So, judging by the reaction I got to last night’s post, I think I may be a touch addicted to EVE to the detriment of other things. Let’s find something to replace that with! I’ve always liked running. As a kid, I could effortlessly run 1500m races and do well, and win at 400m and stuff. I tried some longer distances too, 4k, 5k. It was good. But then I got older, discovered alcohol, self abuse, developed growing-related knee pains I could use as an excuse and suddenly university happened. Just as suddenly, university finished, and I was thrown out the door into the real world. …

Abu Dhabi’s a funny place. I’ve been here for a few days now, and I’m beginning to settle in - y’know, getting over that ‘phwoooar, I’m here’ disorientation you tend to get when you’re 4000 miles away from home in a country that doesn’t speak your language. I have no doubt at all that I’m seeing a very sanitised version of Abu Dhabi. I’m seeing, more or less, the capital that the leaders of the UAE want me to see. It’s a metropolitan city that’s full of tall building, enormous malls, big roads and big cars. Not totally dissimilar to my experiences in the States. Of course, this time I’m right in the city, not in the ‘burbs. …

So everyone who has the pleasure of knowing me knows that Internet Spaceships are a big deal in my life. So what happens when they’re taken away? Well, I focus on new things, but that’s a discussion for a different post. What does happen, though, is that I get a chance to take stock. What with being on a laptop and having a crap connection, I’ve been forced to step back from spending all night, every night on the game. This can only be described as a Good Thing. Less time video gaming and thinking about games is definately a great benefit to my lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong here - I absolutely love the medium, but people stare at me, aghast, when I tell them of the 7 hours I spent at my desk in the battle for 6VDT. I choose to not tell them about the numerous nights and days when I can easily spend that time at the desk, just farting about in EVE doing ’nothing important' …

A funny thing happened yesterday. They have a habit of happening to me… But it made me think - I’ve been settling in here, but I don’t feel settled. I was asked by a waiter in the restaurant ‘Are you alone?’. I said yes, and sighed slightly. I’m sure he caught me, but tbh, I don’t really care. The point is that an innocent question made me all at once feel very, very isolated from everything I know. This, in itself, isn’t a bad thing. I’m not on the phone to my boss saying “Get me the fuck out of here, I hate this 5 star hotel, increased salary and per diem!”. What it promoted in my head was a chance to take stock of where I am and everything that’s happened in the 7 days since I arrived here, somewhat confused by the airport and tired. (The meal, btw, was all you can eat food, but a Western style buffet. Roast potatoes and buttered veg. Those little fried balls of risotto, Arancini and more. For the first time in my life, I got excited for plain brocolli and cauliflower!) …

So, I’d love to tell you from my tiny seat on Easyjet that I had a massive revelation this week, and that I’ve rediscovered all my old passions and that life is better than ever. I can’t though - I’ve not spent all week excitedly doing things I’ve loved in the past. Who does, however? You move on from things because your personal circumstances require it or you lose interest or you have too many hobbies and can’t handle everything all the time. …