Challenge #34: No caffeine for a week

Addiction: Compulsive physiological and psychological need for a habit-forming substance.

Sadly, I think this challenge has been the most difficult so far.

It's interesting because so many look down on people with addictions, yet everyday millions of people 'need' to have their morning coffee. That is addiction, my friends. And giving up is painful.

Literally painful. The first day of my caffeine free week I thought I was dying. Splitting headache, irritable, tired. I was Miss Crabby Pants with a headache on top. And no amount of painkillers numbed the pain. (And yes, I do acknowledge the fact that I used one drug to get over another drug...)

The second day was the same. And the third. By the fourth day my sanity had started crawling back into my brain. By the fifth I was almost back to normal.

Actually, I should probably admit that this challenge has lasted two extra days because on my second day I bought and consumed a drink without thinking. Iced Tea. Despite the fact that I doubt 'Black Tea Extract' has very much caffeine in it, I decided that I needed to do the two extra days to really deem this challenge complete.

So I guess the question everyone is asking is: when are we going for coffee? Well, not any time soon. Addiction, of any sort, is not anyone's friend. So I'm keeping the coffee for special occasions for the moment.

Tea? Now that's another story. That's not really an addiction... It's a national past time!

Challenge #52: Watch 'Withnail and I'

This challenge stems from a hamster named 'Jeff Wode'.

Intrigued by this name, I soon discovered that he was briefly mentioned in the film, 'Withnail and I'. And so I decided that I needed to see this classic British film.

Set in Camden (although I recognised none of the scenery), two out of work actors, Withnail and Marwood (what is with the names in this film?!), decide to go to the country for a break from their non-existent work lives.

That's about all there is to the film itself. There is also the weird 'Uncle Monty' who pays a surprise visit and spends most of the time hitting on Marwood (who doesn't do a very good job a repelling his affection I don't think). They drink a lot and Withnail goes off on ridiculous rants. Also they have no wellingtons so they wear plastic bags on their feet. Genius idea!

Highlight was definitely the 'Jeff Wode' part, an athlete who was taking anabolic steroids and probably has "huge balls" according to Withnail.

A fairly easy challenge to complete really, but I think if it wasn't a challenge I would have switched the film off very soon after the famous 'Jeff Wode' part. I'm sure there was some deeper meaning, but Sunday evening is not the time to find one.

Challenge #18: Listen to a new album everyday for a week

I set myself this challenge because I often buy or acquire albums and then fail to listen to them in their entirety. It was an interesting experience listening to one band or artist without skipping tracks. I usually just have my entire library on 'random' so this seemed like what normal people do when listening to music.

Day One: Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
There's been a lot of hype about this album, mostly because of Liam Gallagher. He's been dissing his brother saying he's the less talented one. And everyone who's heard the album have said that he's wrong. And also a douche. I tend to agree... Pretty good album really, it'll end up on my rotation I'm sure. Has a very Oasis feel to it. Obviously.

Day Two: Crowded House - Woodface
Aussie band or Kiwi band? I know the Finn bros are Kiwis but apparently the band was formed in Melbourne... Anyway, there's something Aussie about these songs, maybe it's just that I grew up listening to them. Sitting on the train, watching London rush by seemed a contradiction.

Day Three: James Morrison - Songs for you, truths for me
Uplifting love songs I guess you could say... This kind of album tends to make me reminisce about past loves and when the song finishes I suddenly wonder why I was remembering someone who was clearly an idiot. I could take this guy or leave him though. Nothing original or particular brain exploding here.

Day Four: Tim Minchin and the Heritage Orchestra
The only problem with listening to this album is the fact that it makes me giggle. Not that I have a problem with that, but it does mean looking a bit deranged on the train. No one smiles on the train. Everyone is sleepy and on their way to work and probably had to run for the train like me. So grinning like an idiot to musical lyrical genius lines like "only a ginger can call another ginger ginger" doesn't really work. But it was totally worth it.


Day Five: Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003
One of those bands that I clearly know but never really knew. I.e. just about every song on this album, I already knew and thought, "Ahh, that's who plays this song". Man on the Moon: awesome classic. John Stipe has an interesting voice, very expressive I think. Almost a little haunting. With a career spanning so many years, he's obviously doing something right!


Day Six: Don't Bore Us - Get to the Chorus! Roxette's Greatest Hits
Yeh, girl power!! This made my Saturday morning trek to Earl's Court that much more enjoyable... When "It Must Be Love" came on, I very nearly regaled the entire street with my own rendition... 


Day Seven: Radiohead
What I'm about to say will make it obvious that I'm not cool. I don't really get Radiohead. I think they are one of those bands that all the cool music kids love and I just think... Whinge whinge whinge. Not so much the lyrics, more his voice. Don't get me wrong, there are some songs I love by Radiohead (i.e. "Talk Show Host" from R+J). "Paranoid Android" is another good un. But I doubt that this album will be making a regular appearance on my playlist...