The New Year Is Coming!!

Right, out with 2006.. in with 2007 and as of 1st January here are my resolutions.

1. No booze for the entire month of January.

2. Increased gym and training (at LEAST 4 times a week at the gym)

3. Improved Diet. (more fruit, veg, less junk)

4. Reduced Carbonated drinks.

5. Reduced spending.

And over the days and weeks in January I'll be keeping this blog up to date on my progress.. will I fall off the wagon??

Stay Tuned!

On Your Knees Hitchcock!

Yes. A hot tub.

Sheffield v Belfast

In a.. errr... packed out arena

The Friendly Local Fans

Hitchy gets to know Vicky.

Vic loves the cock

And nandos too

View from my window

Staying in my mates flat, here is the view i have of Canary Wharf, The Dome and the river.

Why are there so many people on the northern line at 11pm on a friday?

It hasn't fallen down after all.

Beer!

The first pint of the christmas break!

Manchester Picadilly Train Station.

It is here where my weekend starts. I've just had a kfc and am waiting on my train to London.

The joys of a busy day at work.

And the irony of that statement. This is my desk as it currently looks.

Vipers win.

A great goal by longstaff and an empty netter again from lobby allows the home team to who 3-1

It's a dull game.

I hope that goal livens things up.

Vipers score

And a teddy chuck ensues. Quality idea.

Shhh.

The quietest arena in uk hockey. And the fact they are a goal down makes it worse.

No score in the morgue

T'was Christmas Eve Babe...

Our Table
Originally uploaded by PatrickSmyth.

Well, having finally shaken off the post party blues... time to reflect on a successful party, Yesterday I had two christmas dinners in one day with a departmental Christmas Lunch being followed by a classy "Graduate Christmas Do" in the Ennerdale Hotel near Cleator here in Cumbira.

What started off as a classy do, myself in dinner jacket and bow tie, the scottish lads in kilts, and Vic lookin stunning in a red dress, it slowly decended in to drinking, talking crap, dancing, and ended at the venue with myself and Chris having a game of chess on the big outdoor chess set (ended in stalemate).

We stole a taxi someone else had ordered and headed into Whitehaven where the dancing contined at "Gallaghers Nightclub" before myself and Vic took leave of that place to get pizza and head home..

Needless to say... everyone was full!

Classic!

It's cigar time

As the evening went on Sam, Paul, Rich and Mark retired to the bar to enjoy a few cigars.

Angus

Party is going well, and as I enjoy the whiskey's, Angus knocks back the vodkas!

Vic enjoys christmas dinner.

Here's a picture of Vicky, my girlfriend, chilling out at the party.

It's Christmas Time

Tonight is our Graduate Christmas Dinner, here is a picture of Rich, Rachel, Paul and Ross in the hallway enjoying a few drinks. I'm currently at the Party, but will fire off a few photo's as the evening goes on.

Aeroball

Myself and the lads playing the craze sweeping the nation. In Whitehaven Sports Centre.

It's very tiring for being a hybrid of basketball and trampoleining, I guess that could have had something to do with the stuff environment also though. I'm looking forward to doing it again however. It was alot of fun.

The Mexican gets the beers in!

The Mexican gets the beers in!
Originally uploaded by PatrickSmyth.

Last weekend I travelled home, it was a long weekend (I had taken the Thursday and Friday off work to travel home to Belfast) that was extended as bad weather caused boats back to be cancelled. Bonus!

Thursday and Saturday were "hockey days". On Thursday the Belfast Giants beat the Manchester Phoenix in a poor game, however in Saturday we beat the Sheffield Steelers in a fantastic end to end hard hitting match.

However it was the day that makes the evening, we all headed out for drinks around Belfast, beginning in the Botanic Inn and making our way slowly down to the Odyssey Arena for the game.

This picture I think sums up the day. Jacko aka "Gary" popped into Elliots Costume Shop in order to pick up a Mexican outfit... no reason.. he just wanted to look Mexican,

Ole!

Hello

I've decided to start a blog in which I'll post photos and musings on my life in the North of England having now lived here 2 years since moving from Belfast, Northern Ireland.