Today I received my ten year long service award from work. Of course this doesn't mean I've worked for the same company all that time. On the contrary I've worked for two companies on three sites under four different names.
I did get two rather lovely whisky tumblers though to share a drink with the husband who I've known for all those ten years.
Thursday, 24 April 2008
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Innocent photographer or terrorist?
I tell you, we are doing the work of the terrorists for them.
Read this.
To quote:
"There's a great deal of paranoia around but the police are on alert for anything that vaguely resembles terrorism."
Really, we don't need to do the job of the terrorist for them. The press and government seem to have whipped up this country into a fever of suspicion; step out of line, and you are obviously doing something wrong, and must be taken away.
It really saddens me. Aren't we supposed to be the ones with all the civil liberties? How long till we are as controlled by the authorities as Iran and China?
Read this.
To quote:
"There's a great deal of paranoia around but the police are on alert for anything that vaguely resembles terrorism."
Really, we don't need to do the job of the terrorist for them. The press and government seem to have whipped up this country into a fever of suspicion; step out of line, and you are obviously doing something wrong, and must be taken away.
It really saddens me. Aren't we supposed to be the ones with all the civil liberties? How long till we are as controlled by the authorities as Iran and China?
Monday, 14 April 2008
Friday, 11 April 2008
And its fixed!
It was the fuel pump in the end. All now repaired with a shiny new one.
Though I could have bought a pair of flashes for that price...
Though I could have bought a pair of flashes for that price...
Thursday, 10 April 2008
The car's still broke.
The garage thinks that its the fuel pump too. Sadly they couldn't get a new one today. It will probably be ready tomorrow.
Not having a car at all is really quite difficult. While I can generally get by during the day without (Paws has the car), there are too many things that are too far away from public transport. While I'm happy to walk several miles to get somewhere, Louisa's legs are short(er) and she just doesn't have the stamina to go that far.
In particular, Zoomania is nowhere near a bus route. This is particularly irritating during the school holidays.
Not having a car at all is really quite difficult. While I can generally get by during the day without (Paws has the car), there are too many things that are too far away from public transport. While I'm happy to walk several miles to get somewhere, Louisa's legs are short(er) and she just doesn't have the stamina to go that far.
In particular, Zoomania is nowhere near a bus route. This is particularly irritating during the school holidays.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
The long way home
Well seeing as it's Easter holidays (what DO you call the holiday between the spring and summer term when Easter isn't actually in it?), I'd planned to work from home this afternoon in order to give Herring the car and a chance to take a little girl out for the afternoon.
So, I packed up my laptop, went downstairs, got in the car (in the car park, obviously) and turned the key. At this point things started departing from the plan. After a few attempts to start the car, I called Herring and pointed out that nothing seemed to be happening. There's been a relay clicking in the car with no obvious symptoms for a while now, so he got me to attempt a Doctor Who style fix (thump it with my fist), but still no joy.
So it was over to the professionals, in this case the RAC. The lady on the phone took my details and then asked 'Did you have any urgent plans this afternoon?' in the tone of voice that says you may as well resign yourself to growing old gracefully where you are. She assured me it would be at least an hour and a half before anyone came out to me; so I went back into the office!
Half an hour or so later I was called, by someone (possibly called John) who said he was now dealing with my breakdown, and he'd call when someone was coming out to me. Half an hour later I was called by someone who said they'd be with me in half an hour. Their timing turned out to be spot on, I was just wondering if I should be optimistic and go down again to wait for them, when somebody saw them in the car park.
So, I went and said hello, and he proceeded to attempt various things, generally determining that fuel was not getting to the engine. At one point he 'phoned a friend' who clearly had the technical specs to hand in order to work out if the car had a fuel pump in the tank (look, I don't KNOW, I just drive it ok?). He then proceeded to dismantle the inside of the car to get to said fuel pump and after poking it with a multimeter he attempted a Doctor Who style fix with about as much success as I'd had earlier.
So it was time to admit, that no, the car was not going anywhere, and we should take it to a garage (luckily Herring had arranged this, so I could tell him where we needed to go), and he proceeded to pull down a towing kit out of the back of his van and attach the car to it.
So off we went to the garage. We found it (eventually), and found someone to leave the keys with (the proprietor was strangely absent), and he gave me a lift home. So here I am without a car just hoping that the garage man actually knows it's with him and is going to fix it!
Full marks to the RAC though for trying to fix it, and for getting me home. I was really glad of them this afternoon!
So, I packed up my laptop, went downstairs, got in the car (in the car park, obviously) and turned the key. At this point things started departing from the plan. After a few attempts to start the car, I called Herring and pointed out that nothing seemed to be happening. There's been a relay clicking in the car with no obvious symptoms for a while now, so he got me to attempt a Doctor Who style fix (thump it with my fist), but still no joy.
So it was over to the professionals, in this case the RAC. The lady on the phone took my details and then asked 'Did you have any urgent plans this afternoon?' in the tone of voice that says you may as well resign yourself to growing old gracefully where you are. She assured me it would be at least an hour and a half before anyone came out to me; so I went back into the office!
Half an hour or so later I was called, by someone (possibly called John) who said he was now dealing with my breakdown, and he'd call when someone was coming out to me. Half an hour later I was called by someone who said they'd be with me in half an hour. Their timing turned out to be spot on, I was just wondering if I should be optimistic and go down again to wait for them, when somebody saw them in the car park.
So, I went and said hello, and he proceeded to attempt various things, generally determining that fuel was not getting to the engine. At one point he 'phoned a friend' who clearly had the technical specs to hand in order to work out if the car had a fuel pump in the tank (look, I don't KNOW, I just drive it ok?). He then proceeded to dismantle the inside of the car to get to said fuel pump and after poking it with a multimeter he attempted a Doctor Who style fix with about as much success as I'd had earlier.
So it was time to admit, that no, the car was not going anywhere, and we should take it to a garage (luckily Herring had arranged this, so I could tell him where we needed to go), and he proceeded to pull down a towing kit out of the back of his van and attach the car to it.
So off we went to the garage. We found it (eventually), and found someone to leave the keys with (the proprietor was strangely absent), and he gave me a lift home. So here I am without a car just hoping that the garage man actually knows it's with him and is going to fix it!
Full marks to the RAC though for trying to fix it, and for getting me home. I was really glad of them this afternoon!
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Monday, 7 April 2008
Online auctions
To go with my nice new Nikon D300 (Its still lovely) I wanted to get a Sigma 70-200mm f2.8 zoom, so I had a look on eBay. I found a likely candidate, and put in a bid. Nothing happened for a long while.
In the last few hours, several other bidders pushed the bid up, but I was still in the lead. I added a bit to my bid.
Then in the last 60 seconds, someone topped it.
Bother, I thought, I wanted that!
Then while searching for another likely candidate, I found one that had sold a few hours earlier for £50 less than the winner of the auction I was in.
I'm glad I didn't win now, as that would have been irritating.
In the last few hours, several other bidders pushed the bid up, but I was still in the lead. I added a bit to my bid.
Then in the last 60 seconds, someone topped it.
Bother, I thought, I wanted that!
Then while searching for another likely candidate, I found one that had sold a few hours earlier for £50 less than the winner of the auction I was in.
I'm glad I didn't win now, as that would have been irritating.
Sunday, 6 April 2008
Amazing things...
Two amazing things have happened so far today:
...
It will be great to take photos when it stops!
:-)
- Its snowing,
- The weather forecasters got it right.
...
It will be great to take photos when it stops!
:-)
Saturday, 5 April 2008
It is written in the stars
So yes, today we finally went and bought the camera that Herring has been wanting since, oh, pretty much since it was released. So much so; that when he phoned the shop to ask if they had one in stock, the chap in the shop knew who he was without him identifying himself!
From my point of view this does mean that the little Fuji is now mine (ALL MINE *rubs hands together and cackles maniacally*) .
Still we've bought the camera, and were just basking in the afterglow, when I happened to see Herring's horoscope on his Google page.
"Your creative power is especially strong today, increasing your odds
of getting what you want..."
How did they know?!
From my point of view this does mean that the little Fuji is now mine (ALL MINE *rubs hands together and cackles maniacally*) .
Still we've bought the camera, and were just basking in the afterglow, when I happened to see Herring's horoscope on his Google page.
"Your creative power is especially strong today, increasing your odds
of getting what you want..."
How did they know?!
Tuesday, 1 April 2008
Cameras
Well due to several things, I seem to have found myself in possession of a brand new Nikon D300. I'm not quite sure how this happened, but I can safely say that it is absolutely fantastic, and I've only had it for 6 hours.
I've been struggling with some of the limitations of our previous camera, a Fujifilm S9500, namely its high noise level when taking shots at gigs in low light, and its occasionally lax auto focusing.
My father's purchase of a Sony Alpha 700 might also have had a little to do with things. There's nothing like a bit of competing with your parents :-)
I'll post a review in a bit.
Happy husband!
I've been struggling with some of the limitations of our previous camera, a Fujifilm S9500, namely its high noise level when taking shots at gigs in low light, and its occasionally lax auto focusing.
My father's purchase of a Sony Alpha 700 might also have had a little to do with things. There's nothing like a bit of competing with your parents :-)
I'll post a review in a bit.
Happy husband!
Spot the difference
Really it quite amazes me the lengths that Microsoft will go to to perpetuate their monopoly, despite all the lawsuits and fines, despite the strength of public feeling against them, they believe they can behave exactly as they like.
I guess it is the fault of the courts and our law makers not to take them to task sooner. The American justice system certainly seems to have failed us. Lets just hope that the EU can stick to their guns and keep fining Microsoft till they learn to play nicely.
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