Just right. An evening picnic with my sons.
Two Annoyances
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Number 1
This might seem trivial but it’s the little things that will grind us down. When I shop in Tesco and pay at the self-service till I am pretty sure the lovely lady says:
Clubcard excepted.
It’s probably just her accent but I don’t like it. She should, of course, be saying:
Clubcard accepted.
That would make me happier.
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Number 2
When broadband supplying companies are advertising perhaps they could actually state a speed rather than just a value. They seem to say:
Speeds of up to 8 megabits
Now, you know I’m this fussy! 8 megabits is not a speed. You have to have a compound measure for speed because it’s a rate. They should be saying:
Speeds of up to 8 megabits per second
If both these things happened I would be a happy man!
Top Song
Just been playing some AC/DC while completing a few laps on the GT6 demo. All of a sudden, well, not really, it was the next track but “You shook me all night long” came on.
It is a brilliant song. I just love it. The riff, the lyrics, the late 80s. How it makes me feel. How it makes me happy.
Just awesome.
Twitter have changed something. My website no longer has a twitter feed down the RHS. Also, my communications aren’t being posted to Twitter automatically, a slight inconvenience.
Well, I’m sure I can cope but I don’t like it when I have things working how I want them and then, kapow, things change. It’s not right.
A Lovely Place To Work
What a lovely setting for work!
USA Pictures
Finally got some prints from my DC trip at Easter. Had my panoramas printed, only the lovely things obviously.
Here’re the X-15 and SR-71 in the dining room:
Here’s the orbiter Discovery next to my Cylon guardian:
And finally the Capitol sitting on the other side of my Cylon:
Download 2013 – My Friday
Friday
I left work and battled through the traffic at the Dartford Tunnel and then the M1 just being busy. I found the hotel easy enough and Andy had left the key under the door mat so that all worked out ok.
Had some rum and got a cab to the festival. It took at good 25 minutes to walk from the taxi rank to the main arena. I tried getting in touch with Andy but with so many mobiles around a concentrated site the signal was appalling.
Bullet for my Valentine
I could hear and see this band as I was walking around the arena trying to get some food and Jagermeister. They sounded alright. Not really my stuff, but not the worst in the world. I was more interested in seeing the Friday night headliners.
Slipknot
I have know about this band for a long time. My first contact with them was when they played “Wait and Bleed” on TFI Friday in about 2000 or so. I bought the first album straight after that and then even the next two. I hadn’t bought any more and didn’t really listen to it that often. That will change. They were fantastic. The show was excellent and has made me a huge fan.
After the show it was great to meet with Andy and his parents. On the way back to the guest house we argued about the usual things we argue about!
Vegetables 2013
This year’s vegetables are growing well. I’m looking forward to carrots, parsnips and tomatoes later in the summer.
Slip Lane
This communication has been brewing for a few weeks now. It is time to let off some steam. I have two driving issues that I wish to highlight.
Slip Lane
When I learnt to drive I was told that the slip road to a motorway or dual carriage way was for cars to speed up and be able to enter the main carriage way safely. As even the slowest trucks generally do around 60mph it seems reasonable to expect drivers to SPEED UP to at least 60 mph so that we can all enter the motorway in the safest fashion possible. This does not seem to happen.
Many times recently I have been sitting in my car at 40 or 50 mph while trying to get onto the motorway because the idiot in front of me won’t speed up. It’s a motorway you moron. Let’s get a move on and be safe, or just don’t drive.
Village
The roads to where I live are a little narrow and twisty and different. I understand that people who aren’t from around here might want to take things easy. I don’t mind that. I find it a bit irritating but it’s fair enough in all honesty. So these drivers potter along the lanes at 40mph. I understand.
What I don’t understand is that these morons then continue to do 40mph through the village. It’s a 30 zone, FCS. There are kids playing in the field and old people and cars parked everywhere. If you insist on driving slowly along the national speed limit roads then please do the same in the village and be aware of your surroundings. It’s 30mph for a reason. The throttle isn’t stuck at 40mph, lift off a little.
Those who recklessly speed through the village are a different matter.
Rant over for now.
Injury
I spent two hours at a Gladiator school in Rome on Saturday and I think we were fortunate that we weren’t allowed to fight each other with the metal swords!
The only injury I got was from the back of the shield rubbing my hand. Poor me! Altogether now: ahhhh.
Peaceful Evening
It was a lovely evening here in Kent tonight. Clear blue skies and little wind.
IGN
Talk about worldwide conspiracy theories! This one’s real!
A group of us arrived in Rome and needed somewhere to dance a bit, because one of our party hadn’t been out for four years. We were completely unaware of what sort of establishments were available (it was midnight). Fortunately Mr G knew someone who knew someone etc.
With a phone call to someone in Bologna, that person then recommended Muccassassina and phoned the club to get us onto the guest list. We took a taxi to Rome’s (more likely Europe’s) premier LGBT spot. When we arrived it took three further circular phone calls to Bologna and discussions with the management to get us into the club for free, but we did it, thanks to the IGN. Really impressed.
I was even more impressed with the helicopter sitting in the beer garden. Most excellent.
Rome
Just had a great time on tour with the boys in Rome. On the flight home I had Ronan Keating sitting behind me and Ian Somerhalder sitting next to me. I blanked them and tried to sleep.
Now following rule #1.
What’s Going On?
I had a complaint or rather more of a suggestion.
Could I somehow differentiate my standard communications from my album reviews?
So, standard communications are now tagged and categorised under the code word:
Penguin
If you want to avoid my album reviews the search Penguin or look for that category.
Thanks Marc.
Good TV
This is a favourite show of mine. It’s a simple, delightful animation from the BBC. Ladies and gentlemen I give you Dipdap:
Why I Go To Church
I found this in the local church magazine [You’ve got to look at these things if only to get the gossip]. What amused me most was the utter lack of mention of christ or god. It appears that this person goes for social and meditation reasons. We are tribal animals and feel the need to be in like minded groups, that’s why I see my friends. I don’t need to try and believe in a man-in-the-sky to get fulfilment in my life.
As I say in the page about me, follow the evidence. Find out for yourself. Ask questions. Reject dogma.
That was about as calm as I’m willing to go on this matter.
Toys of the Sons Part 30
Here’s what my sons took to nursery to play with today.
#1
#2
Classic
Went to see the classic cars at Bearsted green earlier. Here’re a couple of shots that #1 son took. He can definitely frame a photo well.
Slow Worm – Summer 2013
Here’s our resident slow-worm showing off in the afternoon sun. It’s about 30cm long and was found near an ants’ nest. Is that what they eat? Don’t know.
Llamas, in Kent?
Not sure these are native (!) but nice to see anyway.
