One Pint Lighter
The fact that gran is going into hospital next week was the final push I needed to go and give blood. I was anxious right up to the last minute – the blood pressure gauge on my arm freaked me out (its embrace is not a sensation I enjoy) – and even when prone on the trolley, almost wimped out and declined the chance to donate.
Of course, it was over in just 5 minutes in the end, with no side effects or reaction. I feel much better for doing it. A little heroic even. If it doesn’t help my gran, it will hopefully help someone in a similar situation.
Plus I’ve got some great Christmas “Give blood” stickers for my nephew.
Crazy Google Search of the Week
Snatching boobs for milk
Freak.
Wednesday, December 04, 2002
Tuesday, December 03, 2002
Off Balance
In my usual style, I shall start with something irrelevant and trivial - to lull you into a false sense of security – and then move into the real post of the day.
Retro Con
I purchased a PC CD compilation of retro-games on Sunday from HMV. The old classic video games are still great, and although you can download most of them off the net (via the MIME system), I thought it would be easier (and would avoid any copyright issues) if I spent a few quid on a proper disk. The front cover features Pac-Man (being chased by ghosts), Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Galaxians, Asteroids, Defender, Missile Command and Centipede. The back of the box tells me that the CD contains the original versions of all these classic games and many more.
It’s a con.
The CD is just a bad collection of terrible shareware files from 1992. Most of the files don’t work. Those that do work run at quirky speeds and look shit. To cap it all off, the clunky versions of Space Invaders and Galaxians - that actually bear some resemblance to the originals – end after level three. I get a screen message telling me that I need to send $10 to some bedroom computer programmer in California, who will email me the full version.
The CD will be returned to HMV with a tongue-lashing.
I am practising aggressively jabbing my finger at the box and uttering the words “Trade Descriptions Act”…
Gran Has Cancer
Her biopsy results came back yesterday. She has cancer of the womb lining. She goes in for a scan tomorrow and then into hospital on Sunday, for an operation on Monday. I guess it’s a full hysterectomy. I am feeling hollow, scared and upset. I’ve already lost one gran through cancer, and the spectre of losing another is frightening. I’ve been dreading this sort of news for years, and despite thinking I was prepared for it last week, it’s a hammer-blow.
Gran of course is putting her usual brave face on things and seems relatively positive about it. She just wants to get the operation over with and “things sorted out”.
I am praying that the cancer has been caught early enough and there are no secondaries.
In my usual style, I shall start with something irrelevant and trivial - to lull you into a false sense of security – and then move into the real post of the day.
Retro Con
I purchased a PC CD compilation of retro-games on Sunday from HMV. The old classic video games are still great, and although you can download most of them off the net (via the MIME system), I thought it would be easier (and would avoid any copyright issues) if I spent a few quid on a proper disk. The front cover features Pac-Man (being chased by ghosts), Donkey Kong, Space Invaders, Galaxians, Asteroids, Defender, Missile Command and Centipede. The back of the box tells me that the CD contains the original versions of all these classic games and many more.
It’s a con.
The CD is just a bad collection of terrible shareware files from 1992. Most of the files don’t work. Those that do work run at quirky speeds and look shit. To cap it all off, the clunky versions of Space Invaders and Galaxians - that actually bear some resemblance to the originals – end after level three. I get a screen message telling me that I need to send $10 to some bedroom computer programmer in California, who will email me the full version.
The CD will be returned to HMV with a tongue-lashing.
I am practising aggressively jabbing my finger at the box and uttering the words “Trade Descriptions Act”…
Gran Has Cancer
Her biopsy results came back yesterday. She has cancer of the womb lining. She goes in for a scan tomorrow and then into hospital on Sunday, for an operation on Monday. I guess it’s a full hysterectomy. I am feeling hollow, scared and upset. I’ve already lost one gran through cancer, and the spectre of losing another is frightening. I’ve been dreading this sort of news for years, and despite thinking I was prepared for it last week, it’s a hammer-blow.
Gran of course is putting her usual brave face on things and seems relatively positive about it. She just wants to get the operation over with and “things sorted out”.
I am praying that the cancer has been caught early enough and there are no secondaries.
Monday, December 02, 2002
My Clementine Point Was
Not so much that they give me bad guts, but rather that I play a little game with myself when peeling them: I attempt to remove the peel in a single snaking piece. The curly wurly pithy helix then makes a handy projectile to toss at Julian.
Steeleye Spam
We went to the gig of the decade at Aylesbury's Civic Centre on Friday night: The Steeleye Span reunion tour.
Unfortunately one of the founder members of the legendary folk-rock outfit has a heart condition and is currently unable to tour, making the "reunion tour" tag seem foolish and undermining their groovy sound. Not a bad gig, but Maddy Prior was off her usual pace and it was lacking a certain something. After seeing them three or four times now, I can safely say that I'm prepared to pass on the tickets the next time they hit the road. They do the same act every time.
However, the excitement level of gig was improved no end by the sight of the fat man sat behind us. When he sat down it looked as if he was hiding a Space Hopper up his shirt. It wasn't natural. At the risk of losing your arm, you just wanted to prod it.
A Pigs Head Fixture
Football hooliganism is alive and kicking in Europe. Last Saturday saw the feisty contest between Barcelona and Real Madrid featuring Barca fans throwing plastic and glass bottles at their former favourite (and now Real Madrid player) Luis Figo. Someone - presumably they forgot to bring a bottle with them - lobbed a whole pigs head onto the pitch.
The Match of the Day boys, attempting to lure neutrals into viewing next Sunday's MATCH OF THE CENTURY between Oxford United and Swindon Town, sniggeringly suggested that there was "some local rivalry between the two teams" and the Oxford v Scumdon clash was a "bit of a pigs head fixture" too.
I don't think anyone will be laughing about it come Sunday afternoon.
According to the lady in the Oxford United club shop, a large number of tickets in the home stands have been sold to travelling Scumdon fans. There will be insufficient segregation. There will be fighting on the terraces. And it will all be shown live on BBC1.
The good name of Oxford United is going to be blackened across the country because somebody's messed up on the ticket sales. I despair.
Not so much that they give me bad guts, but rather that I play a little game with myself when peeling them: I attempt to remove the peel in a single snaking piece. The curly wurly pithy helix then makes a handy projectile to toss at Julian.
Steeleye Spam
We went to the gig of the decade at Aylesbury's Civic Centre on Friday night: The Steeleye Span reunion tour.
Unfortunately one of the founder members of the legendary folk-rock outfit has a heart condition and is currently unable to tour, making the "reunion tour" tag seem foolish and undermining their groovy sound. Not a bad gig, but Maddy Prior was off her usual pace and it was lacking a certain something. After seeing them three or four times now, I can safely say that I'm prepared to pass on the tickets the next time they hit the road. They do the same act every time.
However, the excitement level of gig was improved no end by the sight of the fat man sat behind us. When he sat down it looked as if he was hiding a Space Hopper up his shirt. It wasn't natural. At the risk of losing your arm, you just wanted to prod it.
A Pigs Head Fixture
Football hooliganism is alive and kicking in Europe. Last Saturday saw the feisty contest between Barcelona and Real Madrid featuring Barca fans throwing plastic and glass bottles at their former favourite (and now Real Madrid player) Luis Figo. Someone - presumably they forgot to bring a bottle with them - lobbed a whole pigs head onto the pitch.
The Match of the Day boys, attempting to lure neutrals into viewing next Sunday's MATCH OF THE CENTURY between Oxford United and Swindon Town, sniggeringly suggested that there was "some local rivalry between the two teams" and the Oxford v Scumdon clash was a "bit of a pigs head fixture" too.
I don't think anyone will be laughing about it come Sunday afternoon.
According to the lady in the Oxford United club shop, a large number of tickets in the home stands have been sold to travelling Scumdon fans. There will be insufficient segregation. There will be fighting on the terraces. And it will all be shown live on BBC1.
The good name of Oxford United is going to be blackened across the country because somebody's messed up on the ticket sales. I despair.
