Tales of my motoring adventures are gaining me a certain notoriety at work, especially when backed up with photographic evidence.
Drove the Aveo to Brighton today. Nothing to get excited about, but it got me here safely.
Been to The Griffin pub in Fletching for dinner this evening. Our US colleague is good company. He has suggested that we fit in a casino trip next time we are together so that he can teach me how to plat craps!
Back to the Myhotel (pink) room tonight. Don't mind being here apart from the fact that I am abandoning a poorly wife at home.
Sorry honey. Take care and I love you loads. See you tomorrow. xxxx
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Courtesy
A day of waiting around for a courtesy car to arrive today.
Got here at about 5pm.
Off to Brighton tomorrow.
Only a day late.
Got here at about 5pm.
Off to Brighton tomorrow.
Only a day late.
Monday 28 November 2011
Beaten up IQ
A lorry on the M25 decided to have an argument with my little car today, and unfortunately the lorry came off considerably better.
Still, the IQ did a great job of keeping me safe and proving why it deserved those five safety stars.
It is sat on the drive now, having been brought home on the back of a lorry this evening, but I think that the prognosis is probably not good.
Still, the IQ did a great job of keeping me safe and proving why it deserved those five safety stars.
It is sat on the drive now, having been brought home on the back of a lorry this evening, but I think that the prognosis is probably not good.
Sunday 27 November 2011
Friday 25 November 2011
Someone special
A certain someone had a birthday today, and I think that it was a good one.
Even better is the fact that there is more birthday celebrating still to be done during the weekend ...
Even better is the fact that there is more birthday celebrating still to be done during the weekend ...
Thursday 24 November 2011
Road warrior
Today I was racking up the miles, with visits to Reading and Brighton in the same day.
Did just over 240 miles in the car.
Did just over 240 miles in the car.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
Leveson
And so the Leveson inquiry into media standards goes on.
It seems to me that there are two clearly distinct categories of witnesses who are sharing their views with the inquiry - one being the celebrity contingent and one being people for whom "celebrity" was simply a by-product of being caught up in newsworthy events.
I can only feel sympathy for the people from the second of those categories - the McCanns and the Dowler family being two examples. The fact that certain members of the press and certain news organisations have either made up stories, or at least put across some flimsy "facts" from "sources" which will inevitably lead readers to a particular point of view is bad enough, but to find out that a phone hacker deleted messages from Millie Dowler's mobile, giving her poor mother false hope, and that the suggestions made about the McCanns could actually have hindered the search for their daughter - this is just utterly appalling.
And what of the celebrities. Well, actually I think that they have also at times received an extremely raw deal from the press. The argument that they court the press for their own ends, and are therefore "fair game" holds no water with me. If an actor, as part of his or her profession is required to publicise their work, and this includes giving interviews and doing features, that's fine, but why this is considered to mean that they no longer qualify for a private life is a mystery to me.
Yes, I know that things aren't quite that simple - certain public figures will manipulate the press for their own ends at times, and yes, we live in an increasingly mad and celebrity-obsessed culture (if we didn't all clamour for salacious gossip then intrusive and vulgar stories wouldn't sell newspapers and magazines and so they wouldn't be written). Also, inevitably certain stories should be told when they are in the "public interest", but it feels to me that a line was crossed quite some time ago.
Hopefully this inquiry might lead to some changes, and we might start to redress the balance a little.
It seems to me that there are two clearly distinct categories of witnesses who are sharing their views with the inquiry - one being the celebrity contingent and one being people for whom "celebrity" was simply a by-product of being caught up in newsworthy events.
I can only feel sympathy for the people from the second of those categories - the McCanns and the Dowler family being two examples. The fact that certain members of the press and certain news organisations have either made up stories, or at least put across some flimsy "facts" from "sources" which will inevitably lead readers to a particular point of view is bad enough, but to find out that a phone hacker deleted messages from Millie Dowler's mobile, giving her poor mother false hope, and that the suggestions made about the McCanns could actually have hindered the search for their daughter - this is just utterly appalling.
And what of the celebrities. Well, actually I think that they have also at times received an extremely raw deal from the press. The argument that they court the press for their own ends, and are therefore "fair game" holds no water with me. If an actor, as part of his or her profession is required to publicise their work, and this includes giving interviews and doing features, that's fine, but why this is considered to mean that they no longer qualify for a private life is a mystery to me.
Yes, I know that things aren't quite that simple - certain public figures will manipulate the press for their own ends at times, and yes, we live in an increasingly mad and celebrity-obsessed culture (if we didn't all clamour for salacious gossip then intrusive and vulgar stories wouldn't sell newspapers and magazines and so they wouldn't be written). Also, inevitably certain stories should be told when they are in the "public interest", but it feels to me that a line was crossed quite some time ago.
Hopefully this inquiry might lead to some changes, and we might start to redress the balance a little.
Tuesday 22 November 2011
Dr
Worked from home today, in order to fit in an appointment with the doctor.
I went with a list, prepared for me by Nicky, and was able to tick off each item to her satisfaction.
I have some new tablets to try to help with my headaches.
Amitriptyline.
Apparently in higher doses it is used as an anti-depressant, but in the much lower dose that I'm having they hopefully will do a good job of keeping my tension head at bay.
One to be taken just before bed.
So that's what I'm going to do now.
Night night!
I went with a list, prepared for me by Nicky, and was able to tick off each item to her satisfaction.
I have some new tablets to try to help with my headaches.
Amitriptyline.
Apparently in higher doses it is used as an anti-depressant, but in the much lower dose that I'm having they hopefully will do a good job of keeping my tension head at bay.
One to be taken just before bed.
So that's what I'm going to do now.
Night night!
Monday 21 November 2011
Third
Back in August, I was complaining here about the poor start that Spurs had made to the season, and the fact that they were propping up the table in 20th place.
Well, we might have lost our first two games, but since then, things have picked up rather, and we have played nine, won eight, and drawn one (away at Newcastle).
As a result, we are now up to the heady heights of third, and still with a game in hand on the teams around us.
Long may it continue.
Champions League, here we come!
Well, we might have lost our first two games, but since then, things have picked up rather, and we have played nine, won eight, and drawn one (away at Newcastle).
As a result, we are now up to the heady heights of third, and still with a game in hand on the teams around us.
Long may it continue.
Champions League, here we come!
Sunday 20 November 2011
Timeless
When we were playing golf a couple of weeks ago, we teed off at about half past ten, and so I was quite surprised to see that we were getting towards the end of the first nine and it was only ten to twelve. I was even more surprised to discover as we were heading off for the back nine that it was still ten to twelve.
My watch had packed in, which was a bit disappointing as it had only had a new battery a few months ago.
Nicky tried taking it for another new battery at the start of the following week, but it turned out that the problem was more serious, and so it has been at the mender's for the last ten days or so.
Obviously, when something like this happens you discover that the battery on your backup watch has also packed in, and so I have been watch-less for a while now. Not a problem most of the time (although knowing how long I had to keep playing before the start of the service at church this morning was a bit of a challenge) but I am missing it - I was a special present from a special person bought at a special place, and I am hoping that it comes back soon.
My watch had packed in, which was a bit disappointing as it had only had a new battery a few months ago.
Nicky tried taking it for another new battery at the start of the following week, but it turned out that the problem was more serious, and so it has been at the mender's for the last ten days or so.
Obviously, when something like this happens you discover that the battery on your backup watch has also packed in, and so I have been watch-less for a while now. Not a problem most of the time (although knowing how long I had to keep playing before the start of the service at church this morning was a bit of a challenge) but I am missing it - I was a special present from a special person bought at a special place, and I am hoping that it comes back soon.
Saturday 19 November 2011
Fayre
A busy Saturday today, even if I didn't surface until rather late:
- Jake and I did some rugby kicking and passing out on the road;
- Barley and I went for a walk in the leaf-covered woods;
- we all had a trip to the St Albans Christmas Fayre;
- Jake and I had a shopping trip to Hempstead - planning ahead for the end of the week.
And, to round things off we had corn dogs for tea, noting that it is four weeks today until we will be back in the land of the corn dog!
- Jake and I did some rugby kicking and passing out on the road;
- Barley and I went for a walk in the leaf-covered woods;
- we all had a trip to the St Albans Christmas Fayre;
- Jake and I had a shopping trip to Hempstead - planning ahead for the end of the week.
And, to round things off we had corn dogs for tea, noting that it is four weeks today until we will be back in the land of the corn dog!
Friday 18 November 2011
Boys Night In
The instruction today was clear - be home before seven because Nicky was going out for the evening.
For once I managed to do as I was told, and so this evening Jake and I have had a boys night in, on the sofa, watching comedy Friday and eating pizza.
Lovely.
For once I managed to do as I was told, and so this evening Jake and I have had a boys night in, on the sofa, watching comedy Friday and eating pizza.
Lovely.
Thursday 17 November 2011
GBK
Sat in the Brighton branch of the Gourmet Burger Kitchen this evening I was reading the paper and doing the crossword whilst enjoying my cheese n bacon burger and chocolate shake. The article that particularly caught my eye was about the Christmas advert offerings from the major retailers. It was enjoying poking fun at M&S who have something of a Christmas turkey on their hands thanks to an X Factor effort which is in equal parts lame (due to X Factor all of a sudden seeming like yesterday's news) and embarrassing (thanks to drug scandals). Mind you, it didn't think much of the Morrison's effort either - an entire advert built around getting Brucie to utter the immortal line, "good game, good game".
But, the article was deficient in one notable way. There is only one Christmas advert that even remotely matters, and we saw it for the first time this year a couple of days ago, and I was called into the lounge especially to see it. It is an advert that makes you think of some of the best things about the festive season and then effortlessly associates all of those positive feelings with the product. Genius.
Holidays and coming.
But, the article was deficient in one notable way. There is only one Christmas advert that even remotely matters, and we saw it for the first time this year a couple of days ago, and I was called into the lounge especially to see it. It is an advert that makes you think of some of the best things about the festive season and then effortlessly associates all of those positive feelings with the product. Genius.
Holidays and coming.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
Visit
Mum and Dad popped in for tea this evening, on their way back from a visit to Sue and Martin. Lovely to see them both, and we had a good time catching up.
Off to bed now - early start for Brighton in the morning.
Off to bed now - early start for Brighton in the morning.
Tuesday 15 November 2011
Stood up
I arranged to have lunch with my lovely wife today - a rare weekday treat, but then proceeded to stand her up thanks to a combination of a talkative FD and a broken down lorry on the motorway.
Oops.
I am informed that I might be forgiven, but a final decision is to be delayed until after a birthday weekend coming up soon, when I will be given an opportunity to make amends.
Oops.
I am informed that I might be forgiven, but a final decision is to be delayed until after a birthday weekend coming up soon, when I will be given an opportunity to make amends.
Monday 14 November 2011
Welcome
And despite having to put up with my (often brief and pointless) witterings, a decent blogger has made her olive green return, with a brace of belters, already covering a broad spectrum from spiritual matters to sewerage!
Marvellous!
Welcome back!
Keep them coming!
M x
Marvellous!
Welcome back!
Keep them coming!
M x
Sunday 13 November 2011
Only You
As I do from time to time, I wandered off this evening for a little while to play the piano downstairs. I picked one of my old 80s songbooks off the shelf and played a few things. (A little bit alarming to note how yellowed the edges of the pages are looking these days - makes me feel particularly old, especially as I've had the book since new.)
One of the songs that I played was "Only You", and whilst this may be a Yazoo song, it always makes me think of the Flying Pickets, as I thought that their version was great.
So, when I came back upstairs, I looked them up on Youtube, and sure enough there they were to enjoy. As is always the case with Youtube, thanks to the list of related videos down the side, I ended up looking at loads of videos.
I love the sound of singing in harmony, and I ended up finding a load of a-capella groups. I even had a quick look for the singers who appear as a warm up act for the Beauty and the Beast stage show in Florida (Four for a Dollar / Return to Zero) - at least they used to - we haven't been to see that show in at least five years or so - Beauty and the Beast now being very much in the "not cool" category!
Anyway, I ended up finding a rather fun phenomenon on Youtube - multitrack barbershop singing in which the same person records themselves several times over to do an a-capella version of a song all by themselves. Here's one of the best ones I've found so far.
One of the songs that I played was "Only You", and whilst this may be a Yazoo song, it always makes me think of the Flying Pickets, as I thought that their version was great.
So, when I came back upstairs, I looked them up on Youtube, and sure enough there they were to enjoy. As is always the case with Youtube, thanks to the list of related videos down the side, I ended up looking at loads of videos.
I love the sound of singing in harmony, and I ended up finding a load of a-capella groups. I even had a quick look for the singers who appear as a warm up act for the Beauty and the Beast stage show in Florida (Four for a Dollar / Return to Zero) - at least they used to - we haven't been to see that show in at least five years or so - Beauty and the Beast now being very much in the "not cool" category!
Anyway, I ended up finding a rather fun phenomenon on Youtube - multitrack barbershop singing in which the same person records themselves several times over to do an a-capella version of a song all by themselves. Here's one of the best ones I've found so far.
Saturday 12 November 2011
Pumpkin
It may have been a couple of weeks ago that a carved pumpkin was outside our front door, but the carved out flesh did not get thrown away. It was put in the freezer for future use. So, today we had pumpkin soup for tea, with chunks of bread to dunk in it. And the good news is that there are two more servings still to enjoy. One has gone back in the freezer and the other may well come with us to football tomorrow to keep us warm on the touchline (by the way, mercurial Jake has finally got his new mercurial boots - in orange - after a trip into town this morning).
Friday 11 November 2011
Thursday 10 November 2011
Seattle
Myhotel full so gone to Seattle.
Living it up with cup-a-soup for tea.
Yesterday's answer agave. Still none the wiser!
Living it up with cup-a-soup for tea.
Yesterday's answer agave. Still none the wiser!
Wednesday 9 November 2011
Cross
I very nearly finished the crossword today, which is a rare occurrence (only the T2 - not the cryptic!).
I had one clue left: Succulent, 5 letters A_A_E.
No idea at all.
Will be looking it up tomorrow!
I had one clue left: Succulent, 5 letters A_A_E.
No idea at all.
Will be looking it up tomorrow!
Tuesday 8 November 2011
Post challenge
Posting proving a challenge. Mac on go slow and publishing via iPad getting error messages. So, still on iPad but blogging via email.
Productive day in the office today, even if the motorways were rubbish again.
Spent most of the journeys listening to Close to Home, especially track 8.
Been helping with taxing matters this evening.
Sent from my iPad
Productive day in the office today, even if the motorways were rubbish again.
Spent most of the journeys listening to Close to Home, especially track 8.
Been helping with taxing matters this evening.
Sent from my iPad
Monday 7 November 2011
Wabi
Monday morning trip to Brighton today, and I was up and out at 6.15 thinking that I'd be there nice and early. Thanks to the slow motorways, I finally rolled in at ten to nine. Meant that I was still eating my porridge as our nine o'clock meeting kicked off!
Out for dinner this evening with colleagues - went to a nice Japanese restaurant in Horsham called Wabi.
Good news on the house front - the people a couple of doors along from us have sold, and at a decent price too - encouraging in that (i) eliminates the competition, and (ii) hopefully we'll get a similarly good price.
Out for dinner this evening with colleagues - went to a nice Japanese restaurant in Horsham called Wabi.
Good news on the house front - the people a couple of doors along from us have sold, and at a decent price too - encouraging in that (i) eliminates the competition, and (ii) hopefully we'll get a similarly good price.
Sunday 6 November 2011
Mercurial
Definition: changeable, volatile, fickle, erratic.
The name of a line of football boots made by Nike.
And somehow appropriate for the shopper as well!
The name of a line of football boots made by Nike.
And somehow appropriate for the shopper as well!
Saturday 5 November 2011
Tax
Spent most of today considering the joys of nasty letters from the tax-man. The letter wasn't to me, but I've been trying to help out a self-employed friend who has received one. Hopefully we've made some reasonable progress, at least in the reassuring stakes if nothing else.
I am typing this listening to the crash of fireworks out the back somewhere. I wish they'd shut up, they're spoiling my enjoyment of "Close to you" (Beverley Craven's most recent album)!
I didn't manage a very long blog yesterday so didn't get a chance to talk about my game of golf, which must have been my first in at least three years, if not considerably longer.
Despite the rain (it did tip it down a few times, but the showers were short and sharp, and bunkers were not a good place to be - rather waterlogged), I had a great time. One of my many ambitions in life is to get all they way around a golf course in less than 100 shots. Well, funnily enough I didn't manage it yesterday. But, I did do the back nine in exactly 50 shots, so I know that it's possible.
I think that a 2012 resolution is forming already - namely to make sure that I get a decent number of rounds in. In fact, perhaps I should aim for the number of rounds to be in double figures, as well as the total for one of the rounds to be in double figures as well.
On Thursday I popped into a sports shop to get some new golf shoes, as my old ones had fallen apart some time ago. They were a bargain at 22.99, and so whilst I was there I picked up a couple of dozen golf balls as well, just to be on the safe side. Well, once I'd sorted out my golf bag on Thursday evening I discovered that I'd already got about three dozen balls in there! Then to top it off, I finished off on the 18th green with the same ball that I tee'd up on the 1st!
PS - still looking forward to the first Olive Green instalment ...
I am typing this listening to the crash of fireworks out the back somewhere. I wish they'd shut up, they're spoiling my enjoyment of "Close to you" (Beverley Craven's most recent album)!
I didn't manage a very long blog yesterday so didn't get a chance to talk about my game of golf, which must have been my first in at least three years, if not considerably longer.
Despite the rain (it did tip it down a few times, but the showers were short and sharp, and bunkers were not a good place to be - rather waterlogged), I had a great time. One of my many ambitions in life is to get all they way around a golf course in less than 100 shots. Well, funnily enough I didn't manage it yesterday. But, I did do the back nine in exactly 50 shots, so I know that it's possible.
I think that a 2012 resolution is forming already - namely to make sure that I get a decent number of rounds in. In fact, perhaps I should aim for the number of rounds to be in double figures, as well as the total for one of the rounds to be in double figures as well.
On Thursday I popped into a sports shop to get some new golf shoes, as my old ones had fallen apart some time ago. They were a bargain at 22.99, and so whilst I was there I picked up a couple of dozen golf balls as well, just to be on the safe side. Well, once I'd sorted out my golf bag on Thursday evening I discovered that I'd already got about three dozen balls in there! Then to top it off, I finished off on the 18th green with the same ball that I tee'd up on the 1st!
PS - still looking forward to the first Olive Green instalment ...
Friday 4 November 2011
Beverley
Tonight Nicky and I went to see Beverley Craven at Pizza Express in Maidstone.
She was fab.
I would post a couple of photos from Nicky's phone, but it is being slow in sync'ing so will have to try again tomorrow.
She was fab.
I would post a couple of photos from Nicky's phone, but it is being slow in sync'ing so will have to try again tomorrow.
Thursday 3 November 2011
Rain
Home late from work this evening, and I'm sat typing this listening to the rain come down on the conservatory roof. Hoping that it packs it in tomorrow morning in time for golf ...
Please all do whatever is the opposite of a rain dance for me!
Please all do whatever is the opposite of a rain dance for me!
Wednesday 2 November 2011
New picture
Nicky bought a new picture yesterday, which is now hanging at the top of the stairs.
Remind you of anyone?
Remind you of anyone?
Tuesday 1 November 2011
M25
So, the M25 has been celebrating its 25th birthday recently, and to remind us all of how much we love it, today it stopped. Thanks to a fuel lorry having an accident at J8, the idea of travelling from home to Gatwick this morning was out of the question.
I made it out of the door and into the car, but caught a traffic report as I approached the end of the road, turned around and came home again.
Thankfully there was nothing in the diary today where showing up in person was an essential part of the day's events, so pretty much everything got done.
By the way, I thought that tonight's "Imagine" was fascinating, and I would really like to go and see Grayson Perry's exhibition at the British Museum.
I made it out of the door and into the car, but caught a traffic report as I approached the end of the road, turned around and came home again.
Thankfully there was nothing in the diary today where showing up in person was an essential part of the day's events, so pretty much everything got done.
By the way, I thought that tonight's "Imagine" was fascinating, and I would really like to go and see Grayson Perry's exhibition at the British Museum.
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