Hi everyone,

It has been over a year and a half since I last posted either a blog or on a thread, and I've actually neither been playing runescape nor have had time to keep up on here. So, here is a general summary of what I've been upto, and my reasons for returning.

I'll start backwards with my reasons for returning. Having recently had a lot of spare time I decided to return to runescape after getting fed up with many many xbox 360 games that just have no depth to them and one that I absolutely adore (which will be addressed at a later date). I always wanted to get back to playing but was never in a position to, but now I've got a lot of things sorted out and I really wanted something that I'd been working on before to try and improve at, so I've got back into runescape, its changed quite a bit, but I'm mostly dungeoneering for now, so not much has changed there.

The last time I blogged I was living in Singapore and was about to return back to the UK, having completed a placement out there at NTU. I returned and immediately started work on completing the dissertation that was due in for the placement, so my runescape goals were put on hold. Not to mention that once I returned I had a whole list of games to catch up with. So I returned, and had a lot of work to do with university and a lot of people to catch up with. Things went well in the first term and I'd moved in with some fantastic people on my course. I was working hard but also was keeping up with everything and was generally having a great time. Then when I was in the second term back it was the last section of my degree and everythign was hectic. I managed to pass my degree and complete my masters in Chemistry, and then from there I went looking for work.

Once I'd left university I realised that I was not prepared for the real world, and while I left everyone in Southampton behind, they had all planned for things to do, where as I was just going to wing it, which took me on a real journey of how different things can be. I spent two months looking for jobs and spent a lot of time travelling around to interviews, when I eventually got a job, albeit the worst job I've ever had, working at Silverstone catering for the British Grand Prix. The job only lasted 3 days, but the experience was one I won't forget, and would never willingly rush into doing again. But from that job I was asked to work at a warehouse repacking phones for Orange, and I spent 4 months there where I met some fantastic people. However, clearly this job didn't satisfy me on an intellectual level, it was for the best that I got this job because it really showed me a lot about people in general.

During that time I was constantly seeking for jobs that I'd be trained for but to no avail. I'd go to interviews but be rejected consistently, but never for similar reasons, which made me get incredibly demotivated about find a new job or even going for interviews.

I remember one friday morning before going the the warehouse (my hours were 2-10pm so my social life suffered), I received a call from a temp agency saying that I'd got an assignment and could I start as soon as possible. I said yes, and carried out my last shift at the warehouse, and unfortunately had to say goodbye, but it was for the best as the warehouse staff were being relocated 3 months later. The new job was working as an admin/planner for a logistics company dealing with foodstuffs and beer. Mainly sugar and beer. This role was a real test for me but was intellectually demanding as there was a lot to remember and a lot to do, and gave me a begrudging respect for drivers out on the road. Only begrudginly I respect them as some of them were fantastic but others were incredibly whiny about what we were asking of them.

I spent a month and a half there before getting a call about a chemistry job located not far from where I live, and went along for an interview that seem very strange. They initially only wanted a temporary member of staff, which was fine for me because I wanted the experience, and there was wide scope with what to do from the experience gained. I got a call the day after the interview and was elated to hear that they liked me and wanted me to work for them. I immediately accepted and left the job I was working at on the 23rd December last year. I had the whole week between christmas and new year off for what seemed like my first real break in half a year. During all this time I kept my activity up by playing football with my friends in their league, however I'm still unsure of many of the rules and don't really like football that much. I also spent a lot of time in the gym, working on getting back into the shape that I'd got to in Singapore, however that really didn't happen until this year.

This year, I started the new job in January asa technical chemist working in a lab doing product development and quality control and analysis for outgoing products, in the Agriculture and

amenity turf (football pitches, golf courses, etc.) markets. The job initially took up a lot of time as I was learning a lot, and getting to know all of the staff. During the second month, february one of the lab staff announced that he was leaving and the company asked if I'd like to stay on. I obliged them and have continued to work there permanently, doing a job that I enjoy.

Also this year, I changed my diet, I completely cut out bread, stopped drinking, took a new approach to exercise and have tried to be as healthy as possible. Since the new year I've gone from 84kg to 70kg as of last week, but the initial 10kg went in about 2 months.

I've recently been doing a lot of things, I've taken up guitar lessons, I plan on taking up Tae Kwon Do again, I've been doing a lot of boxing at the gym and I've been doing a fitness instructor course so that if cover is needed for a class I can cover the class and help people out.

So, how has everyone been? Its been a while, but to be honest I've only just found free time to get back to somewhere I'm comfortable to play games and not feel bad about it eating in to the other aspects of my life.

Thanks for reading, I plan to post a lot more, but hopefully no where near as long.

Peace -x-