Toys have been delivered

[Listening to: Episode 1 - The End - - (30:02)]

Tonight I have been over to the Parcelline depot to collect Amy's phone, and yesterday the XBOX was delivered. The phone is on charge, and the XBOX is well hidden - It's to be a "Family" xmas present. Still waiting for the games... The post office left a card today with two packages that could not be delivered - it may be the games, or simply the Paper and ink I ordered for the printer! I can't collect those till 45 hours, yes you read right 45 hours have elapsed from the failed delivery!!!

The Family is getting a new toy

[Listening to: Comfortably Numb - Scissor Sisters - Scissor Sisters (04:26)]

Did I ever mention that our Video Recorder is broken? NO! Oh... Well about 12 months ago there was a power cut on the estate, and when power was resumed, the clock on the VCR was 'stuck' at 06:00... Nevermind, we don't record on it (Sky +), in fact we hardly ever use it at all!! Then a few months ago, we had another power failure, this time when service was restored the VCR was completely fried! As I said - it's not a big deal, I have hardly any Video tapes, and we use Sky+ for recording - so I may as well scrap the box...

Trouble with that is a large space under the TV, so I have just ordered a new toy to fill the space : A Crystal XBox !!!

I am getting the Console, a SCART cable, and two games : "Shark Tale" for the kids, "Burnout 3: Takedown" for me

Amy is getting a new cellphone

[Listening to: Lifted - Lighthouse Family - Ocean Drive (04:34)]

It was such a shame, Amy loves having her mobile "pay as you go" phone, she saves up pocket money for top-ups and is never without it - But every few weeks she gets a £3.00 Ring Tone text message with no obvious source that completely wipes out her credits.

I have spoken to Orange, and unfortunately unless we can find out who is sending them, we cannot stop them - but there is no "from" number!

So, I have agreed that she can have an early xmas present, she is getting a "Samsung E700" on contract next week. Orange are currently offering that phone for FREE, with 120 minutes talktime (any network, any time) and 30 text messages per month for £15. That should be arriving on Tuesday.

As this one is a 'flip' phone, it should also stop her making "accidental" calls - she kept forgetting to lock the keypad on the Nokia!

I have warned her NOT to let anyone else play with this phone! She used to pass the 8310 around her friends as if it was some sort of game machine!!

School Choices Made

On Tuesday night, after much deliberation Amy decide that she wanted Earls, Hillcrest, Leasows as her three school choices. The LEA form was filled in and posted off.

Now we need to wait till April to see which school she gets offered.

Just to spice things up a bit, last night there was a suspected arson attack at Earls School, and most of the 1st Floor was destroyed!

The SV is back...

[Listening to: Aerozone - Jean Michel Jarre - Aero (04:57)]

I picked my SV100 back up from the shop last night - Joy!! Sorry I just do not like the Hornet, way to "Revvy", lacking in low end power - I spent most of my time on the bike going up and down the gearbox... If you enjoy winding on the revs (6000 to 11000) you would probably enjoy it. The other problem was the size : ITS TINY!!!

I was wrong about the cost : The final bill was about £280 - But what the hell, it looks really cool and feels great!

As soon as we get a nice sunny day, I will post a picture.

Secondary School : Part TWO The Earls

[Listening to: Last Rendez-Vous - Jean Michel Jarre - Aero (05:08)]

Last night was the turn of "The Earls" school in Halesowen to host prospective year 6 pupils and parents. Like Hillcrest, the school buildings and facilities were well presented and a good case was made in an excellent speech by the headmaster, unlike Hillcrest - this is a mixed school.

Music and Drama facilities were good, they are a "Performing Arts College" teaching Drama and Dance up to A Level, computers were generally quite good spec and well networked, they even offer the option of taking MSCA alongside GCSE's in Computing!!

It's now up to Amy to decide which of these two schools she would prefer to go to, the 3rd option being Leasows school. This is the nearest school, but the condition of the facilities are a disgrace, the pupils seemed surley and uninterested on the tour and the exam results are, quite frankly, poor.

New helmet

I have just treated myself to a new helmet, I have been wearing a shoei XR900 for almost 3 years now, and have take a real fancy to the new XR1000. It is so light (1.3 KG!), and fits so well...

My favourite is the Kagayama paint scheme...

SV1000 - Making it my own

I have been riding the SV1000 for a few weeks now, and love it to bits... There were just two minor issues, 1) the lack of a screen made motorway riding less fun than it should have done, and 2) the riding position, although upright was still just a little too far forwards for confort after 30 minutes...

So, on Friday I fitted a "Bug Screen" - £40, it's not big, but it just gives that little bit of protection at 70 MPH, and today the bike is in the workshop at Streetbike to have the handlebars changed to a set of "medium" Renthal bars. This is rapidly turning out to be quiet expensive! The bars are only £25, the fitting - about 2 hours in total - £100, but it also ment the frontbrake hose and the clutch hose needed changing (too short!), that's about another £120 (Blue Stainless steel braided), so I am not expecting much change from £250!!

Add to that, they only found the clutch hose wouldn't reach once they fitted the new bars - so the hose won't be in stock till tommorow.... and I am going to be riding a Hornet 600 courtesy bike for the next day or two!