It's a strange time in my life. Things seem to be changing - now I'm working out if I should be careful or just relax and go with it.

Last week was cool - I went to see a load of bands - on Monday I went to see The Picture Show (who were first on) and also a pretty good funky jazz-type band called RDA. I went along with Em and Kirsi, both of whom I met at the XFM First Friday about a month ago. They're both friendly (and also pretty hot) and we had a good evening. Thursday night, at Kirsi's request I went with her and a couple of her friends to see the band Officer Kicks, supported by Thundershock and A Silent Film. Both gigs were at The Water Rats up in Kings Cross - a venue I've heard of a lot so I was really glad to get along there and have such a good time.

Friday night was more Karaoke Rock Star - Teenage kicks this time, and it was great to see Nik and James and Mike again.

Saturday was strange-good. I spent it with Em and Vian and James - some of it stuck in a car in traffic jams, and partially at Mary's houseparty getting drunk and being a moron.

Sunday I spent with them as well. We hung around randomly in the morning, went for lunch at Wagamama's and then went to see 'The Spiderwick Chronicles' which I quite enjoyed, but Vian (ex film student as she is) slagged off mahoosively.

And I'm learning more about the politics/divisions/cliques of S1L. It's all quite fascinating and I know I'll never avoid being drawn into it, I've just got to be very careful and diplomatic. I may not go to the event this weekend - I think I need a quiet one in by myself.

Sorry, this is just a string of facts for my own reference - I'll know what it all means eventually.

This is my first ever long Easter weekend off work! On my PhD I'd always end up working it, but this weekend I can just go "no. I have done my work. I will be lazing around like a lazy bastard".  To celebrate, last night I went out for dinner/XFM's big night out at Brixton Academy with some guys from S1L/Gig buddies. It was a really good evening and I met some more guys from the group. It's nice because everyone seems to be a bit geeky (many of the men seem to work in IT...), so it means I should be able to fit in quite well, which is a really nice feeling :-)  On the other hand it definitely seems to be more of a social thing for me and I think I'm less likely than I hoped to get dates out of it all (excepting the world-of-fuck-up that was Maddy. I fear protracted fallout from that, even though she's now moving in with the guy who she probably would have met while we were dating...).  The night was good - they had three bands playing - Black Kids (good stuff), One Night Only (bog-standard indie-rock) and the Futureheads who were crippled somewhat by a 30 minute show and really atrocious sound. Never mind, it was fun. I've uploaded some fuzzy camphone photos  Marvel at my K750 skillz. Oh yeah. And I got to do crazy indie-disco dancing, which is always a Good Thing.

Actually I can't be too lazy today. I've got to go out and get Easter eggs for the family as I will be seeing my parents and siblings and their partners on Sunday. Also I've got to get my favourite blue jacket cleaned. There was some beer-throwing going on last night and I caught a lot of it. Grrr. And I'd better go to the gym too, seeing as I haven't been all week (just exhaustion from work mainly).

Much else to report? I don't think so really.Here's to the long weekend! :-D

So, in the continuing mission to Meet New People and Get Over All This Social Anxiety Nonsense, last night I went out indie clubbing with a bunch of people I've never met before from the Facebook group Single in London (S1L). We went to the XFM first Friday night at Islington Academy, where they had (fairly average) indie tunes, a couple of live bands and the main draw was "Rockstar Karaoke" (http://www.karaokerockstar.com/). For those unaware, this is essentially indie-rock karaoke with a full band. Which is quite exciting. In the main room. That's a room with a few hundred people in there. This I found out not many minutes before I 'performed' Mr Brightside. So, I had a couple of options - not sing or have a few drinks and go for it. So I did the latter. And it was great. I don't know if I was any good or not, but it was a hell of a buzz! I'm not even sure if I'd do it again. Maybe I would.

I met some cool people too - I wouldn't call them friends and I will probably never give myself the opportunity to get to know them properly (or vice versa), but it's people to say hi to and not feel so lonely in the future