The Harveys College in Kent (no relation) has just sacked one of its temporary teachers for posing topless in Cosmo and talking to The Mirror about her sex life.
Well, this I’ll tell you for free: if the name of the institution was aligned with the values of my family (and more specifically, me) then she’d be headmistress by now. Let us take a moment to mourn a great loss to the profession!
Quite seriously though: I'll never forget the day when, aged 8 and at a swimming lesson, I saw one of my teachers get so fed up with trying to teach us back stroke standing up in her tracksuit at the side of the pool that she jumped in, fully clothed, to demonstrate in situ.
No one, as the ad goes, forgets a good teacher. Or indeed, one who gets her norks out for the boys of 11B.
April 28, 2006
April 27, 2006
Goodnight Bugs
I'm sitting in the kitchen about 10 minutes ago. I start hearing some strange noises. It's like an intermittent squeaking noise. I figure it's a mouse or something. We get quite a lot of mice round here, especially at night, especially when there's lots of grain in the neighbouring barn like there is now. Riley (my cat) sometimes eats mice and then vomits them up (consistently) on the doormat. Why the doormat, I have no idea. Anyway.
Then the squeaking gets louder. Then Riley comes through the cat flap. With a rabbit hanging from her mouth.
A whole fucking rabbit. Seriously. Like, more than half the size of her.
Now I know it's all very upsetting. Rabbits are cute. Cats shouldn't bite them in the neck and then drag them through catflaps. I tried to get her to let the rabbit go, but she just took the rabbit back outside again.
You know, I often wake up in the morning to find Riley at the end of my bed. I wonder if she'd bite me in neck if I didn't feed her.
Stop press - she has just come back inside. Sans rabbit. I wonder where the rabbit is. I may go and investigate.
Then the squeaking gets louder. Then Riley comes through the cat flap. With a rabbit hanging from her mouth.
A whole fucking rabbit. Seriously. Like, more than half the size of her.
Now I know it's all very upsetting. Rabbits are cute. Cats shouldn't bite them in the neck and then drag them through catflaps. I tried to get her to let the rabbit go, but she just took the rabbit back outside again.
You know, I often wake up in the morning to find Riley at the end of my bed. I wonder if she'd bite me in neck if I didn't feed her.
Stop press - she has just come back inside. Sans rabbit. I wonder where the rabbit is. I may go and investigate.
Bye Bye Syed
Has anyone been watching the apprentice? Benny’s view, which I shared, was that Syed was almost certain to stay until the final two because he was such good entertainment value. However, last night he was binned.
As someone who used to make a living out of firing people, the apprentice doesn’t particularly interest me until it gets down to the wire. However, the fact that the useless bag of shite that is Michelle is still in the game is unfathomable. Who can forget her awesome contributions such as, erm, selling hardly any cars? Or drinking champagne in topshop and, erm, selling hardly any clothes? Or last night, when she did, erm, nothing.
Next week they’re going to sack 2 of the remaining four. They will have to pass an interview with Sugar’s henchmen. Hopefully pram face Michelle will go. I don’t think she’ll hold her own very well. Of the other three, it’s difficult to see where the weakest link is. Ansell has the confidence, Paul has the brain and Jo has the mouth. I think Jo will make it through because of her gob. My feeling is that of the remaining two, Ansell will get binned. Perhaps he has substance that we haven’t seen so far, but these interviewers are very good at probing beneath the surface. Paul seems much more of a substantive candidate to me, but who knows? I was wrong about Syed.
As someone who used to make a living out of firing people, the apprentice doesn’t particularly interest me until it gets down to the wire. However, the fact that the useless bag of shite that is Michelle is still in the game is unfathomable. Who can forget her awesome contributions such as, erm, selling hardly any cars? Or drinking champagne in topshop and, erm, selling hardly any clothes? Or last night, when she did, erm, nothing.
Next week they’re going to sack 2 of the remaining four. They will have to pass an interview with Sugar’s henchmen. Hopefully pram face Michelle will go. I don’t think she’ll hold her own very well. Of the other three, it’s difficult to see where the weakest link is. Ansell has the confidence, Paul has the brain and Jo has the mouth. I think Jo will make it through because of her gob. My feeling is that of the remaining two, Ansell will get binned. Perhaps he has substance that we haven’t seen so far, but these interviewers are very good at probing beneath the surface. Paul seems much more of a substantive candidate to me, but who knows? I was wrong about Syed.
April 25, 2006
Radiohead Obsession Growing
Well it seems I have quite a lot to dribble on about this evening. So let’s try to finish with this. This is a picture of Phil Selway, the drummer from Radiohead. Colin, the bassist, has taken a lot of photos of the band rehearsing for their tour and put them on the band’s website.
A few years ago Phil ran the London Marathon in aid of the Samaritans. In fact, he has been a member of the organisation since university and answers phone calls from depressed people when the band aren’t touring or recording. Personally, I think he records the calls and uses them as lyric ideas. Due to his mild, peaceful approach his nickname is apparently “Mad Dog Selway”.
Phil is the oldest member of the band and probably the least well known. On tour in America circa OK Computer, Phil went to a shop after a soundcheck, wearing a Radiohead T shirt because none of his own clothes were clean. The guy behind the counter pointed at the band logo and said something along the lines of “Radiohead! Aren’t those guys are playing at the theatre up the road tonight?” Phil thanked him for the tip and left.
Phil is the second baldest man in music after George Dawes.
A few years ago Phil ran the London Marathon in aid of the Samaritans. In fact, he has been a member of the organisation since university and answers phone calls from depressed people when the band aren’t touring or recording. Personally, I think he records the calls and uses them as lyric ideas. Due to his mild, peaceful approach his nickname is apparently “Mad Dog Selway”.
Phil is the oldest member of the band and probably the least well known. On tour in America circa OK Computer, Phil went to a shop after a soundcheck, wearing a Radiohead T shirt because none of his own clothes were clean. The guy behind the counter pointed at the band logo and said something along the lines of “Radiohead! Aren’t those guys are playing at the theatre up the road tonight?” Phil thanked him for the tip and left.
Phil is the second baldest man in music after George Dawes.
Incompetent? No Worries, Minister
R.e. latest fuckup (1028 foreign crims freed but not deported), who the fuck is accountable, if not the minister concerned?
Lower down the same page: for the second year running, £2.2bn has been overpaid in tax credits, fucking up family finances up and down the country. It's okay though, because it doesn't seem to be anyone's fault. Just some committee somewhere. No need to knock on the door of Number 11 and ask those therein if they dropped the ball. No need to ask Gordon if he thinks he could organise a piss up in Charles Kennedy's wine cellar.
What about the good old NHS? Almost a billion in the red in a single year. Well, there's no ducking this one. The NHS is at the forefront of the government's reform agenda. Someone has to take responsibility for it. Certainly not Patricia Hewitt. She's only the head of the fucking department of health, so it's clearly nothing to do with her. Let's sack civil servant Sir Nigel Crisp instead. And let’s certainly not ask who appointed him in the first place.
So what are ministers for, exactly? In consulting, we use an acronym. Well, we use acronyms for everything. In process mapping, one acronym is ARCI (pronounced by me as 'ARSEY' in front of clients). When considering processes in organisations, everyone connected with a process falls into one of these categories: A = Accountable. R = Responsible. C = Consulted. I = Informed. Take running a pub as an example. Bar staff are told what to do so they fall into category (I). Assistant Managers are asked for advice, depending on their level of knowledge and standing (C). Managers are responsible for each shift (R). The Landlord is the person with their name on the licence, on the deeds to the property and in most cases reports to the brewery (A). You see?
So, once again, what are ministers for? How big does the fuckup have to be before they quit? 1028 prisoners, some of whom have not just been charged with rape and murder, but have been found guilty of rape and murder after due process, were released from prison instead of being deported. And now only 10% or so of them can be found. Charles Clarke, the home secretary, says he doesn't have to resign. He says it’s not his job to go, it's his job to fix it. But let’s focus here: this is an epic fuckup. The man's clearly a lightweight and he should go. He made the decision that lead to this, or he empowered the people who did. He's accountable. He's the man in the chair. He should go. Or then what? Say the same error is repeated next week, except it’s 2000 prisoners we’ve lost? No? 5000? How about 10000? This is like phoning a company to complain and then being transferred from department to department. Someone made a mistake. Who’s going to put their hand up?
To an extent, you have to feel sorry for them. MPs are no more qualified to run ministries than you or I. In fact, many of them are even less qualified, having spent the majority of their lives dedicated to a single career - politics - and coming as many do from a narrow section of society where job centres, welfare payments, state schools, state pensions and the national health service are not considerations that touch their lives beyond words that appear in speeches and briefing papers.
And yet all of a sudden these otherwise harmless individuals find themselves in effect the CEOs of organisations with 100,000+ employees and gross budgets in the billions. Imagine going from talking for a living to being in charge.
I know I couldn’t do it. But it makes you wonder what type of ego reckons it’s up to the job.
No wonder there are so many mistakes. To be honest, you can't eliminate errors in organisations as large as our ministries. But you can always track, trace and fix problems once they occur. Any successful root cause analysis relies on people putting their hands up and admitting to their mistakes. And what lessons are the officials of the home office supposed to learn today after their boss refused to take the fall for a huge mistake like this? It seems entirely self serving, doesn't it?
Lower down the same page: for the second year running, £2.2bn has been overpaid in tax credits, fucking up family finances up and down the country. It's okay though, because it doesn't seem to be anyone's fault. Just some committee somewhere. No need to knock on the door of Number 11 and ask those therein if they dropped the ball. No need to ask Gordon if he thinks he could organise a piss up in Charles Kennedy's wine cellar.
What about the good old NHS? Almost a billion in the red in a single year. Well, there's no ducking this one. The NHS is at the forefront of the government's reform agenda. Someone has to take responsibility for it. Certainly not Patricia Hewitt. She's only the head of the fucking department of health, so it's clearly nothing to do with her. Let's sack civil servant Sir Nigel Crisp instead. And let’s certainly not ask who appointed him in the first place.
So what are ministers for, exactly? In consulting, we use an acronym. Well, we use acronyms for everything. In process mapping, one acronym is ARCI (pronounced by me as 'ARSEY' in front of clients). When considering processes in organisations, everyone connected with a process falls into one of these categories: A = Accountable. R = Responsible. C = Consulted. I = Informed. Take running a pub as an example. Bar staff are told what to do so they fall into category (I). Assistant Managers are asked for advice, depending on their level of knowledge and standing (C). Managers are responsible for each shift (R). The Landlord is the person with their name on the licence, on the deeds to the property and in most cases reports to the brewery (A). You see?
So, once again, what are ministers for? How big does the fuckup have to be before they quit? 1028 prisoners, some of whom have not just been charged with rape and murder, but have been found guilty of rape and murder after due process, were released from prison instead of being deported. And now only 10% or so of them can be found. Charles Clarke, the home secretary, says he doesn't have to resign. He says it’s not his job to go, it's his job to fix it. But let’s focus here: this is an epic fuckup. The man's clearly a lightweight and he should go. He made the decision that lead to this, or he empowered the people who did. He's accountable. He's the man in the chair. He should go. Or then what? Say the same error is repeated next week, except it’s 2000 prisoners we’ve lost? No? 5000? How about 10000? This is like phoning a company to complain and then being transferred from department to department. Someone made a mistake. Who’s going to put their hand up?
To an extent, you have to feel sorry for them. MPs are no more qualified to run ministries than you or I. In fact, many of them are even less qualified, having spent the majority of their lives dedicated to a single career - politics - and coming as many do from a narrow section of society where job centres, welfare payments, state schools, state pensions and the national health service are not considerations that touch their lives beyond words that appear in speeches and briefing papers.
And yet all of a sudden these otherwise harmless individuals find themselves in effect the CEOs of organisations with 100,000+ employees and gross budgets in the billions. Imagine going from talking for a living to being in charge.
I know I couldn’t do it. But it makes you wonder what type of ego reckons it’s up to the job.
No wonder there are so many mistakes. To be honest, you can't eliminate errors in organisations as large as our ministries. But you can always track, trace and fix problems once they occur. Any successful root cause analysis relies on people putting their hands up and admitting to their mistakes. And what lessons are the officials of the home office supposed to learn today after their boss refused to take the fall for a huge mistake like this? It seems entirely self serving, doesn't it?
The Need for Speed
How's this post for an exercise in inconsistency?
The area I live in is basically one large 30 mph limit. This is quite ridiculous. There are parts of the Sahara that have higher population densities than round here. The limit, Benny informs me, is a planning back door. I'm not sure if this is one of his ludicrous conspiracy theories or not, but he says that planning regs are looser in 30mph limits. So to save themselves the bother of considering every fecking conservatory that comes along, the council re-designate large swathes of countryside as 30mph limits.
So I was driving home at about 4 o'clock through a 30 limit. I was doing more than that. Not much more, but probably enough to earn me 3 points. Please believe me when I say that I drive safely. There were no parked cars along the side of the road, really good visibility etc. Plenty of notice if I needed to brake. Then, out of nowhere, an oncoming car flashed me 4 or 5 times.
As a relatively new driver, I automatically assume that I'm doing something wrong. I check: are my headlights on? Is the back of my car on fire? Is one of the doors open? Is there a small child on my bonnet? And that's when I clear a small rise in the road and see the two police officers standing 200 metres away. One of them is pointing a gun at me.
To say I was shocked was an understatement. In fact, had I been at a later point in the digestive cycle it could have got a bit smelly. I quickly realise the gun is one of those speed trap things. And a quick glance at the speedo reveals that the self-conscious panic after being flashed (and resulting foot-off-pedal reaction) has put me safely on the limit. Clearly the guy had been flashing at me to warn me about the fiendish rozzers and their licence robbing gun. I hadn't, until this point, realised motorists did this for one another. But, being a quick learner, I flashed an oncoming bike a few times to warn him. Gratifyingly a check in the mirror revealed that he slowed down as a result, as opposed to spinning off into a hedgey grave as a result of be dazzled.
The police must know this happens, surely? So why bother?
Today, on my way back from a trip to Bristol I had to slow down when the car in front of me turned off the morestead road. Visibility was poor and the delay was slight so I decided to stay behind him rather than risk overtaking. I accelerated after he'd buggered off. An arsehole in a skoda decided to overtake me at this point. Now, my car is no maserati. But it can go. Skodatwat seemed quite perturbed by this, as his vehicle's rate of overtake sank from 0.5m a second towards the red. You should understand: I wasn’t trying to piss him off. I started accelerating well before he started overtaking. And my car goes from 30 to 60 pretty fast. By the time I hit 70, his nose was about level with my petrol tank and he was gaining 5cm a second. But he didn’t do what I would have done – give up and fuck off. He seemed to think he was committed when he wasn’t.
Anyway, I had to slow down significantly to let him go past in the end. And shortly after that he narrowly missed a collision with a tractor when he overtook another car. What is it with people like that? I always try to imagine the best. Perhaps he was racing to hospital? Sadly not. He was racing away from the hospital.
Were we less charitable, we might imagine it’s all due to a chip on their shoulder because they drive shite cars.
I saw him turn off the road in the end. He was 2 cars in front of me. All that stress, just for 10 extra seconds (yes, I counted them).
The area I live in is basically one large 30 mph limit. This is quite ridiculous. There are parts of the Sahara that have higher population densities than round here. The limit, Benny informs me, is a planning back door. I'm not sure if this is one of his ludicrous conspiracy theories or not, but he says that planning regs are looser in 30mph limits. So to save themselves the bother of considering every fecking conservatory that comes along, the council re-designate large swathes of countryside as 30mph limits.
So I was driving home at about 4 o'clock through a 30 limit. I was doing more than that. Not much more, but probably enough to earn me 3 points. Please believe me when I say that I drive safely. There were no parked cars along the side of the road, really good visibility etc. Plenty of notice if I needed to brake. Then, out of nowhere, an oncoming car flashed me 4 or 5 times.
As a relatively new driver, I automatically assume that I'm doing something wrong. I check: are my headlights on? Is the back of my car on fire? Is one of the doors open? Is there a small child on my bonnet? And that's when I clear a small rise in the road and see the two police officers standing 200 metres away. One of them is pointing a gun at me.
To say I was shocked was an understatement. In fact, had I been at a later point in the digestive cycle it could have got a bit smelly. I quickly realise the gun is one of those speed trap things. And a quick glance at the speedo reveals that the self-conscious panic after being flashed (and resulting foot-off-pedal reaction) has put me safely on the limit. Clearly the guy had been flashing at me to warn me about the fiendish rozzers and their licence robbing gun. I hadn't, until this point, realised motorists did this for one another. But, being a quick learner, I flashed an oncoming bike a few times to warn him. Gratifyingly a check in the mirror revealed that he slowed down as a result, as opposed to spinning off into a hedgey grave as a result of be dazzled.
The police must know this happens, surely? So why bother?
Today, on my way back from a trip to Bristol I had to slow down when the car in front of me turned off the morestead road. Visibility was poor and the delay was slight so I decided to stay behind him rather than risk overtaking. I accelerated after he'd buggered off. An arsehole in a skoda decided to overtake me at this point. Now, my car is no maserati. But it can go. Skodatwat seemed quite perturbed by this, as his vehicle's rate of overtake sank from 0.5m a second towards the red. You should understand: I wasn’t trying to piss him off. I started accelerating well before he started overtaking. And my car goes from 30 to 60 pretty fast. By the time I hit 70, his nose was about level with my petrol tank and he was gaining 5cm a second. But he didn’t do what I would have done – give up and fuck off. He seemed to think he was committed when he wasn’t.
Anyway, I had to slow down significantly to let him go past in the end. And shortly after that he narrowly missed a collision with a tractor when he overtook another car. What is it with people like that? I always try to imagine the best. Perhaps he was racing to hospital? Sadly not. He was racing away from the hospital.
Were we less charitable, we might imagine it’s all due to a chip on their shoulder because they drive shite cars.
I saw him turn off the road in the end. He was 2 cars in front of me. All that stress, just for 10 extra seconds (yes, I counted them).
Quiz
Last night Benny and I teamed up with Duncan. We came third (of four teams) but this was quite respectable as only 2 points separated us from the winners.
Some questions we got right:
What was the most successful single released by Ian Drury and the Blockheads?
For which stroke did Duncan Goodhew win an Olympic medal?
A jug is a third full. Removing one gallon makes it a quarter full. What is the jug's total capacity?
Some things I didn’t know:
Which European country’s flag is a white stripe sandwiched between two red stripes?
What expression describes the state a plant reaches when the growth of its roots is restricted by the container it’s growing in?
Which animal is generally used to represent zoos on maps?
Answers in a comment…
Some questions we got right:
What was the most successful single released by Ian Drury and the Blockheads?
For which stroke did Duncan Goodhew win an Olympic medal?
A jug is a third full. Removing one gallon makes it a quarter full. What is the jug's total capacity?
Some things I didn’t know:
Which European country’s flag is a white stripe sandwiched between two red stripes?
What expression describes the state a plant reaches when the growth of its roots is restricted by the container it’s growing in?
Which animal is generally used to represent zoos on maps?
Answers in a comment…
April 24, 2006
Happy birthday
Today is the 16th anniversary of the launch of the hubble space telescope. The photo shows what we think are stars being born in the eagle nebula. Wired have a load more images up here.
April 22, 2006
The Late, Great, Mr Duke
All the tarting around with cameras earlier in the day led to my discovery of some pictures on the memory stick from earlier in the year. Quite a lot of them were from a game of brag that Benny, Fred, our very own Ms Fox and I played with Peter back in the autumn.
The inquest into his death delivered a verdict (is this the correct terminology?) of accidental death. It made a few of the papers. I read the articles earlier in the week and wrote an email to one of the journalists to thank her for the tone she adopted.
Peter, to refresh your memory, was found hanging in the wood at the back of his house. He had been cutting down a tree, slipped and got caught up in the ropes he was using for support. Thing is, he had been through a divorce and financial problems. It would have been easy for the writer to go down a sensationalist ‘mystery death’ line but she didn’t and for that I was grateful. Everyone who knew Peter had no doubt it was an accident. He just wasn’t that kind of guy. Totally irrepressible. We had a conversation about him down The White Lion only this afternoon. It’s clear we all still miss him dreadfully.
The inquest into his death delivered a verdict (is this the correct terminology?) of accidental death. It made a few of the papers. I read the articles earlier in the week and wrote an email to one of the journalists to thank her for the tone she adopted.
Peter, to refresh your memory, was found hanging in the wood at the back of his house. He had been cutting down a tree, slipped and got caught up in the ropes he was using for support. Thing is, he had been through a divorce and financial problems. It would have been easy for the writer to go down a sensationalist ‘mystery death’ line but she didn’t and for that I was grateful. Everyone who knew Peter had no doubt it was an accident. He just wasn’t that kind of guy. Totally irrepressible. We had a conversation about him down The White Lion only this afternoon. It’s clear we all still miss him dreadfully.
Watts per channel
I got another airport express on ebay and have attached it to the stereo in the living room. This means that from itunes I can play music through the computer, through the speakers in the kitchen, through the stereo in the living room or through a combination of the three.
I’ve been having a bit of trouble getting up in the mornings recently. Essentially, I’ve become immune to the alarm on my phone. So I decided to get a clock radio. I spent quite a lot of time thinking about which one I wanted. I knew I definitely wanted a digital one so I can listen to xfm if the mood takes me. I settled on a Tivoli DAB. It’s somewhere between a clock radio and a separates hi fi. The design’s really clever. As well as a digital radio it has shortwave, AM, FM etc. The really clever bit is that the tuning dial is geared down so that you can be really precise with it. Of course, I have absolutely no application for this piece of functionality. But it’s nice to know it’s there.
I’ve been having a bit of trouble getting up in the mornings recently. Essentially, I’ve become immune to the alarm on my phone. So I decided to get a clock radio. I spent quite a lot of time thinking about which one I wanted. I knew I definitely wanted a digital one so I can listen to xfm if the mood takes me. I settled on a Tivoli DAB. It’s somewhere between a clock radio and a separates hi fi. The design’s really clever. As well as a digital radio it has shortwave, AM, FM etc. The really clever bit is that the tuning dial is geared down so that you can be really precise with it. Of course, I have absolutely no application for this piece of functionality. But it’s nice to know it’s there.
The Best Day of the Whole Year
Or so it was, according to Shane the farmer. The recent fair weather, coupled with the forecast, coupled with the time of year has resulted in today being the day that the cows are let out of the shed and roam the fields. For some of them, this will be their first taste of the outdoors in their whole lives. Over the winter the cattle live in three large sheds, two of which are adjacent to our house. The process of getting them into the field – which is on the other side of the house from the shed – involves constructing a complex barricade formed of tractors, gates, people and large machinery. The objective of this somewhat elaborate process is to ensure that none of the cows get carried away with their new found freedom and takes a stroll down the pub. This is important, because once you’re chasing a cow you’re behind the curve; and by chasing it you’re only making it run faster.
Upon their release the cows go through a couple of stages. Initially, they go mad. Calves fly here and there. All of a sudden, the known universe goes from a shed to a gigantic field system. There’s grass underfoot, funny plants, trees, fences, gates. Some of them don’t yet have a total grip on how to stand up properly – so you see them charging about, see-sawing across the fields with their front two legs off the ground first, a jump forwards and then their back legs up to propel themselves another length.
After the freedom comes the realisation that all their mates – who for the last few months have never been more than 100 feet away – are nowhere to be found. So they consolidate (as they have in the photo above), usually around the bull who in turn typically selects somewhere nice and cool to have his afternoon lie down. They cluster for a bit. Then after a couple of hours instinct takes over and they eat a lot.
To see them out there, enjoying all the freedom, is in turn very enjoyable. Today I also saw my first butterfly of the year, first wasp of the year, first morris men of the year and sat in the pub garden for the first time this year. The first asparagus of the year emerged from the soil and dung of the vegetable patch and there are threats of badminton to come this evening. So today it’s all good.
It’s not all good for the dozen or so cows still housed in the shed, due to sickness, pregnancy or some other reason. There was one, in fact, that refused to leave so she’s standing in the middle of the two pens presumably suffering from the bovine equivalent of institutionalisation. The two groups of cows (the free cows and the shed cows) moo at each other quite frequently across the house to say hello, what’s it like out there etc. This will die down over the next few days. What it means, of course, is that summer’s well on the way.
Upon their release the cows go through a couple of stages. Initially, they go mad. Calves fly here and there. All of a sudden, the known universe goes from a shed to a gigantic field system. There’s grass underfoot, funny plants, trees, fences, gates. Some of them don’t yet have a total grip on how to stand up properly – so you see them charging about, see-sawing across the fields with their front two legs off the ground first, a jump forwards and then their back legs up to propel themselves another length.
After the freedom comes the realisation that all their mates – who for the last few months have never been more than 100 feet away – are nowhere to be found. So they consolidate (as they have in the photo above), usually around the bull who in turn typically selects somewhere nice and cool to have his afternoon lie down. They cluster for a bit. Then after a couple of hours instinct takes over and they eat a lot.
To see them out there, enjoying all the freedom, is in turn very enjoyable. Today I also saw my first butterfly of the year, first wasp of the year, first morris men of the year and sat in the pub garden for the first time this year. The first asparagus of the year emerged from the soil and dung of the vegetable patch and there are threats of badminton to come this evening. So today it’s all good.
It’s not all good for the dozen or so cows still housed in the shed, due to sickness, pregnancy or some other reason. There was one, in fact, that refused to leave so she’s standing in the middle of the two pens presumably suffering from the bovine equivalent of institutionalisation. The two groups of cows (the free cows and the shed cows) moo at each other quite frequently across the house to say hello, what’s it like out there etc. This will die down over the next few days. What it means, of course, is that summer’s well on the way.
April 17, 2006
Easter
A pretty good one. The last of my birthday celebrations. The first attempted (and aborted) game of garden badminton of the year. Good to see Drewery. Enjoyed Dr Who. Enjoyed breaking the record for pub > home to courier benny back for Dr Who (11 mins. Who's yer daddy?). Had a lot of fun cooking lunch. Leg of lamb studded with garlic, rosemary and anchovies. Awesome gravy.
So no big problems solved, projects completed or anything. But a lot of relaxation value and fun. Happy easter.
And is it just me, or is the easter bunny getting tighter every year?
So no big problems solved, projects completed or anything. But a lot of relaxation value and fun. Happy easter.
And is it just me, or is the easter bunny getting tighter every year?
Guilt
A good pub chum was down at the quiz tonight, clearly smashed. He left to drive home, having collided with a piece of furniture on his way out of the toilets. He was clearly in no state to drive. His friends - who know him a lot better than I do - offered him a lift but he declined. When he left, I felt really useless. I was worried about him having an accident on the way back.
What's the right thing to do? Physically obstruct him? Call the police? Probably yes to both. But pragmatically, nothing happens.
What's the right thing to do? Physically obstruct him? Call the police? Probably yes to both. But pragmatically, nothing happens.
Quiz famine to Quiz feast
Last week we came last, this week we won. Well, Smeggy, me and Widge's housemate won. Benny came somewhere in the middle because his quiz-limpet stylings are now well known and he has to behave himself.
Some sample questions:
1) What is the longest river in france?
2) Translated into english it means "The Wild Coast". What is it called in spanish?
3) Which 50 mile long waterway was officially opened in 1920?
4) Which fictional character was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs?
Some sample questions:
1) What is the longest river in france?
2) Translated into english it means "The Wild Coast". What is it called in spanish?
3) Which 50 mile long waterway was officially opened in 1920?
4) Which fictional character was created by Edgar Rice Burroughs?
April 13, 2006
Willy Mason
Just found out Willy Mason is supporting Radiohead when we see them in Amsterdam.
This just gets better and better!
This just gets better and better!
April 12, 2006
We cannot have that behaviour in this establishment...
So to London for a work party. It was supposed to be the end of the project I was on. However, it's been extended and I'm going back to 3 days a week from next week. Negotiated a 15% rise in the rate though, so it's all good. 3 days on, 4 days off.
Ha Ha > Hotel > Smart wine bar round the back of the national gallery > belgo > punch and judy (erk) > langleys. Met Nicky's fella Colin, who definitely calls it like he sees it. I had beef and apple stew at Belgo. Surprisingly nice. Will look out some recipes and impersonate.
Colin introduced us to a game called Spoof. Rules: You each put a number (zero to three) of coins in your hand and hold it out in front of you. You then take it in turns to guess the total number of coins being held up by the group. If you get it right, you're out. The last person left has to submit to some kind of forfeit normally buying a round or some kind of outrageous drinking penalty. Fortunately, I kept winning. Dove was not so lucky and had to suck down 100 mils of whiskey in one glug. I think I would have chundered.
Large portions of evening devoted to Dan (grad trainee from the client), trying to sort out his love life for him. His former flatmate has repeatedly proclaimed her undying love for him. He has resisted on the grounds that he doesn't know how he feels about her. Cue group exhortion to give her a ring (this at 0100 hrs) and see if she's about. Harvey writes exploratory text message. Dove provides love coaching. Nicky tells him what women really want. Colin asks everyone if they want another game of spoof. I'm back on the White Russians by the way. Time to get some kahlua. Yummy.
Good fun seeing everyone. Managed to blag a hotel stay which really helped with the hangover. Benny (gorblesshim) slapped a new ticket in my car so the hairy park and ride nazis couldn't hit me with one of their hilarious £60 fines. Supposed to be working today but haven't bothered because, well, it's dull.
Ha Ha > Hotel > Smart wine bar round the back of the national gallery > belgo > punch and judy (erk) > langleys. Met Nicky's fella Colin, who definitely calls it like he sees it. I had beef and apple stew at Belgo. Surprisingly nice. Will look out some recipes and impersonate.
Colin introduced us to a game called Spoof. Rules: You each put a number (zero to three) of coins in your hand and hold it out in front of you. You then take it in turns to guess the total number of coins being held up by the group. If you get it right, you're out. The last person left has to submit to some kind of forfeit normally buying a round or some kind of outrageous drinking penalty. Fortunately, I kept winning. Dove was not so lucky and had to suck down 100 mils of whiskey in one glug. I think I would have chundered.
Large portions of evening devoted to Dan (grad trainee from the client), trying to sort out his love life for him. His former flatmate has repeatedly proclaimed her undying love for him. He has resisted on the grounds that he doesn't know how he feels about her. Cue group exhortion to give her a ring (this at 0100 hrs) and see if she's about. Harvey writes exploratory text message. Dove provides love coaching. Nicky tells him what women really want. Colin asks everyone if they want another game of spoof. I'm back on the White Russians by the way. Time to get some kahlua. Yummy.
Good fun seeing everyone. Managed to blag a hotel stay which really helped with the hangover. Benny (gorblesshim) slapped a new ticket in my car so the hairy park and ride nazis couldn't hit me with one of their hilarious £60 fines. Supposed to be working today but haven't bothered because, well, it's dull.
April 11, 2006
Quiz Fiasco
Drewery rocked down from Oxford to join us. He, Benny and I came last with 21 out of 30. An all time low. Even more shocking, the thicko teachers one.
:( :( :( :(
Questions that defeated us:
1) What country was formerly known as 'Cathay'?
2) Scotland is represented by a thistle. What flower represents Austria?
3) What was the name of the surgeon who performed the first heart transplant?
In desperation, Benny started writing swear words over the answer sheet and we were almost disqualified. There was also an exchange that went something like this:
Benny: Chris here has come all the way from Oxford. Can we have some questions about computing or Motor racing?
Heather: No!
Rob: Perhaps we should have some questions like "Is Ben gay?"
Kev: Don't be daft, everyone knows the answer to that one.
Me: Apart from Ben and Mum.
Very entertaining stuff. But not our finest hour :)
:( :( :( :(
Questions that defeated us:
1) What country was formerly known as 'Cathay'?
2) Scotland is represented by a thistle. What flower represents Austria?
3) What was the name of the surgeon who performed the first heart transplant?
In desperation, Benny started writing swear words over the answer sheet and we were almost disqualified. There was also an exchange that went something like this:
Benny: Chris here has come all the way from Oxford. Can we have some questions about computing or Motor racing?
Heather: No!
Rob: Perhaps we should have some questions like "Is Ben gay?"
Kev: Don't be daft, everyone knows the answer to that one.
Me: Apart from Ben and Mum.
Very entertaining stuff. But not our finest hour :)
April 10, 2006
Birthday
Was awesome. On Friday I made a really nice Thai Green Curry and made a very respectable inroad into one of the bottles of brandy I got at christmas. Up until 7 in the morning. In the afternoon I placed a very intricate, complex 5 way bet on the Grand National and lost a tenner. We then went down the pub and I had a fantastic evening. That place (website here, constructed in part by our very own Benny) has been very good to me over the last year and Saturday night was no exception. When they found out it was my birthday Stuart the chef made a cake. It was like a layered treacle and chocolate cake with gooey chocolate icing. I was chuffed to bits.
After that, the giant Jenga kit made a rare appearance. I fucked up once, but I think I was forgiven. Now, I know all of this doesn't sound terribly sophisticated, but you have to trust me. The sense of wellbeing and contentment I left the place with was priceless. Back home, we tucked into a beautiful bottle of champagne and stayed up talking till about three.
Yesterday, I rocked up to London to catch up with my fellow alumni from the Muswell Hill serious drinking club. Greg, Dan, Nick, Hoyan, Luc, Emma and Ainsley (Nick's new girlfriend) put in appearance. I had an absolutely cracking time. We had beers at the porterhouse, some surprisingly good cocktails at TGI's (Nick insisted) and then steak and some very memorable wine at Chez Gerrard. All the old favourites, basically. For once, I'm not ashamed to say we all got very drunk and misbehaved ourselves.
Nick's younger sister, Georgina is a model turned actress. I've met her a few times and she's a lovely girl. However, the culture in our friendship group is one of absolutely merciless piss taking. Nick is enormously protective of his sister. She used to be a soap called "Night and Day" or something like that. Nick once suplexed me for saying she had a nice arse. When she turned up at some award show wearing a top with 'Twin Peaks' written on it, my commentary earnt me a very one sided game of ro-sham-bo. She did a couple of photo shoots for FHM or Arena or something. I was delighted, and put a number of photocopies around the office. Imagine, then, my delight when it was revealed yesterday that she has just got a job on Hollyoaks (the late night version) playing a lap dancer. Why he told me, I'll never know. But from that point forth, the banter plumbed new depths.
A really fantastic day though. The boys have agreed to come to Amsterdam to see Radiohead. I thought it might be a job to convince them, but they bit my hand off. Greg's agreement was conditional that they only play stuff from the bends 'and nothing after it, none of the electric bollocks'. We assured him we'd put a call in to Thom to sort it out. I'm so fucking stoked, you wouldn't believe. Time to book the flights!
After that, the giant Jenga kit made a rare appearance. I fucked up once, but I think I was forgiven. Now, I know all of this doesn't sound terribly sophisticated, but you have to trust me. The sense of wellbeing and contentment I left the place with was priceless. Back home, we tucked into a beautiful bottle of champagne and stayed up talking till about three.
Yesterday, I rocked up to London to catch up with my fellow alumni from the Muswell Hill serious drinking club. Greg, Dan, Nick, Hoyan, Luc, Emma and Ainsley (Nick's new girlfriend) put in appearance. I had an absolutely cracking time. We had beers at the porterhouse, some surprisingly good cocktails at TGI's (Nick insisted) and then steak and some very memorable wine at Chez Gerrard. All the old favourites, basically. For once, I'm not ashamed to say we all got very drunk and misbehaved ourselves.
Nick's younger sister, Georgina is a model turned actress. I've met her a few times and she's a lovely girl. However, the culture in our friendship group is one of absolutely merciless piss taking. Nick is enormously protective of his sister. She used to be a soap called "Night and Day" or something like that. Nick once suplexed me for saying she had a nice arse. When she turned up at some award show wearing a top with 'Twin Peaks' written on it, my commentary earnt me a very one sided game of ro-sham-bo. She did a couple of photo shoots for FHM or Arena or something. I was delighted, and put a number of photocopies around the office. Imagine, then, my delight when it was revealed yesterday that she has just got a job on Hollyoaks (the late night version) playing a lap dancer. Why he told me, I'll never know. But from that point forth, the banter plumbed new depths.
A really fantastic day though. The boys have agreed to come to Amsterdam to see Radiohead. I thought it might be a job to convince them, but they bit my hand off. Greg's agreement was conditional that they only play stuff from the bends 'and nothing after it, none of the electric bollocks'. We assured him we'd put a call in to Thom to sort it out. I'm so fucking stoked, you wouldn't believe. Time to book the flights!
For Richard
I use www.iwebsharedealing.co.uk. They charge £10 a trade. It's a pretty clean, straightforward process. What was critical for me is that they provide direct access to the US markets which was important because I wanted to trade on NASDAQ.
For the tracker, I used Fidelity. No real method to this madness, I think I may have done a few comparisons, but the differential in a FTSE tracker is minimal. They've been professional and I'd recommend them. The only pisser is that you have to sign a couple of forms saying you're not Osama Bin Davis rather than diving straight in, but there doesn't seem to be an easy way around that.
For the tracker, I used Fidelity. No real method to this madness, I think I may have done a few comparisons, but the differential in a FTSE tracker is minimal. They've been professional and I'd recommend them. The only pisser is that you have to sign a couple of forms saying you're not Osama Bin Davis rather than diving straight in, but there doesn't seem to be an easy way around that.
April 07, 2006
BuySellBuy
Christmas before last I bought Ewan a share in A G Barr (who make Irn Bru, his beverage of choice) as a present. It came with a frame and stuff. Anyway, it was £8 or so, and now they're at £10.24.
When Drewery bought a mac a few weeks ago it became very clear to me (coupled with Ewan's adoption) that Apple had crossed some kind of Rubicon in terms of adoption. So I bought some shares in them. Yesterday, Apple announced that they were going to freely release a program to allow new Intel apples the ability to run Windows as well as the apple operating system. This was a trivial change technically and, from my perspective at least, a foregone strategic conclusion. Yet the share price is up over 10% in two days.
I've been researching stocks during my time off. In addition to the Apple shares I've got a FTSE100 tracker. This is quite good fun because it means when I see the financial news in the evening I actually care about the result. It's rather like horse racing. The point of the exercise only becomes apparent when you have a financial interest in the outcome.
I have also singled out BSkyB and Land Securities, who I have invested in equally. I went for BSkyB because they confirmed today that they're starting HD broadcasts before the world cup. The market seemed strangely unmoved by this, but I think it's going to be very big for them, both short and long term. Land Securities is a bit of a hedge for me, really. They are the largest owners of commercial property in the country and have a healthy split in terms of their office and retail portfolio. It's good to have something non-technical in my mix as well, I think.
I was thinking about going for something in Energy (looked heavily into Shell, BP) but I'm a bit unnerved by the whole thing, especially the problems that one or two of them have had with overstating their reserves. All smelt a bit like Enron for a bit.
I was thinking about M&S too, but I reckon I'm about 5 to 6 months too late for that particular bandwagon. I also thought about Capita a bit, but I keep reading all kinds of crap about them. Short term, they're performing really well. But I keep hearing bad things about the quality of the work they do, which makes me nervous. Christ, I scare easy :)
I use Yahoo finance to keep track of prices and things. This is good because you can see how each individual interest is doing and how your portfolio is doing overall, in percentage and value terms, over a single day or the life of the holding.
Pressing the reload button frequently when drunk, however, is not for the faint hearted.
"I'm just made a tenner"
"Now it's just two quid"
"Now it seems I've lost a fiver"
"...."
"That *can't* be right"
"Oh Fuck."
Apparently there are people called day traders, who try to buy shares at the bottom of these rollercoaster type graphs you see everywhere and then attempt to get out at the top; sometimes with only minuteseparatingng the buy from the sell. I'm not sure my constitution's capable of enduring those kind of stresses.
So far I'm up 4.3 percent in a month. Let's see how it goes.
When Drewery bought a mac a few weeks ago it became very clear to me (coupled with Ewan's adoption) that Apple had crossed some kind of Rubicon in terms of adoption. So I bought some shares in them. Yesterday, Apple announced that they were going to freely release a program to allow new Intel apples the ability to run Windows as well as the apple operating system. This was a trivial change technically and, from my perspective at least, a foregone strategic conclusion. Yet the share price is up over 10% in two days.
I've been researching stocks during my time off. In addition to the Apple shares I've got a FTSE100 tracker. This is quite good fun because it means when I see the financial news in the evening I actually care about the result. It's rather like horse racing. The point of the exercise only becomes apparent when you have a financial interest in the outcome.
I have also singled out BSkyB and Land Securities, who I have invested in equally. I went for BSkyB because they confirmed today that they're starting HD broadcasts before the world cup. The market seemed strangely unmoved by this, but I think it's going to be very big for them, both short and long term. Land Securities is a bit of a hedge for me, really. They are the largest owners of commercial property in the country and have a healthy split in terms of their office and retail portfolio. It's good to have something non-technical in my mix as well, I think.
I was thinking about going for something in Energy (looked heavily into Shell, BP) but I'm a bit unnerved by the whole thing, especially the problems that one or two of them have had with overstating their reserves. All smelt a bit like Enron for a bit.
I was thinking about M&S too, but I reckon I'm about 5 to 6 months too late for that particular bandwagon. I also thought about Capita a bit, but I keep reading all kinds of crap about them. Short term, they're performing really well. But I keep hearing bad things about the quality of the work they do, which makes me nervous. Christ, I scare easy :)
I use Yahoo finance to keep track of prices and things. This is good because you can see how each individual interest is doing and how your portfolio is doing overall, in percentage and value terms, over a single day or the life of the holding.
Pressing the reload button frequently when drunk, however, is not for the faint hearted.
"I'm just made a tenner"
"Now it's just two quid"
"Now it seems I've lost a fiver"
"...."
"That *can't* be right"
"Oh Fuck."
Apparently there are people called day traders, who try to buy shares at the bottom of these rollercoaster type graphs you see everywhere and then attempt to get out at the top; sometimes with only minuteseparatingng the buy from the sell. I'm not sure my constitution's capable of enduring those kind of stresses.
So far I'm up 4.3 percent in a month. Let's see how it goes.
Upset in the Pavillion
Cricket practice yesterday in the nets at Hedge End. Last week I got two wickets. This week I only got one (and that was Benny's). However, the real action was off the pitch.
Ian (skipper) sent an email trying to round up some of the team. We practice with another team and normally there are 4 from our pub there. People are generally happy to come out to play, but getting them to practice is another matter. Ian wrote:
Which didn't seem too offensive to me. But then I got another email, this time from Rob:
At this point, my EmailShitFightAlert bell was ringing, but it was all I could do to watch it unfold. In came another email, and another, and another until the captain's wife (not even on the original dist. list) wades in too. I hate it when people fight. When it happens at work I find it quite funny. When it happens in a social group it all seems a bit unnecessary and makes me feel uncomfortable. Final word to Benny 'Peacemaker' Harvey, with this splendid bit of Jerry's final thought action at 0230 this morning:
Perhaps when he stops preaching peace love and understanding he might lower himself to posting here occasionally...
Anyway, I suppose the important thing is the difference in perspectives. I don't like playing any game I know I don't have a chance of winning. I'm happy to put the practice in (especially as it has been over a decade and a half since I last picked up a bat) but I don't think anyone should feel like they're forced into anything. And it all just goes to show how easy it is to misinterpret and be misinterpreted in a text-only medium.
Ian (skipper) sent an email trying to round up some of the team. We practice with another team and normally there are 4 from our pub there. People are generally happy to come out to play, but getting them to practice is another matter. Ian wrote:
The new season is but a few short weeks away. So how about coming along to a nets practice and prove that you are fit and ready to face the bowling & batting onslaught that is sure this year to sort out the men from the boys!!!! What are you men or mice!! Squeak squeak, pass the cheese I hear.
Which didn't seem too offensive to me. But then I got another email, this time from Rob:
Where’s the cheese!
I am not going to submit myself to a cannonball attack from Macho idiots who have forgotten that this is a pub league and meant to be fun.
That’s what I signed up for, if it has changed, I will willingly step down.
At this point, my EmailShitFightAlert bell was ringing, but it was all I could do to watch it unfold. In came another email, and another, and another until the captain's wife (not even on the original dist. list) wades in too. I hate it when people fight. When it happens at work I find it quite funny. When it happens in a social group it all seems a bit unnecessary and makes me feel uncomfortable. Final word to Benny 'Peacemaker' Harvey, with this splendid bit of Jerry's final thought action at 0230 this morning:
well, look - my final thoughts on all of this; i feel equally sorry for both Rob & Ian, because i think misinterpretation & miscommunication are a bit of a poison and might have driven a bit of a wedge between two gentlemen who really have no cause for any ill-feeling at all.
but i feel *more* sorry for Callum Black, the poor kid who helped us make up a full team for a couple of games last year and who's now been copied in to half a dozen emails of friends becoming unfriendly. what's the little sod think of us all now? when he's reading emails written by people who - normally - love to debate & josh & take the piss in the pub but for some reason all seem to have suffered an inexplicable sense-of-humour-failure today?
i, for one, couldn't blame him if he never wanted to pick up a cricket ball again in his life.
thing is, though, you can almost look at today's correspondence as being a good sign, since we all actually care so bloody much to get worked up about it. but let's face it, it's not shown any of us in a particularly favourable light, so i propose that we just forget any of this was ever said - let's all just turn up to any meetings we want to, turn up to any games we want to & just try and keep this summer as enjoyable as we can. because the other option is to be fecking miserable. not really a hard choice, is it...
Perhaps when he stops preaching peace love and understanding he might lower himself to posting here occasionally...
Anyway, I suppose the important thing is the difference in perspectives. I don't like playing any game I know I don't have a chance of winning. I'm happy to put the practice in (especially as it has been over a decade and a half since I last picked up a bat) but I don't think anyone should feel like they're forced into anything. And it all just goes to show how easy it is to misinterpret and be misinterpreted in a text-only medium.
April 05, 2006
April 04, 2006
Quiz
Last night Benny, Rob, Phil and I finished in 3rd place with 24 out of 30. Only one team finished behind us and they are generally reckoned to be pond life. So in effect we finished last.
Rob thinks he has worked out the cause of benny's high success rate. He thinks (and I concur) that Benny strategically positions himself at the periphery of our group so that when we sort the teams out (maximum 4 per team) he can gallantly step aside and go to join the clever boys who normally always win. We have therefore re-christened him 'Quiz Limpet'
Anyway, in time honoured fashion here are some of the questions that beat us:
1) Apart from Russia, what is the largest country in Europe by area?
2) Where was the first formula one grand prix of 2006 held?
3) In what month does the first Beaujolais arrive in the UK?
I'll stick in answers in a comment
Rob thinks he has worked out the cause of benny's high success rate. He thinks (and I concur) that Benny strategically positions himself at the periphery of our group so that when we sort the teams out (maximum 4 per team) he can gallantly step aside and go to join the clever boys who normally always win. We have therefore re-christened him 'Quiz Limpet'
Anyway, in time honoured fashion here are some of the questions that beat us:
1) Apart from Russia, what is the largest country in Europe by area?
2) Where was the first formula one grand prix of 2006 held?
3) In what month does the first Beaujolais arrive in the UK?
I'll stick in answers in a comment
April 03, 2006
The Only Show in Town
This last week, Blair was somewhere in the South Pacific and Cameron was off somewhere cooing over his new child.
For one week only then, John Prescott and William Hague stood in for Prime Minister's Questions. It promised to be a great spectacle and didn't disappoint. In my view, the resulting half hour is absolutely priceless viewing / listening. You can check it out easily here:
http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page306.asp
Though you can get a podcast via itunes and the guardian should you so choose.
For one week only then, John Prescott and William Hague stood in for Prime Minister's Questions. It promised to be a great spectacle and didn't disappoint. In my view, the resulting half hour is absolutely priceless viewing / listening. You can check it out easily here:
http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/page306.asp
Though you can get a podcast via itunes and the guardian should you so choose.
Sorted
My new phone had a scrolling ad banner at the bottom of its screen. This annoyed me. I've just worked out how to get rid of it! Huzzah.
Saturday was good fun, went to Rob's and had an awesome dinner - foie gras / confit of duck / incredible cheeses. The wine was awesome. Great company, great conversation. Stayed up talking till two. I seem to have over indulged. According to Rob (wind up merchant par excellence) I fell asleep in the middle of a sentence. The next morning I felt very rough. In fact, I spent the whole day recovering.
Of a memorable evening, one thing that really sticks out was the white wine Rob served with the starter. I must ask him what it was if he's at the quiz tonight. He also had the most incredible wine glasses - Riedel I think they were - really excellent. Very envious.
My car's down the garage getting fixed right now. Quite odd looking out the window and seeing a totally empty drive. Reminded me of the bad old days when I didn't drive and was effectively stranded here in the middle of nowhere. Quite a nice change, actually!
Saturday was good fun, went to Rob's and had an awesome dinner - foie gras / confit of duck / incredible cheeses. The wine was awesome. Great company, great conversation. Stayed up talking till two. I seem to have over indulged. According to Rob (wind up merchant par excellence) I fell asleep in the middle of a sentence. The next morning I felt very rough. In fact, I spent the whole day recovering.
Of a memorable evening, one thing that really sticks out was the white wine Rob served with the starter. I must ask him what it was if he's at the quiz tonight. He also had the most incredible wine glasses - Riedel I think they were - really excellent. Very envious.
My car's down the garage getting fixed right now. Quite odd looking out the window and seeing a totally empty drive. Reminded me of the bad old days when I didn't drive and was effectively stranded here in the middle of nowhere. Quite a nice change, actually!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
