Sanmiguelada!

My cousin Marsha is now three weeks into her seven month round-the-world trip organised with Trailfinders, and is currently in ★ San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

This means she's there in time for the annual Pamplonada (named after Pamplona). I think she's going to be spectating rather than actually joining in (and therefore I won't make a joke regarding exactly how she'd get involved.)

The reason I know all this is thanks to the wonder of e-mail and MSN Messenger that of course we now all take for granted. Hopefully we'll keep in touch for the rest of her world tour and I might even take a trip out to meet up with her if I get the chance...

If you like this title...

Are you familiar with Spaced, arguably the best television comedy series ever made?

If so, what do you make of the suggestion on its IMDB entry page:

If you like this title, we also recommend...
"Keeping Up Appearances (1990)"

I'm surprised they didn't recommend Hawk the Slayer too.

Train Staff Can Be Utter Retards

My journey home from London this evening was unexpectedly extended when the retard who was in charge of closing the train doors stopped at least four people (including myself) from getting off at Guildford and thereby making us detour via Farncombe.

One of the ladies was (understandably) rather upset and gave the aforementioned retard a fair bit of abuse as the train picked up speed and quickly left our prefered destination behind. He didn't take kindly to this (understandably) but did make an effort to arrange a taxi to take the group of four bemused travellers back to Guildford from the next stop, although it was not entirely clear where we would be picked up or how long we would have to wait.

So we waited by the two police vans that seemed to be lurking near the station, but were thankfully picked up by the husband of the lady who was previously expressing her dissapointment with the situation, and I ended up back at Guildford station about half an hour later than I should have.

I'll demand some sort of rebate on my ticket price, and hopefully the procedure to do so will be slightly less inconvenient than the journey itself.

Up, up and away!

Soon I'm heading off to Gatwick to catch an easyJet flight to Inverness. Although I bought the tickets a while back, it only just occured to me that I'm flying on September 11th, which is of course 2 years on from the tragedy widely refered to as 9/11. I'm not really worried about today, it just reminds me what happened on that day: over at a friend's house, them getting a phone call, then us spending the rest of the day watching the TV in dis-belief as events unfolded before us.

Coincidentally, I've just recently finished reading Dead Air by Iain Banks, a great book which itself starts on the day when the World Trade Centre attacks occured. If you've never heard about the author or have never read any of his fiction or science fiction books (under the name Iain M. Banks) then do give him a try some time.

My reading list is now Saul Bellow's Him with His Foot in His Mouth which my Mum bought for me some time ago and I've only got round to reading it now. With a more technical slant is Simon Singh's The Code Book which I borrowed from work. At the airport I'm going to try to get hold of Use of Weapons which is the last remaining Iain M Banks book I've yet to buy.

Lots to keep me occupied during the flight up to Scotland and my onward journey to Elgin. Friday is my Gran's birthday / family & friends reunion, and I'll spend the rest of my long weekend relaxing and re-acquainting myself with the town I used to visit at least once every year up until about 7 years ago.

Mmmm, Widescreen!

I'd been meaning to buy myself a new TV for a while, especially since the JVC AV21F1EK I bought second hand a few years back bit the dust and I never got 'round to trying to fix it myself.

I wanted to get a widescreen and was interested in the Beko 284248WNS after seeing it in Argos, but inevitably I began looking at more expensive models on display in various electrical retailers.

I set off on a mission today to come back with a new TV. After some minor setbacks (namely the lack of stock of any TV I liked the look of at a particularly poorly prepared store), I took an interest in the Thomson 28WF401G as it had several features I wanted including flatscreen, NTSC compatibility, Nicam Stereo, and 100Hz refresh.

After checking out an extensive review, I decided to buy from the Comet store I had seen the TV at earlier. In addition, I opted in on the "half price Freeview adaptor when you buy this TV" offer, adding a DTI1000 to my shopping basket.

The TV came in a huge box that didn't fit into my girlfriend's Citroën AX without removing it from the cardboard box (thanks to the help of two members of staff). However, we finally got it into my house and set up, and so far so good. The picture is great, the DTI1000 does its best using an indoor antenna (we're going to hook it up to the roof aerial ASAP.) I also managed a quick cruise through virtual London on The Getaway to make use of the extra screen width, and it certainly did look fantastic compared to the dinky 14" TV we'd been using before!

I gave the DVD playback a trial using Episode 1, Series 2 of Spaced (what else?!?), and although I caught a bit of Heat tonight, the first entire film we watch is bound to be The Talented Mr Ripley, BBC ONE at 9pm tomorrow (Monday 8th)

Using a Speedo?

How can this be used to help Dave pace himself? No hang on, first I want to know this: where does the replacement battery go?

Is that a D-cell in your Speedos or are you just pleased to see me...

Toilet Humour

The music is bouncy, the graphics are cute, the subject matter is disgusting.

Can you handle BoYshiT? If not, at least you'll learn the meaning of "scatological".

I think it's a disgrace. My favourite is 7!

Thanks to the b3ta weblog.

First Day at Work

So that was it. My first 9 to 5(:30) day of work as a graduate. And now I work until I die.

It was the usual affair: introduction to other employees, tour 'round the office, typical admin stuff, pub lunch. I didn't get to do any practical work for obvious reasons so I've just gotten stuck into the mounds of documentation relating to the project I'll be working on. All seems very interesting though. Oh yeah, I'm working for Consult Hyperion in case you're wondering.

I'd just got back from a few days away on a boat crusing up The River Thames with my girlfriend and her parents. We were on the Lady Rosina hired from Kris Cruisers, starting off at Datchet and heading upstream through Windsor and Henley (no sign of this guy but The Angel pub by the riverside was nice.)

After a fantastic Sunday lunch at the Great House at Sonning, I was dropped off at Reading to catch a train home to get ready for my first day at work.

So I started work this morning, over-dressed (1st day prerogative) but relaxed. I would recommend a river cruise to anyone who has ever contemplated it but never actually done it, although at times today it did feel as if I was still gently swaying...