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Monday, September 08, 2008
I've been quite a big fan of Formula 1 for a few years now. But I've had the last straw. Yesterday's Belgian Grand Prix went too far (report here). It's hard to think what more the FIA can do to demonstrate that they are totally biased towards the Ferrari team. I give up. I need a new sport to support.
Monday, June 09, 2008
The Bullet (seen below in off-road trim on Laggan Bay, Islay) died this weekend.
Although no longer under the care of Jane and I we both still feel a special link to the little blue car and his soldier-like determination to keep on going. Sadly, over the weekend he developed an electrical fault and caught fire. Luckily no one was, to my knowledge, hurt. I hope to source some pictures later.
A sad day indeed.
Other than that, the only two other things of note recently are the moustache I grew while Jane was on holiday, and an infected cyst on my face that made me look quite unattractive. Both conditions now fixed.
Update: Before and after pictures courtesy of Ryan and Karen. I am grieving this week.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
That's it. I think I've had enough. I've just spent another hour in the police station. Why? Well some idiots decided it would be a good idea to try and rob me. In the middle of an extremely busy junction.
I have a very nice bike pannier. It is the Rolls-Royce of bike bags. It took ages to find a bike pannier that was designed to take a laptop and keep it not only dry but also snugly padded. It clips quickly and easily on the luggage rack on the back of my bike. Being behind me, this means I can't see it. And there was my problem today.
Whilst stood at a red traffic light, a passer-by started shouting at me and pointing behind me. I turned round and there stood two men. One immediately started having a go at me. Then I noticed my bag was open. Behind the first guy stood another guy. But he wasn't having a go at me - he was being confronted by the stocky driver of tram 118 who had stopped in the middle of the junction and got out of his cab to challenge this scum.
I was very confused. I'm stood in the middle of a junction with no idea what's happened. I've got two big blokes who look to have at least had an attempt at robbing me. I reached into my bag and luckily found my mobile and rang the Police. One of the idiots skulked off and the other started to get all aggressive with me. When he worked out I was on the phone to the Police he made cut-throat gestures at me and wandered off. I wasn't about to follow him.
Having now had the chance to check my bag, nothing was taken. Thing is, when you're stood confronted by two aggressive blokes who seem about to lamp you and your bag has obviously been rifled through, it's hard to know what to do.
The guys won't get caught, and even if they do, I didn't actually see anything and nothing was taken. Only result of their actions was to shake me up a bit. I'm pissed off frankly.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
I am very annoyed this week. I had my nose operated on last Friday afternoon. I thought it would take me a few days to get over the general anaesthetic, but it's actually the surgery that's hit me. Here is a list of the reasons I won't ever have this operation again:
- it's impossible to get comfy in a hospital bed
- if you do get comfy and manage to get a little bit of sleep, someone will wake you up within 20 minutes
- I got lots of nice food in with the hope of cooking a bit this week. Nope. I can't taste anything as my nose is completely blocked
- even though my nose is blocked, I can't blow the various fluids out of it for fear of damage
- whilst anaesthetised I must have chewed on my cheek a bit and now have massive mouth ulcers
- for some unknown reason they've shaved my thigh
- the sore throat I've developed (which they warned me about - a result of having a pipe shoved down there) further adds to my eating problems
- every few hours (generally just as I'm starting to sleep) the painkillers wear off and it feels like someone's smacked me in the face with a baseball bat
- if I do get to sleep, my snores that sound like thunder, wake me up
- there is absolutley NOTHING on telly this week
- we were awful in the rugby
- there is one particular chewing motion I do that rips apart the stitching inside my nose with immense pain
- If I stand up for too long, my nose explodes
- I haven't had a beer for what seems like forever
I am very much looking forward to getting better.
Please, please take care of your nose, as having it operated on is not fun. At all.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Whilst I was in the US Jane had an unfortunate laundry accident. Her favourite bra came apart in the washing machine and the wire gouged a massive tear in the big rubber door seal - water everywhere. A new seal was duly purchased at outrageous expense and the task befell me to fit it.
Four bloody hours last night lying on the kitchen floor in puddles of dirty smelly water that leaked out as I shunted the machine in to various positions to try and fit it. Never ever attempt to do this.
It finally went on (almost - have had to leave one component off, but it doesn't look too vital). It's an impossible task and I will buy a new washing machine rather than attempt it again (or indeed if this one leaks). Very grumpy with it.
I was quite keen to get it done as tomorrow I'm off into hospital to have my nose sorted again and am unlikely to be in a state to do it for a while. I need some nice clean respectable pyjamas you see. Hopefully all will be well.
Friday, January 25, 2008
I've been in Boston for a few days with work so I suppose I should write a bit about it. Only trouble is there's not a lot to say. I arrived Monday afternoon and have suffered really badly with jet lag (something I don't really ever having a problem with before). It put me all out of sorts with not eating and sleeping. And having to work my socks off in the daytime was a bummer.
My hotel was nice - in a suburb 30 miles north of the city centre. Pretty sleepy really. I didn't get up to much in the evenings, in fact I think the beer I'm currently enjoying in the executive lounge at the airport is only my third all week. I thought I would treat myself to some quality surroundings (and free beer) at the airport as I arrived at the airport with many, many hours until my flight (don't ask). I shall be very pleased to be back home and have some decent beer and a sleep. Although from what I read about the Snake Pass having collapsed, I think the final leg from Manchester airport to Sheffield is going to be the most annoying. Hey ho.
Friday, January 18, 2008
I've not even yet had a chance to look at the New Year's Eve pictures I've taken yet. It's been a busy couple of weeks.
Let's update current status:
Bike accident - all recovered now. Me and bike confirmed OK
Next week - away all week (including my birthday) on business. Boooooo
Week after - hospital to have my nose re-done. G-man is going to bring me grapes. I will be mostly recuperating and watching the Six Nations that weekend.
April - scuba diving course booked in preparation of hopeful Egyptian dive holiday later this year.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Some cretin knocked me off my bike on the way home tonight. Not just didn't give me enough room and cause me to fall off, I mean actually knocked me down. And didn't even stop. Luckily the double-decker bus behind me managed to not squash me.
When I cycle I'm lit up like a Christmas tree on well-lit streets yet this absolute muppet managed to knock me off. Still, a nice policeman is contacting them to ask them why they failed to stop at a road traffic collision. I was lucky enough to have several witnesses and get the number plate and thankfully just be a bit shaken up and covered in muck.
You know it's going to be a bad day when...
Thursday, December 06, 2007
...you accidentally wake your girlfriend up way too early when she's having a well-deserved lie-in
...and the first thing you do when you leave the house is take three steps and tread in a massive pile of dog shit.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
I've just done some Christmas shopping. It was traumatic. I then needed my lunch. However, having given away my lunch to the Salvation Army in exchange for my work Christmas party ticket, I had no food. I decided a Gregg's sandwich was the way forward.
I went to the Greggs by the side of the markets (Exchange Street) as the queues are usually less than the one on Angel Street. Not today - the queue was very long. Once at the front, I chose a sandwich and for good measure asked for a sausage roll. No sausage rolls were ready. The lady said it would be a few minutes. I recalled a sign in the Angel Street branch that says that if no sausage rolls are ready when you ask for them, you get one free next visit. I queried this and was met with "we don't do that". So here's the question, is anyone else aware of this policy? Has anyone actually got a free sausage on their next visit? Let me know.
Obviously, I've already fired off a query to Greggs head office for the official standpoint on this policy.
Edit: My bad, apparently. Margaret has emailed me back from Greggs head office (full points for quick response from them) to advise that the 'free on next visit' policy was a limited time only promotion. And to ensure I haven't been put off Greggs, she's going to send me some nice vouchers. Result.
