So I won an award on my mailing list - Best List Linker - for my efforts providing web links to the weird and wonderful. I did a little speech and all (electronically). Its nice to be appreciated.

Next Thursday, Shell's step-dad, Dave, will be in hospital having an operation on his leg. Its a tricky one to replace his knee joint, as it is badly knackered due to it being his only one (he lost the other leg in a bike accident 31yrs ago). He was planning to go to Amsterdam with one of his mates on the Saturday, but now wont be able to. So Shell and I are going. We fly out on the Saturday lunchtime and get back on Sunday afternoon. 24hrs in the 'Dam. Should be fun, although I still need to find somewhere to stay :)

I bought Shell a miniature MP3 player last week and it turned up last night. It came with a 128mb SD card, which I moved over to my camera and gave her my 256mb one. She was well chuffed and we spent a while getting all of her favourite tracks copied across to it. For my camera, I now have 2x 128mb SD cards and 2x 64mb MMC cards - should be enough for a small expedition :)

This morning I collected my new DVD writer - so when the fan filters turn up from eBuyer, I will be dismantling the PC and making a couple of changes to it (as well as vacuuming it out) including getting the side fan changed. Its directly above the CPU fan, but it currently expels air and it needs to draw air in, which should help quite a bit when I'm DVD encoding and the CPU temp rockets.

I'm also going to upgrade the firmware on my servers NEC ND-3500 writer, as apparently it can work at 8x!

I also took the plunge last night and finally installed Service Pack 2 on my main XP machine. For some reason, it wont install on the dual-P3 server... No problems to report as yet :)

Got a couple more things to put up on eBay this evening - a 1U UltraSPARC server for one. I've got too much stuff and need to dump some. Plus I need to build a PC for Shell's grandpa from some bits he gave me. Busy, busy, busy - at work and at play.

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[link]   Posted @ 10:15

Last week, there was a news item on our local commercial radio station - Star 107.7 - regarding an iniative in the local area regarding informing people about the dangers of "overhanging shrubbery on public footpaths". Now either it was a very slow day for news, or this is actually an important issue. A search on Google revealed it is a problem all round the country here in the UK. I for one will be walking several public footpaths in my area and reporting all dangerous shrubbery to the local authorities. (Any resemblance to a Monty Python film should be ignored).

In other news, Shell and I went to Pizza Hut here in Weston last night. We arrived at around 8.45 and were amazed, nay astounded to find bouncers at the door! Security staff at Pizza Hut?!? We presumed that they are there to protect the car park from rowdy boy racers but its quite odd. You can imagine the scene at the local bouncers club:

Bouncer1: "I've got a new gig."
Bouncer2: "Yeah - wheres that?"
Bouncer1: "Pizza Hut"
Bouncer2: "Pete's Hut? Where's that? Is it that new club on the sea front?"
Bouncer1: "No. Pizza Hut. P-I-Z-Z-A Hut"
Bouncer2: "Poof!"

It just doesnt ring right does it? As we walked in, Shell commented on that fact that she didnt get ID'd and as we left she said loudly "Thank god for the security. They are stopping all the pizza riots!".

We left and went to Back Bar for the Sunday Jam Night. We worked out we probably havent been there for about a year! We had a great time, saw loads of the old faces, several new ones but were amazed to discover that in about a years absence - the music has hardly changed. Same people on stage playing the same songs. Ho-hum! We'll be going back as we realised how much we missed going to it.

I'm also about to buy a new DVD Writer. I currently have an Optowrite something or other in my main PC but it complains a lot and 10% of my discs end up as coasters. Currenly, SVP have the NEC ND3520A (16x +/- Dual Layer) for �34.99 - thats a great drive at a low price. That, and a new DVD drive (that can read +/- discs as my ancient Hitachi GD-5000 doesnt).

And if anyone can tell me where to get some fan filters cheap, it would be much appreciated.

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[link]   Posted @ 10:16

This is my first test of mobile blogging from my T630.

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[link]   Posted @ 13:33

So then. I'll update what has been happening.

We went to Venice. We drove up to Coventry airport on the Sunday to get our flight. We found the place quite easily, which was surprising as it is essentially a hut beside a runway! We sat around for a bit and got to play with my new GBA Movie Player. Here is Shell playing a NES emulated game on it - or maybe listening to some MP3s.

We got to Venice at night and found our hotel pretty easily. It was clean, tidy and everyone spoke English (although we asked the receptionist why her English was so good and she told us she was from Newbury!). Monday saw us walking around and sightseeing. First though - Shell had to buy herself a hat (fetching isn't it) - as it was freezing, really freezing.

St Marcs Square - one of the most famous parts of Venice, floods every morning, as do some other parts of Venice. Seeing water spouting up through drainage holes is quite worrying - it gives you the feeling that the place is sinking.

The unfortunate part of this, is that the whole place stinks of sewage and waste for several hours a day, which isn't so pleasant.
We did lots of sight seeing, lots of walking, did toursty things (going on a Gondola, etc). We also visited Murano (the island of glass factories) where we bought a stunning piece for our lounge. We also found some traditional toilets!

On the last night, we went out for a meal and then took a walk to San Marco to see what it looked like at night.

I took the opportunity of being in the most famous part of the most romantic city in Europe to ask Shell if she would marry me. Fortunately, she said yes!

All our pictures from Venice can be found here

Anyway, since we got back, we have been eBaying a lot. Mostly knitting related items - and wow! are they generating some interest. I've sold loads of items in the past, but nothing of mine has ever had a single items generate 50 watchers!

Shell bought herself a car - and M ref Peugeot 306 XR. Its great. Fantastic condition and drives like a dream. I've donated a load of car hi-fi to her - Pioneer DEX-P88R head unit, CDX-P610 Changer, Kenwood KAC-846 Amplifier, all the leads, etc - she just needed to get a sealed sub for the boot, which she did last weekend. A 10" sub in a .30cu ft box! Fantastic! (ICE-heads will know why thats impressive).

My gallery script has now been fixed and upgraded by my man Andy and it works a treat. I seem to have lost a load of photos from my collection - Prague, New PC and BDO sections - so they need uploading again.

I will be updating more regularly, as leaving everything for 2 weeks means I forget stuff I was going to write. Pressure of work, holidays and enjoying my life has been at the forefront.

Yesterday (early morning) my Nan (my Dads mum) was admitted to hospital following some angina attacks and then a heart attack. Shell and I visited her yesterday evening and she seemed in good spirits. My cousin texted me a little while ago to tell me she still hasnt been admitted to a ward yet but is now in the medical assessment unit. I think they need her to rest for a few days and then run some tests to find out what happened and why.

Here's hoping she gets better soon :)

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[link]   Posted @ 10:42

I've been very quiet haven't I?

Therefore, a quick update in a couple of sentences:
Venice was cold, smelly but romantic. I have a new tattoo - my fiancee's name across my neck. Shell bought a car. Shell discovered eBay in a big way. Work has been mad.

Update, pictures and more detail will be put up as soon as possible (especially when someone fixes the gallery script for me!).

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[link]   Posted @ 14:40

You know how I mentioned (a few months ago) that the kids seemed really relaxed around me? Well, that has now changed :)

I would like to officially announce that I have naughty children. We started a "Stars and Crosses" chart the weekend before last and after last weekend, the official verdict is that the results are not good. Bad even. Rhiannon isn't too bad, but Chandler is getting into demon spawn proportions. Which is a bad thing! His school have even commented on his strong-headedness. Lovable little bugger that he is, he is just being so naughty I don't know how to deal with it. The system we have put in is working with Rhiannon a treat - she is helping out (sometimes doing more than she is asked) and actively tries to be good. But Chan is sullen, whiney, answers back, etc, etc. I really hope its just a phase he is going through.

Yesterday I was offf work ill. I had driven to the train station and as I pulled up to park, I felt a little queasy. I got out of the car, grabbed by backpack, locked the door and crossed the road. Then threw up my breakfast all over the pavement and my shoes! So I went back home :(

Today I'm back at work and feeling fine.

Wednesday night, we got a new addition to our family. When Shell's Nan passed away, she left behind a cat. 15 yrs old, female, black and white. We call her Puss. The other cats are a little wary of her, but it all seems to be going pretty well. I'll post a picture of them all over the weekend.

Sunday sees us off to Venice. Woohoo! I'm just hoping that my new SD card turns up in time so that I will have enough space to store all my photos. I will of course provide a galley and rundown of our Venice trip when I get back.

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[link]   Posted @ 07:40

Well - we turned up just before it started at 8pm and Evanfly were first on. They played 3 new tracks and several old ones. Wasn't too impressed with the new ones, unfortunately, but sang along to the older ones.

Next up were Reload - with a mix of funk and rock tracks. They were damn good, but the venue was getting too hot and smoky for us to stay in the room, so we moved out into the corridor where it was several degrees cooler.

Next up were Easter Town, a long running local band that have been trying to make it big for years but never succeeding.

Around 10.30, we called it a night and made our way home as Shell had been eating chocolate through the day and was flagging badly - meaning that we missed Doctor Chocolate, who were last on the bill.

I also managed to forget my camera, so there are no pictures for me to upload. Ho-hum!

I'll update over the weekend with any shenannigans :)

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[link]   Posted @ 06:52

Here are a couple of fun sites to help you waste your time^#:

Funny Games - a massive collection of online playable games - from RPG to arcade thru puzzle thru to WTF? Bubbels is my current favourite. Thanks to Su for this site.

I Play All Day - and even more...

Next Sunday (23rd) afternoon. we will be making our way to Coventry airport to catch a plane. We have a 4 day (3 night) break booked in - Venice. I cannot wait and Shell is pretty choked too. As a follow up to our break we had in Paris in September, this should be cool (or very wet!). And, as always, I have already started looking for somewhere to go later in the year. Another break - not a full blown holiday. Recommendations would be welcome. There are however a couple of stipulations:

• City breaks are preferable as Shell has distinct shopping requirements
• Non-UK and Non-US destinations - due to price. The US is too expensive to get to and the UK is almost as expensive as going abroad.
• It cannot be somewhere exceedingly hot or sunny

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[link]   Posted @ 09:31

The week before Xmas, my mate Andy provided me with an Eltax AVR280 - an A/V Receiver capable of DD5.1 (AC3) and DTS.

To connect it up to my existing DD5.1 speaker setup, I had to strip the speaker wires for the centre, front and rear speakers and connect them to the amp. Then ran an RCA cable from the amp to the powered sub.

I also ordered a TOSLINK optical cable and co-ax cable to connect the DVD player and the Freeview box. All worked OK apart from DVDs always playing in Pro-Logic II instead of DD5.1 or DTS.

Yesterday, he advised me to change the output from the DVD player from PCM to RAW (the opposite of what the manual says) and hey presto! DD5.1 is now working.

I just need to find a DTS disk to try out and I will be a very happy man - with a loud A/V setup :)

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[link]   Posted @ 10:47

So then. Its the 11th day of 2005 and I haven't updated very much have I?

Good
First off - here's the list of Xmas presents I received:

• Kodak CX7330 Digital Camera
• 256mb SD card to go with it
• tube of Revels
• box of Black Magic
• Mancala (ancient board game)
• smart black shirt
• T-shirt with "Nice Pear" on it
• T-shirt with "My Best Friend Ran Off With My Wife... I Miss Him" on it
• T-shirt with a squirrel and "Fancy A Handful Of Nuts?" on it
• another T-shirt
• Collins "How To Do (Just About) Everything" book
• Collins "How to Buy And Sell (Just About) Everything" book
• A Book about the wacky "Innovations" catalogues
• Black scarf and gloves
• Lynyrd Skynyrd Lyve DVD
• a foot spa
• a 35cl bottle of JD with glasses and cards
• 2 bottles of Old Peculier with glasses
• a bottle of wine
• and (from Shell) a framed professional photograph of my kids for my office. It is beautiful. I opened this one last (on Xmas morning) and cried my eyes out...

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[link]   Posted @ 05:53