Matt’s Journal

Nanma: A Tribute

Posted by Matt under Family

This weekend was a sad one for Katie’s family and myself.

Friday evening, Katie’s nan had been called Katie’s home in much distress, pains from her chest were causing her to feel very unwell. Naturally Katie and her mum rushed over there and called an ambulance, carefully tending to nan as they waited for them to arrive.

She was taken to hospital and taken into Resus, I met up with Katie shortly after this, we were escorted to a side room as they determined the cause and the treatment of her grandma. Ten minutes passed and we were allowed to visit her in the ward, she was awake but very pale. The doctors continued to monitor her and issue many different drugs into her system to regulate her heartbeat.

Gradually her colour began to brighten and she became a lot more coherent, she was eventually moved to a different ward when the doctor had told the family that he was no longer worried about a repeat heart attack. At that point myself and Katie (who had been there for nearly 5 hours), were told by Katie’s nan to go home and eat and come back the next day. We complied and bid farewell.

The next day, Katie and I had the joyful pleasure of driving my parents to Gatwick airport so they could enjoy two weeks Skiing in Banff, Canada. Up at 4am, we shuffled into the car and made our way to the airport, getting there in good time. Driving home, we made even better time and were on course to be home in bed for 7am.

Just as we were on the home stretch, we received some bad news. A phone call from Katie’s mother updated us on Nan’s status, her condition was deteriorating and we should get there as soon as possible.

Upon arriving, we were led into the ward where her Nan was in rest. Nan was not with us but she was still alive, her breathing very heavy and laboured. We were told it would not be long until Nan’s life would come to an end, treatment from her heart attack had caused bleeding on her brain. She was in no pain.

Katie’s family came to join us, Nan had battled to remain with us right to the end, for us to say goodbye and her to silently do the same, we knew she could hear us, we wanted her last moments to be peaceful and free from worry.

At 8.05am on Saturday morning, Katie’s Nan passed, she will be forever loved and never forgotten.

RIP Nanma

Matt’s Journal’s First Award!

Posted by Matt under Blogging

Yersterday I was lucky enough to have the honor of being awarded “Blog Of The Day” by Jennifer of the blog: “The Life Of A School Bus Driver“.

What influenced her decision in this instance, I dont know, all I can do is thank her and all that read this blog for your support!

The London Banquet

Posted by Matt under Happy, Update, Videos

This weekend I was treated to a fantastic weekend in London. Getting a bag together and driving up the well connected A13, myself and Katie ventured to a nice travel inn not far from Tower Bridge.

Once we had unpacked, had a bit of rest and relaxation, we showered and headed to St Katherine’s Dock looking for a bar or bistro where we could sup a few drinks and wait for the evenings festivities to commence. The evenings festivities were a journey back into the Medieval era for a banquet with King Henry VIII himself.

When we arrived, we were led down into this lowly lit cellar and seated at a long wooden table. We had our choice of unlimited White and Red wine and a flagon of ale, with cast iron plates for your bowls and plates. As the entertainment started, the King and Queen were led out, as were their courtiers, the first course was laid out with a pot of soup that we all had to drink straight from the bowl.

Take a look at the video featuring the lovely Katie for an example:

As the night progressed, more and more events unfolded around us, as did the food. The ale slipped down and a good time was had. Check the next video for yet more fun:

Beat Me Sideways With A Sandal

Posted by Matt under Rant

I got ill, damn it.

If you saw the amount of people who were ill around it wouldnt have been a surprising resolution but judging on how little I tend to bow to illness, it annoys me.

I’ve had this am-I-cold-am-I-hot? temperature (where Katie tells me that it is my body fighting the virus so I should keep my clothing on so my body isn’t having to work harder), runny nose and a banging headache……..for the guys out there, we call it a cold and women; Man Flu.

I did however buck the trend of Man Flu sufferers, I trudged on and went to work, my body is still thanking me for that. Monday and Tuesday required me to set-up a live web event so slacking off and having some duvet time was not really on the table. Getting home about ten last night, I crashed into bed, lasted three quarters of the day today and headed off home to get my head down.

I’m still ropey but hope to be a bit clearer for Salsa tomorrow. Snake Hips they call me, probably because I glide effortlessly across the floor…….or maybe because I too am something that people are scared of .

Louis Theroux Visits a US Prison

Posted by Matt under Videos

What strikes me about this programme is how the stereotypical ideas of what prison life is like are played out in reality. You have your racial segregation, the skinheads with all their affiliated tattoos, the dislike of the paedophiles and the transvestites wearing makeup and prancing around. It’s like Shawshank Redemption mixed with American History X, crossed with Con Air!

Click below to view the documentary:

America: Affecting Everything We Do

Posted by Matt under House

In 2007, America suffered quite a few economic setbacks. The Canadian Dollar (dubbed the “loonie”) had risen above it’s American counterpart, lenders went mad with cheap mortgages and Britney Spears went into complete meltdown.

All of these events filtered their way down to the likes of Me, a twenty four year old male in the rainy wilds of Essex, in the UK.

As a consumer, I was in the fortunate position of being able to profit from America’s weak dollar. I was able to order electronics, jewellery, clothing and pay for services at half the price of the British pound. This of course was blown out of all proportion by the British media, the business minds among us who profited from the weak dollar being chastised for taking commerce out of Britain.

I suppose I should have profited while I could. I say this because of my looming house purchase.

I have written couple of posts in the past about the status of the purchase, with me foolishly thinking that the mortgage would go through quickly. It has taken right up until today and is still being processed. It’s caused by the current crisis hitting the US and the UK which is lovingly referred to as the “Credit Crunch”. Let me give you a background:

The “Credit Crunch”, also known as a “liquidity crisis” or a “credit squeeze”, is where the banks won’t or can’t lend. Investors can’t or won’t buy debts. Suddenly it’s very difficult to borrow money. There is a lack of easy money. Consumers and businesses have less to spend. There could be serious ramifications for an economy. [source]

The collapse of such subprime mortgages in the US was the catalyst for the global credit crunch that has left banks nursing huge losses. Some industry analysts suggest repossessions in this country could hit 70,000 next year - the highest since 1991.

Citizens Advice claims the crisis has been fuelled by finance companies which have sold expensive home loans that were ‘doomed to fail’.

This has meant that mortgage applications are being declined in greater and greater numbers. In November of last year, applications were down 6000 from October, which was the lowest figure since the beginning of 2005. [source]

I am lucky that I am in the position where I haven’t been declined……yet. Any such event would leave a black mark on your credit rating, causing you to take higher and higher interest rates from lenders willing to give you the money for your house. I am at the position of certifying my secondary income now, with the accountants playing silly games it could still take a while.

Six months ago, I would not have had a problem, such is the unpredictability of the economy.

I am fending off the Estate Agents and being consoled by the mortgage broker, it’s a tad stressful!