The Music of your Life

Schmickles Everyone!

Well, in a better mood today after last nights depressiveness! I've arranged to go out with my sister on Sunday for a Chinese buffet, as well visit mum and dad, and we're going for a curry on Monday evening! Yum!

Well, I decided to wash my bedclothes, as they were getting to the skanky stage, so they're currently drying in the dryer. Went to McDonald's for a naughty dinner, as I'd not had anything to eat, and I dropped my last cheese triange under the fridge, where it is now out of reach...

After McD, I walked to Santo Amaro beach (which is across the road form McD) and then I walked along the coast for about 2km to Caravelos and sat on the beach, sunning myself, relaxing and watching all the cute surfers in the sea! Ahhh, bliss!

Praia de Caravelos

So yeah, I sat there relaxing for a while, then it went cold, so I walked past the NATO facility and came home. A good day. I really don't know why I stress! I'm so silly!!

Anyway, I'm off! This time tomorrow I'll be airborne, speeding towards Manchester!

Ben xxx

Grim

Was looking through my last post, and I realise that I shouldn't have really slagged off Pedro or Natalie. They are both really nice, and me and Pedro spend some of the evening leafing through Attitude and bitching/swooning over the men in the mag, and me and Natalie spoke for a while about stuff before I went to my room. Pedro also showed me a bloke on a website that's sort of "pinged" him as being cute, and the bloke's cute(ish) too. I said he's probably an axe-murdering psycopath or something.

I'm sick of not having a good time (probably as much as you lot are sick of reading about it, but hey, it's my blog!) not going out and meeting loads of people. I think I'm a friendly guy, but I have no self-confidence whatsoever, not even when speaking English. I always think someone is going to just go "HAH!" in my face if I start to talk to them. Plus, I'm not the most exciting person in the world, so I'd have little to talk about. Ohhhh it's a pickle of a conundrum...

I just wish I could just "make" friends with people. Everyone else who is on their placement abroad seems to be able to do it, but not me, noooo, I can't do that. I seem to make friends in environments such as work, or living with people, as I'm doing now. Thing is, if people here aren't going out and and doing things much, it'll be a bit of a bummer. It's a pain really, as as from Friday, I'll be in the UK for the wedding, then Mark's back here with me, then I'm back over in UK at Easter, and then I'm back in Portugal for the last week in April. All this means that I'll be unable to forge any friendships with anyone or anything like that.

I find it hard to make friends, and being in a foreign land doesn't help. I really don't know how to go about doing it, and I usually make friends with people who talk to tme first, like Carmen did. I just don't have the confidence to talk to people, no matter how nice they seem. I always feel inferior and, basically, stupid. I don't know where to go to meet people, what to do, or anything like that. I'm so grim! God, I'm so sorry everyone, but I have to say it here, it's a good outlet, and blogspot doesn't chatback and try and make me feel better about myself.

Eventhough I want to go back home for some reasons, some other reasons mean that I don't want to come back home. Sometimes, I feel like such a failure with it all. I mean, everyone else makes mates easily, have a laugh, do things, go out places, etc. and I just don't! Grrrr. It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions tonight folks.

I definately think that it hasn't helped that Rui and Pedro were ill for two weeks, so I've not got to know them as well as I would have liked, but I think that they will be happy to come out with me, but like Rui said, he doesn't go out much, as he saves his money so he can go out big style, and Pedro is tee-total, which could be a bad combination with my drunkeness (if we ever get that far) :-/

Well, I've felt sorry enough for myself for long enough now, so I best be off really. Bet I can't sleep tonight. FOR GOD'S SAKE! This is well stressing me out and upsetting me now....

Ben

Total Bitterness, Driving on the Right and Excitement

Hey Blanchettes!

Well, been to the cinema today and yesterday. Yesterday, I went with Natalie to see that Portuguese film, which was beautifully shot, but I didn't understand most of what was said, which was a bit naff, but there we are, what can you do? Then me and Mike went to see The Pink Panther movie, which was also good and funny, but randomly didn't have an actual panther in it, just a pink diamond called the pink panther. Ah, t'was all in good fun!

Me and Mike took a car for a test drive. Toyota are doing an expo in the plaza at uni, so we took it for a spin, literally, round the block. It was ok, and it killed 15 mins. I was a bit weird driving on the right, and kept using my left hand to find the non-existent gear stick to my left. Ah well! lol

Now for the bitterness part. I'm starting to get really, really anoyed by people speaking English to me. We were talking to a girl called Ana-Filipa who is in our classes. She has excellent English, but with an American accent, with all the American inflections and random words. HOWEVER, as nice as it was to talk to someone, I said that we were having problems as no-one speaks Portuguese with us, and she said "it's because we have no English people here, so we want to practice on you", which I pointed out (in an un-arsey way!) that we are here to speak Portuguese.

She said that they only get chance to speak it in lessons, which is understandable why they want to practice, but we only speak Portuguese in lessons too, and NEWSFLASH, there's hardly any Portuguese in Manchester to practice on. In fact, from 2001's census, I believe there's 30, in the whole of Greater Manchester.

It was nice talking to her, but I did get riled when she said that. I felt like saying, "look, love, if you want to speak English with English people, you need to do an Erasmus placement in the UK, because if I wanted to speak Englis all the time, there'd be no point in uprooting my entire life to sit here and be the "entertainment" for 6 months; I'd rather sit at home and do everything normally!"

It's not just her, it's everyone. Pedro only speaks to me in English, Natalie speak in English half the time, and if you mis-hear something that a shop employee says, they imediately start sprouting English. Like the other day, I asked someone in a butty shop was a filling was, and she said Frango, but it sounded like fennu, so I asked her to reapeat it (the shop was noisy) so she shouted "CHICKEN" at the top of her voice, as if I was thick. Err, no love, I do understand that Frango = Chicken, you just need to talk properly, rather than speaking like the elephant man on acid.

GOD IT'S PISSING ME OFF SO MUCH!!!! And I can feel myself loosing my rag with someone soon...

This is the problem with being English. After studying a language, I have identified 5 certain things:

1. Many people speak a bastardised version of English, which resembles little the English we speak in the UK.
2. When you speak to people in any foreign language, and you give the slightest hint of doubt, they automatically think you're having some sort of breakdown and speak English to you.
3. People think you're a tourist.
4. "There's no point in studying a language as everyone speaks English anyway", which I vowed was never true. Not everyone does nspeak English, but there's a shit-load of people that do. So why bother?
5. Even if you do speak English to people, they can't fooking understand your accent!

I think this is endemic of English people though. English people don't want to learn languages because the average Joe on the street doesn't have to! Anyone in England could come here, not speaking a word of Portuguese for 6 months and still live quite easily and comfortably. Even those of us that do put hard grind, lots of money, and lots of effort into studying a language don't ever get the chance to use it properly, as some foreigners think either "they can't cope: speak English" or "ohhh good! Someone to practice my English on!". Well I've had enough, and it's time to get tough on those people that think I'm a thickie!

There, rant over! Excitement @ coming home at weekend! Weekend JOY! *glee*

Ben xxx

Boyfriends, Friends, and Parma Violets

Hello everyone,

Hope it's all well are your end! Well, today went well! After my success at Economic Translation this morning, a girl from my TTCE class called Ana came and sat and talked to me and Mike for a little bit before class, and I sat and chatted to her for the duration of the class. I was nice to talk to someone, and it made me feel happy!

I got home at 8, as expected, and had a lovely cheddar cheese omelette! I found out that Continente Hypermarket near uni sells cheddar cheese, so I thought I'd treat myself! I think Natalie is worried about me, as she said to me "you can't spend another day in this house!" so we're going to the cinema at 2 pm tomorrow. I'm getting my hair cut in the morning, and I'm going to enquire at the gym to see how much it is and if I can do a pay-as-you-go or if I have to pay per month. Hope it's not much, it'd be nice to go there in my spare time and become a BEEF-CAKE! (yeah in my dreams - BLANCHE!)

Nice and hot today, and if it continues, I'm going to go sunbathing again! Tanned glee!

Further to Jonathan's e-mail, I spoke to Shaz on MSN messenger, and happened to check my e-mail and there was an e-mail from Shaz too! So that made me all warm and fuzzy inside (not to mention it made me chuckle!) I got one from Geordie Jo today too, and I'm really looking forward to seeing her over Easter. In fact I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends at some point in April! More than once if I have my way!

Parma Violets for Shaz & co.!

I'm planning to go out a fair few times over Easter, so if you can afford it, let's sort something out?! E-mail me! You know it! lol

Spoke to Mark for an hour, which was nice, and I'm looking forward to seeing him when I go back! He's so sweet! I'm looking forward to Momma and Poppa Doyle, as well as my little sis! I honestly can't wait for Friday. As the song says #I just can wait, for the weekend to begin!#

Ben xxxx

"Iiiiiiiiiiin ONE!"

I missed this morning's first lecture, which I was slightly pissed off at. I was in bed, at 9:15 and I thought, "I'll get up at half past" and next time I woke up, it was 10:20, too late for my 11 o'clock lesson, so I set off for the second lesson.

I had to write my translation on the whiteboard again, as no-one else had done the translation, but it wasn't too bad and the teacher said that it was a good translation and she was impressed! Gold Star for me! lol My handwriting is atrocious though, and the Portuguese aren't used to English letter formations (they write some letters slightly differently) so they sometimes moan throughout, but I just ignore it.

So anyway, just dossing here now. Waiting for my TTCE class later on, so I'm going for some dinner in a bit. I'm looking forward to going home and having a sleep and listen to some music, but I won't be home until 8pm. Bugger!

Ben xxx

Love is the Music!

I LOVE HED KANDI 50!!!!

My GOD! I've not listened to this CD for ages!!! Since Castellón! It's soooooo fantastic! Hed Kandi 50 if anyone's wondering! Currently listening to Love is the Music by FR & Jenny B, and it's mint! Putting me in such a good mood!

I've been quite productive today! I have transferred over all of my MP3 DVDs over to my new 160GB hard drive so I have most of my music collection at my fingertips! I started to transfer all of my CDs over to it too, so I'll have a monster music collection!

I also sent a megamail to Jonathan and he sent one back, which kept me entertained for a few minutes. We're making a Plan of Action for Saturday in between the wedding ceremony and the party in the evening. I'm so excited it's untrue. I'll be going home for the first time in 4 months!!! *screams with excitement*

Not only that, I'll be seeing loads of friends and it'll be gorge seeing Lins and Si finally tie to knot! Plus I can catch up with Nicola Red as well as loads of other people! I'm looking forward to Easter too, as I'll be able to go out with Martin, Lorna and loads of other people that I miss loads too! DRINKING AND PARTYING PEOPLE! That's what I'm talking about (hey hey)!

Gaaa! Why won't time speed up? Well, we lost an hour today as the hour's gone forward here. Not sure if it has back home yet...

Well, I've also done three translations, one about a nuclear reactor, uranium rods and god knows what else. But I did the trannie with ease, and I think I'm actually getting better! I'm even happier now! Makes a change for a Sunday!

I'm gonna listen to more Hed Kandi and then it's beddy byes!

Love and hugs (I mean it!)

Ben xxx

It's just a shimmy and a shake

Boa Tarde!

How're we all? A big hello to Martin, who has just discovered the wonder of my blog. Well, I wouldn't call it a wonder, but you know what I mean!!

Well, my Erasmus grant has come through, just in the nick of time, as my overdraft was getting hazardously close to its limit! So now I've got £973 to spend! And we apparently get some more in April, but it's not usually a lot apparently, so I should imagine about another £100 to £200, which is nice!

Still not had my Leonardo final installment yet, but when I e-mailled the woman there, she says she didn't get it (I sent it by e-mail) so I sent it yesterday (again!). I don't think I'll ever get that money. If I do though, that'll be another £300, so it'll be good times abound! lol

I managed to sleep yesterday, but woke up late at 3pm, so I felt like I'd wasted a day. So, I decided to go and get my outfit for Lindsay and Simon's wedding on the 1st April. I started off thinking "gay t-shirt, new jeans, new shoes", but I have ended up with "indie rock 'n' roll gay sheek".

So now, I've got a pair of light brown cords/jeans from Next from when I was in London in February, a pale canary yellow t-shirt with "double pleasure" on the front from Zara man, a dark green felt-like material blazer from H&M and I've just washed my black and white Converse All Stars in the washing machine, and they look super.

With my new haircut I'm getting Tuesday, I should look proper bo. Dark green is my cor-do-mês as the Portuguese would say!

I'm looking forward to it, and it'll be great seeing everyone as I won't have seen them since December, or in some cases, since August! Wow, it'll be 7 months!

*Excited Squeal*

Ben xxx

Currently listening to: The Killers - Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
Mood: Excited!!

Insomnia

*Stifled Yawn*

Mornin' all... couldn't sleep last night, I just kept tossing and turning. Ended up watching Question Time on BBC's Website, which was good.

I think I can't sleep due to me not doing much. I'm the same over Summer when there's nothing to do - Mark'll tell you.

So yeah, I can't really go to sleep now as I'd never wake up before 3pm to get to ISLA in time for TTCE or Tourism. I might try setting a big dock-off alarm clock.

Random Norwegian comment on the last page: I have NO idea what it says!!!! lol

*sighs* what am I going to do with myself to keep me occupied until 3pm?

Well, I'm off, just a minipost...

Ben xxx

"10 going in Barbara!"

God! I'm craving English food really badly now. If I have to have more pasta, I think I'm going to throw up. It's nice, it's just that it's all that I'm eating really at the moment, so I'm getting a bit sick of it! Especially Pasta Twirls!

Well, I've only got a week and then I'll be jetting off home for a few days for Lindsay and Si's wedding, which I'm totally looking forward to. I'm not been home for 4 months. Well, I went to London at the start of February, but it's not Manchester, so it's not really home!

I'm making a list of foods that I want to eat when I go home, either for the wedding, or at Easter for two weeks:

• Balti Afghani (from The Far Pavilion)
• Fish, Chips and Curry Sauce
• Sausage Roll
• Gregg's Cheese and Onion/Meat and Potato Pasty
• Cheddar Cheese
• Cumberland Sausage
• Black Pudding
• Full English Breakfast
• Kebab of DOOOOOOM!
• Shepherd's Pie
• Roast Duck and Veg with Duck Gravy
• Fish Pie
• Roasted Onions
• Chilli con Carne
• Pizza Hut buffet
• Gregg's Raspberry Jam Doughnut
• Chicken Tikka Masala
• Scampi
• Steak and Chips with Green Peppercorn Sauce and Garlic Mushrooms
• Lancashire Hot Pot
• Steak and Kidney Pudding, Chips and Gravy
• Bacon Butty
• Bangers and Mash
• Lamb Chops and Veg
• Prawn Cocktail

Probably numerous more, but I can't think of them all now. On that note, I'm off to Pingo Doce to get some food. Frig knows what I'm going to have...

Ben xxxx

By Jove!

Been at home playing on The Sims 2 for about 3 hours! It was ok, and I got two of the men to have an illicit gay affair! Mwah-ha-ha!

I also heard a knock at the door, and who was it? Jenhova's Witnesses... They started to talk to me in Portuguese, which I understood, but I stopped tham, and said I didn't speak very much Portuguese and I couldn't understand. So they asked what nationality I was. Whenever anyone asks me this, who I really don't want to talk to, I always say Norwegian, and that I only speak Norwegian. There are three reasons for this:

1. No-one speaks Norwegian except the Norwegans

2. No-one can be 100% certain what Norwegians look like, so I can usually get away with it!

3. If you say English, most people can still speak to you, thus you never get rid of them. If people have problems communicating, most will give up immediately...

At this point, one of the witnesses delved into a bag, and said "we'll help you understand our message" in Portuguese. They had a little book which seemed to have every European Language in it!! They flicked through it, found Norwegian, and then I had to stand there, pretend to read some bible passage and understand completely what the book said.

"Damn", I thought, "They've thought of everything!! There's no escape!!", so I thought I'd politely say that I wasn't interested, but I thanked them for their visit and I bade them good night. Came back into the front room to find Rui laughing at me! How rude! lol

So now I dread the day when some Norwegian-sepaking Jehova's witness turns up on the doorstep, not to mention all the Norwegian literature I'll get through!

I'm my effort to get rid of them by being unoffensive, I think I made it worse for myself! Nooooooooo!

Ben xxxx

Bloody Government!

Hey Blanchettes,

Hope you're all well! I've been sorting out stuff with Salford, and everything seems to be going well. I have had to apply for another Student council tax exemption certificate, as Salford City Council are being cocks and want more proof. Usually they just carry it over, but some trogledite in Swinton Civic Centre is moaning about it, so me, Matt and Mark are having to send in our certificates again, which is a pain in the arse, especially when I'm here in Lisbon. Nevermind, I think it's sorted out: Bridget Samuel's sorted it for me with the student office in Uni House.

On this topic though, I was saying to Mark when this was brought up a while back that I'm surprised that our so-called "socialist" government hasn't decided that students should pay council tax (not that we own the house or earn enough money to live), and lo and behold, look what I found today on BBC's website (click here).

So, it seems that the last thing that students have as some sort of benefit will be taken off us. For those of you who don't know, we have to pay tuition fees of up to £1,300, as well as everything else for general living, and now it seems that we will have to pay council tax soon enough, so that'll be another couple of hundred or so per person. What people seem to forget is that we HAVE NO MONEY! God, people think we're loaded or sommat.

And the nob-head tory MP who's mixing it all up, saying that cash-strapped OAPs are paying for students is a blatant way of getting a gourp of people who generally hate students anyway to motivate against us, when what should be happening is students help OAPs fight for OAPs to be exempt from council tax!

Plus said nob-head MP says that there is a shortfall of £1 million. Well perhaps if all the "blame claims" were tackled and people stopped suing the council for tripping on a frigging flagstones, councils wouldn't be in as much debt as they are at the moment.

Grr! Political rant over!

Ben xxx

Listening to: Pet Shop Boys - Pop Art Disc 1
Feeling: Riled

The Invasion of the Teacher Snatchers

Went to uni for Tourism in Portugal, but the teacher was off. BAH! So, I stayed in the IT Lab and messed around on t'interweb.

You may have noticed that I had a little weather thing underneath my ShinyStats; I removed it due to it only actually showing the weather, the symbols being a perpetual raincloud and rainbow, which is wrong.

I come home in 10 days for Lindsay's wedding, which will be fun! I'm so looking forward to it. Had soup for my tea today, which was yummy! I made up a packet soup yesterday, and it's done for two days, which is a bonus as I have next to £0 in my account!

A woman fell asleep on the train infornt of me yesterday, and I was so mesmerised by her head lolling about like a bladder on a stick that I totally missed my station, and had to get off at the next one, which, as it was an express, was actually 5 stops away in São Pedro. But I just bobbed on the next train out of there, so it wasn't so bad!

Well, I've got to go and do a translation for tomorrow!

Love and hugs,

Ben xxxxx

Currently Listening to: The Killers - Smile Like You Mean It
Feeling: OK

Curry and the Origins of Pigeons

Well, I came into uni today, and it turns out that the teacher for the classes hasn't turned up, so I'm slightly peeved, as now I have nothing else to do. I am going to go and see for the next lesson, to see if she has turned up, but all the class has gone home, so I'll probably be on my billy todd. So I've come to the craputers to do a blog!

Woke up ok this morning, after watching Ab Fab last night. It's such a funny comedy! It's mad coming out of our Metro station to get to uni, as there is a constant smell of curry. Perhaps there's a curry plant somewhere in the bushes, as it's always in the same point. Meh, anyway, it packs my head a little, as I'm driven to hunger by the smell!

I got quite bored yesterday, so bord in fact that I decided to look at wikiepdia, and randomly, at the article on pigeons!

Apparently, their original name was a Rock Dove, and they live on cliffs on the coast. Some still do, but most live in the towns and cities now. Apparently, this is because the buildings are similar to the cliffs, so they love living there! Now they're a pest, but I thought it was weird to see where they came from. Apparently, their new name is the Feral Pigeon. It had a piccy of some of the chicks, and they're ugly buggers, so it's a good thing we never see them.

Ugly Baby Pigeons

Anyway, thet's me being random for the day. If the teacher isn't there when I go back in a bit, I might go to the Centro Comercial Colombo, but this runs the risk of spending money, thet I really shouldn't do.

Nevermind! AH WELL!

Ben xxxxxxxxxxx

Listening to: Priscilla, The Queen of The Desert Soundtrack
Mood: Miffed (and just a little bit camp!)

Sheep of Doom

I've not said that in a while!

Well,m I woke up late (again) - about 1pm. I went to sleep late though, but in an effort to get my body clock right, I attempted to wake up a bit earlier. Didn't though.

I watched Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-rabbit, which was really good, really funny, and reminded me of home! It'd've been great to have watched it on the big screen, but the only chance I had was in Spain, and somehow, W&G is just not funny without the northern accent!!

Randomly browsed the internet last night to try and find some recipies for soups etc. and I stumbled across a website called www.greatbritishkitchen.co.uk, which has all the home faves on it. Although, Nathalie told me that the oven doesn't work, which is a bit of a let down, so now I can't make oven dishes. God damn ovens.... how I long for the days of when I have a normal oven that works!!!

Feeling shitty at the prospect of next week. Although it's alright here, I have much less stuff to do, so my week consists of the following:

Monday: Plenty of Lessons
Tuesday: Day off - nothing to do
Wednesday: Plenty of Lessons
Thursday: One lesson at end of the day
Friday: Two lessons at the very end of the day (5pm-7pm)

So, I'm really gonna have to find some sort of hobby which is free, yet time consuming. Playing computer games and doing my homework takes up some good time, but it still a bit clautsrophobic being in the same room all the time.

I found a flight to New York from London for only £275 the other day, which I thought was quite cheap, and would be a good thing to do for my Birthday/Run-up to Christmas. We'll see how money goes and such like. I'd like to just go "yeah book it" to Mark, but I don't know what my financial situation will be. Hopefully it'll be ok! We'll definately see!

Meh.....

I've not got much else to say really. I'm looking forward to a phone call from my mum, which should be at about 5pm. It'll be great catching up on all the family gossip. I think I last talked to her when I got here, but it wasn't that long a conversation.

Grrr. Maria, which is a MASSIVE dog upstairs is barking very loudly at the moment... I wish she'd shut up!

It's raining a lot today, but I need to go to the supermarket in a bit. BAH!

Mark did his half marathon today (I think it was a half) in Liverpool, and record a time of 2hrs 15 mins! Well done Meast!

Well, I'm off - all my blogs are massive, but you know how I like to talk!

Ben xxx

Finally

Finally I went out last night, in honour of St. Paddy! Mike and I went to an Irish bar near Cais do Sodré train station, which was a nice place. There were some annoying Americans, but you get that everywhere! lol

We then went on up to Barrio Alto and went to a Spanish bar that seemed to play a lot of reggaeton Spanish music, which all sounds a bit samey to me. It not reggae, it's just odd. Anyway, we had vodka and lemon (it was just lemon juice, and it was gorgeous!).

Then we went to Finalmente which is a gay disco further up in Chiado. It was ok, bu it would have been better if there had been better music. It was all a bit techno, and there was no songs that I knew. I thought it'd be a bit like Cruz. Well, it sort of was inside, but it was teeny! As Mike put it, it was someone's front room with a stage! There was a drag queen show, with the usual dragging people up onto the stage. Luckily we were at the back. We were talking to a bloke called Andy who lives in Lisbon teaching English.

Stumbled home at 4:30 am, got a taxi home (only €15, so not bad!) bu the taxi driver was talking about George Bush etc. All well and good, but at that timein the morning, I couldn't cope with a political debate in Portuguese!

So I woke up this afternoon at 3pm, so my sleep cycle will be messed up! D'oh!

In other news, Pedro is also ill, so my illness is imminent, althought I would have thought that I would have had it by now. Rui seems to be getting better, and his mum is still looking after him, but I think she'll be going home tomorrow.

Well, I'm off for some 7up.

Boa noite,

Ben xxxx

Top o' the mornin' to ya

I didn't even relise it was St. Paddy's day today until Carmen left that comment. Oh, and the google logo was also a big giveaway:
I think it's a nice logo. As a Doyle, I am obviously of Irish decent, so I have more reason than most to celebrate this day. Don't know what I'm going to do though, as Lisbon seems oblivious! I could suggest that we go to an Irish pub... hmm we'll see, as Rui is still ill.

One thing though, how come we never have a big celebration when it's St. George's Day? Me thinks that needs to change!

Ben xxx

I cannae sleep captain...

Seeing as I slept in so much this morning, I have been unable to drift off to sleep. Grr! I hate it when this happens!

Well, it's Friday; no doubt nothing if interest will happen!

Spend the evening in the front room being sociable, and being given chocolate by Rui's mum! This included her cries of indignation when I'd washed all the pots up in the kitchen, and she cornered me between the cooker and the prep table and forced a quarter of a choccie bar in my mouth!

Watched Mississippi Burns, which is about the racial segregation in Mississippi, and specifically, and incident on the 21st June when three people were killed. It was an excellent film, however had some disturbing scenes in it. It made me feel quite ill at some points, as it's based on a true story. I couldn't believe that someone would do that to another human being. It's a good film, and I think you should watch it if you have the chance.

Well, I'm off! I might try and doze off again. In for lessons at 5pm, finish at 7pm. What idiot designed THAT timetable?!

See you soon,

Ben xxxx

Another normal Thursday

Well, Janet Lloyd got back to me from Salford Univeristy today, and it turns out that she has been off ill since November, so it's understandable why she's not responded. Today was her first day back, she told me, but it all seems to be sorted out with us now. I think I'll still have a problem with my ERASMUS grant, which will probably result in me not getting it, which will be pants.

Went to History today to see what the beef was with that, and it turned out to be a total shambles, as well as being boring as sin. I was sat around a group of about 6 lads that were messing about and acting like they were in year 7 of high school. I'm not shy of a bit of messing about myself, but throwing yourself about and drawing star's on your upper arm with a biro is not really university behaviour is it? So I asked Janet if I could change it to Methodology and Techniques of Communication as part of the 1st year tourism classes, and she's said it's fine, so if I fill in the Change to Learning Agreement form, I'll be sorted! Well good!

I'm sat on the bed at the mo, and the touchpad on my laptop keeps putting random word all over this blog, so if anything seems odd, that's why! Listening to Snowpatrol - Run which is a nice song, but a tad depressive. Hmmm perhaps not the best.... ah there we go, Robbie Williams - Tripping: much better!

I phoned home before and spoke to Jenny, which was nice as I hadn't spoken to hear in person since Christmas. It's weird, I realise that me and Jenny have similar tastes, and get on really well with each other, bar the odd spat, but that's what big brothers and little sisters do! lol

Rui is still quite ill. I told him it was bird flu and we'll all be walking around the front room clucking tomorrow! His mum came down from Braga (about 300 miles) to look after him, which is really sweet. His mum is really nice, and looks like she's in her early 40's like my mum. However, as people who know me well will know, I'm very suceptible to throat infections and such like, and I've got headaches, a slight temperature and a slight scratchy feeling at the back of my throat. I hope all will be ok!!! I haven't got my European Health Insurance Card with me, as momma Doyle lost it over Christmas, and the Department of Health says that I've got to ring up to apply for a new one, but it's an 0845 number, so it might not let me. I'm going to try tomorrow, 'cos if I get ill, I'll need medical attention, as Rui had to go for some antibiotics it was that bad. He had a temperature of 40 degree the other day!

I'm watching Futurama at the moment, which is class! I want the other series too, but I can't really afford the outlay (what with ERASMUS grant and all!) so if anyone out there wants to send me them as a gift, I'll be very happy to recieve them!


I also tried to find the minutes from the NUS LGBT conference that I attended in Edinburgh in 2005, but I could only find a piece of drivel written about the things that I spoke up against, skillfully twisted by Socialis Worker's website. See it here Drivel of Socialist Worker.

Basically, I stood up to say that extreme political agendas have no part in the NUS, but Faz Velmi took this as me being racist. Also the comment about the BNP policy not being acted upon was given as a speech against Faz's amendment, so nerr. Bloody Socialist Workers. I think they can be just as opressive as any other extremeist party, be it left- or right-wing.

There, political rant over and done with! lol No, but seriously, the SW are a bunch of knobs sometimes, especially that Faz Velmi. Did you know she called me a racist? ME?! A RASCIST?!?! Then she had the gall to call me a FASCIST?! A fascist gay... now there's an irony for you! lol

So yep, I booked some flight the other night. HSBC will be rubbing it's hands together, as I'm sure I contributed more than my fair share of it's multi-billion pound profit. I'm cming home for Easter, via Madrid... the same day as Mark, but we're flying home seperately, as Mark couldn't afford to buy another flight, and Jet2 were charging €109 (one-way, before taxes) to fly from Faro to Manchester, so I got a flight with Iberia for £170 from Lisbon (return, with taxes etc.) so apart from the 5 hour wait in Madrid Barajas Airport, it's a good thing. It'll be cool coming home and seeing everyone and what not. I'm definately going out a fair few times, so be warned people!

On that note, I'm going getting some tea. I think I'll have a Tuna Tortilla. Yum!

Ben xxxxx

Has Salford University been Obliterated?

Well, as usual there has been no reply from Salford Uni about the e-mails that I sent the other day. Bloody typical! Why is nothing simple? I have to jump through hoops for everything. I've e-mailled again, in a friendly and chatty tone, but asking nicely for a response; if I don't get one, I'll start to get arsey. Tell you something for free though, you can bet your bottom dollar that if they contacted me, and I didn't respond within about 24 hours, they'd be going absoloutely mental at me. Hmph! Double standards all the time!

Anyway, I had a successful class. I managed to translate ad hoc and even corrected the crazy teacher's English. As she's Dutch-Brazillian, her English is good, but some things she says are totally wrong and words don't collate well with each other. Some of the people in the class were chatting to me again, which is nice, and they asked me to make sure that I question certain things that sound weird in English, so that it will benefit them. As she uses Brazillian Portuguese, her accent is a bit odd, but I can understand her. Apparently, some of the grammatical things that she writes are total madness too, with Brazillian spellings and accents (like "If we were rich" in European Portuguese is "Se fossemos ricos", but in Brazillian Portuguese, it has a random ^ accent on the o, being "Se fôssemos ricos" - the class argued this one for about ¼ of an hour...)

Anyway, I thought I did quite well, and the first class of the day. 9am for Technical Translation into English went well, and Wendy, the teacher is really nice and friendly, and gave me her mobile number, saying that if anything went wrong, and I needed some help, I could contact her.

We're going on a class trip to a language exhibition on Friday, so that should kick out o moribundo da minha vida! Yay!

Ben xxx

PS I'm putting some photos on later too, but I have to go to the post office to send something to Salford Uni, and to buy a pan that doesn't cement the chicken breast to the bottom of the pan, and thus require about 2 hours to scrub it off with a wire scourer! Tchao!

Boredom and getting trapped in the shower...

Hello blogettes,

Well, yesterday was a very boring day. I had fook all to do, and as a result I was bored, and all mopey. For God's sake, when will I get over it? I'm sick of feeling crappy!

Well, I did do something yesterday - I cleaned the communal areas in the flat. It wasn't too bad, but I spent ages on the bathroom, as it was a bit skanky. Nathalie had really dark hair, and it seemed to be everywhere. I stood in the bath to clean the sliding doors on the side (so wather from the shower doesn't go everywhere) and managed to pull the door off it's runner and get trapped inside for about 5 mins.

It just wouldn't move! I ended up thinking that I'd have to wait thereuntil someone got home! But I managed to jiggle it a little bit, enough so I could open it without any problems!

Speaking of problems, there has been ANOTHER atypical University of Salford cck up. Apparently, I was meant to have a learning agreement, and bring it to ISLA with me, but I don't actually rememer being given one. I remember filling it in with my Portuguese tutor, but as far as having a copy, I didn't get one. I was confused about this, and asked about the learnign agreement, and was told that I didn't need to worry, as it was all sorted and ISLA were expecting me. Hmph! Well, this isn't the case, and I've now had to jump through hoops to get the thing sorted, including sending an e-mail to Pauline Hardman, who's the erasmus co-ordinator at UoS. Frankly. I'm tired of it, and I just want it sorting. This means that I'll get my erasmus grant on the 24th March, all being well. It's £930, so it should last a while, but I'm not sure if it'll be long enough! We'll see, it's not like I haven't got any emergency money or anything!

Well, I'm off, I've got a lesson with some crazy German-Brazillian lady for Portuguese>English translation. Random!

Ben xxxx

By the Power of Greyskull....

.... I.... HAVE.... THE POW-ER!!!!!!! Random He-man moment there, inspired by Lady Shaznay's blog!

Currently feeling upbeat. Not too bad really! Mark was here this weekend, which is always a winner! We went to Sintra to see all the castles and palaces, which included a Lord of The Rings-esque pathway up to a palace that looked like it was out of the I can show you the world sequence from Disney's Aladdin. We went to the Oceanarium yesterday and got swooped on by birds, saw an otter (and it's pocket), some Button Moon-esque jellyfish and alsort fo other stuff. It was really good.

Plus, it's HOT HOT HOT! 22ºC today! FOOK! I was sweating my baps off! I took Mark to the airport, said a goodbye without the daft embarrassment of last time. I gave him a nice big hug and a big kiss... bless us! Holy Jesus of the Bedroom Wall, bless me again!

Total pezz with the lessons at ISLA though. I thought I'd try Info Tech out to see if I would be able to change it for something like History, but unfortunately it's all dead basic, and it's about Excel. It was like "yes, this is called a cell. It is made up of lines and columns" and how to make a formula up. Hmmm, I didn't get a B in AS-Level ICT by sitting on my fanny all day working out 10% of €1,800,000 with a spreadsheet. Yet, some people in the class still couldn't find how to copy and paste a formula so it worked. It's too basic for me, so I'm not doing that class. I know some people have to learn it, but there's no point in me spending an hour soign something I know inside out. I'll give History a whirl on Wednesday or sommat and see what the beef is with that. I suppose I can't avoid it really!

Tomorrow I have to clean the flat. Rui is ill and has a 39.5ºC temperature, so I'll clean around him... he looks all folorn and ill! Bless! I hope he gets better soon! I've not seen Pedro much this weekend, but I think his mum came down from O Porto to watch A Canção de Lisboa which is a musical, apparently.

Currently listening to the Queer as Folk 2 soundtrack albumy thing... who the HELL are Abbacadabra?! Meh, it's all good.

Well, blogettes, there's nothing much else to report on. I'm going home on the 31st March to attend Lindsay's wedding on the 1st April, so hopefully, I'll see some of my mates there, like Nicola, Jonathan, Jo, etc. I'm probably coming home for easter too, from the 10th to 25th April, so if anyone fancies a night out, let me know! Definately pelo village! So I'm sort of looking forward to that, but I hope I won't get too bored. I might have a week's holiday in other parts of Portugal, and then have a week at home. We'll see. I got a bit bored over Christmas!

Anyway, Schmickles,

I'm off to bed!

Ben xxx

Ants and Missing Classes

Woke up today and found six ants happily walking along on my window ledge inside my bedroom. Hmmm, I wasn't too happy about that. I now fear an invasion of ants, and I'm not too happy about it! If I wake up to an entire swarm, I'll cry!

Went to ISLA today to have my Portuguese History class, which (one again) no-one turned up too. We went to the administration office to see what the beef was, and it turns out that the 2nd year tourism class (of which Portuguese History is a part of) are off on a field trip this week. This would also explain why no-one turned up to the I.T. classes on Monday. So, we'll give those a whirl next week.

Our Erasmus Co-ordinator (aka Patsy's sister, Jacs)...



...(actualy that piccy is a VERY good likeness!) was out today and couldn't sign our Certificate of Attendance forms, so I'll have to wait until Monday until I can send it off, which will delay my grant. Grr!

I have to re-do my Leonardo Final Report too, as apparently, they've lost the one I did whilst in Frost-Trol, and I'll need to do another one to receive my £565. Gaaa! KILL ME NOW! The woman there is called Audrey, and she's really organised, but I think she's been off work for ages, as the whole Leonardo Admin went to pot. She's back now and sent me an e-mail asking about my form, and profusely apologising, saying that there'd been so many temps through the office, they didn't know where anything had gone. I'll see if I can find a copy of it somewhere.... I knew I should have made a photocopy. Whether I did or not is a different matter.

I've been reading Crystal's blog, which makes me think that all is going really well for her in Vicenza, and it looks like she's having a ball and eating lots of pasta and pizza etc!

I've been reading Lorna's too, and I think she's really down at the moment, and I feel crappo that I can't go and see her and try and make her feel better, but there's nothing I can do about it, so I can't worry, only try and be encouraging from afar.

Carmen is being as loyal as ever! Hello dear! I promise I'll visit Gijón soon-ish (or you and Nacho can visit Manchester at some point!).

Well, I'm gonna go. I really should have some tea, and seeing as I only had four oreo biscuits for tea last night, as well as going on a 20 minute run with Rui, I feel a tad dizzy and that I should eat something wholesome for once. I need to get some pans and shite, but I'll get them from Continente tommorow when I go to meet Mark at Centro Colombo.

Well, hugs and stuff,

Ben xxxxx

Eu não sei...

Schmickles. That word describes the past couple of days! So do the words Embarrassing, Confusing, Boredom....

We went to our first Turism in Portugal class, and the teacher introduced us to the whole class, who proceeded to whoop and clap like maniacs! They treated us like stars! Extranho! Anyway, they spent the whole two hours periodically looking at us (we were at the back of the class) and grinning inanely! Bless them! Anyway, it was nice at the end, as a lad called João and a girl called Marbelha (or sommat) introduced themselves to us and said if we were stuck with anything, we could ask them for help, which I thought was really friendly.

We had our Translation and Back-translation classes for Technical and Literary texts today too. The first woman was a brummie called Wendy, who I swear was seperated at birth from one of the linguistics teachers at uni (Diane Blakemore for those of you in the know). Then we had a German woman who did Portuguese to English literary translation. She proceeded to tell me that some of the words I used in my English were wrong. This comes from a woman who wrote "I find myself grabbed by the arm, let's dance, tapped on the shoulder by an old boy". Hmmm... how about no Blanche...

Anyways, we went to 2nd year Portuguese language and literature, understood nothing, and was insulted by the teacher who said "this class isn't for you" with a subliminal "GET OUT" added on. So, sod it, I'm not doing that. I'm going to go to Tourism instead and get stared at!

Big OLÁ to Jonathan for his little message. Megamail winging its way when I have something to report!

Currently listening to Mariah Carey - All I want for Christmas is You ("Now that's gay, as Pedro put it)

Tra!

Ben xxxx

PS. funny video; made me and Pedro laugh! Click on this: Video

Boo Hiss Salford Uni!

And boo hiss again!

I arrived today at ISLA for my first lessons there, which were ok(ish)!

My time table was a bit fooked up, and it turns out that ISLA have none of the forms that Salford have supposedly sent them. Both ISLA and Salford seem to have their heads up a certain nether region, possibly each others, I wouldn't know about that!

Well, I also found out that Mike from Salford is here with me too, so at least I have someone to experience the madness with me. Luckily he had a copy of the Education Learning Agreement that we filled in with Janet Lloyd. I never had a copy of this, which is a bit dumb, as ISLA need to sign it so I can get my Erasmus grant, which is only £1,000, but hey, it pays to live! Plus, Leonardo owe me about £560, so that'll help too. Hmmm, that'll probably arrive sometime in 2020... lol.

Anyhew, I've got a hashed up version of a timetable which means that I have to do most of my classes on a Monday and Wednesday, which I can live with. What I can't live with is that I have a "Portuguese Tourism" class at 5pm on a Friday night. By the time I'm home it'll be 7pm! Damn them! I was going to change that to I.T., but when we went to the class today, the room was locked and no-one knew anything about it! D'oh! So it seems I'll have to do the tourism classes, which involves days out at weekend. Personally, I can't be arsed with these, but nevermind. I'll see what goes down.

Patsy's sister was being bizarre today, she was helpful as ever though (yeah right). I had to do "Translation and Back-translation: Economics", "Translation and Back-translation: Technical" and I was supposed to go the "Portuguese History and Culture", but we were going to change this for another lesson, that also didn't happen. Hmmmm, can anyone else see a pattern?!

TYPICAL BLOODY SALFORD! SALFORD + ISLA = ONE GRUMPY AND CONFUSED DOYLE

On the other hand, I've sort of got it sorted, and the first week at a new timetable is always a bit of a pain in the arse, so it'll settle down soon!

Must go, I've got a Financial Times article about stocks and bonds to translate into Portuguese (God save me!)...

Ben xxx

Newsflash!

Spent the day down on the front with Pedro, talking politics and whatnot. All in English, but at the moment, I'd rather make a friend, then worry about Portuguese after! Anyway, Rui came home from Braga today, and it turns out he is a gay too!! *Glee* So... they want totake me out and around Lisbon as I didn't go out when I was in Castellón. This is going to be a fun 5 months!! lol

To think I was worried about moving here! I definately made the right choice!!!

Night all, sweet dreams,

Ben xxxx

Mmmmm.... biscuits!

I LURVE the biscuits!

Firstly, I'd like to say a big "ta!" and a big hug to Carmen for her kind words! I know it's bad sometimes, and I think I'm over the worse of it. You know what it's like Carmen, and like you say, I'll be fine soon! I believe in you! Ohhh, Kylie sang that didn't she?! Mmmm... *considers putting Kylie on later*

Well, I was going to go to Sintra today, but it's a bit cloudy, and it might rain. I was in the Rossio area of the City Centre yesterday when the heavens opened, so I used the Metro to get to Cais do Sodre and I went home! Watched a bizarre Bring It On style US film which centred on marching bands in Atlanta. Hmmm random. BTW all the film here are in English with subtitles. According to Nathalie, the Portuguese are cheapoes and won't pay for actors to do the voice-overs like in many other EU countries. Anyway, after that I watched Os Simpson as they are called here. It's the DVDs I bought he other day. I'll watch a bit more later. I like dossing about on Sundays and watching DVDs. I've finished Golden Girls series 3 (BLAAAANCHE!) which made me titter, and then I just browsed the internet.

I found some good recipies for cheesecake. I haven't had that for years, and I might like it. Hmmm, after my Pastéis de Belém incident, I can try anything! But I have nothing that I can cook them with! D'oh!

Well, Pedro has just woken up (I thought he was out!) and asked me if I wanna go and get a snack. Well, I've just eaten, but it'll be nice to go for some air and a coffee!

I've found a good radio station too, Capital FM, which has a good mix of everything, so I think it shall be my preferred station!

Well, off I go,

See you soon blogettes!

Ben xxxx

Every Cloud has a Silver Lining

Olá!

Hope you're all well! Well, I went to Belém today to have a look around there, and it was ok. Had a mooch around the port bit and went past a museum. There is also a local cake called "Pastel de Belém" which are sold from the Pastéis de Belém shop. They're a rich custard tart, served warm with cinnamon and icing sugar on, and the pastry is a crispy, slightly puff pastry-esque. I don't like custard, but I thought I'd give it a whirl, as I've not tried custard tarts since about the age of 6, which was a Greggs' Custard Tart from Swinton Precint. They were ok, and I didn't heave. In fact they were quite tasty, they wouldn't necessarily be my favourite cake, but still they aren't the worst thing ever.

All the news in Portugal is going mad of the Bird Flu epidmic, but I was thinking today, perhaps it's a good thing. Yeah, it's really contagious, and people can get really ill from it, but look at it this way: We'll get rid of all the scabby pigeons that are plagueing our city centres! I saw one today with no feet, only stumps! Death to the scabby pigeons!

Ben x

FNAC is the devil incarnate

Hello Everyone Again!

Well, like I said, I went to FNAC to have a browse. And I spent about €114 on stuff. One was a wireless connector for my laptop, which works well, but with the dodgy connection, it goes a bit batty. the other two items were The Simpsons series 6 and Coldplay X and Y, just because people have said that it's good, and it's not as rocky or as poppy as some of my other stuff, so it's nice to have on in the background.

I went to see Dr. Rosario Braga da Cruz, who dodn't look like anything that I imagined she would. If any of you are Ab Fab aficionados out there, well, she looks like Patsy's sister Jacs. EXACTLY the same! She's got the mad hair and mad make up and zebra print scarf to go with it. She was a mix of her and Anna, the Salford Counsellor. She said to me (and I'm not joking!):

Benjamin, what you must do is make sure that you go to the Portuguese Language classes. It is important that you go. Yes, I think so. Definately.

Then she answered the phone, which she scrawped up the side of her cheek and went Tou. Cristina... sim... sim... sim... ta... podes? Obrigadissima Which translates as Hello. Cristina... yep... yep... yep... yes it is... can you? Thank you very much.

Which I found it hard not to laugh at, as it was very Anna-esque. All she needed to do to complete the combo is to smoke about 40 a day (she probably does anyway) and lean out of the window, fag-in-mouth. Plus she asked me about a million questions, including whether or not I wanted to help her son with his English, as he's learning it, but has no-one to speak to. Hmmmm, I didn't say no, but I didn't say yes. I explained I'd had a few probs trying to teach English at Frost-Trol, and I'm not very good as a teacher. She said it didn't matter, and told me to think about it and that she's going to speak to her son about it. So there, bizarre...

My Portuguese is getting slowly better. I'm going to revise my verb endings tonight. Well, possibly. I might do it tomorrow...

I have a rudimentary timetable planned. I don't remember anything of what I chose, and it seems I choose with Dr. Rosario. I've got all the hours for the translation classes, but I want to try out Portuguese Gastronomy, Ethnology and some IT things if I can. Basically the more classes I go to, the better it will be for me, but I think I have to do about 40-60 credits for this semester, but I can't remember what each class is worth. Any doubts, and I'll speak to Bridget. I might actually be the last UoS student to go to ISLA, as apparently, they are discontinuing their Translation Classes because the main Lisbon University is offering a course, although it more academic and not as hands-on as the ISLA course, but as the ISLA course is €200 pcm rather than €100 pcm, everyone is going to the University of Lisbon, which is a shame, as apparently, ISLA has a long tradition of doing Translation.

Anyway, enough waffle for the mind of the mad-one!

Love and hugs,

Ben xxxxxxxxxxx

My Gaydar never fails me

Boa tarde os meus amigos!

Well, a few well-constructed questions and a convo with Nathalie and my gaydar "woop-woop" was proved to be correct. Pedro is a fellow gay, and is a nice lad. We spent ages talking last night, and we have similar interests, he likes Star Trek Voyager (but doesn't have a place in his heart for Captain "On Screen" Janeway like I do). Not only that but Nathalie likes Ab Fab, so it's laughs all around.

Still feeling a tad crappy, but I'm going out in a minute to see the sights and browse around FNAC, which is a big HMV-come-Dixons (but better) and probably spend money that I haven't got.

Pedro said that he and Rui (the other housemate) will take me around the sights of Lisbon and to some of the good places to go out for a night.

Oh, Holy Jesus of the Bedroom Wall in Castellón... you have smiled down on me with this flat!!!

This is Holy Jesus of the Bedroom Wall in Castellón:
Check out the crappy wallpaper!

So anyway, that's all from me for now! Feeling "just a liddle bit betta" and am raring to go!

Bye Blogettes!

Ben xxx

Lx

Hello everyone,

Hope you're all doing well! I've ben here for a few days now, and the whole crazy depression thing has set in (again). I was hoping that it wouldn't, but it has. I suppose it's the moving around thing and the change of scenery that has done it. Plus I'm frustrated because my Portuguese isn't as good as my Spanish, and I'm finding it hard to communicate. I'm sure I'll get on fine though, I just need to practice and revise a bit more.

Yesterday I was walking around Lisbon, which passed some time. I think I'm just a bit bored at the mo and when I start to go to uni, I'll be ok, as I'll have some work to do, as well as something which passes the day.

I walked to one of the gay discos the other day, and it's at the top of the biggest hill you've seen in you life! As is much of Lisbon really! Luckily there's a bus, so I'll use that if I can't manage to walk up the hill! lol Or a taxi might be good!

The internet here is all intermittent, and I don't think it's the cable, I think that it's the actual box, because the lights keep going off on it. Damn thing.

I put up all the photos and things on my wall last night which makes the room seem a bit more "mine", as well as the lamp and the rug that I bought, to make it a bti more homely.

I met one of the other housemates the other day, Pedro, who is a lovely lad. My gaydar went a bit "woop-woop" when I met him, as he's a tad camp, but then I might just be wrong on that front. I'm still to meet Rui, as he doesn't come back from his home in the north until Sunday.

Anyway, like I said, I've been feeling a bit crappy today, which has been a murky grey day so I've not really done anything. I went into the centre of Oeiras with Nathalie and talked a bit. She said that I was a bit quiet and that I don't talk much. I suppose it's true, but it's only because I've been here for 4 days! It takes time for me to come out of my shell. After the walk, I went to Pingo Doce, the local supermercado and got some milk, and then I came back and Nathalie said she was going to go for a run, and I don't know why I did it, but I just started to sob and cry like an idiot. How grim. Well, hopefully it's out of my system now and I can start to be a bit more positive. When I start uni, I'm sure all will work out well. I might go out next week to a gay bar or sommat and go and get wrecked go for a dance in Finalmente if I can make it up the hill, then go home and experience a hangover of doom! lol

Well, that's me for now.

Send me messages and love, it's most appreciated!

Ben xxxxxxxxx