Michael, my nephew, was born at 4.20am on Wednesday January 27th 2008.

I’ve been saving this blog post for him, so that’s why it’s been a little empty here. I might actually up do a proper update over the weekend. You never know.

This is quite possibly the easiest, and at the same time the hardest blog I’ve even written. Melanie (my sister) rang on Saturday morning to let me know I’m going to be an uncle in February. Cue a few tears (in private) and a celebratory drink to be remembered. I’m so happy for Melanie and Richard, and hopefully, I’ll be a good uncle.

I always knew Mel would be the first to have kids, although, I’m shocked as to how much it has affected me. Of course, I’m a sensitive guy anyway, and I know I’ll cry my eyes out when I finally bring a little person into the world, but I’m really quite emotional at the moment.

I was born in Lisburn, part of Belfast in 1979, while Mel was born a year earlier in Osnabruck. The next generation of our family should be born somewhere near Undy in Wales. It’ll be a knight of course, now Richard and Mel are married, so we’ve already done Misty and Michael jokes. My niece/Nephew to be also sent me their first picture, which I’ll always treasure. I’ll cherish it always, like you, as soon as you arrive!

So, I said it’s the easiest and hardest post ever right? For the first time in years, I’ve written a song in my head. Yes, I’m being slightly cheesy and overly emotional now. Maybe I’ll never pick the guitar up to write it down, and maybe no one will ever hear it. But, for Melanie, and Richard (An excellent brother-in-law by the way, I offer my best wishes. You’re both wonderful people, with so much love invested in one another, it only seems right that you’re blessed with the beginnings of a family.

I love you both, and I can’t wait till February

Next week is tres busy. I’ve got about half of my side of the mag left to do, aswell as NEO reviews, which all pretty much have to be done by the time I leave on Thursday. Wednesday, I’m off to Manchester for a studio visit, then straight down to London so I’ve got ample time to get to the airport on Thursday.

I love lamp!

So, I’ve got to write up the four pages of the Studio visit on the train journey down, and, make sure it’s in before I go, or sent over as soon as I arrive in San Diego.

A stern test of my abilities, and of course, it’s going to be knackering, but fun.

I’ll also try and post a Panda Watch! udpate from San Diego, as long as the hotel has internet…

Luke got his ass handed to him on C&C3.

Nothing more to say, except, “This faction is shit - innit”

HA HA HA!

Ok, maybe sometimes. Everything is going ok with work, I believe. I’ll found out at the meeting later this week. I’ve yet to find more than one person who’s happy for me to be going to San Diago. I’m 28 on Friday and again, I’m looking foward to it with not much enthusiasm.

See, I do tell people I’m excited about it, but in all honesty, being another year older scares me. Again, another year of not being where you want to be. However, this year has been good so far. An upturn in fortunes led to Stu asking me to do a job for the mag, and while its been an eye opener, I’m still learning the dicipline to deal with the three week deadlines, from home.

Still, tonight proved the reason why I don’t like Halo, and WoW gets on my tits. Both should be great, but just aren’t. I’m sat here slighty pissed off because some yank decided to spawn kill me shitloads. I’ve logged off WoW because I’ve no idea who most people are, and someone I don’t know pissed me off.

I suppose I take things to heart to much, but isn’t gaming supposed to be fun?