Just settling down after chores and kids having trouble sleeping. Decided to do a bit of creative stuff on the pc. Plugged in my scanner and... nothing. Trawling through forums it appears that my scanner driver does not work with XP SP2. Absolutely no info on the companies website about this issue or any prediction of updated driver release. How poor is that? Oh well, just a bit of web browsing then...
Just catching up with some of my regular sites. Noticed that Phil had posted a weekend roundup like myself and had also called his weekend roundup 'Weekend Roundup' the same as me! How spooky is that?! Well, OK not very spooky at all really I suppose. But it COULD have been. Couldn't it?
Friday working from home with the Mobilis setup keeping me in touch with the office. Popped out midday for some retail opportunities. Got more pressies for the kids. Picked up Haunted Weather by David Toop on a tip from Fergus. Finally spending book tokens I'd had since Feb. Later I collected the kids and did the ballet run to Harborne. Parents came over in the evening and I discussed some DIY issues with Dad.
Saturday started with a visit from Paul. Early as usual. Swimming lessons went well with Dylan really trying this week. In recent lessons he has just been larking about in the water and not listening to Keith. This week he did much better and made some good progress. Dave and I had a good moan about jobs and money and stuff. Lent me a couple of DVDs that I must copy for the new office collective. Spent the afternoon storing more stuff up the loft. Need to get some more boarding and sort out the space properly.
Sunday morning at the cinema for a preview showing of The Incredibles. What an awesome movie! We all loved it. It was really superb on many, many levels. Dylan now wants to be known by his new name 'Dash'. He said I'm the Dad cos I'm tough. What a cutie! On the way back home we called into a few shops around the city looking for a bed for Harriet. Finally found one in a shop on the Bearwood High Street! More chores in the house rounded off a busy and enjoyable weekend.
Raining when I got home from work, not looking forward to going up town later. But that all changed when the rain turned to SNOW! Now I'm so looking forward to trudging my way up town. Just to see the heavy snowflakes falling through the light of a streetlamp was a joy. The journey to town was a breeze and soon I was on Broad Street outside the Figure Of Eight. Mike and Paul already there and on the San Miguel. Good chat was had. Good to see Mike seemed in fine spirits despite challenging financial situations. Many pints later we left the pub with a San Miguel glass each and piled onto the 140 out of town.
This was by far the coolest thing that's happened at work for a long time in my books. As Adrian was working down at Winchester and couldn't come on the lunchtime walk, Phil took some photos then posted them up on Flickr here for Adrian to enjoy. I hope he did.
Started this post not sure of the subject to be covered. Should it be the music I've been listening to in the car recently? Should it be the chores and tasks that occupy the few brief hours after work each night? Should it be the occasional highlights in the otherwise dreary office day? No I think I'll groan on about the fact that I'm tired because I stay up too late and the fact that my back is hurting because I've strained it and I'm out of shape. I'll be glad when todays office shift is done cos I'm going out for some beers with Paul and Mike tonight and then I'm working at home tomorrow.
Just went in to see my boss and reject a promotion which we had previously discussed. Have been musing on it a while and now I'm so glad I've done it. Everyone wants to 'get on' as they say, but you also have to recognise the things that bring satisfaction and cherish them. My new role seemed to reduce any creative activity I might be involved in. Now being a Software Engineer I'm not exactly 'creative' full time. I'm no artist! But the pleasure in designing a block of code IS a creative act of some description and it's by far my favourite part of the job. I don't want to lose that.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
