Harsh

Yesterday I received the estimate for my bike repairs. The list is extensive, so hopefully a lot of the things listed are simply scratched and don't actually need replacing (the seat was listed although I don't remember it being damaged - fortunately I have a spare so that's not so much of a problem).

Things like the swing arm, which is four hundred quid on its own to replace, are probably just scratched. I hope. That goes for the muffler too. And one or two other things. The labour itself will cost some five hundred pounds because of the time it will take to replace all this stuff, and then there's the ridiculous four hundred quid VAT. The total comes to a crippling two-thousand-eight-hundred odd pounds which is much more than I had hoped for.

I'll see the guys at the garage as soon as possible to discuss what needs doing (things like the foot-pegs, belly pan, and possibly the front wheel if it's out of alignment) and what is just cosmetics (please, please, please let the swing arm be cosmetic only!). I was hoping I wouldn't have to use the insurance card on this but at nigh-on three thousand pounds I'm reconsidering. After all my premium might increase but if I don't use my insurance then it's pretty much just money out of the window right?

Crash every year and get the most out of your insurance!

In other news I found a mod for Half Life 2 called "Dear Esther". If you like listening to stories then I suggest you try it. If you're a BBC Radio 3 fan then I strongly recommend you get it. It's an interactive storytelling mod. There are no guns, no zombies, no combine soldiers or antlions. You have a torch (i.e. flashlight) to illuminate the dark caves and the crumbling buildings on the island but all you really need is your eyes, your ears, and a mind prepared to decipher what is put in front of you.

I was very impressed. It's a nice change of pace from other HL2 modifications.

Dungeons and Dragons went well. Really well I think. I didn't railroad the players at all; they just followed the cues I gave them and explored exactly what I wanted them to explore. They got creeped out, ambushed, jumped on by traps, and managed to do a little ambushing of their own. Their characters witnessed some of the abnormal and dark secrets that the world holds and I think that the session managed to really jump-start the campaign back into life after so many weeks of not playing.

I left the session on a cliffhanger which got the guys chattering amongst themselves quite a bit. Now I just have to keep the momentum going. There's a little bit more horror and creepiness around the next corner for the players before they're back to their regular "where do we go and what do we find?" adventuring.

PS: Can I just note how excited I am about the new Prince of Persia.