Sorry for double blogging this evening - I have just checked my "About me" stats for the first time since Gamespot updated their site - I did not realise that my picture was now the size of a small continent!

Apologies if I have disturbed anyone!!

(How do I reduce it?)

So, it has been a whole week without my xbox and I am feeling ok at the moment about it (although the release of Viva Pinata 2 this week has upset me a little as I want to join in in all the Pinata fun - still at least there is something for me to look forward to when my pride and joy returns.) Looking online it appears to be going smoothly so far and I am hoping that it is returned in the next week or so. I am debating which game to purchase as a "welcome home gift" - I am toying with the new Pinata or Force Unleashed, although I didn't get much chance to play the demo of that before my console died. (Incidentally, my 63 year old Father has been playing the unleashed demo on his PS3 - I worry that he is showing me up!!)

So - what have I been doing with my time since my xbox disappeared out of my life?

I have been exploring new territory in the form of Mario Galaxy. I am a complete fan! I have giggled my way through about half of the game and I have been really struck by the inventiveness of some of the levels. The characters are sooo cute as well. My son has had fun with it too, although later levels are nigh on impossible for him - perhaps I am pushing him too soon .

This afternoon I have also finally started MSG4 and I am struggling to lift my jaw from the ground. The graphics are unbelieveable. I am not very far in to it at the moment as I am having some difficulty adjusting from a run and gun mentality I have fostered over the past 18 months of playing GoW, COD and others, however I am slowly getting used to the complexity of it and I am looking forward to getting further in to the game.

What else have I been doing - oh yes! I have discovered Prison Break and Life on Mars. I have borrowed the first and second series of Life on Mars which I thoroughly enjoyed - DCI Gene Hunt is a work of genius and many of his phrases have now entered in to my vocabulary. I am also enjoying Prison Break, not just for the eye candy of Wentworth Miller , but also for the intrigue, I am looking forward to seeing how it plays out so no spoilers please!

In short, I am keeping myself busy, but I wish Microoft would hurry up!!

It has been a loooong time since I felt compelled to post a blog entry, however recent events in my gaming life has necessitated my need to pen something.

A few sad days ago my Xbox finally gave up the ghost and presented me with the RRoD It had been threatening for a couple of days, however (fool that I am) I was holding my breath and hoping that it wouldn't happen to me, after all it was 18 months old and have never had any problems prior to this.

I have to say that I love my Xbox, I think it is a fantastic console, and I have had many a happy hour playing on it, however always at the back of my mind I have worried that it would die on me. It is shame that such a great piece of kit should have such a terrible history of failure. Technology that doesn't work properly is one of my biggest frustrations, I hate it. Having said this though, I have to commend Microsoft, the fault reporting was painless, just a serial number and contact details were all that was required. My Xbox was swiftly picked up the next day and I have been told that I can expect it back within the next three weeks. I wait with baited breath!

So, I have been stuck without a gaming system to play on. I briefly toyed with dusting off my PS2 and revisiting some of my old games when my brother in law piped up that I could borrow his Wii AND Playstation 3 as he is going on holiday for a couple of weeks... YAY! I am now the proud (temporary) owner of a both systems, and have discovered the joys of Mario Galaxy and MGS4.

I feel compelled to express my delight at Mario Galaxy as I have never been a big Nintendo fan - never owned a console and (shamefully ?) never really touched much Mario (if that doesn't sound a little bit wrong ), but I am pleasantly surprised. My son (age 4) is equally as delighted having watched the opening sequence with me and announcing that he liked this new game. The controls are interesting and amusing for him as well, although some of the orientation of the character did cause a little difficulty at the beginning.

My other experience with the Wii this weekend has been a hilarious attempt at Mario Kart whilst slightly (completely) inebriated on a bottle and half of wine! Apparently it took me 8 minutes to get around one track and all I recall from that particular attempt was my character driving around in circles. Clearly drinking and driving is not a good idea!!

I am looking forward to the next few weeks without my Xbox, I am trying a different type of gaming AND I get to play MGS4 a game I have been coveting for some time without the expense of purchasing the PS3 myself. I just hope that I don't fall in love with either system too much that it becomes a wrench for me to hand them back!