Playing my "Get Out of Work Early" card today. Whoopee!
Have a Happy New Year Everybody!
Monday 31 December 2007
Friday 28 December 2007
Limbo
It's that limbo time between festivities. The bit between Christmas and New Year when we carry on with the gluttony, try to fix all the broken toys, assemble the ones that we really didn't have time to do on the day, possibly get round to reading the manuals after working out how to use the gadgets by trial and error, think about sending off the warranty registration cards (maybe not).
We were going to host Boxing Day for the family this year, but since Novelist Supermum wasn't up to it, due to illness we went to my Brothers place instead. This had the least environmental impact, since three groups of the family were already there from Christmas Day. So rather than having them all move down the motorway to us, we went to them.
Another good day, plenty of food and exchange of gifts. Samwise got a Playmobil yellow submarine, and Frodo got a cabin cruiser - complete with drug dealer, bimbo and two midgets (OK so it's meant to be a family). They spent last night playing with them in the Kitchen Sink whilst I prepared tea. We have a rock crystal table lamp.
Boys were knackered when we got home. Frodo threw up yesterday morning - seemed to be exhaustion and not enough to drink, rather than illness.
I've been at work for two days, and will be in again on New Years Eve (hopefully that will turn out to be a half day). Relatively quiet at work. My strategy is to provide the cover when there's not many people in, then take the rest of the week off after New Years day, when the kids are still off school.
We were going to host Boxing Day for the family this year, but since Novelist Supermum wasn't up to it, due to illness we went to my Brothers place instead. This had the least environmental impact, since three groups of the family were already there from Christmas Day. So rather than having them all move down the motorway to us, we went to them.
Another good day, plenty of food and exchange of gifts. Samwise got a Playmobil yellow submarine, and Frodo got a cabin cruiser - complete with drug dealer, bimbo and two midgets (OK so it's meant to be a family). They spent last night playing with them in the Kitchen Sink whilst I prepared tea. We have a rock crystal table lamp.
Boys were knackered when we got home. Frodo threw up yesterday morning - seemed to be exhaustion and not enough to drink, rather than illness.
I've been at work for two days, and will be in again on New Years Eve (hopefully that will turn out to be a half day). Relatively quiet at work. My strategy is to provide the cover when there's not many people in, then take the rest of the week off after New Years day, when the kids are still off school.
Monday 24 December 2007
Christmas Eve
'Twas the night before Christmas,
And all through the house,
Nobody stirred,
Except for the two parents struggling to assemble a 3 foot square model playset of the Tardis Interior...
Only took an hour and a half to assemble. Decided to do it now rather than have impatient boys waiting for it tomorrow. (OK, so we wanted to play with it first!)
I've just enjoyed some chestnuts roasted on an open fire. Delicious, coupled with the Jack Daniels that is enhancing my enjoyment of Pirates of the Caribbean, which is currently showing on the box.
Unfortunately I'm not sure how clean or clear our chimney is. I swept it myself yesterday, but the other rooms that adjoin the same chimney breast all smell a bit smokey.
Posted the last of the Christmas cards to the neighbours this morning. Noted that once more I missed the last post abroad - only 1 card ever goes that way, if I ever remember in time. Nipped out to the shops, picked up a couple of bags of smokeless fuel. Then spent the rest of the day cleaning, hoovering and tidying, whilst the hobbits dragged out all of their current toys to make a pre-Christmas mess.
Boys were bathed, and had new pyjamas hand delivered to them by Father Christmas on the start of his rounds. Samwise wasn't fooled by my outfit, but I threw doubt on his convictions when I denied it later, claiming to have just seen a sleigh going up the street. Their both fast asleep now, waiting for the real chap to show up.
Goose is defrosting in the kitchen. A few more pressies to wrap later, or rather clad in a loose formation of Christmas paper and sticky tape.
2 months of preparation finished - all ready for tomorrow. It'll be over before we know it.
Merry Christmas Everybody!
And all through the house,
Nobody stirred,
Except for the two parents struggling to assemble a 3 foot square model playset of the Tardis Interior...
Only took an hour and a half to assemble. Decided to do it now rather than have impatient boys waiting for it tomorrow. (OK, so we wanted to play with it first!)
I've just enjoyed some chestnuts roasted on an open fire. Delicious, coupled with the Jack Daniels that is enhancing my enjoyment of Pirates of the Caribbean, which is currently showing on the box.
Unfortunately I'm not sure how clean or clear our chimney is. I swept it myself yesterday, but the other rooms that adjoin the same chimney breast all smell a bit smokey.
Posted the last of the Christmas cards to the neighbours this morning. Noted that once more I missed the last post abroad - only 1 card ever goes that way, if I ever remember in time. Nipped out to the shops, picked up a couple of bags of smokeless fuel. Then spent the rest of the day cleaning, hoovering and tidying, whilst the hobbits dragged out all of their current toys to make a pre-Christmas mess.
Boys were bathed, and had new pyjamas hand delivered to them by Father Christmas on the start of his rounds. Samwise wasn't fooled by my outfit, but I threw doubt on his convictions when I denied it later, claiming to have just seen a sleigh going up the street. Their both fast asleep now, waiting for the real chap to show up.
Goose is defrosting in the kitchen. A few more pressies to wrap later, or rather clad in a loose formation of Christmas paper and sticky tape.
2 months of preparation finished - all ready for tomorrow. It'll be over before we know it.
Merry Christmas Everybody!
Sunday 23 December 2007
Neighbours Party
One of the neighbours regularly throws a party just before Xmas, and invites most of the street. I went round with the boys at about 17:30, and didn't leave until 22:30.
Two very tired little boys last night. They had a great time with the other kids that were there. 3 boys were defending a bunk bed whilst 5 or 6 others assaulted it from below. Weapons employed were plastic swords, battle axes, a light sabre and several long cardboard tubes.
I spent my time gassing with the neighbours about the recent parking restriction notice. I also found myself informing them that the sounds of demolition they'd been hearing recently was the concrete being broken up in our back yard.
"Was that YOUR skip?" - must have been an irate car parker - it was only there for a day!
Two young ladies treated everyone to a violin recital - Samwise sat right in front of them to listen. Frodo didn't bother as he had discovered a video game upstairs.
Food was great - several vats of different types of curry had been prepared. I managed to catch one from toppling off the stove before it went over a tiny child's head!
Got into trouble when I got back for keeping the boys up too late. Lie in this morning made a pleasant change.
Two very tired little boys last night. They had a great time with the other kids that were there. 3 boys were defending a bunk bed whilst 5 or 6 others assaulted it from below. Weapons employed were plastic swords, battle axes, a light sabre and several long cardboard tubes.
I spent my time gassing with the neighbours about the recent parking restriction notice. I also found myself informing them that the sounds of demolition they'd been hearing recently was the concrete being broken up in our back yard.
"Was that YOUR skip?" - must have been an irate car parker - it was only there for a day!
Two young ladies treated everyone to a violin recital - Samwise sat right in front of them to listen. Frodo didn't bother as he had discovered a video game upstairs.
Food was great - several vats of different types of curry had been prepared. I managed to catch one from toppling off the stove before it went over a tiny child's head!
Got into trouble when I got back for keeping the boys up too late. Lie in this morning made a pleasant change.
Friday 21 December 2007
Night Flight
I'm a bit knackered this morning.
Yesterday morning I spotted one of the neighbours looking at a sign that had been tied to a signpost at the entrance to the street. He was taking a few notes.
I took a look at it myself last night. It's a planning notice to implement some parking restrictions at the entrance to our street. A good idea in terms of road safety at the corners of the road junctions, but they seem to want to extend the restriction a little too far up the street (in my opinion).
So I was up late last night emailing the council with my views.
I've had a few late nights recently. I ended up posting my Xmas cards at about 00:30 on Monday night/Tuesday morning. As I was walking back home I spotted a blue light on the pavement, and a peculiar buzzing sound.
On the pavement in front of me was what appeared to be a piece of Alien Technology. On closer examination it turned out to be a miniateure helicopter, that was having trouble taking off.
I picked it up, then it dawned on me that it was probably being operated by remote control. I looked all around but couldn't see anyone. I then looked up to the flats above. Nobody at first, then one of the chaps from the Indian Restaurant poked his head out of the window of the flat above.
It turned out that on attempting to fly the helicopter out of the window, he had discovered the limited range of the controller, and it had immediately plummeted to the ground. I tried to launch it upwards for him, and back into range, but no joy.
"Piece of shit!, Thanks mate!". I left it outside the door to his flat for him to collect.
Yesterday morning I spotted one of the neighbours looking at a sign that had been tied to a signpost at the entrance to the street. He was taking a few notes.
I took a look at it myself last night. It's a planning notice to implement some parking restrictions at the entrance to our street. A good idea in terms of road safety at the corners of the road junctions, but they seem to want to extend the restriction a little too far up the street (in my opinion).
So I was up late last night emailing the council with my views.
I've had a few late nights recently. I ended up posting my Xmas cards at about 00:30 on Monday night/Tuesday morning. As I was walking back home I spotted a blue light on the pavement, and a peculiar buzzing sound.
On the pavement in front of me was what appeared to be a piece of Alien Technology. On closer examination it turned out to be a miniateure helicopter, that was having trouble taking off.
I picked it up, then it dawned on me that it was probably being operated by remote control. I looked all around but couldn't see anyone. I then looked up to the flats above. Nobody at first, then one of the chaps from the Indian Restaurant poked his head out of the window of the flat above.
It turned out that on attempting to fly the helicopter out of the window, he had discovered the limited range of the controller, and it had immediately plummeted to the ground. I tried to launch it upwards for him, and back into range, but no joy.
"Piece of shit!, Thanks mate!". I left it outside the door to his flat for him to collect.
Sunday 16 December 2007
Working Weekend
What a weekend! I'm on call this week. I've been called out on both Saturday and Sunday morning, one a minor problem, the other a false alarm.
In addition I had to carry out a code release on Saturday night, which would have normally been an early shoot, but one of the servers went a bit wobbly, so we had to bounce it. 4 or 5 hours work became 7 hours.
To finish off I'm in again on Sunday night for another release, followed by some catchup patching.
Managed to squeeze in a little Xmas shopping in between the work, and was up to 3am on Friday night applying Xmas Wrap, Bubble Wrap and Brown Paper to presents, to create parcels ready for posting on Saturday morning.
I was going to finish off the Xmas cards this morning, but after being called in it's going to be the usual late night frantic scribbling on Monday night to get them in the post early enough. As usual I've probably managed to miss the last posting date for anything going abroad - New Year Greetings it is again then!
Every year I contemplate why I do this. I heard a program on Radio 4 proposing that we should all just cross those people off the list who have become "Christmas card list friends". I'm not going to do that, it's still a way of keeping in touch, however small the gesture.
I also like the idea that even if you haven't paid them the slightest bit of attention for another year, then for that minute or so whilst you write the card you are actually thinking of them.
Here's to all my friends, no matter how little I see them!
In addition I had to carry out a code release on Saturday night, which would have normally been an early shoot, but one of the servers went a bit wobbly, so we had to bounce it. 4 or 5 hours work became 7 hours.
To finish off I'm in again on Sunday night for another release, followed by some catchup patching.
Managed to squeeze in a little Xmas shopping in between the work, and was up to 3am on Friday night applying Xmas Wrap, Bubble Wrap and Brown Paper to presents, to create parcels ready for posting on Saturday morning.
I was going to finish off the Xmas cards this morning, but after being called in it's going to be the usual late night frantic scribbling on Monday night to get them in the post early enough. As usual I've probably managed to miss the last posting date for anything going abroad - New Year Greetings it is again then!
Every year I contemplate why I do this. I heard a program on Radio 4 proposing that we should all just cross those people off the list who have become "Christmas card list friends". I'm not going to do that, it's still a way of keeping in touch, however small the gesture.
I also like the idea that even if you haven't paid them the slightest bit of attention for another year, then for that minute or so whilst you write the card you are actually thinking of them.
Here's to all my friends, no matter how little I see them!
Sunday 9 December 2007
Dad Dancing
It was the office Christmas party on Friday.
This year it was held in the Crowne Plaza hotel. Meal was good, lots of free booze, disco and a Blues Brothers act - who inevitably went through every song in the film.
There were some other corporate do's, other than our own being held there, so there were more women than men in the place, for a change.
Got down onto the dance floor for some serious "Dad Dancing", for most of the night. Attracted the attention of a bottle-tanned young lady for a while - she just looked like a pair of white eyes in the darkness to start with. She gave up eventually, to look for someone who was more available.
Phoned home a couple of times to point out that the full version of "Here Come the Girls" was being played, and that I was very, very drunk.
The bosses were having a "flash the cash" competition, so we finished off with a couple of glasses of champagne in the bar.
Walked a couple of miles before I could find a taxi with a light on that would stop. Perhaps trying to flag one down by waving a brolly wasn't such a good idea!
Got back about 3am. Did the traditional decoration of the Christmas tree on Saturday with a raging hangover (i.e. doing this with a hangover appears to be the tradition).
This year it was held in the Crowne Plaza hotel. Meal was good, lots of free booze, disco and a Blues Brothers act - who inevitably went through every song in the film.
There were some other corporate do's, other than our own being held there, so there were more women than men in the place, for a change.
Got down onto the dance floor for some serious "Dad Dancing", for most of the night. Attracted the attention of a bottle-tanned young lady for a while - she just looked like a pair of white eyes in the darkness to start with. She gave up eventually, to look for someone who was more available.
Phoned home a couple of times to point out that the full version of "Here Come the Girls" was being played, and that I was very, very drunk.
The bosses were having a "flash the cash" competition, so we finished off with a couple of glasses of champagne in the bar.
Walked a couple of miles before I could find a taxi with a light on that would stop. Perhaps trying to flag one down by waving a brolly wasn't such a good idea!
Got back about 3am. Did the traditional decoration of the Christmas tree on Saturday with a raging hangover (i.e. doing this with a hangover appears to be the tradition).
Liverpool Santa Dash 2007 - Photos
Well I did it - managed to complete the Liverpool Santa Dash a week ago today.
Got up early to beat any traffic, and got into the office, where we had agreed to meet up and change into our Santa outfits.
It was absolutely chucking it down with rain. I thought that it was going to be a complete washout. As I watched out of the office window I saw cars arriving one at a time in the various car-parks around the area. From out of each car clambered at least three Santas. Those that weren't dressed for the occasion opened up the boot, pulled out a sack and changed into their costume on the spot.
Soon a red-clad crowd was forming in front of the Liver Buildings. (One or two die-hard Everton Santas were refusing to wear red, and had all blue suits).
The other lads turned up, so we got changed and went to join the growing crowd.
The rain had eased off by then. Took a few photo's, then at 09:30 precisely we found ourselves shuffling towards the start line at Mann Island. A big cheer, a chorus of "Merry Christmas!" and we were off.
It's a Fun Run, rather than a race. Since I'd done absolutely no training whatsoever I'd decided from the outset that I wasn't going to push myself too hard. One of the lads in the office regularly runs marathons, so I thought that there was no point in trying to keep up with him.
Having said that, we pushed ahead a bit early on, until we got to a spot where the crowd had thinned out a bit, then settled down into a gentle jogging pace. There were some stages where you couldn't do anything but walk, due to the number of Santas in front, but we managed to complete most of the 3.1 miles running, rather than walking.
I took a lot of photos en-route. At one point I ran ahead a bit, then turned to take some snaps of our "team". Couldn't tell one Santa from another when I turned round.
It felt rather surreal running down the middle of the road on familiar streets. Even more surreal being one of 6,000 Father Christmas's (that's how many finished the run).
The rain held off for the duration of the run, the sun even came through the clouds for a bit. Not that this helped much - a Santa Suit gets pretty warm. Better than being wet through though - I suspect that my skin would have been dyed red if we'd got a soaking. I've probably caught some sort of Industrial disease from breathing through the artificial fibres of the beard.
Worst bit was as we neared the end, we knew that we would finish on Castle Street, but we kept having to take a 'Dogs Leg' every time the street came into view.
Our team of 4 had split into two groups of two by the time we got to the last few streets. Our marathon runner crossed the finish line first, but was beaten by myself and his brother to the free T-shirts and goody-bags.
Back to the office to get changed - although our marathon runner insisted on staying in costume for the rest of the day. We finished off by replacing lost fluids in the Pig & Whistle.
Observations made in the pub.
1. Today would have been a good day to pull off a bank robbery.
2. At the end, we all looked like Dan Akroyd in "Trading Places".
Do it again next year? I reckon that I will.
Got up early to beat any traffic, and got into the office, where we had agreed to meet up and change into our Santa outfits.
It was absolutely chucking it down with rain. I thought that it was going to be a complete washout. As I watched out of the office window I saw cars arriving one at a time in the various car-parks around the area. From out of each car clambered at least three Santas. Those that weren't dressed for the occasion opened up the boot, pulled out a sack and changed into their costume on the spot.
Soon a red-clad crowd was forming in front of the Liver Buildings. (One or two die-hard Everton Santas were refusing to wear red, and had all blue suits).
The other lads turned up, so we got changed and went to join the growing crowd.
The rain had eased off by then. Took a few photo's, then at 09:30 precisely we found ourselves shuffling towards the start line at Mann Island. A big cheer, a chorus of "Merry Christmas!" and we were off.
It's a Fun Run, rather than a race. Since I'd done absolutely no training whatsoever I'd decided from the outset that I wasn't going to push myself too hard. One of the lads in the office regularly runs marathons, so I thought that there was no point in trying to keep up with him.
Having said that, we pushed ahead a bit early on, until we got to a spot where the crowd had thinned out a bit, then settled down into a gentle jogging pace. There were some stages where you couldn't do anything but walk, due to the number of Santas in front, but we managed to complete most of the 3.1 miles running, rather than walking.
I took a lot of photos en-route. At one point I ran ahead a bit, then turned to take some snaps of our "team". Couldn't tell one Santa from another when I turned round.
It felt rather surreal running down the middle of the road on familiar streets. Even more surreal being one of 6,000 Father Christmas's (that's how many finished the run).
The rain held off for the duration of the run, the sun even came through the clouds for a bit. Not that this helped much - a Santa Suit gets pretty warm. Better than being wet through though - I suspect that my skin would have been dyed red if we'd got a soaking. I've probably caught some sort of Industrial disease from breathing through the artificial fibres of the beard.
Worst bit was as we neared the end, we knew that we would finish on Castle Street, but we kept having to take a 'Dogs Leg' every time the street came into view.
Our team of 4 had split into two groups of two by the time we got to the last few streets. Our marathon runner crossed the finish line first, but was beaten by myself and his brother to the free T-shirts and goody-bags.
Back to the office to get changed - although our marathon runner insisted on staying in costume for the rest of the day. We finished off by replacing lost fluids in the Pig & Whistle.
Observations made in the pub.
1. Today would have been a good day to pull off a bank robbery.
2. At the end, we all looked like Dan Akroyd in "Trading Places".
Do it again next year? I reckon that I will.
Wednesday 5 December 2007
Nothing Acts Faster Than Darkdwarf
So go out and get some nothing now!
The title of this post came from yet another way to waste time on the internet - The Advertising Generator.
Results seem to work best when you put in your own name.
The title of this post came from yet another way to waste time on the internet - The Advertising Generator.
Results seem to work best when you put in your own name.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)