Events in my life.

I must say, this year...2014 has been the most interesting year so far. Back in September, we, The Scots had to decide whether to stay as part of the UK or go independent. Thankfully in the end, people saw sense and we're STILL part of the UK. I grew up in Scotland BEING part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain...this in many respects is a huge privilege. Just for starters, the British Passport provides hassle free passage to most countries most of the time. Being part of a bigger country is more stable than being in a small country full of elderly and benefit (welfare) sponges...my reasons go on but I shall not dwell on it. BACK to the main reason to this small post! It is currently Sunday 1:06am and the Gold price is £745.56 per troy ounce and Silver price is £9.88 per troy ounce. By this time tomorrow, there will be a decision on whether or not the Swiss banks will need to buy back 1500 TONNES of Gold at the tune of several Billion dollars at the current price. I do ...

It's Monday 15th September, a few days away from the voting day that decides if Scotland remains in the UK or go it alone. There are many backing both sides with all sorts of reasons. I think most of them remain ignorant of the most important factors for a successful independence. Economy and Infrastructure. Friends and family (at least some) are at each another's throats. This issue has caused more arguments than good causes for the country of Scotland. I will let you know my vote...it is a NO to independence based on a few things. 1) Scotland's main sources of income is dominated by revenue from the North Sea Oil...Whisky export...and taxation of All Working People. There are other factors too but isn't large enough to be significant. North Sea Oil WILL run out...revenue will then cease. Whisky export will continue long after the Oil but it ain't going to be sufficient. Taxation of the working...50% of entire Scottish population can't possibly contrib...

I've been thinking to quite an extent on this one..."does a person change as such?" From what I've experienced in life, certain behaviours are learned and others are expressed through the change in environment (externally) and/or with respect to the person's current situation. Here's an example. Have you ever met somebody back from school who was plain bad? Smoking, causing disruption in class, had fights at school and perhaps bullied you or someone you knew? I'm very certain many of you, including myself, has memories of at least a few. Fast forward a few years (in SOME cases) that bad ass has turned out to be a father...with a job...living in an alright apartment and gorgeous girlfriend/partner. "How did that happen!?" will play through most of our minds...and I think i've got an explanation for the phenomenon. Every human born, no matter where you're from is not naturally bad. It is your environment that shapes you to be the way...

Just having a fab time with my fave girl in the world at the Apex Hotel Restaurant in Dundee! :) A few weeks later, out with my girl, Bro and His missus! 

I did promise my girlfriend that I'd stop smoking but recently I had a few... The cause of my bad habit is stress... Some may say I'm just saying that so I have a "reason" to smoke...maybe deep down it is. It's not something I'll brag about or be proud of. Recently on a few occasions, I've viewed some flats that I really like but the problem is getting a mortgage...the banks and building societies have very very tight regulations for this now...I've been rejected numerous times. I would really like my girlfriend to move in with me so I don't have to wait a week each time to see her... I would love to have my own home to go home to...but it ties in the fact that I cannot get a mortgage. Some dumb twit opened the door on my car yesterday while i was working! In the next couple of weeks, my boss will have a few important friends and fellow business men coming from London and China. These people are very successful in their respective fields of ...

Well well, this past week I cannot be more smug, my very recent girlfriend has graduated, she is now exhibiting her work in London AND an image of her work has been chosen at the Gallery from the many many bursary winners and extremely worthy competitors! I may not "get" their work nor understand what was the inspiration used...all I can say is, I know how much time and effort each of these guys used...so even if nobody knows what you're trying to portray, at least your efforts will be duly noted! Good Job my girl!!!

I'm not sure if it is just me or does anyone else find it more and more difficult to obtain a mortgage these days? I do not understand why does my rental income not count as income on top of my wage?! I make an average amount each month via work and the rent i receive is bonus and i look forward to it every month (some of it i give back to my folks because they did help me buy the flat). I'm not much of a spender...the flat is fully paid off and generates decent income...yet it doesn't count?!?!? >:( Michelle doesn't understand much about the financials but bless her! She does seem to grasp the ideas and concepts that I'm trying. Quite the support I need...damn I bagged myself a good one! ...i hope my next opportunity will be around the corner soon! I really want another rental to boost my income even if the banks doesn't think it is!

Hey, so...yeah...as the title says, it's almost half way through 2014. I've been looking at houses and flats around Edinburgh and MAN ARE THEY EXPENSIVE!!! It's not that I am looking at posh, upper class areas as such (those would cost more) but working/middle class areas...so I picked up a few details of these places and went to the bank to see about a mortgage... Long story short, they can't give me anything because i don't work a defined number of hours...our line of work doesn't have a set amount of hours because sometimes it's busy and sometimes it's not...everything is being computerized and the machine has taken over...if it was just up to the bank manager, i would of got it no problem because the manager knows my whole family...dang it! Ah well, there will be something around the corner and if I can't get a mortgage with my financial condition...then i think neither can many others...

I can't seem to grasp how life is much easier and happier for me so far! Before the move to Edinburgh...i was very reluctant in changes to my (boring and slightly depressive) life style. The two things that really made me stay in the small town was the awesome people from my Martial Arts School (who i still keep in touch with) and the familiar feeling of the town. Then I asked myself...is this it? Couldn't I just move back if I didn't like it? The answer was definitely...THIS ISN'T IT and I don't want to move back anytime soon haha! However I do miss my School and fellow Ju Jutsuka. Michelle...well, what else can i say? She's worth the chase, hot, gorgeous and did I mention Hot? Hahaha Monday past...I GOT MY NEW CAR!!!  IBIZA FR EDITION ACT, 1.4L 140BHP AND RETURNS AN IMPRESSIVE 60MPG ON PETROL!!!! Life is certainly good now, can't wait till the summer, Michelle will be graduating...i'll be able to meet her parents and i'll be able to spend a fe...

Oh Hell yeah!!!!!!!! Remember a month ago I screwed things over a bit with Michelle? After many messages and persuasion, I managed to be "dating her"...I'm not entirely sure what  actually happened... Last Wednesday we had a lunch date...then I asked if she wanted to come with me to look for a new car...I choose to go back to my old place of work (Citroen and Seat dealers), saw a good number of old colleagues and my old manager! We greeted and had a catch up...then they offered me AN ASS KICKING EPIC DEAL... So i bought a car...Seat Ibiza, 1.4litre engine...140 break horse power with a decent 60mpg......in black... Life is pretty sweet just now, (almost) girlfriend and new car...needing a flat to call home :)

Oh man, I have just cocked up with Michelle AGAIN! ...Cathy and Michelle are friends...and I have used similar words in texts to both of them... I don't really know what to do now. Michelle's trust is hard to earn and now she says, she doesn't trust me...Understandable. ***BUT in my defence, I am NOT tied down to either girl AND I didn't chase them both at the same time either. So some slack should be given.*** She says it was fun to have had the attention but couldn't see us passing on the "Friend" stage....FUCK I HAVE BEEN "FRIEND-ZONED"...is what I'm thinking.... It is SO shit that I can't talk to anyone about it...too embarrassing ...yet it must go somewhere...I hope venting out here wouldn't bite me in the ass later.... ...fuck...

Its has been two weeks since I moved to Edinburgh, life here is more or less like how I am accustomed to, work hard and rest. Don't have much free time for myself...do I miss free time? Of course I do but only a little. I do miss sleeping in a bit later, time to read, training and being a bit more social with others! I suppose what is most important at the moment is to build up my financial foundation again and continue on with my plan of buying apartments/flats for renting out. That way, I can afford to work less and still have decent income coming in! At work, there are 4 distinct groups; The Heads: The owners, although I am related to them I do take my duties seriously and don't slack. So far, they've been like my third set of parents and are quite "lax" with me. The Full Time Waiting Staff: Gordon, Peter and Myself (Although I don't "belong" to this group), I feel that these guys (EXCLUDING MYSELF) try to do only what is needed...what do I ...

Interestingly, my move to Edinburgh has brought about a few things that has surprised me. It has been a week since I've moved here, living with my Aunt, Uncle and 3 younger female cousins is quite...comfortable and family like. The feeling I get from them is...in a way...the feeling I've missed or not had from my own family. The Aunt and Uncle talks and asks how I'm settling, the younger cousins and I talk, exchange cheek and...they feel like the siblings I've wanted! Also they all play a part in house hold chores. Secondly...I've stopped chasing after Cathy. I finally realised, being persistent to the wrong person can be tiring and may very well ruin a good friendship. I think she knew from the start that I expressed interest in her but never gave any signs as a way of being nice to softly decline my advances. Fair enough. Thirdly, Michelle and I when we first met bickered at any chance we had! When meeting up...through What'sapp....text...you name it! Yet.....

So facebook now has a Facebook movie creator that makes a mini movie of your most liked, shared and first photos... Don't think I'll join in this craze. It's not that I don't like it, for me, Facebook is where i share SOME memories and photos so it ain't a "complete" memory movie as such. I've had bad experiences that I don't share, bad things I've seen that I don't share...and most of all...past girlfriends that won't be included. Thinking back, I did have some good times with all my past girlfriends. It was only to my own fault that I couldn't have kept them or end it on my terms and remain in touch to an extent. Based solely on that reason, I will not participate in the Facebook movies but I'm sure alot of people will say it's the Bee's Knees and all lol

Well it's been a fast two days at my new york place and today will be my third day. I'm still pretty tired from last night as it was busy. It's either coffee or red bull, there's no days off for me this week but i'll get two off the following week. I've survived worse :) O(∩_∩)O (≧∇≦)

I've had a moment...one of those where I want to shoot myself... I've been messaging Michelle today and asked if I can see her for 5mins when she's free. My friends and I was out in the City around that time so I asked Michelle to meet up at the Casino at 8pm, since that is when she finishes her yoga class...my phone was nearly flat of juice and wasn't in the best of areas for reception. 8pm came, I was waiting but Michelle didn't turn up...no text...no call...by 8.29pm I left the Casino...two messages came at once...one saying Mitchell was heading over from Yoga...second one...she left because I wasn't there...and she needed to go home. It's my fault for not being clear...cocked up what could of been something.

My chief instructor, Sensei Whyte, in the all black suit, my second instructor, Sensei McGregor with the blue top, Kevin, with the cap, my sempei and 3rd in line for the school and Diane, also my sempei, one of only two female sempei that I'll acknowledge. Miss the school doesn't begin to describe the hole it'll leave...I've been with them for 12 years. 12 very fun, interesting, intense, hard, bruised and well spent years. I look forward to the day I can return.  Farewell for now everyone, train hard.

I'd just like to blog about today which has been rather good! Got up a bit earlier than usual...did my warm up exercises and then got a call from my Aunt Kitty, pop up to work early, your Aunt Ying came round! Off I went to work early, had a good banter, steak for (late) lunch and Aunt Ying left us some good old Hakka Cha Gor!! As we closed up the shop, I made stuffed chillies with minced pork...aunt Kitty doesn't usually eat spicy foods but wanted to try them! "Oh!!! They are good! Not spicy and i can totally eat them!" Two minutes later you saw a mad woman running around the shop trying to cool off her lips because they were burning! All you saw of me was, some guy laughing his head off whilst desperately trying not to spit out the food in his mouth! Damn i'm going to miss these people when I leave for Edinburgh!

It's not officially confirmed but I'll be moving to the Capital of Scotland, Edinburgh by the end of this month. Change will build character yet I wonder if I am heading in the right direction... Cathy hasn't given me a proper reply as such...in a way, she's played a part in my decision to move. Its weird, I never had a problem with going away but why now? Am I too comfortable in the zone I'm in?               ************************ Upon a bit of thinking...I've got a property that I take rent from...I still live at home with my comforts...fuck a duck...I don't have a proper income or my own pad to crash at.... Decision made...moving! Financial stability first....girlfriend....later! (Would be nice if they both came to me soon but life doesn't give this shit out) Edinburgh, say Hello to this Bastard!