My Date On Sunday With Jemma

Last Sunday was one of the best days in a long time because I felt so special and happy that I was meeting somebody new. The day may have been cut-short thanks to London Transport which delayed us from seeing each other for 2 hours but the little things make the best memories, right? And I had such a good time meeting Jemma for the first time on a sunny Sunday in London.

Around a month ago after the first week or two in January, I had joined the Facebook Group - MCM Expo Group and everyday I was seeing statuses and posts on other member's cosplay progressions, questions and opinions on who to cosplay and just any random subject that people were brave enough to post whilst receiving hundreds of likes and nice people with good responses or those that wanted to slag off people. But during that week if I recall correctly, I liked a girl's status and agreed with her opinions and next thing you know, I've been sent a friend request (I also gained 2 more lady friends during that week too, so I felt awesome). This lovely lady Jemma added me and I of course added her back since she seemed and looked really nice and then we got straight on to messaging each other and just chatting so easily that I didn't feel like I had to impress her, I could just be myself and she showed a lot of enthusiasm and honesty as I did with each response.
I was most surprised and also thrilled to see that she had been to MCM Comic-Con back in October and is a fan of Marvel because she even recognised my Deadpool t-shirt on my Facebook wall, it was a real excellent bonus that this particular lady was into the same nerdy/ awesome stuff as I am and many of my friends are too.

Over the month of getting to know each other and being so comfortable with every message which was always positive and polite, my mates were all encouraging me to ask her if she wanted to meet up in London for a day out since I live an hour away and she lived around 40 mins away. She was just as eager as I was at meeting up for a fun day out. All this happiness was too much for me as I'm used to being the one trying to ask people to hang out and a lot of the time it's difficult or delayed and this time it was an immediate Yes! So we planned for the Sunday that's just been. She hadn't seen much of London besides her visits for concerts so she asked for any good places? I recommended any of the museums, the aquarium or a cool 3 floor arcade with a bar in "Westminster" (that last one caught her attention!) So we've been waiting patiently for the day we'd get to meet up in person.

On the day, we planned to meet up at "Westminster" for 13.00pm and I managed to get there just on time, but unfortunately her train from her city to London had been delayed and to make things worse, London's trains were all being difficult that day which is why I had to travel to "London Bridge" instead of "London Victoria". I stood still patiently while still having doubts in my head and heart since I was hoping this wouldn't be another time I hadn't been stood up but I had faith since we had been talking to each other for a while and she was actually keeping contact through texts about her journey so she didn't leave me guessing if she was actually coming at all. So by 15.00pm, she had arrived and embraced me with a hug and apologised deeply for the frustrating delay on our day out, which wasn't a problem for me since in the end she did make it and it was to meet me!

So we made our way to Westminster Arcade which was in the huge building where the exit from the Sea-Life was. As soon as we stepped in, I too was gobsmacked at returning to a lively and dazzling arcade that had lots and lots of machines that ranged from shooters, racing and other sorts of arcade games and let's not forget the bowling alley and bumper kart area on the second floor below and on the third floor (ground) where the massive pub was, it was paradise! I actually discovered this place back in 2010 when I had a good day out with a girl called Katy and we had gone to Sea-Life together and actually discovered this place first time back then.

Anyway, Jemma and I fancied a drink and play a good old game of Pool on the ground floor, however that pool session (which Jemma paid for) was a heavy £20 deposit and she'd be returned the change by the end after every minute we played they would charge 25p/ 50p a minute... F***ers. Still we both had a Double Vodka and Coke which was an expensive £5 (it's like £3.60 in my town) and just had a pleasant game (which she beat me at after I knocked the 8 into the hole almost before the tie-breaker game...) and during that time, I felt so comfortable and calm when chatting to her like as if we were already close friends and weren't afraid to talk about anything and I wasn't afraid to be myself!

I don't know what came over me but I felt so confident and happy like I wasn't showing any doubt or fear when talking with her, maybe it was because I felt she was eager to see me too and wasn't just seeing me to be polite like some girls in the past. It was like we already knew each other from these past few weeks of conversations and thanks to those chats, I felt like the first "barrier" had been broken easily , you know where you don't know how to talk to somebody due to confidence or not knowing them at all. So at the end, she got £10.50 back (rip off) and we headed outside for a smoke (don't worry I don't smoke haha). Since it was about 16.45pm, we sat by the steps near the London Eye and just kept on chatting away to each other about many subjects that we agreed on like our beliefs on religion and believing in equal rights for LGBT (cause we have friends and family who are gay) and our families and stuff. She was very open and honest with me that she even explained a condition that she had been recently diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder after telling me a couple days earlier when I had also made her aware of my Aspergers Syndrome which she was cool with cause her older bro has it and one of her best friends, what a relief. You see her condition IS NOT Schizophrenia and doesn't make her any different to the way she was with me that day and I don't care what the definition of it is. I admired her honesty and her understanding she has now recognised and understood this condition that she's still being herself (and I like that!) she even told me about her brother's serious level of Aspergers compared to mine and how he has to be cared for but is a dynamic wizard when it comes to Cars (that's Awesome since everybody with a form of Autism is creative and amazing at something!)

The day had to end quickly sadly because a friend of her's needed her back home for an emergency about something serious so we had to end the day early (even if it was just 3 hours). But I admitted that I had really enjoyed our "date", I then questioned if this was one since my last date was awkward and the girl I wanted to be with ended up going out with her best friend and now they're lesbians ha ha (I sound like Ross Geller from the TV series Friends except I'm not divorced). She didn't really deny this but was curious about the story which I humoured her with my silly history as well as mentioning my funny experiece when I went clubbing first time in Brighton about 2 years ago and got hit on by a damn-good looking man, but that's another story *wink* (alas *sigh* it's too bad the first time I ever get flirted with and it's by a guy, why couldn't it have been a woman ha ha).
So anyway, she told me she was free next Sunday for us to meet up again in London and go out for a long day and see some sights, since she hadn't seen much of London yet and that the last Saturday of February, she'll be celebrating her 20th birthday and has asked me to come along with her and some mates in either her hometown or in London! What an offer, two consecutive meetings to follow after a short first time day out!!
So I rode the Underground with her back to "Stratford" and saw her off on her train and then I made my way home. Luckily on the train, I saw my gym mate Adam and we spent the journey home chatting about our exciting and eventful days.



Thank you, Link for the special tag... ha ha

I gave Jemma a text when I got in just to let her know I was home safe. I also uploaded the selfie we shared together and what came next was a jaw-dropping surprise of responses from my banter mates and everybody who was really pleased and happy for me. The following morning on Monday, she replied to my text and said she too is looking forward to next Sunday but also mentioned "You're friend's comments on your picture have made my day!" To which I looked at my Facebook on that early morning and was so surprised to see over 35 Likes and about 8 comments all from my mates giving me virtual "highfives" and all congratulating on my day out along with some innuendo comments too. I could only repond to her with "I'm glad you see it that way, my mates love the banter and are pleased for me ha ha!"
And throughout the Monday, I had a funny and bashful working day full of many lads all fistbumping me and talking dirty and all congratulating me on my day out. I felt so awesome/ special like a lad who has just accomplished the impossible and I hope for an eventful future as to what adventures and more exciting times will unfold over the next 2 weekends! I am so honoured and proud of myself and Jemma for a day that has started something new I feel.

Oh and before I finish this, I assure you all that OF COURSE, she has looked over this before I uploaded it since it's quote bold and rude to just exploit something personal and maybe even overdo it a little thanks to my inner happiness but then again I know my place and don't want to ruin already what's beginning. Who knows what's gonna happen from now on, all I know is I'll keep it subtle, only today was super and I haven't felt this special in a long time...
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!!

London Anime & Gaming Con, February 2015 + Kathy & Alex's 22nd Birthday Night Out

So this Saturday on the 7th February, I went to a much smaller London convention for the first time with my good friend Beki for a day of meeting new people, a few famous Cosplayers, browsing the merchandise and just comparing a much smaller venue to the massive MCM Comic-Con that we've always been to. I had a few highlights especially meeting a gorgeous Cosplayer that I'll explain later on. See here what it was like this Saturday.

My bedhair, ready
for the day

A weird Cat Hedge in
Upper Holloway

What was supposed to be an easy going venture to London Metropolitan University turned into an awkward long walk backwards from the direction we were supposed to be heading... S**t. So basically Beki and I met at Horsham Train Station and made our way to London and I followed her directions to "Upper Holloway" and we activated my IPhone's Map App to walk around 26 minutes to the venue, but after 13 minutes of walking up a long hill and looking like we were going the wrong way, turns out we were once I had turned the GPS Tracker on which updated the route and showed we had been walking the wrong way, Wa-Wa-Waaah!
So after backtracking the right way, we ended up getting there 45 mins later than expected, and to make things more annoying and embarrassing we saw there was an Underground station opposite to The University "Holloway Road Underground". I can assure you we took that one home to save ourselves that awful long track to our previous station.
So entering into this 2 floor building was something surprising and I think the words is relieved in a small way that this wasn't exactly the huge location full of too many people (though this place was smaller and still filled up quite a lot, somehow this difference was a lot nicer compared to the overwhelming experience I have at MCM plus it was something new for me).
 

Something caught my eye as a lot of people were crowded by the bar at a beautiful girl dressed as an Indian sorta warrior and Beki pointed out that it was Tabitha Lyons who was one of the main expert cosplayers who were attending the event and was cosplaying Nidalee from League Of Legends. I went over to the bar and found my chance to ask the gorgeous lady for a photo with her to which she happily complied and even Beki got a picture too (I later caught her again and asked for a selfie this time just incase the photo on Beki's camera was blurry and she happily shared a selfie with me too).

 

James, Kieran ans Sean doing their presentation

My main priority for checking out this small event was to see the 12.00pm event in the building next door which was the Gaming building full of rooms and rooms of TVs and Computers all hooked up to many new and nostalgic consoles all for the people to play co-op on. You see at 12.00pm (which became 1.00pm due to technical difficulties and microphone issues... oh the irony) there was an event/ talk on "Getting Into Games Design" which was being explained by 3 game computing students Sean, James and Kieran who were nice chaps and had a Presentation all about tips, useful software (such as Unreal Engine, Unity, Game Maker, RPG Maker, Construct 2, Stencyl and Game Salad) and listing the do's and don'ts when it comes to commitment and marketing any kind of game you wish to publish let alone create, and I noted it all down on my phone. I nodded a lot to the information such as "Make Prototypes of your game", "Practise your skills", "Start off small, don't try and rush into something huge", "Learn and play the games you don't even like", "It's a long and stressful road but it'll pay off though!" and "Long nights of development for little reward until the end..." All these useful tips were very moving and motivating but I still need to get round to taking the first step once I'm ready and fully loaded with the new equipment and softwares in time then I too can begin the slow road to my own success someday and it'll hopefully be in Game Design or even Web Design.
I even went to see one of them Sean and told him about my small Pokemon game I made during College using the GameMaker software. I explained it all and mentioned my issue which stopped me to this day on solving yet it was marked back to College and helped me achieve the Double B in the final year, yet I was still not satisfied and I aim to solve and fix it someday and he was a nice guy to chat to and gain some tips on to help me fix it, if I can get round to it. Sean who is the creator of and manager of his own game Hashtag Dragon which does look interesting, showed me his Twitter - @OxyOxspring incase I even get round to fixing my game or just need some advice maybe. Why not check out Sean's game, Hashtag Dragon.

Those Amazing Assassin's Creed Cosplays!!!

Once all that was over and my butt came back to life after going numb during the talk, Beki and I finally got round to going back nextdoor to queue up for around 20/ 30 mins (I lost track) in the corridor to grab food outside in the courtyard. Burger and Chips it was for us both and then we just sorta stood about since this place was more like a college/ university *duh* but due to the big quantity in people it made the place look even smaller but still fair since it was a new experience compared to a huge place with too many people like in May and October.
 

We decided to split up for a bit to look around at a couple stalls full of merchandise which was a lot like the stalls at MCM but not solf out so easily. I did meet some nice and good looking lady cosplayers (I even met a woman who looked almost identical to Scarlett Johansson/ Black Widow from Avengers and I got to share a picture with) and I did find a cool stall full of Vinyl stickers but sadly the Attack On Titan - Wings Of Freedom sticker was sold out but the dude gave me a flyer with their future website coming out but I did purchase The Legend Of Zelda - Hylian Shield sticker for my car. 

Esdeath - Akame ga Kill

Me and Esdeath

Yuno Gasai and Beki
- Mirai Nikki

Beki returned after I had made the purchase and we took a look upstairs (to our surprise we didn't even know it was two floors) and up their was a huge stage with a game show going on and to do with recognising Anime/ Video Game music which looked fun... too bad I have stage fright.
Beki who was cosplaying the famous murder lady Yuno Gasai from Mirai Nikki anime, met another Yuno and I took a photo for them both on their cameras. I was being much smarter this time at a Con and limited myself to purchasing anything since I'm used to "window shopping" but I still get a kick out of seeing the cool merch and think about purchasing some things someday once I make up space in the bomb-site that is my room ha ha.

So it was a long and eventful day which did at first seem dissapointing and small but then again I was quite tired due to the lack of sleep and most days everything I ever experience gets better the more I stay/ participate and watch the day pass then good and surprising things happen for a reason and when I look back on it all later on or the next day then I know for sure, it was worth it and today it was since I met new people, got photos with beautiful women and shared the day with a good friend who wanted me to come along with her.

This time instead of backtracking to "Upper Holloway" which is half an hour away, we crossed the road and took the sensible way back to "Victoria" at the underground across the road "Holloway Road" which has now been duly noted down for when I return to this event. Beki got changed on the train as we made our way back to Horsham and Beki caught the bus back to Cranleigh. It was a long and good day in the end.

Kathy and Me

But my fun didn't stop there, for I had to venture out to the Pub that night, in style, and by style I mean cosplaying Iron Man for my friend Kathy (the great friend who joined me to MCM back in October) for hers and a mate I knew back in secondary school Alex's 22nd Joint Fancy Dress Birthday evening upstairs. Now that was fun, after I had parked the car and walked over to The Anchor Hotel in town, I saw Charlie, Alex and Jack (old school bud) and met his girlfriend Amy (they were both dressed as fellow Avengers too - Hawkeye and Black Widow).

Kathy, Alex, Jack, Amy and Me

I went into the pub with my ultra cool helmet on and if I'm honest I was super excited and proud of the attention I was recieveing on my awesome helmet and seeing all the cool costumes that all these people were wearing including the guys I've known since school and college years. David was Popeye, Kathy was Snow White, Matt was Jaegermister and Alex was Nana Nana Nana Nana BATMAN!

We all did a "kinky"
experiment on Amy haha

Everyone dresssed up in cool costumes and it felt like a less stressful version of Comic-Con and this time at the local pub! During the night, I got chatting to Amy who was a lovely and polite lady and I really enjoyed her company as I was being myself and felt very calm. I soon admitted my Aspergers in general and she even admitted how she didn't recognise me with Aspergers until I had told her why I was quoting and seeming different to the others which was no problem, I just like being honest and sometimes use that as a test to see if others will like me or not, clearly she did and everyone else did that night.

Sexy Motherf***ers

Alexander
fondling David (Popeye)

Matt (great college bud) who was The Joker was pleased to catch up with me and so was David (heck everyone was pleased to see me as much as I was to catch up with them all again after several months) we were all asking how life was and how I had been, I was really enthusiastic about their stories as deeply as I was with my progression in gym, runs and enjoying life, not to mention tell everyone of my "date" that I had happening tomorrow on Sunday. Everyone was very pleased and excited for me which made me feel so special (the kind of special I hadn't felt in a while) due to not being with a girl on a day out in almost a year or so without being in a group, still everything was grand that evening. 

Pics by Amy after I had gone

We took the fun to Mungo's (our town's hip cocktail club bar) all in out costumes, though I decided to leave my arm blaster and helmet in the car incase I wouldn't be let in by the bouncers. Since I couldn't drink due to driving and it was getting to 1.00am, after a good hour of dancing, shuffling through the people and getting tired, I decided to head for home while thanking everyone for inviting me out that night and catching up with the right people who always remind and show me that I am a good friend and even if I doubt not seeing them enough, least when I do they are glad to see me, I was also glad to have made a new friend - Amy and I look forward to seeing everyone/ anybody again for future nights out!

So Saturday was a long day full of excitment and good highlights especially Tabitha and my night out with all my old college mates and friends. The following day (which is the next post) was super special, and you'll find out tomorrow when I upload my super special (short) day out meeting an awesome person!
Hope you all had a cool Saturday like I did!

Crown The Empire LIVE, February 2015 (My 5th Concert)

My 5th Concert was pretty intense and full of metalheads who all had the burning spirit and the enthusiasm to mosh. All to see a band of 6 who I have recently gotten into back in November, so last night I had good company and enjoyed myself at the Electric Ballroom in Camden Town, London for the Post-Hardcore band that is Crown The Empire!

My 5th concert didn't really outdo the previous 4 due to the tough and intimidating atmosphere that I was swimming in at the venue but it was still eventful in it's own little way. It was more heavier than when I was in a tight crowd seeing Linkin Park except I was trying to balance in the crowd from the constant pushing that shook the crowd like wind in the hayfields and I did get involved in a mosh-pit during one of the videos I uploaded but somehow I came out not hurt and last night's crowd would have certainly bruised or injured me badly.
But let's see the videos and see how it did turn out fair and enjoyable.

My original plan a couple weeks ago was to go with Caleb and another friend. Then Rebecca (Sis) asked for 2 more additional tickets to take her friend Katie as an early 18th present for February. To cut a long story short, Caleb couldn't make it after telling me on the day that he had thought it was next Thursday  and I never found the third person to go with us, so on Wednesday evening, I met Katie's great boyfriend Sean and my sisters mate Dean. We all got chatting about mutual interests that night and I knew these were my 2 guys for the concert the following night. So my gang was Rebecca, Katie, Sean and Dean.

Waiting at Three Bridges Train Station

I finished work on Thursday at lunchtime and headed home, after chatting with the others we all made our plan of getting there. We met Sean at Three Bridges Train Station at around 7. I drove the rest of us there and parked at the train station and we all ventured up. Seeing as CTE made an announcement under a week early that these bands Alive Like Me, Dangerkids and Set It Off were all supporting acts for them, it came to my attention that the gig would actually be delayed and that the main act might even come on later than expected and we'd all need to head home early to catch the last trains home to Three Bridges.

Made this with the "Diptic" Mobile App

After we all finally got to the Electric Ballroom at around 8, we saw that Dangerkids were just starting since the concert supposedly began at 7. I purchased myself a Concert T-shirt and a Cog & Crown Wristband for £25 and at the end, Rebecca purchased a £35 CTE Hoodie (extortionate, right...)

Dangerkids

Set It Off

While there, I listened to Dangerkids who seemed quite similar to CTE but I wasn't as hyped up as some individuals in the crowd were since I hadn't done my research and the same goes for Set It Off. Though Set It Off seemed similar to Hands Like Houses and weren't as shouty as Dangerkids and CTE from my point of view but the lead singer from Set It Off even stood ontop of the crowd when singing one song and throughout the show did spit out some inspiring words of wisdom whilst gaining my interest in some songs such as "Dream Catcher", "Tomorrow" and "Ancient History".

Whilst waiting for CTE, I was afraid honestly to mingle and meet new people since the crowd and range of people was big including age and gender. Most girls looked too young whilst wearing very little, some had boyfriends who were being very protective and even gave me a look that just read "F**k Off!" Plus the girls looked out of my league and I'm not really the type to meet people at such a place that's full of danger and eccentric people, despit how attractive and busty most were (even if they had cool tattoos). But I was here with the others for the same reason and by 10.00, that reason came on stage.

Crown The Empire - Oh Catastrophe & The Fallout (Opening)

I had a big question around will they start off with the first 2 tracks from either "The Fallout" album or "The Resistance: Rise Of The Runaways" album? So in the end it was first album and it went off to a heavy start including beginning the mosh-pits ha ha and I jumped up and down (as you can tell during the videos). In the crowd, there was a Sound System box area in the middle and I positioned myself in front of it, whilst the others were on the other side behind it and being a big bro, I did spend a lot of time checking back whilst recording to make sure Rebecca and the others were enjoying themselves and feeling alright.

Crown The Empire - Initiation

I'm glad this came straight on after the first 2 tracks to kick off the show. This one is one of my major favorites and I knew all the words too. Setlist is here.
I actually felt a little anxious as I have admitted at past concerts on not knowing all the words or failing to recognise tracks being played and how I worry that doesn't make me a true "qualified" fan. I had been listening to 3/4 of the second album for months and completely forgot about the first album (which had even been re-released as a "reissue" which included their first EP tracks. I spent all of this week and the previous week listening to the first reissue album whilst driving to and back from work and whenever I had the spare time. But due to the short concert, it was all not worth it (I can't really say that since it satisfied me a little but the concert wasn't exactly as long as all my past ones).

Crown The Empire - Voices

Crown The Empire - Johnny's Revenge

I actually missed my chance at recording the previous track "Johnny Ringo" which is the first part in a threeway story (similar to the track layout in Green Day - Jesus Of Suburbia in a way though not as long and the "Johnny Ringo" and "Johnny's Revenge" are on the first album and "Johnny's Rebellion" is on the second. They sliced up all three songs to make it into a 5/ 6 minute combo song and the fact it was altered made it hard a couple time that night to tell what song was being played right then.

Crown The Empire - Johnny's Rebellion

Crown The Empire - Machines

After the triple compilation song, on came the first song that I discovered the band by. This was my song. The song that made me say that day during my lunch break at work back in November whilst I was watching Hands Like Houses - Lion Skin and Issues - Mad At Myself (which now has a music video), this song "hook line and sinkered me".

The Wall Of Death

The show was full of many moments of the crowd expanding like an explosion and then getting ready for the scream drop to rush back in like an implosion.
There was even a "wall of death" during one of the videos I recorded (you know that scene in war films where you see both sides getting ready for the first clash, well that was this!)
As I was watching the show, I couldn't help but ponder over this little nudge in my head as to if I should "partake" in the shenanigans which I could have come back out in pain or worse. But due to the crowd's intimidating actions and the brutal players going around tonight wanting to hurt others maybe for personal gains or just to start a riot, it made me start a war of my own in my head and ask myself "am I a wuss or a brave fool for not joining in since everyone else is?!" But after analysing through the show and chatting with Katie and Sean later at the end of the gig, they even reassured me that it was much more intense than other mosh-pits they've either been in or witnessed (though that didn't stop them from partaking a little tonight ha ha). I was beginning to doubt myself to be a true fan because I was too chicken to join in and be impulsive (even use the camera to record me doing it) but I didn't wanna hurt myself since I had work tomorrow afternoon and I didn't wanna damage myself or the phone and go home f**ked off... Why not look for yourself in the videos and ask yourself the same question "would you go in there?"

Crown The Empire - Bloodline

Crown The Empire - Millennia

It was shocking and disappointing to see that the band was now playing their 14th and last song for the night and all within an hour's play though thanks to the 3 supporting acts that deep down I felt were unnecessary (I'm not dissing them or anything, it's just I had no clue on any of their work and my main attraction was cut short thanks to the generous performances that delayed my excitement, it even made me worry if we all had to head home by 11 before the band even finished playing like when I saw Rihanna). It took me a small while to realise "Millennia" was being played because due to the change in tone, crowd vocals and instrumental flow (as we all see in live performances) it messes up my clockwork/ cog and gear-like brain to realise suddenly plus this band was deffinitely different live compared to the almost identical vocal and instrumental performances that I saw in Owl City and Ellie Goulding, even Linkin Park and the other bands at Download Festival 2014, but not every live performance can live up to your expectations because people need to get the crowd hyped, go off topic and even delay the songs but at least it's all rehearsed rather than cutting the flow drastically unless it's an emergency or something, I dunno it's just the way my mind works on flow and routines and how having high hopes can sometimes affect my feelings but at least that night I managed to keep my cool and keep smiling whilst telling myself "at least your here and actually went out and did it, no matter the circumstances and atmosphere that followed!" Plus the bass level made my feet think the earth was shaking which was a cool/ thrilling feeling during the night!

Crown The Empire - Makeshift Chemisty (Encore)

The crowd and I weren't satisfied and all shouted "We Want More!" and like most concerts I've seen on YouTube or actually been to, the band/ singer actually gives in as it's all "part of the plan" and always come on for an Encore. They played my second/ third favourite song from the first album and I always enjoyed singing along to the chorus whislt driving in the car. Good choice in Encore song and it was a good way to end the show despite it's short performing time.

I was a little gutted that this little number wasn't included in the setlist since this was my second song I listened to that day when I discovered Crown The Empire after watching the music video for Machines.

Left to right: Me, Rebecca, Katie, Sean and Dean

So as we all made our way back to London Victoria at 11.00 after Sean and I grabbed our jackets and bag from the coatroom, it suddenly hit me like being jabbed by a needle that after we had gotten on the Northern Line going Southbound that we were on the wrong tube train... S**t! We were going the long way around back to Victoria instead of the way we came, it was thanks to seeing the station "Angel" that I realised something is wrong here! So Sean, Katie and Rebecca managed to calm me down after the shock hit me and aggrivated the tense moment I was feeling thanks to the pressure of coming home from London and we managed to swap over at "Bank" and take the Central Line going Eastbound to "Oxford Circus" and swap over one last time to go Southbound on the Victoria Line and arrive back at "Victoria". We got there for 11.53 and I was bummed out to think we had missed our one shot home but Sean and Katie were right when they said "their will be more trains mate, to take us home!" So we caught the 12.05 and got back to Three Bridges for 1.00 and I drove everyone home whilst Sean walked back to Crawley thanks to my car being a bl***y 4 seater, but I gave everyone their tickets as a souvenir and got hugs from everyone for selecting them to join me on this raving night. It's lucky I was able to re-plan during a crucial moment and didn't really snap as badly as some people may assume or imagine, I sometimes surprise myself too.
Oh and in the underground as we made our way home train swapping, there was a guy with a huge Didgeridoo... Gosh how I wish I could try playing one, one day for laughs (though I won't be going to Australia to do it... I hate the thought of encountering the deadly spiders, eugh xP).

But hey, things don't always outdo the previous events but if you sleep on it and still see the small pieces of excitement then it was sorta worth it in the end instead of missing out on something and regretting it forever, right? The goodside is that now, I guess us lot are now part of The Runaways?!

So what's next?! I still wanna see them again live someday (possibly Download this year) but I'd also wanna see Hands Like Houses (Australian Rock) and Issues (Metalcore). BTW I do like how a lot of bands including Issues and Hands Like Houses actually do videos for their songs and put up the lyrics in such creative and cool layouts like in "Antarctica" and "Mad At Myself", even CTE have done it like in "Initiation!"

  

Hands Like Houses were the first band from Rise Records that I was shown by Lewis and Rebecca right after Download and the song Lion Skin caught my attention right after the first listen. I don't know much about them other than their 2 albums which are not really screamo stuff but more heavy rock music with passionate vocals and have acquired another fan who is hoping to see them live someday.

  

Issues were the heaviest stuff I had heard around August thanks to Lewis again, I think it's the obvious opposite in the band's style (it even sounds a bit like R&B or Nu Metal) that makes it so outstanding like CTE how one guys screams and the other sings either both angry or one is hurt/ sad and the other is angry and vengeful, if that makes any sense. They have 2 EPs and a self-title album so far and are dynamite!

The band's singers are Tyler Carter and Michale Bohn who were originally in the band Woe, Is Me and their stuff is where Tyler sings (clean vocalist) and Michael screams(unclean vocalist) (bit like Andrew "Andy Leo" Velasquez singing/ screaming a little and David Escamilla in CTE). I do wonder if I saw either one of these two bands live, would it be as eventful and heavy as to when I saw CTE or would it be more easy going (not as calm and peaceful as when I saw Owl City live with Lewis) though I do wish to see him again and this time record on a better camera just to fill in that crater in my mind that must be filled up to end the annoying and irritating pain I felt when I played back my work... ugh.

Aside from those, and seeing as it's super late right now as I FINALLY finish this long post, I'm heading to London all weekend, Saturday for London Anime & Gaming Con with a friend Beki to meet new people and hot cosplayers and even take a look at the Gaming area which has a talk on "How To Become A Game Designer" I hope it's worth it. Plus I'm hoping this atmosphere at The London Metropolitan University will be much less stresfful, claustrophobic and overwhelming compared to MCM Comic-Con, I'll just wait and see.

Oh and on Sunday, I have a date! Well I don't know if it's classed as a "date" or not, but this really pretty girl that I've been chatting to, well we are meeting up for a fun day in London and it'll also be the first day we meet each other too. How exciting my weekend looks. I hope your weekend will be awesome too!