Saturday, 1 June 2019

020619 00:27 AM GMT Latest News...: ART/Dentist/AIKIDO/GA/New Bike/-etc.

Latest News...

EDUCATION

I'm no longer attending college, anymore; which is mainly due to lack of sufficient funds.

 I would like to attend Morley College to study both ceramics/sculpture/and, possibly, drawing/computer programming/web design...that is, whenever I can afford to do so.

HEALTH/DENTIST/LOWER TOOTH FILLING

I went to see the dentist just 2 days ago...290518 4:15 PM evening. He found a hole in my lower back tooth; which he decided to fill in. Then, the rest of work he did was to give the teeth a quick clean. I was told my next due appointment there was not until January 2020/next year; and, that I must note this down...as the receptionist said they will not be writing me any appointment note...as the appointment is too far away.

KEEP FIT/MARTIAL ARTS

At 56 I feel far less inclined to exercise. Consequently, I don't tend to find myself doing push up's/sit up's/walking/running, anymore. Instead, I mostly tend to stay in/as opposed to go out...and, watch people working out on YouTube...that is, I watch it...but, don't actually get up and do hardly anything at all in terms of actual 'movement'...!

I gave up going to Krav Maga in West Norwood...due to financial problems. I told the guy in charge, Remi; that I would pay him for the year...he gave me his bank a/c. details: sort code + a/c number; said I can make payment in two parts...£270.00 x 2. However, I haven't been able to afford this, yet. The next option -which in the long run turns out to be more expensive- is pay £70.00 monthly, instead; perhaps, for a time I will revert back to this option. I'm still beginner 'white belt' due to not turning up there, regularly; one month on/next month -or, two/three months- off.

However, recently, I did join in doing Aikido lessons at Kingswood House Library in Sydenham Hill. The cost is £10.00 per week/lesson twice weekly: Tue/Thu evenings 6:30-8:30 PM...with one lesson being thrown in for FREE.

UNEMPLOYED/CAN'T FIND A JOB...?!

I still haven't found a job, yet; even, though, I'm doing Job Search, constantly...at: findajob.gov.uk. I remain forevermore hopeful...but, as I get older...I'm currently aged 56...I kind of wonder if I will ever find a job?

I sign on at Streatham Job Centre, regularly, every fortnight.

GAMBLING ADDICTION

My gambling addiction never ever goes away; as soon as I get my hands on any money at all...no matter how small/big...I immediately think of doubling/trebling/quadrupling it/-etc. But, I also know that the reality is...I'm much more likely to loose absolutely everything, and, end up with a totally nil balance?! So, I been trying to gamble low...around £10.00 at most. However, when I lose that £10.00; then, the temptation to chase after one's losses by depositing another £10.00 is, well and truly, dreadful; thus, it's possible to have your losses completely run away if you aren't really careful.

Just last week Thursday evening, I went and attended Gamblers Anonymous at All Saints Clubhous, 131 Cleveland Street, (almost directly opposite London's Post Office Tower/nearest tube station: Great Portland Street Tube Station). There were two meetings, I think, the beginner's meetings start around 6 AM/and, the late meetings start at around 8 AM. I went to the 8 AM meeting. I never feel truly comfortable there...as, in reality, I tend to be a very shy and private type of person; and,  voluntarily I have to take the chair in the middle of the room, and, speak to everybody there; this always makes me feel both embarrassed and vulnerable to the extreme -having to trust so many compete and total strangers-; for that reason, I don't tend to go there 'regularly'; instead, after 1/2/or, 3 meetings...I tend to drop out for the next 2/3/up to 6 months long.

ART

Currently, I joined in a Facebook group called: 'Self-portraits Sundays'...I think, I did 6 Sundays so far to date; this Sunday will make the 7th.

I also went and joined stroke victim artist, Lil Sullivan; -(who I first met as a PGTB/Paxton Green Time Bank member at Kingswood House Library)-; who is teaching Portraiture during the evenings...2-5 PM on Thursdays at Ackerman Health Center, Patmos Road, Vauxhall, London.

I also went and joined, for a monthly membership subscription fee: myblueprint.com; which teaches art based video instruction...covering such things as perspective/urban landscape drawing/-etc.

EDUCATION

West Norwood Library, has re-opened, again. But, I must be careful about taking out too many books; because I keep on forgetting to re-new them on time...; which only leads to the build up of further and further fines...all of which I can ill afford.

I note they have 3 things going on at the library which I still haven't checked out, yet...

1> Picturehouse...I think, the membership fee is something like £62.00 per year.
2> Chess club, I think, they meet during the weekends...probably, evening
3> Tai Chi, I think, they have it upstairs...; forgot exactly when...but, I have seen posters/with a phone number on it, being located here and there. (Just worried about the cost...?)

COMPUTING/WEB SITE BUILDING/PROGRAMMING

Currently, I only have one desktop PC to use at home; and, it is running Windows 10 Professional; otherwise, I tend to use iPad 4 whilst in bed. My laptop computer isn't working; and, I've gone and lost my iPhone 5(will need to buy another, soon).

Of late, for the last 3 days or so, I've been working on building myself an art based web site using HTML/CSS; but, it still isn't finished, yet. When I'm done, I intend to house it at the following URL address:
http://www.paulramnora.com/art

I should be working on studying programming more: Python/VueJS/Javascript/-etc.; but, most unfortunately, I seem to have gotten either completely distracted doing other things 'arts'/or else, just felt too lazy.

TRAVEL

Recently, I went and brought a new bike costing £350.00 Carrera Model from Brixton Halfords; mainly because the last bike Apollo Guru Model got stolen from outside of Tate Britain gallery(the thieves had used 'wire cutters' to cut straight through the 2 combination padlocks attached to both front/back wheels). To go with my new bike; I also went and brought 2 x top security: 8/10 rated thick chain lock(s) this time around. So, far the bike is still safe; nothing stolen, yet(touch wood).


Tuesday, 23 January 2018

2017

EDUCATION

NOV/DEC17

I went to LearnDirect in Croydon where I completed doing 3 courses: Warehouse/Retail/Health &Social Care; each course lasted approximately 2 weeks long; and, was paid for by Streatham Job Centre. I did attend, at least, one job interview at Thornton Heath Tesco as a stock item counter but I failed.

2018/JAN The next time I went to visit LearnDirect in Croydon to sign up to do either Customer Service/Hospitality...they refused to let me sign up for any further courses. They said I already had Business Admin Level 1 on my CV. Customer Service was already a part of courses I'd done Warehouse/Retail. Hospitality, was too large a jump. So, I came away feeling very deeply disappointed.

2018 ARTS

Tue 16JAN Went Studio Upstairs in Croydon for my 1st FREE introductory group session, morning only: 10AM-1PM

Tue 23JAN18 Went Studio Upstairs in Croydon for my 2nd FREE introductory group session.

Tue 060218 Joined Studio Upstairs, Croydon for £30 per session 10AM-5PM. The contract I signed lasts for 3 months.

REMINDERS:
060218 Dulwich Picture Gallery sent me a letter to rejoin, membership costs £40.00 yearly.

2017 KEEP FIT/BOXING/MARTIAL ARTS

I haven't been doing too much keep fit, I'm afraid. In particular, running is out due to both legs suffering from severe Achilles Tendonitis.

I stopped going to Krav Maga; which was £60.00 per month because I couldn't afford it. The last time I paid; I did not even turn up for the whole of that month! I think, that must have been OCT/NOV17?

For 2 months NOV/DEC 2017 I joined Croydon Boxing Club. The cost was £26.00 monthly ( discount: JSA/Job Seekers Allowance). I didn't do any sparring there; just, once, with a fellow 'amateur' outside of the ring; instead, it was mostly skipping/shadow boxing/speedball/heavy bags/(no weights)/-etc. Eventually, I had to stop paying the DDR due to my having far too many other financial commitments.

2018/JAN So far, I haven't signed up to do any 'regular' keep fit; but, I'm looking around at different places here and there. In particular, I'm using both the Internet/and, such things as MeetUp app. To search to find different clubs.

I went to:-

JAN18
Boxing club in Shadwell, 63 Martha Street, Tarling East Community Centre, Tue evening.
Krav Maga Tulsa Hill Church (my friend Sunil invited me)
Krav Maga in Peckham Rye Tue evening.
Escrima in Streatham Wed evening.
Silat in Shadwell Thu evening. (Only watched.)
Escrima in Streatham Wed evening Paid £25.00 for 1 month/4 x lessons
FEB18
070218 Escrima, Streatham, Wellfield Road, Wellfield Centre

2018 NEW BIKE
070218 I haven't had a bike since last year Nov17. Today, I went and got a new bike costing £136.00 from Brixton Halfords, Apollo Guru model (the cheapest bike they had available). I also brought £50 worth of Bike Repair cover, meaning labour will be FRE; but, I still have to pay for any needed parts.





Wednesday, 24 May 2017

240517 Re-joined Lambeth College

STUDYING

0517

Recently, I went and re-joined Lambeth College.

230517 Completed doing my AAT/Associaton of Accounting Technicians at Lambeth College/Clapham Centre, yesterday.

230517 Signed up at Lambeth College/Brixton Centre to go study beginners ICT for 1 month.

ART

Brought a 1 year membership to Tate Gallery starting 1ST JUNE 2017.

So far, I've seen two exhibitions at Tate Britain, Pilmlico:

  • David Hockney (excellent art works/colourful/stylish/large)
  • Queer Art (quality artworks: Nijinsky sculpted mask/drawings of Audbury Beardsley/-etc.)
FITNESS

Did mostly bike riding; and, that's about it.

  • No martial arts(too broke to be able to afford it?!)
  • No running/walking(legs hurt/Achilles Tendonitis injury)
  • No shadow boxing(too lazy/mind on other things studying: arts/computing)

Thursday, 7 July 2016

060716 - BOOKED 5 BOXING LESSONS USING A GROUPON VOUCHER

060716 - BOOKED 5 BOXING LESSONS USING A GROUPON VOUCHER

Recently, I went and brought a Groupon voucher to do 5 boxing lessons near Wandsworth Town...9 Osiers Road. Culture Kitchen, and, Gym it's called. First, I had to phone them; quoting my Groupon voucher security code; the receptionist who answered said they had added my details onto their computer; so, I wouldn't need to bring in any further proof. She said she had booked my 1st class on Saturday 9th July 2 PM.

Anyway, yesterday evening, I rode my bike over there just to make sure I could find the place before my appointment date came. I was successful in finding it. It's not a big place; just one single ground floor; most of which space is taken up by weight lifting/and, other equipments; however, they do have a room which is devoted to boxing. I saw two standing punch bags.

Not too sure exactly what that lesson is going to be alike...; but, the guy who showed me around said it's not one of those 'hard' boxing gyms; to which I replied that's perfectly fine with me; as, frankly, I'm not in any kind of shape to be able to take serious punishment; just wish to get a little bit fitter.

LATEST UPDATE
Most unfortunately, I did NOT go to attend any boxing classes; I believe the time of the Groupon voucher offer did run out, completely; as you are meant to claim within a certain specific time. 
-----
As I rode my bike across Battersea Park...going towards Wandsworth...I stopped to watch some artists drawing/painting Albert Bridge. One of them gave me his Business Card. I asked him how much does he sell his paintings for? He replied, £200.00.

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

220616 Krav Maga/Joined Woodlawns, again

MARTIAL ARTS

20th Mon Jun 2015

Went to Krav Maga evening class at St Mattew's church in Brixton. Went to both classes starting from 7PM beginner/intermediate.

21st Tue Jun 2015

Yesterday, I went and visited St Matthew's church in Brixton to go and see a Krav Maga martial art 'green belt' grading.

In particular, I wanted to see in my friend, Sunnil, -who I'd gone and trained with in the morning- would be able to pass his test; and, indeed, he did successfully(despite having a fractured hand).

22nd Wed Jun 2015

YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS

Today, this morning, I went and joined the Woodlawns trust in Streatham on Leigham Court Road.

They are an old age pensioners group; where the minimum age is meant to be 55; however, the secretary lady let me join at age 53.

The membership cost was £12.00 to renew;  last year, I was also a member.

Sometimes, they have Tai Chi classes; and, also, computing classes, as well.


Monday, 29 February 2016

290216 Brought TV/TV Licence - NOT exercising

Feb 2016 BROUGHT TV/TV Licence

The latest news is I've become a TV addict(just like before). Haven't owned a TV not since the time of the UK's 'analogue to digital' switch over...which, I must confess, was so many years back that I can't even remember. However, this month I went and brought a TV/together with TV Licence.

It's funny how when you have a TV, all of a sudden, you feel more like being a part of the human race, again; quite simply, because you are watching the latest news; and, TV shows/-etc.

After having gone and said all of that, though; there still are times when one feels totally bored to death; and, then, one wishes only to go off and do something else, instead...such as 'go out'...as opposed to always staying in, and, thus, becoming a total  'couch potato'; by which I mean to say I do very well realise how much I'm missing out on getting a 'real life'.

NOT DOING HARDLY ANY EXERCISE/NOT GOING TO KEEP FIT CLASS

I'm afraid, I'm going through a bit of a down phrase, at the moment; where I no longer feel enough inner self-confidence to be able to go out and face the world. I  think, this is because of...

-sheer laziness
-over eating wrong food/drink (chocolate biscuits/-etc. leading to my struggling with weight problems/dentistry problems/and, so on...a general feeling of malise...and, of  giving up completely)
-feelings of depression (I'm slightly biPolar, and, tend to suffer regular up/down severe mood swings)
-lack of money/potential job propects/-etc. (the which thoughts do very deeply depress me; and, has me worrying about the future...which I fear could only get far worse instead of better.)
-the freezing cold is something I do intensely dislike; and, this doesn't tempt me to go venture outwards, neither(even though I know there is so much to explore doing and achieving outside...none of which it's possible to achieve by constantly staying in).

However, another part of me knows; that all of this is just merely a passing mood; and, therefore, eventually, my spirits will begin to lift; and, I will...
-go out, and, socialize more
-take exercise/keep fit
-join a class/or, possibly, college/study
-be happy
-etc.

Generally speaking, it is my habit that whenever the winter months do come along; then, all I tend to do is mostly stay inside of the home; seldom going out ever. It's just too utterly freezing cold being outside; it's also cold staying in...as I cannot afford to keep the home adequately warm by leaving the central heating on, quite simply, forevermore. Whenever I do go and turn it on; it's only in short bursts last a hour or so; and, without double glazing/-etc.; then, as soon as you turn it off...all of the built up heat, quite simply, vanishes!

How much I do long for Summer; or, at the very least, some hot weather, to return. Only until then it's most likely I will continue to stay in.

EDUCATION/HOME BASED

Been studying programming codes, again. Still feeling completely shocked by how much I don't know, yet; meaning, it's not just 1 or 2 gaps inside of my knowledge; but, instead, it's more like my knowledge is missing, quite literally, 100's of gaps...?! Now-a-days, the whole entire programming language scene seems to have changed; and, I've been left most miserably totally behind; and, I really don't know if it will ever be possible to catch up, neither. However, I'm not the type to completely give up on myself altogether...believing where there's a will/then, there will also be found a way...; therefore, I'm certainly going to do my very best to try.

Recently, I've been looking at...
-HTML5
-CSS3(including both LESS/SASS frameworks)
-Javascript(OOP/plus, latest version: ECMA6)
-AngularJS
-Git/GitHub
-PERL
-Scratch 2 (signed up to do a course on it at Coursera.org just a couple days back)
-Sublime Text 3 (today, I went and downloaded it to try; the FREE version has a constant nag screen; in order to get rid of that then you will need to purchase the software outright; in addition to which, Sublime Text 2 seems to be the most stable version; which the number 3 version is still in Beta testing state)
Also, taking a few quick glimpses at learning the basics of Networking by watching a few 'teach yourself videos' on YouTube; in fact, now-a-days, that's by far my most fav. place to go and learn stuff without needing to, constantly, 'pay'.
-etc.

Friday, 29 January 2016

290116 Sent letter to BO explaining lateness

FINANCES

290116 Sent letter using 1st class to the benefits agency from Streatham GPO in order to explain why I had arrived on the Work Program 'late' due to eye inflammation. (The GPO clerk told me they might receive the letter, Monday.)

KEEP FIT

JAN16 I joined West Norwood Leisure Centre. Concessionary rate for people on benefits. Off peak access: 9 AM-4:15 PM weekdays/1 PM-6 PM weekends. (I haven't been attending regularly.)

MARTIAL ARTS

JAN16 I paid for a years subscription to Krav Maga. M/T/W/T/Sa. (I haven't been attending there regularly.)

220116 Fri 7PM I went to Tavistock Place, Wing Chun Kung Fu. (First lesson was FREE.)

260116 Tue 6:30 PM-8:30PM. I went to 64 Tyers St, Issinkai Aikido,  (First lesson was FREE.)

I was meant to claim a Groupon voucher to do Krav Maga in London, possibly, London Bridge; however, I still haven't claimed it, yet.

I'm thinking of going to Tokei Dojo, London Bridge; and, paying to join during the weekends. In particular, I'm interested in learning both Aikido/BJJ.