No news...

No post for a couple of days as not much has been happening, and I didnt want to bore you all.
My court case against Barclays has been stayed - this basically means until the test case against the OFT has had a verdict delivered, my case is on hold. This should take a couple of weeks hopefully.
Im playing football tonight (weather permitting - its supposed to be gales later (!)) but before that Im test driving a new car. It'll be more money paying out each month, but I think I can afford it and I do like it. I'll tell you more after the road test...
Nowt planned for Friday, and then its football at the weekend for Jake. Also, City are playing my best mate's team on Saturday lunchtime, so we're getting together for that for beer and insults. Nice.
Finally, today is the last day of the transfer window I posted about a few days ago. So, managers have up until midnight tonight to strengthen their squads or get rid of dead wood. It gets quite exciting (in a nerdy way) as it approaches the end of the window, as web sites like BBC Sport and Sky Sports have a live message board where people post up gossip and possible deals that are going through... I like it anyway.
Soundtrack of the day: Haven't decided yet - Im not too sure what mood Im in. Something dark and aggressive? (Drowning Pool) or something mellow and acoustic? (Nick Drake) dont know yet... Peace.

Some one liners for you

I saw a fat woman wearing a sweatshirt with 'Guess' on it. I said 'Thyroid problem?'

When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bike. Then I realised that The Lord doesn't work that way, so I stole one and asked him to forgive me.

I've often wanted to drown my troubles, but I can't get my wife to go swimming.

I was doing some decorating, so I got out my step-ladder. I don't get on with my real ladder.

I went to a restaurant that serves 'breakfast at any time'. So I ordered French Toast during the Renaissance.

A cement mixer collided with a prison van on the Kingston Bypass. Motorists are asked to be on the lookout for 16 hardened criminals.

Well I was bullied at school, called all kinds of different names. But one day I turned to my bullies and said 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me', and it worked! From there on it was sticks and stones all the way.

My Dad used to say 'always fight fire with fire', which is probably why he got thrown out of the fire brigade.

S*x is like playing bridge: If you don't have a good partner, you better have a good hand.

I saw six men kicking and punching the mother-in-law. My neighbour said 'Are you going to help?' I said 'No, six should be enough.'

If we aren't supposed to eat animals, then why are they made out of meat?

I think animal testing is a terrible idea; they get all nervous and give the wrong answers.

You know that look women get when they want s*x? No, me neither

Politicians are wonderful people as long as they stay away from things they don't understand, such as working for a living.

I was the kid next door's imaginary friend.

Right now I'm having amnesia and deja vu at the same time. I think I've forgotten this before.

Dilbert Widget & Universal Truths

The observant among you will notice a new little panel at the bottom right showing Dilbert. Use it. Enjoy it. Pass it onto your friends.

Here are some universal truths I've come across in my 35 years on this 3rd rock from the sun...

- Triangular sandwiches taste better than square ones.

- At the end of every party there is always a girl crying.

- One of the most awkward things that can happen in a pub is when your
pint-to-toilet cycle gets synchronised with a complete stranger.

- Sharpening a pencil with a knife makes you feel really manly.

- You're never quite sure whether it's against the law or not to have a
fire in your back garden.

- Nobody ever dares make cup-a-soup in a bowl.

- You never know where to look when eating a banana.

- You always feel a bit scared when stroking horses.

- The smaller the monkey the more it looks like it would kill you at the
first given opportunity.

- Every bloke has at some stage while taking a pee, flushed half way
through and then raced against the flush.

- Its impossible to look cool whilst picking up a Frisbee.

- Driving through a tunnel makes you feel excited.

- Old ladies can eat more than you think.

- You can't respect a man who carries a dog.

- Despite constant warning, you have never met anybody who has had their
arm broken by a swan.

- You've turned into your dad the day you put aside a thin piece of wood
specifically to stir paint with.

- Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a
fruit salad.

Horror film weather

Thats what it was like this morning. Those who know me know my worry about a zombie virus outbreak and how I'd survive (or not) and this morning, at 06:45 the weather was perfect for a situation like that. VERY misty, dark, damp... just like all the best horror films. I could easily picture a group of shambling, moaning freaks shuffling toward me out of the mist as I got my car out of the garage ready to go to work. Very cool.
Anyway, enough of those insane ramblings... nothing much happened this weekend, just recovering from my 'banghaloor belly' (well, it was slightly worse than just a dodgy curry, but you know what I mean). Football was a 'subject non gratis' at home this weekend... Jake's team were denied a perfectly good win but a VERY dodgy referee (gave a penalty in the last minute for a foul that was about 5 yards outside the box) and City got out fought to lose and get knocked out of the F.A Cup. So a bad weekend for football. However, Im playing tonight so I'll enjoy that and City have a chance to make amends with a game against the team who are bottom of the league. We MUST win that. Dog continues to get better from his broken toe, however he has started to wake up at silly times again (4.45 this morning anyone??)
Finally, I'm gonna go shopping for new football boots this lunchtime, I need some new molded studs...
Soundtrack of the day: "Scouting For Girls" by Scouting For Girls.

Have I got it?

I've been off work for the past couple of days. Sickness, the squits... its the symptoms of the novovirus, but I dont think I've got it that bad. Anyway, I thought it best NOT to go into the office, just in case, I don't wanna be the typhiod Mary of Anixter.
Apart from that, the only thing significant that has happened is our poor dog broke his toe yesterday! He was out on his lunchtime walk, playing with another dog, and as he was running around, somehow, he broke his middle toe. Long story short, he now has a large bandage wrap on his back leg, and he looks very sorry for himself!
Im not going to work today as I still have a bad stomach (i.e. at the rear end...) and doctors did say that if you do get these symptoms not to go back into the office until they're gone. So another day running the to the loo and back :-(

Hope everyone has a nice weekend, more updates soon.

Headaches SUCK

I've had a bad headache all morning, can't shift it. It makes concentrating hard. Its on the left side of my head - it feels like someone keeps hitting it with a foam covered baseball bat. Thump, thump, thump. I can't help but be in a bad mood because of it.
A fairly good weekend. There was no football for Jake because of the weather, so we had a nice relaxing Saturday and Sunday. The dog continues to behave and sleep well.
Not much on this week... driving range tonight (if my headache goes), day off tomorrow, football Thursday night then its Friday again and PAYDAY! The first payday after xmas is always a very welcome one.
I have a couple of things I wanna buy for myself this month... a couple of new albums Im interested in and the latest series of Scrubs on DVD.
A pretty boring post today, sorry, but blame the fact my head feels like its gonna pop. Peace.
Soundtrack of the day: "Illinoise" by Surfjan Stevens

Why do toilet cubicles have locks?

So you can lock then, numb nuts! Just visited the little boys room at work, went to enter one of the cubicles (door was ajar, lock NOT engaged) and as the door opens I hear a strangled yelp and the door slammed back in my face. LOCK THE DOOR, DUFUS!
I do not wanna see OR hear what you're up to in there, thats why there is a lock on the door. Geez.
Anyway, weekend at last... although the weather is sh*te its nice to know we'll have a couple of days off. I've got a beer and Wii night tonight (say that out loud... its funny. Well, it made me and my mate giggel). Going round a friends house to drink beer and play Wii bowling.
Apart from that, we have no plans for most of the weekend (apart from the usual football) but my in-laws are stopping over with us Sunday night after flying back into Heathrow from Thailand. Im looking forward to hearing about their exploits.

Have a good weekend listeners. More dribble soon...

Oh, and check this out...

Unwanted Rectal Attention!

Can you imagine??? Im sure the doctor was only doing what he thought right for the patient, but if the patient has said no, how dare he proceed?? And then for the poor bloke to be arrested for assault?! Geez...

Thursday stuff

First of all, how mad would you be stuck in this?!


Anyway, whats goin' on today? Not much. Not even playing football later... :-(

I do want to comment on the recent case of three teenagers 'kicking and beating' Gary Newlove to death outside his house. Story here...
Its a horrible, horrible crime but unfortunately, I can only see it happening again. I know Im going to go off sounding like a miserable old fart, but teenagers today seem to have no respect. Now I know I was a teenager once, but I was NOT out at all hours, drinking (I honestly didnt go into a pub until I was 18, I was so scared of getting 'ID'd') and I would never mouth off at grown men, no matter how cocky I was feeling. I was taught by my parents that you respect others, and their property, and do not get into any stupid trouble. Of course I played up, I mucked about, I got into some 'scrapes' ("hello? Its the 1950's - they want their language back") but to the level of todays 'young adults'? Hell no.
The blame has to mostly lay with the parents I feel, but if they cannot cope with or handle their kids as the turn into late teens then they should be shipped off somewhere where discipline will be ingrained. The widow of Mr. Newlove has suggested 'boot camp' or national service, and I whole heartedly agree. Would I have liked it if I was sent off somewhere like that when I was 15, 16 years old? No probably not, but I bet you it would have had a positive effect on me. I live on quite a main road, and a lot of nights, at stupid times of the night (01.00, 02.00, 03.00) I hear teenagers outside the house. Mostly, they are just walking by, making too much noise, but every now and then they 'loiter' - and Im actually nervous about going out and confronting them, not for me or my safety, but I worry that they might come back one night when Im out to confront me again, and it would just be my wife and son at home. How is that right? Things have gotten worse over the last 10 years, and they will only continue to deteriorate unless things are done. Rant over.

Simple pleasures

Is there anything more pleasurable than a good book, a glass of wine, and a comfortable bed? I dont do it often enough, but last night I had a nice glass of red, and climbed into bed with a good book. It was comfortable, warm, relaxing... bliss.
And what is it with this bloody weather? Its horrible - so many things I like doing (playing football, golf, watching Jake play football, walkin the dog) take place outside and with the weather like this, its so hard to want to do any of that.
Im re-reading J.L Bourne's book "Day By Day Armageddon" - the way its written, and the scenarios it describes, you can quite easily imagine it happening, and it can send a chill down the spine.
Anyway, the only plans today are golf range after work. And then I'll be cooking meatballs and pasta for dinner. Lovely. Have a nice Tuesday people.

Why bother locking your luggage

Check this out - it shows how easy it is to get into supposedly 'locked' luggage...

Click here to jump to video

I want this on a t-shirt

16 days and counting

The court date for my Bank Charges case is 30th January. As a result, I have had to get together all the support documents I need and send one copy to the banks solicitors, one copy to the court, and keep one for myself. This I have done this morning. So there really IS no going back now.
As some of you may be aware, a test case has started today between 6 banks, one building society and the OFT : Read the story here (BBC News Website)
This will probably mean my case WON'T actually get heard on the 30th, but be postponed until after a verdict has been reached in the test case, but for fear of my case being thrown out because I didnt do things correctly, Im sticking to the plan.
Not much happened this weekend - City lost (expected really) Jake didn't play as he had a bad blister on the back of his heel, so we rested him this weekend. Spent some of the time collating the documents I needed for the above... and that was about it.
Im hesitant to write about it (because of jinxing it) but the dog seems to have got into a good routine now. He doesn't wake until I come downstairs for work in the morning, and even then, once I've left, he goes back to sleep... so that is a LOT better. We'll see how things go.
Not much on this week - football tonight, maybe the golf range tomorrow, football Thursday.... thats about it. Have a good Monday all.

Lack of motivation

I just haven't been able to get going this week... I have had work to do, but because little bits and pieces keep coming up and stopping me coding (server problems, software problems, new phone(!) etc.) I haven't managed to really get stuck into it. I thought this week would drag, but its Thursday already and it feels like I haven't accomplished anything. More motivation needed next week I think!

So I wonder, did any of you out there in Internet land download any of the songs I posted? I didn't receive any comments (and I think, listening back to them, that's a good thing!) but I do wonder if any of you bothered. I didn't finish the story of those songs either...
There is a band called Inspiral Carpets. They were very popular in the late 80's / early 90's during the 'Madchester' music scene. The lead singer is a guy called Tom Hingley.
While I was writing these songs and really trying to 'get into' song writing, Tom Hingley released a solo album of acoustic songs.. just him and a guitar, which was just the sound I was looking for.
(Good album by the way - its called "Keep Britain Untidy"). I noticed that he had set up an acoustic label and thought "nothing ventured..." and sent him a copy of my CD. Now I wasn't expecting anything like "Its a hit!" but some feedback would have been nice. And what happened? The guy actually phoned me! Tom Hingley, from The Inspiral Carpets, actually took the time to call me and give me some feedback. Surreal! He was a really nice bloke, and he asked if I had performed the songs at all.. I said no. He said he could tell I was an accomplished guitar player, but to get back in touch with him when I had performed in public with the songs. Obviously, I haven't done that, and my confidence isn't high enough for me to EVER do that (The thought of it... My God...!) but it still made me feel pretty fantastic. So there we go.
As a footnote to this, I am looking into getting a small hope recording setup, (just a mixer and microphone, a fourtrack or something) and maybe writing / recording some more... maybe doing some covers of songs I like and am good at. Maybe I'll post some more up here.
Anyway, have a good Thursday listeners.

Soundtrack of the day: "Mechanical Animals" by Marilyn Manson

I've done it again

Another new toy... I have a new mobile. I've finally got rid of the Sony K800i, and have invested in... (wait for it..) a HTC Touch Dual.

It's a 'smart' phone, running Windows Mobile, with a touch screen interface (yes, like the iPhone). But it also has the capacity to slide up and show an ordinary keypad (see images at end of post).

Its my friend John's fault. He works in our Gloucester office, and came down yesterday for some help with some code he's working on. He has had this phone for about four weeks. He showed me it, and all it can do, and I was hooked. So I went to speak to my service provider and they said they could do me a good deal on one there and then... so out came the card and away went more money! I'll (maybe) write more of a full review when I've used it more but for now, I can't remember being this excited about a phone for a while.

I realise I haven't posted any Soundtracks of the day recently, so Im gonna start again today.

Soundtrack of the day: "In Rainbows" by Radiohead.



ooohh.... (closed)


aaahhh... (open)

I would die of fright...

those of you who know me, imagine me seeing this in the corner of my bedroom when I go to bed...

Did any of you notice...

...that I had changed my picture to the right there? I bet you all did, you're all so fabulous and wonderful and everything.
So the start of a full working week. Its gonna be a shock to a lot of people, having to work five days for the first time in a while. Me included. I can guarantee I'll get to about 14.00 on Wednesday and be thinking "Is it the weekend yet?" (Hell, Im thinking that now at 07.20 this morning).
Apparantly, today will be one of the busiest days of the year for solicitors in the UK (or 'lawyers', for my American listeners) because of all the divorces that will get filed! According to 'informed sources' the holiday break will have stretched many marriages to beyond breaking point, and today is the day that Mr. and Mrs. Joe Public finally have enough and want out. Personally, I find the shovel to the back of the head and then the patio grave is the cheapest and easiest option...
(I kid, I kid, dont try that at home kids).
Not a bad weekend - Jake's team lost their first game of the season in the top division, but they really didn't deserve to, and Jake got man of the match, which was good. Unfortunately, he has been told by Watford that he isn't wanted any more... so he's a bit upset about that, but not TOO upset - he has never been super keen anyway, and it saves us having to go out and about at rush hour Monday evenings! City got a good 0 - 0 draw away in the cup, so a replay at home beckons. Thats about it... (Oh, the dog STILL likes getting me up at 6.00 - 6.30 every day).
This week, Im playing football tonight with one of the guys I play with on Thursday - this could turn into a regular thing all being well, so playing twice a week will help keep this adonis like figure I have... (hahahahahahahahah!!). Also playing again on Thursday. Thats about it, plans wise.
Have a good Monday listeners...

Even shopping therapy doesn't help

Just splurged again - two new wedges. However, I got them for a good price, they're brand new, and you can guess where from... yep, eBay. I basically got two of the clubs I want for the same price as one would be from a retailer.
The problem is that most people would now be sitting here smiling, thinking "I've bought myself a little treat, I feel good" but I suffer cronic buyers remorse, and all I can think of is "shouldn't have done it, shouldn't have done it, bad man, bad man".
I can't remember that last thing I did that was pure pleasure for me. I mean, with no feelings of guilt, remorse, disapointment etc. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy doing things for my family and friends, that makes me happy, but just some pure, unadulterated pleasure for me has not happened for quite some time. Even when I go to do something simple, like visit the golf range for an hour for myself, I worry that I'd be spending too long away from home which is taking time away from the wife stopping her doing what she wants. I know this can come across as very conceited, but I do put other people first alot more than I put myself first. Some occasions thats the way it should be (my son, my wife) but other times? hhmmm... Should one of my resolutions be "be more selfish"(but in a good way)? A random post that... sorry.

As promised...

A bit of back story. All the songs I've uploaded were written and recorded about 8 - 9 years ago. First of all, forgive the voice. Its not the nicest, I know, but I've never been a good singer.
They were recorded with the help of a friend of mine, in his bedroom, with no sound damping or anything, and I think he did a great job. Blame any good quality on his recording techniques, blame anything that sounds bad on me! I would say "enjoy" but I think it should be "perservere"!

Track 1 - Fallen

Track 2 - I Will Follow You

Track 3 - She's Gone

Track 4 - The Struggle

Back in the habit

Isn't it annoying how easily you get back into the swing of things? Im talking about work of course - I've been sat at my desk for 2 and a half hours and it feels like I haven't been away at all. How depressing. The fact that I cannot get motivated is besides the point. I had 108 emails to go through (!) and I've responded to those that needed responding to, but now I'm sitting here wondering where to start with work. What is slightly amazing is come the 11th of this month I would have been blogging for a whole year! Where did the time go?
I wonder, do any of my listeners read back through my archives? Answers on a postcard...
Anyhoo, I supposed I'd better try and find some work to do. I think today and tomorrow will be an 'easing' back into work mode, to start full on on Monday. Have a good Thursday...
Update: I've found an old CD with some songs that I wrote and recorded on it. I will see if I can find a way of sharing them with you... if you promise not to laugh! Watch this space... (well, not this one obviously, but the one where a new post will appear...)

Another year

So its into 2008 we go. First of all, Happy New Year to all my listeners. I know I haven't posted for a while, but I was pretty much without web access over the xmas holidays so I couldn't get online. I'd like to say Im in a positive, forward-looking mood and excited about this coming year, but Im really not. There is one main, major thing that is pretty much f*cking up the rest of my life, and until I get that sorted somehow, I can't see myself really being happy or content.
I dont really have any new years resolutions, apart from the usual ones that most people think of and never stick to (same as me) - try and eat better, lose a bit of weight, stay fitter etc.
I do want to play a lot more golf this year, and also try and get rid of a lot of the clutter thats in my life (you know, stuff you just can't bare to throw out, but takes up far too much room).
Anyway - have a good day, and I'll be posting more often from now on.