Exploding Bikes

Diccon Lowe invited you to Dropbox

2011-05-08T14:50:00.001+01:00

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Get started here.

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BIG news

2007-12-19T20:37:00.000Z

Okay, so I have not blogged in a very, very longtime. And lots of things have happened. Both in the world in general and in my own little world too. Sooooooooo, Basically in case you don't already know (but I think everyone who is likly to read this prob' does by now) we moved into Nerwhouse on Monday. And it's ace. We have two functioning (well kinda three really) rooms; our bedroom, the boys room. And kinda the kitchen, in so muchas we've moved most of the crap out of it and cleaned the floor so you can use it as a store room type space - not as a kitchen; in fact at the moment it most resembles a walk in fridge so that's kinda kitchen-y.

But that's it really. We are busy getting moving house and getting it together for christmas. Hope all is well with all you guys. I may post more, I may not depends on how I feel.

Oh if you need to get ahold of me then call my mums house we have an extension in our bit. If you ain't got the number call someone you think will have it!

PPS My mobile number is now defunct - I'm gonna get a new one when I get round to it, Pen's still works though so you can try that either.

House Update

2007-07-17T16:46:00.000+01:00

So it occurs to me that I have been a little tawdy in keeping people up to date with what is happening with Newhouse at the mo'.

Not sure hat you might know so I'll just go ahead and give a quick run down.

Well, firstly the architect, Britt, has finished her initial survey - that basically amounts to going 'yep that's what we got at the mo'. The next stage(s) that she is doing is drawing up a plan and schedule for the work and doing a sort of recording report of what is there as far as the historic features and history of the property and the like.

We had the builder, Wayne, do a bunch of stuff. He's taken out the fireplace in the kitchen in prep for the stove, taken down a couple of breeze block walls so know you can go from the toilet to the front bedroom, and taken away the panel that was between the toilet and the bathroom to be repaired so that we can close the bathroom of and make it a bedroom. He also took the false ceiling down in the porch and the porch looks sooo much nicer without it. The thing with the kitchen fireplace is a bit of stress at the mo' though as when they filled it in they seemed to brick it up entirely, leaving no space behind. This is not normal. All the books say you knock down a little brick wall and there is a cavity that forms the fireplace behind. So it means there is now a big messy hole with no clear idea as to what was put in when and how much of it is supporting the chimney/wall. Not an ideal situation.

We have also had the whole house rewired. And the cabling is laid for new wiring whenever we get permission to put in the new sockets and what have you. They have done a cracking job - and the new conduit (we was made tailor made for this build) looks real nice and discreet.

Err, and we've taken out the bath from the bathroom, and mostly sorted out the plumbing there. In so much as we've resected and capped the cold supply and tested it and now it works. And Fixed the cistern so we have a flushing toilet. Yet to test the hot water system though, and def' not sure what we are doing about hot water in the interim as I'm not sure what state the immersion coil will be in.

Anyway, that's mostly it I think - ohh and the ceilings have been relathed and are waiting for plastering - so if anyone can recommend a good lime plasterer then please do!

YourNotMe

2007-07-12T11:43:00.000+01:00

In fact nobody is (apart from me obviously; that'd be freeky).

What an excellent site. No idea how they know if your on holidayin spain or not - prehaps it's the RFID chips the goverments been implanting in everybody?

BTW - there are only 80 peeps who are called Diccon in the UK. Hmmm feel a Dave Gorman moment coming on (no resist, resist).

Oh, and as far as my mothers ongoing whinge that her name is made up - well there is only one darrolyn; but there is 6 darolyns. Now given that I have no idea how to spell my mums name (other than D-A-Z) I'd say that that really shows there are 7 people with her name, possible (but incredibly unlikely) that they all heard daz's name and thought 'ohh, that's lovely, must call the baby/change my name by deedpoll'. Or that seven other crazy parents made it up. More likley that it is a bonafide name but most people reconised it as being as lovely as it is and body swerved before it stuck.

However, I am quite pissed that she has a more unusual name than me, but it does explain a lot when it comes to her choice for me and Taru.

Hmmm, talking of Taru I always thought there was something a bit odd about her;

Taru Sinclair
Taru Lowe

That explains an awful lot.

Why is yawning contagious?

2007-07-05T19:02:00.000+01:00

"New research suggests rather than being a precursor to sleep, the purpose of yawning is to cool the brain so it operates more efficiently and keeps you awake."

Not unlike a troll helmet then.

And does this mean (not having actually read the article yet) Alaskans (say) don't yawn, but Texan yawn all the time. And for that matter, if you put an Alaskan in Texas would he yawn all the time and think slow, and a Texan in Alaska would the reverse?

Should I buy a walk in freezer for my brother to do his homework in so he has some hope of passing anything ever?

Daily Mail Readers = Prince Fans?

2007-07-03T20:08:00.000+01:00

So I caught this article basically saying that Prince's new album is going to be given away free with the Mail (I think 'on Sunday') . Which leads me to think two things.

Do the kinda people who listen to Prince read the Mail? Do the kind of people who read the Mail listen to Prince? Is the combo likely to convert one to the other? I think the answer to the above is prob' no. I suspect it is going to result in a lot of copies of the Mail in the nearest recycling bin to the newsagents, and lot of Prince albums on freecycle (though I'm not 100% that Mail readers are overly likely to freecycle either), charity shops, landfill.

Was this really a sensible thing to do? Okay it's made for great launch publicity for the album and impending tour dates. But, for a start I think it devalues Prince's 'brand' (not that he has much of presence at the mo' admittedly)- partly by being associated with the Mail (but that is in part my own personal bias) partly by being associated with a cover give-away (usually the domain of the long released album or cobbled together best of) but mostly because now his UK distributor has backed out of the deal meaning they ain't gonna sell many in the mainstream over here.

Anyway - what do I know about marketing. It still dumbfounds me that if, in the world of the ad, the only thing that matters is the amount of market presence a product has as many people would have me believe, companies still pay millions for celebrity endorsements and clever ads etc.

Anyway, that's just a bit of news that caught my attention. BTW speaking of such things I've got a nifty little gadget that shows my GoogleReader items what I have shared. I find something worth reading most days, but as I'm still trying to hone what subs I want to sign up for bear with me will ya'. Any suggestion gratefully recieved. You can also catch my public feed here and it has a little RSS dealie too, so you can subscribe to my shared items in your GoogleReader and then add them to your Shared items, so then I can subscribe and then add them to my shared items and - well you get the picture.

Germany Bans Small People

2007-06-26T11:30:00.000+01:00

Well Person anyway.

I don't get it

2007-06-24T22:32:00.000+01:00

I've joined FaceBook and, well, I don't get it.

I think I've set everything up alright; but I really don't understand why you'd bother. Anyway, I'm gonna give it a go. I might find it a really usefull tool, or I might not - or someone might tell me why.

I'm also annoyed 'cause I don't appear to be able to import this blog into it. No understanding as to why. If someone (Allie) could assit me with that it'd be great.

Arggh That Hurts _ !Really!

2007-06-20T19:02:00.000+01:00

So I was at a weekend away for the GB medical team.

It was good; met up with some people I hadn't seen for a while, drank played games, chatted etc.

Part of this event was to make up mock caz scenarios; I was pretending to have a broken leg/entrapment type thing going on.

Anyway that isn't important. What is important is that while I was lying under the table pretending to have a broken leg a little bit of grit fell in my eye. So I ended up actually having a scratched eyeball!

So I provided a bit of training for my colleagues, which is nice.

Fine now. BTW.

Don't do disks!

2007-06-20T11:29:00.001+01:00

Don't do disks!
Originally uploaded by stewils.

New Bike Stuff

2007-06-10T11:17:00.000+01:00

As pointed out by everyone on the Easter holiday I had worn down my brake pads so far you couldn't see that there had ever been grooves or even pads nearly. Which isn't considered to be a good thing.

This meant the installation of new pads (after I got back from hols and had risked life and limb whilst there), which was carried out by Mr Smith, who rightly commented on how shit and hard to set up my brakes were. And that my levers didn't seem to work too good. This is all very true - the lever bit being at least in part from when I rode straight into the the corner of my garden wall having forgotten to do up the brakes one day. The brunt of the impact was taken by the lever body deforming it not a little and preventing the lever clicking back far enough and the brake disengaging properly.

Anyway, it was decided (and vetted by the boss) that I must have new brakes, levers etc. etc. I now have these. And they are lovely. They are a pair of Avid Arch Rivals with SD7 levers, and they stop you very quickly, if that's what you want. They also stop you very slowly if need be - you just have to remember that you don't need to squeeze the bejesus out of the levers anymore.

I'm telling you 1. cause I can't think of anything better to tell you at the mo' and 2. because when Mr Smith renewed the brakes on his bike (and generally tweaked them) and Ste subsequently borrowed the bike Ste managed to do a kinda evil Knievel somersault over the handlebars, whilst moving at slow speed on a clear piece of freshly tarmaced road. Apparently he gently squeezed the brakes and the front wheel locked up. Muppit.

So Ste, consider yourself warned.

Still Poorly

2007-06-05T10:16:00.000+01:00

So, as previously mentioned I have a cold, and still I have a cold. Which I think it is unfair as I first started with the thing on Monday last. Admittedly, I can now just about function like a human being, but a coughing spluttering one.

Whining aside, Did speak to the chimney engineer dude. Very helpful, but still no closer to having a chimney that works really. We need someone to nod their head and say "yes, do it" officially, as it were. Takes a long time to get a nod on occasion. In other house related news; well there isn't any really. Architect got back in touch just as I was about to phone her and say 'erm, hows things going you haven't emigrated or died of the plague or anything have you' (this is no comment on the current architect, or her level of communication; merely a general distrust profession). And the wiring continues to grow down the walls of my house like some kinda grey trailing ivy whose roots appear and curl up into little loops every now and then.

And my nephew (edit for getting the relationship right) has chicken pox - which means my sons will no doubt have the pox in a couple of weeks also. So that's something to look forward to ain't it.

Speaking of the smallest; went to visit my dad at the weekend on his boat. Didn't go anywhere stayed moored. But my tiny son still managed to fall backwards head first into the canal between the boat and the pontoon. Given that he is only 2 it was more than a little scary. Luckily my dad managed to grab his ankle and haul him out of the canal before there were any great ill effects. But it made the rest of the visit more than a little stressful for everyone as they kept a constant watch on him; he not being one to learn form his mistakes.

Well I guess that'll do for now. I've gotta get dressed and go and see Horrible Histories at the theatre. More later.

It's over a month..

2007-05-31T09:49:00.000+01:00

..Since I last posted - as pointed out by Ste. Sorry I have been more than a little tardy in my updating but this has been confounded by two factors

1. Been doing lots of sorting stuff out with Newhouse. And as a portion of this seems to involve me 'researching' stuff on the web I have ample distraction when I could be blogging.

2. They've got better at filling my time when I'm at work/I haven't done any nights in ages. So no stretches of time in which I keep all you lovely people up to date with what is happening in my life.

So the house - Well, we've had the roof done (quite some time ago, may have made reference to that already) It is now sporting some very large pieces of wood, which'll help stop it all falling in on its self (hopefully). We've removed the bath from the bathroom so it can be better utilised as a bedroom. Cleared out most of the furniture that was hanging around in the Kitchen. It's now hanging around in the kitchen of S&G's new house along with all their stuff. A very expensive furniture store it is indeed.

Hmmm, what else. Well the sparkies are in - they are re-wiring the house. Replacing all the cables that have been crushed and what have you. So that's cool.

And we have yet another architect on the job. But she seems pretty good, coming form a conservation point of view that is pretty much with us.

The other main thing I've been doing is, as Mr Smith has most dutifully pointed out, indulging in a bit of porn'. Don't get too excited, this is stove porn' (still not as interesting as your fetid little mind thinks Ste). Yep, been doing some heavy research into pellet stoves. They are cool.

Have look here if you really want to and here - it's a google map I made. I'm relatively proud of it. The kaboodle site doesn't have all the places/models we are looking at on it - but I think the map does. If anyone ahs any other suggestions that's be great.

Actually if I haven't blogged for a while then kaboodle is always a good place to see what I'm up to - I'm increasingly using snip stuff out the inter-tangle.

Anyway, I need to sign of as we are due to meet a chimney engineer - more on that later, at Newhouse. What a surprise.

TTFN

Red Dwarf Strikes Again

2007-04-27T17:11:00.000+01:00

I would appear that Holly from Red Dwarf has been moonlighting doing spoken word instructions for a chimney lining company!

Click on the link and then press the play button and you'll see what I mean.

Just like him init? Same really-very-interested tone of voice and everything.

Back again

2007-04-27T13:12:00.000+01:00

(forgot to post this when I shoudl have sorry).

Okay, I have indeed been tardy in my upkeep of the blog of late. But I wish to make up. Since easter (as per piccy) I have mainly been on holiday in Devon. Which is nice. We were their for a week in a lovely, lovely house. Did a few things like..

went to Castle Drogo which is the last castle to have been built in Britian and was built in the early C20th by some geezer who was cheesed his family didn't have an ancestral pile for him to inherit.

Went to a miniture pony centre where they had what seemed to me to be the worlds smallest, roundest horses (and some other things)

Went to Cockington which is a little presereved in time type village just outside of Torquay (for the sole purpose of having cream teas, yeah).

And did various other things that I can't really recall now, as I apparantly didn't psot this post at the time. So here you go. Oh, went to a widllife park near some burnt lettuce.

Easte Egg Hunt

2007-04-09T10:51:00.000+01:00

Yeah For the Easter bunny

Wrong, wrong, wrong

2007-03-27T19:49:00.000+01:00

So they Gang up On me HUH!

Well theya re wrong, so so wrong. And millions(ish) of photobloggers agree with me - Here's a couple picked at random by way of evidence (something I notice they are a little scant on, nah :})

http://www.knootchyblog.com/
http://www.manyhighways.com/photoblog/

2007-03-18T13:55:00.000Z

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

Sandwitch

2007-03-07T10:56:00.001Z

Sandwitch
Originally uploaded by tatespa.

Another "guess what I shot". The gauntlet has been laid down on this one thuogh. The guy who posts it reckons it's hust tooo tough. We don't think so. Give and good guess!

Newhouse

2007-03-05T11:17:00.000Z

As regards work on Newhouse - bought a stove today - yippee.

Admitedly it will be some time before we are in a position to fit it. But it's what we need and it was cheap.

It's one of these - Wamsler 148 CL

Eclipse

2007-03-04T11:13:00.000Z

Moon Phases
Originally uploaded by seanhepburn2006.

Managed to see the lunar eclipse on Last Night - but only just.
We caught the end of it - when it was just very red. Look impressive none the less. I didn't manage to get any pictures of it at all though!

However, Sean did much better.

Hmmmm

2007-03-02T22:14:00.000Z

Wonder if you can fore-date post's and as such keep them semi-peminantly at the top of the blog?

Let's see shall we?

Slackers Gift

2007-03-02T22:09:00.000Z

I've not been able to post for a few days. But that doesn't mean I haven't been thinking of you all.

In fact I have been posting to my blog - in my head.

Okay I admit this does mean that I haven't actually posted. But as they say - it's the thought that counts.

Anyway - I've made amends now. So as result there has a been a bit of a blossoming of post. And due to Bloggers amazing new functionality I can now back date posts to when I think of them. So it's always worth checking you've read everything. There may be more than you thought.

And now - you've haven't gone mad. It probably wasn't there when you checked yesterday.

Magna

2007-03-02T21:46:00.001Z

P3023143
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

Went to Magna today. It was very cool. A lot cooler than you might think form their PR. It's built in the Shed (not sure if that's the right phrase) of an old steel recycling plant in Rotherham. And it's HUGE. The shed that is. They left a lot of the old pant in and then added walkways and little pods (which they call pavilions) which house the exhibits - these are all interactive science type stuff. The result is really raw and atmospheric and still feels like you are in a steel mill. It's dark noisy and dirty. But it's also kind cross cut with modern, bright structures. It's well worth the visit just to wander around the walkways from pavillion to pavillion. At first visit it's just so - strange. They had a couple of very cool exhibits.

My favourite had to be the fire tornado. In this they set fire to kerosene and vented it through a cyclone. I'm sure you'll have seen it done in other museums - with dry ice!

They also had a absolutely amazing play park outside, it was just huge and had climbing frames for ages from about 4 till 15 (well that's the published age, when it comes to it 15 is pretty much adult)

Oh. And they've got the Bison that used to sit overlooking the M1 from the edge of the steel plant. If you know what I'm talking about.

Just Testing

2007-03-01T22:15:00.000Z

"Yes you certainly are" - there I've said it - you needn't touch the add comment button.

The Much Trailed Snowman.

2007-02-28T21:42:00.000Z

P2092974
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

Riding a Plough.

They Got It

2007-02-27T21:43:00.000Z

The house - my in-laws.

Didn't ask them for any ID though.

Glad that wasn't a wasted journey then!

Naughty, Naughty Greggy

2007-02-26T21:16:00.000Z

So my Lovely Bro-in-Law is trying to buy a house (not that he doesn't own two already) - actually I guess what they are trying to do is build an extension with out the hassle of all the building bit. He's got the two centre cottages of a terrace (they only count as one in the above reckoning up BTW) and they're after the end one, in order to make an UberHouse. You can get the general idea if you look here. It's everything from the fairly obvious change in roof slates/ second long window from the right, heading left. A reasonable property I guess.

Anyway, it's going up by auction this is fairly hair-raising in itself. And requires, in order the bid be completed, that you provide a certain amount of photo id, utility statements etc. Bro-in-Law very sensibly put these in the boot of his car so as not to forget to bring them from Oxford (location of first house).

They then travelled in Sister-in-law's car. DOH.

This meant he had to drive to Oxford again - at about 8.00pm ish, yesterday. And then straight back again. Ouch. I being the gallant soul I am agreed to assist in the driving and genrally be company for him. Yep I'm nice. And modest too.

All was going swimmigly - we'd had quite a large and late luch, so decided to push off and get a service station burger along the way. Sweet.

So decide to stop around nine. All OK. Siddle up to BK's and order 2 veggie burgers (he's also kinda veggie). Nope says the greasy burger-wallah. Okay 2 Bean burgers then. Again nope. So we wander on, foraging for more appealing food stuffs - all the rest of the chow looks particularly grim, and we really fancy something hot and not a wilting sarnie so we decided to push on to the next service station. When we get there it has a Wimpy (a think Yeah to myself as I quite enjoy Wimpy in a retro kinda way). But it's shut. Also shut is the canteen type thing. So on we go. When we get to the next place ditto. Wimpy shut, canteen shut, little shop thing - Not even any veggie sarnies. Lucky for Greg they had some paninis in the coffee shop - or else I may have given up vegetarianisms early.

And taken up cannibalism instead.

It's Official!

2007-02-23T13:55:00.000Z

Snap Preview Anywhwere

2007-02-22T14:16:00.000Z

So. SPA have updated their code a little. Which'll be pleasing to the few peeps who gave me negative feedback about my use of this most excellent tool on my blog. It's now much more end user friendly - which is you guys.

You may have noted the funny little bubble icons scattered around the links. Well, the way it's currently set up, you need to hover over one of these icons in order to be able to view a preview of the site. Of course, these also means if you don't want to view a preview of the site just don't hover over the icon - get it.

It also has more last user preferences (top right corner of a preview bubble). You can alter the length of time it take for a bubble to pop-up, or switch of previews for this or any site.

And, of course, these preview boxes give you a search engine where ever you are (if the site is SPA enabled) - which is cool.

So if you've got any feedback just tell me. You (by which I actually mean one, by which I suppose I mean me in this instance) can eighty-six the little bubble icon, going back to SPA being link activated, or you can have it with the bubble but having it all (link and bubble) activate SPA - though I'm not really sure why you'd do this. You can also change the colours and over cool stuff. So tell me what you think I should do - and then I'll ignore you anyway.

Fresh Resolve

2007-02-21T17:14:00.000Z

So As you may have noticed my new years resolution to blog daily has not exactly gone according to plan - and in fact the occasional post I wanted to do has slipped by; leaving my head at an astonishing rate of knots.

But, I think on the whole I've been better; and the quality of the posts hasn't been tooooo dire. NB. I decided on a new paragraph due tot he dizzying length of the previous sentance - better to have a proper break before forging on.

And I have a new resolution - well actually not a resolution more a lenten thing. I'm vegetarian. But only for lent, mind.

This announcement is by way of informing everyone who may possibly be cooking for me, don't say you weren't warned!

It's not that I'm relgious or anything. But I come form a Christian background and believe that a period of reflection and 'hardship' (in the loosest possible terms) is good for you.

So lent it is.

Not a lot happens to me

2007-02-17T13:00:00.000Z

In the imortal words of the most excellent Stanley Bagshaw.

So I've not really got a whole lot to say. I intended to post a pic of the snowman yesterday - but I failed to upload it prior, and was at work all day yesterday. I might save it for the middle of july or soemthing equally timely now.

In other news - can you help me with this crossword clue - "lazy postie"

?

Blow Up Ladies,

2007-02-15T11:25:00.000Z

So I was following this van in the car the yesterday and the title of the company is Blow Up Lady Balloons. As I was following it I could only see the back of the van. Which meant that I could really only read the name. The info about what they do being printed too small to read even if you are really tail-gating.

needless to say I was some what bemused as to what this company might offer product wise. And, well, I could only really think of one thing - but I didn't think you'd really want a hugely decaled van tipping up at your door to deliver them. These kinds of services are generally a little more discreet, if you know what I mean.

Anyway I was a little disappointed when I went to their web-site. I think I had the punctuation in the wrong place. Y'know - Blow-up lady-balloons. That kinda thing. Although actually Blow-Up-Lady balloons sounds worse.

Errrm

2007-02-13T21:15:00.000Z

Well, Not a great deal to say. Not done much,, or thought much really. Not that springs to mind anyway. I guess I'm still feeling a little post-viral form this hideous cold I've been having. It's certainly managed to screw around with my sleep pattern completely. I keep feeling either wide awake or dead on my feet at all and any hour of the day or night.

Super.

In other news - built a rather nice snowman with the boys. Pic to follow.

Actually, I did it on the day I couldn't be arsed to write (due to said cold) so it turned out like an okay day after all. Still not arsed to write it up mind.

Practice What You Preach - Yeah Right.

2007-02-10T10:37:00.001Z

IMAG0026
Originally uploaded by anarchkit.

As the little blurb of AK's says (you'll have to go to Flickr to see it). Annoying.

Other ways in which the police get right up my noses - Police Camera Action type shows on the telly where the traffic cops bleat on about upholding the rules of the road, while their 'colleagues' are busy turning the wrong way whilst not indicating, double parking, stopping on a dime for no reason.

In general acting like they own the road in their little hair-drier-powered cars.

SUPRISE!

2007-02-09T11:00:00.001Z

SUPRISE!
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

Don't feel like writing so you get an extra picture.

Still Crappy

2007-02-08T20:05:00.000Z

Hey,

Went to Castle Hill yesterday as the weather was so clement and the kids need a run out. Took a few okay shots. There's a couple on flicker, I guess you can see them in the slider at the bottom. Now I feel crap though. Still, walked down through the wood and took some pic's of tracks in the snow (it's snowed here - not loads but enough to feel it has actually snowed) as that was one of Small's activities for the day (tracking that is). Everyone staying at the bottom of the wood for tea. I came home to have a rest and some 'me time'.

Sorry don't really feel scintillating. I'll catch you all later.

Also, for the attention of my tallest-smallest brother Pancea

My Abode

2007-02-07T21:36:00.001Z

My Abode
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

Well, I've made various references to it so he is a shot - my house (at the mo').

Itchy Dose

2007-02-06T21:02:00.000Z

Today I are be msotly having a cold.

So blogging curtailed (mostly due to hearing about me lump around various parts of the house is less than interesting (and why would that stop you I hear you shout; yeah yeah)).

Slacker

2007-02-05T11:53:00.000Z

As you may have noticed I haven't posted for a few days. For this I apologise. The main reason it's been so long is that I have been away the weekend at a mates 40th (the scotch egg eating geezer as it happens). My plan was to email posts in from my phone - but as I forgot the charger, and the battery died almost the instant I arrived, that proved a little tricky. Sharp eyed amongst you will have spotted this doesn't actually hold up to scrutiny as the last post was sometime before the weekend - but I offer no further excuses.

Anyway - to the party. It was cool, it was a vaguely Lord of the Rings themed event. With people dressed in fancy dressed inspired by the film. This was optional - I optioned out. It was prob' about a 40 60 split dressed up to not, so I didn't feel the only boring twat.

The films were playing away in the front room all day - the party started at 12.00 (they were the extended edition so about 4 hrs long each), and there was food, drink and general chat in the kitchen/dining room (one large open plan type area). This was cool, people kinda swapped in and out of watching the film. Some watched the film all (or at least most) of the time. Some didn't watch the film at all. Actually the people not watching the film tended to barrack a bit about how anti-social the other group were - but I think that just shows an unwillingness to engage with the spirit of the thing.

In any case I did relatively well at catching the one or two bits of the films I particularly enjoy, and also got to catch up with some people I hadn't seen for a while - so all that was cool.

In other news or bucket of rust we call a car passed it's MOT (Yeah). Eventually (Boo). It's less rusty now though.

Christmas Prezzie

2007-01-31T22:54:00.000Z

So. I spent most of the day trying to create a page to host a virtual(ish) version of our one-size-fits-all Christmas calendar.

I used google pages, which is incredibly easy to use and provides okay if somewhat formulaic results preeety quick. Absolutely fine for my needs though.

The thing that took the time was trying to workout the best way of uploading the stupidly large word doc' that was the calendar in the first place. Obviously write to pdf was my first port of call. I used cutepdf writer, on the recommendation of Mr Smeeth. It seems okay to use and was free (a key point)- but rendered a yet larger file.

I tried using 7-zip to shrink it but as most of the size of the file is pictures (I assume) it didn't work terribly well. Of course it's entirely possible (a) I had no idea what I was doing or (b) it ain't that good - as I've only un-zipped stuff with it before.

I then had a little bit of trouble working out if I could upload a file. Y'see the doohicky says 'upload a file', but all the help seemed to refer only to photo's. Tricky. Also I couldn't find any reference to the max file size.

A little rooting through the google help pages revealed nothing. However, a foray to the appropriate google group was much more productive. Giving me all the info I needed - and more.

So you can see the (somewhat pitiful) final product here-

http://eldiccon.googlepages.com/home2

And if you didn't get a Christmas calendar - sorry help yourself. Ditto if your calendar had a page missing (doh!).

Ken - Don't no if you read this but there is one on the way, along with the rest of the prezzie.
Ste - Ditto the second half now you are in the country.

Ken

2007-01-30T19:49:00.001Z

Ken
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

Hammond In Second High Speed Roll.

2007-01-28T23:40:00.000Z

On the day that the BBC finally aired the footage of Hammonds high speed crash (just photo's I'm afraid) - and dull it was too, a vehicle rolling at 300 (or whatever) mph is much the same as one rolling at 6o they just kinda roll and then stop. It just happens quicker this way. None the less - on the day....

I bring you footage of the Hamster in yet another high speed roll. You'd have thought he would have learned his lesson from this one eh!

Wise Words

2007-01-28T23:25:00.000Z

Stuffed deer heads on walls are bad enough, but it's worse when they are wearing dark glasses and have streamers in their antlers because then you know they were enjoying themselves at a party when they were shot.
- Ellen DeGeneres

Too Many Pedals

2007-01-28T06:07:00.000Z

I've been driving my sister-in-laws car today - it's what they'd call a 'stick-shift' in the US, and what we'd call 'normal'.

This is something-of-note as I normally drive an automatic, and although having passed my test in a manual, that's the only one I've driven since. Brief round up - it's trickier than I remembered - but I managed okay - didn't stall which is quite an achievement. My left thigh feels about twice the size it was, and I'm not sure a breathed for the entire journey as I was concentrating too much. That aside however, the main area in which I had trouble with the car wasn't it's excessive need to be interacted with.

No, it all started badly even before I'd got the engine going - when I tried to adjust the seat. It's got one of those snazzy electric seats, again a new thing to me, which seemed to be more like something out of the krypton factor than luxury to improve your driving comfort. The first 10min's of my journey felt like I was on a roller coaster as the seat pitched up, down, forward, backward, and generally moved through every imaginable plain. The next 10min's also felt like a roller coaster ride - but that's just down to my driving style.

The other major problem appeared at the end of my journey when I tried to pop the bonnet in order that my engine could be inspected for - well actually I don't know what it's inspected for but they always look none the less. So ten minutes was spent with an increasingly inpatient guard type person waiting for me to open the bonnet while I pretty much crawled around in the drivers, and then the passengers, footwells. I succeeded in popping the fuel hatch several times but this of little use as it is pretty much too small a space to hide anything in.

Eventually I remembered that you had to unlock the bonnet with the key - this led to another 5min's searching for a keyhole. Which I finally discovered was accessed by sliding up the name badge on the front of the grill. Obvious really! What is even better is that the little printed instructions on how to unlock the bonnet had a diagram to show that you had to lift the plate - but these are printed next to the keyhole and , therefore, behind the nameplate - Genius.

And I get to drive it back home again having spent far too much of the night at work - awake. At least there won't be much traffic on the roads.

Wish me Luck.

Or better still wish luck to anyone I should happen to meet along the way!

The wanderer returns

2007-01-27T06:16:00.000Z

So Ste has come home to roost- well actually he is just having a brief vacation while he fails to sort out a new job in Korea from what I can gather. None the less we were graced with his presence yesterday - and, as always, it was more than a pleasure to see him. It's been a long time.

But as Ste noted it took no time at all for us to slip in to the habit of insulting him.

Ahh, it's good to be home ain't it Ste.

Definatly NOT Fish.

2007-01-25T07:11:00.000Z

Someone has finally made it.
So I thought I'd grace you all with a large version.

Self Referential, Once Again

2007-01-24T07:01:00.000Z

So relating to this post - -or more the comment.

I remembered the reading the following article - actually it wasn't this one exactly but a much more in depth discussion, I just can't find that one.

Don’t play this music while driving

Wagner’s ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ tops list
Updated: 1:35 p.m. ET April 16, 2004

LONDON - When Richard Wagner composed his powerful “Ride of the Valkyries” in the 1850s, he surely wasn’t thinking of any danger he was posing to 21st-century motorists.

Britain’s RAC Foundation for Motoring on Wednesday named the strident classical piece the No. 1 tune not to play while driving, based on research it says shows loud music can cause accidents.

The “Dies Irae” from Giuseppe Verdi’s “Requiem” was also considered a no-no.

So there you go.

I also saw some (less than stringent) reaserch on the excellent brainiac: science abuse.

They were having people drive around a test track and trying to distract them various ways. as I recall (and it's not 100%) listening to music you like is distracting - having girls get undressed and the dressed againin the car around you isn't ( the test subject was a 'lad', obviously).

The wee small hours

2007-01-23T05:10:00.000Z

So. I'm on nights again - which is fine, it's better than working - and I pretty much get paid to watch DVD's all night with the small risk of someone finding a dead person.

No, the reason that this is note worthy is in order to defend the fact that I - it would appear at first glance - haven't lived up to my obligation to blog daily.

Well, I have it's just that you have missed out due to the shifting of my days to the night. This means

I have been awake since about half nine yesterday morning
Since I haven't been to bed yet it is still today.

So you see it's today not yesterday or tomorrow and that must mean that statement 1 should read

I have been awake since about half nine this morning.

It all makes perfect sense; really.

Big Bother

2007-01-21T21:06:00.000Z

If - and I am extremely doubtful of this - but if Jade Goodys' career vanishes following the whole big bro' racism row. Then, well, for starters we can all breathe a sigh of relief that there will no longer be any risk of the talentless bint forcing her way into our lives. But more to the point she'll be unique in having had her media career (actually scrub that we could just say 'her career' - it's not like she was a oil magnet before the show) both started and destroyed by BB.

The Four giveth and the Four taketh away.

That Damn Song

2007-01-20T21:14:00.000Z

So,

Stringent research has uncovered that my previous post was factually inaccurate in almost every count - thanks anarchkit (who trapped his boo (or penis to the uninitiated) in his flies once BTW).

I wish to redress this failing.

the ad was for ipod (?colours - not sure if that the name of the campaign or a product).
the tune was by steriogram.

Other tune's till better though - and I'm glad I had the opportunity to share it with the world.

Actually - having watched the ad on you tube for the purposes of this post I'm not entirely sure I've ever seen it before - it's defo not the ad I was thinking it was. So, maybe still open to debate.

Watch this space (but not too hard).

Sound words of advice

2007-01-19T14:18:00.000Z

A little quote - as provided by the quotie tool on my google homepage - that I feel every world travelling, passport notch collecting, lay about (refer you to the sadly absent ste), should bear (?bare) in mind.

Exploding Bins

2007-01-18T20:09:00.000Z

So, it's been a little bit windy on this small isle we call home. And quite noticeably so here at chez dtb.

So much so in fact that our compost bin has exploded.

It would appear that the wheeled bins - emptied today so both lighter than usual and not hiding in their slightly less windy corner as usual - carreared across the yard and took out the compost bin along the way. This seems to have been a concertated effort by the wheeled brethern as well; the first wheeled bin knocking over the compost bin and the second landing on it and breaking it up into it's four sides.

Only two of which I can see at the present.

This making it somewhat difficult to re-construst, and, I suspect, meaning we'll have to invest in a new bin.

There is also the vegetable matter, in varying states of decomposition, that now forms a largeish, if somewhat strewn, pile on the front lawn - where previously contained - to deal with; as it seems merely ramming the compost bin on top of it is no longer an option.

Maybe when we get a new bin we can get one with a screw lid so you don't have to use a large piece of masonry to hold the lid on (under normal wind conditions - I don't think that a large house would have helped keep the lid on today). I suspect we'll just get a cheap one from the neighbouring borough as they do a reduced price scheme thing and our council don't.

So that just leaves the rotting veg and convincing someone to commit minor fraud in order to provide us with a bin. Hurrah.

Speed freak

2007-01-17T23:05:00.000Z

Note to self: don't listen to the Dead Kennedys whilst driving.

Got home in record time mind you.

P9091986

2007-01-16T20:18:00.001Z

P9091986
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

Well. This has been in the guess what I shot group for little while now and no ones got it- so it can go to the big wide world. If you want to see what's been guessed then click on the photo.

Comment here or there it matters not.

Have fun.

;D

Crazy Tap-Dancing Penguins

2007-01-14T18:13:00.000Z

Went to see Happy feet yesterday. It was okay. Small and Tiny enjoyed it which is the point I guess. They was dancing in the aisles. Literally.

SO it's a fairly normal story of tap dancing penguins saving the day - your kinda run of mill stuff.

Actually, really it most reminded of an 80's teen rite of passage, outsider makes good type thing with some heavy environmental spin as is now seems de rigeur.

Had a cool false ending which was incredibly depressing, and in a kids movie even more so - for a second it almost pulled me in. But then it all went shiny again.

None-the-less I wouldn't run to see it again, but equally happy to go see it when it tips up on kids club.

DOH

2007-01-13T20:45:00.000Z

EDIT to previous post.

This is the ad I was thinking of wish very much isn't that music. Obviously. But i can't think what ad it's from now. And the fact that none of the ad databases have that song listed is making me begin to doubt the truth of my mutterings at all.

So if you know what the hell I'm blathering on about then....

answers on a postcard please.

I like Sweet Music

2007-01-12T17:58:00.000Z

I stumbled across the tune that the cool photo printer add with the guy going in and out of photo's uses. The tune is ace - but what is more ace is the fact that the song is even better. YEAH.

It's here - it's by a guy call Hamell on Trail who's on the righteous babes label. The label started by the apocalypticaly ace Ani DiFranco. My personal all-time fav' artist.

Not such a big name in Blighty but seems to be pretty large in the US. At least on the right circuits. But then I guess pretty big on the right circuits here too - it's just you get back to the start quicker.

Failed already

2007-01-11T20:51:00.000Z

But only 'cos I'm dumb. Got distracted just as I was about to write my post for yesterday and forgot to write it, in fact thought I had until now

DOH.

Well that's novel.

2007-01-09T21:15:00.000Z

Thank you DaPi.

Where's My Pint

2007-01-08T23:05:00.000Z

So.

For christmas I got a pottery tankered. Which is great - it was something I wanted, with out knowing I wanted it. It's very attractive. Drinks well. Has a nice pyramidical shape to it so it's hard to knock over.

However, 'cause it's pottery if you put it down you spend the next 10mins looking around for a glass full of amber/brown stuff going "which bastard moved my pint".

Which is most annoying.

Ha I'm NOT going mad....

2007-01-07T04:08:00.000Z

So. I guess most of you will have - at some point or other - heard me going on about a US TV show I watched as a kid about pulseless aliens (that is of course unless you're some hapless punter who's stumble by here expecting to read something about bikes!).

And you have also, I guess, as it was the general response, looked at me blankly and smilied whilst backing away.

Well I'm not mad - I have proof of it's existance. It's on the interwebpediamajig so it must be true. There's Pictures an everything (note small-disc-make-person-dead-thing alien cop is holding).

It's even got it's own fansite (or twenty).

So there.

Playing Games

2007-01-06T01:30:00.000Z

I have recently been sucked into playing a very cool game on Flickr. I am sure there are many - but this one is jsut like a game I used to play at primary school and it's great.

It's the old guess what this close up of an everday thing is game. It's cool nad you can find it here.

To get you started I have put a couple of the pic's in the previous two posts. One's been solved (so as to give you a bit of gratification), one's taxing the mind's of the great and the good of flickr as we speak.

If anyone can tell what it is that'd be great - many sighs of relief would be sighed.

I also found this, which is kinda a visual sudoku where you can change the images and stuff. It's probably very good but sudoku makes my brain hurt too much (I hoped removing the numeral element might help but no joy).

Kerb

2007-01-06T01:14:00.001Z

Kerb
Originally uploaded by seanhepburn2006.

The One to Guess At.

(you can put your guess in comments I guess)

What am I 2

2007-01-06T01:13:00.000Z

What am I 2
Originally uploaded by brainleek007.

And one that's been got already. Bit that doesn't stop you having aside bet in the comments before heading over to see what is was does it?

kerrrRUNCH

2007-01-05T03:00:00.000Z

Don't worry I haven't just taken a spill. If that were the case there would be a much more intersting pic of my injuries over there ----->.

Or possibly not!!

The story is - in some ways - more worrying.

I was stood on the train the other day, actually crammed would be a better word, following a commute back from Leeds. It was rush hour, I had my bike and so the only place for my helm was to hold it directly in front of me. Now given that it's about a 25min journey and given my being English I couldn't possibly make eye contact with, let alone talk to, any of the plentiful supply of perfect strangers, and so was forced to examine my helm closely by way of entertainment.

On examining I discovered that there was a crack in it - running the full depth of the polystyrene stuff from - about where main break is in the picture is actually. In fact just where, should I hit something and come off I would expect my helm to take the brunt (unless it's the kerb. In which case experience shows ones knee takes the brunt leaving any form of protective equipment one may have deployed completely unscathed but I digress).

Now as you might imagine I found this quite disturbing. Disturbing as

I had no idea when this occurred (no not during the knee thing).
I had just weaved my way through rush hour Leeds traffic and muppetish pedestrians.
Last but not least - I had to do the same to get home from the station when I got off the train.

Not only did I have to do the same - but I had to do the same along a very busy main road known (at least in my mind) for the stupidity of it's drivers - by Hudd's standard's anyway - nothing compered to the driving on Chapletown rd. But that's another story.

Anyway, needless to say I got back in one piece (having been veeeeery careful).

This prompted me to make a lovely purchase (actually P. did as a prezzie; isn't she nice) - more on that later. And also for my older younger brother to destruction test my old lid. Hence the pic.

It took him three large jumps to render it to that state - and that was with a crack in the front. Sufficed to say my confidence in MET lids to stop your head exploding in a bike launching scenario is greatly increased.

A Little Bit'a Fun.

2007-01-04T01:29:00.000Z

Apparently this blog's worth:

My blog is worth $1,129.08.
How much is your blog worth?

And some of my blogging buddies:

Ste's blog is worth $564.54.
How much is your blog worth?

A moderately healthy amount.

anarchkit'sblog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

HA HA!

'frin's blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

Only in it's (very) infancy at the mo'. I'm sure it'll grow soon.

But wait don't be too disheartened

Google is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

Obviously I have no idea what-so-ever how they manage to generate these numbers so if anyone can enlighten me that'd be cracking, (it's something to do with links into your blog).

New Years Resolutions

2007-01-03T01:57:00.000Z

I don't really believe in such things, Mainly as I find it is just as easy to break promises to yourself at any time of the year. And as such I make and break resolutions all over the shop. Mostly no-one else knows and I'm very forgiving of myself so that is okay.

However, it is kinda traditional to reflect at this time of year and nights always put me in that kinda a mood, so I have couple of broad sweeping statements to make.

I will attempt update this blog everyday -even when I have nothing to say
I will cycle more

Okay not the most ground breaking of statements but here's the back story. When I started this blog I was pretty good at posting stuff - and most of it was at least vaguely interesting (to me anyway). However, events did what events do and I for a pretty long period of time I didn't post - if you want to know what events do then you'll have to trawl back for pathetic excuses. This was a lamentable state of affairs, I had a bit to say as well and just never found the time to say it. So, I reckon that if I get into the habit of saying meaningless tat then I'll be doing it when there is good stuff to say; if you get my drift.

With regards to cycling - well I'd like to do some - pref' in the mud/dust (okay actually pref' in the dust but I don't want to wait that long).

I don't mean epic treks or anything - and hour/half hour in the woods would be fine. 'specially as they are so easy to access now.

HAHAHAHA

2007-01-02T23:54:00.001Z

HAHAHAHA
Originally uploaded by anarchkit.

I think anarchkit said it all really.

A Right to Reply

2006-12-05T23:31:00.000Z

I refer you to my darling brothers post

I don't wish to discuss his giving up on spelling - mainly as I thought he had done that some time ago, rather his harsh and hurtful comment about the lollipop lady.

At this point I'd like to say I know nothing of this lollipop lady - and she may well be a witch. But I do have to say that if she is then he's (my bro) in a lot of trouble 'cause my memory of the most excellent bewitched leads me to believe that if a witch wiggles/crinkles or otherwise deforms their nose at you, you're in for a hexing (check out the cute little ani about half way dopwn the page).

Further to this I have no idea what Zyclon is and so he who must be mocked should have done that or possibly this. (okay having found that last link I realise this was a lie (mainly due to the incomplete-ness of the name in his posting, but my point still stands I say)

Also, and this relates to my first point, - Sam is most defiantly not old; oh no.

So there you have it - My bro's a fool. And one soon to be turned into a frog no doubt.

Blood bath

2006-11-29T04:48:00.000Z

...well bed really.

Woke up on Monday morning with an oddly familiar, but out of place, smell in my nostrils - one that made me feel more than a little nauseous.

It was the smell of slept in dry blood, something that I have become quite familiar with from my work in A&E - I can still picture they way it clings to you after you go to someone on the ward.

Why was this I hear you shout - well Tiny had toddled through from his bed to ours in the night. Along the way his foot encountered the detritus of my discarded clothes causing him to fall and bang his head on the corner of the bed.

This also apparently led to him cutting his forehead, I thought he was just upset 'cause he had fallen in the dark (he don't like the dark one little bit, possibly his only weak spot). Apparently not.

He now looks like a prize fighter - with one eye swollen and bruised, a little cut just above the eyebrow steri-stripped up.

Builders

2006-11-29T04:43:00.000Z

So

my life has stopped feeling like a (quite good) film. The builders have left the loft - leaving a bloody great hole in the wardrobe ceiling I might add.

Now they've moved onto to routing/chiseling a hole in an oak beam in the sitting room in order to fit a metal plate. The beams cracked and is slowly moving downwards - I slowly it's not really slow it just kinda drops from time to time. At present we can only open the door to the living room about a third of the way before it sticks on the beam, meaning everyone has to kinda slide into the room.

Anyway, this wouldn't be a problem apart from I started nights on Monday night - And they started work on Tuesday morning.

I am sleeping at my Mother's house.

Ps. Bottom still hurts.

OWWWWWWWWW

2006-11-27T14:01:00.000Z

Last night my loving brother made me sit on a fork - which then stuck in my bottom.

It hurts - a lot - still.

Particularly when I sit down, not when I am sat - just when I sit.

s'okay he'll get his.

B'day Cont.

2006-11-22T18:13:00.000Z

So,

Today I went out b'day shopping with my mother. we were some what less than raucous - her being (for the last four or five days) generally unwell and run down and me being somewhat hungover.

Anyway, I decided I'd like to go to an ex-army type place that I know they go to. Particularly with the hope of getting some boots like Kit's - they didn't have any but it was a nice place to have a poke around in any case.

This being a less than successful venture I considered other places we might go- but my hangover was starting to bite a little and I was starving so instead I opted for lunch. Had a nice pub lunch at a local pub - it was lovely. Came home.

On arriving home didn't do a great deal. Did have call to hoover tiny though as he had, somehow, managed to empty and entire jar of flour over himself and the dining room. He thought being hoovered was hilarious and kept wriggling - not making for an easy job.

I then hoovered what I could of the flour on the dining floor, chairs, table, books well you ge the picture. This was not aided by the fact that he had, as he helpfully pointed out, mixed apple juice in with most of the floor on the table. If you have ever tried to mop up large amounts of floor/liquid you'll know that it's most reminiscent of trying to mop up a cross between PVA glue and pollen. The end result was that I was both very sticky and wheezing.

I now note that I am neither sticky or wheezing but my hands do feel like they have hadd all the moisture surgically removed. Not sure exactly how you would perform that surgically - I guess some kinda micro-surgical fusion over your sweat glands would do it.

In other news we've had the builders in - they are doing some work in the loft, so you don't really notice them other than the occasional bang from above you which is most reminiscent of being in 'Shallow Grave'.

Birthday

2006-11-21T18:40:00.000Z

And a jolly nice one it was too. I have received - a mag light (like the one on my wish list but black), a couple of bottles of wine, a bottle of tequila, a box of chocs and a decent looking book. Also have the promise of more things to come; and I'm going shopping with mater in the near future - so that should be good. Also, from work (we have a kinda slush fund thing were you pay in so much a month and the fund buys you a present on your birthday - it also pays for flowers if you're sick or have a baby or whatever) I received some fair trade tea, organic green tea, G&B's chocolate (3bars) and G&B's cocoa - so they seem to have my main areas of interest pretty well pegged!

However, I go to all that effort of setting up a wish list and people still buy wine and chocs and the like. The book wasn't even one of the few on the list.

Where do people get off on finding nice things to surprise me with huh.

In other news - there ain't any so pah.

Sing A Song Of......

2006-11-20T04:10:00.000Z

Soldiers!

So this happened sometime previous but a recent chance remark brought it back to my mind. First born thought of a song - he made it up all on his ownsome - that's what he says and I've no reason to doubt. It goes something like this (I apologies, I'm sure I haven't got the verse quite right, Someone please chip in). It came with amusing action as well. You prob' guess them but they are added to the bottom of the verse for completeness.

March like a soldier
March like a soldier
March like a soldier
March like a soldier
March like a soldier
marching type action

Dress like a soldier *5
mime putting clothes on

Train like a soldier *6
mime doing various exercises

Polish you Helmet like a soldier *5
mime polishing your helmet!

Shoot like a soldier *5
mime shooting

Die like a soldier *5
this is the best one as it involves going kinda limp and rag doll like at the end of the verse.

Now there's two things I note of this.

1. Small child double-entendre is the best (I I only noticed the amusement of the polish verse being followed by shoot like a soldier whilst writing it just now).

2. My son has an unnerving grasp on what it is like to be a soldier - you become institutionalised and then die.

Also in news of the day - It's my birthday. Yippee. Okay it's four in the am so I haven't actually got much news on that front; but none the less if I knew where my pressies were hid I 'd run down stairs and open them!

Fire Poi

2006-11-17T16:45:00.001Z

Fire Poi
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

This is a picture of someone fire poing (or whatever) There's no particular story attached but I need to see if I could post from flickr as I've been struggling.

That's MR Dtb to You!

2006-11-16T03:55:00.000Z

As promised photo of top hat(as taken by anarchkit I believe). Okay I admit not the best photo of the hat - but still dandy I'm sure you will agree.

This was at the afore mentioned party in a field thing at GB06.

Vampyre

2006-11-16T03:44:00.000Z

So the other day we were making a pumpkin lantern for halloween - ever one for up-to-the-minute news me. First born drew the template and it fell to me to cut it out. This led to the mouth cutout being discarded while I concentrated on the eyes. Tiny took it upon himself to adopt it as his own haloween type costume.

Unfortunately he shortly after bit through it and the turned into two slightly soggy and defiantly separate fangs.

Gun Powder, Treason & Toffee

2006-11-08T16:03:00.000Z

Small's First real experience of sparklers - Which went well till they ran out.

Oh, and he tried to touch one - good job we made him wear gloves!my niece refused to, did the same and burnt her finger (but only a little bit).

I Told You So

2006-11-05T21:45:00.000Z

See I am back, said I would be.

And there's nothing on tellie - but even if there was I'm sat in the front room (which is actually kinda at the side of the house but that's another argument; it was at the back of the previous house and I still called it the front room).

Now the keen among you might have noticed something (I'm presuming that majority of person reading this blog will have been to my house) - Yes, I have moved house. But no I haven't moved my new house - in fact I've moved in with my inlaws (well sister-in-law).

As they are doing a kinda week commute north to south (and backa again!) it means we have the house to ourselves most of the week and they don't have to worry about (any other) squatters when they're at work. Seems to be working out quite well at present. Has the advantage of being across the wood from the house we are working on, and my mum et al. So that's good. Nice to be out of the countryside a little bit.

So why haven't I posted for so long?

Well, there in lies a tale - and a tale I am willing to share with one and all (aren't you lucky boys and girls).

Actually it's more like a series of excuses really.

Firstly, I was (I may have previously mentioned) house sitting at the summer. And although they have all the prerequisites (a computer, broadband etc) it's just not the same as being at 'home'. Then came the snap decision to move house. And so I have been some-what busy with that.

So this moving means I'm once again without broadband. A lamentable state of affairs I might add; I wait all summer to be near my computer (how much do I want a laptop) and when I have the computer I have no connection so I can't do all the things I really wanted to do!

So after a couple or four weeks we get the broadband sorted and it's all cool.

Well at least it would be - but then (and this is the fun bit) about a 2 weeks after that my tiny toddle of death decides to stand on the bath and use a flannel to plug up the sink, and then turn the tap on full. 'That's cool' I can hear you saying 'that's what overflow's for'. But no you under-estimate the tiny one; for he is one-step-ahead and has already found a plastic bung to wedge into it.

So sometime later our lass is wandering around in the kitchen and notices the floor is wet - but can't fathom it. At the time the washing machine was pumping out and she figured it must be that. So whilst fanatically trying to mop around the washing machine the tiny bundle of wrath tugs on her to say he needs the toilet. Now at this point it could all have got a lot worse - 'cause in the normal course of events we'd stick him in on the potty and jobs a good 'un. But the potty was missing, annoying if you're trying to catch the contents of a washing machine, but in retrospect quite handy as the water was in fact pouring from the several inches that are lying on the floor of the bathroom.

So after a gruelling (hem hem) 14hr shift I return to a house that has been plunged into the dark ages 'cause the waters fused all the electrics.

Under advisement we wait for it to dry out, and wait, and wait - and eventually get sick of waiting and get a 'lecy to fix the problem. Anyway, this all took about two or three weeks to sort out. And although it was sorted a few weeks ago I was somewhat out of the habit of writing and had what seemed like a depressing amount of 'news' to tell. Making it hard cut swathe into it.

I've got plenty more news to share - but I think I'll let you off for now. Hopefully I'll get to share some of the recent happenings in and amongst before the moment has passed, and I will try to be less sporadic - promise.

Once more into the breach.....

2006-11-02T21:04:00.000Z

yes,

I've been an absent friend - for quite some time it would appear.

There are a number of reason for this; but to be honest I'm not sure I can be bothered to go into the at the moment - so I won't!

Also, I want to watch something on the telly at errm OHHH NOW. I promise I'll write, post pic's and all that jazz soon.

TTFN

GB'06

2006-08-30T22:30:00.000+01:00

And a fine time was had by all.

Yes that's it - I'm back from Greenbelt '06. It was a different experience for me this year as I was a vol'. Working with medical team (seems kinda obvious really), Meant I didn't get to see a lot of the 'acts' though. I did get a free ticket and free food thought - so that was good.

It was also interesting to see the hidden workings of the festival, and watch it grow in the few days before the punters tip up. The change from an empty racecourse to a sea of tents was something a bit special. Apparantly there were about 18,000 people with camping tickets on the saturday night.

I got to see King Creosote who were great. And Nizlopi (of JCB song fame) who were less great. I missed Courtney Pine though which I was a little gutted about.

One of the most surreal parts of the weekend was 'frin's MA graduation party, for which I was in full formal dress - Long frock coat (of wedding fame), nero shirt, cane, and my new top hat. And stood in the middle of a muddy campsite in the middle of Cheltenham Racecourse.

I am most in love with this small part of my ever expanding collection of hats, it's lovely. I will be posting a pic' at some point (when I find the USB cable for my camera!).

I'm sure there will be more little tit-bits to come yet - However, I was bit tired after my weekend of jolity so I'm not feeling up to writing much really.

Out Of Office Message

2006-08-22T08:15:00.000+01:00

Hey,

So posting may become even more sporadic over the next couple of weeks, partly due to the fact I'm going away to greenbelt over this next weekend. And partly due to the fact I have no broadband at home now - this situation will remedied fairly soon I hope.

If your ever stuck........

2006-08-21T02:45:00.000+01:00

for something to give me as I'm so wonderfull - then just take a glance to the right --->

It's there for handy reference.

Love ya all.

2006-08-20T01:28:00.000+01:00

And so my blog grows, like a beautiful flower; change and evolving with the seasons. Ever reaching out to the glowing, life giving orb which is a template I'm happy with.

However, I am (so far) trying to avoid the swift injection of 'roids that is all the bling on Ste's blog.

How long can a man hold out? Only time will tell.

A summer in the country

2006-08-16T05:48:00.000+01:00

Soooo,

I've been a little incommunicado lately. This is mainly due to the fact I've been Newhouse-sitting as the regular residents go on their version of a grand tour. This involves driving to various parts of Italy in a battered and very red camper van; and then staying in other peoples houses (with their permission I hasten to add).

This is nice, I like Newhouse (which is lucky as I will one day live there). It also means I can do some little things to hasten the approach of that said day.

Anyway, I spent yesterday relaying a stone patio at the back of the house. I say relaying - we only relaid two flags but we did recut the patio where the edge had collapsed and remove the flags that where swimming across the lawn.

We also rebuilt (and extended upwards) a collapsed dry stone wall. This was a job on the list of 'to do' for a little while. But it soon got bumped up when, whilst examining the extent of the work required, we found someone cooking up in the adjacent outbuilding.

The last week also saw the instillation of new windows to one of the rooms of our house; and lovely they are, and the (finally) visit of a sparky. These two things bode well for the hoped for partial move being not too long away.

In other news my sister-in-law etc. moved in to their new house. And it is, rather conveniently, a pleasant woodland stroll away from Newhouse.

I have to say they've done very well for themselves I feel - A lovely cottage conversion thing, large rooms and plenty of them. It's all good.

It also means they've borrowed (and in a couple of case taken permanent stewardship of) some of the pile of furniture we seem to be accumulating in the house at the moment.

So all in all a pretty nice few days - admittedly not a great deal to write home about for you lot- but it fills me with a sense of enormous well being and satisfaction that I've achieved something.

Sooooo

2006-08-15T04:51:00.000+01:00

My dad asked me and my Sister to imagine he was dead earlier today.

Not sure how to take that!

When the sugar rush ends....

2006-07-28T13:21:00.000+01:00

When the sugar rush ends....
Originally uploaded by Mr. Dtb.

.....sometimes it's all too much.

----------------------

Lost In transfer to new template!

A death in the family.....

2006-07-26T16:36:00.000+01:00

So,

I awoke the other day to my wife asking 'shouldn't I be at work already?'

'no' I reply - looking at my mobile/alarm clock 'it's only 04.30' (well okay I didn't say oh-four-thirty but you get the idea). 'Nope' says my wife nodding to her alarm clock 'it's after eight'.

Bloody mobile. Little back story here, the alarm belongs to my wife (my mobile (or handy as my Step-father would have it) was flat), and it tends to forget to keep counting when switched off. But as it wasn't mine I forgot this - hence my still snoring at 8.15 when I should be handing out drugs at 6.30.

So I phone work and speak to my boss - 'My mobile died in the night' I say 'so that's why you couldn't raise me'

My boss was remarkably nice; 'Oh, I am sorry' she say 'How are you? Don't bother coming in today - and give me a call later about tomorrow, now I've got to go; but are you sure your okay?" I just made sort of positive grunting sounds, still being 93% asleep.

Now the whole 'can't come in today' bit wasn't to much of a surprise, I was only on an early - due to finish around 12.30 and the main part of the work is done by 10.00 in any case. So that combined with the rush hour meaning I wouldn't get into work till around 09.30 - I reckoned there was little point in tipping up. They'd get my time when it was more usefully later in the month after all. However, the whole call me about tomorrow thing was a bit weird, as was the undue concern. But what the hey.

So I called her back - 'I am sorry to hear about your loss, are you sure it's okay'; 'Yep', I reply fairly ambivalently - if a little confused. 'Now, what shift are you meant to be on tomorrow? We'll try to cover it'. My confusion is building now, as is my concern for my managers mental health, 'Right' I said, 'and why would I not be coming in tomorrow?'

Well, I guess you've got it by now - I said mobile, she heard mum. We soon got it sorted out.

But what if we hadn't - I could of just said 'thanks a lots, I'll do some gardening.'

Apparently, all my colleagues thought I was bereaved - a collection had been started; all that. I could of strung it out for a couple of weeks even maybe. Come back made up some excuse. Maybe even said I was so devastated by the loss of my Sony Ericisson!

A Litlle Bit Of My Newhouse.

2006-07-19T19:49:00.000+01:00

Not quite ready to move into!

Back on track

2006-07-18T22:29:00.000+01:00

Well, I think that's enough petulance for the moment. I intended to continue my bloging with aplumb (yep, the juicy fuity things (Hmm, or maybe the hanging down straight line type thing - so hard to decided)).

Don't all rush at once - it'll still be here tomorrow.

Oh, and have you ever missed some stuff. But you can blame blogger for that.

Be Lucky

MR Dtb.

2006-07-18T20:43:00.000+01:00

still beroken???

Broken blog.....

2006-06-23T21:21:00.000+01:00

... therefore I refuse to post till some tells me what's up with it. It's jsut too horrid to look at at the mo'.

So there.

I told you I'd be back.

2006-06-19T23:03:00.000+01:00

Some little thing did crop up in my mind..

When I was cycling to work this morning (along the canal) there was a family of geese - not great on bird breeds but I guess they were the Canadian kind (yep, thanks google). And at first I just saw the one of them, I was a bit tired and mainly looking at the path ahead of me, and it lurched out a bit from the grass verge and craned it's neck to hiss loudly at me causing me to veer away a little (which was the desired affect I guess). Then I noticed another just a little way down the verge and it was doing much the same in anticipation of my arrival. And then, only as I passed did I notice the little furry huddle of about 4 or 5 goslings between them, and it was so cute - in a scary geese kinda way - to see the parents on sentry duty protecting the little ones. The way they were at either end of the verge, and a little distant so the babes had a safe buffer zone as it where. And the whole being big and hissy at me had the desired effect 'cause it wasn't till I was passing by that I noted the little 'uns.

I was pretty glad I was on my bike however and could just zip past - those geese can be scary-assed birds and it ain't all that big a toepath.

I also discovered (just now) that the proper latin type name for the candadian goose is "Branta canadensis". Doesn't that just sound like something you'd need to take lots of antibiotics and special cream for!

Normal service is resumed

2006-06-19T16:12:00.000+01:00

So I had the weekend off form blogging - mainly due to the fact that I was at my parents and despite the fact they (supposedly) have four Internet ready computers I couldn't seem to get near one four more than five minutes in order to construct a post.

So I'm writing this at work - which is great, got more time to write a post at work than I have all weekend.

Actually I'm a bit stuck for exciting news at the mo' (so at least something is working); at the mo' I hear you scream; we've read the rest of your blog - at the mo' don't even come close.

I'm a going to leave it there for the mo' as the actually want me to do some work (shock horror). I may - if you're really lucky check in later on. Or I may not.

Ta Ta for now my lovelies.

2006-06-16T03:48:00.000+01:00

I really have thought about it and still I don't know what's so great about denim.

Answers on a postcard please.

Oh, and England won today - woo, I'm so excited *yawn*.

Jungle Jim

2006-06-14T22:32:00.000+01:00

Oh, yeah. I forgot. Didn't post yesterday as I was busy mowing the lawn (all day I here you shout - well it did look like this)

A Long Ride

2006-06-14T22:30:00.000+01:00

Yep, went for a bike ride today - Which was nice. Actually it was, went around the hills outside Huddersfield with my younger brother. We cycled, got stung by nettles, cycled, got lost, cycled, got lost, cycled ate lunch, cycled. And that was about it. I'd show you some of the stunning photo's of the wonderfully lit scenery - but it was grey and rainy most of the time, and I forgot my camera in any case.

My youngest brother got punched the other night- 'cause he was hitting on someone's girlfriend (he says he was just 'consoling her' but we all know what that means don't we).

What else - Nope think that's about it really - oh, managed to not fall off at all and didn't break anything on the bike - so that's pretty miraculous - did forget to take my front wheel though (not on the ride, that'd be talent - just to Hudds) so had to borrow my youngest bro's.

Nothing else on the home front to report - other than my youngest son has started saying bitch (we think it may mean bird though); all the time. Most amusing.

Little bit of Leeds Lore

2006-06-12T01:25:00.000+01:00

Check out this lovely little bit of personal lore of Leeds i happened to stumble across.

The Berkeley Hotel used to stand in the grounds. Run by a Hungarian called Louis who was happy to keep the bar open illegally after the pubs shut. This meant that the customers of the Faversham (then the heart of the Leeds music scene-Sisters of Mercy etc) would decant to the Berkeley to mix with its permanent Social Services residents.

The kindly provision of a pool table meant that fights were guaranteed. In fact, I remember one night when the whole place was under seige by some expellees with bricks and bottles coming in through the windows.

I used to visit with my other half very early in our relationship. One night in the usual argument over "rules on the black" in a game of pool a drunken Scotsman (though I don't know why the nationality is important) pulled out a knife. With a flick of the wrists she deftly disarmed him. When I asked her where she'd learnt to do that she replied "Oh, you have to do that all the time when you're a teacher".

At which point I thought, that's the gal for me.

Thanks rikj

You can see the context here should you wish.

But The Image is irrelevant really.

PS. Having cycled back that way there is DEFIANTLY a pot-hole (in case you care).