Flight

Monday morning drive to work. Sounds horrible doesn't it? Made easier with the iPod cranking out some good tunes. Bit of a Manchester theme this morning. A blast of 808 State followed by A Certain Ratio. Flight by ACR is such a massive track. It hits so many spots for me. It always lifts and inpsires. It's title is perfect. The guitars create noise and ambience and even a lick of funk. The bass is solid and the drums, don't get me started on the drums! Featuring the most exquisite bass drum work, I love the drum track so much. Every discreet fill and flourish is a beauty while the minimalist groove is never compromised. Awesome.

Eid

Another busy day around the house. Put up the bathroom cabinet bought last night from Ikea. Paul and Rachel came over in the afternoon. Possibly a drinkie with Paul and Mike next week. Sounds good. Other good news, the Gang Of Four are reforming and playing in Brum in January! I think I have to go to that one. Balti night tonight. Good chat with my man at the Raja. Happy Eid.

Winchester

Testing out software and panel for the Heathrow site. Up to the wire with some of the bits. Couldn't get the alarms working, although talking it though with tech support, it seems a re-install is on the cards. Stopped over in Winchester at the Giffard House Hotel. Nice place. Always a pleasure to stop there.
The new pc was delivered to home on Wednesday. Checked it out briefly when I got home Thursday night. Bit dissapointed at the noise level. Brought a Scenic T model home at the weekend to compare it. Put it in a bit more perspective.

Xrays & Eye Test

Last Tuesday spent the morning at the hospital getting my IVU xrays done. Seems the stone(s) is still in there but I await the consultants decision as to the next step. The injection was weird. The predicted symptoms were experienced. A hot feeling all over, a metallic taste in the mouth and the feeling that I'd pissed myself! As I said, weird.
Got an eye test done in the afternoon. Seems that my left eye is worst but in general my eyesight is not poor. The optician predicted I would need glasses for pc work in four years time. Apparently 44 is a classic statistic age for that.

Broadband, Wireless And Back Online

The pc restrictions are starting to be removed. New pc delivered on wednesday, adsl router & wireless point picked up this morning from delivery firm, I'm now online up in the kids bedroom with my new work laptop testing out the wireless range. It's good to be back online properly! There are a few things to note from the past week but I'll post them up later.

Working From Home

Boy working from home is tough! It's nearly 11PM now and I seriously haven't stopped all day. Got lots of tasks done and filled in all the time in between with work stuff. Unfortunately that leaves absolutely no space for arse-on-sofa time.
Jacq took the kids off to school and then spent the morning there helping out with various classes. I stayed home doing work stuff while the Sky installer did the business. Talked the Sky-man into NOT nailing his cables all around the skirting boards so I can take my time and do a proper install job with the cabling running under the floor. Jacq home lunchtime and talked me into a pizza session. So off out to lunch we went but also managed to squeeze in a trip to the dump and pick up a desk for the new computer. Picked the kids plus David coming back to play. Dylan and David had a blast. When David had gone I started building the desk but had to return some poor quality bits. Hassle. More chores after getting the kids to bed and then catching up with remaining work bits. Just got to finish off the desk now and then I'm done.

Review Of The Week

Haven't blogged for a week and there's not really much of a good reason for that. Back at work this week obviously dictates a certain structure to the days, and the pc lying in the corner just did not appeal. There's not really that much of note to record but a few things stick in the mind.
Initially the return to the office was flat because I was straight out to site. With that over, there were some good times in the office, mainly catching up with Phil who has had a busy one himself recently. Had an email dialogue with my IT dept that hopefully results in me getting a new pc next week to replace the useless lump I'd previously been issued with. More site on Thursday, in a hut in a field with no facilities. Nice. Ended the week with my staff dialogue session. Got said everything I wanted to say. Emphasised over and over my negative feelings and low morale. My boss simply agreed with everything I said so no real arguments developed. I've applied for another session with the next boss up the chain.
Saturday swimming then Molly with us all afternoon. Got a bit of DIY done. One uplighter fitted in the front room, hopefully do the other one today. Watched a John Peel tribute thing on telly. Lots of good people saying nice things about him. I think Phil Jupitus was right when he said that we don't yet know how much we will miss him. What Peelie did was simply essential to the development of so much new music and there is nothing that can replace that.

Happy Halloween

Up nice and early (putting the clocks back an hour helps) and a treat of breakfast at McDonalds. Egg Muffins rock!. Took our old computer cupboard over to Annas as it's too big for the alcoves in our rooms now. Spent an a couple of hours putting it back together again for her. Glad to have it out of the way and put to good use. Jacq made a top Sunday lunch. And not long after it was time to get ready to go over to Marys. Dug out the kids dressing-up clothes and got them ready for some Halloween party action. They've been looking forward to trick-or-treating for a couple of days now. When we got there all the kids were dressed up and got some good shots hopefully. Party food was had then straight into some party games before they headed out to trick-or-treat. They all looked so cute in their outfits. They came back with their buckets filled and smiles on their faces. I spent a while staring at bonfires with the Steves. Then it was fireworks time. This year there were more combined fireworks which meant less fiddling with endless small things. But even so, we were flagging by the end. There's always just a few too many. All in all a good show though. The kids all had a great time.

A Normal Saturday From A New Perspective

Picking up with the old routines, this morning was swimming lessons. Dylan struggling a bit in his lesson not helped by the fact that he's not listening enough to Keith his teacher. Later he was having loads of fun playing with Mitchell. Lizzie and Steve came over this afternoon for the tour and some good chat. Groceries later. Cut right back on the booze! If it ain't in the house then we can't drink it! Guardian had a free DVD in it today, Cinema Paradiso. I like the idea of giving away movies. Hope they continue with the idea. Haven't watched it yet. Jacq watching Oceans 11. Tired tonight. Trying to blog inbetween yawning. Last day of house stuff tomorrow then back into the work thing. Whatever. I need some sleep.

Drawing To A Close

The week draws to a close and very pleasant it has been. Anna got the tour today and gave us a lovely gift of wine and flowers. I've not drunk as much wine for a l-o-n-g time as I have this week. Brief chat with Dan gave a flavour of the office. Seems like temperatures have risen in the Grain project. Got a text from my client indicating site work on Monday. Plan to go into the office first thing to pick up laptop and hand-over from Geoff. Back at the house I was getting more DIY bits done. Picked up Harriet and Lizzie from a house party where they had been pumping in copious ammounts of dry ice! How weird? Downed another couple of whites tonight whilst watching the standard five channels of TV. Need to get some digital TV soon. Checked up the t'internet last thing. No communications of note to report. Let's see what the weekend brings.

Things Are Very Quiet Out There

With all the business of the house move and the knock-sideways shock of Peelie passing, I've just realised that my mate Phil has been very quiet this week. No messages in my inbox, no posts in his blog, must be busy I guess. Funny how I need to see online evidence of a person to know they're ok. The fact that they are busy with 'real life' is obviously far more valid than any internet rambings. I guess the more online activity, the less that person 'really' exists.

Domestic Routines

Me and Dylan dropped Harriet off at Mollys then set off around the DIY stores. Back home Jacq had been up the high street and was busy carving up a pumkin head. Clearing up the back garden a bit. Sweeping up leaves. Jane brought Harriet back and my parents arrived at the same time. Useful time with dad spent checking out the central heating performance. After they had gone me and Harriet trekked out to get chips from our new local chippy. Another good day in the house with things running smoothly.

Still Sad But Doing Stuff

Submerging the sadness over Peelies passing, another day in the new house commences. Various chores around and about then out for lunch at Pizza Hut. Melted cheese heck ensured no requirements for any further sustainance for the rest of the day. I just love the deep pan base. Post-pizza we shopped for house bits at B&Q. Mary & Steve & kids turned up in the afternoon. They liked the house and we had a good chat while the kids had a great time playing. More house stuff after they had gone. New bits in the bathroom. Kids in bed. Grand Designs on but I'm online listening to Peel tributes. Still sad.

RIP Peelie

Well another day in the house started out fine with clearing the place of empty cardboard boxes and a wardrobe that doesn't fit up the stairs. Then I got lots more stuff up into the loft and hey presto! the place is looking lots tidier.

Later on in the afternoon we were out shopping when Paul phoned me with news that John Peel is dead. I'm gutted. Peelie was a massive hero of mine. An inspiration on many levels. The world is a poorer place with him gone. I'm going to miss the fact of John Peel. See ya Peelie.

Another Day In The New House

Settling in more. Milk on the doorstep. Sorting out more stuff. Fixed a bookcase in place and the books can now come out of their boxes. Hospital appointment this afternoon revealed that the kidney stones are STILL in me. More x-rays ordered. Possible surgical procedures discussed. Cripes. Theresa and Lucy turned up for a look around the house. After their visit we wizzed up to Ikea to check out some bathroom cabinets. When we got home a card was waiting from neighbours at 190. Nice gesture, must call to thank. Kids in bed late. Keeping each other awake singing songs together that they've learnt for school assembly. So cute!

And We're In!

We've done it! We moved house. Friday came and went in a blur of boxes, furniture and sweat. We thought we were prepared but as the removal guys started speedily emptying our house of its contents we found more and more items without a box to call home. But by the end of the morning everything was out. Even the sofas which had to be carried at head height around the back of the house as our new front door would not allow them to pass. The legal stuff happening without a hitch was a surprise considering the bumpy road of the house chain dragging on for months and months. No sooner had we dropped off the old keys than I got a call to pick up the new keys just as we walked past the estate agents office. Into the new house and everything was fine. Bigger than I remembered it and in great condition. Very relived that the sofas fitted into the rooms and dissapointed that our bed and wardrobe would not fit up the stairs! Oh well, the guys kept filling the house and I couldn't help myself but join in. Dave, Will and Josh certainly earnt their money that day. I couldn't do that work five days a week. Once they had gone we locked up the house and called on the old neighbours to say goodbye. Steve did me a copy of Hero on DVD which I watched Saturday night. An awesome sight.
Saturday spent focussed on the kitchen. Although clean, we scrubbed it again from top to bottom. Our stuff fitted in great. Spent a fortune on food at the supermarket. Paul and Lyn came by. Can't keep that pair away :) House warming gift of a case of wine was gratefully received.
Sunday Mom & Dad came over. Quickly turned into a working visit as me and Dad got to work on the leak in GCH header tank (fixed), checked out the loft (and bunged up some stuff), and got the bed bases upstairs. Quite some work invloved in taking apart just enough of the bed base to get it up. Re-assembled upstairs with skill and a stapler. Multiple attempts to get the wardrobe upstairs were met with a steady dismantling of the construction. Eventually it was taken upstairs as a flat-pack kit. Hurrah! A good days work done with Dads invaluable assistance.
Tired tonight. Another glass of wine sooths away the strains and tomorrow brings another adventure.

The Day Before The Move

In the office today. Tried injecting some positive energy into the Grain project by talking through some mapping strategies with Adrian. Why no-one else is doing this for the team is beyond me. Handed over to Geoff for site next week. New laptop on my desk but didn't get to explore it much.

Straight up to school for parents evening. Both kids doing great. Back home to experience more moving prep stress. There just seems so much to do still. Paul and Lyn came over to collect the old fridge. That's one thing out of the way. I relaxed a bit knowing that was out of the way.

So tomorrow we're outta here. It's going to be a bit weird, but good weird. Don't know when we'll have broadband setup in the new place so offline for a while now. See ya!

Working At Home

Working at home today. Got quite a bit done considering Dylan was off school for a hearing test and Harriet was off due to feeling ill with a cold. Jacq busy with more of the final packing preparations. It's getting close now.

Have learnt today that the next two days will mostly be spent on site commissioning. That's just exactly NOT what I wanted. Little chance of sloping off early Thursday afternoon if in the middle of commissioning plant.

Git Up

Amazing to report that today was really a rather pleasant day in the office. The vibe was good amongst the team present. Got a fair bit of work done. The travelling was fine both ways. Can't complain about a working day like today. Soundtracked by the new D12 single 'Git Up' which has a stunning rhythm track more like Autechre or Aphex than your standard rap track.

History Of Atheism

Enjoyed a spot of quality TV this evening. Jonathan Millers History Of Atheism was top notch. There's not enough voices in the media pointing out the obvious STUPIDITY of ALL religions. Good to see it on BBC4 even if it was in a kind of overly intellectual presentation. Really looking forward to the next episode which I think features Richard Dawkins.

Let's be clear about this, religion is for babies afraid of the dark. Religion should be banned. No, not banned, that's dumb. Religion should be deemed so laughably ridiculous, that no-one with any common sense would admit to believing in it.

There, that's better. Imagine religion is dead. Isn't the world a more rational, intelligent and grown-up place now?