Caledonia, You're Calling Me

Hejdå Sverige!

Jeez, I guess it’s been a while since I last posted in here, huh?

So if the title didn’t give it away, I wanted to record my feelings around my decision to leave Stockholm, after almost 4 years in the land of fermented herring, Volvos and dill flavoured everything.

If I’m being honest, it’s hard to compile the last 4 years into a single post. I was a very different person when I moved over here. My life was totally different to what it is today, and this goes beyond the obvious differences. I doubt I’ll fully comprehend how my time here has changed me until I have a little distance on it.

When I moved here with Kara in 2017, we had next to nothing in our pockets and the first few months were quite nerve wracking as we came to terms with the costs associated with living in the middle of the hipster part of town, in a tiny flat that barely gave us any space to sit apart.

Avalanche took good care of me though, and have consistently walked the walk when it comes to their promise to take care of their people. I can think of no better example than their current willingness to let me leave Stockholm, move home and continue working remotely on an indefinite basis.

So that’s what I’ll be doing. Come the end of February / start of March, I’ll be returning home to my family home in Perth. Covid and Brexit obviously make things a little tricky, but if all goes to plan I’ll be back in my childhood bedroom once again, making videogames and making excuses for the posters on my pin-poked walls. There’ll be a couple of weeks where I can’t do anything due to Covid regulations, but after that I’ll be out looking for a new place to sleep and build a home office. I’ve grown quite fond of having my own space since I moved to my current flat in August.

There’s a few reasons why I’ve decided to come home, and considering them has made me confident that this was the right choice for me.

1. Living in Perth brings me closer to family and a community that I feel like I fit into.

2. I can afford a much higher quality of life in Perth.

3. I can begin planning the next stage of my life.

4. I get to keep my amazing job.

My friends and family will undoubtedly have rolled their eyes as I play the typical Brit abroad, complaining about the food options while simultaneously putting on weight. While part of me does want to add a “Reason 5: Food” to the list, it’s honestly not the biggest problem and I’ve learned to cook a lot of recipes from back home during the last year while I was unable to return home to stock up.

It honestly feels like the best of both worlds, to be able to keep working at Avalanche and to also be able to progress my own personal life goals. Back home, I can afford to save for a mortgage, live in a house bigger than a shoebox and hopefully learn to drive. From there, I am several steps closer to living in a cottage in the middle of nowhere with at least a dog for company.

Land Of Opportunity

TwitchCon Berlin 2019

Sweden has undoubtedly been full of positive experiences for me. I’ve encountered setbacks and things have definitely not been easy, but I am coming home as a much more mature person, a more self-reflective human and an objectively more experienced and capable game developer. When we moved over, we didn’t know how long we’d be staying, and given how much we struggled at first, it looked like a year would be a victory.

I think that for me personally, the welcome I got from my friends and colleagues at Avalanche was a huge part of what kept my morale afloat in those early days. I still vividly remember our first outing was going to see Guardians of the Galaxy 2 with my friend Alisa, who was like the Avalanche welcoming committee. Since then, I’ve developed an amazing group of friends within the studio that I will come back to visit as often as I can. The studio’s fondness for parties has also given me ample opportunities to develop friendships with people I’ve barely even worked with. The collaborative nature of game development and the open and friendly environment inside the Stockholm studio really has helped me to feel like part of the team.

Some Of My Favourite Nerds

The “Sam & Frodo Challenge”

As well as my wonderful friendships built at work, there’s my brothers and sisters that I have met during my time with the Stockholm Berserkers. I recall my first time approaching a Berserkers training session, the day after my 30th birthday in the (surprisingly, alarmingly) hot Stockholm summer sun. Stockholm empties during July, and so the first session I attended was a modestly attended affair, where I was reminded of every single one of the 13 years since I’d last pulled on some rugby boots. The session was painful and humbling, and to be honest, that’s a big part of the rugby experience! It wasn’t long after this that I was playing my first game as a Berserker, scoring my first try in my first game with them and running my first naked lap of the pitch as part of my forfeit.

In the intervening years, I’ve been proud to call myself not only a Berserker, but a coach as well. A lot of trust was put in me, and I got my first proper chance to coach at a ladies training camp on a soggy autumn weekend, where the Berserkers hosted women from Karlstad and Åland. From there, my experience and confidence grew, and with the support of a wonderful rugby family, I got to be a part of the Berserkers Men’s first league victory in 2019, both as a player and a coach.

The adventure of going to Amsterdam for the Bingham cup (see previous blog from 2018) is now pure gold in my memory. At the time it hurt and I was constantly tired, with allergies going insane, but I won’t ever forget the bonds that were forged during that tour.

Postgame.

Vi Ses

Like I said before, it’s really difficult to compress 4 years of living in Sweden down to a few pages. I am extremely sorry that due to Covid it’s not possible for me to host a going away party, but I hope you know that this isn’t goodbye forever. I will be back to visit when I can, and I will be just as keen as ever to hug and laugh and joke with you all. Don’t be strangers, and know that once I’m all set up, I will gladly accommodate guests that want to visit and explore the highlands with me.

To all my friends and family back home in Scotland, know that as soon as it’s safe to do so, I’ll be coming to hug all of you.

Imported Viking - Returning To Sender

Ett år i Sverige

Jag trivs i Sverige

 Today; the first of April, 2018 marks the first anniversary of Kara and I setting out to live in Stockholm. In fact, on this particular anniversary, Kara is traveling home from Scotland. Making an almost identical trip as she returns from seeing friends and working at the Scottish tattoo convention.

 Our little apartment on the island of Södermalm has been a base of operations for beautiful walks around the city in summer and the site of a couple of dinner parties, which was something we so rarely did before, being the self-imposed hermits that we were. The proximity of our workplaces to our apartment has been truly appreciated through our first winter in Stockholm, as we realised just how deep and treacherous the snow gets here. Of course, my closeness to work didn't stop me from slipping on ice and opening up my knee on the sharp stones that Stockholm city council uses instead of grit. In true Ross fashion, it was just while I was checking to make sure that everyone in my group had shoes equipped for the detour I had just decided to take. Suffice it to say that despite my allergies and general distaste for warm weather, I am looking forward to the weather clearing slightly. 

Getting this off the ground has taken a lot of work, but it's fun!

 My little table in the corner of the living room has also been the place where I've done most of the work for my new podcast which is slow-going, but for all the best reasons. First of all, researching for a Podcast isn't something I've ever had to do before. The effort involved is a part-time job in of itself. A full-time job if I'd planned to get one out weekly. This is a good thing, as it's giving me a lot of satisfaction to make sure I'm researching properly, even if I know it's all for nought if I never get around to recording and releasing the bloody thing. 

Teambuilding at work involved silver-smithing a set of rings for the team.

 The second thing holding me back from releasing a regular podcast is the fact that I actually leave the house in the evenings these days. Between hanging out with Kara, going to our nearby cinema or just hanging out on a Sunday afternoon to watch a Ghibli movie, it's really nice to have options that involve going for walks around an old city or seeing friends. Speaking of friends, this past year has introduced me to some of the most lovely, charming, interesting and caring people I've ever had the luck to meet. As a couple who don't go out drinking, living in a city where 3 rum and cokes in a pub cost roughly the same as a nice bottle of rum back home didn't seem like the best set-up for making friends. That prediction failed to account for the wonderful colleagues that I have become close to in the last year, and the team-mates from the Stockholm Berserkers who have welcomed me into their fold.

I've never trained for rugby indoors before, but these guys make it fun!

 When I first considered the move to Stockholm, the first thing I did was look at rugby teams and the possibility that I could jump back into the sport after 13 years away. While I had considered that my years spent playing 4 days a week would make me an asset to a team who needed a 19st packhorse, I hadn't pictured that within 6 months, I'd be helping to coach the team. In the past few months, I've been attempting to up my game, both literally and figuratively, as I come to terms with being expected to know what I'm doing on the pitch. This has involved late nights, poring over videos of rugby drills, playbook moves & the basic laws of the game, which have changed a bit since I played at 18. It's a challenge that I'm enjoying, and I'm looking forward to a camp next weekend, where hopefully we can put it all into practice. 

 So things are going well in Stockholm, but like everywhere, it has its downsides. It's incredibly expensive to live here, which was the only downside I had when we moved. In my first year, I also learned that Brits shouldn't have to be mocked for the blandness of British cuisine. Admittedly, our love of curry comes from horrific imperialist colonialisation, but if you want a good curry in Stockholm, it's probably best to learn how to make it yourself. We live next door to a curry house that tends to be quite busy at the weekends, but having sampled some, I just don't think that Swedes have the same standards for curry that a Brit might be expected to have. On top of the aversion to strong spices, Swedes are also obsessed with some of the worst flavours in existence; especially when it comes to sweets. I already knew about licorice and cinnamon being dramatically over-represented in Swedish cuisine, and I was aware of the horror that is Surströmming, but I've also discovered that they love food in tubes. Caviar, prawn mayonnaise & cat vomit all seem to be popular options. I assume that this is a diet choice that makes it easier to transition onto pureed food in later years.

A wall of Swedish food in tubes.

The other thing I've learned about Stockholm that is unfortunate, is that it has a communal mentality that reminds me a little bit of London. While Swedes love their friends and are certainly bigger huggers than Kara and myself, (anyone who knows Kara's stance on hugs will probably laugh at that bit) the general feeling as you walk around Stockholm is a bit more cold, with people pushing in front of you, not even smiling if you hold a door open for them or glaring at you for wearing shorts in the winter months. Ok, that last one might be very specific to me, but I think it's still a poor show.

 All things considered, Sweden is working out really well for me, and I am determined to make the most of my time in this wonderful country. The rugby team will have some games out of town this season, and I'm looking forward to seeing more than just the little towns and villages that used to be distinct, but are now just outer suburbs of Stockholm. Will year 2 match or even beat year 1? With Kara and I planning some holidays and a new group of wonderful friends, I look forward to finding out!

From the day we visited the Aquarium in Stockholm. It was too cold for smiles.

Farväl för nu mina vänner!

Pick Up The Ball & Run

Crouch - Bind - Engage! 

So it's been roughly a month since my last post on here, but I've actually had quite an eventful month. I have turned 30, joined a rugby team, hosted friends and family in our new city and taken my first summer holiday since high school.

 So in my last blog, I mentioned that I had gone along to watch a pair of local teams play at Årsta Rugby Center. It was my intention to approach one of them and say "Hey, I may be fat and haven't run for anything but the ice cream van in 12 years, but I used to play rugby 4 days out of 7. Can I come and train with you guys?"

 Well things ended up going a little differently, but in a really cool way. When I showed up to train with my chosen team of "Hammarby" (The guys wearing Celtic colours) I found a group of ten people getting changed into rugby kit, practicing their drop-kicks and generally just catching up after the weekend. It turned out this this group of guys and girls were the "Stockholm Berserkers."
 

“​​​​​​​Sthlm Berserkers Rugby was founded in January 2011

In the beginning it was a rugby team motivating gay and bisexual guys to venture into one of the toughest and challenging sports there are.
Berserkers built up an environment without prejudice and homophobia
where players could feel comfortable and relaxed.

Berserkers welcome everyone no matter sexual orientation or ethnic origin.

... OUR MOTIVATION Is to be as open and welcoming as the world we want to live in.”

— Stockholm Berserkers' "Story"

After chatting with some of the guys and finding out about the club, I joined in with the training session and immediately found out how right I was about my current state of fitness. Since that day, exactly a month from when I've been writing this, I've been working on my fitness in the gym, on walks with Kara after work and of course, during training sessions out at Årsta. While I feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things, I am a totally different shape to when I was 17. I've morphed from second row into a prop, and while I feel like I'm still strong, I know my stamina isn't where it needs to be. It's ok though, because the team are so nice and welcoming that you always feel that the support is there when you're puffing and wheezing to get over the line.

 On top of my fitness level, there's those aches and pains that I spoke about last time. On top of the rugby, I've also joined some friends in trying to increase my strength with a regimen of weights. It's totally new to me, and I'm a bit of a liability, but I can see and feel my shoulders and arms regain their strength, and I'm really hoping to become a valuable asset to the team.

Heliophobic Hermit Hosts

 So Kara and I have been living in Stockholm for 4 months now. It feels like it's been much longer, as we've done so much and spent entire days exploring the city, but Stockholm continues to unfold in front of us, and we are enjoying visiting corners that we haven't seen yet.

 Avalanche has a standard two week holiday period at the end of July. This seemed weird to us, as this doesn't really happen in the UK. People only tend to take time off around Christmas to go home and see their family. We discovered that the Swedes like to take advantage of the summer by taking stints of 3 to 4 weeks off, which sounds incredible, but completely alien to us.

 I spent my first week trying to stick to a healthy regimen and of course I succeeded in hurting my neck at the gym, with my poor form on the squat racks. I also set myself a task of working on a Twine game, that I'd hoped to finish. Of course, there are challenges to non-linear storytelling, and I am still early in my process of learning how to build a story that accounts for player choice. This is all part of my attempts at forming something - anything that I can put on this site and say "lookie here, I can do a good writings!" Anyway, I was able to hammer out the outlines of each "cell", but the actual prose will need to come later. I'm hoping that as I flesh out the story, the cells will begin to flow, but it's weird to look at a story and see a flow-chart, even though I know that's a basic component of interactive storytelling.

 Our second week was spent in the company of friends & family who had come to see Stockholm. Well, all except from our first day where I took Kara to the gym to get her baseline weight limits and ended up sort-of breaking her. She'll be well placed for working on her strength now, though.

 At the start of the week, our friends Kevin and Penny arrived in town and we went out to Stockholm's amusement park; Gröna Lund.

 It was great to see our friends, who we hadn't caught up with since our wedding, a year and a half ago. Since we last saw them, they've become jet-setting superstars in the world of piercings and body modifications, with Kevin piercing his childhood celebrity crush, amongst many other high profile celebrities. It was great to catch up with them both as they discussed their travels. Like me, Kevin had also just had his thirtieth celebrations, and this trip had followed time spent in Gruyere, Switzerland. 

 As a pair of borderline hermits who don't venture out into direct sunlight, Kara and I may not be the best tour guides in town. Kara can't drink, and I can't afford to drink, so we don't visit many bars, and while we do enjoy finding nice places to eat, readers of previous blogs will note that we pick from the "kids menu" of international cuisine. That being said, we have discovered that it's possible to get delicious pizza from two places nearby. Both "Bananas" at the end of our street, and "Galina's Pizza" at Ringen are fantastic, and if you keep it basic, Galina's is under £10 for a delicious log-fired pizza.

 Because the weather was so nice, we took our visitors out to Gröna Lund. This involved climbing aboard one of the ferries that we'd been wanting to set out on, and it was really cool to have the sea breeze in your face as you approach the sound of loud music, excited chattering and *sigh* children (and adults) screaming on rollercoasters. It was after disembarking and looking around that I remembered "Shit. It's the school holidays." It was an ironic observation, much like my "Rome is ruined by all the visiting tourists." from a few years ago.

 We bought an all-day pass for the rides and set off to wait in our first queue of the day. It actually worked out ok, as it gave us a chance to catch up with our friends while we waited. We went on all the rollercoasters that we wanted to, and the longest queue was for some chicken nuggets. Of course, this was all accompanied by the scorching heat and the sound of screaming and crying kids. Personal highlights from the day include:

1. Realising that by sitting in the same row as me, my friends had doomed themselves when the bar was pushed down as hard as I could on my thighs, still leaving a hearty 2 inch gap between their legs and the bar for them to bounce around in.
2. Hearing the sounds Penny made as we went around the "scary" ride. Especially when the chairs are rigged to poke you in the back.
3. The "toilet monster" on the scary ride. That was great.
4. Seeing Kara get to go on her first "proper" rollercoasters. It was a little dampened by Kara's screams as she clutched onto her only pair of glasses for dear life.

 In the last couple of days during their visit, we also met up with a couple of native Swedish friends and got to play at being tourists in our own city. We took a boat ride under the bridges, listening to an extremely passive-aggressive tour that discussed how Sweden is well known for developing weapons. It struck me as a "so don't mess with us, okay buddy?" We also got to go out eating in our neighbourhood, and try some places that we'd been considering. All-in-all, a great few days.

 As soon as we got off the boat, we waved goodbye to our friends and went to meet my mum and her partner Bob, who had arrived that afternoon. It was really nice to see them, especially as I'd been getting used to seeing more of my mum, just before we moved to Sweden.

 Kara and I felt like bad tour guides, as most of our experiences of Stockholm involved going on nice long walks and taking in the scenery. We walked around Gamla Stan, taking in the beauty of the old city, showing mum the shops we like and the one's we think she'd like. We toured a large section of Södermalm, culminating in a rain-drenched walk to Sofia Kyrka, where I got a nice but drizzly view of the island.

 We also got to visit the Vasa Museum, which houses the ill-fated "Vasa" ship. A cautionary tale against letting an unqualified leader make rash decisions (no subtext); the upside of the Vasa's story is that it leaves modern historians with an incredible relic of the past. While being busy, the museum is climate controlled to keep the wood from rotting away. This made for a very comfortable and cool atmosphere.

 Too soon, it was time to say goodbye to mum and Bob, and we ended our holiday by watching movies and taking a deep breath before getting back into the swing of our usual working week.

Berserker Pride

I don't talk about my personal politics online very much, and while I rarely shy away from engaging in conversation in person, I like to think that anyone who knows me will be aware that I am for equal-rights and inclusion across all groups of people. While I've always considered myself an "ally" to the LGBT community, I've never really done much beyond the occasional reactionary post to something I've read about out of touch politicians trying to score points with bigots.

 Joining a rugby team with its roots in the gay community gave rise to a unique opportunity to actually do something visible, even if it was as simple as walking in a parade. Kara and I were lucky enough to join in the Stockholm pride march, wearing Berserkers colours. Despite still being very new (today marks a month of meeting some of these guys) everyone has been super welcoming and friendly. It also helps that some of them are fellow nerds, and the march was a great opportunity to get to know them better.

 Of course, Stockholm is the bohemian capital of Sweden; the hub of a very progressive and mature society. It would be naive to think that people don't face bigotry in Sweden, but it was really eye-opening to me to see the enormous numbers that lined the streets as the parade passed by. Some open spaces showed hundreds of people, just waving and cheering. My imposter syndrome was in overdrive, as not only have I not actually played a game for the Berserkers yet (stay tuned for the fallout), but I haven't had to go through the sort of issues that pride stands against. It was such a nice environment, I am looking forward to doing it again next year.

 The march itself was an extraordinary experience, as the group in front of us represented a Jiu Jitsu martial arts school, and they would intermittently drop their bags and two of them would spar on the cold wet concrete. Some were even performing holds that had them spinning upside down, their heads scant inches from the ground. For the Berserkers part, my teammates took every opportunity to demonstrate line-outs and scrums. The crowd often went crazy as we hoisted people into the air or wrestled for the ball. I didn't see any skinned knees, so I think it all went to plan. I also learned the Berserkers chant, which we yelled every 50 meters or so, it seems.

 We ended the day with a little picnic up by the observatory. It was great to just relax in the company of some welcoming new friends. I think that I'd have a hard time feeling as satisfied with joining another team, knowing that a crew as great as the Berserkers were out there. I look forward to getting to know you all better.

“Bira, bira bira!

Berserkers!”

— Stockholm Berserkers Chant

Next Time:

I really ought to get back to talking about games, but life has gone from a dreary slow pace to an exciting and frenetic time after we moved to Stockholm. The summer has been quite draining and my hayfever has finally reared it's ugly head. My grass allergies don't make it easy to enjoy rugby, but I'll find a way to make it work. My first game will hopefully be in a week's time, so here's hoping it all goes to plan and I end with all my teeth.

Until next time!

Settling In

A view of the meditation area at Skogskyrkogården.

 It's been a little while since I checked in, and figured that passing the 3 month mark was as good an occasion as any to give an update regarding how things are going with Kara and I. It's incredible to think that we've already spent a quarter of a year over here, and we're still uncovering the secret little treats of just our little island of Södermalm.

 The last month or so has been brilliant for showcasing how the Swedes react to summer. They embrace it and make sure to go out, taking advantage of Stockholm's beautiful open spaces. My theory is that this is to make up for the notoriously dark winters that Scandinavia is known for. Personally, this has been a great summer for me, as my hayfever has been held at bay so far. Most people who know me will wince as they recall the creature I transform into during the spring and summer months. I often describe myself during these seasons as a "human snot volcano", which is an evocative phrase, even if you don't believe me. The fact that I only have Sweden's warm summer days to complain about may cause some of you to roll your eyes, but I feel like while many older people move to southern Spain for their arthritis, I can see me permanently settling in Sweden for my sinuses. Still, that's a decision for another day.

We found a Tri-force on one of our recent walks. It was fitting that Kara was wearing Zelda shoes at the time!

 Kara and I have been taking advantage of living in the center of Stockholm's trendy (is it untrendy to use the word "trendy"?) part of town. Södermalm is hipster heaven, covered in tattoo studios, unironic ugly shoe shops, technology companies (such as Avalanche, Paradox & DICE) and barbers that purport to be all Victorian aesthetic, but have a PS4 in the corner. It's also covered in very cool bars that we will probably never go to, but that hasn't stopped us from appreciating the beautiful traditional spots that we've found around the island. We have been working our way around the island's edge, visiting it by quadrant and taking in the atmosphere.

Söder has many of these wonderful red brick buildings, especially along the waterfront.

 These wanderings have shown us old boats from all over the world, turned into quirky, beautiful and often luxurious-looking house boats. They bob gently next to docks that see regular maintenance and usage. Many of the older ones come with plaques, denoting the origins and original function of the boat. Some of them are former American military boats that were used in the D-Day landings. There are also a few larger boats that have been converted into restaurants, hotels and even a delightfully tacky pirate-themed one, featuring a fiberglass shark dangling from a rope, and some weather beaten pirates with unconvincing comb-overs. It's a little bit like if Madame Tussauds was an attraction in Blackpool that someone had fished out of the sea.

A fountain in one of Söder's parks.

A glimpse of Sofia Kyrka.

 Stockholm continues to delight pretty much every time we go walking, with so many little streets and hidden surprises. On one of the nights when summer was beginning to really blossom, we rounded a corner to find a large open square, roughly 300 square feet, that had been allocated for dancing. And it was packed. People lazed on the grass, waiting on their turn to dance, watching the cyclists, joggers and walkers passing by. I've never been summer's biggest fan, but seeing how much it meant to the Swedes to go out and claim their city was something I found really endearing.

 Kara and I have also ventured outside of our immediate neighbourhood, most memorably travelling out to Skogskyrkogarden; a UNESCO world heritage sight and by far the largest cemetery I've ever visited. While Kara normally enjoys looking for the more elaborate or macabre headstones, I think we both enjoyed the peace and tranquility that permeated the area on the beautiful day that we visited. It was eye-opening to see just how many people are buried there, but the trees and landscape are something to behold.

 I have been attempting to get "back on it" at the gym. This is hopefully the beginning of me getting back into rugby, which is a hobby I haven't indulged in for over 12 years now. I miss the game, and while I'm out of shape, I'd like to think that I still have some of the old instincts. That doesn't count for much if I can't run the length of the pitch without collapsing afterwards, so I'm hoping to get in a decent state in anticipation of the next year's season. Kara and I went to watch the two teams I'm considering play against each other, and I am yet to make up my mind. One team is made up of ex-pats, while the other is a more Swedish team, but both extol an ethos of inclusivity and friendship. One of them plays in green and white hoops, which is a colour scheme that makes me wonder what my dad would say if he was to see me wearing it.

Arsta Rugby Center in Stockholm is a surprising find, given Scandinavia only recently taking up the sport.

 As we enter July, it becomes startlingly clear that I am about to exit my twenties. Age has never really been a significant worry for me before, but since my Dad's passing and my further analysis of my progenitor's related health issues, I do find myself with a more healthy awareness of my own body reacting to the passage of time. I don't know how much of this is exiting the normal teens and twenties "I am invincible" mentality and realising that the aches and pains you've felt the last six months aren't necessarily going away. That being said, I am very well placed for someone in their thirties. I have a beautiful wife who I just accompanied into her thirties, I work in the industry I want to make a career in, surrounded by talented and supportive colleagues, living an adventure in a city that doesn't look likely to run out of excitement in the next few years. It's a good time to be in Sweden.
 

Some awesome pixel art at Thormildsplan.

Walking up to the meditation area at Skogskyrkogarden

A small part of Skogskyrkogarden, with Greta Garbo's grave at the far end.

Our First Month of Nordic Living

The cherry blossoms in Kungstradgarden.

From Rain to Snow

 At the time of writing this, I am sat at my desk in our little flat in central Södermalm, enjoying the feeling that comes after the first warm day of the year. Today (May 1st) also marks the end of the first month that Kara and I have spent in Sweden. My sense of time is distorted, as I feel like we've done a lot in the past month. We have been tourists, I have been acclimating to my new job at Avalanche, and we've both been working to find the daily routine in our lives. While we have lived in the west-end of Edinburgh before, we've never lived in a city as big as Stockholm, and the options for things to do can be a little bit overwhelming. This is a good thing though, as it's allowing us to go out and explore the city piece-by-piece.

My "Welcome Package" that was awaiting me on my first day at Avalanche. Look at that fancy embossed notebook!

 Our first week here, it seemed that the weather was much the same as it had been in Scotland. Of course, it would be churlish to complain about cold weather after moving to Sweden, but even the locals were upset that spring was taking its time to show up. In-fact, we had numerous snow showers in the first fortnight here, which made for a nice setting, even if the snow didn't stick around for long. But I digress; nobody is interested in the Swedish weather.

 Out & About in Stockholm

 During our first month here, we have done our fair share of exploring, with most of our recent adventures all being done on foot. Stockholm is a busy city with a lot going on and an expansive metro system, but Kara and I have found ourselves wandering across Slussen and into Gamla Stan to explore the sights, sounds and even the tastes of the old town before walking back home. One major source of concern is the shop "Science-Fiction Bokhandeln" which contains pretty much everything we want in our home. Fortunately we are behaving ourselves until we have a steady two-person income. Our neighbourhood is very well placed, with numerous supermarkets and public amenities close-by, and during a recent timed exercise, I was door-to-desk in 6 minutes. My recent commute from Perth to Dundee involved over an hour each way of commuting, so it's really nice to have so little wasted time making my way to work. That being said, I am really struggling to fit in all of my podcasts, now that I've lost my commute!

One of the beautiful shop fronts in Gamla Stan. This is a sweet shop!

I don't even want to know how long it took to arrange it...

  Our first "day out" was of course; the trip to Ikea to supply ourselves with all the essentials a Scottish couple needs. Naturally, this involved me buying a £12 potato masher, which is expensive, even by Swedish standards. It does appear to be the king of all potato mashers, but still, if it wasn't for Kara's pleading, I don't know if I would have buckled. Our apartment in the city is small, so I know we don't need to worry about buying a lot of furniture. Truth be told, it's quite refreshing to know that our next house move won't involve begging family members (sorry Doug) to help. Both Ikea trips that we've taken so far have involved utilising Stockholm's expansive (and a little expensive) transit system. We've been to cities with Metro systems before, but that was as tourists. It felt utterly bizarre to be sweating under the weight of two flat-packed chest of drawers as we sat in a busy carriage home.

That's right, kids. This masher has a spring action and two layers! That means twice as much "lolly" at the end of mashing.

 On the 14th of April, Kara and I decided to take a walk out of our way to explore the western side of Södermalm. We ventured out and discovered "Tantolunden"; a large park with an impressive open-air sports area, including a couple of football pitches and a basketball court which has a surface that doesn't look conducive to the bouncing of a ball. It was impressive to see such wonderful facilities were wide open the public, with a distinct lack of vandalism that one might expect elsewhere. If Kara and I wanted to play a quick game of football (I'm sure that me thinking it just sent a shiver up her spine) then we easily could have. We walked onwards and up quite a large hill to find a "light" blizzard, and allotments that put any I've seen before to shame. Almost all of them looked like they'd fit in The Shire, with quirky designs and paint schemes. Bearing in mind that only the daffodils appeared to be blooming at this point, it's impressive that most of the allotments looked like someone was still tending to them at least every week. Despite the weather, I have pleasant memories of the trip, seeing how well respected the public spaces seem to be, even if there was a little graffiti on some of the bins.

A nice little arrangement on a Tantolunden allotment.

One of the allotments on Tantolunden.

 As luck would have it, Kara entertained some friends as they visited Stockholm, leading to her having visited the Vasa Museum without me!  This was the utmost betrayal, as I was fascinated with the concept of a warship that was designed by the king and sank before even leaving the harbour. Still, Kara made it up to me by proposing a trip to "Skansen"; the world's first open-air museum. We took advantage of one of my three bank holidays (or "red days" as they're known in Sweden) that I've had in the past month to travel into the city and visit this amazing arrangement of preserved farmer's cottages, shacks from the Norwegian wilderness and an impressive range of animals, including brown bears, grey wolves and a pair of lynx. We visited on a day where a "master folk musician" married couple were putting on a show which involved an impressive range of instruments and a small history lesson. Kara took advantage of Facebook's "LIVE" functionality to transmit a short concert to some of her friends, which was cool. As we wandered around some of the more modern buildings, we decided that if we buy a house, we'd like to paint the outside to look in the colourful traditional Swedish way. There were numerous old farmsteads that were honestly like going back to the world of the Witcher or something. It did occur to me that as much as I refer to Kara's home town as being like Skyrim, I'm now living in one of the countries that inspired the setting of Skyrim itself. I can't wait to get outside the city.

One of the MANY impressive buildings that are part of Skansen.

Skansen has a couple of cool windmills.

 On Saturday 29th, we decided to head out into the city for "Kulturnatt"; or "Culture Night" where the city's museums open their doors to the public for an evening of exhibitions, including some of the royal family's personal collections. I spent a couple of hours planning the most efficient route for us to see everything and in the end, I forgot about one of the exhibits I really wanted to see, but in the end, we did see some cool stuff. Unfortunately, my love of history and museums was overcome by my dislike for crowds, and of course on the night when everything is open for free, the crowds are crazy. After a wander around a floor of the royal palace, a tour of their armoury museum and tagging onto the tour at the Medieval museum, we called it a night. I'd come to the conclusion that I'd rather pay some money to wander around at my own pace, instead of being unable to read the plaques due to a constant stream of people. I'm not entirely sure what part of that last sentence makes me sound more like an old man...

The design for some kind of cyber-horse...probably.

Old Swedish kings loved guns like modern American nutters do.

 Since we got here, Kara has been giving me not-so-subtle hints about the boat tours that tourists can go on, allowing for quite a great deal of sightseeing, as Stockholm is built across a series of islands. Because today was so warm and sunny, I decided to relent and we went on the Stockholm "Ocean Bus". Kara was giddy as the bus pulled up to the stop and after the last tour disembarked, we clambered aboard. The experience of driving around in a bright blue truck that has been sealed at the bottom and converted into a bus on top must be like the experience of driving around in a limo with loud music blaring. As we looked out of the window, people stopped and stared, some even took photos. The fact that the front of the bus had been painted to look like a shark's mouth probably didn't help. The stares and picture taking was only amplified when we approached the side of the water and the driver charged in (to the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean). Kara had such a massive smile on her face as the bus transformed into a boat and we powered on into the water. The tour itself was pretty good, due in no small part to the tour guide; Paul. His playful snipes about certain aspects of Swedish culture and Stockholm itself were nicely interspersed with interesting facts about the sights as we passed by. Facts such as "Södermalm is composed of 90% hipsters. Does anyone here live on Södermalm?" of course, as I sheepishly raised my hand, he said that my beard was a dead giveaway. I thought that was a little unfair, as I wasn't even wearing a plaid shirt...at that very moment.

 His tour did briefly mention "Kungsträdgården" with its many cherry trees, which Kara and I arrived in time to see blooming. It's a beautiful open space, with water fountains and on a hot day, it's packed with people just chilling out and enjoying their city. We actually walked through it a few days beforehand, after we had taken a trip to the "Skatterverket" or the Swedish tax agency, so that we could begin the process of getting our personal numbers that will allow us to settle in the country on an indefinite basis. Despite our worries about the time-dragging power of bureaucracy, we were in and out again within an hour or so. 

Adopting Hygge

 Ok, so technically "Hygge" is a Danish concept, but it's a big thing throughout Scandinavia, where the concepts of being professional and being comfortable are not mutually exclusive. The boss wears jeans and a polo shirt to the office, shoes are often swapped with sandals or birkenstocks, or (and I have genuinely seen this at my work) some people wear big fluffy socks and jogger bottoms to work. Now I'm not saying that I'm going to be showing up to work in my PJs, but Sweden has definitely got things going in the right direction. Between the flexible and fair timekeeping schedule, a generous supply of hot drinks including a range of teabags that's making me wish I liked tea, free (and encouraged) massages, after-work social events, and a workplace full of friendly, happy people; I've definitely got a workplace Hygge going on.

 Of course, it helps a lot that I only have a little five minute wander home, ensuring that I'm not in a bad mood from dealing with delayed trains, rude commuters or the simple act of hanging around train stations for longer than is absolutely necessary. I am glad to say that Hygge has also followed me home. We're both "nesters" you could say, so we always make a special effort to make our living space more enjoyable and practical. We have an absolutely massive couch, so we can enjoy movies or tv shows together while being super comfortable. We also now have our own little work spaces on each side of the living room, so as I am typing away here, Kara is doing the same behind me. We haven't been here long, but I feel like we're already making this the kind of place we want to be.

 Another incredible contribution to our living arrangement is the discovery of the Scandinavian Double Duvet System which is wonderful for Kara and me, as I am normally a furnace at all hours and will end up kicking off covers as I sleep. This is no longer a problem, now that we sleep with two duvets. I would heartily recommend it to anyone else.

 That's all for now. It's most definitely bedtime for me. I am looking forward to getting back to updating my blog, and hopefully playing some games that I can talk about in the next installment. I've been on a bit of an indie rampage of late, so I have some games to talk about, including Jazzpunk, This War of Mine and Oxenfree.

 All that and more, coming soon.

Education Through Youtube (Part 1)

Getting With The Times

 On a recent episode of Brashcast; the podcast I host with my good friend Liam, we were discussing the recent "PewDiePie" racism scandal. This brought us around to the topic of whether or not we are simply too old to watch these youtube "personalities", as we both expressed the opinion that neither of us were fans of PewDiePie, but being guys who enjoy gaming and with an ear to the ground for gaming news, we were both aware of him and his particular schtick. The issue of his credibility as an entertainer came up, and while I acknowledged that his latest scandal was made worse by his inarticulate attempt at "being real for a second, guys", I did appreciate that it must be tough to evolve his channel from the sort of loud, whacky, pandering nonsense that made him a multi-millionaire to something that really tries to say something important. The tonal shift between what his fans expect from him and the stunt that he pulled (which I won't go into, as it's not strictly relevant) is more than most people were ready for, and he's paid the price for it. He has lost sponsors, who were happy for him to shout into his microphone while playing bad games, with a fanbase of tweens looking on in adulation.

PewDiePie misjudged his audience and how his sponsors would react to his change in content.

 The whole conversation on Brashcast caused me to consider the evolution of Youtube as an entertainment and educational medium. Every once in a while, youtube celebrates its milestones by recounting its most famous videos. Sneezing pandas, Charlie biting his brother's finger and every iteration of the bunker scene from "Downfall" with misspelled comedy subtitles have been entertaining us in short chunks for over a decade now. While I am still as prone to watching cat videos or shows about videogame news, I have in recent years started to accumulate a catalogue of youtube creators who are dedicated to improving the world, one viewer at a time. These people are scattered throughout youtube, and regardless of what your chosen passions may be, there's almost certainly a professional that has decided to start a channel where you can learn how to improve yourself.

 I've heard people speak about how they would have killed for the free information that circulates on the internet these days, and that "kids these days" don't realise the resources that they have now. There are channels dedicated to fitness, yoga, composing and performing music, make-up tutorials and even some candid discussions on mental health from people who are going through or have gone through tough times. Personally, I have used youtube tutorials and a bit of "google-fu" to perform the following tasks:

• Build a Raspberry Pi emulation machine
• Fix my bike when it was broken
• Build a PC
• Start a blog
• Record a podcast
• Make chiptunes
• Create very simple games in Unity
• Figure out where to go on Holiday, and what to do when I'm there
• Work out what backpack to buy

 And the list goes on. I feel like many people don't give youtube the acknowledgement it deserves as an educational tool, and while guides to performing relatively simple tasks like burying your waterlogged phone in rice are useful for some, I'd like to take the time to acknowledge the youtube creators who are committing themselves to educating people. These are the men and women who have redeemed youtube in my eyes, raising it above a casual source for videos of dogs greeting their estranged owners, cats being rescued from highway embankments and short comedic skits (all styles that I have personally enjoyed). 

 Being the colossal nerd that I am, I have chosen some shows that follow the theme of dissecting pop-culture and teaching us about why we enjoy the movies, books and of course; the video games that we love so much. I've also chosen some shows that are straight-up educational tools to assist an aspiring writer and game designer. This will read a little bit like my blog about the podcasts that I love, and hopefully it will inspire some people to check them out. Many of you have probably already figured out that youtube is an awesome resource for self-improvement, but I felt like after bashing PewDiePie and by extension, youtube "personalities", I should acknowledge that there's way more to it than that. Here is a list of the Youtube channels that have been inspiring me lately. Please note that each title header comes with a link to the relevant creator's Patreon Page, where you can support them in their work and even get rewards.

Crash Course

 Hank and John Green are internet superstars at this point, having started the "Brotherhood 2.0" project back in 2007, with the ambition of forming a tighter bond between two brothers who live in different parts of the USA. As someone who is soon to be living in a different country from both of his brothers, I can understand the calling to maintain regular contact. John is an accomplished author, who has given TED talks and is at this point, if not an authority; then at least a competent conversationalist on the topic of almost everything. Hank is a trained Biochemist, climate change activist and entrepreneur who also speaks across a huge range of subjects.

 The two brothers created the channel "Crash Course" in 2012. This channel was designed as a primer of sorts, for the different subjects that were available on the American High School curriculum. While the show is child-friendly, it teaches about subjects that I knew little or nothing about. I don't recall how I stumbled across it, but I have thoroughly enjoyed learning about a range of subjects thanks to the Green brothers. Subjects such as:

• Literature
• Computer Science
• Physics
• World History
• American History
• "Big" History (History of the Universe, etc)
• Psychology
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Economics
• Philosophy and even more...

 While the brothers used to host the shows, when they started getting increasingly busy, they reached out to specialists to help them. They are always interesting, even if the subject itself isn't your cup of tea, and they always have cute little interstitial videos that are sprinkled throughout the shows. The Green brothers created the group "Nerd-fighters" with the slogan "Don't Forget To Be Awesome!" (or DFTBA) and they are seemingly one of the internet age's true forces for good. It's just lucky that they're entertaining as well.

Recommended Videos:

1.  Crash Course US History #1
2. Crash Course World History #1 (yes, I am a history nerd)
3. Crash Course Literature: The Odyssey

 

The Nerdwriter

The Nerdwriter channel is essentially a series of short video essays, dissecting elements of modern society, with a particular emphasis on movies and TV. Its creator Evan Puschak is a former film student and has been making videos as the Nerdwriter since 2011. He describes the channel's aim as "cultivating worldview", and while his Patreon blurb comes across as a little bit high-minded and pretentious, his videos are genuinely insightful and intelligently written essays on whatever he wants to discuss. As mentioned, he has a particular predeliction for cinema, but he has also covered topics such as social media, video games and even political discourse. His breakdown of how Trump speaks has left me unable to un-hear it.

 His dissection of films cover the full range of disciplines, from acknowledgement of the pacing of a particular scene, what makes an actor like Anthony Hopkins special and why he believes that "Passable Movies" need to become a thing of the past if innovation is to have its place. While not explicitly educational, his videos offer insight into not only the imaginary worlds of movies and TV, but also the way human beings are manipulated by what they see.

Recommended Videos:

1. Scott Pilgrim: Make Your Transitions Count
2. How Donald Trump Answers A Question
3. Helm's Deep: How To Film An Epic Battle

History Buffs

Nick Hodges' "History Buffs" is a show for those of us who can't help but feel uncomfortable watching a movie, knowing that it's rife with historical inaccuracies. Maybe it's part of being Scottish and having sat through Braveheart on multiple occasions, but it's always troubling for a history nerd like me to watch a movie without the opportunity to express my frustration at the seemingly simple mistakes that studios make in the name of mass-market appeal, simplification or simple ignorance.

 In the show, Nick dissects a well known movie that is based on true historical events. He doesn't pay specific attention to a particular era, and so his shows cover World War 2 (Saving Private Ryan) to Ancient Rome and Greece (Gladiator & 300). Maybe it's because I myself am an insufferable know-it-all, but I really enjoy learning little bits of history as I see movies (some being good, others not so much) being discussed on screen.

 His shows do vary in length, though. I quite like the 10-25 minute long episodes, but I can understand if some people wouldn't want to sit and watch his episodes on Apollo 13 or Dances With Wolves, which are almost an hour long. If nothing else, his show might inspire you to go back and watch a favourite old movie with an eye for the little things you might have missed.

Recommended Videos

1. Amadeus
2. Braveheart
3. Saving Private Ryan

Knowledge Hub/Alternate History Hub

 So this channel isn't strictly educational, as much as it is an artful use of geography, history and anthropology to create science-fiction stories of the "what if?" varieties. From the now cliche question of "what if the Nazis had won?" to the somewhat ironic "what if YouTube destroyed us all?", Cody has steered his channel in a way that crosses fan-service with genuine research and goes some ways to settling those geeky arguments that friends have about  both real-life history and their favourite movies and TV shows.

 The show always points out that this is just speculation, and that realistically, it's almost impossible to predict what would have happened had things gone differently. He does always back up his ideas with well researched study of the subject, often projecting the ramifications of these alternate timelines outwards to their final conclusions. The result is really a series of short-form sci-fi stories that are well presented and professionally made. Eat your heart out, Phillip K. Dick!

Recommended Videos

1. What If JFK Was Never Assassinated?
2. What If The Black Death Never Happened?
3. The Obligatory "What If Germany Won WW2?

Coming in Part 2

 So that's it for part 1. I hope that anyone reading might be inspired to try out one or maybe more of these channels. Their creators are constantly working to make the world a better place, and to spread a message that it's cool and fun to learn. I know that makes me sound like a high school school teacher who's just "trying to reach the keedz" but I think that these shows are doing a good job of supplanting a lot of the crap that America passes off as "documentaries". While the "History Channel" and "Discovery" take the 4 minutes between adverts to show us obese racists who made a fortune on duck whistles, or people raking through defaulted storage lockers, this content is educating and entertaining us at the same time. (Although I did have to sit through a short advert about car insurance that had James Corden in it, which was a trial).

 In part 2, I will focus my beam of praise on the video creators who are educating me in my career as a videogame developer and helping me to understand what makes a videogame worth playing, and how the industry can push forwards. I know this is a more niche topic, which is why I covered my more "pop culture" themed shows in part 1. The next part will cover videos about game design, storytelling and narrative design, game development as a business, AI & behaviour models, as well as some slightly drier lectures from the legends of the games industry.

 Until then, thanks for reading!

We're Going On An Adventure!

 I will admit that I have been neglecting this blog of late. I have been quite preoccupied since Christmas, due to a mixture of several issues, including an upsetting and prolonged family loss, my fragmented living arrangements and a seemingly never-ending stream of rejections from studios that I had hoped would open their doors. Believe it or not, I've been in a single continuous job hunt since July 18th 2016. My head has been all over the place, and it's made it very difficult to focus on my own personal projects, as many evenings have been spent refining cover letters, applying to companies across Europe and scouring corporate websites.

Back In The Saddle

 I am so very relieved to say that my time spent hunting has been rewarded, and that Kara and I are moving to Stockholm in Sweden, so that I can continue to pursue a career in game development as a QA Technician at Avalanche Studios. We are planning on a late March/ early April move so that Kara can attend her very first Scottish Tattoo Convention as an artist, and to give us time to prepare for a move of this magnitude. I've never lived abroad before, and Kara had never so much as set foot outside the UK until we visited Italy in 2014. We are both excited and terrified.

 This news comes less than a year after discovering that Reloaded was not only failing to send us to the USA, which we had been planning for since 2015; but I was losing my job. To describe the past 8 months or so as "tumultuous" seems to be an understatement. The paralysis of not being able to plan more than a month in advance had been banished and it was quite freeing, after more than a year of worrying about the move. Of course, it left me jobless and I set myself the task of getting back into the industry. After numerous rejections, I was finally able to get myself a job at eeGeo in Dundee, where I was lucky to be surrounded by a dedicated, considerate and friendly group of guys. While 3D mapping software was not the area of development that I wanted to progress, it did allow me to gain an understanding of a totally alien process, as well as refining and sharpening my QA skills. They came along at a time where I was really flagging and it gave me the confidence boost I needed to keep going with my hunt for a permanent games industry job.

 While Kara and I were on holiday in Girona, I received a missed call from a girl called Emma who worked at OPM recruitment, and she was wondering how my job hunt was getting on, asking me to get back in touch with her. I had previously not had much joy with recruiters, having only received one Skype interview that resulted in a "no". After our first phone call, Emma came back with two potential roles, one of which I am only now taking. She has been a positive force that played a pivotal role in not only helping me to secure this position, but she has counselled and generally steered my crazy paranoia out of the way so that we could focus on being the best candidate available. The entire process has lasted about 3 months, some of which has included long bouts of self-deprecation and doubt, as well as returning the stress of not being able to plan beyond a month in advance, as we waited to hear back from them. It is immensely satisfying to have that uncertainty lifted and to be free to plan for the future again.

 So now the plans are starting to form. It's going to be a tough month and a half, but with any luck, this new job is going to be the payoff after what I am personally calling "The Harshest Winter in Memory". I'd like to thank everyone who offered words of encouragement and hope. While it's often seen as the polite thing to do, the positivity has truly helped when I was feeling beaten down.

Grabbing The Wheel

This picture of Fernando Alonso flying upside down through the air at 150kmph is how I've felt in recent months.

Getting Back In Control

 It's been a month since I last posted anything on my blog, and I know that while I don't have readers to "keep happy" with updates, I am disappointed in myself for not keeping up to date with my writing. It's been a bit topsy-turvy this last few months, and I think that it's important for me to log my thoughts on how things have been, considering unemployment and general misery are hurdles that most people face in their adult life at some point, and I'd like to take some net positives out of the experience.

 Finding the "silver lining" has definitely been difficult since I was made redundant. I suppose the changes I've had to make to my lifestyle have been felt more accutely due to how happy and contented I was in my previous job. I was working in the games sector, I'd recently been promoted and I worked next to one of my now closest friends. Every day felt like I was moving (sometimes slowly) forwards on a career path that I set for myself while I casually worked on putting pieces of my novel together, listening to podcasts like Writing Excuses and reading "Slay The Dragon" while I worked on getting to the gym as regularly as possible and convincing myself that I was making the most of my day, which was tightly packed for maximum efficiency. 

 When I lost the job, not only did my financial situation suddenly become extremely tenuous, I found myself unable to focus on writing my novel, mainly due to a mixture of guilt for not having immediately found another games industry job and a general dread at the thought of "going backwards". Before this experience, losing a job hadn't felt so bad because I'd always been around the bottom rung on the ladder, but now it felt as if I'd actually lost something real and tangible, as opposed to just another low paying retail or hospitality job. It turns out that while I did end up "going backwards", it did remind me that it's incredibly important to have a goal in life, and that knowing what's worth chasing adds colour to an otherwise grey and drab working life.

 I was lucky enough to be able to find some work in Bathgate, which isn't as easy as you might think. It's a relatively small town, with a few shops and bars, but the size of Bathgate makes opportunities harder to find. My morale and self-worth were in tatters at this point, as I'd been turned down for jobs that I felt I was bound to be qualified for, but at this stage I feel I maybe just wasn't right for; there's no point in sour grapes. Knowing that I'd be hammered with tax, I picked up a full-time retail job in a pawn shop and some part-time work in a bar & restaurant. I was really lucky to have been able to inform both employers that I would be actively seeking work in an environment that would help my career (ie- nerd stuff) and still receive a job offer. Most employers want a little more commitment than "I'll work here until I find something better." but they must have appreciated my honesty and within a day of handing out CVs, I had 1.5 jobs. It relieved some of the stress that was hanging over me, knowing that I'd at least be able to pay the bills, but I was more determined than ever to keep pushing for games industry jobs. I applied to agencies, I sent emails to recruitment departments at studios with speculative applications. I even built the site you're reading this blog on with the intention of finding a good job and getting back on track.

 For a long time nothing came through, and while I never felt like I "gave up", I definitely allowed myself to slide into a funk which only made me feel worse. I wasn't going to the gym and I wasn't sleeping well at all (which is still the case, actually) and I made up for it by eating pretty much whatever I wanted, but with the added guilt of knowing I shouldn't. I was grumpy and lethargic, unhappy and sick. I have actually been ill more in the last three months than in the last two years, and it makes me wonder if the cause is working with the public and handling money again, or if it's my poor mental state and physical discipline that's crushing me. I kept looking and applying, sending off speculative applications and even applying to "dream jobs" with the conceit that after having had such a crappy couple of months, maybe CD Projekt Red would address the karmic balance with a writing position. Of course, this didn't happen, but I am pleased to say that I have been super lucky in finding a short contract role that is going to allow me to improve my skills, widen my experience and work in a software development studio that has a few very cool projects going that I am excited to be a part of. I have taken this job and made it the turning point for my life. I am grabbing the wheel and taking control.

I really hope to have more moments like this in the next three months

Finding The Silver Lining

 So with all of the "woe is me", "regular jobs are torture" self pitying stuff out of the way, I am genuinely excited to be starting the next phase in my career. Reloaded gave me my start in game development, and my new employer "eeGeo" are working on some really cool 3D mapping technology that I am excited to learn about. On top of a new job, I'll be moving back to Perth for at least 6 months, as my new job is in Dundee; commuting distance away from my family home in "The Bronx" of Perth - Letham. Anyone who's moved away from their home town will probably have a similar mixture of feelings about the prospect of moving back. The memories of why you moved away in the first place will probably crop up, alongside a rush of nostalgia about the people and places you remember fondly. I left Perth largely because I was bored and all of my friends lived in Edinburgh or Glasgow. I currently live in Armadale in West Lothian and take a bus to work in Bathgate or Livingston's DMZ "Craigshill" so the opportunity of moving TO Perth actually offers more interesting things to do and people to see. Just the thought of being able to take my mountain bike around Perth's beautiful parks or countryside is especially appealing, as is the prospect of being able to chill in the pub for a drink or two after work with some friends I used to hang out with at the Games Workshop when we were in our teens. Knowing me and my habits, I'll probably still just want to spend most of my time sat in front of my computer; writing or playing games.

 The real downside to all of this is that Kara works in Bathgate and is similarly career-minded. She has secured herself a job as a tattoo artist that she enjoys and spends a lot of her evenings working on. This means that we will be living apart for a while, as the commute from Armadale would be extortionate and would require me to be awake at around 5am, I'll wager. We are buying a new car this Friday, which I would be more excited about if I was able to drive it. The plan is for Kara to visit me as much as she can, and a new car will make it much easier and cheaper than coming up by train or relying on an old car that rattles a bit. I planned to be driving by now, but Reloaded are yet to pay up our severance pay, and after three months, my faith in their ability to come through for us is wavering. Suffice to say that any money coming in is going to be going right back out again, but isn't that always the way?

Where's The Fun?

 Apologies to anyone reading this who isn't me. I know the above text is basically just an outpouring of my current mental state, but it's pretty accurate. Let's get on to the good stuff that's coming up.

Honeyversary/Annimoon In Catalonia

So Kara and I have nearly been married for a year. It's mind-boggling to consider where our lives were a year ago. The "American Dream" was definitely tarnished by the distinct lack of updates on the whole process, but we were still anticipating a big American adventure. Little did we think that a year later, we'd be living apart and working in different counties. Still, we took all of the resources we'd been saving for the states and put them into a proper holiday. We haven't been out of the country since 2014 and we wanted to go somewhere that shows an adequate level of pageantry for Halloween, to keep Kara happy. We leave for Barcelona on October 26th and we'll also be spending a little time in Girona, just a little ways up the eastern Spanish coast. Expect the blog to turn into a travel journal for that one, much as it did for our Italian trip. Kara's eating wheat again now, so hopefully we won't have such a hard time eating.

What? No Games?

I have been playing games, I promise! I started playing "Pillars Of Eternity" on my PC, as my brother had gifted it to me last Christmas. I am really enjoying it, but I won't say any more about it this time. Hopefully I'll get a chance to come back to it in the blog, as I'm really enjoying it.

That's all for this post, but if you made it this far, then thank you for reading! Stay tuned for Spanish travel stories - coming soon!