Haiti
In the first week of January the Sunday Times travel magazine tipped Haiti as one of the top destinations for 2004. "It's the new Cuba" they said.
Happy holidays in the Land of Voodoo folks.
Grand Opening Night
I'm pleased to announce that the dining room is almost complete. Carpet went down last week -- giving India a soft playzone on the ground floor -- and we're really just waiting for the fireplace to come back from The Forge (blacksmiths). The plaster cracks need filling and we're awaiting a delivery from Ikea -- the missing leg to our new bookcase -- but for all intents and purposes it is finished.
Emma and Scott are coming over for sausage and mash tomorrow night. I have the red ribbon ready to go.
Bring your scissors Em.
Thursday, March 04, 2004
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Baby Update
Everyday India has a new trick to show us. Yesterday was her first day of being able to sit up by herself [big breakthrough]. The day before was the "screaching like a monkey" game. Saturday's was "playing peek-a-boo with my sick-covered bip". She is so special.
Barbie Ditches Ken
Apparently Barbie has ditched Ken after 43 years of companionship. She's run off with some Aussie guy and his cronies. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see Action Man and GI Joe cited in the divorce papers.
Great News For Fellow Geeks
LucasFilm have confirmed that the original Star Wars trilogy will at last be released on DVD later this year. They'll be digitally remastered and the extras will include deleted scenes, such as the infamous banquet hall scene where Skywalker sits down to eat with the Emperor and Vadar: Luke doesn't know the correct Jedi etiquette for eating his dessert of chocolate-covered Bantha cake. Should he use his lightsabre or not? As the tension builds and the Emperor starts hissing at him, Luke is saved by the ghost of Obi Wan coming to his rescue.
"Use the forks, Luke, use the forks!"
[The old one's -- from the 1970's -- are still the best. The Two Ronnies are even making a comeback. 'Ray!]
Tenner Reefy
Seems an age ago that we were in Tennerife, but it's actually only a month.
The first winter sun holiday that I've ever had, and it was a blessing. It's really broken the winter up. It wasn't terribly hot or sunny -- temperatures varied from 20 to 29 degrees and there was plenty of cloud -- but it beat a week of miserable rain and sleet.
India coped with the 4 hour flights well: a tactical bottle on take-off and landing, along with a good hour or so of sleep, helped soothe the potentially problematic travel arrangements for her and us. Babies travel on their parent's laps in the air until they are two years old. Although we coped we a pliant, good-natured and sleepy baby for 4 hours, the thought of trying to fly over to the States when she's a little bigger -- and has a lower attention-span -- fills me with dread. Dealing with Vic and her fear of flying is bad enough, but adding a screaming and squirming toddler into the mix sounds like a straw too much for this camel.
Tennerife was nasty. We stayed on the North side of the island: cooler and quieter than the Brits abroad South. Even so, it was incredibly commercialised, with English bar, German bar, English bar, German bar lining the streets. We even had a English Fish and Chips shop opposite our apartments.
How sophisticated.
Frankly, we ate far more Spanish food when we self-catered than when we ate out: There was a decent selection of local fresh fish on offer at the supermarket, and armed with Rick Stein's Seafood Odyssey, we made good use of it. Squid with chorizo and chilli, hake with potatoes, pan-fried mystery fish with salsa verde.
And the island is not baby buggy or disabled friendly. Everywhere is stepped -- a consequence of the island being nothing more than a banana-covered volcanoe thrusting it's snow-capped peak out of the ocean -- and getting back to the apartment required mountaineering skills. What amazed me is the fact that despite the island being less than suitable for the elderly, almost the whole tourist throng -- apart from a noticable and sizable gay guy presence -- was grey-haired.
So did we have a nice time?
Oh yes -- it was a great week away, and the trip up to the top of the mountain -- with its incredible Mars-like caldera and volcanic rocks -- was well worth the visit.
But I don't think I'd go back. It was just too commercialised and too "touristy". Even though it was low season and the town was quiet, we were still getting touted by restaurant owner and car rental agents at every turn. Heaven knows what the island is like in high season -- a complete hell hole by my reckoning. Hot, overcrowded, with nowhere to go and no escape.
The Hobbit
I read the Hobbit while we were away. I hadn't read it since I was 11 years old in 1982 -- when it was a magical book. Approaching it 21 years later, I was concerned that I would now be disappointed by it. Thankfully it turned out to be a wonderful read for adults too.
After the utter crap that was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire -- I refuse to read any more of JK Rowling's over-hyped, unoriginal, badly-written rubbish -- I can safely say that Bilbo Baggins pisses all over it.
Everyday India has a new trick to show us. Yesterday was her first day of being able to sit up by herself [big breakthrough]. The day before was the "screaching like a monkey" game. Saturday's was "playing peek-a-boo with my sick-covered bip". She is so special.
Barbie Ditches Ken
Apparently Barbie has ditched Ken after 43 years of companionship. She's run off with some Aussie guy and his cronies. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see Action Man and GI Joe cited in the divorce papers.
Great News For Fellow Geeks
LucasFilm have confirmed that the original Star Wars trilogy will at last be released on DVD later this year. They'll be digitally remastered and the extras will include deleted scenes, such as the infamous banquet hall scene where Skywalker sits down to eat with the Emperor and Vadar: Luke doesn't know the correct Jedi etiquette for eating his dessert of chocolate-covered Bantha cake. Should he use his lightsabre or not? As the tension builds and the Emperor starts hissing at him, Luke is saved by the ghost of Obi Wan coming to his rescue.
"Use the forks, Luke, use the forks!"
[The old one's -- from the 1970's -- are still the best. The Two Ronnies are even making a comeback. 'Ray!]
Tenner Reefy
Seems an age ago that we were in Tennerife, but it's actually only a month.
The first winter sun holiday that I've ever had, and it was a blessing. It's really broken the winter up. It wasn't terribly hot or sunny -- temperatures varied from 20 to 29 degrees and there was plenty of cloud -- but it beat a week of miserable rain and sleet.
India coped with the 4 hour flights well: a tactical bottle on take-off and landing, along with a good hour or so of sleep, helped soothe the potentially problematic travel arrangements for her and us. Babies travel on their parent's laps in the air until they are two years old. Although we coped we a pliant, good-natured and sleepy baby for 4 hours, the thought of trying to fly over to the States when she's a little bigger -- and has a lower attention-span -- fills me with dread. Dealing with Vic and her fear of flying is bad enough, but adding a screaming and squirming toddler into the mix sounds like a straw too much for this camel.
Tennerife was nasty. We stayed on the North side of the island: cooler and quieter than the Brits abroad South. Even so, it was incredibly commercialised, with English bar, German bar, English bar, German bar lining the streets. We even had a English Fish and Chips shop opposite our apartments.
How sophisticated.
Frankly, we ate far more Spanish food when we self-catered than when we ate out: There was a decent selection of local fresh fish on offer at the supermarket, and armed with Rick Stein's Seafood Odyssey, we made good use of it. Squid with chorizo and chilli, hake with potatoes, pan-fried mystery fish with salsa verde.
And the island is not baby buggy or disabled friendly. Everywhere is stepped -- a consequence of the island being nothing more than a banana-covered volcanoe thrusting it's snow-capped peak out of the ocean -- and getting back to the apartment required mountaineering skills. What amazed me is the fact that despite the island being less than suitable for the elderly, almost the whole tourist throng -- apart from a noticable and sizable gay guy presence -- was grey-haired.
So did we have a nice time?
Oh yes -- it was a great week away, and the trip up to the top of the mountain -- with its incredible Mars-like caldera and volcanic rocks -- was well worth the visit.
But I don't think I'd go back. It was just too commercialised and too "touristy". Even though it was low season and the town was quiet, we were still getting touted by restaurant owner and car rental agents at every turn. Heaven knows what the island is like in high season -- a complete hell hole by my reckoning. Hot, overcrowded, with nowhere to go and no escape.
The Hobbit
I read the Hobbit while we were away. I hadn't read it since I was 11 years old in 1982 -- when it was a magical book. Approaching it 21 years later, I was concerned that I would now be disappointed by it. Thankfully it turned out to be a wonderful read for adults too.
After the utter crap that was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire -- I refuse to read any more of JK Rowling's over-hyped, unoriginal, badly-written rubbish -- I can safely say that Bilbo Baggins pisses all over it.
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Be Careful What You Wish For
28th Jan 04, 09:30 Nobby laments lack of snow. Wishes that there were a couple of inches -- enough to build a snowman and cluster bomb his work colleagues.
16:52 Snow blizzard starts in High Wycombe.
16:58 Nobby leaves work.
17:00 So does everyone else.
17:01 High Wycombe -- and all roads leading out of the town -- is gridlocked.
17:40 Nobby has driven 200 yards -- 200 yards more than most people driving from the Cressex Business Estate.
18:45 Nobby has driven 1 mile and is queuing to get on the road to Lane End.
19:00 Nobby hasn't moved more than two feet, so turns car around (random woman gives Nobby a V-sign) and drives back into High Wycombe, cuts off corner of town and drives out along West Wycombe road and then towards Princes Risborough.
19:01 The road is clear of serious traffic -- Nobby curses his luck -- he should have gone this way in the first place.
19:20 Nobby grinds to a halt outside Saunderton at the back of a 2 mile long traffic queue that's going nowhere. He considers ditching car and walking in the snow to Saunderton railway station to catch a train back to Thame. Instead, he drives up winding country road towards Bledlow and Chinnor.
19:40 After a couple of minor skids, Nobby stops car for a wee. Spoils field of virgin white snow. Cannot try to write his name in snow due to lack of light. Whilst relieving himself at the top of a rise, Nobby can see that all the major trunk roads in the area are clogged. Car headlamps twinkle forlornly in the distance.
20:00 Nobby arrives back in Thame. The town is an ice rink of compacted snow. None of the roads have been salted.
21:10 Vicster arrives home after a four hour trip back from Marlow. Her 30 minutes journey took four hours, my 25 mins journey a mere three.
Sorry everyone, it was my fault and I didn't even get to build a snowman...
Be careful what you wish for.
28th Jan 04, 09:30 Nobby laments lack of snow. Wishes that there were a couple of inches -- enough to build a snowman and cluster bomb his work colleagues.
16:52 Snow blizzard starts in High Wycombe.
16:58 Nobby leaves work.
17:00 So does everyone else.
17:01 High Wycombe -- and all roads leading out of the town -- is gridlocked.
17:40 Nobby has driven 200 yards -- 200 yards more than most people driving from the Cressex Business Estate.
18:45 Nobby has driven 1 mile and is queuing to get on the road to Lane End.
19:00 Nobby hasn't moved more than two feet, so turns car around (random woman gives Nobby a V-sign) and drives back into High Wycombe, cuts off corner of town and drives out along West Wycombe road and then towards Princes Risborough.
19:01 The road is clear of serious traffic -- Nobby curses his luck -- he should have gone this way in the first place.
19:20 Nobby grinds to a halt outside Saunderton at the back of a 2 mile long traffic queue that's going nowhere. He considers ditching car and walking in the snow to Saunderton railway station to catch a train back to Thame. Instead, he drives up winding country road towards Bledlow and Chinnor.
19:40 After a couple of minor skids, Nobby stops car for a wee. Spoils field of virgin white snow. Cannot try to write his name in snow due to lack of light. Whilst relieving himself at the top of a rise, Nobby can see that all the major trunk roads in the area are clogged. Car headlamps twinkle forlornly in the distance.
20:00 Nobby arrives back in Thame. The town is an ice rink of compacted snow. None of the roads have been salted.
21:10 Vicster arrives home after a four hour trip back from Marlow. Her 30 minutes journey took four hours, my 25 mins journey a mere three.
Sorry everyone, it was my fault and I didn't even get to build a snowman...
Be careful what you wish for.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Bad Day For Students
I feel let down by Tony Blair over the "won" vote on university top-up fees. He's broken one of his manifesto promises, and I don't think the policy's knock-on effects have been properly assessed.
I wouldn't have gone to university if these fees had been in place when I went and I fear that they will put off many lower-income and middle-class kids from going in the future.
Bad judgement call Tony.
I won't be voting labour next time.
I feel let down by Tony Blair over the "won" vote on university top-up fees. He's broken one of his manifesto promises, and I don't think the policy's knock-on effects have been properly assessed.
I wouldn't have gone to university if these fees had been in place when I went and I fear that they will put off many lower-income and middle-class kids from going in the future.
Bad judgement call Tony.
I won't be voting labour next time.
Journals, Journals Everywhere
I used to work in industries that had trade journals that were worth reading:
Music Week
Billboard
New Musical Express
Casino Monthly
Slots
Electronic Gaming
I now have the chance to read the following exciting publications [all taken from my Marketing Directors' magazine stand]:
Journal of Microscopy
Surface World and Product Finishing
World Cement
Microscopy Today
Microscopy and Analysis
Finishing
Materials Today
Scrap
Chemistry and Industry
Materials World
Chemistry in Britain
Onboard Technology
SCI News
Spectroscopy
This is why I read random blogs at lunch time...
But can you imagine being the chief editor on World Cement?
Well, thanks to the web, here's your chance: A brand new world.
Subscribe today!
I used to work in industries that had trade journals that were worth reading:
Music Week
Billboard
New Musical Express
Casino Monthly
Slots
Electronic Gaming
I now have the chance to read the following exciting publications [all taken from my Marketing Directors' magazine stand]:
Journal of Microscopy
Surface World and Product Finishing
World Cement
Microscopy Today
Microscopy and Analysis
Finishing
Materials Today
Scrap
Chemistry and Industry
Materials World
Chemistry in Britain
Onboard Technology
SCI News
Spectroscopy
This is why I read random blogs at lunch time...
But can you imagine being the chief editor on World Cement?
Well, thanks to the web, here's your chance: A brand new world.
Subscribe today!
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Monday, January 05, 2004
False Dawn
I was going to tell you how great my Christmas and New Year had been:
We went up to Carlisle for a week, came back and spent some quality time with Rob, enjoyed a decent New Years Eve party and socialised, socialised, socialised with friends and family. Gramp had a miracle turn-around too -- his strangulated hernia unblocked itself, he started eating again, his bone-cancer was a misdiagnosis, and was -- as far as we were concerned -- out of the woods of immediate danger.
He caught pneumonia overnight and died at 10:20 am this morning.
I thought I was prepared, but the speed of his passing -- and the single hour between learning of his pneumonia and death -- has left me shocked and very upset.
I've spent an hour sat in the car pondering things, and have returned to my desk to eat lunch and post this up.
He was a wonderful grandad and I'm going to miss him.
I was going to tell you how great my Christmas and New Year had been:
We went up to Carlisle for a week, came back and spent some quality time with Rob, enjoyed a decent New Years Eve party and socialised, socialised, socialised with friends and family. Gramp had a miracle turn-around too -- his strangulated hernia unblocked itself, he started eating again, his bone-cancer was a misdiagnosis, and was -- as far as we were concerned -- out of the woods of immediate danger.
He caught pneumonia overnight and died at 10:20 am this morning.
I thought I was prepared, but the speed of his passing -- and the single hour between learning of his pneumonia and death -- has left me shocked and very upset.
I've spent an hour sat in the car pondering things, and have returned to my desk to eat lunch and post this up.
He was a wonderful grandad and I'm going to miss him.
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Slow and Painful
My grandad is in the JR hospital. He's been in there for 9 days now. He went in due to being sick -- with blood in his vomit. He hasn't eaten for 9 days. It took the hospital 7 days to discover that he has a hernia that is blocking his bowel. He needs an immediate operation to clear the problem, otherwise -- as the surgeon put it -- he will die a slow and painful death.
Unfortunately -- due to the lack of food, as well as his low blood pressure -- he is too weak for the operation.
He has been given just "a few days or few weeks". They will do everything they can to make him comfortable.
Joy to the world.
My grandad is in the JR hospital. He's been in there for 9 days now. He went in due to being sick -- with blood in his vomit. He hasn't eaten for 9 days. It took the hospital 7 days to discover that he has a hernia that is blocking his bowel. He needs an immediate operation to clear the problem, otherwise -- as the surgeon put it -- he will die a slow and painful death.
Unfortunately -- due to the lack of food, as well as his low blood pressure -- he is too weak for the operation.
He has been given just "a few days or few weeks". They will do everything they can to make him comfortable.
Joy to the world.
Monday, December 15, 2003
Board to Death
My dad went up into the attic yesterday to store the empty boxes of his new widescreen TV, DVD and video bundle.
He managed to lose his footing and put his slippered size nine straight through the ceiling.
Thankfully he managed to grab onto the rafters -- so it was only a star-shaped section of plasterboard that crashed to earth -- as he was directly over the main stairwell...
A classic sitcom moment that could have resulted in a two storey fall.
He's getting a man in today to patch the ceiling and board the attic.
Unbelievably, despite buying a brand new digital camera last week, my mum failed to react quick enough and take a photo of dad's leg dangling through the ceiling. It did his hernia a world of good.
My dad went up into the attic yesterday to store the empty boxes of his new widescreen TV, DVD and video bundle.
He managed to lose his footing and put his slippered size nine straight through the ceiling.
Thankfully he managed to grab onto the rafters -- so it was only a star-shaped section of plasterboard that crashed to earth -- as he was directly over the main stairwell...
A classic sitcom moment that could have resulted in a two storey fall.
He's getting a man in today to patch the ceiling and board the attic.
Unbelievably, despite buying a brand new digital camera last week, my mum failed to react quick enough and take a photo of dad's leg dangling through the ceiling. It did his hernia a world of good.
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Air Today
The pushchair's rear onside wheel had a puncture yesterday. I fixed it last night and was surprised to discover that it was the first tyre puncture I've ever repaired. First one in 32 years.
I was left thinking what else I haven't done in the last 32 years:
Skiing
Rock-climbing
Pot-holing
Many other manly pursuits
On the flipside, I have dressed up in drag many times.
However, I can now add puncture repairing to my list of new skills. Plastering, plumbing and electricial engineering are scheduled to be added soon -- I want a complete career change.
The tyre was still inflated this morning, so unlike yesterday, India and Vic shouldn't be house-bound today.
The pushchair's rear onside wheel had a puncture yesterday. I fixed it last night and was surprised to discover that it was the first tyre puncture I've ever repaired. First one in 32 years.
I was left thinking what else I haven't done in the last 32 years:
Skiing
Rock-climbing
Pot-holing
Many other manly pursuits
On the flipside, I have dressed up in drag many times.
However, I can now add puncture repairing to my list of new skills. Plastering, plumbing and electricial engineering are scheduled to be added soon -- I want a complete career change.
The tyre was still inflated this morning, so unlike yesterday, India and Vic shouldn't be house-bound today.
Monday, December 08, 2003
Photo Negative
I've been set a dilemma here at work:
I have the twenty week scan photo of India on my desk. Vic framed it up for me in an attractive silver photo frame as a present. It's been sat on my desk for 30 weeks now. I love it.
On the day India was born -- the 13th of September -- my colleague Lisa had a miscarriage. It was the day of her 13th week scan. She never made the appointment.
Lisa sits six feet away from me.
She has had "issues" at work ever since -- clearly she is upset by baby talk, etc. I'm very careful to be sensitive to the situation.
Last week my boss queitly suggested that I might like to change my photo of India, or consider removing it from my desk. Apparently the scan photo brings it all back to Lisa.
I can appreciate this.
If she asked me directly, I would probably remove the photo instantly, but as the request is via my manager -- and I have quite a history of receiving downright rudeness from her over the last 2 and a half years (I don't like her) -- I am reluctant to remove the scan image.
I love the photo. It's been there 30 weeks.
So the dilemma is:
a) Remove the photo.
or:
b) Don't remove the photo and look like a complete c*nt.
A win-win situation.
I've been set a dilemma here at work:
I have the twenty week scan photo of India on my desk. Vic framed it up for me in an attractive silver photo frame as a present. It's been sat on my desk for 30 weeks now. I love it.
On the day India was born -- the 13th of September -- my colleague Lisa had a miscarriage. It was the day of her 13th week scan. She never made the appointment.
Lisa sits six feet away from me.
She has had "issues" at work ever since -- clearly she is upset by baby talk, etc. I'm very careful to be sensitive to the situation.
Last week my boss queitly suggested that I might like to change my photo of India, or consider removing it from my desk. Apparently the scan photo brings it all back to Lisa.
I can appreciate this.
If she asked me directly, I would probably remove the photo instantly, but as the request is via my manager -- and I have quite a history of receiving downright rudeness from her over the last 2 and a half years (I don't like her) -- I am reluctant to remove the scan image.
I love the photo. It's been there 30 weeks.
So the dilemma is:
a) Remove the photo.
or:
b) Don't remove the photo and look like a complete c*nt.
A win-win situation.
Thursday, December 04, 2003
I'm Wearing an Orange Wig
Tomorrow is "Wear a hat to work" day for Age Concern. Pay a quid to charity, wear a hat at your desk.
I look a fool in a hat, but will contribute by wearing my chef's hat. I may stuff it with paper to make it stand proud.
Today I'm wearing a "casual" shirt, rather than my normal "formal" shirts. I've decided to start expressing my individuality at work at bit more.
When I informed Vic of this change in work-wear policy, she suggested that if I want to express my personality at work, I should dress up in a clown suit.
[Honk! Honk!]
Tomorrow is "Wear a hat to work" day for Age Concern. Pay a quid to charity, wear a hat at your desk.
I look a fool in a hat, but will contribute by wearing my chef's hat. I may stuff it with paper to make it stand proud.
Today I'm wearing a "casual" shirt, rather than my normal "formal" shirts. I've decided to start expressing my individuality at work at bit more.
When I informed Vic of this change in work-wear policy, she suggested that if I want to express my personality at work, I should dress up in a clown suit.
[Honk! Honk!]
Wednesday, November 26, 2003
A Bad Week
I've had the flu for the last week. A voice like Barry White (I know he's dead -- that's what I mean), asthma to die for, and a five day course of steriods to make me look like the Hulk. In my hand I have a piece of paper from Mr. Doctor that is a prescription for a course of antibiotics. Thankfully the phelm has cleared enough -- due to the steriods giving me enough lung capacity to shift it -- that the prescription isn't necessary. Still coughing up strings and blobs of grey, green and yellow spittle, but hey, I'm alive... and back to work.
The astma is a real worry though -- a subject to deal with at another time.
Of course, the flu didn't exactly help my exam preparation -- it kicked in two nights before the big day. Neither did the International football either -- poor old Wales missing out again. I'm sure my hacking and spluttering cheered up all my fellow exam-sitting students no end. There's nothing worse than taking an exam next to a sniffler is there...
And I had a filling last Tuesday too.
And I had to hold India at the Doctors on Thursday while she had her first set of jabs. She screamed like a banshee. The needle was at least 3 inches long and stuck twice deep into her leg muscles. A real cocktail of nasties were injected and she's not really been herself since.
...But not that bad.
The exam went OK.
England are World Rugby Champions.
I won a four pack of beers off my Aussie mate Keir (well done Jonny W). "The Empire Strikes Back!"
India's been developing at a rapid pace -- she's a smasher!
Mark (from Chicago) visited for one night only -- we hadn't seen him for 15 months, so it was ace to catch up. He also fixed the PC.
Oxford United are top of the league!
I've had the flu for the last week. A voice like Barry White (I know he's dead -- that's what I mean), asthma to die for, and a five day course of steriods to make me look like the Hulk. In my hand I have a piece of paper from Mr. Doctor that is a prescription for a course of antibiotics. Thankfully the phelm has cleared enough -- due to the steriods giving me enough lung capacity to shift it -- that the prescription isn't necessary. Still coughing up strings and blobs of grey, green and yellow spittle, but hey, I'm alive... and back to work.
The astma is a real worry though -- a subject to deal with at another time.
Of course, the flu didn't exactly help my exam preparation -- it kicked in two nights before the big day. Neither did the International football either -- poor old Wales missing out again. I'm sure my hacking and spluttering cheered up all my fellow exam-sitting students no end. There's nothing worse than taking an exam next to a sniffler is there...
And I had a filling last Tuesday too.
And I had to hold India at the Doctors on Thursday while she had her first set of jabs. She screamed like a banshee. The needle was at least 3 inches long and stuck twice deep into her leg muscles. A real cocktail of nasties were injected and she's not really been herself since.
...But not that bad.
The exam went OK.
England are World Rugby Champions.
I won a four pack of beers off my Aussie mate Keir (well done Jonny W). "The Empire Strikes Back!"
India's been developing at a rapid pace -- she's a smasher!
Mark (from Chicago) visited for one night only -- we hadn't seen him for 15 months, so it was ace to catch up. He also fixed the PC.
Oxford United are top of the league!
Friday, November 14, 2003
Ghostly Mountain Retreat
We're up in Carlisle at the Inlaws. I'm revising for my retake exam next week at the usual mountain retreat. Keeping the dog away from India has been distracting: he's bemused and bewildered by the baby. He doesn't know whether to protect her or eat her...
India's been "talking" over the last couple of weeks. She'll mimic your grunts and goo-goos. Then do some of her own. It's very cool.
Weirdly though, when left on her own for a few minutes in the Inlaws old house, she suddenly bursts into mucho excited talking.
To thin air.
Like there's a ghost.
Then when you reappear, she quietens down.
Even the suggestion that India might be seeing dead people -- and many so-called experts reckon children and animals can sense ghosts and spirits -- freaks Vic out.
Its behind you.
We're up in Carlisle at the Inlaws. I'm revising for my retake exam next week at the usual mountain retreat. Keeping the dog away from India has been distracting: he's bemused and bewildered by the baby. He doesn't know whether to protect her or eat her...
India's been "talking" over the last couple of weeks. She'll mimic your grunts and goo-goos. Then do some of her own. It's very cool.
Weirdly though, when left on her own for a few minutes in the Inlaws old house, she suddenly bursts into mucho excited talking.
To thin air.
Like there's a ghost.
Then when you reappear, she quietens down.
Even the suggestion that India might be seeing dead people -- and many so-called experts reckon children and animals can sense ghosts and spirits -- freaks Vic out.
Its behind you.
Friday, October 31, 2003
Happy Nappy Hands
We have replenished our home hand cream stocks and Lisa at work has donated me a tube of concentrated Neutrogena hand cream -- the Norwegian fisherman's choice apparently*. As a result my hands are slowly getting back to normal. No more eczema or knuckles that look like elephant knees.
* Which would account for the slight fishy smell.
The Quiet Month of October
I've noticed that the majority of Blogs that I read have been very quiet over the last few weeks. It would appear as if October is a quiet month for Bloggers -- like the housing market is quiet in January and February. I've tried to spot a trend, but can only come up with everyone seems miserable and can't be bothered to write about it.
Fair dinkum.
My excuse -- apart from the 9 lb 4 oz bundle of joy / poo-machine -- is my Blog time has been diverted to setting up a blogsite for the Oxford magic community. As I haven't been playing much recently, I've had to satisfy my magic hunger in other ways...
We have replenished our home hand cream stocks and Lisa at work has donated me a tube of concentrated Neutrogena hand cream -- the Norwegian fisherman's choice apparently*. As a result my hands are slowly getting back to normal. No more eczema or knuckles that look like elephant knees.
* Which would account for the slight fishy smell.
The Quiet Month of October
I've noticed that the majority of Blogs that I read have been very quiet over the last few weeks. It would appear as if October is a quiet month for Bloggers -- like the housing market is quiet in January and February. I've tried to spot a trend, but can only come up with everyone seems miserable and can't be bothered to write about it.
Fair dinkum.
My excuse -- apart from the 9 lb 4 oz bundle of joy / poo-machine -- is my Blog time has been diverted to setting up a blogsite for the Oxford magic community. As I haven't been playing much recently, I've had to satisfy my magic hunger in other ways...
Monday, October 27, 2003
Friday, October 24, 2003
Happy Birthday Steph
Our best friend Steph is 30 years old today.
Happy Birthday girlfriend! [as Mark would say]
Hard to believe really, as I still regard Steph as being a teenager -- just like Vic.
It was at Steph's 18th birthday party that I first set eyes on Vic and thought "Phwoar, she's the one for me!".
It's therefore extremely satisfying that 12 years on, I still think the same -- "Phwoar, she's the one for me!" -- about my Yummy Mummy wife.
We're taking Steph out for lunch to celebrate.
Our best friend Steph is 30 years old today.
Happy Birthday girlfriend! [as Mark would say]
Hard to believe really, as I still regard Steph as being a teenager -- just like Vic.
It was at Steph's 18th birthday party that I first set eyes on Vic and thought "Phwoar, she's the one for me!".
It's therefore extremely satisfying that 12 years on, I still think the same -- "Phwoar, she's the one for me!" -- about my Yummy Mummy wife.
We're taking Steph out for lunch to celebrate.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
Two Weddings, One Option
We were invited to two weddings that took place last weekend:
Larry's in Scotland and Vics brother's in Kent.
Darren and Christine's was on Friday, Larry and Carole's was on Sunday, and the logistics -- and 500 mile trip -- conspired against us attending both.
Family comes first (at least in the world of Eastenders), so unfortunately we missed Lazza and Cazza's. [Grimace]
Darren and Christine's do was smashing though: Lympne Castle was a majestic venue and they were blessed with warm sunshine, good food and our company.
Not only did they copy our castle location wedding idea, but Darren ripped half of his speech directly from mine. It was if he'd sat down and transcribed our wedding video, changing the names to protect the innocent. Of course, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Christine looked magnificent, as did I. Nobody could believe that Vic was so slim -- she has already lost her pregnancy tummy. India was incredibly well behaved -- both during the wedding and over the two nights in the hotel -- and everyone (and I mean everyone) pointed at her hair and exclaimed "oooohhh... look at how much hair she's got!" as their first impression of her.
My baby's going to get a complex.
Darren and Christine are now either in Vancouver or Hawaii. A hockey and hula hula honeymoon. Lucky devils.
We were invited to two weddings that took place last weekend:
Larry's in Scotland and Vics brother's in Kent.
Darren and Christine's was on Friday, Larry and Carole's was on Sunday, and the logistics -- and 500 mile trip -- conspired against us attending both.
Family comes first (at least in the world of Eastenders), so unfortunately we missed Lazza and Cazza's. [Grimace]
Darren and Christine's do was smashing though: Lympne Castle was a majestic venue and they were blessed with warm sunshine, good food and our company.
Not only did they copy our castle location wedding idea, but Darren ripped half of his speech directly from mine. It was if he'd sat down and transcribed our wedding video, changing the names to protect the innocent. Of course, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Christine looked magnificent, as did I. Nobody could believe that Vic was so slim -- she has already lost her pregnancy tummy. India was incredibly well behaved -- both during the wedding and over the two nights in the hotel -- and everyone (and I mean everyone) pointed at her hair and exclaimed "oooohhh... look at how much hair she's got!" as their first impression of her.
My baby's going to get a complex.
Darren and Christine are now either in Vancouver or Hawaii. A hockey and hula hula honeymoon. Lucky devils.
Friday, October 10, 2003
First Prawns, Now Nappies
Vic has a habit of smelling prawns. Whenever she buys a prawn mayonnaise sandwich from Marks & Spencers, I have to watch her pick out every prawn -- one by one -- and sniff them to see if they are "off" or not. It's obsessive.
She has now taken to doing to same thing with India's nappy.
"Does she need a change?"
"Let me have a good sniff... No!"
I know it's one of those Things Parents Do, but I didn't expect Vic to be in the habit in just four weeks.
Feeding Time At The Zoo
The other night, when India's internal alarm clock went off at 1:27 am to let us all know she needed feeding, I admit to feeling a little bit
"Fragga ragga, look at the time, I'm knackered and not enjoying this."
But by 2:27 am, after I'd fed and winded her, and we were both tucked-up back in our respective beds, I felt a warm glowing sense of contentment.
"Ace, I've just fed my daughter and she's happy."
A wonderful feeling, and one that I'd managed to forget by 3:30 am last night ;)
Let's Watch The Football Daddy
Our first match watched together will be the big game tomorrow -- if it goes ahead. I expect a nail-biting nil-nil draw -- as without Owen, England are unlikely to score -- and a full understanding of the off-side rule from India.
Vic has a habit of smelling prawns. Whenever she buys a prawn mayonnaise sandwich from Marks & Spencers, I have to watch her pick out every prawn -- one by one -- and sniff them to see if they are "off" or not. It's obsessive.
She has now taken to doing to same thing with India's nappy.
"Does she need a change?"
"Let me have a good sniff... No!"
I know it's one of those Things Parents Do, but I didn't expect Vic to be in the habit in just four weeks.
Feeding Time At The Zoo
The other night, when India's internal alarm clock went off at 1:27 am to let us all know she needed feeding, I admit to feeling a little bit
"Fragga ragga, look at the time, I'm knackered and not enjoying this."
But by 2:27 am, after I'd fed and winded her, and we were both tucked-up back in our respective beds, I felt a warm glowing sense of contentment.
"Ace, I've just fed my daughter and she's happy."
A wonderful feeling, and one that I'd managed to forget by 3:30 am last night ;)
Let's Watch The Football Daddy
Our first match watched together will be the big game tomorrow -- if it goes ahead. I expect a nail-biting nil-nil draw -- as without Owen, England are unlikely to score -- and a full understanding of the off-side rule from India.
