So. I last updated before Xmas and then the server went down. My mate who hosts my sites let me know it was all FUBAR and the peering company weren't responding.

So he started the grand move of everything to another box with another company. And got us all back and mySQL restored. I uploaded my website (and all the pictures) as soon as I could, so I am all back. But I was gone for several days...

Xmas! Did you have a good one? Mine was ace. Got shitloads of presents, ate too much, saw the kids, etc.

New Year! Did you have a good one? I did. Got pretty damn drunk at the local (and guests included all of Shells immediate family - which was nice but unexpected) and snogged the New Year in with my loved one.

Had the kids over the New Year weekend and dropped them back yesterday evening and then up to Shells mums for Shells b/day meal as its her birthday today!

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[link]   Posted @ 06:18

Fantastic news story of today is this one Bra fitting course for students. The comment at the end had me laughing the most.

The present situation is resolving itself. Thats the present as in gifts not present as in right now. Hopefully, a brief shopping trip this evening will sort it all out. A small amount of wrapping and I can start delivering. Plus a couple more of Shells presents to wrap :)

All last week and this week, we have had traders here in our building selling various wares and today I found a fantastic present for Shell for her birthday. Its small, personal, perfect for her and purple. Nothing expensive, just something small that shows I think about her (quite a lot of the time).

Earlier today, I was pointed to a website that is offering a free downloadable game for your mobile phone. Click here for your copy. I got Rayman Bowling but it all depends on what phone you have. Enjoy!

I've got the kids on the afternoon of Christmas Day for them to come round and open their presents. The plan ^# is:

• up early for Shell and I to exchange presents
  
• up to Shells mums to give them their presents
  
• collect kids at 1pm and do their presents
  
• drop kids back at 5pm and back to Shells mums
  
• Shells Grannys with the rest of the family on Boxing Day...

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[link]   Posted @ 15:52

So last Thursday was the funeral. It was held at the South Bristol Crematorium. Seeing people around me, that I cared about, being so upset really got to me (again!). The impact of losing Nan is still being felt, as certain Christmas traditions cant happen any more - deeping the sadness all round.

Had the kids this weekend. When I picked them up on Friday, I also had to take them to the dentist. That was quite fun - Chan had his teeth counted and laughed the whole time :)

I am slowly impressing on them how much they need to behave, be quiet, etc. Sometimes it seems like such a huge amount of effort for no return (as I have no influence on what happens when they are not with me) but sometimes it pays off. Like Rhiannon using "Excuse me", "May I" and "Please" in a question. Or Chan telling his sister to "Shh! Annon" before they get told off again.

Sunday morning we went and exchanged Xmas gifts with my sister. Rhiannon got a "My Scene" beauty salon set and Chan got a police HQ with helicopter and stuff. I'd bought my nephew a little science set - but when he opened it, I was amazed at how much was in there. I want one now!

I said last week that there was only 1 present to get, but unfortunately Boots let me down and I now need 4 presents in total. How sucky! They kindly gave me a �5 voucher for my trouble (and the original Advantage points) but what I really, really needed were the damn presents. I will need to try a couple of places this evening to see if I can get them sorted out - not a lot of chance between now and Xmas Eve to get them, wrap them and deliver them. Aaargh!

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[link]   Posted @ 13:17

What a load of cock! Possible redundancies (yes please!) and people not listening to me. For example, having a conversation with my team leader (he reads here - Hi Chris!) about moving the date for some work (as I want some holiday) and I got the distinct impression he was no longer actually listening to me. So I ended the conversation with "So I'll ask Jane to do the witch hunt and fry the bagels" just to test. He replied "Yes. Thats fine." Hohum!

1 present to buy and I am completely finished. Went to The Mall last night with Shell. Bought myself a black shirt for tomorrow (the funeral), Shell bought a last couple of presents. I think she has 2 to get. All I need really is for Boots to deliver my last order so I can wrap all the damn stuff!

Shell has an interview today at the hospital for an administration job. That would get her exactly where she wants to be - working in care but doing the organisation work. I hope it all goes well. She could do with something going well for once - everythings gone tits recently...

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[link]   Posted @ 13:00

Oh yeah - another weekend of mixed blessing and smacks in the face.

It started off on Friday - when my digital camera decided it was dead. I had owned it for 12 months and 10 days. How did it know? Bastard thing. I was annoyed because I needed it for the afternoon as it was Rhiannons first Xmass/Nativity thing at school.

So I left work to catch an earlier train than I needed to I could get back to Weston and buy a new one before racing to the school.

Great plan! But let down by the train being buggered and not being fixed til 5mins before the train I would have caught left, which left me enough time to pop into Sainsburys and buy a �4.99 disposable camera instead of going to Argos and buying a new digital one.

But the Xmas play/muscial was brilliant. Rhiannon was an angel "flying like a thunderbolt". She looked as cute as cute can be and did her dance moves perfectly (as far as I could tell). I was sat there with tears in my eyes, a very very proud father who had suddenly realised that his little girl was growing up... Eeek!

Saturday and Sunday were spent visiting Ikea, cleaning and being told my car was knackered. Looks like my head gasket has gone as I have lost compression on 2 cylinders. Should find out later how much it will cost (on the cheap) to get it fixed.

Yesterday evening, Shell and I hosted a dinner party in our new dining room. A roaring success. But loads of leftovers - so we will be dining on pork curry with bubble and squeak for the next couple of days :)

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[link]   Posted @ 16:09

01: Under no circumstances may two men share an umbrella, unless at the footy, and your pies are getting wet, then for the eating period only it is permissible.

02: It is ok for a man to cry under the following circumstances:
a. When a heroic dog dies to save its master.
b. The moment Angelina Jolie starts unbuttoning her blouse.
c. After wrecking your boss' car.
d. One hour, 12 minutes, 37 seconds into "The Crying Game".
e. When she is using her teeth.

03: Any Man who brings a camera to a stag night may be legally killed and eaten by his mates.

04: Unless he murdered someone in your family, you must bail a friend out of jail within 12 hours.

05: If you've known a bloke for more than 24 hours, his sister is off limits forever, unless you actually marry her.

06: Moaning about the brand of free beer in a mate's fridge is forbidden. However complain at will if the temperature is unsuitable.

07: No man shall ever be required to buy a birthday present for another man. In fact, even remembering your mate's birthday is strictly optional.

08: On a road trip, the strongest bladder determines pit stops, not the weakest.

09: When stumbling upon other blokes watching a sporting event, you may ask the score of the game in progress, but you may never ask who's playing.

10: You may flatulate in front of a woman only after you have brought her to climax. If you trap her head under the covers for the purpose of flatulent entertainment, she's officially your girlfriend.

11: It is permissible to quaff a fruity alcopop drink only when you're sunning on a tropical beach... and it's delivered by a topless supermodel...and it's free.

12: Only in situations of moral and/or physical peril are you allowed to kick another bloke in the nuts.

13: Unless you're in prison, never fight naked.

14: Friends don't let friends wear Speedos. Ever. Issue closed.

15: If a man's fly is down, that's his problem, you didn't see anything.

16: Women who claim they "love to watch sports" must be treated as spies until they demonstrate knowledge of the game (can explain offside or LBW) and the ability to drink as much as the other sports watchers.

17: A man in the company of a hot, suggestively dressed woman must remain sober enough to fight.

18: Never hesitate to reach for the last beer or the last slice of pizza, but not both that's just greedy.

19: If you compliment a bloke on his six-pack, you'd better be talking about his choice of beer.

20: Never join your girlfriend or wife in discussing a mate of yours, except if she's withholding s*x pending your response.

21: Phrases that may NOT be uttered to another man while lifting weights:
a. Yeah, Baby, Push it!
b. C'mon, give me one more! Harder!
c. Another set and we can hit the showers!

22: Never talk to a man in a bathroom unless you are on equal footing: i.e. Both urinating, both waiting in line, etc. For all other situations, an almost imperceptible nod is all the conversation you need.

23: Never allow a telephone conversation with a woman to go on longer than you are able to have s*x with her. Keep a stopwatch by the phone. Hang up if necessary.

24: It is acceptable for you to drive her car. It is not acceptable for her to drive yours.

25: Thou shalt not buy a car in the colours of brown, pink, lime green, orange or sky blue.

26: The girl who replies to the question "What do you want for Christmas?" with "If you loved me, you'd know what I want!" gets an Xbox. End of story.

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[link]   Posted @ 12:19

At Ikea over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we bought a kids table and chairs, telephone table, coffee table, bookcases, bookcase/box thing, dining table, ceiling light, lamps among other things. All the furniture we got was in birch (which not all the links show).

Everything apart from 1 dining chair has been put together, the light has been put up, we've bought a table cloth, crockery, cutlery, glasses, etc, etc. Its all grown up, looks fantastic and we use it for the first proper time on Sunday when Su, Dave and Helen come round for dinner. The dinner table and chairs are Xmas presents to Shell and I from Su, Granny and Helen - top stuff!

Shell would like me to point that she met Paul Gascouigne in the sauna at the hotel. He was naked and he kissed her cheek when he left the sauna. That is all!

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[link]   Posted @ 12:00

Note: The DivX player (Skyworth 3650) from WHSmith plays everything and its dog. Buy one now.

Not many updates recently, but I've been busy.

Highs
Last week saw me at work for 2 days and then 3 days off. Wednesday morning, Shell and I set off for Gateshead to spend 2 days at the MetroCentre and a night at the 4* Marriott hotel (which is literally next door). The hotel was great, food was excellent - highly recommended. Plus we met Gazza! (Shell was very excited about that). We came back on Thursday night - with a heavily laden car...

On Thursday, Friday and Saturday, we visited Ikea (Gateshead and Bristol) and bought lots of stuff - coffee table, telephone table, storage cabinet, book shelves, dining table and chairs, dining room stuff, lights, crockery, etc, etc. The house will never be the same - it looks so much, much better. I'll post links to what we bought later.

Sunday was Chandlers birthday - the grand old age of 3. He got some great presents - including a new 'Mega Machines' video and 2 new parts for his 'Little People Fun Sounds' system. He already had:

and got these yesterday:

At lunchtime we had his birthday party at the Avon Valley Country Park. He loved it and so did his guests. We got home (after he napped for a bit) and he and Rhiannon played with his new toys. A truly great day!

Lows
Unfortunately, that was the end of the highs. Shell had spent the day with her mum and other family members at her great-Nans bedside in hospital. I dropped the kids off with their mum and made my way up to be with her.

We stayed there (the 3 of us) until she passed away just after 10pm. It was a very peaceful passing and I found it extremely upsetting. Seeing 2 people I care about (1 very, very much) having their hearts ripped out as someone they adored died in front of them, really got to me. I felt (and still do) completely helpless and have no idea what to do, what to say, etc. I have never experienced the death of a family member since I have been grown-up (1 grandad died when I was born, the other when I was 7 and too young to properly grieve) and I have no idea how I would/should feel.

I'm in work at the moment and all I want to do is be with Shell and be useful, be strong for her and all that. It's brought my mortality and those of my loved ones into shocking relief. I will pen more when I can.

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[link]   Posted @ 09:57

Yesterday late-afternoon - I took the kids into town to visit WHSmith and collect my new DVD player (a DivX/XviD/everything playing machine with onboard 5.1 decoding, multi-region, etc for �39).

And what was I presented with?

CHRISTMAS

Everywhere. In the shops, in the high street (lights AND music), massive tree in the Italian Gardens and everything. Frankly - its too early. Christmas decorations should be put up on December 1st in my book and Christmas music should the the last thing to happen (and Sir Paul McCartneys "Wonderful Christmas Time" should be banned outright).

Too early. And too much. I may firebomb the lot of it.

In better news - a friend on mine did this. Truly awesome and I am extremely jealous. I will be attempting something similar at the first opportunity.

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[link]   Posted @ 10:17

Tom's Hardware recently posted an article entitled Supersize Your TV for $300: Build Your Own XGA Projector!.

I can get an OHP from eBay for less than �75. I have a wall to project it onto and would just need an LCD monitor to disassemble (which would also come from eBay).

Only drawback - ITS FUCKING HUGE! Even if I built a nice wooden (teak) box for it to go inside (with cooling) it would be insightly with a big arm stuck up in the air. Maybe I'll just forget about the whole thing.

In other news - Christmas in the UK might not actually happen this year! This article informs us of a problem that will rock the nation to its very core at this time of the year. We should, of course, escalate the issue with the government (a la the actions of F4J)...

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[link]   Posted @ 15:18