Moaning Monday, really?

Someone told me this morning that Monday is the most depressing day of the week. And this has been researched by ‘scientists’ so you know it’s true. Furthermore, the mornings of said day are particularly negative.

Really?

I took this knowledge to HMV in St Albans where i picked up the new(ish) Noah and the Whale album. Now then, you know when you’re walking down the street and some Dick with a capital D drives past you blasting music and pisses you off? I was doing that this morning! But i like to think that i was making people happier with the music that was being played, thus turing their monday frown upside down.

I took this somewhat peculiar outlook (for me at least) to my old street and my skateboard. Considering the fact that i thought it was a good idea to wear a Camp Lindenmere Staff shirt in public should prove to you just how happy i was. (It really was hell guys.) I even took a tumble in front of a car and laughed about it.

I leave you with yet another shout out to Daniel Chow for being a legend. Along with Zuby Okoye who told me my blog had become his new homepage, making my day. So if any of you are stupid enough to keep following this, let me know! As far as i’m aware there are only 4 people who read this, and even that’s a push.

Now go and listen to this song (which is dedicated to big Zuby), get happy and make someones day a little better.

Rain, long johns, Justin Vernon.

NEXT TIME IT RAINS GO AND RUN TO THE NEW BON IVER ALBUM YOU WILL NOT BE LET DOWN.

In all seriousness, whenever i see someone running in the rain i always wonder what the hell they are thinking. But today, it started raining mid-run, there was no escape….
That said, it’s such a great feeling!
So go do it!
In other news…….siren blood curse is craycrazy! Go to my youtube channel if you like watching unfunny people play bad video games. Daniel Chow will back me up when i say it’s quite a treat to hear my friend scream in fear at this ‘scary’ game.
Just a short post this so it warrants me using the following as my farewell:

toodle pip!

9 days

I’m home!
I don’t know why you care, but hey, i just wanted an excuse to write an entry from my laptop for the first time since that first entry about Dallas 3 months ago.
I’ve only got one thing to say really, because i now have 9 days before i fly back to New York, it means i have 9 days to turn back into a complete video game/music nerd. The new Bon iver and Chilli pepper albums need reviewing and i have a backlog of about 5 games to play. Let alone the amount of commentaries that are going to happen with Mr Chow and…..shan.
I know a few of you followed this blog to keep up to date with my travels, so i just thought i’d warn you of what you should expect now.

A slightly less cool Seth Cohen.

🙂

Generic moan about leaving. 3.0

Well that’s it.
I’m on the plane returning to the best country in the world….
Megalolz, I mean England. Are you getting the sarcasm?!
It was 12 weeks ago that I was writing my blog about Death Cabs new album from 37,000 feet. Now I write about how upsetting it is to have to return home after such a fun summer. More so, it’s the fact that this is the end of my gap year, and I’ll only say this once.
If you can, take a year off, a year out, a year where you go off and do whatever you want! It was the best thing I have ever done. You can bet I’ll be doing this all over again after university. Going back to brazil. Getting a job as a barman again. It’s funny how you can never appreciate what you have until it’s gone.
So what has happened over the last 12 weeks?
We lost Amy Winehouse and Ryan Dunn. Dallas somehow won the NBA finals by beating the Manchester City of basketball- Miami. Bon Iver finally bought out a new album that was worth waiting for. The avett brothers returned to England to show Mumford how it’s done. Manchester United swiftly kicked Arsenals record book in the groin as they demolished them 8-2 (can you tell I’m a Manc?) The east coast of America was threatened by an evil old lady by the name of Irene. London was lit ablaze by young hoodlums.
At least- that’s all the news that managed to penetrate the bubble that surrounded Camp Lindenmere. It was scary how much it was like High School, just it’s own world that you could not escape. This of course made much more exciting and interesting, like a great episode of the OC, but equally as depressing considering there was no way out. I think I know how Truman felt.
It’s hard to write a blog and not make it all about yourself. Yet, if you are reading this, I guess it means you care about me a little, right? So…….
I’m very excited to see all of my friends that I’ve missed over the last 12 weeks.
I’m slightly more excited to process my 17 camera films, there are about 800 pictures I’m going to get to look at for the first time and decorate my room with.
I’m excited to drive our families new ford ECOnetic fiesta. 70 miles to the gallon!? Really Dad!? Love it!
I’m very excited to get my YouTube channel back up and running. You all know how nerdy I am when it comes to video games, and you can be assured that being away from my playstation for so long has merely heightened my love for gaming. #Manz.
A particular shout out is going to have to go to Daniel Chow, my biggest fan. The guy that keeps me thinking maybe one day I’ll get a reply from Chris Smoove, meet Hutch, or even get a ticket to e3.
Over the next few weeks?
-siren blood curse
-hdpvr
-park football
-driving
-Blops
-old Trafford
-pictures
-St Albans
-Kieron and Steph
-mini ramp skating
-vinyl player
-pancakes
-movies at 2am
-coming back to New York with my dad.

That’s about it for now.
If you’ve got this far through the blog, then it probably means you are one of the people I’ll be seeing over the next two weeks. So give me a text and let’s get some coffee 🙂

I’m home.

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Location:Atlantic Ocean. 37,000 feet.

New York Adventures

Each time I travel away from home, I love to think about what will have happened in my life the next time I return.
The last time I went to New York was about a year ago. Just before I started work properly, before I took my exams again, before skiing, before Brazil, before my capture card 😉 and before camp america. I just love going back to the same spots and thinking about what has happened since I last stood there.
This whole cycle of nonsense was spinning in my head last night when I was atop the Rockefella in New York, looking out on Manhattan at nighttime. It was pretty great getting to see New York all lit up.
Anyway, the purpose of this post was to inform those of you that care about me enough to keep checking my blog (thank you).

I met up with Zuby and we didn’t have much time to do anything other than head straight out for dinner in chinatown. We managed to get a waiter that was unable to comprehend out native tongue- “English”. It was all quite amusing as the two of us caught up with all the camp stories we could remember over noodles and a plate of duck.
The next morning we had our first lie in for 3 months and awoke to find the Manchester United game on the tv at 11.pm. Getting to see Rooney score and United win from my bed was just lovely. After we moseyed down to a diner, again run by Chinese people (I bet you’re loving this Dad). Of course I ordered pancakes. It decided to rain all day but we didn’t let that spoil our high spirits as we continued to walk along 5th avenue with our $5 umbrellas. I actually got mine for $4. Haggling is in my blood.
Now we all know how exhausting shopping can be, so we headed back to Soho in an attempt to find Lombardi’s pizza restaurant, the first pizza restaurant in the whole of America. 1905 it opened and it still uses the same coal ovens to cook the pizza. Needless to say, the food was scrumptious.
On our final morning, we returned to the same diner. This time, I got involved with some chocolate chip pancakes. We then walked down to Brooklyn Bridge just so I could get my token picture of the Brooklyn Banks, one of the most famous skateparks in the world.
A quick walk west and we found ourselves in J and R record store where I found a Death Cab EP I didn’t know existed and a Live Avett brothers album. A few vinyls later and we were walking up broadway, stopping in American Apparel, Levis and Uniqlo. This magnificent day was all topped of by a trip to the top of the Rock where we got to see New York at night, in all it’s glory.
For dinner, we returned to where it all began. The Chinese. A night spent reminiscing about 6th form days was the perfect end to a great trip. 2 hours of sleep later and Zuby was up at 4am ready to head to Newark. 4 hours later and I was on the metro at 7am (are you proud I didn’t take a taxi Dad?!)
Now I’m almost in New Hampshire and my travels couldn’t be going better.
If you want to see the pictures, they are all in my Facebook album ‘camp lindenmere’ at the end.
I miss all you guys and hope the rioting has died down.
Penn. Out.

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Location:Bus to Concord from Boston.

Be Happy.

Today, I had a very memorable dinner.
Today I met back up with an old friend for the first time in a few months.
Today I got to 10 on the happy scale.

After a forgettable morning, I went out to Chinatown and was treated to a wonderful beef noodle dish from Robert Wu.
Not only that, but I was reminded how everyone should just do what they want.
I’m desperately trying not to sound like a douche, but hey, masses! Don’t care what people think of you! If you want to go and pick up a pint of milk in your slippers, go and do it! You’re sure to make people laugh. As long as it’s not illegal and you don’t seem like a dick, do whatever the hell you want, when you want.
Secondly, and more importantly, things are only ever as bad as you want them to be. Focus on the positives! If you think that something is going to be crap, then it will be.
I hope this has been helpful and not made you hate me more.
Wait, no.
I do what I want!
I wanted to write this annoyingly feminine blog post! 🙂

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Location:Sohotel. New York City.

Washington adventures.

Well, the first part of my travels is over! I’m on my way back from DC. It was an awesome few days. I managed to get a free hotel for two nights and stay with some American friends for two nights, the 3 people I volunteered with in Brazil! Needless to say it was incredible that I got to see them again and hang out with them for a few days.
I obviously walked around the monuments, hit a few museums, including the national geographic of course and went on plenty of walks across the river and through Georgetown.
Lots of fresh fruit and yoghurt was consumed most mornings, followed by Mexican food and Philly cheese steaks.
I also managed to find Bon iver’s new cd and just finished listening to it all the way through in the car.
There was also an American apparel…
Finally, I got on board one of the tour buses. Don’t get me wrong, I hate being a tourist, but it was pretty fun.
This was all capped by a night run through the area where my americanbrazilian friends live. Just lovely.
Its been a pretty perfect start to my travelling. Now I’m heading back up to my friend from camps house where I’ll spend the night and pack a bag ready to head into New York tomorrow. (yes, this is the friend that has Mario Kart…)
Tomorrow I’m getting reunited with my best friend for the first time in 3 months.
Watch out Zuby, I’m coming!
Hope all of you guys are keeping safe with the riots!

My Brazilian friends! 🙂

Mexican.

Heritage.

Georgetown boardwalk- I ended up getting interviewed by a german tv channel about Jurgen Klinsmen coming to the states, no joke.

Lincoln.

Obama.

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Location:Interstate 95 South.

The end’s not near, it’s hear.

Well, that’s it! Im on the bus on the way back from west orange after dropping off loads of kids. When I get back to camp in an hour, there won’t be any kids there and the summer will be over.

Not really, because I have 3 weeks of travelling the eastcoast to enjoy!
It still hasn’t kicked in, but I’m sure I’ll miss it. I mean, it’s always easier to focus on the negative things rather than the positive.

Tomorrow morning I’m driving down to Washington DC to start what will be a wonderful few weeks. I’ve gone through 11 camera films now as well, there are going to be far too many pictures for me to show you guys when I get home.
On the 30th august.

Juan left today to go back to Spain, I cried a little. He is just a Spanish beauty.

I look forward to seeing you and hoped you enjoyed my rambles over the last 9 weeks.

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Location:Interstate 80.

Pictures from the penultimate day off

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My penultimate day off.

Every time I my day off comes and goes, I always end up feeling the same way- Thinking that I just had the best day of my life, yet also the worst evening because I have to head back to camp.
6 days of camp make you appreciate a day off more than anything in the world. That said, your day off makes you hate camp anymore because you realise what you’re missing and what you could be doing with your time.
I have one more day off and 17 more days of camp. It is flying by, yet that doesn’t mean I don’t want it to! Roll on my 3 week travels after this mess finishes.

Last night and today I was lucky enough to stay at a friends house, a friend who lives in the countryside, owns horses and quad bikes and who still has a Nintendo 64 set up.
The first hilarious part of the journey was fitting 7 people in a two door car.
Yes, we did it. And I write this now from during the car ride home. Calling it Human Tetris: Car Version would be misguiding. As we don’t even remotely fit in the car. Right now I have two feet between my legs and two legs across my lap. Cosy? Hah! Not even a little.
We arrived at our good friend Elizabeths house and spent most of the night playing Mario Kart.
In the morning I had some farm fresh eggs on toast before more N64 and a ride around the farm on the quads.
I managed to speak to my sister on the phone and wish her a happy birthday along with speaking to my best friend who is currently in Iowa teaching basketball at another camp. The thought of meeting up with him in New York after camp finishes is one of the few things keeping me going.

During the day I was unlucky enough to see the awful Harry Potter series come to an end, before i was lucky enough to go shopping and eat yet another Philly Cheesesteak at Red Robin. The only thing left is for you to see some pictures, because frankly, it’s too hot and uncomfortable in this car for me to keep typing. I love all of you and miss you all a fair bit. Only two weeks left!

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