It's a good size too. The school is really nice and the teaching is far from rocket science, although some of the younger kids are annoying I must say. The other teachers are dead on but as I'm the only foreign teacher I guess the conversation is limited, lol. We all headed out for dinner last Friday night and it was awesome - karaoke bar afterwards too was sweet!! My bosses couldn't really be more helpful if they tried. Met up with Rob that night too and spent a good chunk of the weekend laughing as a result. If he comes to Seoul in March as he is planning then it will be an amazing year. Found the biggest market area I've ever seen in my life today and bought two pairs of shoes for about 11 stg, lol. Have already earned more than I've spent and that's impressive considering I've been buying one-off essentials like CD players, etc. Could save a fortune here this year and feeling rich for the first time in my life! Anyway, just to let you all know I'm alive and feeling good. Keep in touch! Happy Christmas! 12/23/06 23/12/06 Things have settled down nicely here. The teaching is mainly easy to be honest. There aren't many jobs I've done that involve an hour in the morning, a four hour break and then three hours in the eve. But that's my story Mon, Wed and Fri so it's pretty sweet. Plenty of time to read, catch up with people at home, eat, etc. So yeah, the job is sweet. I get on really well with a girl at work and we hang out quite a bit. Other than that I occasionally frequent the least Irish 'Irish' bar I've ever been to in my life in Itaewon (the English speaking area). Have met some sound people, some right eejits. So much the same as home really on that score. Last weekend I met some people who live quite close to me and they are a very sound bunch. Few English, Canadian, etc. Get on well with them so head out with them quite a bit and will be spending Xmas, New Years, etc with them. Social side of things is pretty good here. Watching the cash a bit as my first pay doesn't arrive until Jan 5th but after that I'll be laughing hopefully. Of course some days everyone suffers from the 'Seoul blues' where everything just gets on top of you a little bit but I've only had two days like that so far so I can't complain. Plus it was mainly drink-induced, lol. Being so far from Becca is far from ideal too but we keep in touch as much as we can and I think most of the time we're dealing with it quite well. Tonight I'm heading out with Eunice (korean work-mate) to Suyu then meeting Alex (London lad), etc. in Itaewon to head out. Nights out here last until 6am at least, as that's when the subways re-open. It's a whole new lesson on 'pacing yourself' for me, lol. Being here for Christmas will be very strange. Of course I'd love to be in Cooley but so many people here are in the same boat so I'm sure we'll make the best of it. Be sure to keep in touch. Most people I expected to are but some (Furey!!) aren't doing as well. My number is 010 6870 2470 if anyone feels so inclined over the Christmas I'm sure that'd be nice. Hope you're all well and have a great festive period, Brian