2 years
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I just noticed that I have been blogging for 2 years. I don’t know that there’s necessarily 2 years worth of stuff here as I’ve had a number of hiatus’ but I’m still pretty happy with the outcome. It doesn’t seem like 2 years ago that it started though – the last couple of years have really shot by. Anyway, yay me.
Back in the gym
Back to the gym this morning. My family as always, very supportive – they roused out of bed at 0600 to take me to the gym for my first session 
I got a new trainer today, a young woman named Steph, who is horirbly fit and skinny but very nice – and more importanly she knew what she was doing. We went through a number of exercises and I pushed hard to manage them. In the scheme of things it waqs a pretty light session for a normal person but for me it was pretty solid. I feel a great deal more confident now that I have a PT who is a bit more on the ball and she’s very encouraging. I have to fill out some information on what I’m eating during the week, which will likely be embarassing but it’s all important.
So I’m happy – I almost thought I’d have to go home and sleep because I was so screwed afterward, but by the time I’d sat for a bit then had a shower and gotten dressed, I feel pretty good. I’m outside at the cafe next door now, in the mild autumn air and feeling pretty good. All I have to do now is work out how to get to work from here…
Weddingness
Over Easter, a close friend of mine very rudely hijacked my easter break at Dunkeld to stage his wedding. As I was the best man, I of course had to act graciously and not whinge about the fact that he was chewing into my chill time… but enough about me 
The wedding was lovely. A very simple affair – the groom and I were suited up, and everyone went down to a nice spot by the river at Dunkeld. We had good views of all three mountains from there, and many many photos were taken. After a while the Bride wandered down wearing a lovely cream, medieval style dress, and barefoot. There were two bridesmaids, the bride’s sisters, and they also looked lovely in a deep emerald green medieval style. The service was simple and nice, and the couple wrote their own straightforward and heartfelt vows. It all got very teary, and it was lovely to see the expressions on Michael’s Dad and Sian’s Mum as they were both proud and teary.
There were some nice readings during the ceremony, one of which I got to read – which suitably enough was Plato. When all was said and done there was much clapping etc, and while the registry was being signed, a friend or relative of Sian’s burst into song and did quite a nice job
We moved back up to the common room verandah where tables and native flowers had been laid out, and there were some catered nibbles. The usual speeches went on, and in the bouquet toss the celebrant actually caught it My speech was easy – one of the few times I haven’t actually needed to write one, as it’s pretty easy to talk about my relationship with Big Michael.
All in all it was a nice day, and came off very well – the weather was great for it and everyone was very happy. Much drinking and feasting was had by all – I also finally got to meet Darren, who was quite a lovely guy.
Congratulations to Big Michael and Sian, and may you both be eternally happy.
Addendum: R just reminded me of something the muppet did. When he was with mum shopping for smart clothes for the wedding, he was asked if he’d prefer a casual shirt he could wear loose or a shirt and tie – he chose the formal shit and tie because in his words “I want to be a proper gentleman”. I love my little guy.
A Wedding with shrubbery
Just in case there are such things as readers – yes I will blog the wedding. No, I won’t be doing it right this second. Please remain calm.
New Masons
There’s a new guard coming into Freemasonry at the moment, and while it’s only a trickle compared to the legions of the past, it is indicative of how many young people are looking for something more – something bigger than they are, and something that provides them values and ethics without cramming dogma down their throats. Hopefully I can do my part to bring freemasonry into the 21st century – make use of technology and media to give the brotherhood the visibility and public recognition that it has been lacking in the last century. The core of the craft is timeless, and I don’t believe it needs to be “modernized” to appeal to a younger or broader crowd at all – but that doesn’t mean that Freemasonry doesn’t need to re-examine it’s methods and public image in light of the new millennium. I think in small ways various individuals or lodges are making some changes, but the move forward into technology (for example) is being confused with the old fears of revisionists, and I believe this confusion is holding us back. Freemasonry is a wonderful institution and has a tremendous amount more to offer the current generations than most people realize – even current Masons in some cases.
That said, I will be “raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason” at the same lodge meeting when I will be celebrating my first masonic birthday, so I’m going to have a fun night Third monday in may I am raised to the third – and looking forward to it very much!
Work Work Work
I’ve been working more than usual lately. I have a number of Lyricist client sites on the go, one volunteer job and a couple of investment jobs as well, so I’m spending rather a lot of time after work or on the weekends etc bashing away at these. I’m tantalizingly close to having at least one of them finished, and as they’re all built from the same codebase it means I’m getting close to having these things all done. This is good from a relaxation point of view but also because it means a couple of business opportunities will finally be “in the wild” for me so we can see whether they take off and how well they do. I’m trying to get then all done asap so I can do a little less work after hours and spend more time with R and B. Also, I have a couple of things I’d like to pursue in Masonry – my own researches, as well as some technological concepts I want to try to advance within the lodge system. I think I’ve found a good way to put time and effort into masonry apart from the personal research, and I see no reason why we can’t boost our numbers significantly on the back of the current cultural and social environment.
Unique
I wore a pair of socks yesterday that were exactly the same as each other – as if they’d even come from the same packet. If you need to know why that is special, don’t ask.