Pump It Up
The petrol station at Postcombe yesterday hiked its pump prices up to 83.9p a litre of unleaded. For my American reader, that's $5.63 a US gallon (and you thought YOU had it bad!). Pundits are predicting it will hit 90p by the middle of next week.
I'm so happy to be driving a Rover 620, rather than my old Clio. It doesn't drink fuel like a fish at all.
Prices are being pushed up not just by the Iraq situation, but by the huge demand of US motorists who apparently all get into their 4.0 litre Monster Trucks and go drivin' on Route 66 from now until the end of August. 12% of the worlds petroleum output gets vapourised in US motor engines during the summer months.
As a result, we'll probably see fuel blockades again here in the UK.
We'll definitely see rises in energy and food prices, which together with the petrol itself will push up inflation rates. That 2% pay rise you just got therefore represents an effective pay-cut.
Let us reap the rewards of US foreign and domestic transport policies.
Friday, May 14, 2004
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Blow This Photo Up
Sometimes when you're scanning the net [for a suitable photo for your blog profile], you discover photos of you that you knew nothing about.
Hideous photos.
[Apologies to Nancy and Duncan who now have their private photo album opened to the universe]
Free Movies
I missed a load of decent films before and after India's arrival. That's one thing as parents of a baby you miss out on: going to the cinema as a couple. Even before the birth, our visits were curtailled by Vic's girth and bladder: sitting down for 3 hours with no easy access to a toilet wasn't her idea of a good night out. I've been trying to catch up on those missed movies, with many of them now appearing on DVD. Although my exam retake revision doesn't help my cause, I've managed to watch Kill Bill Vol 1, Master and Commander, and City of God over the last couple of weeks.
All good movies, but it is City of God that ranks as the MUST SEE flick. If you've not seen it, treat yourself and rent it. The sunshine that burns brightly from the screen and the funky music are enough on their own. Add a pacy story, original cinematography and some excellent acting, and you're in popcorn heaven. Yes, it's in Brazilian and has subtitles, but don't let them put you off: the foreign lanaguage actually adds to the film, and it's been clipped-translated, so the subtitles are easy-to-read and don't get in the way. You might read in some reviews that the film is violent: don't believe the hype, there is some gunplay, but it's no bloodbath.
Unlike Kill Bill.
Thanks go to Sara and Stasher for signing me up with Webflix for my birthday -- 3 months of free DVD's!
And Master and Commander is superb: An action movie with many subtle layers. How refreshing to see us Brits not portrayed as the bad guys by Hollywood*. Even Crowe's "English" accent isn't too off-putting.
* Now its the rightful turn of the French! Hoorah!
Sometimes when you're scanning the net [for a suitable photo for your blog profile], you discover photos of you that you knew nothing about.
Hideous photos.
[Apologies to Nancy and Duncan who now have their private photo album opened to the universe]
Free Movies
I missed a load of decent films before and after India's arrival. That's one thing as parents of a baby you miss out on: going to the cinema as a couple. Even before the birth, our visits were curtailled by Vic's girth and bladder: sitting down for 3 hours with no easy access to a toilet wasn't her idea of a good night out. I've been trying to catch up on those missed movies, with many of them now appearing on DVD. Although my exam retake revision doesn't help my cause, I've managed to watch Kill Bill Vol 1, Master and Commander, and City of God over the last couple of weeks.
All good movies, but it is City of God that ranks as the MUST SEE flick. If you've not seen it, treat yourself and rent it. The sunshine that burns brightly from the screen and the funky music are enough on their own. Add a pacy story, original cinematography and some excellent acting, and you're in popcorn heaven. Yes, it's in Brazilian and has subtitles, but don't let them put you off: the foreign lanaguage actually adds to the film, and it's been clipped-translated, so the subtitles are easy-to-read and don't get in the way. You might read in some reviews that the film is violent: don't believe the hype, there is some gunplay, but it's no bloodbath.
Unlike Kill Bill.
Thanks go to Sara and Stasher for signing me up with Webflix for my birthday -- 3 months of free DVD's!
And Master and Commander is superb: An action movie with many subtle layers. How refreshing to see us Brits not portrayed as the bad guys by Hollywood*. Even Crowe's "English" accent isn't too off-putting.
* Now its the rightful turn of the French! Hoorah!
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Babb Bee
India's been forming proper vocal sounds for the last week. As well as the usual mono-tone screeching, we now have a new level of communication, with "bab bab", "da da" and "mum ma" echoing forth from her little mouth.
I'm sure it won't be long before she utters her first f word.
She is now on the cusp of crawling and the teething pains are back. No teeth yet and no current need to baby/bomb-proof the house. Her development review on Monday went well and she's apparently very tall for her age. Her new tricks include untying shoe laces, clapping to show her appreciation of things and shaking her head when you say "no". She also cries when I leave for work in the morning... which is nice.
The venue for India's naming party is booked. The date is set for the 18th of July. I've started on the first draft of the invite. If Vic gives it the nod, it'll be going out next week.
India's been forming proper vocal sounds for the last week. As well as the usual mono-tone screeching, we now have a new level of communication, with "bab bab", "da da" and "mum ma" echoing forth from her little mouth.
I'm sure it won't be long before she utters her first f word.
She is now on the cusp of crawling and the teething pains are back. No teeth yet and no current need to baby/bomb-proof the house. Her development review on Monday went well and she's apparently very tall for her age. Her new tricks include untying shoe laces, clapping to show her appreciation of things and shaking her head when you say "no". She also cries when I leave for work in the morning... which is nice.
The venue for India's naming party is booked. The date is set for the 18th of July. I've started on the first draft of the invite. If Vic gives it the nod, it'll be going out next week.
Monday, May 10, 2004
New Blogger
Time to jump on the bandwagon and update this blog with a new template and comments box.
The comments box is well-over due, but I just couldn't be bothered to mess around finding a suitable host and adding in the code. I've also been aware that it will probably only invite abuse... Well done to google for the improved options, and bring that abuse on!
Paintball
I came back with 12 bruises, two skinned shins, one grazed hand and one unimpressed wife. However, compared to the car, I got off lightly. I managed to back it into a tree in the woodland car park.
Oops. That rounded the afternoon off nicely for Vic...
Did she enjoy it? For the first 4 games she cowered behind the cover at the rear of each field, scared of getting hit and scared to get in the thick of the action. By the end she was happier -- the more "mission" orientated games (such as defending a house from the evil blue team) were far more to her liking. I don't think she'll do it again however... and it certainly didn't match up to an afternoon at a health spa.
JF's Funeral
A guess a good thousand or two turned-out for JF's funeral. The bells tolled. The minister played to the crowd. The readings and tributes were fitting. The school kids lined the street when his coffin departed the church. There were many long faces. It made you realise how many people this great man had helped over the years.
Time to jump on the bandwagon and update this blog with a new template and comments box.
The comments box is well-over due, but I just couldn't be bothered to mess around finding a suitable host and adding in the code. I've also been aware that it will probably only invite abuse... Well done to google for the improved options, and bring that abuse on!
Paintball
I came back with 12 bruises, two skinned shins, one grazed hand and one unimpressed wife. However, compared to the car, I got off lightly. I managed to back it into a tree in the woodland car park.
Oops. That rounded the afternoon off nicely for Vic...
Did she enjoy it? For the first 4 games she cowered behind the cover at the rear of each field, scared of getting hit and scared to get in the thick of the action. By the end she was happier -- the more "mission" orientated games (such as defending a house from the evil blue team) were far more to her liking. I don't think she'll do it again however... and it certainly didn't match up to an afternoon at a health spa.
JF's Funeral
A guess a good thousand or two turned-out for JF's funeral. The bells tolled. The minister played to the crowd. The readings and tributes were fitting. The school kids lined the street when his coffin departed the church. There were many long faces. It made you realise how many people this great man had helped over the years.
