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That is all.

Birthday Milestones

So, today I am 40 years old. That's 40, or forty years old. I was born in 1971, an entirely different century. I don't feel any different to yesterday, apart from the fact that I've got the day off and am at home looking after two of the three offspring.

What I'd really like to do is come up with some sort of plan to better myself. A plan that involves washing the car and polishing shoes and ironing shirts, rather than drinking wine. I'd like time to read books, and comics, and current newspapers, and relax over long weekend breakfasts.

Time is such a scant resource, and that's really what I crave. I don't want to have to multi-task. Time to concentrate on individual tasks or activities would be a real gift.

With three young children, that's not really possible. Or, the lifestyle we lead doesn't allow for such luxuries. TW has so many commitments she is constantly running from one appointment to another, with barely time for her feet to touch the floor. There are some weeks where TW is out four nights in a row. I do get to keep up with some great TV shows, like The Walking Dead and True Blood, but I think there's always room for something more.

I suppose that one day the girls will be older and more self-sufficient, or even (I dare to hope) away at University. Then maybe we will have time to relax over long breakfasts with newspapers and freshly-brewed coffee and warm croissants, and ponder whether we should stroll along the seafront, or go into town and maybe have another coffee there?

It sounds like a modest ambition to me...
TTFN.

Children and Teeth

My eldest lost her first milk tooth today. I say 'lost' - she swallowed it. At school. Doofus. Still, I have an inkling that the Tooth Fairy will still visit, and leave a pound under the pillow, in the expected tradition. I don't know, it's just a hunch.

Lying Children

The other day I heard my daughter lie to TW.
I was in one room, TW and The Youngest were in another.
The Youngest said "Can I go and play outside naked, Mummy?
TW replied "I don't think so, Youngest."
Youngest tried her best: "Daddy said it was okay".

She's two years old.

Dull Weekends

Hmmm. It's been a while. Sorry about that. Am having a dull weekend. Last night TW was working, and she's out again this afternoon. As a result, I'm in charge of childcare - the park beckons, on a lovely sunny day like today.

 

Hoping to watch the cricket later - England vs. West Indies in a T20 international, the second of two. England won the first one, on Friday evening, by ten wickets. Having said that, though, Sky Sports is free for the weekend, so there is Premiership rugby (only Exeter vs. Wasps, not that interesting) and NFL too - I could waste hours watching the NFL. I shall have to consider my options. Trouble is, there are other things we will need to record - the X Factor, for one. That's for TW, not for me. And I've just seen that Wolverine is on C4 too. Tarnation. I won't be able to watch that, definitely.

 

Well, the park beckons.

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

A Taster of Single Parenting

So, I am just coming to the end of my five-day stint as a single parent. TW returns tonight from her long weekend in Spain. I'm glad she felt able to go, and I think I've done okay looking after the girls.
I've dropped them off at school on time, and picked them up (more importantly). I've taken them to their swimming lessons. I did get a bit distracted this morning by a computer challenge (thanks, MiL!), so the youngest was late to the father and toddler session today, butt they've been fed, and not shouted at, and washed, so I'm just about coping. I've managed to stay on top of the washing-up, which has been okay. The washing (bedsheets and clothes), on the other hand, has been a challenge, but we haven't had a washing line to hang stuff out on, and the weather has been miserable anyway.
But I don't think I could do it full-time. The demands of three daughters on one adult, full-time, is just too much. Plus there is no reassurance, feedback that you're doing the right thing. I think that's the benefit in parenting as a couple.

I can't to get back to work tomorrow, for a rest if nothing else.

New Keyboard for My Tab

Wow. Have just purchased a keyboard for the Tab. Am using it now. It's fast, man. I could keep typing all day. But then I'd just be typing rubbish. So won't bother.

Early Morning Thoughts

So, here I am again, early morning again, all girls asleep again.

It probably won't be too long until the eldest wanders down and wants to watch Tiny Pop.

I do enjoy these moments of silence, where I can indulge myself. Shame the keys on the laptop click, and the fan makes an audible whirr. Still, this is about four years old now, will probably have to replace it soon.

I'm girding my loins for the day. TW goes off to Spain tomorrow, so I will be large and in charge of three daughters from Thursday to Monday night. Luckily, M & P have offered to host us on Sunday afternoon, for a bbq, and with a bit of Amazon on Saturday afternoon maybe, we might just make it through.

My main worry is cooking for the girls. I hope they like what I serve up. I also hope I don't drink lots of wine in order to get to sleep and then wake up grumpy and hungover for them the next day.

Still, they'll have gymnastics and swimming and grandparents and school, so it's not like I'm the sole entertainer. It'll be fine.

R.I.P. Uncle Frank

Sad to see you go. Glad you went peacefully.

Note to Self

Overdoing it at your age is neither big nor clever. Just give it up as a bad job.

The Longest Day

So,that's it then. The longest day has been and gone. From here it's just a short slide to Christmas and 2012. There's only short days and cold nights to look forward to. Time to break out the winter coats and woolly hats. Where has this year gone?

Sussex Sharks

So, today I finally had the courage of my convictions and bought a season ticket to see all one-day home games for Sussex Sharks. That means I can see all Twenty20 matches and all CB40 matches played at Hove, Arundel or Horsham. You beauty.

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

Fun with Samsung Galaxy Tab

So I installed Titanium Backup on my Tab. Apparently it's called Tibu or TiBu for short. I went into my Apps Drawer afterwards and noted that the stock apps were now displaying in Cyrillic - which was a pain.

I googled this to see if it was a common issue, but answer came there none. So, I went with the tried and tested method - I switched it off and switched it back on. This is also known as recycling. It sounds really basic, I know, and I was one of those who used to disparage the "so-called Helpdesk" for going through their script - Have you tried switching it off and on again? But I now realise that processes can be abended (abnormally ended or broken) or go missing, if systems aren't recycled every once in a while.

So I switched it back on and hotfooted it to my Apps Drawer, and guess what? My stock apps were in English. QED.

TTFN.

Why is Easter?

"Easter is all about chocolate" - my five-year old daughter.

She was looking at a booklet entitled Easter Feast, and pointed out that there was no chocolate included in the feast.

"but Daddy, Easter is all about chocolate" she said.
"Not, quite, Bella", I replied.

Funny girl.

Samsung Tab - Restored

Beautiful. 90% perspiration, 10% inspiration. The answers are all on the internet. I managed to find the info I needed and restored my phone. There is one niggle, and that is that Kies won't update my phone - but I can address that later.
My faith in technology, and perseverance, is restored. Hurrah!

Galaxy Tab - Borked II

So, another evening spent hunched over a laptop, frantically searching the web for any kind of clue...

I was thinking I might install another ROM, but realised that still wouldn't solve the GAPPS issue. So I have been mostly focused on getting a non-Market APK installer on to my laptop. Isn't that crazy? A day or two ago, if you'd asked me to describe what an APK installer does, I'd look at you blankly. But now I know the basics and that's just not enough.

I have, this morning, discovered a tutorial on the PDA Developers' website describing how to load up GAPPS through ADB (the Android Developer's Bridge, I think), which I am going to investigate further at lunchtime. I expect it will involve a number of downloads from dodgy sites, so will be blocked by our work firewall. So I'll be forced to leave it. But it will be on my mind all day...

Samsung Tab - Borked

Unfortunately, over the weekend, I decided to walk before I could run. I installed the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) keyboard, and enjoyed it so much I decided to upgrade my O/S to Gingerbread.
Some of you may be aware that Gingerbread is not officially available for the Gtab at the moment, so it is quite tricky and there are a number of steps involved in getting everything running correctly. Unfortunately, I didn't follow those steps involved (at least, not all of them), and so my Gtab is now running at below full capacity.

Basically I have managed to remove the Google APKs which make the device so handy...

I have lost the Android Marketplace app, and I can't sync my contacts or email with Google either. Also, those lovely bought apps (Pocket Informant, Taskos, Poweramp, etc.) are all unreachable.

I have spent a lot of time trying to right this, but with no success so far. Keep on keepin' on.

Girls in Shade

At Tilgate Park, Sunday

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

The Alternative Vote System

If this is the best the No2AV campaign can come up with:

http://playpolitical.typepad.com/all_sorts/2011/04/rik-mayall-stars-as-alan-bstard-in-first-no2av-referendum-broadcast-.html

Then I think it'll be a 'yes' from me.

The most persuasive argument I've heard so far is that fringe parties will accumulate votes. But I have yet to see figures showing an actual incident where that would have occurred under AV. If someone can show me such figures, I'll reconsider.
My view is that the more we can express a view at the polls, the better.
If there are marginal seats under AV, it'll make the politicians work harder with the public. I know they work hard any way, but they'll have to play up their accountability to the electorate.

TTFN.

Conversation with a Four-year Old

Me: Is it bedtime yet?
4-yr Old: No. Why, don't you have your watch on?
Me: No, I don't.
4-yr Old: Then go and look at your watch. That's what I would do.