Life in Wales

Turning 39

2008-03-01T08:32:00.003Z

Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus! Or happy Saint David's day to those who don't understand Welsh.

Well I reached another birthday, yes folks I'm now 39...... feels no different to 38 mind you so all you Young one's not yet there don't worry you don't turn green or bald over night.

Listening to Chris Evans on Radio 2 the other evening he was talking about the 80's more specifically TV show 'fame' and listening to 'Star Maker' well if you want to well up and cry buckets then this is the song for you. Although I did not actually cry it did bring back many memories and has triggered something in my dark grey matter, so at the moment I am back in the 70's and 80's and will be sharing some TV shows, music and other things from that era over the coming weeks that I loved and grew up with.

Okay back to 'fame' ran from 1982-1987 the show was based on the movie with the same name. that tells the stories of the students and faculty at the "New York City High School for the Performing Arts." I was not a huge fan by any means and probably didn't watch many episodes but growing up as a teenager this was the big hit of the 80's and all the girls wearing leg warmers yes that's where it came from. And this being the culprit for my 80's re visit.

More later....

BT update.......

2008-02-21T07:32:00.002Z

Okay, I was all ready to have my phone fixed April 3rd. Last night whilst eating my evening meal the door bell went and two BT men were standing there. "Just here to survey the job we are doing tomorrow" urmm but you are not supposed to be here until 3rd April I reply. Lets just say they gave me the strangest look and said nope here's our job sheet will be here tomorrow morning to do the job.

YEE HA I get my phone back and broadband without interruption.

Very funny....

2008-02-15T09:53:00.001Z

What standard of service levels would you expect?

2008-02-15T08:14:00.003Z

Day 36.

The BT (British Telecom for those not from our shores) saga continues. Decided that I needed to ring them to chase up progress as the two engineers who came out last week said 2-7 days and it will be all sorted. Bless them they done a sterling job, marked up the road, fitted the junction box to the house, fitted the internal box for my phone to plug into all ready for the other team to lay a new telephone line from the box to the house, here's where it all goes wrong AGAIN!.

Spoke to a lovely lady (Lorraine) at BT who advised me that she would would look into and call me back, promptly she did only to be a bit bemused, I asked her what the problem was, to be told that due to the technicality of the phone problem it will not be completed until 3rd April.

Big pause..... Excuse me, I say, 3rd of April but it's only 14th February?

I then precede in telling Lorraine at BT the whole saga; well you have to do these things each and every time so they understand that I have been without a phone service since Friday 11th January. Also the two Engineers and what they have done and what the solution will be. Simple really, they cannot locate the junction out in the road so rather than dig three holes they have opted to install a brand new line, job done, simple!

No say BT Openreach "firstly the Engineers should not discuss jobs with customers and secondly it's a very technical fault that is why it will take so long". Hmm question BT Openreach do you actually talk with your engineers? If so you would know that the Surveyor/Engineer decided to lay a new line rather than waste man power digging up lots of holes to locate the junction, 50% of the job is already complete.

So come on BT and BT Openreach this is getting a little silly now I just want my little white phone to start talking again it can't be that hard now can it!! (Idiots)

And that's why people you should think again why NOT to return to BT. unless you fancy a bit of really bad service.

I wish Virgin Media were here, 15 years of faultless cable and fibre optics.

BT or no BT that's the question

2008-02-11T21:16:00.001Z

Well over a week on from my last post and you guessed it, still no phone. Although they have concided that they will not be able to fix the old line without digging up a lot of road so they have elected to install a new line, they fitted a new box ready, now I await the road crew to dig up my lovley front garden to install the line.

This weekend proved to be fantastic, played golf with a load of freinds on Saturday morning, glorious sunshine and my game was pretty good as well, even though I have not played since last summer. I want to play again now!! oh dear id 'J' about to become a golfing widow!?!?!?

MSM is currently over in spain with her Gran & Gramps for the week, although it look like we could have the better weather, not checked yet but normally if we have it good they have it bad!

I joined face book, I know I'm mad, however it's not for pleaseure I assure you, I have clients who are getting fed up of paying google thousands of pounds each month to generate business and so I am looking in to alternative ways of marketing, read in the Sunday Times recently that this type of thing is the new way to generate business, and who argues with the sunday times.

Oh, went out exploring yesterday around the street only to find a little alley way that takes us out on to the common and all you can see for miles are fields & hills how excited was I less than a two minute walk and I was out in the wilds of South Wales. Love it, so much so I ran back grabed my mountain bike and went off for an hour up hills over mud fields generally making a fool of myself. Who cares!!

I'll post some pics up soon I promise.

BT Saga continues

2008-02-02T08:25:00.001Z

Week 3. And we still await our phone to start ringing again, yes folks our phone went down three weeks ago and no one at BT gives a shit. We have had two engineers to the house and both confirmed that the fault is outside, between the box and the house, no problems I thought should only take a few days.....

Morale dilemma. Before we moved we sold our nearly new wadrobes to our old next door neighbour, me not being a pushy gitt told her to pay me next week (14th December 07) well it's now 2nd Feb 08 and still no dosh. What do I do? continue to call her weekly until I get the money or go through the small claims court? any ideas.

Last Saturday Justine and I went out looking for floor tiles and came back in a shiny new car... eh did I type that right.. Yup went out for tiles came home with a new car. Justine had a Deawoo Matiz as a little rub around but where we now live we have to drive down the motorway which as you can imagine is not much fun in a 998cc Matiz, so we bought a Citroen C2 Furio, nice little sporty number 1.4i. the next bit is for you petrol heads:

The Citroen C2 model range lies within the price bracket of £8,280 - £12,285. The C2 has been awarded a four star NCAP crash test rating by the European New Car Assessment Programme out of a possible five stars. Based on this NCAP rating the C2 fairs fairly well in an accident having been given a high result. Citroen C2 insurance groups start at group 1 and rise to group 8. Base models are (group 1 and 2 cars are the cheapest to insure) very cheap to insure, whilst the higher specification cars are below average to insure.

Engine Capacity : 1360 cc

Cylinders 4

Valves 8v

Power 75@5400 bhp/rpm

Torque 87@3300 lb/ft

Performance

Maximum Speed

105 mph - (Man)
0 - 62 mph 12.2 seconds - (Man)

Fuel

Fuel Type

- Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Capacity 41 litres / 9.0 gallons

Fuel Consumption:: (Manual)

Combined 47 mpg

Theoretical Range to Empty423.9 miles

Fuel cost per 12,000 miles£1,174.63 or £0.098 per mile

Cost of Fuel used above

£1.012 - Unleaded Petrol

Have a good weekend people...

Hey it's 2008 already.......

2008-01-26T08:37:00.000Z

Happy New Year, well a belated one anyway. Okay I’m alive (I think), I’ve moved and un packed, got over Christmas and we are now settling down to a new year in a new place. I’m sure that over the months I will bore the pants off everyone with the house and what I’m up to so today I’m not really going to discuss it.

BT on the other hand, well lets just say they must be the WORST telecommunication company in the world, I have been without a telephone for over two weeks now with no sign of it being repaired.

Controversial….. well this year I think a little discussions on what is getting to me will go down well, yes you will get to read topics that I’m sure you will feel compelled to respond too (I hope so anyway.)

So 2008 what’s happened so far even though we are ¾ of the way through January lots has happened mostly bad so not sure how 08 is going to pan out.

1/ Telephone busted.

2/ www.librautomotive.co.uk went off line for 10 days due to 1&1 Hosting (Long story very stressful)

3/ Broadband becomes intermittent due to telephone issues.

4/ Gave up smoking (3 days in).

Ah that’s a good topic, giving up smoking, after many years fagging it I decided last week that enough was enough, I was not enjoying it anymore and Justine had given up a few months ago and was doing extremely well. So I got my trusty Allen Carr’s Easy Way back out and started reading, the last time I gave up was a few years ago using his method and managed it for nine months, until I gave in to self pity and alcohol another story not for here.

So my last cigarette was Tuesday 22^nd January now I could put a counter up to show how many days in I am but to be honest I’m a non smoker and I don’t want to be reminded that I used to smoke, for some unknown reason I am really not interested in smoking, yes I had two days of hell, well withdrawal pangs at certain key times of the day but by yesterday they had diminished to the odd thought then the counter thought of the taste, smell and the shity feeling I get after a cigarette which was why I wanted to quit in the first place.

My work colleagues are well impressed so much so that the late Allen Carr’s estate is getting a boost with a few more sales of his great book. If you have had enough of those sticks and don’t want to get addicted to gum or any other replacement then this book is for you. It works, it’s painless, not addictive, and cheap and well it’s bloody easy.

Anyway a busy Saturday planned today so I must get up shower, young Toby (our dog) is due at the groomers back in Barry at 10am and Megan is going to friends later for a sleep over so busy day in store at least for the first half of the day.

Latest musings here in taff land

2007-11-30T18:58:00.000Z

Well we are about to move house, we are all set for Friday 7th December. I'm hoping that the new place will bring new beginnings and one being that I start to blog again.. I hope to start taking photos and putting them here. This past year has been a blurrrrr really, concentrating on work work oh and more work and realising that life is not all about work work and more work.

Thought: If I died tomorrow what would happen to the world and work. Well the world would continue to rotate and life would continue pretty much as it is today and work, well that would continue they would get some sad bastard to carry on what I was doing and that would continue as well. So why do we work so damn hard get stressed only to see our maker a lot quicker. Well that is the big question and one which I am about to change. You see moving house is not just having new surroundings but for me is a chance to change my priorities in life, work well that will be my 2nd thing in life, living will be my first.

It's time to get out more, walk the hills start a new hobby and well just experience more. You see my dream from leaving school was to have a nice house and a nice car and be happy. Well 2007 has brought me a nice new car and touch wood a nice new home which is exactly what I set out to do all those years ago. Not bad 20 years to get there.

Now it's time to set new goals ones that don't involve work and money and all things that grind you down, my new set of goals are going to be helping those less fortunate, travel, meet new people. how am I going to ac hive this I don't know it's new to me and very exciting.

So sorry for not blogging this year but that's about to change in 2008, and Dan you can un cross your link to me from January 2008 as I'll be back.....

So for the moment it's good bye until we meet in a little welsh town called Pencoed Nr Bridgend where my new life begins (As long as BT get's me broadband sorted in time).

Hmm what time is it!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-11-14T20:57:00.000Z

Well umm, what can I say...... I'm alive and kicking lots has happened over the past five months, shit five months since my last post. I'm way off the mark at the moment. Well in a nut shell we have sold our house back in August and we are still waiting to move, I have been told that we should be signing early next week. If I get chance I'll put a full post on what's been going on in my life this year.

Where the hell has 2007 gone, only yesterday it felt like Christmas!!! Argggghhhhhh

Hey Dan hope you are okay, I have tried to catch up on your blog but it'll take me a while.

It's been a while

2007-06-27T19:22:00.000Z

Hey BLOG it's been a while since I've left a message, to be honest I've been away from all my freinds blogs as well.

So what's the latest in my life... well I got my new car and it's great best car I have ever had, smooth, full of gadgets and 6 gears it's great.

And now I'm looking to move away from the sea up in to the Welsh hills and country side, yup the house is up for sale click here if you want a nose at my house. We have had an offer and hopefully within a few days we will place an offer on a house we like click here for a nose.

But and there has to be a BUT today the agents put another house up which has the BEST garden I have ever seen for this size house take a look.

So people which one do you like ???

I'm not sure how long it will be before I return it could be tomorrow or next month but for now byeeee ;o)

Bit of a rant

2007-04-07T15:59:00.000Z

Nissan and the long waiting Qashqui. Well it's been over 4 weeks since I paid my deposit and sat waiting for delivery, 1st they would not give me a delivery date, three weeks on I here nothing then along comes the insurance quote which had the registration number etc. on it, I rang Nissan Cardiff for an update only to find that the salesman had no idea what the registration was also when the car was due for delivery, I mentioned that I had the insurance quote and that it starts on the 6th April, so am I coming to collect my Qashqui on the 6th, no it's due in on the 11th and will be available a few days after. Okay. Well then comes the V5 with all the car details on, umm I ring Nissan Cardiff AGAIN this time to be told that the car has arrived (3rd April) but not ready o collect until a weeks time (10th April) great Qashqui here ready to drive away on the 10th!!!!

Phone call Thursday 5th Mr Baker about your Qashqui, the car is here but the tow bar will not be fitted until the 11th but that's after collection date, yeah we thought we would delay collection until Thursday?? NO WAY I have meetings and a schedule done for the next two weeks. Oh Mr Baker your cycle rack will not be available until 26th April. WOT...

So I made a decision which I hope does not back fire but I told Nissan that I would collect my Qashqui as promised on Tuesday 10th and I will take the car back in a month to have the usual service and at the same time I'll get the tow bar and cycle rack fitted.

I do hope that this plan does not backfire as at the moment Nissan Qashqui has been a bit of a nightmare and to cap it all Nissan are saying that the time scale now is 8 - 10 weeks for delivery. I think that have been caught out by the demand. I just hope mine is trouble free!! we'll see. Next post when I collect the car to let you know what happens. So far I give Nissan Cardiff 4/10 for customer service, I think there is a communication problem between Nissan and their garages.

I am Dr Who

2007-03-16T20:44:00.000Z

Time travels so fast, my blog is feeling a little neglected and my visitors have dropped through the floor. Well I did say I was not a writer.

I see Dan the man has been a little lacking on his blog and reading Joansy's blog and watching her YouTube feature which is great there is a big man hunt.

Here in Wales the weather has been well RAIN and lots of it and with more snow due this weekend. Still working hard at the office and on my business which is as normal very busy.

The family are well and looking forward to our trips later in the year, Spain to the house and Ireland which will be a first, drive, Ferry and cottage, ummm sounds good.

The new car.... well still waiting for the delivery date, I have been told it's going to be the end of March.

Health... much better than this time last year so here's hoping for a better year.

Latest on my Freelance business is that I have been asked to re-start work on an old favourite www.librautomotive.co.uk

I built this site way back in 2004 and I have just signed a 5 year contract to maintain and develop it so watch this space. Yes I know I have signed to many contracts now and I have not got time to.... well you know what I mean.

So that's enough for now I suppose. byeeee ;o)

Well, ummmm, ooooo

2007-03-02T20:40:00.000Z

Well 29th Jan was my last visit, so what happened to February? to be honest I ran out of things to say apart from the usual stuff which after a while gets a bit boring so decided to take a break. However I may still get that urge to drop out for a while.

Anyway what have I been up to well......

I turned 38 now that was a lot easier than previous years no long suffering hangover or depression due to rapidly approaching 40 and wondering what I have done with my life. (Not much). The family are all fit and healthy (Thank god). The weather here is 'CRAP' wet wet and more wet.

The inlaws came over from Spain last weekend for a few days but we didn't see much of them for one reason or another, but what time we spent with them was okay although we have told them that we will only spend a week with them in the summer rather than the full two weeks more on that later.

So what's new........ well I've/we've decided to trade in my car for a new one, not a used car but a brand new one. Do you know that I have never bought a new car in my life they have always been used, although the last two or three have been under six months old. Anyway I'm going to the garage tomorrow for a second test drive and place my order which should take about 4.5 weeks. So what Am I getting I here you ask well here's a picture for you to dribble over.

And for the anoraks here is the vehicle specs:

Power	78/4000 (106/4000) kW / rpm (PS / rpm)
Maximum speed	174 km/h 108 mph
Fuel consumption (Urban cycle)	6.2 l/100 km 45.6 mpg
Fuel consumption (Extra-urban)	5.0 l/100 km 56.5 mpg
Combined cycle fuel consumption	5.4 l/100 km 52.3 mpg
CO2 Emissions	145 g/km

QASHQAI Acenta adds a further touch of elegance and a host of technology. Body coloured door handles and mirrors and a leather bound steering wheel and gearknob are joined by hi-tec features like Rain-sensing wipers, automatic lighting, cruise control, an ultrasonic rear park system and dual zone air conditioning to make driving even more relaxing.

And here is the interior seat covers.

Finally here is the actual colour that I'm going for
which is called faded denim.

Well hi there!!

2007-01-29T20:02:00.000Z

It's been a while but since I was reading some blogs tonight I may as well have a bash myself. So what has changed over the past few weeks, well nothing really, I have not won the lottery so still living in Barry, by the freezing cold sea and working as hard as ever.

I have (MSM Interrupts and I have now lost my train of thought) , where was I..... oh yes I have converted all the computers to wireless which is fab as my home office has only two PC's left and one is just the base as I have software which allows me to use the same keyboard and mouse to operate both systems, that means I now have a half empty office and no one sat behind me.

The wonders of technology eh! I remember a few years ago wishing that we could do things like this not knowing that it would happen so quickly. The other day I used the same software to work on a PC in Scotland and London, the time and money that this bit of kit has saved is huge.

Currently I have a cold (Not ManFlu) just a normal cold, I normally get one at least once a year so this is it the annual cold. I'm still working though although not as fast as I normally do.

Things in the news that have driven me nuts over the past few weeks:

The Home office and all it's failings, I'm not being funny but how come private sector does not run in to this type of problem, if we did the company would go bust. Why do government believe that it's good to have three or four people doing the same job, no one knowing what is the right way or the wrong way and no one being held accountable.

Technology these days should mean that we should know everything we need to know, where a suspect is staying, who is in the country especially if they have come through Airports or Ports. It's not rocket science now is it.

Who authorises these multi billion pound IT contracts? do they know they are getting ripped off!! I would like for the government to come with me on a fact finding mission to see how it's done in the private sector (Real world) and how project managers deal with contracts, ideas and proof of concept and how they are responsible from start to finish, oh and how the contractors end up paying us for the service not the other way around. Yes you did read right, every project we carry out costs the supplier a large sum of money over a period of time. And yes Mr PM they are prepared to pay to work with us.

So come on chaps get with the programme and stop spending our hard earned cash on things that if dealt with properly would cost a fraction of the price.

2. Local council's and collecting rubbish, another mess that is only going to get worse, what's all this collecting different colour bins on separate weeks and if a person fails to put the correct item in the bin they get fined.

Well get stuffed matey, we pay you to do a job, the council is elected by us you listen to us. pfft who the hell do they think they are. I'd rather take the rubbish away myself. I do feel sorry for these people who have idiot council's luckily where I live we are keeping one bin, but can recycle by using other methods.

Me I prefer to take my recycle stuff myself to Tesco each week and place in the correct bins at least I know that I will not get fined, only last week on Radio two a news article came to light about a lady who saw a piece of cardboard blowing in the wind so she picked it up and placed it in a nearby bin only to get stopped by someone and ended up paying a £50 fine and being told that she could face prison. OMG what is this country coming too!

I must admit the thought of leaving these shores is becoming more attractive every time I think about it, Great Britain, well not so Great anymore and the name no longer used. United Kingdom well that's a laugh Scotland (Own powers to do stuff) Wales (Limited powers but will get full powers soon) Ireland (well on their way now for power sharing). Poor England left high and dry with a crap NHS, high taxes and laws that just don't make sense anymore so there we are UK no more!

That's enough ranting I have more but can wait another day. Currently looking to buy an island and set up home there as long as it has WiFi for Internet and a poor geezer able to cycle fast enough to produce my electricity I'm interested.

When is a begger a begger

2007-01-12T21:46:00.000Z

Well certainly not the one I saw today, going back to my car in the local NCP car park there was a young woman wrapped in a blanket asking for spare change, but I caught her out, yes I walked in the foyer only to see her texting on her mobile. Hmm I said to her and her look was priceless the oh shit I've been busted! now I don't give to beggars as here in Cardiff we have a problem where people like her are all over the place and probably all work together, the media here covered this particular topic a few months ago and they reported that these people can earn up to £300 a week just by asking for spare change.

Well people there you have it your spare change buys a HOMLESS person a top of the range mobile phone, designer clothes all hidden by a tatty blanket. Next time I'll try and get a picture to shame the person.

Still not sure where to go with my blog so watch this space.

My week, well lets just say a good start to 2007 and long may it continue......

Monday news that bosses wanted a word this week. (Oops what have I done wrong?)
Tuesday people in my team being pulled in the office for chats, my turn at 11.45am sat down and my manager tells me that I have been requested to move over to our Team of Engineers as Project Manager. Hmm not bad, and makes sense as all my projects involve them.

10 mins after that meeting I'm called in to another meeting this time with the Chief Motor Engineer, he runs through stuff and then says, you will report to me and the Claims Director no one else, you will get a pay rise and will you come back full time.... (me long pause) "No" oh, he says, no problem you have home connection don't you.... "Yup" great then we will put you back on a 40hr Salary and you do 4 hours in the office and the rest from home all on trust. Hmmm well... Ummm... Okay that sounds fair!

So Tuesday I went from Part Time pay to Full Time pay with no change to my lifestyle what's next.

Wednesday, new job takes hold and I get my head in to new stuff. Phone does not stop, emails flood in need I say more.

Thursday. My diary is rapidly filling up with meeting requests about this that and his brother.

Friday. Diary now full up, next space for a meeting MARCH now if your reading this your probably thinking so if your booked up in meetings until March how are you going to get any work done? well that one has passed me by also.

Also Friday due to the amount of meeting requests I was getting I ended up selling my time, yes I was a time auction, started from a Madison Coffee, to Coffee and Muffin right through to Lunch in a restaurant. Well you can guess which one won over.

So that was my week, really has to go down as one of the most surreal I've ever had.

Happy New Year to you all ...

2007-01-06T21:08:00.000Z

Well it's been a while but I'm back after a great few weeks relaxing and doing very very little, not sure what to do with this blog I'm not very good at writting and to tell you the truth it no longer rings my bell, I love reading other peoples blogs but I don't see the need to keep this going.

Plans for 2007 well at the moment I don't have any but who knows in a few weeks/months things may change.

Went to a local park with the family & Toby today, now we have never taken the dog to this park and it was an after thought but it was nice and quiet and we could let Toby of his lead which is great for a dog so young, when there are no other dogs around he'll come when called and generally be very well behaved but on site of another dog puppy instincts kick in and he runs away to play and will not listen to anyone, well it happened today, he met a Jack Russell and off he went sprinting around this park like a bat out of hell, I was pretty impressed with his speed for such a small dog. Anyway we could not see who this dog belonged to so continued walking and shouting for him to come back but to no avail.

We walked around the corner and I heard my name being called I turned only to see Suzanne who we were really close Friends with for many years and have lost touch, we had a card from her over Christmas with a message to call around her new house, I noted the address and left it at that. Well there she was standing there lead in hand and youngest daughter talking to MSM, oh my god I shouted and went over to her noticing that this Jack Russell was running between her legs, yes it was hers and there was Toby stood next to them tongue hanging out.

After the usual pleasantries and catch up I asked her how often she comes down to this park only to find out that this is the first time she has brought the dog here for a walk. Oh my, what sign is this, both families turn up at a park that neither of us ever go to and the dogs begin playing then MSN is spotted talking to her daughter. Is this a sign that it's time to reignite our friendship and resume where we left off?

I now have her mobile number but do I make a move and go around for coffee or should I just let it be, we'll see but a good start to 2007.

Holidays nearly over so is 2006!!

2006-12-30T20:08:00.000Z

Spose this is the time to look back on 2006 and look forward to 2007.... hmmm!! well reading some of my early posts for the year it looks like not a lot has changed, my life is still in a rut and just moving day to day, I really need to move on and get some new interests to focus on. Maybe 2007 will be different we'll see.

TV what do we pay our licence fee for? this Christmas was shocking no good programmes, the same old rubbish and far to many reality programmes. The X Factor well that was pretty well sewn up half way through. Sat here tonight to watch some good TV and there is nothing on total rubbish, time to down a glass of red wine and read Dan Brown 'Angels & Demons' what a great book and although near the end I would deffinately re read this one as the story is soooo good. I can't wait to start one of his next books probably 'Digital Fortress' and yes 'J' bought me the whole lot for Christmas so first half of 2007 will be a Dan Brown session.

I watched the Crocodile Hunter tonight or should I say the tribute programme to Steve Irwin and what a great show clearly the best TV this Christmas. Respect to his wife & two Children the guy was a legend and really knew how to talk about animals and really get the children captivated, MSM loved his programmes and cried her eyes out when she heard the news.

In classical mythology. Psyche is the personification of what? 'SOUL' sorry but I was listening to Celebrity Who Wants to be a Millionaire and that the question they are struggling with. Oh and they just quit!!

Anyway what's going to happen in 2007..... well we are talking about selling up and moving on had a quick look online for a new pad but neither of us liked any of the ones currently on offer which means that this could well go in to 2008 as I want a house we fall in love with not just a house that we like. You know what I mean.

A new car yes 2007 will be the year that I buy a new car not sure when though but probably first half of the year I'm sure I will keep you informed on the progress.

There's more but it can wait till next year..... Happy new year to all my readers.

It's Christmas time and.......

2006-12-23T20:24:00.000Z

It's bloody freezing outside, all of us headed down the beach for an hour with Toby and although the fog has lifted it was very very cold, but the fresh air was invigorating.

All our Christmas shopping was completed yesterday, shops packed to bursting everyone on a mission and bargains to be had, well lets jusy say I found items £20 more expensive in shops, here is an example my brother wants WWF for his Xbox 360 so I start in Virgin price £34.99 okay maybe I'll get it cheaper in HMV £39.99 umm nope, then Game, wow £44.99 are they serious!! so back to Virgin for £34.99. Okay now the worst bit went to Tesco last night to avoid the rush this weekend and there it was sat on a shelf price £24.99 yes people same game for the same system and I thought I got a good deal obviously not. So there it is shop around and you will get the bargains although I missed out this time round.

This weekend is set aside for relaxing and wrapping presents, nothing is a rush but can't wait for the big day, just to see MSM face, kids are made for Christmas aren't they!

Dashing through the crowds in a one horse.......

2006-12-21T21:35:00.000Z

Planet earth, well I love David attenborough's Planet Earth whilst doing today's blog I watching a pre recorded episode on the Tiger forest in the Antarctic, this forest houses 1/3rd of the total tree population so much trees that it replenishes the worlds oxygen. Well there we have it today's natural world lesson.

Had a cappuccino bought for me today by my big boss, but as with anything it was not a free coffee but a bribe to produce a written report on an event that took place in the office regarding a colleague, although I don't work directly with this person it still felt awful writing this report as I know it's for a disciplinary, I just hope the bosses have some Christmas spirit in them as it knocked a fair bit out of me and if I go in tomorrow to see an empty chair I will not be happy.

I'm officially now on holiday but have contracts to do so will have to pop in tomorrow after my Christmas shopping, not looking forward to going in though for the above reasons although the team involved have asked me to join them for a pint later on, I'll probably pop in for one.

Had bad news tonight, my brother will be working boxing day which is when we are going down for the day, my older sister and her boyfriend are coming up from London, lets just say I tolerate them and the thought of sitting with them all day boxing day does not fill me with joy, now I wish I got tickets to go to Spain as requested by the in laws.

I know this post is all over the place today but I need to get things off my chest, like the visa statement I had this month, I pay over the minimum amount and don't have a huge debt with them but reading it tonight I have realised that I'm a bloody mug, the interest they are charging is obscene and I have rung them every month for the past 6 moths to get the bloody payment protection removed which again appears on my statement.

Lets just say that after paying about £50 over the minimum with the Interest and payment protection taken out I'm actually paying off no more than £50 off the balance, yes that's right folks they calculate it now so that if you pay the minimum amount which most of us do then only a £ or two is actually taken off the balance which means it takes centuries to pay the bloody thing off. So 2008 is going to be Money management year, I am going to shop around for the best credit card and take it out to transfer the balance over giving me 6 mths interest free or at least a reduced rate so that I can be rid of the dreaded thing, a few years back we survived on the bloody things and it came to a head when we were paying one with another but all that is for another time possibly next year when I start the financial onslaught and my free financial advice service he, he.

That's enough off my chest tonight I'm sure more news on some of the above will be forth coming tomorrow.

Rat pack Christmas

2006-12-20T19:32:00.000Z

Yup secret Santa day today and I got 'It's a RAT PACK Christmas' packed with over 70 tracks from some of the best singers ever Frank, Nat, Dean, Mario and Bing currently blasting out of my laptop speakers. Violins, Piano classic, makes you want to put your feet up close your eyes and be transported back to my childhood.

Christmas has never been my favourite time of year I suppose it brings back so many memories of who I lost, but this year I'm getting in to the spirit of it carols, decorations, mince pies (two this morning). I'm looking forward to putting my feet up and not doing much at all, a bit of this and surfing, catching up on Friends blogs.

Now Frank is singing 'over the rainbow' oh now I want to watch Wizard of OZ no it can wait for Christmas proper. My passion for cooking is growing I felt guilty tonight as I cooked pasta just plain ordinary pasta and used a ready made tomato sauce this is not me, only because I didn't have enough time to do what I had planned which was Pork casserole which would have taken over an hour to cook and with MSM starving I could not let her wait that long so pasta it was. 'J' is talking about doing the Christmas dinner which I have hinted that we all muck in I do the veg, MSM lays the table and 'J' taking care of the rest. Umm we'll see will all this end in disaster well watch this space after Christmas for the gossip.

Weather here is thick fog and living on the coast we get freezing fog which is not nice, you can see the little droplets in front of your face it's that thick, street lamps are nothing but a dim orange glow so it's darker than normal and you cannot see anything past my neighbours house apart from a bank of BLACKNESS and it's bloody freezing bone crunching freezing it cuts through you like a knife.

It looks like no white Christmas this year although there have only been 4 since 1901 so all the wishing for a blanket of snow at Christmas is a little wishful thinking. Not sure I agree how this white Christmas thing is measured, the records state that if one flake of snow is seen on Christmas Day then they record it as a white Christmas, my way of thinking is if there is a dusting of the white stuff then that's a white Christmas not one single snow flake, just hope the person looking out for that single elusive flake has not got dandruff.

Family tree

2006-12-19T21:54:00.000Z

I love history and family stuff is even better, today I had an email, yes I take all that back what I was saying yesterday well some of it anyway. A lady asked if certain names were on my tree which cross checking they were, although I cannot confirm 100% at this stage that we are related it certainly looks that way, I had another earlier in the month as well so my family history is growing by the hundreds, last count it was exceeding 1,300.

What I would really like is to see some pictures of them alas this is in short supply but one day I may get a glimpse of some of my distant relatives.

Local history is just as good, I have a picture of my street in 1895 little children playing in a dirt covered street, two playing with a metal hoop. I find this stuff fascinating and it really hits home that you are only on this earth for a short space of time and then you disappear without trace.

Thinking back to my childhood, what ever happened to the freedom that we had, going out on bikes all day with not a care in the world, big adventures, exploring finding new things to do building dens in the local woods. I can remember when I was MSM's age doing comic sales out in the street on a Sunday afternoon.

Talking about Sunday afternoons, last Sunday I watched Waterloo road (1940 BW) with Vivien Leigh what a great film very moving and such a sad end. But that's what Sundays are for Roast dinner and chilling on the sofa watching an old movie but it has to be Black & White, I remember I hated BW films when I was a child now as I get older I appreciate BW even more, probably because it is no longer used.

In contrast

2006-12-18T16:41:00.000Z

Well back to the rush, noise, stress and work, yup it's Monday again, no rest for the wicked as they say, Mark can you do this, Mark can you look at that, Mark don't forget the meeting, Mark can you show me this!! arggghhhh.

First thing I did this morning was... I'm pulling out of a meeting as I have nothing to say and it's really not related to anything I'm currently doing. Response fine no problem, woohoo!!

Next change voice mail: " I am currently away from my desk I'll be back at 2pm" guess what no voicemails woohoo!!

I think after 13 years working there I am getting the hang of either saying NO or turning things off when I need to get stuff done.

MSM has her Brownie party tonight and she has to take sandwiches with her, although we went shopping yesterday I forgot, and so will be packing her with plenty of Jam sandwiches I'm sure the Brownies will enjoy them better than Ham or cheese, if not well who cares it's the thought that counts.

I finally set rules in my outlook to stop the crap emails coming through and also stop a forward email which has been hacked so from tonight I hope to reduce the crap I get, which should mean ZERO emails as I'm billy no mates and it's either work related or junk, I seldom get an email just to say hi, it's suprising how quickly email turns in to snail mail isn't it years ago people wrote letters asking how you are , giving family updates etc. then junk took over and now email is the same I remember years back when people emailed to say Hi and general chit chat well no more all I seem to get is CRAP well no more CRAP for me.

That's my rant over with today, oh yeah my Archives are working again go BET BLOG it's working!! I may take a little time over the Christmas break to re-read this year to see how I've changed (Grown up)!! he he ;o)

Pause for thought

2006-12-17T21:59:00.000Z

Out alone today with Toby walking through the country, MSM was playing SIMS and 'J' was cleaning her bedroom so I was delegated to take Toby out for his weekend adventure walks. It was late this afternoon started around 3pm strolled along the bridal path thinking about nothing just taking in the cold air and watching people walking by, couples young and old smiling, children wandering and talking to Toby and giving him a hug. It's the first time in nearly three years I didn't have any anxiety no feelings of panic didn't even cross my mind.

The paths were wet with mud puddles and rotting leaves you could smell the decay of the foliage lying on the ground what a wonderful smell, walking along the path through the rushes and all I could here was the rustling of the dry stalks and the swans flapping their wings on the lake, nothing else pure nature.

The mind is clear the soul is cleansed just for a few minutes of my life I was walking with nature nothing on my mind no thinking, no tasks to do, just walking with a young dog who loves to be with us no questions asked, silence pure silence. What Sundays are made for.

MSM puts up a good front

2006-12-15T22:51:00.000Z

Well MSM woke up this morning early, running around getting ready for school, quite a contrast from yesterday morning, I had suspisions that this was a front as her class was going to the theatre today to watch Hands Christian Anderson and she really wants to go, I ask her if she is up to the daily grind of school? "Yes dad I feel great" (Sniff) okay princess you can go to school but you must take some medicine first "okay dad" now I smell a rat MSM never agrees to take that stuff it's a running battle normally but not this morning, well I wrap her up and pack her off to school thinking she will be fine and I'll pick her up at 5.15pm

Get in the office early and complete yesterday's project reports only one to do as I spent hours yesterday doing the others, passed it to my boss for her meeting with the directors, she came back beaming and looked at me and thanked me for the reports they were great and the directors loved them and will be moving ahead with all of them! Wow I just spent millions in a few reports.

I then had a meeting with auditors to run through some projects and expalining the processes involved to enable the firm to place audit trails in place but my desk phone started ringing being polite I ignored it, well this went on for about ten minutes I just thought I was popular for the day but then my mobile rings, this I always answer and it was the sister inlaw telling me tha MSM's school are trying to get hold of me as MSM is not very well at all, so I look at the auditors and say "Meeting over I have to leave" I get up and head out the door. On the way I ring 'J's extension and inform her I'm outa there and will see her later.

I arrive at the school to find MSM sat on the sofa outside the office, I have words with the office staff asking why they did not ring my mobile, they inform me that they did and left a message, I proceeded to show her my phone and telling her no message here!! I ask to see the contact details they hold for us and low and behold they have an extra digit arrrgghhhh!! this time I stood there and watched her change the numbers so from now on I should be the first they ring when there are problems.

Anyway..... MSM sat in the car and appologised for getting me out of work, well what could you say to a nine year old apart from a HUGE HUG and a whisper in the ear your far more important than work. ah bless.

So back home and true to form MSM has a hot bath, sits with me on the sofa chilling reading watching tv and not complaining at all. What a rock she follows her DAD!!

Only for a laugh!

2006-12-14T20:40:00.000Z

Well I did it another thing in my life done, Check! last night was my departments office Christmas party, and we went to jongleurs comedy night, well lets just say the food was bad, really bad and the prices for the drinks was as bad, however the 3 comedy acts we saw were great. although the first act died towards the end the other two were really good.

Today I was house doctor for MSM as she has come down with a bad cold, bless her she didn't complain at all just chilled out fell asleep for a hour and played bamzookie on the laptop whilst I worked from home for 8 hours instead of my usual 4

'J' is going through hell at the moment as her parents leave for Spain in the morning for ever well until February anyway so she is not much fun at the moment and is taking it out on yours truly basically I cannot do anything right at the moment but hey ho been there so many times it's water of a ducks back. I'll go on strike and see who does the cooking, cleaning, washing etc.etc.etc.

Lifes to bloody short for that shit, just get on with it girl !

Is it safe to come out now?

2006-12-12T16:22:00.000Z

Well not if you live in Ipswich but that's another awful story if you want to know more then go here. The weather had improved over the weekend allowing us a nice walk on the beach last Saturday before we had to rush around buying birthday presents and a HUGE 6'5" Christmas tree, well I thought our old one was looking a little sad do left it in the loft this year.

Most of Saturday was then allotted to the dressing of the said tree, and low and behold all the lights worked well up until today that is when the main set decided ah that's enough Christmas spirit for this year and went POP!

So now I have to find replacement bulbs or do a dodgy DIY by putting tin foil around the Fuse light, remember those days when dodgy electrics was fixed by grandparents adding a little tin foil to the fuse to get stuff going how dangerous is that!!

So talking about what we did in the past, I always thought that our sending clock back and forth was to do with the farmers but during a conversation today it transpires that I was indeed WRONG and it was introduced in 1906 due to how we worked in those days, now MP's are looking to change over so that summer time goes back 2hrs and then Winter 1hr forward bringing it in line with our current summer time. What are you views on this is it a good idea to keep the traditional summer time all year round or stay as we are, what will it be like having daylight at 11pm in the height of summer. Umm interesting thought.

I am having problems with Toby of late where he is going in the plant pots to bite off branches to chew on, came home this evening to find bits of plant over the floor and a tasty reminder that dogs should not eat plants as it makes them icky, he's fine though running around wanting to play but unfortunately I had to tell him off, not that he cares!

Anyway I'll see if I can post more later if I get the time.

Warnings of tornadoes on the way

2006-12-08T19:13:00.000Z

That's the local headlines here in Wales, yesterday I held a seminar in our office and lets just say we were shouting out the presentation due to the wind and rain lashing the building. Winds recorded from the roof of our building was 100mph. Unfortunatley I work in the tallest building in Wales although a midget at only 23 floors to some in Cardiff it stands out a mile.

The design of the building means that if you stand in the centre of the office on the top floor you can feel the building swaying, that's because it's built on huge rubber bungs (Earthquake proof) not that we have ever had or will have an earth quake, there again after yesterday I'm not to sure.

This was Cardiff yesterday around midday.

The weather today in contrast was calmn & sunny but they are warning that it's all going to return through the month and it will get worse. Yesterday we were talking about it being the end of the world, that's how bad it was, trees ripped up, walls fallen down. Oh what a crazy time we live in. (Picture taken by richie123098)

Tonight I'm not doing much apart from reading blogs and chilling out on the sofa, nothing major planned for the weekend apart from putting the Christmas decorations up as I'm getting nagged by both girls to put them up as they love this time of year.

Still not finished christmas shopping so I may venture out, oh I'm out tomorrow night for 'J' parents suprise emigration party, they leave this horid weather for Spain in a weeks time where they are sunning it up at 21o lucky gits.

Can I have a moca please

2006-12-06T20:57:00.000Z

With yet another seminar looming the past few days I have spent getting stressed over nearly everything, and I mean everything. Last night the application I have spent months building was sent via the web to my client, this started at 5pm (Close of business) it went well all working although it did take a few minor changes, then as I had control of his network did a few tweeking to the server and email system which had huge effect on the speed of his network, I must say that working using the anywhere software is fantastic, it's like working on your own PC it's that quick and the view is identical, you would never know you were working on a PC in Scotland.

Tonight I did minor work on V1.2 which went well but not putting a huge amount of effort in as last night was a long 10.30pm session which hit me this morning.

The Christmas season is upon us and now starts the fun party season although I think this year I have only two parties one tomorrow which is a meal in Lagunas the resaraunt attached to Park Plaza hotel, so we will see how that goes, next week it's a comedy night at a club which sounds like fun, I'll let you know how they go.

Anyway time to catch up on all the other blogs I read.

Wind rain and sunshine

2006-12-03T19:39:00.000Z

Well what a wild night the wind started around 11pm and the rain came at 4am and did it rain the noise on the window was crazy. Got up early this morning well 8.30am but early for a Sunday with glorious sunshine this lasted for about two hours then thick clouds heavy rain and gales, hour later glorious sunshine which stayed with us the rest of the day. Only done the usual Tesco run today and more cleaning so the house now it's all nice and tidy again.

It's late but what the hell

2006-12-02T22:48:00.000Z

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought?
Oh shit

2. How much cash do you have on you?
£22.68

3. What's a word that rhymes with "DOOR?"
Poor

4. Favorite planet?
Go to be Mars, actually saw it a while back life changing!

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list?
Don't know don't have any calls me billy no mates

6. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
French classic phone ring

7. What shirt are you wearing?
Head polo shirt

8. Do you "label" yourself?
No not really

9. Name the brand of the shoes you're currently wearing?
Gola,

10. Bright or dark room?
Dark as it's 11pm small lamp on.

11. What do you think about the person who took this survey before you?
Good guy, else I would not read his blog

12. What does your watch look like?
Classic roman numerals Rotary.

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Reading Angels & Demons, Dan Brown.

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
"Ring me when you get two mins"

15. Where is your nearest 7-11?
God knows never bothered looking, oh there's a garage about two miles away open 24hrs does that qualify.

16. What's a word that you say a lot?
"No worries"

17. Who told you he/she loved you last?
'J' last night before she went to sleep.

18. Last furry thing you touched?
Toby's head.

19. How many drugs have you done in the last three days?
Zero, don't do pills, god knows why.

20. How many rolls of film do you need developed?
God about 5 but they are so old they are now probably dud.

21. Favorite age you have been so far?
got to be early twenties when I first met 'J'

22. Your worst enemy?
Don't have any, life's to short.

23. What is your current desktop picture?
MSM & Toby beach silhouette.

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"How do you spell Silhouette"

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
A million bucks so I can then learn to fly killing two birds with one stone. (excuse the pun)

26. Do you like someone?
Yes, that's all I have to say about that.

27. The last song you listened to?
It only takes a minute girl Take That (Don't ask)

28. What time of day were you born?
Sorry wasn't born with a watch on and I forgot to ask the time. Too busy trying to tell someone it was cols and I wanted to go back in.

29. What's your favorite number?
Eight

30. Where did you live in 1987?
Well I was sharing a house in a posh part of Cardiff.

31. Are you jealous of anyone?
No, what's there to be jealous over

32. Is anyone jealous of you?
God knows no one has ever mentioned it, oh hang on my best mate is but we won't go there.

33. Where were you when 9/11 happened?
I was on the phone in the office when it broke on the internet, lets say the floor went silent and not much work was done that day.

34. What do you do when vending machines steal your money?
Kick the shit out of it then demand a refund.

35. Do you consider yourself kind?
Yes, I was a scout and follow the scout law even today. "Be kind and considerate"

36. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
Too much pain to even think about it.

37. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
Latin, actually. Would love to learn it.

38. Would you move for the person you loved?
Yes without a doubt.

39. Are you touchy feely?
Oh yes best way to be.

40. What's your life motto?
Lifes to short live it to the max.

41. Name three things that you have on you at all times?
Mobile Phone, Car Keys, wallett

42. What's your favorite town/city?
Mahon, Minorca

43. What was the last thing you paid for with cash?
Chips and hot dogs down the beach today, it was cold and needed the warmth tasted good though!!

44. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
Friday, work related though does that count?

45. Can you change the oil on a car?
Yup, as long as I can use a pit don't like doing it lying under the car got a mouth full once as the plug came out to easily and caught me out.

46. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
She was married with two kids

47. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
In the process of doing it and so far 1795

48. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
Week last Friday for the ball.

49. Does anything hurt on your body right now?
Not really just sore fingers from filling this in.

50. Have you been burned by love?
Yeah, cooking tea tonight, grabbed the saucpan handle and it was very hot, I love cooking.

I Tag:
Anyone who has about an hour to waste and wants sore fingers.

Oo edits we love em!

2006-12-02T22:25:00.000Z

Well after making a mistake on my blog last night I had to make a quick edit, umm thanks Dan for pointing this fact out. Boy will I be in the dog house, anyway been to the beach today, Bloody freezing but it was sunny and apart from MSM throwing a wobbler over Toby not doing what she wanted him to do but hey we all have our off days and today was MSM's.

Rest of the day I tried my hand at ironing, this I have not done in years, I'll do the cleaning, washing and cooking but not that, but the pile was growing due to us doing more fun stuff, so I helped out well I tried any way.

Not sure what we will be up to tomorrow seems the UK is about to be hit by BIG storms so it may be staying in relaxing on the sofa watching an old black and white movie.... now that sounds a good idea.

And another week gone

2006-12-01T23:14:00.000Z

Apart from being lost for words this week it's been pretty ordinary week really, nothing to out there, Christmas is well under way in Town and the weather is really freaky being so warm, dull and overcast but warm.

Tried to do a little Christmas shopping tonight whilst MSM was at the theatre watching Hans Christian Anderson play, I managed to get umm three presents, New Take that CD for 'J' don't know why, got Tracy Beaker book for MSM as she really enjoys watching the T.V programme.

Gave up at 7.45pm and headed to the pub that 'J' was at celebrating a Friends 30th had a quick pint and went back to pick MSM up and headed home, now sat here watching some crap on T.V Sky three all about Chavs, what the hell is that all about.

Anyway nothing special planned this weekend so I'm looking to chill and walk in the country and the beach.

Time to check out a few blogs back soon ;o)

Lost for words

2006-11-29T20:46:00.000Z

And that's exactly what's wrong I just can't think of anything to put down here. Work is the same as ever and well not much has happend since Friday. Oh what a thrilling life I lead.

Another thing I've now done in my life

2006-11-25T20:35:00.000Z

Last night was my departments awards ceremony, the theme was a mascaraed ball, here is the mask that I wore.
It was a good night and I accomplished another thing in my life, that was to be hypnotised, although I did not volunteer to do this. The start of the act focused on the audience and me being naive did exactly what the hypnotist ask and lets just say two of us in the audience had to go on stage as our fingers were locked together and as hard as I tried to separate them it just didn't happen.

What's really weird is that I can remember everything which I thought being hypnotised you wake up remembering nothing, talking to a colleague he said the same, we could here understand yet had no control over how we behaved. So what did we get up to well first we were a boy band and we were on stage and had to kiss women in the front row on the cheek of course well luckily 'J' was in the front row and I headed to her first but managed to get all the others as well.

Now comes the 7 year old playing with his toys and being asked questions and replying in the tone and language of a seven year old. Weird! Then I was told to be Robbie Williams 'Live' on stage well seems that went down a storm and the crowd went wild, bare in mind I have two left feet and can't dance to save my life the comments after and looking at a video mobile I danced like I have never seen before and it did look pretty impressive even 'J' commented to her Friends that I had no chance if they asked me to dance then told me how gob smacked she was. God help me on Monday!! there were lots more like winning the lottery only for the hypnotist to burn the winning ticket and watching a few of us going from jubilation to dispare and threats to kill the hypnotist. Our goodbye stunt was to be the teletubbies, umm. At the end he asked us what would we like help with? I opted for giving up smoking it worked great until today where I have had three which for me is the norm so that didn't work. Never mind.

So here is the List of achievements so far:

Appear in a newspaper.
Appear on T.V
Rock climb
Abseil down a cliff face
Camp under the stars
Race go karts in a pro race and beat the pro's.
Ride a motor bike
Paint ball
Drive a car on a race track at over 140mph
Pot holing
Go down a coal mine
Canoe race
Sail a yacht
Be hypnotised

What I would love to do before my times up:
Ride my mountain bike in Australia
Travel around America
Fly a plane/Helicopter
Go up in a hot air balloon.
Be a radio DJ for a day
Do charity work in a third world country
get a tattoo

I'll probably add to both lists as I have never listed them and I know I have/want to do more. So there we are the night I got hypnotised.

Grey ol day

2006-11-23T19:57:00.000Z

Well I sit in my little home office completing file transfers to a client, and ponder what I have achieved today. Well got stressed at the office even though the person who stresses me is out is not there, the email he sends me get me going just by the tone, I'm really at my end and I think I have to make a move before I crack up. I love my job and most of the people I work with but there are elements creeping in which are telling me that I am well under appreciated and people really do not know what I do until I'm on holiday and shit hits the fan. Recognition goes along way not being used and abused because they can.

Anyway, I sit here listening to my old faithful PC chug away while I try a piece of software out on it this machine is now over 10 years old and is still going strong even though I have not switched it on since June. Poor thing must be really sad as I used to be on it 12hrs a day 7 days a week for many years, now like me it's semi retired. Yeah right still got bills to pay.

As you can tell today's post is a real mix of feelings but that's the way I feel today a bit mixed should I stay or should I go. Now that's the big question.

Second Life cont.

2006-11-21T21:50:00.000Z

Okay now I'm not amused, took a tour of the place tonight and landed in a well lets just say porn has hit that site as well. Seems people can now establish business's and I had to land in the wrong sort, I was chatted up offered things well lets just say I left it there.

This site is a defo 18+ DO NOT LET the kids play it.

And you pay using their currency. Enough said.

Second Life

2006-11-21T16:49:00.000Z

Well with the BBC news last night talking about the hit website 'Second Life' I decided to investigate. so here's me in my second life although only 24hrs old. Bit of a hunk aren't I he he.

Well this is supposed to be a 2nd life so a little 6 pack and pecks won't go amiss. The game it's self is not great and it don't half suck the juice out of the PC this is the first site that has caused my new PC to struggle and slow right down.

Met new people mainly the U.S as that's where the site originates, you can talk to people in public or IM them which is good, although I'm always a little scared when talking to strangers what with all the news these days about chat rooms etc.

But hey that's me in my next life the name is 'Justa Cleanslate' so if you join this place look me up and say hi!! oh and you will get lots of people asking you how you make money on it, I just reply I don't need money I won the lottery. he he well it is a 2nd life and who knows!!

Am I having a life changing experience

2006-11-19T22:12:00.000Z

Not sure what's going on here, am I a new man? I sat yesterday morning watching BBC 1's cookery programmes and admired one of their kitchens, also the children's snack foods they were cooking, so much so that whilst shopping today I picked up some of the ingredients.

Whilst back home I sprayed the oven with new CIF oven cleaner, note I have never found an oven cleaner that removed dirt without a good SCRUB, anyway whilst it done what it said on the container we decided to take Toby for a walk in the country, alas the rain is here and the tracks were very muddy which MSM loved splashing around in her welly boots, yes she is nine but it was great seeing a young lady just making a mess of herself. Toby however was dripping wet and full of mud and he seemed to love it also.

Well got back about an hour later and stripped off, well took my top off anyway, 'J' got excited but I had to let her down gently that I did not want to mess up my top when cleaning out the oven, so picture this. Me topless with yellow rubber gloves on and I shout out "Who's next" he he.

So started to wipe out the oven and WOW no scrubbing needed this CIF is fantastic and well worth £5. In no time at all the oven was sparkling clean and ready for COOKING. Then whilst in the cleaning mood I moved the kitchen around to allow more room for preparation again this went well and I have now got a fab area of worktop to prepare and serve food.

For the evening meal tonight I decided to do a little American food, at least I think it's an American sort of meal I'm sure Joansy will put me straight if it's not. Very large set of BBQ ribs freshly cooked from Tesco's served with sweet potatoes and corn on the cob, and it tasted FAB!!

But that's not all whilst the dinner was cooking MSM and I made Brownies so she can take them to wait for it Brownies tomorrow night, so they we are I'm off cooking and I did enjoy it. Oh and I cleaned up after myself so the kitchen is nice and clean again.

Hmm what's next I wonder........ 'Life is getting better' ;0)

ORANGE.CO.UK

2006-11-17T21:41:00.000Z

Well spent two hours last night down a work colleagues house setting up their email system, they took advantage of the FREE broadband from Orange, which on the face of it sounds really cool 8MB of free Internet access.

Well lets just say to date I have not failed an IT task especially one as easy as configure Microsoft Outlook to collect email from a POP & SMTP servers, well Orange beat me! two hours later and you guessed it NO EMAIL to their outlook.

Configured the settings as per orange instructions, no rocket science here but it just would not connect to the server saying it does not exist, rang their helpline and as ever I pretended not to know anything about IT so 'Dave' talked me through the process I just double checked what I had done thinking I must be having an off day, well he told me nothing I had not already done.

'Dave' then decided that he had had enough and cut us off. umm so sorry M&R but I failed or should I say Orange failed as they have complicated the whole email thing.

For the record fsmail cannot link to Microsoft Outlook nor can orange.net email system but the rekon that .orange.co.uk can, well let me tell you Orange it can't and for god sake stick with ONE email system not three it's not big and not clever it's bloody confusing.

Oh and your instructions are showing how to connect to fsmail which YOU CANNOT connect to via a third party service. NOB ENDS.

So if you are tempted to jump to orange to take advantage of the free offer DON'T it is rubbish. It got so bad last night that I offered to host their email on one of the servers I rent at no cost to them, they were really nice about it and would not here of it, but if they cannot get it sorted by Wednesday next week then I'll set them up.

Today I think I have had a knock on effect from the episode as I have been in a foul mood not talking to anyone and feeling really depressed and I think it's to do with last nights episode, I think I just can't take failure or I put myself in such a position that I beat myself up mentally if I fail a task, it's wrong I know but since being ill I find it hard to just say oh well never mind I can't do it ask someone else.

If anyone has any ideas on how I can change from where I am I'm all ears, I just want to get back to the 'Fuck that' attitude again or not beating myself up when things are not going as they should. argggghhhhhhhh!

Sitting here with the Jungle celeb thing on, why am I watching this crap it's not good to waste our lives watching this shite!! now Dan this is being in a foul mood. LOL ;o)

Taking praise

2006-11-15T23:06:00.000Z

Okay I now know that I am not very good at accepting praise, that long arduous project has been sent to the client using MSM and Microsoft remote assistance, well that's a weird experience in it's self, working on a computer network in Scotland from my home office here in Barry. Wow technology today eh! anyway, it all went well .dll files placed in the right place and launch the application. It worked first time, placed an icon on the desktop pc's and tested each machine (10) all using the remote assistance.

Then I left them get on with testing and me poised to step in and correct any faults, I get a call on my mobile at 7pm it's the client in Scotland, oh no I thought what's wrong is this going to be a long night? well the answer was NO they rang to sing my praises and that the application is far and beyond what they originally asked for, he was singing my praises for over 20 mins in the end I had to excuse myself as I just could not take anymore.

So after all this time fretting about the project it was all unfounded and they love it, oh and they wants me to sign a three year support contract at £45 per hour with two hours a week guaranteed pay regardless if I actually do any work hmm £90 per week and no work can I refuse that?

So at the moment I'm feeling good.

Whilst on about my own business I had an email a few days ago asking if I would take over a website contract starting January 07, this is good news as I love doing web work especially ad campaigns and graphic design for me it's stress free work so of course I'm seriously looking at this project. Oh boy my other job are not going to be happy as they want me back full time next year and as my projects were coming to an end next year (or at least one) I told them I would consider their offer.

Anyway lots to think about and some large decisions to make but it can wait I'm going to soak up the praise from today's launch as tomorrow it may all crumble. (hope not) ;0)

Any blog experts out there......

2006-11-12T20:33:00.000Z

I still cannot get my archives to work on this BETA version.

Chilling!!

2006-11-12T20:17:00.000Z

Hey it's Sunday and I'm chilling, no not cold but just 'Hey man' chilling. Anyway reading a book at the moment called 'Billy' which is Billy Connolly's official autobiography written by his wife Pamela Stephenson. It's a great read and really covers his childhood in great detail and you wonder how this guy ever survived the life in a tenement in Glasgow, well worth a read.

Walking on the beach today with the wind in my face it really is getting colder, I was all wrapped up and dressed for the winter with my winter coat and scarf on, Toby didn't care he was in his element running around the sand and rolling all over the place.

Weather today overcast with a little sun, windy and cold. No rain though Ye Ha!

Good to see Dan coming out of the woods finally and starting to blog again. I'm now ready for the next working week what ever that brings.

Have a good evening everyone and catch you next week ;0)

2006-11-11T19:15:00.001Z

Winter is here urghhhhhh!!

2006-11-11T18:51:00.000Z

I hate winter especially when it's raining, see here in Wales we tend to have much more rain fall than other parts of the UK, today it's been dull, grey, cold and windy. We managed to go for a walk in the country and avoided the rain fall by just a few minutes. By 5.30pm it was pitch black outside so not much to do after 5pm.

Wanted a simple meal tonight so decided to have a hotdog, onions and sweetcorn (don't ask). Now I'm here sat watching UK X Factor which is okay trying to think of things to put here.

Oh work stuff, I have officially been asked to return full time, that all happened Thursday morning whilst having breakfast with the department manager, I managed to change the subject as at 8.30am I was in no fit state to give an answer, although at the moment I'm not ready to go back full time I want to give MSM a little more dad time before I get caught in the 12 hour day routine.

My other business, the software application is now ready for launch and I'm currently typing up the release notes and instructions for the staff who will be lucky enough to use it. And if you know anyone who wants a purpose built computer application then give me a shout I'm ready for the next contract.

Anyway, time to read other peoples blogs so tara for now ;0)

Thursday where's Mon, Tues, Wed gone?

2006-11-09T19:05:00.000Z

Oh my I have lost a week, back in work, Monday was an okay day easing back in to the routine, Tuesday was a day from hell STRESS!! that's all I have to say about Tuesday. Wednesday well early start as I had my last seminar until December, had the company car (Vectra 2.0i) picked up colleagues and drove to hammersmith in London where we stayed over for the night.

Met my sister at the hotel last night as she lives in the big smoke had a few drinks well more than a few and went to bed at 2am. Left London late this morning and drove home where I crashed put on the sofa.

Now well not going to do much just read my emails and do this blog and that's it just chilling on the sofa watching some crap on the T.V

All good, apart from my head ooooo ;o)

Half term nearly over

2006-11-04T17:01:00.001Z

Well what a great week, the weather has been great, crisp, cold and sunny!! and I have had the best time with MSM, she has kept me away from the computer so only been working evenings which is great and the dreaded project is now nearly complete with the file transfer test Wednesday which worked 100%

I have a selection of images over the past few days, lets just say I have had plenty of fresh air and walking for miles. I'd forgotten what is right on my doorstep.

Tonight is Barry's round table firework extravagance which is huge and is by far the biggest firework display around, the local chemical factories like DOW Corning donate £1,000's of pounds for this event, last year the total spend was around £50,000 and boy for over an hour the display goes off all to music. And it's down on the beach so the reflections on the water is fantastic. Although due to it being by the sea it's always bloody freezing!!

The medeavil village about a mile down the road, in the summer there are people who live there on weekends and dress and work in costume.

MSM and Toby, just don't ask as the dog hates MSM riding ahead and I had to sprint to keep up with her, no more bike when I'm walking she nearly killed me!!

think this speaks for it's self.

And this is what half term has been all about relaxing, walking and taking in these views. Well I must take everything back about Barry, there are some great spots and it's a 10 min walk away and before we had the dog we hardly ever went. Now we are there every week!! how kwl is that. Time to get another dog!!

Today we also gave Toby a bath as we went down the beach again today and the tide was way out so he got soaked on the wet beach here are some pics of 'J' and MSM oh and the star Toby..

And Toby all dried and looking GREAT!! and before you say he looks like an old man he's 4 months old!!

Before I get in to work

2006-11-01T16:33:00.000Z

I better update my blog, the half term is going great, Monday MSM and I went to my mums to see how they are, I have not been there in months, as you can tell we're not a close family, well it was interesting me being brought in to family arguments and trying to talk sense to my step father now that was an experience not to be repeated.

We enjoyed the day and I can make a mental note that I have visited and not to be done until Christmas, oh and then I have my sister to contend with. (We fell out many years ago) that one for another day maybe Christmas!! oh I wish I bought tickets to go to Spain.

Tuesday, Wayne (work colleague & friend) rang to see if MSM and I wanted to join him and his 9yr old Son Joel on a walk around the lakes, great idea it was overcast but nice so piled in the car took Toby as well and MSM's bike.

We walked for over two hours through woods and moors it was fab, have not done a walk like that for years. Poor Toby was knackered and I ended up carrying him for the last hour poor mutt. Work rang in the afternoon for some help so I had to log in from home for a few hours doing some normal stuff. But so far all good.

Today well I had nothing much planned except popping to B&Q for some bathroom ceiling paint as I have got mold starting to appear over the shower area already (12mths since I finished the bathroom). So after MSM cooked dinner with me just supervising (Scrabbled egg, Croquettes and spaghetti hoops). I started painting the ceiling, only got half way when the sister in law pop's in for a cup of tea and a chat then another knock on the door and it was my brother and his new girlfriend. So a house full this afternoon but we all had a good laugh and I do like my brothers choice in women! even though she was only sixteen but there again my brother is only eighteen oh those were the days!!

Anyway MSM's half term is going well both of us are having a great time and bonding again I think we are now joined at the hip!! all good ;o)

Oh and Dan the Essex man, where are you mate not heard from you in a while are you okay? I think you got all your fans worried.

What a weekend

2006-10-29T18:30:00.000Z

Well it's been a few days but I have been really busy, and getting over the trip to Scotland, oh how I love that place. Anyway Friday was good especially as I found out that I had 9 days holiday to take, I thought that I only had 3 days so to get an extra week is well lets just say brilliant. Also I managed to book this week off as it's MSM's half term, last week for those in England!!

So I'm officially on holiday, nothing planed just going to do what ever we fancy, 'J' has to work so it's father and daughter team.

Saturday was wet and miserable so I popped over to my friends house to sort out his laptop and connect him up to BT wireless broadband, well lets just say that his new laptop is not very good so I had to bring it home so that I could up date the drivers etc. Went back later in the day and finished the job also gave each family member their own log in area and email systems so they were chuffed.

Today was in contrast a very nice and sunny day so we had to take a walk with the dog, and yes we hit the beach again and this time I took some pics so here they are MSM, 'J' and Toby down the beach this morning. At last you get to see places that are just a 10 min walk from the house!!

MSM and Toby getting their feet wet.

And the action shot!

Due to the nature of these images please note that it's a crime to steal images and these are under copyright. Thanks.

This one is my favourite, the sun was just in the right position. I think I should do photography more often. I have a B/W version now on my PC's and MSM has a printed version on her wall she liked it so much.

And here's the view of Barry Island from Nells point.

Not sure what I'll be doing tomorrow but I will take the camera out again, so where ever we go I'll have a pic for you. As they say a picture paints a thousand words, hopefully we'll be blessed with more sunshine like today. Here's hoping anyway ;0)

I'm still here ....

2006-10-25T20:50:00.000Z

I could have sworn I put a blog here oer the weekend, or maybe not! anyway The weekend was really good, Saturday we took 'J' car for an MOT and popped in to Ikea for breakfast and it was really nice at only 95p each a real bargain, then dropped MSM off at the baths as Brownies were doing their swimming badge, 'J' and I took the dog down down the beach and had an hour just walking in the warm sunshine hand in hand which was really good best day I have had in a long time.

Sunday well it was raining really hard so not much in the way of outdoor activities today so apart from usual Tesco shopping. But before I put the items in the fridge I decided to clean and defrost, well after 10 mins and not much ice melting I decided to try and knock more off by using a hammer, oops big mistake next thing I Know a lot of hissing and the cloud of gas, yup I had made a hole in the fridge element, next thing I new we were in Currys spending over £200 on a new one.

Let me point out though that the fridge was over 13 years old and we have been talking about replacing it for ages so in a way I did it a favour. New one arrived Tuesday but it's going back as it's damaged.

So it's Wednesday now and I have just come back from a seminar in Scotland what a blast left sunny Wales on Monday morning arrived in Glasgow 30 mins later pouring with rain no bother, headed over to Glasgow Hilton and settled in, went to see a good fFriendof mine in the evening they live on the other side of Glasgow so the taxi fare was well over £50 round trip but well worth it, it's always a pleasure meeting up with them and the hospitality is always top notch.

There were comments made by my colleagues that I had left behind but hey if I'm in a place where frFriendsive I will ALWAYS make time to visit stuff what people think. Anyway I love Scotland and the people I find really frfriendlylways up for a drink or two or three, well lets just say we started drinking Tuesday night after the seminar at 4.30pm and finished at 3am this morning. My alarm went off at 5am as we have to be at the airport 2hrs before the flight, well as you can imagine 2 hours sleep was not a wise move, I felt like shit and I thought I was going to be ill in the airport and on the plane, but I arrived home at 10am no work so basically chilled out for the day, it's now 10pm and I think it's time for bed as it's back to the office tomorrow.

Thanks guys for a fantastic few days in lovely Glasgow can't wait to get back in a few months.

It's crunchie Friday!!

2006-10-20T20:34:00.000Z

Well Friday already, what ever happened to this week, saying that this year? is it me or as you get older the days go quicker? umm food for thought.

Okay been thinking more about replacing my car but not sure what to get, I quite fancy the Seat range either a Ibiza or Leon but I would have to have a 1.9 TDI version I feel a quick visit to the Seat garage sometime this weekend just to get an idea on the costs and range, I promise that I will not buy one honest!!

Hey guess what, I have finally got that bloody application to work, yes your reading this correct the bloody thing is working. I need to fine tune stuff but it's working and does what it suppose to do, yea me.

Anyway I have to follow 'J' to the garage tomorrow as her car is having the first MOT test, booked in for 8.30am that means breakfast at Ikea, I have been told that their breakfasts are really tasty.

MSM is then going swimming with Brownies to do her first badge so tomorrow looks like a busy day, also MSM has a birthday party my god I will have to get her a diary for Christmas and show her how to use outlook!

All good. ;o) oh and is only 11 weeks to Christmas???

So what happend to Mon-Weds

2006-10-19T20:46:00.000Z

Okay so this week has been a bit of a blur, loosing my temper in a meeting, not clever but hey ho! car going on the blink well it stalled at the car park barrier and it took 10mins to get it running again, although over the past few months it's been happening a lot and I think it's time to trade in.

I'm still trying to get the application working and it's not well it is but not as I would want it but to be honest I have had enough of this stuff and it's time to let go and move on, I fancy picking up on the family tree I started earlier in the year, I managed to go back to the 1700's on my Grand mothers side. I want to travel to Devon where they lived and find out more about them. I know they lived in a small village which is still there and the location means that there is no development.

I watched Jeremy Irons last night and seeing what he uncovered I think I can do the same and like him I may find out why I love Devon so much and the country, I have found out the my family were all farmers and also servants to a large house in the village. As I type this I can just see myself travelling there on weekends and staying in the local B&B. Oh how cool would that be. But I must get rid of these contracts first, then work out how to subsidise my income when I walk away from the contracts as I don't want to go back full time .

Anyway, it's wet and windy outside and I'm struggling to put stuff down at the mo as Toby is biting my hands as I type so it's getting more painful by the minute. get off dog,

Quiet day

2006-10-15T18:59:00.000Z

Well it's Sunday evening and after the past two days adventures today was relatively quiet and without Major events, MSM had a lay in and didn't get up until 10.30am and we had to get out and do shopping so she was under pressure to get washed & dressed, the usual Sunday trip to Tesco and weekly shopping complete without much fuss.

Late this afternoon we decided to take Toby down the lakes and also let him meet his cousin Bailey, well as with all Lhasa's they have a great temperament and no issues they were best of Friends from the start walking together and enjoying each other company, although Toby does like children and will stop if a small child walks past and he'll wait for a fuss from them so a 15-20 min walk took well over an hour.

So that's it for now see ya ;o)

Friday 13th .5

2006-10-14T19:28:00.000Z

Episode 2.

Got up nice and early and took some garden waste to the local dump, this being a different story that I may tag on to the end of the flat tyre saga.

Anyway all of us piled in to my car and we headed down to Evans Halshaw in sloper road Cardiff (Just check out their customer service page). who are now the main dealers. We enter the show room and and head for the parts and service department, young girl at the desk I start talking telling her all about last nights flat tyre and that the car is stuck in a multi storey and we need the correct fitment to undo the locking nuts.

She looked blank at me, I showed her the little box with only one fitment present and explained that this is what was given to us 18mths ago when we bought the car, again she looked at me with dull eyes and a blank expression. My patience now near it's end I look at her right in the eyes and said "I NEED THREE MORE OF THESE TO UNDO MY LOCKING NUTS" she then proceeded to ring the parts department and talk to a chap about the problem, she looked at me and said sorry we don't have them and cannot get them either. But if you bring the car in we will drill them out for you.

Wrong answer, I stood in the showroom which now had a fair few customers looking at cars and said okay, how do you propose to get my car out of the multi storey car park with a flat tyre and bring it over to you. Her reply, I notice from our records your car is due for a service, shall I book it in now while your here.

Okay I think your getting the gist of this, in a nut shell they wanted me to bring the car to them and the cost would be as follows:

£65 per hour labour. (x2 hours)
£30 + VAT for a new set of locking nuts
£55+ VAT for each tyre (We need 2)

Well lets just say I'll be having words with a friend of mine that is quite high up in the Pendragon group who own Evans Halshaw, and guess what I didn't even use that to get better service.

Evans Halshaw you have by far the worst customer service I have ever seen and beating Renault Cardiff by a long way, and if you ever ask to be on my national approved garage network I'll give you service that you deserve, oh and your application on my desk well Monday it will be in the shredder.

Anyway what next, well I rang my good freind Wayne to ask his advice but no answer umm then looked in front of me and who should be in the car in front but Wayne (How spooky is that), anyway we have a chat and he suggests getting a chisle and giving it a few taps to see if that loosens it but go to Halfords and pick up the self healing and inflation stuff and bring it round later and I'll have a look, cheers mate that sounds good.

Get to halfords buy the stuff to do a temporary repair and pick up a new set of wheel locking nuts. Cost so far £40 Get to the multi storey and apply this stuff, 10 mins later I'm off driving 'J' car no more than 30mph heading for home. As I get in the house Wayne's on the phone ready to come over mate? oh yeah lets go.

Arrive at his house and he looks at me and says can you take a look at my new laptop in a bit I can't get it to work properly, "My pleasure" so he brings out the chisle and a hammer and hits the nut TWICE and wey hey it comes off. He then looks at me and says shall I do the rest? knock yourself out mate, so off he goes around the car knocking off all the nuts and replacing them with my new set.

I then grab his laptop and say see you in a bit, I drive down the local tyre company and get two new tyres and tracking done at a cost of £75 INC VAT. Umm I thinks I have just made a huge saving by trading talents Wayne knows all there is to know about cars and I know very little about computers.... Oh and I fix his laptop problem and bung on a few programmes that he would love, saying no more but you need these to do Spreadsheets and typing letters get my drift. Then jump in the 'J's' now spiffing car and deliver his pride and joy.

Both parties extremley happy just by trading knowledge. Now that's more fun than parting with lots of cash. So £115 Inc VAT to get a flat tyre sorted out or go to Evans Halshaw and spend in excess of £210+VAT what a bargain.

Oh and the garden rubbish well that's for another day...

Friday 13th

2006-10-13T19:39:00.000Z

Normally I'm all good with Friday 13th but this evening was hell, Pick MSM up from grandparents with Toby in car great with them living in a caravan park well until next month when they emigrate, anyway all good MSM and Toby went for their walk and we departed in good time to start cooking tea, then the mobile rings in the car (Hands free) it's 'J' "where are you" oh I'm just on my way home to start tea why? "Oh I have a flat tyre" okay where are you? "In multi storey" okay I'm on my way (dum dum dummm (Super hero voice)). So speed through traffic like and emergency vehicle damsel in distress!! (30mph and no traffic as I was going against the flow). Arrive in 15mins (Not bad as it's 10 miles away) now that's quicker than the AA.

Anyway pull up along side her car with a screech of brakes just for the effect, I shouted to her "Switch off the engine and leave the car quietly" (In my police officer voice) people everywhere looking over and the now red faced 'J' exited the car.

Got the tools out of the boot and the crappy thin wheel they now call 'Space savers' yeah right just to cut costs! started taking the nuts off and remembered she has alloys which needs special adaptors, grabbed the adaptor box out of the glove box popped the lid only to see 1 adaptor and 3 empty spaces, hmm it can't be this is a new car and never had a wheel changed it must be one fits all so I try and free this bugger but no joy I then decide to check out the rear wheel to see if this little sucker fits that bolt and low and behold it does.

Okay flat tyre with a big stud sticking out so no chance of pumping back up just to get home, tools missing only thing we can do is lock car up for the night and head for the garage in the morning to get the missing adaptors! yeah and do you think that's going to be easy after two years..... we'll see.

To be continued.............

Hey it's Thursday

2006-10-12T20:52:00.000Z

The most idiotic thing I have ever seen happened to me yesterday on my way to the Cardiff Seminar that I was holding, I was following a Que of traffic through the outskirts of Cardiff not far from the issue I covered last week, when I glanced to the left and watched in amazement a car under taking me on the pavement. That's right folks this chap had come off the road crossed a wide grass verge and drove full lengh of the road on the bloody pavement!! and as ever no police/traffic wardens in sight. The chap crossed back over the grass verge and waited, and waited and I passed him looked in my rear view mirror with a smile as no one would let him in.

The seminar went well, I had the big boss sat in and he came up to me at the end and congratulated me on a great presentation and he wants to know more about what I was discussing, I have agreed to meet him for coffee in Madison's to discuss the project in more detail, this is nice as normally I go through department mangers not normally direct to directors. Oh and the share price of the company rose by 44p today that has to be to do with my presentation yesterday!! go me, now they need to pay me more.

Thursday, well back in the office and trying to catch up on my email, I have sub folders which I try to use as I get so many emails a day that I have to prioritise them, well my MUST do folder has now topped out at 230 unread emails and the total in my in box stands at 1,320 all unread and the oldest is three weeks old. umm I thinks I need to address this by switching of my email.

I must say the biggest regret I have was introducing Microsoft version of email, it was a big mistake even though it was over 10 years ago now, who would have thought that email would be the biggest problem in our working days, I must find a new solution to the problem, and I have tried a blackberry but could not get on with it.

Tonight I was meant to be working on the dreaded project although I have finally worked through the problems and I can now move forward and complete it although I'm still many hours away from completing just the basic operating system, then comes the best bit moulding it to the way the company I'm building it for want it.

A friend of mine who I have not discussed here in a few months came over to me today and told me that her husband had slept with another woman last weekend and that she is now going to be a single parent, for those not sure where I am going with this you will need to go back to Jan/Feb 2006 to say I was shocked is an understatement, this poor girl has been through the mill this year and I would say the 2006 has not been good to her, however she looks great and although a difficult time for her I think she will be very happy with her new life she is about to embark on. I'm sure I'll have more on my special friend in the coming weeks and months.

Anyway that's enough for tonight but probably more for tomorrow. bye for now ;o)

Hey it's Monday

2006-10-09T20:35:00.000Z

Well what a weekend, great great great, nothing major happened but having a dog that is now allowed out of the house has made us get out of the house and hit the country. Saturday and Sunday spent a few hours walking down country paths watching horses, birds (Feather kind) and walking hand in hand with 'J' it was great and I'm up for it again next weekend.

And MSM has asked for a mountain bike for Christmas, yippee I can get out on mine now fresh air mud, rain bring it on.

Today well I have another seminar tomorrow but it's in Cardiff which makes it a little easier with no travelling. Although being on home territory all the BIG bosses are going to sit in, hmmm.

Today was the usual hectic day at the office, school run un eventful apart from MSM being last out of school at 3.35pm (School finishes at 3.20pm) home some food and getting ready for Brownies. Oh is our family becoming like one of those you see on TV, out and about on weekends, clubs and societies after school.

Bought Norton Antivirus tonight at a cost of £50 but I think I have managed to break the agreement by using it on this laptop and my power house up in the office, lets see how that works out.

An old business friend rang tonight this is the chap I was working with doing librautomotive, I have not spoken to him since August, I had an email from him telling me that he has had a stroke and his heart condition has taken a turn for the worse, seems he went against his word and took on a project that I had brief contact with (web design) it seems he went from being a consultant to working full time 9-5 travelling all over the place and within 6 weeks he was in hospital fighting for his life. Well I had a few words to say to him but all good and he is on the mend and now looking to kick start a project together, our projects are always stress free and easy work from home stuff, he has the dosh and I have the ideas so thinking cap back on and see what project I can dream up this time.

I wish I thought up the juice bar thing that Chris Evans blog was talking about I saw one on Saturday whilst in Cardiff a simple idea but a Q a mile long, this chap has a turnover of over £70 Million in 12 months. As they say the simplest ideas are normally the best. Go check it out.

Anyway it's time to stop and close up shop for the night. Se ya ;0)

Shop till you drop!

2006-10-07T19:28:00.000Z

Before I start I'm on my laptop and only have 30% battery power so if my blog is slit then you know the battery went and I had to change to main PC. Saturday, well I had a dentist appointment at 9.50am so up and around early, nice drive in to Cardiff not much traffic and the country lanes were really quiet.

Well Hygienist told me off I have 30% plaque which is not good so she gave me a demo on how to use my tooth brush, I know I do it wrong but I hate staring at myself in the mirror late at night, even though I'm really good looking (Yea right). Anyway I now have shiny white teeth for a week or two, oh and a £100 dent in my wallet, going private is not cheap but well worth it for the service, and I do have insurance which will pay back 80% of the charge.

Met up with my little Brother to buy his 18th Birthday present he wanted a watch and I thought cool nice cheap present then he dropped the bomb she I want a fossil watch. it's called a Gothic Tic and here it is but looking at the American site I was connedin the UK it was £75 but in America it's $75 bastards!! but H Samuel where I bought the watch had an offer buy one watch get one half price and I knew 'J' needed a new watch so I got her one as well but I can't find the picture.

MSM spent some of her birthday money although I still managed to blow a fair few pounds as well not sure how she got that out of me. Got back in the house around 3.30pm and time to take Toby out, so we piled in my car and headed for cosmeston lake for a stroll, Toby loved it and it was nice to get some real fresh air.

Now being put through X Factor part 2 the waiting, how cruel is this programme keeping these poor people hanging on like this and crushing their dreams just like that. So cruel or is it!! well it's now down to us to spend £££'s on phone calls, MSM has already asked to phone and we instantly told her you needed to be 18 she's not happy, I am, no nagging to use the phone to dial the numbers.

Anyway times up must watch the remainder of X Factor. oops one of MSM's groups just got sent home she is not happy throwing cushions at the screen and crying her eyes out great here we go. X Factor you got a lot to answer for and I may be switching this off as I cannot have MSM upset over a TV programme.

Road rage

2006-10-06T20:28:00.000Z

Well I like Dan missed Thursday, although I was in a foul mood after a jerk decided to cut me up on the way to work, what was more frustrating was that he had his mobile glued to his ear. Here's the scene. Driving in left hand lane as right hand lane has chevrons at the end of the chevrons you can go in the right hand lane to turn right. This chap decided that the chevrons mean jack shit and decided to continue anyway, I started to turn in to the right hand lane only to have this idiot nearly take out my wing mirror.

After all this he sat in front of me still with his mobile glued to his ear I drove behind him all the way to my office and as I pulled along side I noticed that he had a baby carrier in the front seat, now that tipped me over the edge, not only would he risk his life by speeding, driving where he should not, driving one handed as his mobile was so important but the baby in the front seat.

That people made my day hell, I was so frustrated that I just got my head down and worked my bollocks off and did not look back. If I saw that chap again I swear I would knock his block off, well take away his car keys and throw them away at least.

Today in contrast has been mellow, got soaking wet walking 20yds to the office this morning and I had jeans on so as you know they take hours to dry and sitting down does not help, had a coffee meeting with a supplier in Madison's which I paid for god knows why I must have been in a generous mood to say the least, done a little work not much by my standards but enough.

At home well Toby had his first taste of the outside world although it took 10 mins to get him to the car so I could collect MSM after that there was no stopping him even though it was wet and windy he loved it. So did I if truth be known.

Anyway watching Star Wars return of the Sith (I think that's the title) oh and now Toby is going mental to get on my lap so it's time I went. Bye for now.

Wow what a day I'm in demand!

2006-10-04T20:31:00.000Z

Okay I walk in the office at 9.45am, walk through the door and...... 'Mark' can you look at this, still with jacket on and pack pack in hand, then as I leave that person another come running, well lets just say I took my jacket off at 10.35am and as with most people I don't operate until I have my first cup of tea for the day, well that didn't happen until 11.30am

Strewth, that was a day at the office, it was nice being in demand but a little stressful. But boy did those four hours go bloody quick, but by the end I had unwound and was ready for the drive to the school. This today was pretty uneventful apart from being able to park right outside the gates that was cool.

Oh happy 18th bro.

This evening I think I managed to crack the normalisation of the database I'm working on, if I have then the rest of the build should be pretty easy. Here's hoping anyway.

Still not going well

2006-10-03T19:43:00.000Z

I have the books open and trying to get the grey matter working but still nothing. What's worse I have built loads of applications over the years but moved over to Internet development about 18mths ago, I can't believe how much you can forget so quickly if you don't keep up the practice.

I have decided to pack in the business I am doing, it's not enjoyable anymore and so I must call it a day, I'll attempt to finish what I have at the mo but I will not be taking on any more. Once the contracts are up I'll have to go back to full time work again although I have been doing that for a while albeit partly from home.

The pictures are a small collection as the others are with friends and I have not asked permission for them to be on the web so I can only show ones with MSM in the main.

Anyway 'J' is going mad at the mo as the dog has had an accident because we have all been up stairs for the past hour or so and he is not a happy bunny.

Here's Toby a few weeks ago. Ewok I think this chap is an Ewok!!

Pictures

2006-10-03T19:35:00.000Z

Well lets try and upload some birthday snaps of MSM and friends.

Not a good Monday

2006-10-02T20:26:00.000Z

Sorry readers but not a good one today really struggling with my project and it looks like I have to scrap this version and start again so no blog tonight. Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow.

All is quiet

2006-10-01T20:05:00.000Z

Hey yall, I'm sat in my lounge in total peace and quiet, everyone is either asleep or else where in the house, the T.V is off and I can here only the lapping sounds of Toby drinking water and the creaking of floor boards where 'J' is walking around. This is really nice I feel like I have finally got in to the zone, really chilled and relaxed.

Not seen any news today so not sure what is going on in the world which I think is a good thing, all this doom and gloom it's nice some times just to switch it all off, shut the curtains and block out the outside world, hmmm so quiet.

Well today was a normal catch up on some house work day, Tesco for weekly shop with 'J' and MSM in tow, with the odd "Mark can we have chicken this week?", "Mark are you able to cook this one night?", as you can tell I do all the cooking apart from Sundays I try to give myself at least one day off, but why do I get so possessive over the kitchen. Example 'J' cooks a lovely Lamb dinner with fresh Veg but she is rather messy and I enter kitchen to tidy up only to see dishes everywhere, all work tops full of empty pots and pans, cooker looking rather green with the over spill of cabbage, I can't work like that every surface has to be cleaned as I cook, by the time I'm serving up there are no dishes around apart from the loaded up plates, everything else is in the dish washer ready for the on button. Umm I daren't start discussing kitchen hygiene as my Sunday off may be a thing of the past.

MSM's birthday went without a hitch, great afternoon doing ten pin bowling then walking over for a Pizza at the Hut. All the children enjoyed themselves and we were honored to be joined by my parents, why I say this is because they never come out with us and if they do it's only to moan about everything especially my mother, although don't get me wrong I Love her to bits but she can only pick holes in things or moan about money or lack of it. Mum there is only so much your son can take, your 63 now and it's time to let go and enjoy the rest of your life. In plain English GET OVER IT!!

Oo that was harsh I know but I needed to get that of my chest. Thanks for the birthday wishes you all, I passed them on to MSM, although she did look at me daft and I had to explain what this blog is and why people leave messages, Joansy, MSM is well impressed that you live in America and that you are a lawyer, I hope she follows in your footsteps and not go down Dans suggested route.

Well the weather is certainly changing with thunder storms this morning and loads of heavy rain, it was rather depressing sitting here at 10am with all the house lights on as it was so dark, I would do a Dan special and get my camera to point out the window but alas I live in a cul de sac with only 8 houses and as you can imagine there is not much activity outside, although if you all tuned in around 7.30am Monday to Friday for about 6 mins it's rush hour with all three cars leaving at once for the city! oh and catching me and MSM at 3.30pm walking past the window after school. Now there's something to wait for all of 3 sec for ummm.

I may switch it on in the office while I work, or as it's been recently sat staring at a screen and not really doing much, we'll see.

So that's my Sunday not very eventful but relaxing all the same and I did take some pictures yesterday so I will try and remember to download them tomorrow and put them up for you all to see.

toodle pip and all that ;0)

Oops missed a day!

2006-09-30T10:58:00.000Z

Hey peeps, it's Saturday and it's MSM's 9th birthday!! god 9 years ago I was with 'J' in hospital doing the husband bit, which if you are a dad you know that's taking verbal abuse having your hand crushed and at the end of it all she tells you how much she loves you, yeah right i think the gas and air is a truth drug really. Anyway happy birthday princess.

But alas MSM is not here and has been away all night at her best Friends house a few miles away as it was her birthday yesterday confusing or what. Well to cut a long story short MSM and Jade did not want a joint party no no they opted for a weekend of sleepovers, yes that's right a night at Jade's and tonight they are here. So you can imagine what's going to happen when they are old enough to drink, not one night out but a full 2 day drinking session, how kwl is that!!

A little history here, MSM and Jade were born 24hrs apart, 'J' and her mum were two beds apart in hospital, we didn't see them again until first day at School (4 Years later) and they instantly got together and became very good Friends, Jade moved away before the summer holidays and due to MSM travel plans this summer they could not get together until yesterday and it brought a tear to the eye watching the both of them hug and talk and talk, those two will be Friends for life you can just tell the way they interact with each other.

So I'm here in the house peace and quite waiting for them to arrive knowing that she will quickly open her presents and disappear with Jade until her other Friends arrive when we will head for the bowling alley and then the pizza hut for grub later, I'm taking my camera this year as my blog is looking rather bare these days and a few pics are long over due.

Toby had his final jabs last night and has only got 6 days to go before he can venture outside to the big wide world. Poor thing has been itching to get outside. Personally I can't wait I've had enough cleaning up after he has wee'd and pooped, being able to open the back door and let him out will be such a relief.

Anyway time to go 'J' has just arrived back from the shops with goodies for MSM and need to assist only as a dad can do.

See ya ;0)

Woz uppppp

2006-09-28T20:26:00.000Z

Crap title I know but couldn't think of a catchy one. Well I survived another seminar and my 15min presentation has now gone to 30 mins with the same amount of power point slides, must be me getting more confident. Had great response from all attendees and staff who came along, thanks guys much appreciated.

Well that's it for a week and my next one is in Cardiff so no early starts or stop overs in hotels. Although with the amount of red wine I drank last night I will need a taxi, paid for of course.

So what's been going on since my last blog, well travelling along the M4 and M25 there is not a lot to do but switch one of the laptops on and stick in a DVD and yes it was my favourite box set Bourne Supremacy & Identity although on both time the battery ran out 10 mins before the end, I must look into getting an adaptor of some sort for the cigar lighter. We did get strange looks from passers by as the first movie was playing in the early morning dusk and the glare in the MPV was quite bright, but hey if you have the hardware then use it that's what I say.

Oh the boiler problem, well lets just say it gave up and would not give us our normal piping hot water on Wednesday although I managed to take a shower at 4am and all was fine, my mobile goes off at 7.45 with 'J' going mad as there is no hot water and the boiler has packed in. I told her to phone the Gas and arrange another visit, well the appointment was made but they had to wait 24hrs until today, 'J' was told that she would be the first call at 8am cool she thinks I have not got to be in the office till 10am so no probs, 9.15 she calls me again this time from the car.
'J': The gas man has not turned up"
me:No problem just sit back and enjoy the rest
'J' what do you mean I'm on my way to work
me: But the gas man is coming to sort out the boiler
'J': well I have to go to work
My boss (Sat next to me): what is she doing if the boiler has broken and the engineer is due stay there until it's fixed
'J' to late I'm just pulling into the office car park. Mark you'll be home in a bit won't you
me: Umm I'm still in the hotel having breakfast
'J': yeah but it's only an hours drive from Dartford
me: Umm yeah right but it took us just over 3 hrs to get down here and that was early in the morning
'J': Oh, can you ring them back and have a word?
me: I don't have their number
'J': I'll text it to you

Okay I would say you are now getting the idea, basically she has lost her bottle and refused to deal with the problem (Head in the sand routine).

Rang the gas people tried to explain that they had not arrived as promised, again customer service was excellent and arranged a new appointment for 2.30 ish! got back home at 2.30pm but had to drop off a colleague, gas man rang my mobile "I'm outside the house" okay I'm five mins away can you wait? "Yes no problems" great I rush through Barry and arrive home let him in and 15mins later HOT WATER!! lots of hot water. Sorted...

phew! that was a bit long winded, anyway got to check my email and get to bed. Dan love the fan it's soothing watching it go back and forth, you'll have hypnotised all us bloggers soon.

See ya soon bye ;0)

The Gas Man cont.....

2006-09-26T21:07:00.000Z

Okay I worked it out, I rang British gas yesterday to arrange the appointment and as you know the time frame was AM or PM, well I rang them back today at 12.30pm and told them that I would not be home until 3.30pm, no problem the customer service rep says, he has not called you yet, what I can do is try his mobile now which he did with no luck he then suggested that he takes my mobile number and he will get the engineer to call 15mins before he calls, great I say that's fine.

Picked up the kids and headed home drove around the corner and there he was parked outside the house, I asked him how long he had been there and he had only just arrived! whilst he was checking over the boiler I asked him what he would have done if I was not there his reply was "I would call your land line (Not sure why when know one answered the door), then I would ring your mobile.

Well there we have it if you need a gas engineer make the appointment and on the day call them and arrange a time or give them your mobile and they will sort it from there. Great customer service.

Anyway the boiler, well as what normally happens with any appliance when an engineer calls it worked fine, he could not track down any problems and proceeded to check the radiators and the boiler. All done in 45mins and I totally forgot to offer the chap (Darren) a cup of tea, but did find out that Llantwit Major which is where I was looking to buy a house was a nice area although I had been told that the area was becoming a no go area.

I'm out on the road again tomorrow starting at 5.30am till Thursday evening, a whole two days in Dartford, the problem is that the hotel I'm staying at is right on the M25 so you have no chance of walking to the pub later ah well it's all good.

Reading Chris's blog tonight and noticed that he used the 'Hate' word and explained that he avoids people who use the word, well I'm not sure how often I have said that to someone and reading his blog opened my eyes to that fact that telling someone who is in mid flow of a conversation that you hate the topic being discussed is a no no. So I promise that I will refrain from using the word 'hate' in my conversations.

Okay there's more, I have read in many places how people relax, now as you may or may not know I really struggle to relax my mind is always racing and I just can't switch off. This is the reason why I fell ill in the first place. So any ideas on things I can look into to help me chill out. And what's with feeling guilty when I do nothing? I was in Spain a few weeks ago and really did very little and by mid-day I felt really guilty for not doing anything. What's that all about?

Anyway it's past 10PM and I really have to get to bed as early rise in the morning. Good night and see you in a few days.

Tagged

2006-09-26T15:59:00.000Z

Four Jobs I Have Had In My Life:
-Shop Assistant
-Store Manager
-Investment Consultant
-Project Manger

Four Movies I Would Watch Over And Over
-The Bourne Supremacy

-The Bourne Identity
-The Italian Job (New version)
-Seven

Four Places I Have Lived
-Ely, Cardiff
-St. Mellons, Cardiff
-Cyncoed, Cardiff
-Cadoxton, Barry

Four TV Shows I Love To Watch
-The Apprentice (UK & USA)
-Lost
-CSI
-Dragons Den

Four Places I Have Been On Vacation
-Holland (Camping & Cycling across)
-Spain (where the other house is)
-Greece (Normal holiday)
-France (Driving around)

Four Websites I Visit Daily
-Blogger.com (and around 3 blogs)
-Librautomotive (My business so must check it's still live)
-StatCounter (Don't know why as there is usually only one person who looks at this)
-YouTube (Cos my colleague is in Thailand and is sending stuff to this site)

Four Of My Favourite Foods:
-Fish 'n' Chips
-Chinese fried rice
-Lasagne
-Full English Breakfast

Four Places I'd Rather Be Right Now:
-In the other house, chilling
-Living out in the country
-On holiday in a hot country (Australia)
-In a car show room buying a sports car

Four People Who Are Most Likely To Respond?
Probably no one (boo hoo)
I would have said Dan but I've already been tagged!!

(Being tagged - you copy this list and change the answers to your own, then tag four OTHER people. You can still do it if you like though!)

Monday, Monday so good to me!!

2006-09-25T19:01:00.000Z

Yeah right! what is it about Monday's they are the worst! got up on time and sorted MSM and sent her to school, went to run the hot water and there was a funny noise coming from the boiler, and the hot water was coming out as a trickle! oh great a busted boiler how to start a week on the right note.

Left it went to the office done a little work, well a lot of work for the fours hours they are paying me, collected MSM from school headed home and grabbed the screw driver and went to the boiler, checked the pump and could not unscrew the cap off the front. Then decided to run the cold water full blast and then put the hot water back on, whoopee the water flowed as normal and the hot is still hot! so there it is I should be a plumber (NOT!). In the mean time though I still called out the boiler man to which they said "They will be with you anytime after 12pm" I replied well no one is here until 3.30pm as we work, they replied "No problem someone will be with you after 12pm but before 6pm" now what bloody use is that I'm not here until 3.30pm!

What ever happened to the days when you could book a time slot! even an hour window would be good I thought companies were striving for good customer service? PM appointment is not good customer service. So I have decided to ring them tomorrow at 12pm and tell them that I will not be there until 3.30pm let's see what happens. To be cont........

I was walking back to my car through the City and noticed an old couple sat on a bench propping each other up fast asleep both holding hands I wish I had a camera as it would have made a lovely picture they must have both been in their eighties both exhausted from their days activities aah bliss. I hope I'm like that at their age.

I'm now back in my office trying to get this now well overdue project over to my clients but alas I still cannot get it to work and I don't know why. I have left it for over a week thinking that when I return a bright light will shine and I will have the problem sorted but NO it's still bloody broke. I can see a full refund heading their way which will wipe out my savings but I'm beat I just cannot be bothered with working with PCs anymore the fun has finally gone and it's now a chore.

Roll on tomorrow lets see what that day brings..... probably the same as today, god I need to get a life.

Bad golf day

2006-09-24T19:35:00.000Z

Although Europe won the Ryder cup my game was less than impressive, I have only been playing a few months and I'm not completely hooked, but watching the likes of Woods and Montgomery I'm way off the mark. Wayne and I went to the club this morning and opted to play a 9 hole, well us thinking that as the Ryder game was on it would be nice and quite fat chance we waited half an hour to get on the green and then followed by three young men with a buggy!! this did not help my game as I felt under pressure all the way around. We gave up on scoring after the third hole as our shots were way off the mark. A two and a half hour game turned out to be four hours and yes I was in the dog house when I got home.

I'm now shattered, scrubbed the bathroom from top to bottom and had numerous telephone calls, which in it's self is unheard of.

I'm now chilling in front of the TV trying to put this blog together, question: why when you clean up or tidy up either MSM or Toby follow right behind and mess is all up which then makes me feel like shit as I have not got the energy to go back and do it all again.

Example: As I mentioned earlier I scrubbed the bathroom and MSM has just taken a shower and there are now black finger marks all over the place, also we have white bath mats, clean and fresh now they have black foot prints all over them.

Example 2: Scrubbed the kitchen floor only to find that Toby has weed on the clean floor. What is the point. I feel like walking out and getting my own place where I know the place will remain nice and clean and relaxing not running around after everyone.

Anyway I'm sure tomorrow I will have a better day...... at least I hope I will.

A week on....

2006-09-23T16:59:00.000Z

Well I must get better at this blog thing, I'm missing far to many days here. So here's the week that was.

Monday: Worked full time at the office as I had to get the presentations ready for the seminars in Bradford, worked until 9pm and was brain dead there after although did make time to read a few blogs. MSM started Brownies for the first time and although I'm from the Scouting side what being an Ex leader and all she really enjoyed it and that's good enough for me, also took Toby out for the ride so he can get used to riding in the car. All good.

Tuesday: Now this was a really stressful day as all the managers wanted to add/delete stuff from their presentations and also they wanted statistics so that they could do some home work on the way up to Bradford which I emailed over to them at 9.30pm and then went to bed to try and get an early night as Wednesday is going to be a long day, 11.30pm I managed to put my book down and get to sleep.

Wednesday: Okay here goes got up at 4.30am yes that's right you did read it right 4.30am and went to a colleagues house to drop my car off, left the office at 6am and had a chauffeur driven MPV to Bradford from here that's just over 4hrs. Arrived at 10.15am only to find that some of the delegates had arrived 2hrs early and were sat in the room waiting, not good as we wanted to set up and have a run through. Hilton hotels what can I say!!!

The day was stressful as we had CEO's from some large companies here in the UK and also from Canada, my talk was all of 20 mins, with me grabbing the edge of the desk for morale support. The day went on and on and on finally got to my room at 1.30am totally and utterly knackered.

Thursday: Travel back from Bradford got back to the office at 3pm and left at 5pm, got home and had to give 'J' a run down on what went on as she works at the same firm and wanted the goss. Bed by 10am.

Friday: Back to part time 10-2pm which was really nice but still knackered and had a few things to do which came out of the seminars, finally got my haircut at 3pm then went home chilled and watched recorded editions of USA Apprentice all two episodes, don't know why but I love these types of programmes, just to see them get stressed over some easy tasks and seeing their project managers skills or lack of them.

Saturday: I promised MSM that we would take the bikes out so off we went to cosmeston Lakes and cycles down the tracks for two hours, then we went to the local park with 'J' and Toby in arms trying to find conkers, managed to find one, yes ONE single conker. most of the trees had no fruit at all I reckon that's due to the chemical plant not too far away.

Then had late lunch and watched a film with MSM on Disney channel, can't remember the name of the film except that it was a musical! great film and a refreshing change to see a children's musical. currently sat here on my laptop watching Ant & Dec waiting for X Factor!!

Sunday: well that's to come but so far I have a golf game at 11am and the weather looks good.

Weekend at an end

2006-09-17T20:05:00.000Z

Well I must say that I have had a productive weekend what with shopping yesterday and doing the weekly shop on my own today in Tesco, also I managed to do the garden ready for the autumn, that's me beat. I'm now trying to blog and watch Spooks at the same time which is proving hard.

Nothing much to talk about today as you really don't want to hear about all the things I got up to. So I'll keep it short. Happy Birthday Dan wish I was local I'd pop over for a quick pint.

This 'n' that

2006-09-16T21:24:00.000Z

Well I have tried to tidy my blog a little although still having problems with the archives which I'm trying to fix.

Had a good day today went to Bridgend and the out of town shopping centre you know the type Factory outlet stuff, anyway bought a self teach piano book as MSM is having lessons in school so thought I'd better get my arse in gear and start to learn to play the keyboard as well, so spent an hour learning and can now play nick nack paddy whack not bad, sounds good when you add the rhythm to it.

The shopping centre was quite empty so the plans of a quick pop in and grab MSM's new school shoes ended up with a four hour walk around oh and lunch in McDonalds, I even spoilt myself by buying ground coffee which I have not had in ages. I'm not a big coffee drinker especially since being not myself I went of the stuff and will only drink a cup maybe once a week but fresh coffee well I'm on my second cup in two hours ZINGGG!!

On the way back I decided to drive the scenic way and went through a village called Cowbridge, why because I would love to live there and I wanted to get the reaction of 'J' and guess what, she turned to me and said "I'd love to live here" ye ha now I can start looking around although I think it's going to be way out of our price bracket but hey it's worth dreaming and possibly saving for.

Reading Chris Evans blog last night and realised what a great outlook on life he has, if you have not read it yet then check it out it's really good, well I think so. Wonder whether he will get sacked from the BBC again this time because of the blog!

Anyway my day's been good, life is becoming good again and I'm loving it. To Joansy if you still read this blog, Today will become something to smile about in the future and life goes on, bad days are here to show that we are still alive and tomorrow is a new fresh day full of GOOD things.

And Dan the Essex man, your right I have invoiced myself for two hours work on this blog and the tax man will love my excuses!

Oh and how good am I, I washed the two cars this morning!!

Yar Har fiddle-de-dee

2006-09-15T20:14:00.000Z

Like the new look, not had time to add my extra bits but over the next few days I will attempt to put everything back as it was fingers crossed.

Anyway it's 9.15 and I need a strong cup of coffee now that error got me stress levels too high so need a caffeine injection, talking of which have you tried that new ZERO Coke although I don't appreciate the 9/11 design on the bottle if you aint seen it yet take a look, anyway I tasted some yesterday and I commented to 'J' that it has sweeteners in it as it leaves an after taste and low and behold reading the very small print there it is SWEETENERS!! so much for ZERO being what they are trying to have us believe oh and there is caffeine in it to. Sounds to me that it's DIET coke re branded to attract us MEN to drink the stuff as Dan the man would say BLAH!!!

umm hello umm have I made it to the dark side?

2006-09-15T19:41:00.000Z

Helooooooooo! the change over has happend I'm now on the dark side, no shocks yet although I did notice an error

Not Found

Error 404

Umm back to the setup screen and see what storm troopers are lurking, wish me luck and may the force be with me........................

The strangest thing

2006-09-14T18:19:00.000Z

Hi all, reading Dan's blog I must admit that I have not looked into the BETA version of Blogger although I suppose being into IT and all that I should make time to read up on it. Time well that's a good one!! is it me or is 2006 speeding past? I find it hard to find time just to read a book and chill out with the family, I try as much as possible but just can't manage it.

I'm typing this instead of working on my projects, I'm really finding it hard, my brain has forgotten the basics in programming and I just can't get the application to work properly and I'm soooo close to deleting the thing. I guess it was a bad move accepting a paying contract as I feel under pressure to now produce the ultimate application for my client and it's just not happening.

My best work I did was when I worked on the never never which was exactly that but I had fun and enjoyed what I was doing, now it's becoming a chore.

Anyway back to some general stuff, driving to work yesterday and passed a police officer parked in a quite country lane with guess what? a speed camera yes that's right folks this chap was in a lay-by with his camera trying to catch the villagers speeding. My thanks to the young lady who flashed me to warn me that there was a problem ahead. Luckily on this occasion I was not in a rush and I was driving at the Sunday drivers pace 30mph in a 40mph zone. The look on the officers face as I drove past was one of total shock as I was smiling and I waved as I passed him. Any slower I could have had a chat with him or even offered him a cup of tea.

The office is well the office, working really hard on the seminar stuff and getting a little nervous as I have now been asked to do a 30min talk on a few projects I'm working on, normally I'm there to do hospitality and IT stuff but oh no this time it's that and a talk. More money then I hear you say but alas no I'm doing it for the love of the company I work for.

One day I'll win the lottery I will I will I will!! I have it all planned honest the house the two cars the travel everything but for some reason my numbers never come up.... although I have the houses, two cars and a holidays. strange how we grow up, I had dreams of getting all those things and now they are not enough I want bigger and better what's wrong with me I should be satisfied with what I have achieved but I'm not.

One day I'll list what I want even with pictures just so you get an idea where I'm coming from.

What else, ah Dan sorry for not leaving any messages on your new site but I really have not had time and when I do think about it it's late and I'm beat, sorry mate hope you'll forgive me.

Ah well I have used enough of my precious no existent time and I must get back to this project even though I fancy doing jack tonight but they are paying me so I must get on. I'll try and get back to daily blogs soon honest!! see ya ;o)

A week late but hey I'm here

2006-09-10T20:11:00.000Z

Okay I'm a little late, sorry Dan! but I have had one of those hectic weeks, everyone wanted a chunk of me and it's been hard to juggle everything. So what’s going on well I'm taking MD's and senior staff on the road late September through to November stopping off at Bradford, Dartford, Glasgow, Cardiff and London West these seminars are very important for the company and for some unknown reason they have asked me to deal with it, so as you can imagine I have been rushed off my feet sorting it all out, so much for working part time.

Also I have been trying to solve problems with the applications I am building which is now 2 months overdue and is stressing me out which does not help with home life, 'J' has been busy with a gala presentation she had to attend last Thursday which she suffered for on Friday, talk about hangover from hell!! She would not talk to me all day managed to get a few words out of her yesterday but not much.

'MSM' is back in school and likes her new teacher which happens to be her first male teacher, although this term she has lost her 2 best friends both moving over the summer holidays she seems to have made a great start.

Toby well he is settling in well and is now a full part of the family and boy does he know it. I'll try and get back to daily blogs we'll see how the week progresses.

See ya!

And there's more

2006-09-03T19:37:00.000Z

Well, spent the day shopping and converting a spanish washing machine instruction manual to English for the outlaws to take to the house with them, this as you can imagine took a fair few hours as the English translation not always makes sense.

MSM and Toby had a great day gatting to know each other he is currently ling along side me fast asleep the only chance the poor chap has had all day, but lets just say he does not like me, he follows MSM and 'J' everywhere they go but not me he just stares at me and when I approach he tries to get away. The first pet I have had that does this they normally attach themselves to me and no one else. Ah well he'll get used to me sooner or later.

Early rise

2006-09-03T08:18:00.000Z

Umm not sure Toby was a good idea, it looks like 'J' is alergic to the fur although he was playing close to her face last night, so we'll see how things go, Toby cried most of the night and I was woken up at 5.45am so had to get up and see what the damage was, this thank god was not bad, food bowl moved across the kitchen and his toys which he has played with all over the kitchen floor but the important bit wee, wee well he did do all of it on his paper & special mat so that's a good start.

Early start on a Sunday is not good I'm knackered already. Time to put the weekly shopping list together.

Toby day

2006-09-02T19:55:00.000Z

Drove 120 miles round trip this morning and picked up Toby our newest member of the family, he is currently fast asleep on his new bed. To say it's strange to have a dog in the house is an understatement, the last pet we had was a cat which until knocked down by 'J' had been with us for over 10 years but as we all know cats are independent and don't really need a lot of attention all they want is food, cat flap to go out when ever they want and a lap to sleep on when required.

So far Toby has peed and pooped in the wrong place but as he's only 8 weeks old i'll forgive him, for today anyway. He really like MSM and follows her everywhere and as soon as she went for her shower this evening he curled up on the sofa and fell asleep. 'J' has just put him to bed.

Talking to the breeder today she wanted us to have in in the bedroom until he was used to his new surroundings, yer right no chance we are starting the way we mean to go on, he lives under the breakfast bar and the kitchen door is closed until he is trained then I may let him have access to the lounge & hall way when we are not around, when we are here he gets ful run except the bedrooms, am I being harsh?

The weather is bad, rain and heavy cloud well am I glad to be back in Wales NOT!! the outlaws go over to the house on Monday for a few weeks and boy am I tempted to get a late flight to join them. Anyway glad to see Dan is back with a huge post, god he's away for weeks and comes back with a bang, good on yer Dan!!

I may take photos tomorrow for you all to see Toby the Llahsa Apso aged 8 weeks and 3/4.

Hola soy detrás de mis hols

2006-09-01T18:50:00.000Z

For those not a Spanish freak " Hello I'm back from my hols" well does three weeks go quick or what! I'm sitting here thinking back to three weeks ago when I was just getting on the plane ready for the 8pm take off. Slight delay due to the security issues in the UK but 45mins is nothing compared to friends who were going to Florida 13hrs!!

I'm not going to go through the whole three weeks tonight suffice to say I was not coming back, 'J' had to physically drag me back into the airport as I was set to live the rest of my life in Spain.

Why? well lets say 31o wall to wall sunshine, really great people life is soooo laid back. Evening meals start at 8pm and still going at 1am plenty of food drink and entertainment.

We hired a car and spent three wonderful weeks driving around the real Spain stopping in villages, driving over mountains with the most beautiful scenery you've ever seen, I took Zip photos don't ask why the camera was with us but did not think about it once so none on this visit but never mind will probably be back over there in December for Christmas.

My pet hate whilst I was in Spain was 'THE BRITS' what an arrogant bunch of twats we are, it hit me early on when people were winging about this that and the other, I did not find any brits who had a positive word to say about anything, one couple were even complaining that it was too sunny.... Now you can see why I wanted to stay, the Spanish are great people and if you learn the language a little they really go out of their way to help you.

Our next door neighbours (in Spain) are what I call old school Spanish they are late 50's and from Madrid this house is their holiday home we had many meals with them and I tried to learn how to speak real Spanish which was fun, hours of laughter and plenty of read wine.

MSM has made friends in Spain over the years and luckily for us they were out at the same time so she was well happy out and about with them, surfing, snorkelling and of course the swimming pool.

This is a typical day out in Spain for us:

10am - Rise and shower.
11am - Late breakfast on the roof terrace
12pm - Jump in car and get on to the open road
12.05pm pull map out and let 'J' navigate
Normally we would just take turnings when we felt like it and see where we end up I would put a max time of 2hrs driving so no one gets board being stuck in a car. Doing it this way was a real adventure not knowing where we were going and what we would see, all I can say is that we saw the real Spain no holiday makers where we were.

6pm (Approx) Arrive back home & shower and start evening meal.
9.30pm try and finish evening meal so we could pop down the pub for a drink
1am arrive home and settle down with the neighbours for more drinks and talking
3am Time for bed well maybe another hour!!

Talking to the Spanish they say that their typical day starts at 6am when they go to work finish at 2pm sleep until around 5pm then prepare meal and socialise there after until 1am and that's it. There is no rush in Spain nothing is done urgently regardless what it is, it's always tomorrow. I can confirm that as the build of the house was over a year behind schedule but that's how they work. I love it.

Anyway I'm back safe and well it's sunny here although getting dark at 8.15pm and we are going to pick up our new dog tomorrow 'Toby' another member of the family to discuss on my blog. I'm catching up on my favourite blogs although I'm sure Dan was not with me on holiday but by the looks of it he was on strike or missing me ;o)

Joansy how's the celebdaq doing?

A littel worried

2006-08-10T21:13:00.000Z

Well this is my last post for a while as I'm off to Spain tomorrow, due to the goings on with the airports I'm a little worried to say the least but as the in laws said today if it's your time to go then so be it!! arghhh I hate flying at the best of times but now it's 10 times worse, I'm convincing myself that the security is so tight now it should be the safest trip I'll ever have and I'm going to Spain not America.

It's not working though. I won't let the bastards get to me I won't I won't I won't, bring it on!!

Anyway here's to a good flight.

If you don't see a post by September then you know what's happened.

Tuesday hummmm........

2006-08-08T20:58:00.000Z

Yes, Yes, Yes, those idiots backed down and the case that I was working on is now finished and not before time. I WIN (Again).

It's been a lovely day down here today blue sky's warm breeze almost a shame I'll be leaving these shores in a few days. Yeah right! as if.

Why do people talk behind peoples backs? I had a conversation with someone today and they made some snide comments (in jest) but unfortunately it got to me not that I let that person know this but it hurt and got me thinking, I'm a straight talking kind of guy and I'm up front so you either like me or not, better to be honest. But I don't like people who on the face of it like you but really all they are trying to do is gather enough info to go and have a bitch session behind your back. What a shame.

Okay I listen to BBC Radio 2 and I get to hear Mr Wogan on the way to the office with a little bit of Ken Bruce but my fav has to be Chris Evans and he has started a new blog, go check it out, not bad for first attempt not sure if he'll keep it so personal though.

Day from HELLLLLLLLL!!!!

2006-08-07T19:36:00.000Z

What a stressful day today, dealing with receivers for a supplier today and lets just say they were a bunch of pricks. One minute they agree to what I propose the next they change their minds, I lost it on the phone and told them if it's not sorted by tomorrow then the police will be informed and I'll let them deal with it. 10 Days trying to sort this out and still getting no where.

Usually these events are all in the bag after two days but I'm sure this firm has never handled a receivership case in their life before as they have not got a clue what they are doing.

Missing Dan's blogs so come on Dan get well NOW so I can follow on from your posts as I'm running out of things to say.

MSM back down her Grampy's today playing spy kids, she watched the movie for the hundredth time and we bought her a spy kit from Tesco yesterday and she thinks she's the B's n E's.

Getting a little worried about my old business partner for www.librautomotive.co.uk as I have not heard from him in a month, last I heard his grand daughter wash taken to hospital with breathing problems. I hope she's OK. I think I drop him an email to check all is well.

That's it for today I'm still to stressed to type much more, I hope tomorrow is better.

Here's Toby

2006-08-06T14:05:00.000Z

After weeks of thinking of dogs names on the way to visiting the puppy and his brothers and Mum & Dad MSM blurted out "what about Toby" well I like the name but 'J' was not as convinced, although when we finally got to the house it was agreed that Toby will be our new dogs name.

So here are some pictures of Toby with MSM. Toby is now 4 weeks old and we will be bringing him home on the weekend September 2/3rd when he will be just 8 weeks old.

I am a little concerned that his is the smallest of the three and that he is being both Hand fed as well as with mum due to his size, the breeder says that all three have had first vet checks and have been given the all clear, Toby will have another vet check before they let us take him home, so we'll see how much he grows over the next few weeks.

We met both his Mum & Dad and they were both really well behaved, and enjoyed a good fuss. They were quiet and relaxed around us although Mum was being very careful watching what we were doing with the baby and coming up now and again to check on him which was great to see.

Toby's Mum is called Sox and she is 6 years old and this litter was her final one this is her fourth and was an accident. She will now spend her time with her grandchildren.

So now we have to start to prepare for Toby, we have bought small things like dishes and some soft toys, but with MSM around I think those two will be having lots of fun together, and when Toby gets to meet Bailey who is a relative who lives across the street then he will be really happy.

What a night

2006-08-04T18:20:00.000Z

Well the meal was fantastic, service was excellent, first time I have been to a restaurant and they approached us within 2mins, order taken and drinks at the table within 5mins starters 5mins later and main course moments after the starter. The place was quite busy as well, but we stayed for nearly two hours as it was so relaxing and the food was great.

We then headed to the movies where I had pre booked Premier seats, these are the larger seats with high backs and wide arms all for an extra £1 it was great, and guess what..... we say a Pirate film Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl well it was brilliant, the special effects were great and the make up was fantastic, can't wait for number 3, oh for those who have not seen the film there will be a 3rd this one ends on a cliff hanger.

Got back home at 12.45AM yes it's a long film 2.5hrs today I suffered too much red wine and long movie make Mark very tired, couldn't really get much work done although I did try honest.

MSM is back with us and as brown as ever, seems she had a great time in Lanzerote. Only 7 days to go and this time next week I'll be on the plane. Grreeaatt (I hate flying so any tips on how to enjoy 2hrs of this I'm all ears).

News on the Murder case I posted earlier in the week, they have arrested her husband and another woman and they appeared in court this morning. News story. Not much I can say about this apart from disbelief and horror that a person so close to her would be the prime suspect.

Day late oops!

2006-08-03T15:07:00.000Z

Ah sorry, went and played Golf last night to try and clear my head, it's good to take some time out and relax, although only a few days now and I'm in Spain probably on the sun terrace with my feet up. Yeah right with MSM to contend with we'll spend most of the time either round the local so she can play with her Spanish friends, or in the swimming pool. At a stretch it could be the beach.

Anyway a week has flown past again MSM due back from Lanzerote early hours of tomorrow morning so have decided to take yet another evening off from work and take 'J' for a Italian and a movie. Not sure what to watch but not worried gets me out the house that's the main thing.

I will however have to complete the now way overdue project by early next week so they can start testing whilst I'm away.

I promise that I will not touch politics ever again it's not me, I'm pretty crap at writing and will never make a novelist. I'm pretty good at project notes, reports etc. but that's only cos it's work and I have to do them, sitting at home in the office just does not have the same ring to it and my written skills for some unknown reason leaves me the minute I walk out of the office.

Anyway I'm off to do a little work before 'J' gets home. Oh it's Sunny and warm again which is really good but I noticed on the golf course last night that the evenings are drawing in already. God it was only yesterday that the clocks went back please let us have light evenings ALL the time I get sooo depressed when it's dark at 5pm.

All good! ;o)

Following on fro Dan's Blog

2006-08-01T20:41:00.000Z

Well I have decided to take a break from work as it was not going to plan, rather than mess it up I've learnt over the years to switch off the PC and walk away, so now I'm sat in the lounge on my trusty laptop putting fingers to keys.

Following on from Dan's blog and the way 'PC' (Political Correctness) has gone wrong in the UK, like Dan I don't like discussing politics or religion as I don't think these topics should be aired on such a place however Dan did hit a topic which does hit the right nerve for me to air my views. That is Children and how they behave and why do they get away with it time and time again.

I reflect back to my school days when we respected our teachers and adults. The threat of the cane was there if you misbehaved badly enough then you were hauled in to the headmaster’s office for a stern telling off and possibly the cane. I admit I never had the cane but I have been in the head masters office on a few occasions and I have seen the cane on his desk. The threat was enough for me to behave for a while there after.

Today however children have no idea of what the cane is and even scoff at the idea, their attitude being that you can't touch me or what are you going to do about it? We hear this so often these days’ teachers can do NOTHING. Question who was the idiot who decided to pull teachers rights to punish children? Did they not realise that children are here to stretch boundaries that's how we learnt right from wrong. If there is no real punishment in our schools how are children going to learn. Did my generation turn out that bad that we had to change the way teachers discipline their pupils?

I admit that the majority of children are well behaved and learn from their parents but we are now seeing the young adults who went through school not having real discipline having children and listening to them in the school play ground really opens my eyes to their attitude to life and other people, lets just say I'm worried, I have seen them with my own eyes telling their kids "Don't worry love the teacher can't do anything to you". WHAT!! is this the way we really want to teach our children do what you like because no one will do anything until it's too late and the police are involved.

Now just to clarify I'm not saying to cane every child for doing wrong but the thought of the cane is enough for 99% of children and I'm not condoning smacking however I bet we have all had a smack when we were younger I know I did and it hasn't damaged me.

We need to step back and re evaluate what politicians have done over the past 15 years and look at how young people are behaving these days thanks to their eagerness to have their names put to new acts of parliament.

Anyway this topic can go on and on but someone somewhere must re look at how we are dealing with unruly children and to get the respect to adults back to where it should be. Watching a local programme about Cardiff Prison over 70% of inmates were under 25 years old does that suggest something?

Not going to plan

2006-08-01T20:12:00.000Z

Things in the home office just not going to plan a deadline is now here and the application has just fallen apart due to PDF system I needed, hopefully I will be back tomorrow......

On a lighter note

2006-07-31T19:56:00.000Z

Madonna was in the Millennium stadium last night for the first leg of her European confessions tour, alas I did not spend £80+ for a ticket although a load went from the office, the reports are not that good, seems that it was more a theatre show than a rock concert and that there was an hour and a half wait between support band (only the One, and he was a DJ friend of you know who).

The gig was marred by lots of breaks for costume changes and basically was not worth £80, but they did say her singing was great if you like her new album as she only sang three old songs. There I got the low down, I have her new Live album and free DVD so I'm sorted oh and I saved £80 (The CD was bought with left over xmas vouchers for Virgin sorry Ms Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone or Mrs Ritchie.

Just had a look for Wembley and they are looking for £110 - £160 NO WAY!!

Stick with a new up and coming group 'chip shop boys' AKA the Minge & XWiz go get em boys you never know Madonna may support you one day!! ;)

Dan I think this may knock you off the number one spot with your "Yar Har fiddle-de-dee"
Shiver me timbers!

Very sad day

2006-07-31T19:06:00.000Z

A young woman who I am aware of was Murdered over the weekend, it is very sad and makes me very angry that you cannot live happily and safely anywhere these days, the area she lived in is a new private estate in a quite suburb of Swansea. What has gone wrong with the world we live in, why is it that crime and war is on the increase? and to what end?

My sympathies to her Husband and her family.

Wozzz upppppp True True

2006-07-30T19:26:00.000Z

Why do we spend less money on weekly shop when kids are not here, I saved £30 today!!

Hope you like my new clock thought it would go well with yesterdays time issues I was having, finally got to bed at 1.45am but back to normal today up at 8.30am and done all the usual house work. One day I'll do something less boring instead (Name that children’s TV show from the 80's).

Nothing much happened today so a small blog.

What time is it?

2006-07-29T21:56:00.000Z

OK now I'm getting back to normal had evening meal at 9pm and just finished watching another DVD 'Last holiday' with Queen Latifa, what a good film just what I needed on a wet Saturday night, Dan the rain will be with you soon, and it's great walking outside with no coat on and still warm great!!

Now watching Bone Collector on TV seen it loads of times but still a good movie to watch. 'J' sat next to me eating a pasta snack wondering what I'm doing on the laptop as she knows nothing about my blog, trying to explain it to her but the blank look on her face says it all, stick with the pasta baby..

Hopefully I will be back to normal tomorrow, up early ready for shopping at Tesco and cleaning the office as it really needs doing, also I need to finish my way overdue project as I did not do much last week due to my brain freeze, which alas I still have but reading everyones blogs is no excuse for slacking, so next week less blogging and more work...... Yeah Right.

Won't be doing that again

2006-07-29T17:35:00.000Z

It's now 6.30pm and my body is telling me it's lunch time... oh I'm so out of sync. So if any of you fancy having a long lay in or watch a movie in bed be warned it messes up your body clock, I think I may still be blogging well into the early hours.

Just finished scrubbing the kitchen from top to bottom, cupboards, floor, everywhere now taking a break and will start on the lounge, 'J' is ironing which is one department I will not do, If I have to do ironing it gets thrown in a bag and taken to the ironing lady for £10 best £10 ever spent.

It's still pouring down outside and a bloke just walked past singing 'Singing in the rain' great to see a little water and if it gives people the idea to sing bring it on! (He had a good voice).

Was going out for a meal tonight and a movie but with both of us working so hard in the house and it being 6.30pm in the evening and pouring down, I feel that we won't get out today.

Oi what time is it?

2006-07-29T13:49:00.000Z

Okay it's 2.45pm and just showered and dressed, it's raining quite hard and I've basically had the most laziest day so far in all my life.

Last night we got two DVD's from blockbuster I let 'J' choose this time round 'Memoirs of a Geisha' and 'Mr & Mrs Smith.' On the way back home we stopped off for a Chinese take away, A meal for two special deal.

We started watching 'Memoirs of a Geisha' and to be honest I was not looking forward to it, but eating a Chinese and watching an oriental themed film sounded good, and it had won all those Oscars so it must be worth the effort.

'Memoirs of a Geisha' Brilliant that's all I have to say about that... (In Forest Gump talk) but unfortunately the Chinese did not sit right with me, woke up at 4am on the dot feeling icky so went to the bathroom just in case. Got back to bed just as the sun was rising, brought on anxiety attack and stress as I hate being ill so was kicking myself a bit for that, next I knew it was 10am wow where did those 6 hours go.

'J' had woken up a few moments before and brought up a cup of tea she then proceeded to put 'Mr & Mrs Smith' on so we laid back sipping morning tea and watching an action movie. Well the film was a good laugh predictable but for early morning viewing was good. But I loved the kick back, no work, no Child to deal with and no schedule to follow, I have not had a day like this since I was a student, I think you all know what I talking about there.

I have decided if I become a millionaire or when I retire there will be NO clocks in the house, my life will not run to schedules.

So that's my excuse for being a lazy git and doing very little this Saturday although I do feel a little guilty for doing it not sure why.

It's that FRIDAY feeling

2006-07-28T15:28:00.000Z

Yee Ha Friday, well almost anyway, 'J' had no luck with a B&B so looks like we are stuck at home for the weekend, I fancy a meal and movie but physically I'm knackered and just can't get motivated to do anything at the moment.

Pretty quite day today, no goss except that email has been referred to the BIG boss to deal with.

I may post later depends what mood I'm in certainly not a great one at the mo.

Woof Woof

2006-07-27T19:40:00.000Z

Okay, here they are pictures of the little fella also pictures of what he will look like when he's older. Now before you say he's a small dog I wanted a Labrador but unfortunately our house and garden are just not big enough but this little fella will fit perfectly.

Now I have loads of names on a list that 'J' and MSM have put together but I'm open to suggestions so let me have them you never know you could pick THE name for our newest member of the family. How do you spell the breed again a Lasa Apso... no Lahsa Apso... No Lhasa Apso ..... yes a Tibetan Monk watch dog.

Here he is at 3 weeks old:

Now this is what he will look like at 12mths

And as a full grown adult can't belive that a pup with such dark colours end up being a 'Brindle' which I am told by the breeder is White and Grey like this chap.

Life is a box of.....

2006-07-27T15:55:00.000Z

Anything you like really.

MSM is now at the airport waiting to fly out, oh ang on..... nope she just took off so MSM is now in the air, how I know this I live only a mile or so from the Airport and can see the planes take off and her's is bang on time. I sit here smiling to myself as we have this habit that when we take off we wave out of the window when we see the house.

So I'm alone all quite 'J' is not due home till 7 ish as she is going with work mates for a birthday drink.

I'm very laid back any more so and I would be horizontal and I like the idea of a good group of friends of both sexes and at the moment I have a female friend who is going through the mill a bit and I offered a sympathetic ear and sent over my MSN user so she can add me and we could talk, well last night she did just that added me to her MSN. Alas 'J' does not think the same way as me and she was sat here looking at the puppy pictures when low and behold my friends name appears oh and picture.

Well lets just say it went very quiet and if looks could kill I'd be dead in a split second. What makes matters worse is that 'J' works for the same company as me and sits 4 desks over from my friend. It took me about three hours of talking to get her to calm down and accept that men can have female friends as well as male and not have to take the female kind to bed.

So an interesting evening but still I'm a little confused after over 14 Years together 12 of them married should she not be past this stage?

Anyway enough for the moment there was other stuff but brain freeze so back to work and I may post another later.

Yar Har fiddle-de-dee NOOOOOOO!

2006-07-27T15:46:00.000Z

That's bloody addictive, for those not in the know Dan has put up the full version of the pirate song that's all I'm going to say about that.....

Right no more pirate stuff here, officially PIRATE FREE.

Right lets get down to it, got an email today in office from big boss company gone bust I look after all problems and issues but boss decided to help me out. "I have requested a data report for the past 30 days transactions to help you sort out the issue" (Edited version of course).

Reply from stats bloke: here is the report you wanted.

My Reply: The data is showing far to many transactions for 30 days?

Stats bloke: Oh it's over the past 5 years.

My reply: OK but we really need it over 30 Days

Stats bloke: Get over it

Now is it me or his is last comment out of line?

I sat there for 10 mins mulling the response in my mind, have I said something wrong here? anyway over to you guys let me know what you think. (Due to the nature of the post it may be removed very soon so quick answers...

Do what you want cos a pirate is free

2006-07-26T15:12:00.000Z

Gee thanks Dan this tune is so addictive, well pretty ordinary day today apart from trying to advise someone on the best course of action and the prat insisting that his way was better. How so I asked when all the data you have produced is incorrect? "Oh well that's because the users are typing in the address wrong" me "Why would they do that when it's automatically inserted when the selection is made" ah well..... he goes on and on in a complete circle but still as far as he's concerned he's still right.

That's why folks I now only work 4hrs to get away from idiots like that.

Now sat in my home office drinking tea and catching up on my friends blog although I am getting rather worried that a certain person has far too much time on his hands and finding stuff on the net that I could not find in a million years keep em coming though they are great!

MSM (Need to scroll to the bottom of the page) is going to Lanzerote tomorrow for a week with her Auntie so not sure how I will cope with out her giving me hugs and more hugs and wanting a bedtime story, I've told her that I will look after her army of teddies and that I'll take a few to work with me strictly on a rota basis of course can't be doing with favouritism.

Well I have finally circum to pressure I can officially announce that we are going to have a new member to the family after months of nagging from both J and MSM we are getting a puppy. I have been told that images of this said creature will be in my inbox later today, he's only 3 weeks old at the mo but as we are away for most of August he will be ready by the time we get back.

Oh joy another mouth to feed and my life as I know it is about to come to an end. More when I get the pictures.

36 Degrees and with open Windows

2006-07-25T17:49:00.000Z

Well it is 36 degrees in the garden, no breeze just wall to wall sunshine although I'm hearing rumours that the rain is coming, I do like this weather I think I'm made for it, can't wait to go over to the other house in Spain in a few weeks to chill on the roof terrace and do some light work on the laptop.

Like my title 36 degrees is the weather link and open Windows is well..... the big meeting with Microsoft today, although we didn't get off to a good start as I entrusted a colleague to sort out the meeting room and refreshments etc. which he didn't do either so 10 mins before we were due to kick off no meeting room, no equipment, stress levels HIGH. It's the old saying if your going to do something make sure you do it yourself, delegation doesn't work.

Well it kicked off 45mins late but by the end everyone was hooked, ha another success!! I should do IT project management freelance I could have charged £300 per hour that would have been around £1,200 for this! not that I'm bitter about my sisters boyfriend honest!

The problem now is switching off, this is where I went wrong last time, I have this horrible habit of continuous thinking, you know the type the what if scenarios, how will it work, where do I start, my previous life I would have five or six projects running simultaneously so you can imagine how fast my brain was working, I'd be in a Restaurant having a meal and something would pop right in there and I'd have to send myself an email, or voicemail to remind myself to look into something, A note pad by the bed in case I woke up and had to write the issue down I can't, I won't go down that road again.

So all in all (is that good welengilsh?) a good day. Stress well I aint got any, anxiety very little. Need a strong drink YES PLEASE.

Celebdaq well I know a few friends Dan 'THE woMAN' and Joansy are keen players and I have been trying to get in on the action (Please let me join your league!!) I have just taken a look at mine note I have not been taking the game that serious so being number 21668 in the chart isn't that bad, although I have spread the risk a little thin buying blocks of 1000 across about 20 Caleb's anyone with insider dealings let me know!!

Thank god I'm not that bad with real shares ;)

P.S I hope Dan knows I'm joking. LOL