So, we're what 3-4 days into Lent. I've been good and not touched social media. On the first couple days I hardly missed it! I found plenty of things to distract myself anyway! Shopping, eating out, work, cycling, dinner with friends, geocaching....
Then today I found a new and obsessionable toy. Plane Finder, an iPhone app. Those that have it know what it is, but for those that don't, it basically allows you to know loads of info, such as flight numbers, destinations and carriers of the planes above your head!
So this resulted in me and Daughter1 running about the garden plane spotting! Brilliant! Next years lent perhaps?
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Unsocial Networking...
We have just entered the forty days and forty nights (or so) between Ash Wednesday and Holy Saturday, the period better known as Lent. During this time practicing Christians observe rules of abstinence, fasting and generally doing without as a homage to Jesus' forty days in the desert.
Now, I'm not a practicing Christian. I know the stories, I find them interesting and so every year, at Lent, the Wife and I challenge each other to a penitence.
This year, for me Social Media lucked out. It is true to say I have become somewhat addicted over the last year or so to the likes of Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare, whiling away the quiet hours at work with other peoples thoughts and opinions.
So like a good sport, yesterday I severed myself from the Social Network, like a drone cut from the collective now standing seemingly alone in the universe. I turned all alerts off on my phone, cleared the history from my browser and sent "goodbye" posts on TwitBook...
The rules are simple. I am not allowed to use, access or post to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare or any other social forum. If people need to contact me or visa versa then it must be via Phone, Text or Mail.
The only exception is this blog, to share the experience of leaving the internet sensation behind!
Now, I'm not a practicing Christian. I know the stories, I find them interesting and so every year, at Lent, the Wife and I challenge each other to a penitence.
This year, for me Social Media lucked out. It is true to say I have become somewhat addicted over the last year or so to the likes of Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare, whiling away the quiet hours at work with other peoples thoughts and opinions.
So like a good sport, yesterday I severed myself from the Social Network, like a drone cut from the collective now standing seemingly alone in the universe. I turned all alerts off on my phone, cleared the history from my browser and sent "goodbye" posts on TwitBook...
The rules are simple. I am not allowed to use, access or post to Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare or any other social forum. If people need to contact me or visa versa then it must be via Phone, Text or Mail.
The only exception is this blog, to share the experience of leaving the internet sensation behind!
Friday, February 17, 2012
The trouble with badgers...
Meles meles or the European badger. A Brock if you like. 40lbs of solid wildlife.
Generally this timid, nocturnal creature causes little interference to humans, give or take the odd bit of TB or a badly placed sett.
The one problem with badgers is their lack of road sense. Now with other creatures such as rabbits this doesn't pose a problem, a light thud, a guilty feeling and it's all over. Not with badgers...
I take you back to Monday night. I'm on the way to work to start my 2nd night shift. Out side my house there are currently some roadworks that have closed the road. I decided, as I had a little time to take the scenic route. It pops me out right by station and breaks the monotony of nipping through the housing estate.
I had had a good day. I was chilled out, having had a bath, a good sleep and nice meal. Driving down the lanes I see ahead a badger, trotting down the road, he disappears in to the hedge. Thinking nothing of it I continue, approaching a corner and the spot whet Mr badger had disappeared. The without warning and like a shot he flew into the road. In a split second I had to make a choice. Hit or try and miss. Having hit one before and needing to replace an entire steering system I went for the miss. I hit the brakes. Hard. The wheels locked on the wet, muddy road. All I could see ahead was a large oak tree...
Somehow, most likely by luck not skill a regained enough control to miss the tree, putting the car into the hedge and bank. Hard.
No for those of you worried about the badgers welfare, wether he got home for Valentines day I can assure you he is fine. Perhaps even laughing at me.
My car on the other hand was resting in the hedge looking sorry for itself. Me standing next to said car, shaking, feeling sorry for myself.
Then came the worry of "I'm in the middle of nowhere, car in the hedge and IM GOING TO BE LATE TO WORK!"
To my relief the car started and unpicked itself from the hedge with minimal fuss. There was, however, a worrying, steaming wet patch on the bank. Turns out I smashed the radiator to bits. Cue frantically ringing round garages, trawling the web for parts. Cue 5 days without my car. Cue a repair bill to the tune of £220. Cue relentless jokes, badger references and risk of badger related gifts for a while from friend, family and colleagues.
Brilliant.
Generally this timid, nocturnal creature causes little interference to humans, give or take the odd bit of TB or a badly placed sett.
The one problem with badgers is their lack of road sense. Now with other creatures such as rabbits this doesn't pose a problem, a light thud, a guilty feeling and it's all over. Not with badgers...
I take you back to Monday night. I'm on the way to work to start my 2nd night shift. Out side my house there are currently some roadworks that have closed the road. I decided, as I had a little time to take the scenic route. It pops me out right by station and breaks the monotony of nipping through the housing estate.
I had had a good day. I was chilled out, having had a bath, a good sleep and nice meal. Driving down the lanes I see ahead a badger, trotting down the road, he disappears in to the hedge. Thinking nothing of it I continue, approaching a corner and the spot whet Mr badger had disappeared. The without warning and like a shot he flew into the road. In a split second I had to make a choice. Hit or try and miss. Having hit one before and needing to replace an entire steering system I went for the miss. I hit the brakes. Hard. The wheels locked on the wet, muddy road. All I could see ahead was a large oak tree...
Somehow, most likely by luck not skill a regained enough control to miss the tree, putting the car into the hedge and bank. Hard.
No for those of you worried about the badgers welfare, wether he got home for Valentines day I can assure you he is fine. Perhaps even laughing at me.
My car on the other hand was resting in the hedge looking sorry for itself. Me standing next to said car, shaking, feeling sorry for myself.
Then came the worry of "I'm in the middle of nowhere, car in the hedge and IM GOING TO BE LATE TO WORK!"
To my relief the car started and unpicked itself from the hedge with minimal fuss. There was, however, a worrying, steaming wet patch on the bank. Turns out I smashed the radiator to bits. Cue frantically ringing round garages, trawling the web for parts. Cue 5 days without my car. Cue a repair bill to the tune of £220. Cue relentless jokes, badger references and risk of badger related gifts for a while from friend, family and colleagues.
Brilliant.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
The belle of the ball...
So tonight is the night! The MAdD theatre companies' Valentines Ball. Months of planning, plying of tickets and stress, hours in the kitchen making mini tarts, meringues and Creme patisserie! At 7.30pm all the hard work will be over.
For those who don't know the company is taking their home grown show to the Edinburgh fringe festival this year and this ball is in part fundraising and in part a damn good party.
There is to be music by Green and Bushell, Sonic Sound Disco and yours truly. Food has be hand made (imagine me, at 12 midnight, high on sugary leftovers rocking in a chair covered in cream and sugar...) and table decorations hand constructed!
So if you want to join us please do, tickets available on the door, just email me for details!
For those who don't know the company is taking their home grown show to the Edinburgh fringe festival this year and this ball is in part fundraising and in part a damn good party.
There is to be music by Green and Bushell, Sonic Sound Disco and yours truly. Food has be hand made (imagine me, at 12 midnight, high on sugary leftovers rocking in a chair covered in cream and sugar...) and table decorations hand constructed!
So if you want to join us please do, tickets available on the door, just email me for details!
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