Category: General

I’m hoping now that spam bots are not going to spam this site. Why? ‘cos I’ve ‘done stuff’. So, if it’s not working properly for you (and you’re not an irritating spam bot), please feel free to mail me at the usual address…

Some days it’s a struggle. I knew when I decided not to take compassionate leave from University that I’d find some days hard. And I do.

Today was one of them. I guess I didn’t really get a chance to deal with the emotions from my visit to my mum’s house, and seeing my mum with the stress and excitement of Brian’s visit. So now that Brian’s gone, and my partner Trey isn’t here, well… it’s not so bad now. But a few hours ago, when I got to university I was on the verge of walking out and cycling straight back home.

Then; when I found out the lecture was group work (as I sat there) I seriously considered leaving. I just wasn’t convinced I could deal with it. But I decided to give it a shot. And… yeah. I did it, which I’m proud of. I know what I really need is a break. I keep staring at the calendar and wishing it was Alaska trip time. But…

….I’ve got lots of work to do first.

But I just don’t feel up to it today.

Not helped by a decision to watch the first two episodes of BSG Series II; Epsiodes 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 have arrived. So of course, I thought I should check that it was okay. Disks get damaged in transit and all that. So yeah. Watched episode 1. Fought with concience. Went to post office and dry cleaners. Came back. Watched episode 2. Now utterly desperate for the rest of the series. Damnit. It looks really bloody good.

I’ve tidied the lounge, and reorganised, and in the process I made my recordplayer work. And the test icicles limited edition green single arrived. Raaaaaaar!

So, back when I was 2 years old. A mere whippersnapper to a grasshopper, or somesuch, I met a little boy of the name of Brian.

Fast forward 25 years, and after a 6 year gap, Brian headed over to Bristol (we’re both to blame for this appaulingly lax period in our friendship) – and y’know what. We still get on.

I’ve just spent, what I can only really desrcibe as ‘a really nice day’ with my oldest friend. I was nervous, actually I was downright scared that we might not click (in person) – and that we might just have an entire day of being “uh, yeah, and I did this”. I mean, we’ve not seen each other for 6 years. A lot can change in 6 years. I’ve changed a lot in 6 years.

But instead we just talked all day, headed out to the pub, talked some more, went to another pub (near the house, so I could drink) and talked until 6 minutes ’til his train, then made a rather rapid dash to the railway station so he could head back home. But really, it was a damn good day, and I’m really glad we got together again… We’ll most definately have to not leave it another 6 years!

See, I love music.

I love music.

I miss having my Hi-Fi around, because I loved it’s warm sound.

I miss my record deck. I need to persuade it to work with Lauren’s amplifer. Her amp’s phono input seems to be expecting a much lower signal level than my record deck supplies and it distorts horribly. I’ll probably just slap some resistors in series with it, but…. yes, need to get around to doing it. I also very much do *not* want to damage her amp. So am slightly worried about it :-/

But most of all, I miss the fact that I don’t listen to music anymore. Or more accurately, I only listen to music when I’m using the computer.

Why? Well. See, all the steps I’ve taken to make my music collection accessible haven’t quite worked. I still can’t find the music I want half the time, because my brain wants to go and look for CD boxes. That and I haven’t shut the PC in the lounge up enough to make it useable.

But I’ve just found myself 3 groups which I really like – although mostly when I’m working I listen to Soulwax type stuff. But… yeah here, go look:

The Organ; their album is all very ‘samey’ – which can be a bad thing, but I think they’ve got away with it. I certainly enjoy listening to it. Short songs, good lyrics…

Ladytron – I’ve only heard the single (“Playgirl”) – which is good enough that I’ve played it to death. Hope to get their album soon.

Ciccone – I heard one of their tracks after looking (for reasons I can’t recall) for an Elastica site; someone mentioned in the forum that there was a London based, female fronted, Elastica-like band. 2 minute samples from their album are here. It rocks. I want it now.

I’ve been very good and not bought it. Yet.

Discovery number one: These tee-shirts are ultra-stretchy.
Discovery number two: This stretchyness and perhaps the extreme age of my tee-shirt transfers has caused the bar to peel off my MZ teeshirt. This is annoying.

Learning point: In future buy less stretchy teeshirts.

…that comment posting ‘might’ be working.

Of course, now I’m going to get spammed to high heaven.

It seemed to think everything was spam. Or at least some stuff was spam. Some stuff I don’t know where it’s gone. And I can only see it by proding the database directly with pineapple and cheese sticks. So, uh. Yeah. Try. E-mail me if it doesn’t work, and I’ll weep copiously.

Andrew’s kindly made a teeny small – 3Mb version of just the interview, thus saving you trying to locate me in 3 hours of radio show.

It’s here. Cheers Andrew!

He’s also pointed out that comments still aren’t quite working. You do have to register, but then you need to tell me ‘cos it’s not mailing out passwords *either*. So instead of registering, just mail me with your username and I’ll fix it for you (just like Jim, only with less jewelry).

Christ knows what Zesthost have done to it :(

Well, I e-mailed Tessa Jowell to try and get someone a bit ‘higher up’ to look at the Bristol Swimming Pool Closures.

Well… I’ve got to try!

Other things – Kara! KKKKKAAAARRRAAAAA?!

Hey, what kind of speed film would you recommend bringing to Alasaka? And how much is film over there (price in dollars for a roll of 35mm 36 exposure film of average, but not branded) quality… If you know… Don’t worry if you don’t. Just want to know whether it’s more sensible for me to buy a pile of film and take it or buy a teeny wee bit, and buy it while I’m over there….

*sigh*

It works for registered users. If you want to register, click here.

Currently I have no idea why comment posting isn’t working; it doesn’t throw an error, the comments just vaporise. Mind, it’s cured the spam-posting-comment problem.