I want a pet tortoise

When I was a kid we always had pets. I had a cat and a dog. I also had fish at different times. I guess my parents might have been compensating for the fact that I didn't have any brothers or sisters. I liked having pets. Animals are generally cool.

I moved out of my family home (for the first time) about 10 years ago. Since then I've never really been able to own a pet. Why? No money. Rented housing. Flat-mates. Shitty jobs and anti-social hours that would make it cruel to own a pet.

Now, I have money. I still live in rented housing but in a year or two I should be able to buy my own place. I still work shitty hours. That won't change for a few years.

I was in a pet shop today with one of my friends and I saw a tortoise. It looked really cool and as far as I know a tortoise is a low maintenance pet making it a sensible choice for my chaotic lifestyle. I realise that there is probably much more to tortoise ownership than I know about which is why I'm writing this just now. If a tortoise expert does stumble upon this page I would be grateful for any hints or tips. I won't be buying one for a year or so and I plan to do some research first.

Funky

Bone by Jeff Smith

I've been meaning to read this book for a long time. I bought it nearly a year ago but I only managed to read it this week (exams and work have been limiting my chances of recreational reading).

Bone (best read in the collected edition) is a cartoon Lord of the Rings. Except it's funny. And not boring. It can be read by children and enjoyed by adults. The story starts with three cousins who are fleeing their home town to escape an angry mob. Phoney is a crooked politician who has finally crossed the line. Fone Bone is the eponymous hero of the book and is something of an intellectual. He is obsessed with Moby Dick and continually puts people to sleep by reading from it. Smiley Bone is the village idiot.

The cousins become lost and are then involved in various adventures involving red dragons and rat creatures. Stupid, stupid rat creatures.

The art is great. It's a bit like classic Disney comics. Simple, clear line drawings that are backed up by strong writing.

Bone was a massive success when it was originally published and continues to be a big seller. It is one of the few comics that are popular with female readers. Everyone should read it.

Check out www.boneville.com

The collected edition should be available from amazon. If not look for the first volume out from bonesville

Passed part two!!!!

By a combination of nerdish hard work and dumb luck I have passed my second big post-grad exam. It was difficult.

One more to go!!!

If I'm lucky this could mean no more exams after I'm 30.

That would be funky

Poker night

I've just been playing poker with my mates. I haven't played poker for at least 12 years and I don't think I was ever any good at it. I did have some first time luck and I went home 9 pounds up.

We were playing texas holdem, a game that I think I'm totally unfamiliar with. One of my pals has a fancy poker set with chips, etc which really added to the experience. I probably had an unfair advantage because I wasn't drinking so I was betting carefully. Some of my mates just threw all their money away on the first few hands.

I feel a bit guilty about taking money off my mates. I did give them an extra half hour to try and win some of the money back but I was too tired to stay up playing all night. I'll buy them all a pint the next time I'm out with them. Dog racing is a bit better in a way because if you win your money comes from a faceless bookie as opposed to a good mate.

Gambling is evil man. Fun, but evil.

Funky

Arthur Lee - RIP

I was sorry to hear that Arthur Lee, the lead singer of '60s band Love, has died at the age of 61 from leukaemia.

Love were a great band and their third album Forever Changes is a true classic that has been an influence on many great bands including Belle and Sebastian. Their early single 7x7 is was an early blueprint for the punk sound.

Lee had a a checkered career. He produced several solo albums in the '70s that have been described as classics. I have not been lucky enough to hear these records as they are out of print. He also spent time in prison during the 1990s' for various crimes.

I was lucky enough to see Arthur Lee and a new version of Love playing a set based on the Forever Changes album in Leicester a few years ago. It was a great gig.

RIP Arthur Lee