Life, the universe and everything else

Weaving around the blogosphere

2011-07-18T07:47:00.000Z

So sat here looking at my blog following the weekend I thought I'd hit the "Next Blog" button on the top. I dont know if its just me, but are 99% of the blogs out there about knitting, weaving, quilting etc? I'm sure its a worthwhile and rewarding hobby - but how come they're all about that?

Weird!

The other 1% though, I did come across the The Welch Family blog. It was the photo's that caught my eye.. Stunning! Wish I could use my camera that well. It made me laugh though - its just the sort of thing my 3 would do - assemble a course out of couch cushions, throw in some duvets... lol

Google+... the new Facebook?

2011-07-14T15:59:00.000Z

If, like me, you can't wait to try out new things then I'm sure you've already got your hands on a Google+ invite. I received mine from a friend (Thanks Alan!) a couple of days ago and since then I've been toying with, configuring, uploading and posting away until my little heart is content... and I've got to say I'm impressed!

But is it worthy competition for Facebook?

If you're the kind of person that jumps on FB and plays Farmville, Backyard Monsters, Ravenwood Fair or any of the thousands of mini games/apps out there then Google+ will disappoint you... at this current time there are no "apps" for it.

However if you go on FB to post statuses to friends, share those photo's and video's, interesting news stories and dont want a thousand and one requests to send a bushel, collect free fuel for your tractor or be warned that Billy Bob is unlocking Teratorn.. then you're going to love it!

Google+ is simplistic without being simple. Its clean, neat, not at all cluttered. Its easy to use and if you're a big fan of Google you'll love the way it quickly and simply links into your Picasa, Buzz and Google Talk. It has 4 main functions - Home, Photos, Profile and Circles.

Home is basically your news feed - they call it Stream. The photos - well, these are your photos! Profile - yep, its all about you! Circles is what really works and really works well. It allows you to put your friends, colleagues, family etc into circles. You can then choose when you post something which circle you want it to appear to. So, if you have your kids in a circle (called Kids) Yes, you can make your own circles)) and you want to post something with an adult theme, then you can choose to send it to all circles except that one. If you want to slag off your family.. just send it to your friends circle. You can add people to multiple circles if you wish and as I said before, you can create your own circles.

So Google+..... could it beat FB. It has the potential - I dont think FB is down and out by any means - but there are ALOT of people out there in FB land that are sick of the spam feeds. Google+ just might be the place they end up.

Incidently - Google+ is 2 weeks old and according to this report, its already reached 10million people. Okay, its not FB's 750million... but 10million in a week is pretty good going!

Padme & Naboo

2011-07-14T15:18:00.000Z

This is Padme

This is Naboo

The don't always stay this still!

They are usually doing this:

or this:

or this

But they are so much fun.. and sooooo cute!

Big in the Netherlands

2011-07-13T15:14:00.005Z

Apparently I'm big over there. I don't know why.. but according to my stats... the Netherlands is where I am at! These are my audience figures

Netherlands

449

South Korea

277

Russia

200

United States

122

France

103

Iran

Germany

Latvia

Poland

Ukraine

Back to life.....

2011-07-13T15:02:00.001Z

Well well well... here I am again.. some 3 years later. It's Mags' fault I looked at this, well Mags and Google+.

Mags, because she's posted all over her facebook that she's started a blog, then another blog and it got me thinking about mine.... and Google+ because during the set up and configuring of this all new social network you end up exploring parts of your google profile you've probably forgotten existed.

So here I am... a little older, a lot greyer and a bit fatter.Hey ho.

So, rather than trying to backtag EVERYTHING that's happened over the past 3 years, simply put

I'm single, well separated, soon to be divorced.
I still have 3 fantastic kids
I still have my best bud Dion in the USA
I'm still working for the same firm
I ended up with the BMW :)

So there we go - let the blogging recommence.

Hopefully

Computa!

2008-03-01T13:40:00.000Z

Busy busy couple of weeks.

I got a new machine - upgraded motherboard, CPU, PSU, case, Graphics Card and RAM, must most significant for me, update OS. Moved from XP Pro to Vista Ultimate. Despite being rather concerned about upgrading to Vista, I must admit, I love it! Its got so many "sensible" features, it runs quickly and its so easy. I've had particular fun with Windows Movie Maker (which yes, I know I had on XP) and more often, with Windows DVD Maker. Its so easy to set everything up and burn it to DVD. I've done 3 tapes worth so far, with 3 more VHS to copy!

So, as you can imagine, and is the normal case, I have shitloads of stuff on my old XP machine that needs bringing over to this one. I still havent finished it all yet, however one bonus thing is that I now have 2 machines quite cabable of running SWG and EQ2! Plus with the home network I see everything on both machines, 2 network drives lata and I have masses of space!

Aswell as all that, I've been discovering the delights of Windows Media Center. Doesn't that just look the mutts nuts?! Brings a whole new life to the XBox.

Only drawback, if I had to pick one - the networked drives are on my old machine, which is in my 10yr olds bedroom - which means I can't access them after 9-10pm, since he's in bed. Wish I could figure out this "wake on LAN" thing!

Lata
P

Thought of the Day

2008-02-19T13:55:00.000Z

I have come to the conclusion that Walkers, in their infinite wisdom, appear to have withdrawn the sale of single bags of Smokey Bacon crisps, as I have only been able to find them in multipacks.

I am distraught

Please report all findings of single pack Smokey Bacon flavour!

Bloody Traffic

2008-02-13T16:38:00.000Z

What a week! Been driving to Manchester and back this week. I could have stayed away, but with some recent changes at work I am not stopping away as much as I usually do primarily to prove a point, but also because to be completely honest, I've pretty much had enough (and there's nothing like your own bed :D )

This weeks been pretty foggy, and this is pretty much what greeted me on my morning journey

As promised... CHEERLEADERS

2008-02-11T21:58:00.000Z

As promised, I finally got my camera to talk to my computer and transferred the pictures I took while in the states. So, this is my first experience of an American Football, and what a fantastic experience it was

The Golden Compass

2008-02-09T23:34:00.001Z

I watched The Golden Compass today, a few weeks after reading Northern Lights (the film was based on the book for those that don't know). To be honest, I was pretty disappointed in the film. It didn't keep my attention for long at all and I found myself wandering into the kitchen for a coffee or something without bothering to pause it. It felt dis-jointed and the storyline in comparison to the book felt very lacking with loads of what I would call important parts missing. The whole back story of who the main character is, her parentage is dealt with so differently. In the film this part of the story doesn't link up with how the character meets a certain faction of people. (notice how I am not giving too much away!), she just meets them. The ending was the most disappointing. In the film, its all happy, whereas in the book, while its really very good, its not left on the same note. So, overall disappointing for me.

Worth a watch. Yes.

Gonna buy it on DVD? Probably not.

Well, 1 out of 2 ain't bad

2008-02-09T17:23:00.001Z

Okay so 1 out of 2 worked! My blogger.com blog published it straight away, looks pretty good too! I've tried this in the past and it looked awful, but I am guessing thats because my old work email client didn't send in HTML, now we use Outlook it does, and it looks okay.

As for windows live spaces (pah!), nothing has been published... yet!

Keeping fingers crossed, as I leave to go to the in laws for dinner, that on my return it will be there, all published, ready to read.

Anyway, a roast dinner calls for now. Later I have websites, Star Wars Galaxies, The Golden Compass, City of Heroes, EQ2 to talk about (yes, that was really a reminder list for me really!)

Lata

A quick update

2008-02-09T17:18:00.001Z

This is a brief update, well more of a test to be honest. This entry was sent via email, and all things working and being equal, it will

a) Appear on my blog(s)

b) Look okay with regard to font, spacing

c) Publish straight away.

Here goes

Pressing the SEND button now

*SEND*

New Years Resolution 2008-9

2008-01-29T23:48:00.000Z

Dion and I have made a pact. (another one!)

I am going to be living in the USA by 15th March 2009.

We're going to do the St Patricks Day Parade 2009 together.

Anyone want to employ me in Massachusetts please!!

I confess

2008-01-29T22:30:00.000Z

Okay, I admit it, I am the worlds worst blogger. I leave it for months and months and months, then like now, I realise a) i havent updated in in AGES, b)I have so much to say so set out with good intentions then c)I start, promising myself a mammoth post that dwindles to a bunch of old hooey that means nothing to no one. I'd like to blog in a profound manner, in a funny way but it always seems to come out wrong. I'm not even sure if anyone actually reads any of this (if you're reading, please say Hi!). So.. all that aside, please find my first false promise of blogging 2008. This is going to be a HUGE backdated blog entry, telling you everything funny, amusing and noteworthy since my last! Here goes!

btw - save having to look through a massive posts, I'm separating them

iPhone FTW!

2008-01-16T12:20:00.000Z

While on vacation (to use the correct country specific terminology) I took the opportunity to buy a new Apple iPhone, purely to take advantage of the cheaper price in the US compared to the UK (well, isn't everything cheaper?)

OMG - what a purchase. I absolutely love it! Its probably the best thing I have ever purchased for a long time. Its my iPod, its the internet, its near as dammit sat nav, its my Outlook calendar, I mean, what more could you ask for! Amazing bit of kit.

Now, those that keep up with technology news etc may be asking "how can an iPhone in the US work in the UK?"

Hackint0sh FTW!

And now, for interest, my iPhone springboard - customise is just one of the features available when utilising the Hackint0sh forum

Happy New Year 2008!

2008-01-04T22:53:00.000Z

Happy New Year to you all.

As is becoming customary, I spent not only New Year, but for the first time my family and I spent Christmas in the States. Now, for me, this didn't present such a big deal. I grew up with divorced parents so Christmas was always something where one year I'd be here, next year I'd be there, as I grew older and left home I've spent Christmas in my own company, so it doesn't really bother me at all. My wife however, she's very family orientated and I wasn't sure how this would go down. The kids were so excited, primarily concerned that Santa wouldn't know where they were. Between them I think we sent off over 10 letters, explaining what they wanted, how perhaps, since they'd been good and that the pound was worth double the dollar, maybe they could have double presents and reiterating each time not to go to England, but drop their stuff off in America. Oh, how they worried.

Suffice to say, a most amazing time was had by all. The kids admittedly end up with more than they would have got in the UK, but for those prices, it'd be rude not to. Christmas was a fun affair. Dion and I cooked (well, he cooked, I assisted (kind of)), we ate out, we drank (yes, *I* actually drank.) we went out and it probably one of the, if not the best Christmas and New Year I've ever had.

I hated coming home tho. I always struggle on that part, saying goodbye to my best mate is difficult and as much as we talk on various chat programs usually daily and on the phone at the weekends, its just not the same as being in the same room. Its tough. He's the Mr don't show emotion out of the two of us, so he's dropping us off at the airport, hugs and he's off. I'm gutted. I'm sure he is too.. I think its inside him though! Anyway, I digress, tears were a flowing from my eldest and the wife. I'm sure, if push really really came to shove and I said "bugger it, lets just stay" then she jump at the chance.

Hey ho, what you gonna do. Here's looking forward to the next holiday

FOOTBALL!!

2007-12-23T23:30:00.000Z

I've never been to any large event of any kind before, so for my first experience of mass gatherings, Dion arranged tickets for us to go and see the New England Patriots play the Miami Dolphins in Boston at the Gillette Stadium.

OMFG - I have never had such an awesome time. It was completely different to how I was imagining it, the game was kewl and by the 3rd quarter I was up out of my seat at every exciting moment! Loved every minute of it. If I ever get my stupid phone to talk to my computer I can post the pictures of the game, the stadium....

and the cheerleaders :D

Goodbye

2007-12-10T15:46:00.000Z

My grandad passed away a couple of weeks ago after a short illness. I'll always remember him as a keen gardener - he was always out there, tending to something, moving things around, creating beds, harvesting fruit. He was also an amazing Chef, this was his trade for many years and his cooking was amazing. People have asked me "We're you close?" and I'm still not sure exactly what this means. I didn't see him every day despite the fact he only lived a couple of miles down the road. He wasn't one for small talk or idle chit-chat, if I did see him more often than the fortnightly, perhaps monthly that I did, I'm sure we'd run out of things to talk about. He'd retire to his comfy chair, the cricket or horse-racing on TV with his head immersed in the newspaper, nothing else to say or talk about.

The funeral was really nice, not my kind of thing at all, but very moving and quite light-hearted. There wasn't a huge turn out, but many familiar faces were there, faces I've grown up with in the village. It was nice to see how well respected he was and just how much people thought of him.

So, that was that. /hugs to my Grandad, who will be missed by us all.

Happy Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T02:38:00.000Z

This one goes to Dion and his family to wish them all a Happy Thanksgiving. Here's hoping you stuff yourselves silly on poultry and have a fantastic day and couple days off work!

Here's to you m8, all the very best and lets hope these next 27 days pass quicker than we both hope they will

This week

2007-11-13T16:48:00.001Z

This week finds me stuck in Colchester for a week, Sunday thru Friday. One of our biggest customers (maybe our biggest? I dunno) is going live on the system and a team of us have been drafted in to ensure everything goes smoothly, runs without problem and have adequate hand hold during what they consider to be a very traumatic time.

So here I am.. Tuesday. There have been raised voices (not mine), laughs and fun (mainly me and my colleague Nick) but on the whole it seems to be going ok. I usually get quite sensitive on these go lives and want to ensure that everything goes really well.. but so far, I don't have this knotted feeling in my stomach, I don't feel stressed and it all seeeeeeeems to be going ok

So far..

Choices - Part Two!

2007-11-11T16:41:00.000Z

What am I to do!

Further choices have presented themselves.. however existing choices have been reduced due to crap engine choices and terrible CO2 emissions.

So, currently, we are considering

This (hot favourite)

This (the original, still the best)

This (new out, high CO2's, but quite nice) but NO AIR CON as standard. WTF are VW playing at?????)

or this (the old favourite, fall back plan)

Welcome Back.......

2007-11-02T16:32:00.000Z

......to Hobbes.

Anyone who's read any of my previous blog entries will know that I do enjoy a good read of this particular blog, one of many I like to keep up with. Anyhow, this particular blog went quite in early January following an extensive active period which was a shame. I enjoy reading about the exploits of HMPH, VGM, Caveboy and Alien and to find no more entries was almost as terrible as coming to the final chapter of the last Harry Potter book.! So, its good to see that Hobbes has returned to the land of the blog.

Welcome back Hobbes! You have been missed.

Choices

2007-10-22T14:54:00.001Z

There are important choices to be made. Should it be

1. This

2. This

3. or This

Number 1 is hot favourite.. but number 3 is coming up quickly. I already have number 2, so perhaps its a bit boring to get the same. I dunno

As of today it is.....

2007-10-21T14:25:00.000Z

TWO MONTHS TO GO!!

Is it December yet?