Greetings fellows, this is me sending to you from an English territory. Finally I'm in THE Newcastle Upon Tyne!:p This is my opinion so far about what I saw in the couple of days I spent here.

First, the journey killed me, specially flying from Cairo to London, the pressure was immense as we were flying on a 38000 feat altitude and it was a 4 hours flight. Then, the misery of Heathrow began! To tell the truth, everything was marked with signs and directions, but I took a completely different path than the one I was supposed to take. As I was taking another flight to Newcastle, I was supposed to go to the UK and Ireland departures, instead, I went to International departures because I thought I should go there since I came from Egypt! After being lost in the terminal for about an hour, I finally found myway to the UK and Ireland departures, and just before I got in, the guy who checked my passport in order to let me in literally showered me with questions. The only thing that he didn't ask about was probably my boxers size :roll::P

I arrived at my sister's apartment at about 8 pm(England time) then went to bed an hour later. Next day,I went to explore the city with my sister...

WOW! It's like I took the time machine to 200 years in the future! Everything is just perfect, the streets, the shops, the people. Everything. Luckily, the weather is great this week, hopefully it will remain so until I go back to Egypt at Sep. 21st. I was fascinated by shops like "Marks & Spencer", "Next", and the thing that really got me amazed was the shopping system at "Argos". For those who don't know how that goes, here it is. The items they are selling are not put on shelves for you to pick what you want, you look at a catalogue and check the item you want. Every item has a number in the catalogue, you take that number and enter it into a little device on the table in front of you. This device tells you whether they have this item on stock or not, if they do, you take the number to the counter and order your item and pay for it then get it. Things can't get simpler than that! This is the future mates, this is the future!

That's it for now, I'll be updating my blog regularly. Also, be patient for the pictures. I took lots of pictures yesterday in the center and beside St. James Park (Newcastle's football stadium), but since I don't have an internet connection at the apartment and I have to come with my sister to the university to get online, things are a little hard for me right now. So bear with me.

Cheers :)

FINALLY! Finally, after more than two months of collecting papers, filling forms, and running exhausting errands, I have little sticker in a page of my passport called a UK Visa!

I really can't believe it, in about 30 hours I'll be flying all across the world and towards this big 'ole island. My plane- British Airways, of course :P- departs on Wednesday- yes,THE next Wednesday- at `5:35 GMT. I'll first land at Heathrow Airport, London. Then, wait for 4 hours and 10 minutesto take the next flight to Newcastle upon Tyne as there are no direct flight from Egyptto Newcastle. I'm not concerned about those hours because my sister- who lives in Newcastle, if you don't know that-will take the train to London to meet me at Heathrow, andI have an iPod! What I'm concerned about though is the flight itself. The last time I took a plane was more than 10 years ago, and I was with my mother. I'm a bit afraid that anything might go wrong, imagine missing the plane to London because of me not hearing my flight's call at the airport, now that would be embarressing :roll:

But I think I'll be okay, I'm smart, and damn good at English. I think I won't get into troubles until at least I reach Heathrow. Now there might come the real troubles, you see, Heathrow is one of the biggest and most complicated airports in the world, I heard that anyone, even the Brits themselves, can get lost in it. So people, and I do mean it, wish me luck and even pray for me. Somehow I feel this won't really be an easy task.

Yaaa :roll: so, that's it for now, I'll make sure that I post another blog entry for you to say goodbye to everyone before I leave. I'm not sure if I'll get access to the internet immediately or not. But don't worry my peeps, I'll be online sooner or later :P You won't get rid of me that easily :P

'Till next time :)

Yep. people! Hello everyone, as you may have guessed, I'm back after being nonactive for more than 5 months. I kinda missed the place. You know, talking to all kinds of crazy people about games 24/7 is always fun. Nah, I'm kidding :P But as much as I remember, being here was indeed fun :)

Well, that's it for now, I'll be more active in the next days, or months, depending on whether my time will be occupied by anything, as I'm currently finishing the procedures to spend the rest of my summer vacation in England, wish me luck on that. As I found out that getting the visa wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Brits sure like to complicate things :P

So, take care everyone and I'll see you all around.

Cheers :)

Ahmed

That so much change should come when thou dost go,
Is mystery that I cannot ravel quite.
The very house seems dark as when the light
Of lamps goes out. Each wonted thing doth grow
So altered, that I wander to and fro
Bewildered by the most familiar sight,
And feel like one who rouses in the night
From dream of ecstasy, and cannot know
At first if he be sleeping or awake.
My foolish heart so foolish for thy sake
Hath grown, dear one!
                                  Teach me to be more wise.
I blush for all my foolishness doth lack;
I fear to seem a coward in thine eyes.
Teach me, dear one,—but first thou must come back!

"Helen Hunt Jackson"

• Current Mood: ...
• Currently Listening to: Silence.

Good morning, afternoon, evening, night, or whatever it is when you're blessing your eyes with my holy and supreme update, mortals. :P

It has been a while since my last journal entry, mainly because I had nothing to tell- yeah, my life was empty, got a problem with that? :evil:- then I got too busy in my university :?, I barely have the time to get online, too many classes, too many lessons to study, and too many lessons I don't understand :?:? and I thought I was a Maths. freak :roll: :P. But I'm okay, I'll get over it, you know me :).

The Faculty of Computer and Information. The first dream of mine that came true :). They say when one of your dreams come true, you will dare to dream bigger. I have. I couldn't prevent myself from planning the next few steps, or maybe my whole future. After I finish the four years of my college, I shall go to England to get my MA. The government will pay my education fees if my overall grade was A or B , if not- God forbid- my parents will pay them, they can afford it :P. Then, after getting the MA. in ONE year. I will have two paths to choose from. 1. Continue my study and get my PhD. from either Japan or Germany and God knows what happens after that. Maybe I will be a professor at the university here. 2. Find a job in a respected IT. company- outside Egypt of course- then establish my own company when I get enough experience. Of course all of this is too far away, but I like keeping my goals in my head so that I may focus more on my study.

Generally, my mood is very good. It has been a while since I felt my mind at ease like I do now. I can safely say that the stress of the past faded away. There's just a little thing that is bugging me. It is that I found out today that I have a crush on someone with me at college. I really don't have time for this crap. If I really want to be successful then I need to focus on my study not anything else. But again, I'm okay, I'll get over it :P:P

That's it for today folks, now I leave you with the man, the legend, the one and only...

• 
• SETO KAIBA 8)

• Current Mood: Very Good
• Currently Listening to: Duncan James - Can't Stop a River

Ladies and gentlemen, respectable members of the Gamespot society, I'm honoured to tell you that, that...

[Moment of silence]

I DID IT! I FREAKIN' DID IT. YOU ARE NOW OFFICIALLY TALKING TO A COMPUTER SCIENCE STUDENT IN MENOFIA UNIVERSITY! Seriously, this a dream coming true. I swear when I read the result on the web site under my name I didn't believe it. I'm kinda still not believing it.

The past two years were tough, and I made such an effort. But it paid off finally, now I might be able to establish the gaming company I want, Empire games 8) and I assure you guys that you all well get the games my company develops for free :P

Something else, people here who had been there for me and believed I could do it. I didn't forget you. Thanks for your constant support, I know I couldn't have done it without you. You believed in me at times when I didn't believe in myself. I really can't thank you enough. And special thanks and love for Max, Carlo, Thora and Crystal. You are really the best. Let's remain friends like the good old days.

Much much love.

Ahmed

• Current Mood / State: Over the Moon
• Currently Listening to: Nickelback- Animals

I've decided to leave Gamespot for a while, I don't feel very well, tired, mentally and physically. A mixture of some old things and new things is having a terrible impact on me and since I don't want to let it out on anyone here, I'll go away for a week or two till I feel better. I probably need to change the atmosphere around me. But no worries everyone, it's not like I'm angry at anyone here. And I know I will get better soon.

Take care

• Current Mood / State: Terrible
• Currently Listening to: Metallica- I Disappear

Ya, 12th of July, I'm now officially 18 years old. That means I can get a driver's license- I've been driving for a year without a license and got away with it- and I can get married- like I'm ever gonna get married, duh- so it obviously doesn't mean anything here in Egypt- or anywhere I assume- and also, people should realize that everyday that passes makes us closer to our dying day. Such a dark look towards life isn't it? But you still have to wish me a happy birthday. :P

A few days ago I went to Cairo to spend some time away from the atmosphere I've been in for a long time, first I went to the movie Superman Returns, a BRILLIANT movie, forget Spiderman and Batman, this movie is the best superhero one ever created, and Kevin Spacey was one hell of a Lex Luthor, it wouldn't be strange if he got nominated for an Oscar.

Of course, I can't go to Cairo and don't go game shopping, so, I bought:

• Kingdom Hearts II
• Fahernhiet  (Indigo Prophecy)
• Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams
• Devil May Cry: Special Edition
• Resident Evil 4

They all seem great, I finished Kingdom Hearts II yesterday after 30 hours of gameplay and I'm starting RE4 today. Also imagine this, I spent 100 pounds on Onimusha- since the game comes in 2 CDs- and it's to be put on the shelf, why? BECAUSE THERE AIN'T A FREAKIN ENGLISH LETTER IN THE GAME!!! I bought the Japanese edition, so, 100 pounds went with the wind!

That's all for now.

• Current Mood / State: Quite Good
• Currently Thinking about: Exam Results Next Sat.
• Currently Listening to: Metallica- Bleeding Me

I know there are some people out there who might wish that I be so, but I'm not! I have finally finished my exams, which means I'm no longer a school student, I'm going to college next year, God willing, after the 'epic' of high school! Three damn long years that had rises and falls more than any period of my entire life, specially that last year. Most of you guys know how hard this year was- man I won't study Physics again :P- by the way, the exams this year were... strange! Some were too easy that I finished them in the first 30 minutes of their time and slept in the rest (English and Algebra) and some of them were too hard that I was wondering what do the question in front of me have anything to do with what I studied in my entire life! (Mechanics) but mainly I did well. The results will be there in 2 weeks.

It's strange really, I thought that when I finish high school I will be the happiest man on Earth, I'm not. Yes I'm happy that I will finally have the time to sleep- my sleeping hours average in the months of May and June are about 4 hours a day- and get rid of all this caffeine in my body- it's much, believe me :x- but I will miss the tense, the tight schedules, and running for classes with a ton of gel on hair- don't get me wrong, it's not like I won't use hair gel, I just won't put as much as I used to! :P- this studying mania has been going on since last August, I can't believe that 11 months have passed that quick, I'm really going to miss the school days.

So, in case you didn't notice, I'm back! You guys didn't really think that I'm not coming back did you? Oh, you did? Obviously you were wrong! Seriously now, I missed you guys and gals much and I'm pretty sure that some people here missed me too, even if few. So, you will see me around the unions more, but not as much as I want, I have a few things to sort plus the World Cup. By the way, my money is on Argentina but my heart is with Italy, in other words,

GO AZZURI! :D

That's it for now, a long journal entry eh? Hopefully I didn't bore you. :roll: :P

• Current Mood / State: Exhausted
• Currently Thinking About: Someone
• Currently Listening To: Robbie Williams- Angels