Oh look, a lottery scam!

I've just received a letter - not an email but an actual letter, complete with hand-affixed stamp - from the 'International Lottery Commission' saying I've won a shedload of money in a Spanish lottery run by 'La Primitiva'.

Trouble is, I never entered a Spanish lottery.

Trouble is, they're using the U.K. National Lottery logo.

Trouble is, the offices are in Madrid, but the letter's been sent from Malaga.

Trouble is, I plugged the names into my usual search engine and, well, was less than surprised to learn that it's a scam.

Well, it's a break from the usual Nigerian scams.

"Bother", said Quartz

as he didn't get the job because his security clearance has fully lapsed.

Confounded weather!

I play Bridge and this evening's session has been cancelled because of the weather.

And I have another interview tomorrow

It's looking very hopeful. I've learned the lessons of last time.

I just hope that I don't get stuck on the way there.

And so I have an interview

Things are finally looking up. I've been asked to not say where, but it's a company with a very interesting range of products and services and I'm a good fit for them.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Christmastide greetings to all. May you have fabulous times with friends and family over the festive period.

Brothel ad mistaken for poem

I think this is worthy of a double snigger.

The Ultimate Answer

Yes, I'm 42 today. Happy Birthday to me.

It's off out this evening to celebrate at the  pub.

Howl, wail, whimper

And another of the blogging greats retires. Farewell, Kim du Toit. But I hope to see him over here in 2012 for the Olympics.

So don't bring the children!

Grrr... Apparently a 400 year old ceremony is being cancelled because it might scare the children. Does it not occur to these silly parents to not bring children who will be scared? Does it not occur to the Deputy Mayor to perhaps forewarn potential visitors that children might get scared?

Score one for the gun-fearing weenies.

Happy Birthday!

Kim du Toit is 54 today. Happy birthday, mate!

But vastly more importantly (sorry, Kim), my niece is two. Happy birthday, Georgina.

Bother! Said Quartz

As his current contract is not expected to be renewed.

Busy, busy

I'm back in work. It's not very well paid, but at least it is paid work.

Prince William to be a SAR pilot

BBC story here. He's utterly nuts and very brave. Good for you, your Highness.

F1 Monza

Top race. Plenty of thrills and spills while only one crash - very good indeed. Lots of battles and overtaking. A perfect performance by Vettel; Hamilton almost rescued it but was let down by poor tyre choice.

F1: Spa

I could not resist a snigger at Hamilton. What a twonk! But well done Vettel.

It should be a great race tomorrow. I wonder if Hamilton will try the three-stop strategy that almost worked the last time he was so badly placed?

Not good news.

My father had a stroke yesterday morning. I got there just in time to follow the ambulance to hospital. Fortunately, it appears to be a minor stroke and not a precursor to a serious one.

Fingers thoroughly crossed!

Useful computer info

Corsair have put up a page of really useful info. Hat tip to Fudzilla for this.

You're stranded on a Desert Island

1. What one person would you wish was stranded there with you?

Someone who's really good at telling tales. Like Misty or Kim.

2. What one tool would you want to have?

A machete.

3. Of which one food do you wish you would have an unlimited supply?

This depends upon what's actually available on the island, but top contenders would be eggs and milk. Or a good red Burgundy.

4. What one luxury item would you wish for?

I suppose a solar powered PC with an unlimited internet connection is asking too much? Oh well, in that case, I'll have a solar powered icemaker.

5. What one book would you want to have with you to read and re-read?

The complete works of Shakespeare.

6. You have one piece of paper, a pencil and one bottle - to whom is the message going to be written?

My brother - to tell him and his family how much I love them.

7. What skill would serve you best while on the island? A close one here: being idle versus cooking.

8. How long do you think you could last before needing rescue?

No idea.

9. What one island animal would become your pet?

Hopefully there's a goat or two that I can milk.

10. Your island is unknown to you, and you need to give it a name - what would it be?

I'll let it remain unnamed.

11. What would you do to pass the weeks, days, and hours?

Gaze at the stars. Not a lot else to do at night, anyway.

12. You've been rescued! What is the first thing you're going to do when you get back home?

Put the kettle on!

Looking backwards to predict Windows 7.

A lot of people are hoping that Windows 7 will be a revolutionary product, much like the Mac OS/X was. However, I don't think so. Microsoft has a history of spit-and-polish when it comes to OSs. There was Windows 3.0 then Windows 3.1. Then there was Windows 95 followed by Windows 98, and Window NT 3 followed by NT 4. Then there was Windows 2000 followed by Windows XP. And now we have Vista, which I expect to be followed by Windows 7, with the revolutionary product to follow 3 or so years later.

A comparison might be drawn with Intel, who have a similar policy with their CPUs: an inital release followed by a die-shrink.

So, Windows 7 will be a polish of Vista. What can we expect to see? A significant reform of Aero and UAC - making them much faster, for a start. With the introduction of Windows Home Server, I see an opportunity for MS to rationalise the SKUs. Instead of the plethora of products we have to day, I hope we'll return to just the one, Windows Workstation. Connect it to a Home Server and it becomes a home client; connect it to an Active Directory and it becomes a Business Client. There will be extra polish with DX 11 and physics, of course.

With Windows 7, matters are complicated further because Vista is a transition product for moving from 32 bit to 64 bit, and ISVs aren't following suit. As yet, there's no 64 bit Flash, no 64 bit Acrobat Reader. Indeed, 64 bit utilities are only just beginning to appear. I'd like to see Windows 7 being purely 64 bit - it would save Microsoft a lot of work to ditch the 32 bit versions - but with the amount of 32 bit software around, I just don't see that happenning, and the 32 bit / 64 bit dichotomy will confuse many users.

More later.

Jobhunting!

I'm now seeking gainful employment in IT. A team leader or junior management role by preference. I've 20 years experience of Microsoft - client and server - support, from DOS to Vista. So gissajob!

Duke Nukem 3D

Steven den Beste reminisces about Duke Nukem 3D. I have many happy memories of that game, particularly of the multiplayer modes. Lying in wait with a pipebomb, zooming around with the jetpack and the rocket launcher or the devastator. It was fun! And there was fun within the game itself. These days, they all take themselves so seriously: not so Duke.

Nature can be so cruel

A child that's lost its mother is always distressing. And whales are usually such gentle giants - to humans, that is.

Quantum Porn

This made me laugh.

The ideal platform for Google Earth

Microsoft should sell this as a simple single-function appliance.

It's the 'Complete the title' game

I know I've got one or two readers, so here's a game for you to join: provide a link and complete the title!

Senior ministers get behind Brown... to better stab him in the back.

Unexpected fall in puffin numbers... improved fitness to blame.

Have at it!

Ouch!

I dropped a partially-full filing cabinet on my foot yesterday. It took very much less than a second to realise that I was not wearing my safety boots...

Learn from my mistake: don't try toting heavy stuff without them.

A quick rant about computer suppliers

This means you, Novatech, ebuyer, Scan, etc.

Go to the computer supplier of your choice and quickly find all motherboards that can support an Intel Quad Core, 8 GB of RAM, Crossfire (or SLI), and are micro-ATX. Can't do it.

How about computer cases? Sure I can search by size, but quickly find all micro-ATX cases that have 2 120mm fans. Can't do it.

Guys, for some product types, you need to be able to search by feature.

Blessed be Broline

So I've got an eye infection and it doth suck mightily. But 15 mins after a dose of Broline and the relief is wonderful.

Portable Grab & Go Bag

I missed this article when Kim posted it, but I'd like to suggest that those who replied are missing a fundamental point: you have to prepare for two scenarios here, not one. The first is what if you are in close proximity to and directly affected by the incident; the second is what if you aren't. The events of 7/7 are still fresh in my mind.

With regard to the first, you simply need to survive to get yourself into the hands of the emergency services ASAP. Multitool, whistle, torch, mask, and water are a bare minimum here. I like the idea of the goggles but I think a ski visor would be better, simply because it's easier to put on - less likely to get tangled in something else - and more comfortable. Let the emergency services take care of you after that.

With regard to the second, while you still may need those items from the first scenario, home may not be reachable, but mass transit will only be stopped for a day or two. People often commute long distances, so having friends nearby who can put you up is good. At a pinch, sleep at the office. People should also be aware of secondary functions of items. When you can't make a telephone call, texting may still work. My phone will operate as a radio, so I'll be able to hear news broadcasts.

With regard to the water, freeze it! It will keep you cool in the hot tube as it melts.

Yee-hah!

We've received the grant of the Court of Protection and my aunt will be safe from those who would do her ill. We're now a year behind schedule getting her home. Soon...

You can't have too many USB ports

Or, I want wireless!

Attached to this computer via USB are keyboard and trackball (via KVM), printer, card reader, mobile phone, floppy drive (sometimes), hard drive (well, actually three but only one at a time), joystick, wheel, drawing pad, and a UPS. And then there's the power cables, the KVM cables, the sound cables, etc. And after that there's the other computer...

Oh yes, there's a memory stick or two around as well.

My mobile's already Bluetooth-aware, but I reckon the computer itself, trackball, keyboard, joystick, wheel, UPS, and drawing pad could be added to that list.

Of course, then I'd be moaning about batteries. I can't win.

Formula 1 Monaco

What a race! Thrills and spills from start to finish. Hamilton did a really good job, turning a near-disaster into victory, but the racer of the day was probably Sutil, so cruelly robbed of his race. Alonso was most unimpressive.

Next up, it's Canada, which both Hamilton and Kubica will remember very well.

Well done Hamilton

Coming second in an inferior car was no mean feat. Had there been another incident that warranted the safety car, he might well have done it.

Copyright

So, the Mail on Sunday has been caught using a blogger's work without paying for it again.

This blog is copyright me. If you want to use an article, please email me to discuss terms.

Failed!

I failed my latest MCP exam. Only just, though, which means I did a hell of a lot better than I expected, especially as I have a major block over one subject, but it was another subject which did me in - I completely blanked on it.

Royal Marines 1, Yobs 0

The son of a neighbour of my parents is a Royal Marine. A short while ago he and another Royal Marine who was just back from the Middle East went to a local pub for a quiet pint. Another patron told them that somehow they had drawn the ire of a group of yobs in another corner of the pub and that the two of them would be attacked when they left. When the two of them left, the yobs were waiting for them. Big mistake: the two RMs switched into combat mode and sent the pack of them running: "I'm a Royal Marine, I'm just back from ****, and I'm going to rip your throats out." (I imagine the language was rather more colourful). And then they just walked home.

That's class. Well done, sirs!

Osborne: I got a reply

It wasn't quite a standard form reply, so my email was read.

"Bother" said Q

I'm supposed to be in Birmingham for the launch of Windows Server 2008. But the thieving bastards at the railway station wanted £107 for the ticket. So bollocks to that. And I wasn't going to try Birmingham City Centre at rush hour.

At least I got a good long walk out of it.

Well done Hamilton!

It was a blinder of a race this morning. Hamilton did very well to win it, though all the interesting stuff happenned behind him. It looks like it's going to be a most interesting season.

So I wrote to George Osborne...

I'm writing to you in your capacity as Shadow Chancellor.

I saw your response to the budget and while your points on inheritance tax, fuel, and drink were well made, I cannot help but feel that all parties have somewhat lost the plot on taxation. You're too busy papering over the cracks to see the gaping hole. Taxation only works if people are earning money, and all too many taxes get in the way of that.

The more people earn, the more the government can tax them. This was amply shown by Reagan and Thatcher. The current taxation regime stops people earning.

Consider the fuel duty: a few years ago I was spending what would be today £2000 per year on commuting, and over 75% of that was duty. To add insult to injury, that £2000 is after tax, so I'd have to earn over £3000 just to afford the petrol. Cut fuel duty and you improve the flexibility and profitability of the workforce.

Consider the minimum wage: people earning the minimum wage pay tax. But if it's the minimum wage, isn't that a contradiction? And they still have to pay hugely to get to work. So raise the tax-free allowance enormously to £8000, which is about the minimum wage for a 40-week working year.

Benefits: benefits cost money. It costs more than £1 to dispense £1 in benefits. There's a huge, baroquely complex, infrastructure, not to mention fraud. Why not raise the tax-free allowance to the minimum wage so more people don't have to be paid benefits?

Children and family: it is no secret that Britain faces a demographic time-bomb. Children are currently very expensive for people not on benefits. And caring for older relatives is also expensive. I have a suggestion to cope with this: give everyone, from birth to death, the full tax-free allowance, and let this allowance be transferrable to those family members within the bounds of consanguinuity or civil partnership. This will help the mother stay at home to look after the children, and allow granny to come and stay to help or be helped.

Inheritance tax: this was introduced to break up the great estates. An estate of £1M, great though that may seem, is not a great estate. Please raise that figure to £10M or even more.

I hope you find some of these ideas of interest.

United Guilds Service: I got to sit in the Quire

An excellent service, and I got to sit in the Quire - that's the bit between the choir and the altar. I was almost directly opposite the Lord Mayor himself and had an excellent view of all the pomp and pageantry.

But the bench was ever so hard!

Windows Home Server

Why is the bloody backup failing at 35% every time? This has also been bugging me all week.

This past week

I have been investigating Windows Home Server, which seems very nice, and Vista's network performance, which is absolutely abysmal. The latter has taken the bulk of the week for very little result.

Plug 'Vista network slow' into your favourite search engine and you'll see that I'm far from alone and you'll see all the things I've tried.

The Book Thing

Shamelessly stolen from Kim du Toit.

Which [type of] book do you irrationally cringe away from reading, despite seeing only positive reviews?

Philosophy. I simply find it extremely hard going. Plus Plato's Republic in the original Greek was not exactly the ideal introduction.

If you could bring three [fictional] characters to life for a social event (afternoon tea, a night of clubbing, perhaps a world cruise), who would they be and what would the event be?

Thraxas, Gandalf, and Granny Weatherwax.

You are told you can’t die until you read the most boring novel on the planet. While this immortality is great for awhile, eventually you realise it’s past time to die. Which book would you expect to get you a nice grave?

Atlas Shrugged: I just cannot get into it.

Come on, we’ve all been there. Which book have you pretended, or at least hinted, that you’ve read, when in fact you’ve been nowhere near it?

None. Like Kim, however, there are books which I've only read in translation when I could have (at the time) read them in the original.

As an addition to the last question, has there been a book that you really thought you had read, only to realise when you read a review about it/go to ‘reread’ it that you haven’t? Which book?

Again, none. That said, there are books which I've re-read and seen in an entirely different light. Most recently, the Harry Potter books after it was revealed as a Christian cycle. Additionally, there are books which I wish I had the intellect to understand better, like Sun Tzu's Art of War.

You’ve been appointed Book Advisor to a VIP (who’s not a big reader). What’s the first book you’d recommend and why? (if you feel like you’d have to know the person, go ahead of personalise the VIP.

Sun Tsu's Art of War. It's just so deep, but it's short and will set them thinking.

A good fairy comes and grants you one wish: you will have perfect reading comprehension in the foreign language of your choice. Which language do you go with?

I'm really torn here: part of me says Latin so I can reread everything I read at school and more; the other part says Chinese - there's a whole mountain of literature there.

A mischievous fairy comes and says that you must choose one book that you will reread once a year for the rest of your life (you can read other books as well). Which book would you pick?

Dead easy: Tolkein's Lord of the Rings

That good fairy is back for one final visit. Now, she’s granting you your dream library! Describe it. Is everything leatherbound? Is it full of first edition hardcovers? Pristine trade paperbacks? Perhaps a few favourite authors have inscribed their works? Go ahead-let your imagination run free.

Whatever else it is, it's circular with a ladder that can go round.

Deep fun.

Having been ill over Christmas, I'm trying to get my old job back and wrestling with migrating my email - all 250,000 items - from PMMail 2000 to Pocomail. On th former, I'm waiting for people to get back from holiday; on the latter, we shall see.

Merry Christmas

I'm just back from my brother's family in Scotland where we celebrated Christmas. But everyone was struck down with colds. I've still got one.

My nephew and niece were angels. Most of the time. :)

The Daily Kitten

Much kitten goodness here.

E-mooning!

We all know those cute little computer symbols called "emoticons," where:

:) means a smile and

:( is a frown.

Sometimes these are represented by

:-)

:-(

Well, how about some "ASSICONS?"
Here goes:

(_!_) a regular ass

(__!__) a fat ass

(!) a tight ass

(_*_) a sore ass

{_!_} a swishy ass

(_o_) an ass that's been around

(_x_) kiss my ass

(_X_) leave my ass alone

(_zzz_) a tired ass

(_E=mc2_) a smart ass

(_$_) Money coming out of his ass

(_?_) Dumb Ass

Best Science Blogs

Seems Bad Astronomy and Climate Audit are neck and neck for the Best Science Blog.

Looking at the other awards, I'm going to find this one useful. I think next year I'll be voting for Misty for that.

Today, I am mainly

Today I am mainly doing the ironing. I'vegot a month's worth to do and I've left it too long.

This evening, I shall be going to the fireworks show. I'll walk; hopefully, I'll manage to lose some of the weight I've put on recently.

Party!

I went to a wonderful party at the weekend, hosted by my friends Karin and Roland. Good company, good food, good wine; for what more can one ask?

My great great grandfather

The Ditton Doctor.

Pretty girls!

Adverts for Rigid Tools. :)

The day I tried mead

I used to quite like mead, but I hadn't had any since my student days. Anyway, I was given a bottle. So, some time later, I got out a tankard and poured myself a glass. And took a long pull. But this was no ordinary mead: it was more honey wine - 13% alcohol! It was not the long refereshing drink I had expected. Still, it tasted very nice.

Today I shall be...

sorting paperwork.

Deep joy.

Pictures from WW1

My grandmother was a doctor in WW1, first in Leith and then in France. I've scanned some pages from an album she kept. All done by her patients.

The Postmodernism generator

Click here for postmodernist rubbish.

I've been humbugged!

This is gettting distressing.

I think a lawyer's trying to steal my aunt's estate

Obviously I can't go into details here but I'm seriously worried.

This could be expensive

My car's in for a MOT and major service and I was expecting a bill of £300-£400. But there's an additional £200 for broken shock absorbers, £50+ for a tyre, and the gearbox is leaking. That last could be majorly expensive, just when I don't need to be spending money.

Flippin' heck!

ǝɹǝɥ ǝʎ ʞɔı1ɔ.

So I went to bed at 03:30

Almost dawn!

Anyway, I'd finished watching Cliffhanger on the TV and went to check my email before going to bed. And shortly thereafter felt slighty nauseous and smelled gas. So I went round the house and checked everything. I hadn't left the oven on or anything. But the smell was still there. And outside. So I rang Transco and we went through the usual palaver. An engineer duly arrived at about 02:30 and found nothing. But the smell had gone. He left a bit after 03:00

We reckoned it was fuel - or something else - dumped by an aircraft.

Still, going to bed at that hour is not fun. I must be getting old...

Pissed off

I am just so pissed off at the moment, and have been for the past week and more.

Wet pussy alert!

Look ye here.

Misty's feeling sorry for herself

Go cheer her up.

Pub review: Rose & Crown, Kew

I was on my way home last night and in need of a pint and some food. As I was driving through Kew, I spotted the Rose & Crown. A nice pub by the green. There was plenty of parking around the green.

I ordered a pint and a mixed grill - at £13, very expensive - from a very helpful barman and settled to a seat by a window overlooking the green. Earlier in the day it would have been a lovely view.

The pub was very quiet. Too quiet, really, for that time of night.

The food seemed a long time in coming, but I had a newspaper to occupy me, and when it came, I was pleased to see a generous platter. Chips, two sausages, steak, ham steak, two eggs. Tartare sauce was supplied without demur. In a proper pot too, not a little packet. The food was great, except the chef needs to learn that a steak ordered rare is not cooked well done. I was too hungry to complain too much - the steak was still good.

I'd go there again.

Busy with the builders

The builders have finally turned up - they were due last week but were delayed due to the weather. Not their fault, and I've allowed for the delay. They've been doing the edging of the patio, which crumbled over the winter. This time, it's being done with engineering bricks. More expensive, but they'll last.

The skip's due tomorrow and I don't think I'll have too much trouble filling it.

It's a good thing I was prudent and put the money aside some time ago.

The delay has meant that I've not been to my aunt's house for a while. There's just so much to do there.

Go vote

For those of you who have a vote, go and use it.

The Roebuck and the New Inn

After a hard and very boring but profitable day's work on Richmond Hill, I needed some food. The Roebuck was the nearest and they had a decent menu - steak and ale pie would have hit the spot nicely - but they don't sell draught cider, so I walked straight out. I used to take my aunt to the New Inn on Ham Common for a good feed - they have a nice garden - so I went there. It's been over a year - if not two - since I visited and they've changed owners and the food has gone downhill significantly. Both in quality and range. My scampi and chips wasn't bad but it was decidedly average.

Busy, busy.

Got to prep my house for sale, and clean up my aunt's for her return.

And hayfever sucks.

The Wierd 24 Movie Meme

Via The Smallest Minority

1. Name a movie that you have seen more than 10 times.

Lord of the Rings. All three films.

2. Name a movie that you've seen multiple times in the theater.

Star Wars.

3. Name an actor that would make you more inclined to see a movie.

Denzel Washington, Sean Connery, and Alan Rickman for starters.

4. Name an actor that would make you less likely to see a movie.

'Hanoi Jane' Jane Fonda.

5. Name a movie from which you can and do quote.

Aliens, assorted Monty Python.

6. Name a movie musical that you know all of the lyrics to all of the songs.

Nope. Unless you count one of the filmings of Handel's Messiah.

7. Name a movie that you have been known to sing along with.

Nope.

8. Name a movie that you would recommend everyone see.

The Incredibles. Fun for all the family.

9. Name a movie that you own.

I've got many DVDs.

10. Name an actor that launched his/her entertainment career in another medium but who has surprised you with his/her acting chops.

Fred Thompson. Seriously.

11. Have you ever seen a movie in a drive-in? If so, what?

Are there any drive-ins in the U.K.?

12. Ever made out in a movie?

Nope.

13. Name a movie that you keep meaning to see but just haven't yet gotten around to it.

Hot Fuzz.

14. Ever walked out of a movie?

In a cinema? Yes.

15. Name a movie that made you cry in the theater.

Probably most romances. A Tale of Two Cities never fails to bring a tear to my eye.

16. Popcorn?

Iced Water

17. How often do you go to the movies (as opposed to renting them or watching them at home)?

Very variable. I never rent, though.

18. What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?

300. Excellent fun; not terribly historical.

19. What’s your favorite/preferred genre of movie?

Anything that isn't horror. I like action, adventure, romance, comedy, farce, and more. Curiously, I generally only like comedy and farce the first time around.

20. What’s the first movie you remember seeing in the theatre?

No idea.

21. What movie do you wish you had never seen?

The Lair of the White Worm. I saw it at too young an age.

22. What is the weirdest movie you enjoyed?

That would be telling.

23. What is the scariest movie you’ve seen?

I don't actually enjoy horror movies, but I'll make an exception for Alien.

24. What is the funniest movie you’ve seen?

Here my mind goes blank. I've seen plenty of funny movies but I couldn't say which one was the funniest. Seems like some rewatching is in order.

Narcotics

Misty describes her previous (and often involuntary) uses of narcotics. I've never taken narcotics stronger than alcohol - and I don't do spirits. I don't smoke, either. Cigarette smoke makes me choke or sneeze.

In other words, I'm a sad boring young fart. :) And I'm happy to be one.

More photo goodness from Misty

http://www.freebasingjellybeans.blogspot.com/

Another excellent Fishmongers' do last night

Pity my guest couldn't make it, but I sat with some fascinating people. A retired mogul in the shoemaking industry, the head of English heritage, the chief archivist of a county, the Renter Warden of the Gardeners and more.

The food was, as ever, spellbindingly good, but it's the first time I've started with ice cream! There was an interesting speech afterwards.

Very cool animal and bird photos

Hie thee to http://www.fotocommunity.de/pc/pc/mypics/12278

I'm free!

I am now unemployed, having accepted voluntary redundancy and a modest wodge of cash.

Now I've got to decide whether to sell my house or to rent it out. Anyway, I've had the estate agents round and things are looking modestly favourable.

Big news coming up!

Title says it all, really. I'm not allowed to say anything at the moment, alas.

Busy, busy!

Good stuff, bad stuff, difficult stuff. My aunt is sliding, but not fast, and it's not a pretty experience. There's more about which I cannot blog at the moment.

Good luck, Misty

Looks like Misty has a boyfriend at last. Good luck!

My first hangover!

Only a mild one, though.
At 40, I've been drinking alcoholic beverages for 22 years and until this morning had yet to have a hangover. This is probably because I stick to decent stuff and don't drink too much. But last night I was sipping Thatcher's Katy cider and really rather regretted it this morning.

Cool clip - rabbit fights snake!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ez5QPW-ku4

Bother said Q

As his server died.

Oh well, a new box has been ordered and will arrive on Saturday. This means I get to spend part of my weekend building a server.

I've got a cold.

And it sucks.

Fishmongers' Livery Concert

Ah, bliss!

It was a black tie do. We started with Champagne and nibbles, courtesy of Stephen Pini. Then it was off to listen to the Forte String Quartet from the Guildhall School of Music for some Haydn and Tchaikovsky. A break for more drink and nibbles (I had proper lemonade). And back for a piano recital by Anton Lyakhovsky and Toms Ostrovskis who played pieces by Rachmaninov and Lutoslawski. Piano music isn't normally my cup of tea, but the two pianos together made a real difference. I was surprised at how loud they were, even though I was right at the back.

And then we had a buffet supper. Top quality food.

This ticket is cursed!

I've a spare ticket for a do tomorrow and no-one wants it!

So I have a spare ticket

I've two tickets for a concert on Weds. And no guest. Poo.

Torchwood finale

Crap, wasn't it? It was so bad that I couldn't watch it all the way through but switched over to other programs then switched back. And the big baddie? I'm sure they've used him before.

Predictions for 2007

Happy New Year to my one reader.

Now, Misty's made her predictions, I'm going to make mine.

January: Nothing of significance happens; the press get distracted by twin badgers.
February: I get fixed up for a blind date on St.Valentine's Day with a blind Russian shot-putter; being a gentleman, I get her drunk and put her in a taxi home.
March: Excitement about Tony Blair's resignation reaches fever-pitch; TB tells them to fuck off.
April: Showers. The badgers are doing well.
May: Gordon Brown succeeds Tony Blair and calls a quickie election. The skunks topa BBC poll and get proposed as candidates.
June: Elections. Who cares who wins? They're all after my wallet. My MP's a tosser, so I'll probably vote for her best opponent. Round here that would probably be the Monster Raving Loony Party. The badgers almost get elected.
July: Sunshine! My nephew's 5. Damn the rest.
August: More sunshine!
September: Prime Minister Cameron announces that Britain will leave the EU but remain in EFTA.
October: Cameron announces that the UK is negotiating membership of NAFTA.
November: Georgina celebrates her first birthday. Yay!
December: The badgers do what Guy Fawkes failed to do: blow up Parliament. Everyone thinks it's part of some celebration and nobody notices that all the MPs are dead. When it is finally noticed, nobody really cares.

Merry Christmas!

I had a wonderful Christmas. I hope you all did too.

I've been banned by Samizdata.Net!

So for the first time in a long while I try to post a comment to Libertarian Samizdata and get the message that I've been banned. I've no idea why; I've had no email from them. I can only presume some previous user of my IP address was a spammer. But I've been on NTL for 3 years now, with mostly the same IP address, so they're a bunch of tossers for keeping the ban so long.

A tale of two carol services

I attended two carol services this week. One at work and one at St Magnus Martyr in London with the Fishmongers.

The one at work was given by children from a local school and they sang while we had mulled wine and mince pies. The wine was dreadful. The children sang really well, and the carols were a mixture of traditional and modern 'happy-clappy' carols. The traditional carols were excellent, but the modern ones did not take my fancy at all. The music teacherdid a couple of solos and he was crap. He didn't take into account the acoustics of the building at all. And he sang in the happy-clappy manner.

The service in London was excellent: it was full blown service with choristers and traditional carols. The congregation (i.e. us) sang most of the carols but we paused a couple of times and the choristers sang. And they were excellent. Then we repaired to Fishmongers' Hall for nibbles and wine. Lovely.

Her name is Georgina

Welcome to the world, Georgina! There are such wonders in store for you.

I'm an uncle again

Isn't she gorgeous?

I flew to see her yesterday, and back today. I spent a long time simply sitting and holding her in my arms and when you're like that, you know that despite the bad weather outside, there's nothing wrong with the world.

Bill's back!

And he's written a long one.

Idiot cyclist

I saw a cyclist get bumped today. It was about 17:30 and dark, and the moron was wearing dark clothing (no high-visibility jacket or anything), had no helmet,was weaving around the traffic, and was riding far too close to the cars. He tried to undertake a car and got brushed. Fortunately it was only a little bump, but had he been run over, I'd be willing to stand up in court and say it was the cyclist's fault. Hopefully the idiot has learned his lesson.

Halloween: nobody came.

There was me all togged up with plenty of chocolate to disburse and nobody came. Not one trick-or-treater. Well, it looks like all that chocolate's for me!

New toy alert!

I've gone and got myself an Inverto PVR. I ordered it from Boots' website on Sunday. I was less than impressed when it only came today.

Eating out

Just had a gorgeous steak at The Wyvern. Lovely meat, lovely sauce. Pity they default to chips; their mashed potato is so much better.

And I've a new toy on the way.

Paging Misty

Look ye here! Very cool.