Friday, November 19, 2004

The Long Trip

I have a well long trip coming up for the next few days, so it's unlikely that I'll be blogging for a bit unfortunately. Off to Poland on Monday (mixed feelings abvout it), then Munich Wednesday (mixed feelings - will be tired by then I suspect), then back to London for the week-end (good on both counts), when Janet is over (good). Am then doing the Nike 10k on Sunday which I've been theoretically training for during the past few weeks. (Actually I ran 8km on Tuesday and was with the lead pack for the whole run which I was chuffed about. And I felt fine afterwards which is encuraging.) Then Monday off to recover and then it's December. And the party/social season begins for the next 4 weeks. At this stage I'm looking forard to it, but I know I will have had enough by Christmas.

As an aside the Christmas lights in central London look cool this year. they're normally rubbish, but it looks like somene has actually put some thought and effort into the 2004/5 version. So bravo to them.

So see you all in 10 days.

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Star Wars

Went to a museum with Janet over the week-end and there was figurine of Yoda there. (Some exhibition about science fiction). I asked my better half who that was and she looked at me blankly. Then puzzled a bit (I was getting worried at this stage) and triumphantly said "Gollum"!

Sadly she wasn't taking the piss and genuinely had no idea who Yoda is. She's never seen Star Wars.

I see I have much work to do ....

Monday, November 15, 2004

Looking to spice up your CV?

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Winter has arrived


Winter and snow has arrived. Only a light dusting, but it all counts. And it is good enough quality for snowballs already.

Friday, November 12, 2004

Problems on Friday afternoons

Why is it that everybody seems to wait until right at the end of Friday afternoon before calling me with problems? It's the same whenever I get on a plane - people store all of their questions and problems until after I've switched my mobile off. So that when I land I get overwhelmed by beeps from the phone telling me everybody has called and left messages (read: problems).

Finally the week-end

It's nearly the end of Friday and hooray for that! I've made an executive decision to leave an hour early today. It's bloody cold here and I think I've caught a cough and cold from it. It stubbornly refuses to snow properly though which is frustrating. Everyone keeps telling me it's going to be a really, really cold winter this year. As opposed to last winter which was just really cold! So I might invest in some sets of polar spec underwear. There's being brave and resisting the cold, and just being sensible about it and knowing when to admit defeat and put more clothes on!

Thursday, November 11, 2004

My first Linux visitor

WARNING - VERY NERDY!

I've had my first Linux operating system visitor, so thanks to Murphy for this. I don't pretend to know a huge amount about Linux, but I know that it is a free operating system to rival Microsoft Windows (and the others like Mac OS, but they are less overpowering). It is a system which is being built by loads of web users, and where each new development is being shared with the community. It is still in it's infancy I guess, compared to some of the other systems anyway, but to me it seems to represent what the Web and the future should be about - something that we build as a world community and is controlled by that same community. Not a program which is run by a select group to control the rest of us. That sounds a bit Matrix like maybe, but just think about the power that Microsoft has over the majority of us.

I may sounds like a bit of a hypocrite slagging off Windows because I don't have a problem with the actual system per se. I've been using it for years and get on well with it on the whole. I just have an issue with a global company having an unknown amount of control over what I do on my machine. And I have no idea how much they can actually see of what I do, who I interact with and what I store on my system. I prefer the idea of a system which is developed by everybody. That way if someone tries to write in code that will allow spying or anything else dodgy, the chances are that the others will spot it and eliminate it.

Power to the people (with big fist in the air and snarling expression on face).

Remembrance Day

It's the commemoration of the end of the First World War today. Lots of countries in Europe have a day off in homage to it, including Belgium, France, Poland (?) and Switzerland (??). Bizarrely Germany and the UK do not. When we were two of the most involved countries in that particular little episode!

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Hit counter

Just hit 100 today. Woo hoo!

Running things from my 'office' in Munich


You sit there nice and quietly, minding your own business, when the paparazzi arrive! Me in my office in Munich (I use that term loosely). Corner table would be more appropriate.

Canary Wharf by night


I quite like this photo of Canary Wharf, London. The old docklands that has been developped in recent years into an extremely wealthy, but also smart living/work district. The tower in the background is the Canary Wharf Tower which is the tallest tower in the UK.

So many firework pictures it's getting silly

Even more fireworks

More fireworks

Fireworks

Monday, November 08, 2004

Bonfire night

Janet and I went to watch the fireworks on Blackheath Common on Saturday and they were awesome. We did have to wait for about 90 minutes for the show to kick off, but we did get a prime front row standing place for our troubles. I was pleased that we'd been drinking wine all afternoon and were just wearing fleeces though. The show lasted nearly 30 minutes and had some of the best bangs I've seen in ages. Took the camera. And ended up taking about 80 pictures which was a bit mental. I'm going to download them tonight and see if they're any good. By the law of averages a couple have to be ok, right?! It was my first attempts in the night, while bollock-numbingly cold and in the rain. Next time I'm in Munich and can upload some photos, I'll put some of the best ones online.

The whole firework party thing set me thinking - I had a few minutes waiting for things to kick off (or should that be fire off?). For those of you who don't know about this 'celebration', a bloke called Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the parliament a few centuries ago, on November 5. He failed and was burnt at the stake or something. So each November we make a huge bonfire with a model of a person (called a guy!) and then let off loads of fireworks. It's usually loud, scares the shit out of most of the wildlife in this country, a few people get maimed each year (not funny, but it's usually kids who are throwing them at each other) and it normally rains.

I got to thinking about the whole point of the day. We are celebrating a person who failed to do what he set out to and then got burnt alive. I love how we support the underdog all the time.

We will rock you

Went to see my friend Julie on stage in the musical 'We Will Rock You' and she was awesome. For an East Londoner she has a cool Scottish accent (don't ask - I don't know either). I can SOOOO recommend this musical if you like a good sing-song. It helps if you like Queen as well!

http://www.queenonline.com/wewillrockyou/

Friday, November 05, 2004

Flight back from Munich

The sunset from 30,000 ft in the plane was so stunning. One of the nicest I've seen in a long time. Then when I landed the sky behind Canary Wharf was even more incredible. I was gutted I didn't have my camera. Especially as it may be the last time I fly from London City. The red sun was the colour of dark fresh strawberries and was really warm on my face. And Canary Wharf was just lighting up with this rich satsuma colour behind that was almost shimmering. I've tried to draw a picture to put online, but cannot do the colours justice. It was a truly spiritual moment watching the sky that day. The whole event only lasted a few minutes, but truly touched my soul. And it gave me a photo goal to pursue...

Thursday, November 04, 2004

American election

I'm not political, but I would like to add my voice to the everyone who believes Bush is a halfwit, and I'm gutted he somehow managed to get back in. Here's to 4 more years of death and destruction. At least he will probalbly do and say some really stupid things which will vaguely amuse.

While on the subject I watched Farenheit 9/11 over the week-end (purely coincidental I assure you - and I got out the last copy in Blockbusters! Go figure ..). And I thought it was rubbish. Totally one sided and actually didn't portray Bush that badly I reckon. Compared to what I was expecting at any rate. But that's a whole other discussion about perceptions and reality and all that.
I thought I liked Michael Moore after watching Bowling for Columbine, but I now realise I actually liked the Marilyn Manson interview in the film, and have decided to like the film as a result. Cool by association and all that. I now realise the error of my ways and have decided that Moore is just as big an oaf as Bush, but just less entertaining. And I'm annoyed that I'm giving the twat even more exposure by talking about him.

Grrrrrrr.

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Training for Nike 10k

Had a great week-end playing GTA: San Andreas like most of the country judging by discussions on the radio. What a good game, but I didn't get very far with it. I seem to be building a collection of games like it which are not quite completed. A couple of the games are almost done, but I haven't had the time to get my head down and get to the end. I then get my Scottish hat on and start to question why I buy a new game without having finished the previous one. At least I will have lots to do if I don't go into the office one day!

I went out running last night and am debatting whether to go again tonight. The pace was quite hot last night and I also wasn't feeling 100%. Consequently didn't really enjoy it. Am still well up for race though. And all of my kit is working well which is cool. The option is going home early and chilling. I have 2 hours to decide...