This year I've given up booze. Surprisingly. And, so far, it's gone okay. Better than January, any way. My last drink was on March 9th, two and a half weeks ago. I've still got 19 days to go until April 15th, the end of Lent, but I reckon I'll make it.
It's surprising how tired I get in the evenings without a drink. Most nights I'm ready to hit the hay by 21:30, and then I'm awake by 06:00, raring to go. If I went back to my old ways, I would miss the mornings and how good I feel.
I also think I've lost weight, although I wouldn't expect to have done so, the amount of crap I've eaten. I think I've been stockpiling the calories because I know I'm not going to get them via wine. Oh well.
TTFN.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
India Triumphant
Pleased to see India beat Australia in the ICC World Cup. Pleased that we won't be facing them in the final...
I took a vicarious pleasure in flitting between Cricinfo (or www.espncricinfo.com, as it is now) and the Guardian OBO and watching the score rattle up and the RRR tumble. Of course, we'll never beat Sri Lanka, but a boy can dream...
I took a vicarious pleasure in flitting between Cricinfo (or www.espncricinfo.com, as it is now) and the Guardian OBO and watching the score rattle up and the RRR tumble. Of course, we'll never beat Sri Lanka, but a boy can dream...
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Samsung Galaxy Tab IV
Well, a tricky couple of days with the Tab. The system was slow and I thought I'd discovered what 'bricking' a phone was like. But I managed to trace the problem to the SD card - I hope I can reformat it, because I don't want to waste sixteen pounds on a new one! Also, it means I can't load the Tab up with all the music and movies I want to load... But a friend at work has an SD card reader, so I'm hoping to use that and reformat the card so it is usable again. Will let you know.
TTFN.
TTFN.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Samsung Galaxy Tab III
Couldn't play media today. Had to reset the device. Not to worry. More people at work noticing and coming for a gender. Which is quite pleasing
TTFN.
TTFN.
Lent - a time of restraint
So, I've agreed with TW that she will give up chocolate for Lent, and I will give up wine. Lent starts today, since I got drunk last night. On a school night. Silly boy.
We'll see how that goes..
TTFN.
We'll see how that goes..
TTFN.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Samsung Galaxy Tab II
Wow, found out today that I can answer calls directly from the headphones Samsung supplied with the GT. Just by pressing the button on the wire. Means I don't have to fish 'The Beast' out of my pocket and press buttons. Trialled it at work, very impressed.
Small things for small minds. I still don't know the full functionality of the buttons on the headphones.
TTFN.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Off to Ireland...
Strange to be heading off to Heathrow instead of heading home to Worthing...
- Posted using BlogPress on the move.
- Posted using BlogPress on the move.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wolverine 5.1
This is a bit of an obscure topic for a post, but I thought I'd mention this before launching into an even weirder fetish of mine.
So, to set the scene, Marvel, one of the biggest (if not the biggest) comic producer in the world, has been banging on about relaunching several of their titles, including Wolverine and Iron Man. Iron Man is up to issue #500, and the relaunch will be numbered #500.1 - which is nice.
Wolverine, on the other hand, has reached issue #5, and the relaunch is numbered #5.1.
A question that springs to mind immediately is - why would you need a relaunch, after five issues? But, it's a relaunch, it's a special issue, it's going to be good, right?
Erm.
Maybe the writers and illustrators missed the point? This is supposed to be an issue to draw people in. This is supposed to 'sell' Wolverine to the general masses, the people who've never bothered with the big fella before. So, let's look at the story, then; it's a surprise birthday for Wolverine, but it turns out to be a real surprise because he doesn't know today is his birthday. So he doesn't show. Cue a lot of small-talk from a lot of superheroes - Luke Cage, The Thing, Deadpool, the list goes on.
One possible seed is the appearance of The Hand, but I've just collected all of Shadowland, I've had enough of The Hand. In my view, there was nothing gripping about this issue.
Maybe the artwork was exemplary? Maybe the issue was a visual delight? Here are two examples of the art work in this pisspoor (in my opinion) publication:
So, the artwork not impressive either. Oh well. That's a shame. I've got Wolverine (Road to Hell) Prelude, #1 - #5, and #5.1. I was thinking I could bag 'em up and sell 'em off as one interesting lot. So, thanks for nothing, Marvel.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Swimming
Ah, Sunday brings the weekly trip to the swimming pool in Worthing, the Aquarena.
Today was one of the better sessions; the youngest kept the general populace entertained by throwing herself with gusto into the pool at any and every opportunity.
Lulu went down the big slide, with me. It was the first time for both of us! Amy was trying to persuade me to take Hattie down, but I refused - she's too young.
And this afternoon has brought some entertaining Six Nations rugby, as I expected. Ireland vs. France was always going to be good. Let's see how it ends...
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Thursday, February 03, 2011
Nick Clegg and Work-life Balance
I read this article in The Telegraph at the weekend, and it's been niggling me ever since.
Basically, Clegg's office have said they won't put ordinary business on his agenda after 3pm.
To me, that seems fair enough. After all, as DPM, he must have to review shedloads of paperwork on a daily basis. Why not have a cut-off time?
But The Telegraph are able to rustle up a Labour MP willing to go on record as saying "Nick Clegg seems to be clocking off after lunch and putting his feet up". Where do they get these rent-a-quote mouthpieces from?
The problem is that The Torygraph has its knickers in a twist because although the Tories are in power, they're practicing a brand of 'Tory lite', which isn't providing enough true Conservatism to satisfy their readership.
But they should know that The Grauniad, from their point of view, are unhappy too. It's nothing but doom'n'gloom on their pages.
So the Coalition, the Con-Dems (will that stick, do we think?), soldier on, with no support from either side of the established media, but with a general "they're okay so far" from The general public. Okay, so they've stuffed up on tuition fees, but apart from that, they're pretty solid.
So to waste firepower on this sort of bureaucratic nothingness, both by The Torygraph and the Labour rent-a-quote, seems wrong-footed. If this was on the back of some pretty big policy misjudgements, that might add to the overall political 'mood music'. But to me, now, this just jars. Must try harder.
TTFN.
Basically, Clegg's office have said they won't put ordinary business on his agenda after 3pm.
To me, that seems fair enough. After all, as DPM, he must have to review shedloads of paperwork on a daily basis. Why not have a cut-off time?
But The Telegraph are able to rustle up a Labour MP willing to go on record as saying "Nick Clegg seems to be clocking off after lunch and putting his feet up". Where do they get these rent-a-quote mouthpieces from?
The problem is that The Torygraph has its knickers in a twist because although the Tories are in power, they're practicing a brand of 'Tory lite', which isn't providing enough true Conservatism to satisfy their readership.
But they should know that The Grauniad, from their point of view, are unhappy too. It's nothing but doom'n'gloom on their pages.
So the Coalition, the Con-Dems (will that stick, do we think?), soldier on, with no support from either side of the established media, but with a general "they're okay so far" from The general public. Okay, so they've stuffed up on tuition fees, but apart from that, they're pretty solid.
So to waste firepower on this sort of bureaucratic nothingness, both by The Torygraph and the Labour rent-a-quote, seems wrong-footed. If this was on the back of some pretty big policy misjudgements, that might add to the overall political 'mood music'. But to me, now, this just jars. Must try harder.
TTFN.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Pleasant Children, Please?
Is it too much to ask, that we can have pleasant children in the morning? Every morning this week there has been some sort of histrionics. When is it
Saturday, January 08, 2011
Tired
I was tired this week. Going back at work coincided with the final Ashes test, and so it's been late to bed and early to rise every day.
Staying up until 00:30 or 01:00 is no fun when I've had to drag my sorry arse out of bed at 06:30 later the same day. I think I've actually fallen asleep on the train on the way home each night this week.
This lack of sleep and need for concentration at work comes after ten days or so of free-wheeling mental non-engagement and (whisper it) lie-ins. The girls had relaxed into the holidays and were sleeping until 07:30 or so. This may have been related to the fact that we allowed them to stay up until midnight on New Year's Eve...
Still, a good night's sleep last night has almost sorted me out. Adding on to that the fact that I'm not drinking in January, by middle of next week I should be raring to go!
TTFN.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Ashes Series Victory
So I've been staying up late and getting up early this week, to catch as much cricket as possible. As a result, I'm knackered. But, needs must and tonight is the last night. Australia have only three wickets left and the whole day to bat out.
Even if they do make it, England will still win 2-1, so whatever happens I should be picking up about £12.80 from the bookie's tomorrow. Result.
Even if they do make it, England will still win 2-1, so whatever happens I should be picking up about £12.80 from the bookie's tomorrow. Result.
Sunday, January 02, 2011
Saturday 1st January '11
We got off to a slow start yesterday, what with having got to bed at 03:30 after the night before. The girls didn't surface until 09:30, which was handy - the first bit of luck of the New Year!
I think I had breakfast at 11:55, which wasn't ideal. I was a bit fragile after the night before, but TW was really hanging.
Once we'd sorted ourselves out, we walked to the car to retrieve it, said 'good afternoon' to our NYE party hosts, and drove to Tesco to get hangover food.
TW picked up some pastries, but they didn't have the Chinese/Oriental selection she was looking for, so we discussed heading to the Tesco Extra at West Durrington. We'd also thought about buying a PS Move, as TW had very kindly bought me a PS3 for Christmas. The Tesco Extra scares me, though. It's so big, light bends around it and time slows down when you're in there. But it was surprisingly empty - I guess Worthing was nursing its communal hangover and couldn't face up to the neon intensity of consumerism.
I think I had breakfast at 11:55, which wasn't ideal. I was a bit fragile after the night before, but TW was really hanging.
Once we'd sorted ourselves out, we walked to the car to retrieve it, said 'good afternoon' to our NYE party hosts, and drove to Tesco to get hangover food.
TW picked up some pastries, but they didn't have the Chinese/Oriental selection she was looking for, so we discussed heading to the Tesco Extra at West Durrington. We'd also thought about buying a PS Move, as TW had very kindly bought me a PS3 for Christmas. The Tesco Extra scares me, though. It's so big, light bends around it and time slows down when you're in there. But it was surprisingly empty - I guess Worthing was nursing its communal hangover and couldn't face up to the neon intensity of consumerism.
We got the Chinese selection, we got the PS Move - at about £37, which was a good price. We also got a game called "Start the Party" or somesuch, which I think the girls will love, and we had a bash on that when we got home.
We watched Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, and then went to bed.
Yesterday was an acceptably lethargic recovery day, but we need to get active in 2011, and rather than let things drift (blown lightbulbs, holey socks, etc), we need to be on it. I'm planning to read more, drink less, and write more, so there should be more blog entries this year. Let's see how it goes...
TTFN.
Friday, December 31, 2010
iPhone 12 Days of Christmas App
I received an email from O2, or Apple, or both, advising that between 26th December and 6th Jan, I would be entitled to a free download each day. I didn't have high hopes, as 'free' normally means 'of no interest', to my understanding of things.
However, I have dutifully downloaded everything on offer so far, and as a result I have the following:
a Kylie Minogue single (never to be played or mentioned again)
a Cheryl Cole single (to be played once, and then probably deleted)
a Father Ted Christmas special (probably the jewel in the crown, but the 12 days aren't up yet...)
a game - Fishing Kings (no idea why I downloaded this, it didn't work)
Life of Pi (through iBooks - this should be good).
So, all told, 2 out of 5 isn't bad. But why would I download Cheryl Cole or Kylie tracks, when I have absolutely no interest in those? It's just part of this 'eat all you can, consume all data' era we live in... I think a New Year's resolution should be that I be more choosy in what I download, and not just take it cos it's free. There are other resolutions too...
Ashes 2010/11
England retain the Ashes after thrashing the Australians at home. I don't really know how to explain it.
How can one team be all out for 98, and the other team then proceed to get 513? The simple answer would be that England are miles better than Australia at batting, and the Australian bowling attack was toothless. But I don't buy that.
When you consider Australia's line-up individually, they have world-class players; Ponting, Hussey, Johnson, and Siddle should be in any top ten. And Australia should have had the home advantage. So what happened?
I read something this morning which suggested Australia haven't been watching England play recently. If that's the case, then Australia were woefully under-prepared. And while I think you can compare the batting line-ups, where England prevailed was in the bowling dept. England knew where the Australian batting weaknesses were. A lot has been made of the fact that Ponting can be unseated early, if the bowling is on target, and I expect the England team had similar plans for the other batsmen.
Anyway, there's loads been written about it, so I'm off to read even more. Now all we need is England to win the last Test and I can collect on my wager...
Saturday, December 25, 2010
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