Decorating the master bedroom...
Today we have chosen, and purchased, the wallpaper, paint, and some accessories a grand total of £270!! Amanda is still talking about changing the carpet, curtains and headboard - man this is going to get expensive!
Just tidied up some of the rubbish that has found a home on the dressing table etc. today. paintwork prep and wallpaper stripping will probably be done on Monday, as we have to go to Mom's tommorow, and then collect Amanda back from her mom's - she is staying over tonight to let Carol have a good nights sleep
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Lord of the Dance
Just returned from the NIA Academy in Birmingham where we have been to see "Lord of the Dance"...
It was great, I don't get too excited about dancing, but this is just something else. Just a pity the Mr Flatley isn't still in it. The guy dancing his part was really good, but just looked too young and too , well, nice to play the character.
Since returning I have booked tickets to see Michael Flatleys new show - also at the NIA - in April "Celtic Tiger" and "Jeff Wayne's Musical version of the War of the Worlds" at the NEC - also in April... Having left it late to book, I don't have great tickets for either show, but they are the type of show where a close up view may not be the best on to have, so I booked them anyway!!
It was great, I don't get too excited about dancing, but this is just something else. Just a pity the Mr Flatley isn't still in it. The guy dancing his part was really good, but just looked too young and too , well, nice to play the character.
Since returning I have booked tickets to see Michael Flatleys new show - also at the NIA - in April "Celtic Tiger" and "Jeff Wayne's Musical version of the War of the Worlds" at the NEC - also in April... Having left it late to book, I don't have great tickets for either show, but they are the type of show where a close up view may not be the best on to have, so I booked them anyway!!
Another Nikon for the Collection...
I am not too happy with the Minolta Compact camera I have been using for the last 18 Months, It is very bulky (for a compact) and it seems to be eating batteries for fun just lately, so I have decided that it too must be replaced... and as I am feeling very favourable towards Nikon recently I have decided that a Coolpix 7900 will be the replacement.
It's currently out of stock at Jessops (I want the black model), so delivery in 2 to 4 weeks....
It's currently out of stock at Jessops (I want the black model), so delivery in 2 to 4 weeks....
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
A Strange Xmas
It's been a bit odd this year, and to be honest - I will be glad to see the back of Christmas this year...
Amanda's dad, Mike, is *really* ill... On Christmas Eve he was hardley able to catch his breath, his chest was rattling with fluid and his colour was mid grey!! By Christmas day, he had imprived a little, but was still barely aware of anyone else being in the room with him. On Boxing day, he actually woke up for a few minutes, and his colour had improved a little. The strain is really starting to get to the rest of the family.
Having said all that, some very nice gifts were recieved this year...
A Pair of Golf Shoes,
A Statue (of a Golfer!!),
A large 'Cup and Saucer',
A 'Container Gardening' book,
Jeremy Clarksons book,
A Second 'American Chopper' - Cody's Bike
And the look on Alex's face when he got, not only, his Golf Bag AND a Guitar, but also a bed for Edward was fantastic, to round it off he got his first wrist watch today...!
Amanda's dad, Mike, is *really* ill... On Christmas Eve he was hardley able to catch his breath, his chest was rattling with fluid and his colour was mid grey!! By Christmas day, he had imprived a little, but was still barely aware of anyone else being in the room with him. On Boxing day, he actually woke up for a few minutes, and his colour had improved a little. The strain is really starting to get to the rest of the family.
Having said all that, some very nice gifts were recieved this year...
A Pair of Golf Shoes,
A Statue (of a Golfer!!),
A large 'Cup and Saucer',
A 'Container Gardening' book,
Jeremy Clarksons book,
A Second 'American Chopper' - Cody's Bike
And the look on Alex's face when he got, not only, his Golf Bag AND a Guitar, but also a bed for Edward was fantastic, to round it off he got his first wrist watch today...!
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Not really the sort of thing to Blog about
[Listening to: Comfortably Numb (Tiga Remix) - Scissor Sisters - Remixed! (05:49)]
From the Register:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/22/manslaughter_teen_blog_confession/
Dear Santa...
[Listening to: Comfortably Numb (Tiga Remix) - Scissor Sisters - Remixed! (05:49)]
If it's not too late....
Can I have one of these for christmas please....
Feeling a little SMUG
[Listening to: Comfortably Numb (Atoc Dub Remix) - Scissor Sisters - Remixed! (04:45)]
I am actually feeling quite smug and just a little bit pleased with myself... Why? because I gave blood yesterday...
At this time of year, it is way too easy to not bother, but bother I did.
Hospital Appointment
[Listening to: Comfortably Numb (Atoc Dub Remix) - Scissor Sisters - Remixed! (04:45)]
I have just recieved my appointment to attend the Outpatient Clinic, in the department of General Surgery at Russells Hall Hospital, on the 23rd January 2006.
Finally used the Nikon
[Listening to: Filthy And Gorgeous (Atoc Vs Superbuddha Remix) - Scissor Sisters - Remixed! (04:14)]
Yesterday lunchtime I took advantage of the pleasent weather to go a walk into Birmingham town centre, and took the D50 with me.. The results of this trip can be seen here
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Tried VISTA again...
This is the third time I have installed Windows Vista (AKA Longhorn) on the laptop, this time build 5270, and sadly for the third I have removed it pretty quickly. This time it looked a lot better than the first time, more feature are present, and the needlesly complicated virtual folder nonsence has been improved... however, a Centrino based laptop that cannot see the wireless adaptor is of no use to me!
I even went to the Intel site and downloaded the Vista BETA driver, and installed that - It still cannot see any wireless networks!!
It is also a shame that the video card in the laptop is not capable of displaying the AERO interface, so no transparent windows etc.
The install routine has been improved a lot, but it was *really* slow, taking almost 1.5 hours to complete - previous builds were about 1 hour.
Just as well I ghosted the laptop before I started - ah well, better luck next time.
I even went to the Intel site and downloaded the Vista BETA driver, and installed that - It still cannot see any wireless networks!!
It is also a shame that the video card in the laptop is not capable of displaying the AERO interface, so no transparent windows etc.
The install routine has been improved a lot, but it was *really* slow, taking almost 1.5 hours to complete - previous builds were about 1 hour.
Just as well I ghosted the laptop before I started - ah well, better luck next time.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Weight Check
At 19:30 on 30-07-2005 : 14st 1lb, 26.7% BF
At 16:30 on 14-08-2005 : 13st 5lb, 26.3% BF
At 19:30 on 29-08-2005 : 13st 3lb, 25.8% BF
At 17:30 on 12-09-2005 : 13st 0lb, 25.7% BF
At 17:30 on 26-09-2005 : 12st 12lb, 25.0% BF
At 19:30 on 10-10-2005 : 12st 10lb, 24.5% BF
At 17:30 on 24-10-2005 : 12st 8 lb, 24.9% BF
At 18:30 on 07-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 21-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 05-12-2005 : 12st 6 lb, 23.1% BF
At 22:00 on 19-12-2005 : 12st 4 lb, 22.9% BF
Although I am still generally relaxed about my intake, I have been a little stricter this week to allow a bit more lattitude over the Christmas holidays. Added to this, my training regime now includes quite a bit more CV exercise, which seems to burn the fat off quite well.
I am clocking in at between 7:30 and 8:00 minutes for a single timed mile at present. I would like to try and get that up to 16 minutes for 2 miles as my next major benchmark.
At 16:30 on 14-08-2005 : 13st 5lb, 26.3% BF
At 19:30 on 29-08-2005 : 13st 3lb, 25.8% BF
At 17:30 on 12-09-2005 : 13st 0lb, 25.7% BF
At 17:30 on 26-09-2005 : 12st 12lb, 25.0% BF
At 19:30 on 10-10-2005 : 12st 10lb, 24.5% BF
At 17:30 on 24-10-2005 : 12st 8 lb, 24.9% BF
At 18:30 on 07-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 21-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 05-12-2005 : 12st 6 lb, 23.1% BF
At 22:00 on 19-12-2005 : 12st 4 lb, 22.9% BF
Although I am still generally relaxed about my intake, I have been a little stricter this week to allow a bit more lattitude over the Christmas holidays. Added to this, my training regime now includes quite a bit more CV exercise, which seems to burn the fat off quite well.
I am clocking in at between 7:30 and 8:00 minutes for a single timed mile at present. I would like to try and get that up to 16 minutes for 2 miles as my next major benchmark.
Friday, December 16, 2005
The Minolta has a new home
[Listening to: Across the Universe of Time - Silent Night, Holy Night - Pure - Special Edition (03:43)]
Today I posted the Minolta A200 to it's new owner in Oldham.. I got £270 for it, a figure I am very happy with. jessops had only offered £100 in part-ex against the Nikon!!
Friday, December 09, 2005
Boys Toys
[Listening to: Everyday - Erasure - Other People's Songs (02:01)]
Today I once again went into Jessops at merry Hill to torture myselft over a new camera...
OK! I admit it I cracked under pressure - I am now the proud owner of a Nikon D50 Digital SLR camera, a 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED lens and a 70-300mm f4-5.6 G lens. I also had a 512 MB 80x SD memory card and a Lowpro bag.
All in a grand total of £655
Oh yes, the reasoning for picking the D50 over the D70s... twofold, one - price, I just could not spend the extra, and two - a nine week delay in getting any stock of the D70s
Looks like I'd better get the Minolta A200 on EBay, pretty sharpish!!
EDIT:
It's now on EBay
FIA push ahead with planned aero changes
[Listening to: Let's All Make A Bomb - Heaven 17 - Penthouse And Pavement (04:07)]
From www.formula1.com:
The FIA’s World Motorsport Council met on Friday and agreed the main objectives of the 2008 Formula One Technical Regulations.
The FIA's Centreline Downwash Generating (CDG) Wing design. October 24, 2005. © FIAFollowing the FIA’s recent release of plans for their Centreline Downwash Generating (CDG) rear wing, one of those objectives remains to change the aerodynamic characteristics of the cars so as to make it easier to overtake without increasing cornering speeds. The other is to reduce drastically the cost of competing.
According to the FIA, detailed 2008 regulations will be finalised in the week commencing December 19, 2005, and will include:
A standard Electronic Control Unit
Long life engines
Long life gearboxes
A single tyre supplier
Restrictions on the ability of the teams to change their aerodynamics during the season
Rev-limited engines
and other measures
OK, I understand What they want to do, and Why they want it done, but surely this range of changes removes the cutting edge technology that is supposed to make F1 the pinnacle of motorsport?
ALWAYS read the small print...
[Listening to: The Way - Clay Aiken - Measure Of A Man (04:06)]
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/12/08/xbox_photo_auction/
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Weight Check
At 19:30 on 30-07-2005 : 14st 1lb, 26.7% BF
At 16:30 on 14-08-2005 : 13st 5lb, 26.3% BF
At 19:30 on 29-08-2005 : 13st 3lb, 25.8% BF
At 17:30 on 12-09-2005 : 13st 0lb, 25.7% BF
At 17:30 on 26-09-2005 : 12st 12lb, 25.0% BF
At 19:30 on 10-10-2005 : 12st 10lb, 24.5% BF
At 17:30 on 24-10-2005 : 12st 8 lb, 24.9% BF
At 18:30 on 07-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 21-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 05-12-2005 : 12st 6 lb, 23.1% BF
I have continued my relaxed attitude to my intake, without going too mad, and have still maintained the weight. Very pleased indeed.
The training Session with Liz last week, went well and I have a new program to (hopefully) prevent boredom setting in...
At 16:30 on 14-08-2005 : 13st 5lb, 26.3% BF
At 19:30 on 29-08-2005 : 13st 3lb, 25.8% BF
At 17:30 on 12-09-2005 : 13st 0lb, 25.7% BF
At 17:30 on 26-09-2005 : 12st 12lb, 25.0% BF
At 19:30 on 10-10-2005 : 12st 10lb, 24.5% BF
At 17:30 on 24-10-2005 : 12st 8 lb, 24.9% BF
At 18:30 on 07-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 21-11-2005 : 12st 7 lb, 23.9% BF
At 22:00 on 05-12-2005 : 12st 6 lb, 23.1% BF
I have continued my relaxed attitude to my intake, without going too mad, and have still maintained the weight. Very pleased indeed.
The training Session with Liz last week, went well and I have a new program to (hopefully) prevent boredom setting in...
Monday, December 05, 2005
Amy is 12 Today
How time flies...
For her birthday, she has had a makeover at Boots No7 counter, and recieved £50 worth of cosmetics.
Click on the above image for a larger (870 KB version) of Amy in her very natural looking makeup.
For her birthday, she has had a makeover at Boots No7 counter, and recieved £50 worth of cosmetics.
Click on the above image for a larger (870 KB version) of Amy in her very natural looking makeup.
Now *that's* III
True to his word, my new plugs arrived in the post today. Tommorow will be the first chance I get to wear them, so lets see how well they do...
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