Entries from July 2008 ↓

Since I bought an Xbox 360, I have had experienced gaming heaven. Grand Theft Auto 4 has been my game of the year so far. It took me nearly 50 hours to complete it. Also, Guitar Hero 3 can be painful to play and simply amazing when you get it right. Forza 2, Assassin’s Creed, Virtua Tennis 3, Medal of Honor: Airborne, Bully and Ace Combat 6 have all proven good titles. But at a cost. And not only a financial one.

I have to redo some coursework for University and revise for an exam I have to do as well. But, ofcourse, games are a somewhat unwelcome distraction. The project I have to do isn’t exactly big, but I don’t enjoy it, don’t want to do it and I have no interest in it whatsoever. Even if you locked me in a room with only the program I needed to do it all, I’d probably just sleep.

My project is on Object Oriented and Event Driven Programming. This is to be done using the Java programming language. I’m not a fan of Java in any case, but the Object-Orientation in Java I just can’t get. Sun Microsystems seem to use different terms for things I know as something else in C for example. I’m not a big fan of programming when I don’t see the point of it. I like creating event driven programs because they are usually for an end-user or have a purpose. But making a program unnecessarily complicated I can’t understand. I know I have to learn the aspects (even though I don’t particularly want to… But I have to), but that doesn’t make it easier to do. Infact, it makes it harder because my curiosity would usually make me look at something and learn it for no real reason. But when its forced onto me, and I don’t enjoy it, it doesn’t even go in one ear and out the other; it just stops at the brick wall in front of me. Very annoying.

So, to sum up, games aren’t corrupting or disrupting me; its myself that just enjoys mowing down people on the sidewalk to get away from something I really, really, really do not enjoy.

But atleast I’m trying to do it as I write this blog post… Oh, the joys of procrastination.

London - Shopping - Music, Videos & Games

Also know as Cex, the Computer Exchange has rapidly become my favourite choice of games shop, mainly due to the trade-ins they do. You get a fair bit more for games in here in just cash than you do in most Game stores for instance. If you take credit however, you can get even more! This, for an in-debt student, is very appealing.

The staff were friendly and helpful, but that’s probably because I was on the same wavelength as them and we could relate. I fear this place is a bit geeky though for the average consumer, and as such, they might be scared away. More so because the place looks more like a trade-counter than a Electronic entertainment store. But it does the job I suppose.

Three stars due to off-putting decor and more of a trade look than a retail one. I’ll still go back though, especially for trades.

Check out my review of Computer Exchange - I am dhscott - on Qype

London - Food & Drink - Butchers

I am a child of the Tesco generation, bought up on brand-power and megastores which are larger than some football stadia. Food shopping can be a pretty boring experience because of these leviathans. I must say, however, I was happy to go in a proper butcher’s shop today!

Parish’s isn’t one to buy into brand power or such. Meat on display speaks for itself to anyone who likes a bit of meat; no euphemism intended. The window display had a selection of different animals on offer but inside, the display fridges by the counter seemed a bit bare. It may have been it was getting towards the end of the day and it was perfect barbecue weather though resulting in a meat buying frenzy!

The staff were happy to serve all customers, unlike in some big name high street retailers. This is because this is their life, not just their job. It is their profession. And, surprisingly, I found most of the things on offer were cheaper than the only supermarket in the Barnet area; Waitrose. And were probably fresher too.

W T Parish, the butchers on High Street Barnet, gets four stars from me. It could have been five stars if I had seen some sausages (maybe I’m not observant enough, but I didn’t see any), and no euphemism intended once again…!

Check out my review of W T Parish - I am dhscott - on Qype

London

As a recreation ground, this “park” does the job well. It isn’t really a park, but it is an open space which is split into two, characterised by its very steep slope which divides the very flat cricket pitch at the bottom and two football pitches, tennis courts and play area above.

I grew up less than five minutes from here, and during the early part of the nineties, the entire ground was in disrepair (from my memory of the play area and courts mostly). In the mid to late nineties, they laid a new surface in the play area and put in new things for the kids. It was a good start; they have survived until today so definitely don’t look new now.

The two tennis courts look brand-new, with immaculate surfaces and the paint hasn’t faded at all. The fencing is surprisingly first-rate also as I usually find chain-link fencing when playing at new courts. Next-door to these is a basketball / five-a-side football court which is to a similar standard to the tennis courts.

The cricket pitch is used most Saturdays in the summer and many locals come to watch on a regular basis.

I came here on a Sunday afternoon to play tennis and these courts, and the play area were packed. And back to the early 90s, they never were. Quite a turnaround I feel for a run down open space.

Family-friendly, but not much seating around so by no-means perfect. I’ve given it four stars.

Check out my review of Brunswick Park Recreation Ground - I am dhscott - on Qype

Stoke-on-Trent - Pubs & Bars - Bars

Varsity in Stoke-on-Trent is in Hanley, the heart of the nightlife in this city.

I went on a Monday night as Mondays in Hanley are Student Night, and ofcourse the prices are reflective of this. Most drinks from what I could gather were only £1, but I believe this was on the basis of having a Varsity card which was provided on entry.

The drinks weren’t cheap in terms of quality however which I found quite surprising due to comparable bars elsewhere. There wasn’t much of a queue either and the bar wasn’t understaffed.

Going in initially, the venue seemed packed, but it wasn’t as bad as first feared and we actually managed to get a table. The chairs are comfortable tub-style ones, with sofas every now and again. Running along the window are big tables with big sofa-style benches which fit three people either side, four people at a push.

The toilets are situated upstairs and the men’s were relatively clean and well kept. Tables and the bar were cleaned quite regularly so there weren’t piles of drinks lying around from previous customers.

I can only give Varsity in Hanley a 4-star review as I haven’t given the food a go, and I haven’t been on any other evening than a Monday, which is Student night, so it is unfair to give it my full support when I haven’t had the full experience, so to speak.

Check out my review of Varsity Bar - I am dhscott - on Qype