Month: September 2009

Football

24th September 2009 admin Uncategorised 1 Comment

Last Saturday marked the first time in my life that I actually went out to watch a football match. My family have always been keen City supporters and Ive spent a lot of time watching United while out with Dan, so I decided to go out and watch the Manchester Derby.

Before the match, a sign was held up at the United end saying welcome to Manchester. I wondered how many Silver BMW driving, Surveyors from Surrey, it had taken to make it.

The match begins, and Rooney score’s early (in the first 2 minutes). As Rooney slides around on the wet grass, I shout Red Bastards. I realise, that I have actually chosen a side (something I wasn’t intending to do).

Loyalties in the Pub are clearly behind United. Dan points out, that there is only one city player on the pitch, who was playing for them last season, calls me a glory hunter, and then asks which “spreadsheet” football team I will be supporting next season. City score not long after.

His point is perhaps a fair one. City have always been supported as the underdog. Today, they are the wealthiest club in the league, and on paper have the best team in the world. I wonder for a moment about their identity, but a man with a beard who has a womans voice, distracts me, and its back to the action.

The match continues with breakneck action, which had everyone on the edge of their seats (including me, who normaly says he would rather watch Goldfish swim around a bowl !). The bearded lady tries to engage everyone (or anyone !) in converstation, and then its half time.

In the 2nd half, I realise:

1. Danny isnt a complete Biggot, and compliments City on thier Goaly.

2. A player called Berbatov, looks a lot like Andy Garcia.

In the last couple of minutes, United score (extra time) to win the game. Several people comment that the referees watch was a gift from Alex Ferguson :).

Well, the point is, I travel all over the world, to meet new people and enjoy their customs, and I just wanted to try out a traditional UK one for a change.

Hope I havent offended or misrepresented anything (you can post replies if you think I have).

John.

Update

16th September 2009 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

First of all, apologies, if you’ve been trying to call or text me. Both my phones have gone south, and I wont have received the call/text.

Until I get things sorted out, probably best to email me.

I was supposed to go out jogging this morning, but since I turned my ankle in the woods yesterday, I can hardly walk (apart from losing the use of my tongue, that’s one of the worst things that can happen !).

Ive just booked Capetown. If everything goes to plan, then I will be standing on Table mountain, and have completed the blue list, 7 weeks from now.

The last 18 months, have been pretty up and down for me, but in balance, the last 6 years, overall, have been pretty fantastic.

I can’t help thinking though, that when I embarked on the bluelist and all the adventures that came with it, that it was like constructing a “matchstick” replica of the Eiffel tower on the dining room coffee table.

Non euphemistically, I had a very happy and secure home life to start with (the coffee table if you will) , and the adventures (the matchstick “Eifel tower”) were an enhancement.

The whole point in the beginning, was to seek at adventure, while keeping the balance of a normal life. That’s the reason its called the adventures of an ordinary person.

We all know people who can sell houses, take a years sabatical etc and see the world, what I wanted to show was that it could be done, whilst buying a house, getting married, building a career etc.

Ive felt lately, as though the “Eiffel” part of my life, has received so much attention, that the coffee table underneath has been neglected to the point that its a bit wobbly.

Once Ive been to Capetown and completed the bluelist, I’m going to stop updating johnsunter.com (it will act as a timeless record of 6 years of adventure).

I’m then going to concentrate the next 6 months, sorting a few things out (im still a bit overweight, there are loads of good friends I haven’t kept in touch with, that type of thing). There are also loads of cool things in the UK that I want to do, and Ive neglected my love of hill walking.

Ill probably draw up a 2nd bluelist, who knows !.

Well, near and far, have a great time, and remember the quote by Helen Keller, ” Life is either a daring adventure or nothing !”.

John

Update

11th September 2009 admin Uncategorised Leave a comment

Just read this really cool thing on BBC News. Most of you know already, that this website is dedicate to Alan Turing.

Some of you will remember a couple of months ago, I was experimenting with some budget adventures.

The other Sunday, I got the chance to complete one, that had evaded me for some time. For £4.40, its possible to get a return from Chester to Southport (its like I always say, adventure is everywhere, you just have to look).

I haven’t been there, in something like 14 years, but it was a pretty cool place. It was very family orientated. Although families aren’t really my thing, it was this focus that removed the tackiness and which is normally associated with places like Blackpool.

I broke the rule of Sunter, and didn’t actually take an spare trainers or anything like that.

We even had lunch at MacDonald’s, and Coffee at Nero (for budget adventuring, this would normally been a distinct no-no, but finances have change, and I just haven’t eaten a MacDonald’s in ages !.

We wandered around the promenade, which was spotlessly clean, and then headed for the beach (okay, it could have been sunnier !).

As we wandered towards the Ocean (Amelia came with me) I realised that the actual Sea, is about 2 miles out from the beach !.

The last time I stood in such a vast open space, was in the Moroccan desert.

Last weekend, I spent Saturday afternoon in the cinema. I went to see District 9. I want say anything else about this film, but if you haven’t seen it, you really should.

I hate it when pretentious people describe something as excellent on many levels, but in this case that was completely it.

As a drama, thriller, action flick and public commentary, this film scores, in just about every category.

On another subject, one thing I really hate in films, is when there is a really great premise for a film, but the end product, just waste’s it completely. A film I watched with Love film recently (21) was exactly like this.

The basic premise, is that a group of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of the most genius University’s in the world) go to Vegas, and attempt to beat the system and make a fortune.

Overly long, it really was just a wast of my time.

In other Media recently.

Great news: Big brother is being canceled. Thank God. It symbolizes, for me, everything that’s wrong with society.

Bad news: Oasis have split up. Although don’t live there anymore, Ill always be a son of Manchester (although the thing is, I still thing that the Smiths are the best things to come out of the city !)

Ive been watching True Blood. I thought the premise sounded a bit iffy, but its one of the best programs to appear on HBO in a while. Season 6 of House commences on the 21st of September.

Jude and Nathan are on holiday at the moment. Since Ive recorded about 25 episodes of Family Guy, and the Cats and I, are working our way through them.

Sunday morning, I wen for a walk around Chester and took a couple of pictures. On my way back from the Forest, I visited the Racecourse and took this picture.

This weekend (ie Tomorrow) is Chester Races, so Ill be sure to hide in my house).

The good news, is that there are loads of cool places to explore and relax in, which the visiting “Mongol Hoards” don’t know about. This is one of my favorite places (I wont say where it is, for obvious reasons) and I come and sit, and read here all the time.

After this, I popped over to Bar Lounge, where my friend Julian was exhibiting one of his paintings. Unfortunately, it was ticket only, so I never got to see it.

Well, Ill get going now, but near and far take care and hope to hear from you all soon.