Novelist Supermum's latest book Buying Mackenzie's Baby has reached Number 1 in her publishers (Samhain) best sellers list!!!!!!.
Crashed in at number 4 then climbed steadily to Number 1 in about a week.
She's still not sure how - maybe it's just a good book for it's genre.
She's beavering away (fnaar!, fnaar!) at another one in a similar vein, whilst she's on a roll.
Thursday 28 September 2006
Sunday 24 September 2006
Lock and (Front)Load
Frodo was playing with the controls of our washing machine today - it has a child lock mechanism so he can press the buttons without upsetting the wash cycle.
I heard him say that he was "using the computer".
Then after pressing a few buttons he said
"Weapons Online..."
Either TV is having an influence, or he's discovered a feature that Mr Dyson forgot to tell us about.
I heard him say that he was "using the computer".
Then after pressing a few buttons he said
"Weapons Online..."
Either TV is having an influence, or he's discovered a feature that Mr Dyson forgot to tell us about.
Friday 22 September 2006
Cucumber Race Result
"I'm sorry but my manager can't come to the phone right now. He's too busy stuffing a cucumber into his mouth".
Results were:
Cucumber 1 - 2 mins 48 secs
Cucumber 2 - 4 mins 5 secs
Cucumber 3 - still being consumed after 5 mins - switched to "leisurely eating mode" to finish, total time 16 mins.
Office stinks of cucumber. Contestant number 2 has only just thought to google to find out the effects of eating too much cucumber, since he's on the train tonight.
Results were:
Cucumber 1 - 2 mins 48 secs
Cucumber 2 - 4 mins 5 secs
Cucumber 3 - still being consumed after 5 mins - switched to "leisurely eating mode" to finish, total time 16 mins.
Office stinks of cucumber. Contestant number 2 has only just thought to google to find out the effects of eating too much cucumber, since he's on the train tonight.
You don't have to be mad to work here...
3 of my colleagues are currently about to conduct a cucumber eating contest.
They are currently each wielding a whole cucumber, still in the plastic wrapping.
On the word "Go" they will have to remove the wrapping and devour the cucumber - the fastest to consume the whole cucumber being the winner.
(No way am I joining in with this one!).
They are currently each wielding a whole cucumber, still in the plastic wrapping.
On the word "Go" they will have to remove the wrapping and devour the cucumber - the fastest to consume the whole cucumber being the winner.
(No way am I joining in with this one!).
Thursday 21 September 2006
Fame Beckons
Novelist Supermum is currently bouncing about the house because her latest book has reached Number 3 in her publishers best sellers list.
Hopefully this means that it's sold a lot and the money will start rolling in...
Speaking of claims to fame, our Desktop Team Leader is just working here between gigs, and his real job is with his band The Suns. They have a couple of videos on You Tube.
Hopefully this means that it's sold a lot and the money will start rolling in...
Speaking of claims to fame, our Desktop Team Leader is just working here between gigs, and his real job is with his band The Suns. They have a couple of videos on You Tube.
Monday 18 September 2006
A night at the races
Another wedding on Saturday Night. This time it was a relatives wedding, and we were invited to the evening do.
This was in a suite of the Princess Royal Stand at Aintree race course, which meant that whilst the party was in full swing we could walk outside to the stands terracing to cool off. Chilling out leaning on the railings looking out over a night time view of the course used for the Grand National.
Frodo and Samwise needless to say wore themselves out by running around the room. The band was two guys and a backing tape, but they weren't too bad at what they did, and the choice of music was right for the crowd.
Just about to set off back for home, and I had to go back in to retrieve the balloons off the table for Samwise, who had been promised them (and Samwise never forgets a promise).
This was in a suite of the Princess Royal Stand at Aintree race course, which meant that whilst the party was in full swing we could walk outside to the stands terracing to cool off. Chilling out leaning on the railings looking out over a night time view of the course used for the Grand National.
Frodo and Samwise needless to say wore themselves out by running around the room. The band was two guys and a backing tape, but they weren't too bad at what they did, and the choice of music was right for the crowd.
Just about to set off back for home, and I had to go back in to retrieve the balloons off the table for Samwise, who had been promised them (and Samwise never forgets a promise).
Thursday 14 September 2006
Dvorak Keyboard Comic
I know that I've mentioned before that I use a Dvorak Keyboard layout for typing.
Whilst setting up this layout on a new PC at work, and explaining to somebody what the layout was about, I came across this website, which provides a history and explanation in comic strip form.
It's a bit lengthy, and corny in places, but makes a different kind of explanation. There's a lot of other useful related info too.
The website is http://www.dvzine.org/
Whilst setting up this layout on a new PC at work, and explaining to somebody what the layout was about, I came across this website, which provides a history and explanation in comic strip form.
It's a bit lengthy, and corny in places, but makes a different kind of explanation. There's a lot of other useful related info too.
The website is http://www.dvzine.org/
Wednesday 13 September 2006
Asleep on the job
Discovered today that my colleagues keep a hammock (the sort that comes with it's own portable frame to sling it from) in a cupboard in our room at work.
It's for long, late shifts when waiting to restart or check the system whilst a 3rd party is modifying or fixing a vital component.
Apparently our higher level management (who are highly unlikely to be in work at 04:00 AM themselves) disapprove of this - "this is a place of work, not of sleep", but we haven't actually been told not to use it, hence it's discretely tucked away.
I've been told that it works quite well, and is reasonably comfortable once you've got used to it's swinging and the "at sea" feeling this induces.
It's for long, late shifts when waiting to restart or check the system whilst a 3rd party is modifying or fixing a vital component.
Apparently our higher level management (who are highly unlikely to be in work at 04:00 AM themselves) disapprove of this - "this is a place of work, not of sleep", but we haven't actually been told not to use it, hence it's discretely tucked away.
I've been told that it works quite well, and is reasonably comfortable once you've got used to it's swinging and the "at sea" feeling this induces.
Monday 11 September 2006
Sunshine, Booze and Good Food
Still knackered after the wedding in Brum on Saturday. It was held in the Conference Centre/Park at Brum University, and the weather was excellent so the Party spilled out onto the lawns. Frisbee's, footballs and croquet had been provided, so there was plenty to entertain drunken adults - and the kids.
Caught up with a few faces that we hadn't seen for some time, and drank far too much Tetley's.
Samwise got bored with some of the readings at the ceremony, and started shouting "The End!" half way through them.
It's been a few years since we've been back to Brum (we used to live there). There's a huge great Radisson Hotel at one end of New Street now, and a number of other developments. They haven't got rid of the so-called "concrete collar" as some of the redevelopment schemes promised, this is an inner ring road that circles the city centre and dips underground in a few places. Great for whizzing around town in a car. Frodo loved the tunnels.
The conference park is just behind "The Gun Barrels" pub, just past Pebble Mill off the Bristol Road. The wedding was in "Hornton Grange" and we stayed over the road in the accomodation at "Lucas House".
Managed to make breakfast, and got back home at mid-day. One of our neighbours invited us to an impromptu barbecue, so it was more booze and food in the Sun for the afternoon. Got to meet and chat with a few more of the neighbours.
Thoroughly good weekend.
Back to work today to discover, as expected, no flooding whatsoever. I noticed that some sandbags had been placed near our building and around the Liver Building, so the flood warning was being taken seriously.
Very busy day at work today. Little time to think, let alone blog.
Caught up with a few faces that we hadn't seen for some time, and drank far too much Tetley's.
Samwise got bored with some of the readings at the ceremony, and started shouting "The End!" half way through them.
It's been a few years since we've been back to Brum (we used to live there). There's a huge great Radisson Hotel at one end of New Street now, and a number of other developments. They haven't got rid of the so-called "concrete collar" as some of the redevelopment schemes promised, this is an inner ring road that circles the city centre and dips underground in a few places. Great for whizzing around town in a car. Frodo loved the tunnels.
The conference park is just behind "The Gun Barrels" pub, just past Pebble Mill off the Bristol Road. The wedding was in "Hornton Grange" and we stayed over the road in the accomodation at "Lucas House".
Managed to make breakfast, and got back home at mid-day. One of our neighbours invited us to an impromptu barbecue, so it was more booze and food in the Sun for the afternoon. Got to meet and chat with a few more of the neighbours.
Thoroughly good weekend.
Back to work today to discover, as expected, no flooding whatsoever. I noticed that some sandbags had been placed near our building and around the Liver Building, so the flood warning was being taken seriously.
Very busy day at work today. Little time to think, let alone blog.
Friday 8 September 2006
Flood Warning!
A warning has been issued today at work regarding possible flooding due to what could be the highest tides for the next 20 years. This particular disaster scenario originated from the Environment Agency.
Being right on the banks of the Mersey the Assassination Bureau is in a high risk area.
We've been asked not to leave cars in the car park overnight this weekend - presumably to prevent them from being smashed into the side of the building by the flood waters.
Luckily we're off to Brum this weekend to a friends wedding. Can't get more inland than that, and no river to speak of, so we should survive the deluge.
Also the weather is looking OK at the moment. There's only a risk if the higher than normal high tides (due to a spring tide coinciding with the September equinox) are combined with severe weather conditions.
Being right on the banks of the Mersey the Assassination Bureau is in a high risk area.
We've been asked not to leave cars in the car park overnight this weekend - presumably to prevent them from being smashed into the side of the building by the flood waters.
Luckily we're off to Brum this weekend to a friends wedding. Can't get more inland than that, and no river to speak of, so we should survive the deluge.
Also the weather is looking OK at the moment. There's only a risk if the higher than normal high tides (due to a spring tide coinciding with the September equinox) are combined with severe weather conditions.
Tuesday 5 September 2006
Scissor Brothers
Frodo was insisting on having a "small spoon" for breakfast this morning. I think I know why.
He did well with the Occupational Therapist yesterday, practising similar concepts, as well as drawing lines and cutting along them.
We've been giving him scissors at home to practice with, and have discovered ourselves shouting the immortal warning "Don't run with scissors!" to both children.
Sad to hear about the death of the Crocodile Hunter. Cha0tic has already received the first sick jokes on the subject.
He did well with the Occupational Therapist yesterday, practising similar concepts, as well as drawing lines and cutting along them.
We've been giving him scissors at home to practice with, and have discovered ourselves shouting the immortal warning "Don't run with scissors!" to both children.
Sad to hear about the death of the Crocodile Hunter. Cha0tic has already received the first sick jokes on the subject.
Sunday 3 September 2006
Sci Fi / Sci Fact
I've just read about the European Smart 1 Probe, which we deliberately smashed into the lunar surface early this morning in the interests of science and space exploration.
I discovered that it's powered by a Single Ion Engine. Given that we've just "attacked" the moon, then I would suggest that this makes it our first working SIE fighter. One more engine (Twin Ion Engine) and we would have had a TIE fighter.
I discovered that it's powered by a Single Ion Engine. Given that we've just "attacked" the moon, then I would suggest that this makes it our first working SIE fighter. One more engine (Twin Ion Engine) and we would have had a TIE fighter.
Saturday 2 September 2006
Young Jedi
Trip with Frodo to Toys 'R' Us today to buy a Birthday present for nephew "Little Boots" who we're visiting tomorrow. (His Birthday is 31 August, the same as Caligula hence "Little Boots").
Little Boots is into GeoMag, so I bought him a 46 piece set of flat panels, a 42 piece glow in the dark set and 2 20 piece red and blue sets.
I also purchased a Millenium Falcon from the Hasbro Star Wars "Galactic Heroes" range. These are realistic but chunky models, without too many fiddly pieces, so ideal for small playful hands. Frodo already has Luke Skywalkers X-Wing from the same range, which he loves. The MF is being put away for Christmas (early shopping saves disappointment). Also bought a small Obi Wan and Darth Vader figure set from the same range.
Thought Frodo wasn't paying attention when I bought them, but this afternoon he was sitting with a towel on his head saying "I'm Obi Wan Kenobi". (It was a green towel, so he looked more like Yoda to me).
Little Boots is into GeoMag, so I bought him a 46 piece set of flat panels, a 42 piece glow in the dark set and 2 20 piece red and blue sets.
I also purchased a Millenium Falcon from the Hasbro Star Wars "Galactic Heroes" range. These are realistic but chunky models, without too many fiddly pieces, so ideal for small playful hands. Frodo already has Luke Skywalkers X-Wing from the same range, which he loves. The MF is being put away for Christmas (early shopping saves disappointment). Also bought a small Obi Wan and Darth Vader figure set from the same range.
Thought Frodo wasn't paying attention when I bought them, but this afternoon he was sitting with a towel on his head saying "I'm Obi Wan Kenobi". (It was a green towel, so he looked more like Yoda to me).
Friday 1 September 2006
To the dump
Cleared out the big shed formerly known as the garage - I say this because it used to be a garage, but as the access gates to the back yard were bricked up some time ago you cannot get a car to it, let alone attempt to put one in it.
Pressed the button that converts the car into a Bin Wagon.
It only took 2 runs to the Otterspool Waste Recycling Centre (aka the local dump / tip) to get rid of all the scrap wood, metal, old dustsheets, rolls of carpet remnants, broken tools, rusty ornamental sword, broken traffic cone, burnt out kettle, old pan set, swing bin that's no longer swinging, alumininum loft ladders from Grandma Saruman's old house, wall ties, broken bricks, cement, rubble, roof tiles, broken wooden step ladders etc that had gathered there since we moved in 4 years ago. OK some of this was left by the previous occupants of the property e.g. the rusty ornamental sword, but the majority of it was ours.
Tonto: "Kimu Sabi, where are you riding to with that bin strapped to your back?"
Lone Ranger: "To the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump dump!"
Of course I had to throw in the traditional mattress, that will always appear in any skip if left to it's own devices (OK so this one was an old secondhand cot mattress, given to us by a relative).
The dumpcombers / scavengers who work at this particular place have large extendable gaff hooks, which they use for fishing choice items from out of the skips. I noticed that one of them retrieved the loft ladders with such a device.
Pressed the button that converts the car into a Bin Wagon.
It only took 2 runs to the Otterspool Waste Recycling Centre (aka the local dump / tip) to get rid of all the scrap wood, metal, old dustsheets, rolls of carpet remnants, broken tools, rusty ornamental sword, broken traffic cone, burnt out kettle, old pan set, swing bin that's no longer swinging, alumininum loft ladders from Grandma Saruman's old house, wall ties, broken bricks, cement, rubble, roof tiles, broken wooden step ladders etc that had gathered there since we moved in 4 years ago. OK some of this was left by the previous occupants of the property e.g. the rusty ornamental sword, but the majority of it was ours.
Tonto: "Kimu Sabi, where are you riding to with that bin strapped to your back?"
Lone Ranger: "To the dump, to the dump, to the dump, dump dump!"
Of course I had to throw in the traditional mattress, that will always appear in any skip if left to it's own devices (OK so this one was an old secondhand cot mattress, given to us by a relative).
The dumpcombers / scavengers who work at this particular place have large extendable gaff hooks, which they use for fishing choice items from out of the skips. I noticed that one of them retrieved the loft ladders with such a device.
Battle for Wesnoth
Just downloaded the Open Source (i.e. freeware) game Battle for Wesnoth and tried out the tutorial / introductory game.
Quite a good turn based, hex map strategy game. Got to grips with it fairly quickly and defeated the Orcs in a cross-river battle with my elvish recruits within an hour or so. Thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Nice little touches, such as Orcs get more powerful at night, and elves are stronger during the day (hint - don't try to defeat the Orc leader at night).
I'll have to try one of the beginners campaigns when I've got an hour or two to spare.
I took a risk and downloaded the unstable beta release, rather than the stable release. No problems until I saved and tried to run a replay of the game that I'd just completed. 'File is corrupt' messages appeared now and again, although the replay continued OK.
Guess that the stable version is a safer bet. Apart from this I didn't experience any problems with the actual gameplay.
Quite a good turn based, hex map strategy game. Got to grips with it fairly quickly and defeated the Orcs in a cross-river battle with my elvish recruits within an hour or so. Thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Nice little touches, such as Orcs get more powerful at night, and elves are stronger during the day (hint - don't try to defeat the Orc leader at night).
I'll have to try one of the beginners campaigns when I've got an hour or two to spare.
I took a risk and downloaded the unstable beta release, rather than the stable release. No problems until I saved and tried to run a replay of the game that I'd just completed. 'File is corrupt' messages appeared now and again, although the replay continued OK.
Guess that the stable version is a safer bet. Apart from this I didn't experience any problems with the actual gameplay.
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