This week I came a little closer to full-time working. I currently have two hydrotherapy sessions per week, on Monday and Thursday afternoons. The only way I can get to the hospital in time for my appointment is to work from home on those two mornings, which is just what I've been doing. Working from home is great - you fall out of your bed, and almost instantly you're at your workplace, without any need for that irksome commuting malarkey.
The other three days I'm working in the office, which strikes me as quite a good balance. Much as I like working from home, I think I'd feel somewhat isolated if I did that all the time.
But enough of work. After tomorrow, I'm on holiday for two weeks. Woo, and furthermore, hoo!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Yes, it's another Doctor Who post
Uh-oh. Only one more episode of the current run of Doctor Who. After that we'll have to wait almost six months for the Christmas special. How will we cope?
My personal solution is to start watching the old episodes, from the glory days of Tom Baker. I'm working my way through those, currently on Terror of the Zygons. Just in case that's not enough, I'm also downloading the adventures of some of the other Doctors; Troughton, Davison and McCoy. Can't quite bring myself to start watching Colin Baker yet, but maybe one day.
Of course, getting hold of the early episodes is difficult, thanks the the BBC's policy of wiping a lot of the tapes in the 70s. Jaw-droppingly stupid, even by BBC standards. Fortunately though, the Whovian fan base is sufficiently obsessive to have taken the trouble to reconstruct many of the lost episodes using a combination of stills, home recordings, and animation.
For the moment though, I'm sticking with the Tom Baker years, and looking forward to the episodes where Leela appears. Uh, not for any particular reason... no, really.
My personal solution is to start watching the old episodes, from the glory days of Tom Baker. I'm working my way through those, currently on Terror of the Zygons. Just in case that's not enough, I'm also downloading the adventures of some of the other Doctors; Troughton, Davison and McCoy. Can't quite bring myself to start watching Colin Baker yet, but maybe one day.
Of course, getting hold of the early episodes is difficult, thanks the the BBC's policy of wiping a lot of the tapes in the 70s. Jaw-droppingly stupid, even by BBC standards. Fortunately though, the Whovian fan base is sufficiently obsessive to have taken the trouble to reconstruct many of the lost episodes using a combination of stills, home recordings, and animation.
For the moment though, I'm sticking with the Tom Baker years, and looking forward to the episodes where Leela appears. Uh, not for any particular reason... no, really.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Longest Day
I love this time of year. It's almost 10:30pm and it's still light outside. OK, not what you'd call broad daylight, but not much darker than a dull afternoon (and there are plenty of those).
It's all downhill from here.
It's all downhill from here.
Ricky
The Ricky Gervais show at the SECC in Glasgow in a couple of months is, unsurprisingly, sold out. Hurrah, then, for eBay. Front row tickets, centre stage? That'll do nicely, thanks.
OK, they cost a fortune, but hey, it's only money.
OK, they cost a fortune, but hey, it's only money.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Diminishing Returns
Wasted approximately 90 minutes of my life earlier this evening watching Hostel: Part II. It sucked out loud.
Seriously, I'm trying to think of something good to say about it. OK, well, at least it had the decency to be short.
Not quite short enough, unfortunately.
Seriously, I'm trying to think of something good to say about it. OK, well, at least it had the decency to be short.
Not quite short enough, unfortunately.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Man from DelMonte
The above named band played at the pub on Saturday night, for the second time inside a month. Dreadful name, great band.
You have to admire a band whose set includes covers of songs by everyone from Leonard Cohen to Madonna, from Otis Redding to Tenacious D. They do a nice sideline in crude comedy too, as evidenced by their re-working of the lyrics to "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay".
Think about it. I reckon you can figure it out*.
* You need a clue? Pffft. What rhymes with 'Sitting', 'Dock' and 'Bay'?
You have to admire a band whose set includes covers of songs by everyone from Leonard Cohen to Madonna, from Otis Redding to Tenacious D. They do a nice sideline in crude comedy too, as evidenced by their re-working of the lyrics to "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay".
Think about it. I reckon you can figure it out*.
* You need a clue? Pffft. What rhymes with 'Sitting', 'Dock' and 'Bay'?
The Kingsize of Comedy
Farewell then, Bernard Manning. Many people considered you the most offensive man on the planet, and thought you to be a racist misogynist homophobe. Others claimed you were the funniest man in Britain.
At the very least, you didn't single out any particular group. You ripped into black people, gays, the disabled, Indians, Pakistanis, lesbians, mothers-in-law, and any other women who didn't fall into either of the two previous categories. Oh, and the Scottish (probably). In fact, pretty much anyone who wasn't Bernard Manning.
Your critics clearly were missing the point. Your jokes were just that - jokes. No-one could actually hold the views you so often spoke of. Right?
Right?
Bernard?
At the very least, you didn't single out any particular group. You ripped into black people, gays, the disabled, Indians, Pakistanis, lesbians, mothers-in-law, and any other women who didn't fall into either of the two previous categories. Oh, and the Scottish (probably). In fact, pretty much anyone who wasn't Bernard Manning.
Your critics clearly were missing the point. Your jokes were just that - jokes. No-one could actually hold the views you so often spoke of. Right?
Right?
Bernard?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Guess Who
Oh. My. God.
OK, it was the worst kept secret in decades. But still. It was edge-of-seat TV. And by a mile, the best episode of Doctor Who since our old friend came back to us.
OK, it was the worst kept secret in decades. But still. It was edge-of-seat TV. And by a mile, the best episode of Doctor Who since our old friend came back to us.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Where's My (insert item here)
Grrr. I hate losing things. Unfortunately, being a highly disorganised kind of guy, I lose things all the time. The annoying part of it is, despite having tons of crap I'll never use or need again, I never lose any of that stuff. Only the good stuff goes missing.
For instance. If just one CD from my collection has to go missing, you can bet your bottom dollar it won't be "Million Seller" by the Pooh Sticks. By the way, they were having a laugh with that title, obviously. Hands up anyone else who owns "Million Seller". Hmmmm, nope, I'm not seeing a million hands.
Nope, if just once CD has to go missing, it will be the one you love most. You know, the one with the song you want them to play at your funeral*. Which brings me to my next point.
What song would you want played at your funeral? I've narrowed it down to these few...
* Cheery fucker, aint I?
For instance. If just one CD from my collection has to go missing, you can bet your bottom dollar it won't be "Million Seller" by the Pooh Sticks. By the way, they were having a laugh with that title, obviously. Hands up anyone else who owns "Million Seller". Hmmmm, nope, I'm not seeing a million hands.
Nope, if just once CD has to go missing, it will be the one you love most. You know, the one with the song you want them to play at your funeral*. Which brings me to my next point.
What song would you want played at your funeral? I've narrowed it down to these few...
- Born To Run
- Bridge Over Troubled Water (maybe the Johnny Cash version)
- Desperados Under The Eaves
* Cheery fucker, aint I?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Things Not To Do In Glasgow When You're Dead
After enjoying a Friday evening in Glasgow, you may come to regret your decision to cut short your part in the festivities in order to get the last train home. Seriously, don't do it. Don't even think about it. Find someone to stay with overnight (who, and how you go about this is entirely up to you). Book a hotel room, even. But for the love of God, or Buddha, or Allah, or Graham the Giant Pixie, don't get the last train.
In case you didn't know, or couldn't have guessed, the last train is full - and I mean full - of Very Drunk People. You'll know they're Very Drunk People, because even though you may have had a good few drinks yourself, this lot will still appear to be completely off their respective tits.
If you really can't avoid getting on the last train, there are a couple of things you can do to prepare yourself. Firstly, buy some earplugs. You'll need these, unless you like the idea of spending the journey listening to some very loud, very tuneless and very sweary singing.
Secondly, unless you have the name of a very good dry-cleaning service, take a large polythene sheet. You'll thank me for this piece of advice when the 25-stone guy with the mega-sized kebab and the unsteady hands decides to sit next to you. Trust me on this one.
In case you didn't know, or couldn't have guessed, the last train is full - and I mean full - of Very Drunk People. You'll know they're Very Drunk People, because even though you may have had a good few drinks yourself, this lot will still appear to be completely off their respective tits.
If you really can't avoid getting on the last train, there are a couple of things you can do to prepare yourself. Firstly, buy some earplugs. You'll need these, unless you like the idea of spending the journey listening to some very loud, very tuneless and very sweary singing.
Secondly, unless you have the name of a very good dry-cleaning service, take a large polythene sheet. You'll thank me for this piece of advice when the 25-stone guy with the mega-sized kebab and the unsteady hands decides to sit next to you. Trust me on this one.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Splish splash
A handy tip for the future, should you ever find yourself using crutches and attending hydrotherapy sessions.
If you’re using a crutch (or two) to assist while getting into the pool, and the crutch (or crutches) in question (or questions) are the adjustable sort with holes along the sides… Don’t neglect to consider the possibility of the lower part of the crutch (or crutches) filling up with water.
The funny thing is, you may not notice the difference immediately afterwards. You might walk some distance with water sloshing around in there without even knowing it. Perhaps later that same day, you might go for a light aperitif* at a licenced establishment of your choice, propping your crutch (or crutches) upright against the bar. You could even walk (or stagger) home, with your waterlogged extra legs.
It’s just possible that having arrived safely home, you might decide to close a door a few feet away from you. But rather than expending the effort of walking over to the door, perhaps you’ll decide to use your crutch to close it… tilting the crutch to the horizontal, and watching in sheer drunken bewilderment as a couple of litres of water start pouring out onto the carpet. Oops, you might say. Or, What The Fffff...... Or some other word (or words) of your choice.
* Six or seven pints, say.
If you’re using a crutch (or two) to assist while getting into the pool, and the crutch (or crutches) in question (or questions) are the adjustable sort with holes along the sides… Don’t neglect to consider the possibility of the lower part of the crutch (or crutches) filling up with water.
The funny thing is, you may not notice the difference immediately afterwards. You might walk some distance with water sloshing around in there without even knowing it. Perhaps later that same day, you might go for a light aperitif* at a licenced establishment of your choice, propping your crutch (or crutches) upright against the bar. You could even walk (or stagger) home, with your waterlogged extra legs.
It’s just possible that having arrived safely home, you might decide to close a door a few feet away from you. But rather than expending the effort of walking over to the door, perhaps you’ll decide to use your crutch to close it… tilting the crutch to the horizontal, and watching in sheer drunken bewilderment as a couple of litres of water start pouring out onto the carpet. Oops, you might say. Or, What The Fffff...... Or some other word (or words) of your choice.
* Six or seven pints, say.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Interesting Times
We recently received some interesting and - to most of us - unexpected news at work. We've been bought over by another, much larger, software company. You can read the full story here. It's still early days at the moment, but hopefully this will turn out to be a good thing. There are no plans for any changes, restructuring or redundancies at the moment, but who knows what's ahead? Guess we just have to wait and see. There's currently a 90-day review period, after which they'll decide what action, if any, they feel needs to be taken. Hopefully nothing major.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Bloody Hell
Yesterday morning, I had a blood pressure check for the first time in a few months. Apparently my BP was 'very high', despite the various magic potions I've been prescribed to keep it in check. But then,
- I have a sneaking suspicion that I suffer from 'white coat syndrome', and the very knowledge of an impending BP check may in itself have pushed it up a few notches.
- I may have inadvertently failed to take my medication for a few days last week.
- I was driven to the surgery by my mum, and that would put anybody's blood pressure up*.
* I fully realise that I am in no position to be critical of anyone else's driving. And yet, I just did.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Catch-up Time Again
Oopsy. Nearly two weeks without a post.
So, uh. The wedding reception was great. I travelled to Inverness with some relatives, and we stayed two nights in the hotel where the reception was held. A very nice hotel it could be too, with a bit of work. Actually, it looks like they've made done some of that, but haven't quite gotten around to finishing it. They had a very nice swimming pool, where (according to the literature in the hotel rooms) 'bathing costumes must be worn'. Spoilsports.
Er, anyway. With travelling up on the Friday, and the reception not being until Saturday evening, I pretty much had a whole day to fill. Fortunately, being the resourceful type, with access to a bar and a nice sunny place to sit, this didn't present a problem.
Yeah, that's right, I did say 'a sunny place'. In Inverness. In the middle of April. Who'd have thought it? Sitting in the hotel grounds all afternoon, sipping overpriced Irish cider, turned out to be very pleasant indeed. By the time of the reception I'd moved onto Jack Daniels and Coke, which didn't impress the Highland relations much at all.
After drinking from around noon until 1am, I was expecting a bugger of a hangover on Sunday morning. But guess what? I woke up feeling fresh as a daisy. OK, I woke up at 10am feeling fresh as a daisy, but still. I've had horrendous hangovers from drinking far less. Obviously my mistake up until now has been... Not drinking enough.
Pick a hole in that one.
So, uh. The wedding reception was great. I travelled to Inverness with some relatives, and we stayed two nights in the hotel where the reception was held. A very nice hotel it could be too, with a bit of work. Actually, it looks like they've made done some of that, but haven't quite gotten around to finishing it. They had a very nice swimming pool, where (according to the literature in the hotel rooms) 'bathing costumes must be worn'. Spoilsports.
Er, anyway. With travelling up on the Friday, and the reception not being until Saturday evening, I pretty much had a whole day to fill. Fortunately, being the resourceful type, with access to a bar and a nice sunny place to sit, this didn't present a problem.
Yeah, that's right, I did say 'a sunny place'. In Inverness. In the middle of April. Who'd have thought it? Sitting in the hotel grounds all afternoon, sipping overpriced Irish cider, turned out to be very pleasant indeed. By the time of the reception I'd moved onto Jack Daniels and Coke, which didn't impress the Highland relations much at all.
After drinking from around noon until 1am, I was expecting a bugger of a hangover on Sunday morning. But guess what? I woke up feeling fresh as a daisy. OK, I woke up at 10am feeling fresh as a daisy, but still. I've had horrendous hangovers from drinking far less. Obviously my mistake up until now has been... Not drinking enough.
Pick a hole in that one.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Pay Up
Finally... not a complaint! Had to happen eventually.
It was pay review time at work this week. I really wasn't sure what to expect - I had a rough idea of what I wanted, but no clue of whether I stood a chance of getting it or not. As it turned out, I got what I had been hoping for, and a bit more on top. I haven't done the maths* but I'm fairly sure it's the largest pay increase I've had to date. It's going to be a good weekend, I think.
Speaking of which, I'm off to Inverness for the weekend, specifically for my cousin's wedding reception on Saturday night. Should be a good night, and I have a copper-bottomed excuse for not dancing.
* It's a plural, America. Get over it.
It was pay review time at work this week. I really wasn't sure what to expect - I had a rough idea of what I wanted, but no clue of whether I stood a chance of getting it or not. As it turned out, I got what I had been hoping for, and a bit more on top. I haven't done the maths* but I'm fairly sure it's the largest pay increase I've had to date. It's going to be a good weekend, I think.
Speaking of which, I'm off to Inverness for the weekend, specifically for my cousin's wedding reception on Saturday night. Should be a good night, and I have a copper-bottomed excuse for not dancing.
* It's a plural, America. Get over it.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Just one thing...
As great as it is to have Doctor Who back on TV, there's one thing that annoys me. Seeing as how they've gone to the trouble of recording a cracking new version of the theme tune, it would be nice if we occasionally got to hear it during the end credits without some gormless continunity berk yakking all over the top of it. Sigh.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Who's Your Daddy
I can't believe how excited I am about this being back on tonight. My favourite TV show as a kid, and - who'd have thought - my favourite TV show as a 'grown-up'.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
One skin, two skin, three skin... ...
Of course, I know that HIV/AIDS is no laughing matter. And yes, I realise I'm just being childish here. But when you consider the subject matter of this article, it's hard to suppress a snigger when you spot the name of the Director of HIV/AIDS at the WHO.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Vucking Vista
I'm starting to get to grips with Vista (tightly, around its neck). After a bit of what we in the technical profession refer to as 'fucking about', I've managed to get over a few of my main gripes.
I can now play DVDs properly, and the computer now boots up properly without insisting that I install drivers for my webcam every time. And all I had to do was uninstall McAfee Security Centre. And then try to install Norton instead. And then try to update Norton to a version that works with Vista. And then give up on that idea, and try to install Norton 2007. And then remember to uninstall the previous version of Norton first. And then get very annoyed when the previous version of Norton refused to uninstall. And then do a system restore to the point before I installed Norton. And then install the new version of Norton.
Piece of piss.
I can now play DVDs properly, and the computer now boots up properly without insisting that I install drivers for my webcam every time. And all I had to do was uninstall McAfee Security Centre. And then try to install Norton instead. And then try to update Norton to a version that works with Vista. And then give up on that idea, and try to install Norton 2007. And then remember to uninstall the previous version of Norton first. And then get very annoyed when the previous version of Norton refused to uninstall. And then do a system restore to the point before I installed Norton. And then install the new version of Norton.
Piece of piss.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)