Am I trying to be all things to everyone (or every Blog?)

I just can't stop my self can I - there I was yesterday saying about how I feel that I have too many Blogs.

And this morning

Here I am, not only trying to sign up for another Blog (Big Blog Tool - but apparently its not taking anyone else on at the moment) but I have also downloaded MovableType (apologies if I've got the name slightly wrong) to add to my own site.
I am the process of trying to rebuild my own site (one of those "learning curve" things - first one was OK fro a first go - but I want something a little better), trying to make things a little better, a little easier.

If I'm not careful there will soon be more things for me to do than there are hours in the day.

I think the reason I'm tinkering is two fold:
1: I'm on leave, the Kids are able to look after themselves to some extent and there is little to house work wise at the moment.
and
2: I'm feeling a little ill - and I'M BORED

Pain and Discomfort

As I have posted before - I have bad problems with my Sinus's.

The last few days have been bad from that point of view. I know that , in the scheme of things, my pain is actually pretty insignificant, but it is a major inconvenience to me.

The last two days have been hard work.Although I have been wearing my SunGlasses to cut down the amount of light, my eyes feel like they are being pushed out of my head from the back. My cheeks , if anything ,are even worse. It feels as though someone is "pumping up" my face, and the pressure is pushing away at the skin and bone under my eyes. And then there is the headache. sometimes you daren't move for fear of making the pain worse. When you move, pressure increases, your head starts to pound, the Sinus's also start to pound.

Two operations later, and things are little better, if you can actually use the word better. I used to worry about getting the occasional snotty cold. Now I worry, if anyone gets a cold, and infection, a sniffle. I then wonder if,this time, i'll be lucky and not get what someone else has got.

As I have said before, it's not life threatening, it's inconvenience, it's painful, and in someways it is pitiful.

What Am I doing?

What Am I doing?. That is a very good question considering that I'm not really sure what I'm doing at the best of times - LOL

The reason for the question?

I have just been reading some of our fellow bloggers entries, and one lad in particular was commenting on the fact that he actually makes entries on several Blog sites, making mention of his recent "conversion" to Xanga.

Well, in the past couple of weeks I have started to try several different blog sites, but strangely I always tend to stick to two or three main ones (Xanga, Blogger and Webcrimson), and oddly enough, two of them I pay for.

The problem that I have created for myself ? - I now think that I am trying to spread myself to thin, so to speak. Am I trying to put the same information onto to many sources. I have to be honest - Ujournal is starting to grow on me, but the others - I don't really know. Maybe I'll just keep a few of them going along side my main ones for now and then make a decision in the near future if I want to lose a few (but if you believe my beloved - I'll never let go of anything once I've got it).

Will let you know what goes and when

God Bless


Any Comments? Email me or my site Guestbook

My other Blogs? My Xanga Site, My Personal Blogger Site, My Webcrimson Blog and my Ujournal Blog

Saturday, December 28, 2002
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Postings by e-mail

_________________________________________________________________________

Dear fellow Xangers (if that is the word), and for that matter, fellow bloggers of all flavours.

As I have said previously, I have been trying out various methods for typing up my blog entries offline. Blogger, Ujournal and Blurty have either their own, or a third party "Poster" program (apologies if that is the wrong term - but it will do for now). Xanga and Blogger also have an e-mail system ( although I have well and truly kicked the blogger version of this into touch since I found w,blogger - this is a lot easier to use). The xanga system, however, appears to work a treat for the main part.

However a little help would be much appreciated - I can't, however hard I try , get pictures to transfer via the e-mail system to my postings

Any Suggestions :

Please click on this link and let me know. Any help or a pointer in the right direction would be much appreciated

What a Bind!!!

It has been several weeks, in fact I think it is now well over a month , since we had the major problems with the computer, and we had to reload Windows XP.

In all that time I have just realized that we haven't actual synchronization the PDA's that I , and "She who must be obeyed", have. I have a Visor and Cathy has a Psion Revo. My synch program will not work, although the shortcuts and everything else is still there ( and it did work before BOO BOO day) as neither will psywin 2 for for the revo ( and that also worked)

Just to be on the safe side I am, whilst writing this entry, downloading the up to date versions of both programs. Will let you know how things go.

But it is a real bind having to spend another hour or so , by the time i've finished, doing what should be a 5 - 10 minute job. But, I suppose ,that's life

What a Bind!!!

It has been several weeks, in fact I think it is now well over a month , since we had the major problems with the computer, and we had to reload Windows XP.

In all that time I have just realized that we haven't actual synchronization the PDA's that I , and "She who must be obeyed", have. I have a Visor and Cathy has a Psion Revo. My synch program will not work, although the shortcuts and everything else is still there ( and it did work before BOO BOO day) as neither will psywin 2 for for the revo ( and that also worked)

Just to be on the safe side I am, whilst writing this entry, downloading the up to date versions of both programs. Will let you know how things go.

But it is a real bind having to spend another hour or so , by the time i've finished, doing what should be a 5 - 10 minute job. But, I suppose ,that's life

The Hound Of The Baskervilles

You just might get the impression that all I do is watch television ( and sometimes you wouldn't be far wrong)

Last night (Boxing Day) was the first showing of the BBC's latest version of "The Hound of the Baskervilles"
I have been a Sherlock Holmes fan for many years, although I have always been a little unhappy with the common portrayal of Dr John Watson as a somewhat bumbling idiot - to Holmes's cool and calculating , almost heart less, Detective.

I know, to some extent, that this is a Hollywood type invention - I have seen the Holmes films of the late 40's with Basil Rathbone as Holmes.

I was happier with the Granada TV's portrayal of Holmes and Watson - with Watson more of a Friend and biographer than a bumbling moron.

As you can also guess, I have seen many versions of the Baskerville story - but last night's was defiantly one of the best.

Firstly, many apologies to anyone not of the UK, this film was aired on the BBC.
The film was grim - because it was set on the grim, desolate Moors . The villain, Stapleford, was aptly and smoothly played by Richard E Grant.
Holmes was shown to be the defective genius by Richard Roxburgh.

But the real star for me was Ian Hart. He played John Watson in a manner you could well believe. An ex Indian Army Doctor, who is equally friendly towards, and then frustrated by, the man he has chosen as his friend. Not the bumbling fool of the old films, but heroic, with a small H, caring and resourceful when he need be. I for one , enjoyed this version.

So It's the Bit in the middle!

So here we are, sitting in the middle, between Christmas and New Years. I always find this time of year, some how, hard work. It as though it’s almost between something and nothing, as though the world is waiting for something to happen, something to be finished.

We have been to the relatives, although my brother in law is coming up for the weekend today, we have been over nice to everyone for several days now (although we are nice to everyone anyway are we not), but yet?

Something feels as thought it is missing, something has not been completed.

And yet, to me at least, New Year is not really anything that special. It does mean the end of something, and hopefully the start of something better, but listening to the news, reading the papers and the like, you have to wonder whether things will really change for the world at all.

So as I sit here, typing quietly to myself at the start of a dull and damp Friday between Christmases, I always wait and wish for a better year for all, including myself.

But as I sit here waiting for the family to awake and dive into the end of year sales for yet another new TV (Liam’s old TV in his room has failed, major style, over Christmas ? which is a shame as he can’t use his new Play Station), I feel that mankind will not let me down, and this year will be very little different from what has happened across the world last year, maybe even worse in some respects.

Maybe I’m being a bit ?fatalist? about what will happen next year, maybe it’s the mid Christmas depression that I always seem to get at this point in the celebrations (I do always feel better about things on New Years Day), perhaps I’m being a ?Realist? ? having seen these past 38 years what happens after New Year, what History has to say about Mankind.

Maybe this WILL be different? ? I really do hope so

God Bless

Dave Smith

New Toys Part2?

Dear Log (and to all of you looking in - you are most welcome)

As you can see by my previous post today - I am trying various offline methods of creating posts for my various logs.
I have sometimes found it hard to carry information from one blog to another as they all have slightly different facilities depending on whether they are paid for, freebies or what ever.

Anyway, I am now trying to offline my Xanga log (Daves Personal Xanga Site) and it would appear that one way to do this is via an e-mail system.

I'm going to give this a go and I will let you know how things go.


God Bless

Dave

A New Toy to play with?

Hi all, hope you are all well.

Just goes to show I have nothing better to do at Christmas. Whilst the Kids where playing with thier new toys, and I was waiting for Cathy to come home from the hosptial after her Chrsitams Day Shift, I started searching round for other Blog sites and tools, using the search function on the Google and Yahoo tool bars you can get for Internet Explorer.

Well it's frightening what you can find - I found several other blog sites, which I may concider using in the future (I still think that I will stick to Xanga, Blogger and WebCrimson .

One of the "tool types" I found were several offline editors ( and I'm using one to type this) . This one is from W.Blogger, although there were several other sites that hda similar functions (Blurty.com - but this is also a corresponding Blog site in it's own right)

The only one that I now need an offliner for is the Xanga site - but I think that you can still do this from your e-mail account (I've tried the same or simialr system on Blogger and it came up with some odd results)

Will let you know how I got on

God bless

Dave

Merry Christmas Everyone

25/12/2002 09.22 AM
Wednesday, December 25, 2002

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Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Good line for a song that - LOL

I am sat here on Christmas Morning (it's just gone 09.00 UK time). I've been sat here for around 2 hours (I seem to automatically wake up at between 6.30 and 07.00 - that's the time I get up for work)

We opened most of the presents last night so that Cathy could see the family presents being opened ( She is a nurse at the local Hospital - and she is at work this A.M.)

I still really can't get used to a quiet Christmas Morning. When the kids were younger, they did what young kids do. They used to wake up at 04.00 / 05.00 in the morning, scream everyone awake and the like. But not now.

As I type, Laura (my baby - NOT) has been awake for about 3/4 of an hour, and is playing with her new talking Doll (along with the doll from last Christmas and the one from her birthday) - they are all "asleep" at the moment (the new doll "talks" as does one of the others - but luckily we don't have the right batteries for this one), whilst my lad, the trainee "Kevin" (that's a teenager in training for those who haven't seen the Harry Enfield Show). He stayed up to watch "The Mummy" film on the TV, and like most teenagers (or near teenagers) they stay up late (or try) and then they get up late (or try) - but seeing as things are not happening until later in the day - we'll leave him be for now.

Normally I like a steady start to the day (no rush - no worries) , but somehow it doesn't seem right to have a quiet Christmas Day.



I hope you all have a Peaceful Day

God Bless

DAve

Tuesday, December 24, 2002


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Ghost's at Christmas

Dear Log - and to all of you looking in you are most welcome

That'll teach me to make a prediction - LOL. I'll see you after Christmas, what a laugh.

The reason for this entry. As I have said before, I have more than a passing interest in a UK program - Living TV's Most Haunted program

Although I would be the first to admit - and I have done - I suspect that the likes of ghost's, sprites or what ever you would like to call them probably exist. And although I have encountered soon strange places in my job, I can never, hand on heart, say that that I have come across a "proper" ghost.

Anyway, back to the main story. As I have reported before I watched the "Live" Ghost hunt at Dudley Castle. Well this last Sunday was a "Most Haunted at Christmas" from Dover Castle.

All I can say, I felt this was even more convincing than the the last program. I realize, as I have also said before, that this is firstly TV entertainment, but even for that.

I quite enjoyed the bit where Yvette got , what I thought, was the biggest personal shock of the night - how would you like a "Ghost" whispering in your ear ( even the sceptical Professor heard something when they returned to that same room later on). I am always impressed ( although I'm still not sure how he does it) with Derek Acorah's "conversations" and descriptions of the spirit's that appear in front of him. If he seriously doesn't know the history and/or the stories of the places he goes to - you have to wonder how he gets his information (I still don't "believe" enough to take the spirit guide scenario onboard just yet). But with the support of local and national historians, and various other experts - the evidence is certainly mounting that Derek defiantly has some sort of talent.

I didn't intend to watch all the program - but in the end I saw it finish (although I did miss a big chunk out the middle because of "They think it's all over" coming on on the BBC).

As I said last time - you do have to wonder if there is "something else" be it Ghost's , Spirit's or what ever.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Sunday, December 22, 2002
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What's Happened this Week

Dear Log ( and to all looking in your most welcome)

With Christmas only a few days away as I type this

we seem to have everything ready for the Christmas Holidays (I hope).We also can have a rest today (I wish) as Liam, my eldest, as he is not playing football today.

After most of the Family recovering from (and to some extent we still are) the first virus's of the Winter, my work week has been both exciting and frustrating in equal measure.

As I have said previously, I went on a training course for BT's new Home Computing Product and this last week has been absolutely manic. After some initial issues earlier in the week with missing keys to the security lockers that store the kit for us to supply and fit, the later part of the week has been very hard work, but equally very satisfying. I know these kind people have paid to have us fit their computer, but it is still very pleasing to see their happy faces when we have set the whole thing up for them and they can then actually get onto the computer and use it.

Friday night - and it was a works night out(not mine, but Ward16 where my wife is The Deputy Ward Sister). I'll be honest, I wasn't sure whether I wanted to go or not, be it turned out to be a brilliant night. Good food, a fair Cabaret turn, and then a disco. BRILL BRILL BRILL.

My eldest, Liam, and I suspect englishjuls, was very happy with the Liverpool result mid week - beating Villa 3 - 2. Mind you they are still going to have to get sorted if they are going to make a better attempt at winning the UK Football Premiership.

If I don't have a chance to post anything else before Christmas Day

Have A Merry and Peaceful Christmas

Any Comments? E-Mail Me or leave a message on our Site Guestbook - God Bless

Xanga Lifetime and Made Up Bands

Xanga Lifetime and Made Up Bands

I apologize to anyone in the US - but I suspect that maybe you have the same, or similar, type programs to us.

Over the last year or two we have had to suffer a continuous run of "Create a Popstar" type programs. And the latest have been the BBC's Fame Academy and the ITV's Popstars - the rivals.

Before we go on I have to admit I don't dislike the likes of Gareth Gates and Will Young, both have in actuality brought out a couple of good tunes , and at the minute I quite like Daniel Bedingfield and Elton John & Blue. It's been along time since I "out and out" supported a group - Abba, The Human League, Ultravox and the like when I was a youngster (and anyone who knows - that really will age me - LOL)

But this year ......

Some people will buy anything. The winner of the Fame Academy ( and also the two losers on the night) do have some talent - although it remains to see how they translate into a "Public" act - we will have to see in the new year.

But the bands from Pop Star the rivals - I'm sorry to say I think they are both awful. The boy band, "One true Voice", the song is bland and boring. There is nothing new here at all.They sound the same as a hundred and one other boy bands - and the song adds nothing.

The Girls - they are a 100% better than the boys - but I'm sad to say they have the looks - but that is it. The song is OK, but to me it doesn't sound finished. It's rough round the edges.

Finally - and this could be seen as serious creeping (and it is )

I have finally taken the ultimate step and signed up for a life subscription for the Xanga Blog site. I only comment on things as I find them, and since having signed up for the premium account, and now the life time subscription, all I can say is that the whole thing has been worth every penny (or should I say cent) that I have paid for the subscription. I wonder if Blogger has a lifetime membership scheme?

Kazaa - that's Enough!!

Kazaa - that's Enough!!

Hi all - hope you are all well?

The reason for this moan is somewhat personal, but also some what of a warning.

Firstly it must be pointed out that, if I had not got a reasonable virus guard in place (Norton Anti Virus 2003 in my case) I would probably not be even be able to enter this post, or at worse, the post would several paragraphs longer saying how I had valiantly struggled to recover a sick computer from a virulent infection.

I know this is picking on Kazaa - because that is my program of choice, but from what I have heard the same situation is creeping into to many of the file sharing networks.

I have , in the past few weeks, downloaded several items via kazaa only to have a ONE HUNDRED PER CENT return of virus's and/or associated un required "goodies".

Before I go any further, I will not get in to any conversions over the "why's and where fore's" of using these programs, but they are there, for now, and I did use them.

But not any more - one virus in a while is an occupational hazard of using the Internet , e-mail, downloads and the like. But every time I have used the system - a virus. I'm sorry but I don't think that I can take that sort of a risk just for the occasional MP3.

Once in a while .......!!!

Welcome to My Weekly Log - Part 2

What really happened this week

Welcome to part two -and what really happened this week. It has been, for our house at least, a fairly normal week.

Firstly - I am in sympathy with my lad and englishjuls - Liverpool are making a right "pigs ear" of what they are doing at the moment - I hope things pick up this afternoon when they play Sunderland

Sunday - Liam played Football for the Park Tigers U12's - they lost 2-1 , but it was good match overall for the Tigers, and, as this is their first season playing 11 a-side, they are getting better game by game.

Monday - Back to work/School - so really there is not a lot to say

Tuesday - We all went out tonight to Tigers Football Christmas Party. This is the third one of these we have been to - and they are always a good Kids Party at this time of Year (and we won a raffle prize and Liam came away with a good football and football shirt from pass the parcel)

Wednesday /Thursday - These were days of several First's. After a bit of a bog up on Wednesday, Thursday was the day I fitted my first BT home Computer - and the job also went very well for "a first go". It was also the first time I have ever come across a TV Winner. I know this is a bit of a strange thing to say - but most programs these days seem to have a phone in competition - and then you get then announcement "Well Done Mrs Blogs of Dunstable - you have won .......". Well I don't know about you, but up until Thursday I did start to wonder if some of these people where "Real People". Well now I've actually met one. The lady had won the GMTV/BT Home Computing competition - and a nicer person it would be hard to find - a well deserving winner.

Friday - This, for me at least, is where the week breaks down. Liam has been ill for a few days with something either brought in from school, or more likely "grown" by his sister ( she was off last week with the same). Well Friday afternoon was a little difficult towards the end of the shift ( all I can say, it was a good job the the local telephone exchange was just round the corner)

Saturday - Have taken my Mum into Hospital to have one of her cataract removed - and boy do they work quick these days. When my Gran had the same done a number of years ago - she was in Hospital for a few days and the like. These days however - I took my Mum in at Eight and she was out again by Dinner. Behind this is me - doing quite a few "100 m" sprints - Thanks Son. I spent most of the afternoon "nodding off" - which is what I tend to do when I'm not to well

Today - done this blog and the rest - well that will be for next week

Welcome to My Weekly Log - Part 1

Don't get me wrong, I am going to try to make a log entry on, shall we say, a more periodic basis. But as things are going at the minute, once a week seems to be the average for the last few weeks. This basically being that there really not enough going on at the minute to male anymore entries.

As I have discussed before, when I first started working "The Blogs", I tried quite a few, of which the following I still use:

- There is Xanga

- Blogger

and

- Webcrimson

(click on the button and you will head that way if you are interested in the individual "controlling" service and they all do free services)

I did try a few others - but these have since gone by the wayside, although, to be honest I'm thinking of sending the webcrimson one the same way. (I don't really make full use of it at the moment - but we'll see).

Although Xanga include a subscription service with your account (I think - I paid to have the enhanced service - well worth it if that's what you wish to do) you can also "add" a subscription service to either your webcrimson and/or Blogger accounts( and some others if read the "blurb") by using the following service:

- Bloglet (again if you are interested - please click on the button).

To be honest I have yet to integrate the script this service generates into all my accounts, but it does seem to work, and I will tell you for why.

I was looking at a Blog - "the Homeless Guy" ( this was featured in the Webuser Magazine and both are well worth a look)

and as part of his blog he uses this service for fellow bloggers to subscribe to his site - so I click on the link and thought that I would give it a go.

I have spilt todays posting into two - so you can have the choice of which bit to read and it also stops me blathering on to long on one subject - see you in part 2

What Happened Next!!

Saturday, December 07, 2002

Hi all - hope you are all OK.

Isn't it funny how life goes sometimes.

The day after posting a "not a lot happens to me - even at this time of year " type entry - something did happen.

When I came home from work on Wednesday night there were the usual amount of letters (3/4 of which were rubbish - as usual) and a parcel from the book club, a Titan Graphic Novel - "Judge Dredd - and the Cursed Earth".

In the letters, however was a card from Parcel Force - you know the sort "we have left your parcel with a neighbour/in the garage/under a bench/out in the rain getting soaked through".

Anyway that particular neighbour was out at that point, and both myself and my wife were sat there wondering what it could be?

What had we forgotten we had ordered?

Anyway - about an hour later Harry came round with one of the biggest parcels I had seen in a very long time . There were two BIG padded envelopes and two boxes tapped together into a big single parcel.

The confusion grew. Was this really for us? Apparently. (The give a away being my name - handwritten- across an A4 sheets attached to one of the Padded envelopes).

Had I ordered something on the Internet-by accident? Don't think so.

So we opened it. There were SIXTEEN models from the James Bond Ultimate Collection - and then we found the letter.

A Couple of months ago I had entered a Competition - you know the sort " Please answer the "difficult question" (which my son Liam knew the answer - Big James Bond freak) - send in the coupon and then , normally , never hear anything again".

But not this time - we had won the competition - we had won the set. What an early Christmas Present. Normally, the biggest thing we had ever won was either a Tenner on the lottery, or a box of chocolates for a painting I did as a kid. But this was something else.

Good or what

Doesn't time fly?

I have just realised that it has been a week since I placed an entry in this log.

This last week, as you can probably guess, has been quiet and somewhat uneventful. Even the slow and steady build up to Christmas seems to have mainly gone by without a whimper

Yesterday, on my day off, myself and my wife went "Christmas Shopping". With it being early in the month, I had just worked out the bills - so , for once, we knew what money we had to play with.

But as we went round, and even brought some new "bangles and baubles" for the Christmas tree (when we get it the damn thing put up), but still - "It doesn't feel like Christmas".

I don't know why I feel like this - at work we were having a discussion on the fact that a lot of people feel "fed-up" at the minute. I may have something to do with the fact that if we have more than 3 days without getting wet, we think Summers come back.

Every year, it gets a little more difficult to get into the "Christmas Spirit". I don't know why?.

Is it the older you get, the more "Scrooge" like you get - I hope not.Come Christmas Eve, I know that we will go to the Children's Christmas Service at the local Church - my little girl loves it (and so does my near teenage son). I look forward to the look on their faces on Christmas Morning (especially that of the trainee cynic that is my son). But at the minute !!! - it just feels like any other day.

Tuesday, November 26, 2002

Hi everyone - hope everyone is well.

It's been a few days since I've placed an entry into my log. Maybe it's because very little has happened since the weekend.

It's at that "more month than money" stage, that is we're waiting for pay day - which for me is Monday officially.

I have been surprised as I have gone round how many people have already got their Christmas Decorations , if not already completely up, at least partially up. I, for one, will be trying to leave the decorations till at least 2 weeks before Xmas Day - and to be honest we are usually bored of them by January.

Best wishes to those who want them up now - but to be honest - why?

I'M Back!!

Hi all - hope everyone is well.

Well I'm back - I have managed to "survive" the course and have returned unscathed. It wasn't quite the set-up I expected, but then I wasn't really sure what I was expecting in the first place. Although some of the information about the products and the like, I already knew, there was plenty to keep me interested.

Like a lot of the courses I've been on recently, a substantial portion of the course was based on "Customer Satisfaction" - but that point can be driven in too long and too often, so that the purpose of the lesson can be lost in "repetitiousness" of it all. But never mind - I always try my best for the people that I am working for - and that will never change.

Our beloved leaders have just launched a Home Computer Package, along with Internet access and set-up by a trained engineer (and that's me - and several others - hence the course) - and this is a bit of a departure for us.

We shall have to see how it goes

I'm going on a Course Tomorrow

I'm a little nervous tonight as I sit here typing this entry.

Tomorrow night, after work, I have to make my way up to Wigan ready for a two day Computing Course.

The thing is, I'm not very good at going away from home. I will have to be away for over two nights - I really am "a home bird".

Maybe it will be OK, and I'm sure that it will.But even so !!!.

It has been so long since I have been away from my family for more than a few hours. Other lads go away on Task force teams (that is going away to other work area's to help out with high levels of faults due to bad weather and the like) - and they seem quite happy to do that. But they are them, and I am me - and unlike my "Public" persona, I always feel that I am a shy, retiring sort of person (although other people would say something different).

I know that I will be Ok - but it is still something I worry about.

Will let you know how things go when I come back at the weekend!

What a Week?

I am here, in front of the computer, in the dull early light of a late Autumn Friday. It's 7'ish, the house, for the minute is quiet as everyone else is asleep, it's nice to be able to sit here alone sometimes.

With the weekend hurtling its way towards me, I am sat here wondering what has happened to this week? - mind you I sit at the Computer wondering the same most weeks.

It's has. I suppose, been very little difference to many other weeks, but then it has been an individual.

Liam started the week being ill and unable to go back to school until yesterday (Thursday).I have my Sinus's he has his ears. Mind you, Liam's does seem to be clearing up slowly.

Fireworks night has been and gone ( and my Kids have been to several Bonfire parties), and we are now to the inexorable climb towards Christmas

Laura has just been what she has always been - a Lisa Simpson clone. She has just been moved to a higher teaching group in her year.She does her homework without beings asked(something you could not say about her brother) and in fact sometimes we have to slow her down a bit, otherwise she would spend to much time doing School work - she still has to have enough time to be a child. She has been to her weekly Brownies Meeting (another Bonfire type party)

What has happened to the weather?The nice crisp Autumn days have seemingly already dissolved into the gray,wet and cold days of an East England Winter?

Roll on Spring

A Visit to Lincoln

Friday was going to be one of those days. The weather forecast, for the afternoon at least, was horrendous. Anyway we had arranged to go to Lincoln for a look round the Castle and the Cathedral.

Although I have been to both places several times in my Childhood (I was born in Lincoln), and my lad, Liam, has had a School type visit, it was mainly my “baby” (and if she reads this I’m very, very dead) who wanted to go and have a look.

We were due to go in the summer, but something else had happened, and the visit had to be posponded.

Anyway, this time plans were made, including a visit to my Godson and his School Friend Mother.

Anyone who hasn’t been to Lincoln before – you really ought to go – History and Good Shopping – a mix to cover most people.

This was the first time that even I had had chance to go round the whole of the Castle. Try climbing to the top of the Observation Tower (not for anyone with vertigo), the steps are dark and winding, it was hard to imagine how anyone in full could even get through the door, let alone climb to the top of the tower.
This visit was also the first time that I have ever seen the West Gate open (and it has been open now for quite a few years). A must for anyone with the time is to walk the length of the ramparts – what a view of the city. You could stand there a imagine the vista down the hill and out across the Lincolnshire Wolds.

A must for anyone visiting the Castle at the moment is to go and see the Magna Carta exhibition. What a piece of history in it’s own right – it’s such a small document for the impact it still has on British History. If you can get the attendant to explain the story behind its conception. He gives a wonderful presentation and definitely gives an alternate view on that that’s normally available.

Anyway after a good wander about the Castle, we took a short walk to one of my favourite places in the world – Lincoln cathedral. Just a short walk across the cobbles, through the gateway, and there is one of the most impressive buildings in the world. I know everyone has their own personal favourite place – but this is certainly one of mine.

A slow and steady walk through the various halls and Chapels, it is a feeling that is very hard for me to explain. It is a mixture of awe, majesty, sadness and joy. The sadness was for my Dad. He was born and bred in Lincoln and he was the first person to take me round the Cathedral as a boy. He would have been so proud to see his Grandkids going round the places he loved – asking, enquiring. In one of the side chapels, Liam and Laura both asked if they could light a Candle for their Grand dad. It was very difficult to keep the tears back at that point.

Sometimes they drive you wild, and then other times?

There was a set of sculptures, placed below some of the wonderful stained glass windows – “The Stations of the Forest” I think they were called – and they followed through the story of Christ, but you were allowed to feel the forms as they stood there. You could feel the grain of the woods used – the cold and sharpness of the nails. Brilliant.
Then we went to look for the Imp. It took a few moments to find – it was that long since even I had seen him. But we found him, sat high up on the pillar, gazing down , ready for his next bit of mischief.

We slowly wandered back down the far side of the Cathedral, occasionally popping into one of the small side chapels, looking into the main choir area. Then it was time to move on. We stopped off at the Chapel where we had lit the Candles for my Dad, just to see how far they had burnt down..

Then it was out into the heavy rain of a very grey late afternoon at the end of a Dull October. Onwards to tea with our friends.

Halloween is over, but is it?

A bit of an odd header, but the reason is this.

Last night, LivingTV ran a live ghost hunt on Sky Satellite TV(and via Cable I suppose). This Ghost hunt was at Dudley Castle in the UK Midlands, and has quite a history of Ghost's , strange events - the "Full Monty" as it were.

Now from the outset I ought to say that ,although I don't out and out believe in Ghosts, a couple of experiences I have had in various places make me a partial believer in some thing that I'm not so sure about.

The other thing, I suppose, that you have to bare in mind is that the program is also a form of entertainment, that's how they make their money after all - but even so!

I have watched most of the "Most Haunted" series, but of course this is a full nights ghost hunting condensed down for a 30 minute program.

Last night , however, for me at least, was something else. The Most Haunted team had set up their stall at Dudley Castle, focusing on seven particular areas, five of which were real ghost spots, the other two being "Red herrings". The other thing they did was to set up web cams in four "secure" areas of the castle - the kitchen, the undercroft, the shop and the museum - so you could actually view the various rooms whilst at the same time watch the program investigate the various sections of the Castle. Some thing else I should point out at this point is that I didn't watch all the program - it ran until 01.00 - 01.30 in the morning, and I must have fallen asleep around 12.20.

The premiss of the program for anyone who hasn't seen it is that the Hunt team is made up of a presenter , Yvette Fielding (from Blue Peter if anyone out there can remember her doing that), a team of "Psychic" Investigators-Scientists with various pieces of detection equipment and the like (The "Proper" Science if you like) and then the team is completed by the actual TV crew (who normally get involved as watchers) and a Spiritual Medium - Derek Acorah.

Now before I saw any of these programs - anyone said anything about Mediums like Derek, I was very much the sceptic, talking to the dead? who they kidding. But I have been very impressed with the information Mr Acorah has come up with ( and a lot of the information has been verified since) - so I'm not quite the sceptic that I once was.



Anyway back to last nights program. What a show - no other way of putting it - as a form of Halloween entertainment - brilliant. But then the basic support of the program - the Ghost Hunt - also brought up a few things that have pushed me even more towards the believer and away from scepticism. Pieces of electronic and electrical equipment failed. There were strange noises, something even scared the wits out of supposed hardened News Paper reporters - but the main "evidence" if you like was the web cam in the Kitchen area.

My eldest was still up - he wanted a look at what was going on too. We had been hopping from one web cam to another without seeing anything other than castle walls and the dark night sky's. Anyway I had just gone to make a drink when Liam shouted me back thorough to the computer - he was watching the web cam of the kitchen. At this point the camera had panned up to a set of windows several tens of feet up (obviously they had been windows looking out on floors that no longer exist) - Liam just said look at that - I looked and saw what is commonly known as an Orb. I discounted that as some thing falling through the air - then Liam said No - can I see the face. And sure enough - there was what looked like a face in one of the upper windows to the left of the picture. At that point the camera then scanned down to the bottom of the kitchen - focusing on one of the entry doors form another part of the castle, to see the shadow of something moving across the doorway. At that point it was fairly obvious? to me that there was actually some light source lighting up that door way - surly it was someone walking past out side.Then the shadow crossed back in the opposite direction, but this time it seemed to cross out of the fall of that particular light source and continue on to disappear at a point that normal experience would tell "It can't happen there".

The camera then scanned to another part of the kitchen and then several moments later,back up to the windows - now no face just an empty window. I looked at Liam and he looked at me - what's going on?

Anyway - 30 minutes later, the presenting team reported that the phones and the like had gone mad with people reporting the very thing we had seem 30 minutes before, with the crew going off to investigate whether anyone had gone into "the no-entry" zone around the Kitchen - they came back with,as far as they could ascertain, there was no one in that area. When the Most Haunted team went into that room , several of them started to feel sick(one of them being Yvette who had already done one of her famous 100 yrd dashes in the Canal Area - mind you you wouldn't find me there on my own , in the dark, on Halloween) and Derek Acorah came up with the goods as such, and detected several "energies", with the information supplied being confirmed by an Expert on the Castles History .Strange or what.

I must add - I was also impress with the Psychologist - he was just the right balance of scepticism against the obvious atmosphere of a lot of people wanting things to happen

But still? Pity I fell alseep - would liked to have seen the end of the program

Does anyone know which of the sites were the false ones? Could you please let me know be leaving an e-mail or by going to the comments page on my home website.(There is a feedback form and/or a forum link

What do you think?

Hi All

the picture to the left is one of mine. It was drawn from a picture in a magazine (I'm far to shy to ask anyone to sit there and let me draw them. I have done many others ( and I may show them eventually)

What does anyone think?

I didn't really do art very well at School - in fact I was pretty terrible, but in the years since I left I have taken to drawing people and, to a lesser extent, animals. I have tried Landscapes and the like several times - but I don't have the Soul for that sort of picture.

I don't pretend to be any good but any comment would be much appreciated.

Please feel free to leave your comments either via the comments box at the bottom of the posting or you can e-mail direct by clicking this link

Thanks for taking the time to have a look

God Bless

Dave

What a lovely Day

Hi All,

hope everything is going OK. Today has been a lovely day. Back at work after a couple of days off on leave, the day has just flown by.

Going to my first job this morning, the day was almost the perfect Autumn day. The Sun was drawing streaks of light onto the trees through the slowly clearing mist. The mixture of the gold's and oranges, with the skeletal background of the more exposed trees that have already shed their leaves (or after Monday had them blown away). The first job of the day was straight forward - no complications what so ever. This afternoon was a bit more arduous,but then that makes for a more interesting day.

Although, in the darkness of the early morning, and my face was somewhat in pain, I did wonder whether I would be fit to get into work. But a steady drink of Tea, and a short sit in the chair downstairs (so my shuffling wouldn't disturb Cathy) - the next thing I know it's time to get up. The ache has been there for most of the day - but I can put up with that.

So here I am - end of the working day just getting ready to go home. All in all the day has been pretty good.

To anyone looking in - God Bless and have a nice evening (morning,day or night depending on where you are)

Halloween

Hi all.

Halloween worries me. I know that this "common" practice in America, but this has only really become common here, in the UK, in the last few years. I don't know if it's just because I'm not used to it, or whether I just don't like the idea of it (or it maybe even that I'm a "old" skin flint).

But the more that I hear of some of the stranger people that wander around in the dark, or the fact that some of the older members of our community are worried enough about what could/can happen to them, without having kids banging on the door, in the dark and scaring the hell out of them, that we should be shying away from "trick or treating".

Don't get me wrong , I don't particularly want to stop Kids being Kids, all I'm questioning is whether going from door to door, in the dark , is this this the way to do this?

Wind ,Rain and what a difference a Day Makes

I've woken up this morning to take my beloved to work. The Sun was just rising , lighting up the sky with beautiful wispy clouds, light blues of the early morning sky, reds,yellows and golds reflected in the clouds, and the same gold, yellows and browns being copied on the leaves of the trees.

What a total difference from yesterday.I sat looking through the window - Dogs blowing up the road (almost), People chasing various pieces of their Gardens, and at some points the Rain was so strong, the sheet of water literally obscured the Car (and this was parked on the road no more than 15 feet (4 or 5 metres) away.

Our back garden looks like a war zone - our little plastic greenhouse/coldframe is laying on its side, the recycling bins are now all empty, but the same could not be said of the flower beds .

And we were lucky - I "talked", via MSN messenger, to a mate "down south" - he had already lost his brand new fence, and from pictures on the TV news up can see many up rooted trees and over turned planes.

Mind you, the funniest thing to come out of the last 24 hours, if there is anything funny, is a story that has just been on the BBC Breakfast news. An RAF base has asked the public to report back them if they find a blowup Tank that got blown away in the wind.

That should put the "wind" up a few people.

A Strange , If not a little painful, sort of week

Dear Log (and to all looking in - Welcome)

I sometimes have that "DOH" feeling.

It's been nearly a week since I last made any form of entry. I have spent a little time updating our website and the way I enter some of the information (I post occasional match reports, or rather my personal view, in the way of a "parents view" of the performance of my lads football team) (anyone wishing to have a look you can see the weblog on my football blog site.

This week has been a painful one. As I have said in previous posts', I have bad problems with my Sinus's. I know it's no great shakes compared to some one with a " Proper medical Condition", but it doesn't half get in the way of my life. It also "that time of year - that is the weather is on the Winter turn - it is getting colder, wetter (that's a laugh this year) - more inclement.

Wednesday was the worse Sinus day - to be honest I'm still not sure how I managed to last the day at work (and I'll not say how many times I was sick in the middle of the day). Mind you it still puts things in perspective.

The last few days have been particularly wet. Yesterday (Friday) I've not seen a shower of rain quite like it in a long time - all you could see through the window was a continuous sheet of water - no rain drops just water - it was awesome and not a little disturbing. You have to wonder what's going on at the minute, rain like this (and storms predicted for tonight) Earthquakes in Manchester (and other areas recently).

I don't pretend to be good at this log entry business, but I somehow feel that I can put down my thoughts a lot easier this way.

All I can say - with all things considered - my life is pretty good. I have my problems, and pains, but I like my job, I love my wife, my kids and my Mum. We have some good friends - and life isn't quiet so bad. The hard part is remembering that when you have days like Wednesday.

God Bless

Dear Log (and to anyone looking in - Welcome)

I have sat in front of this computer several times in the last few days wondering how various things are done.

My new Interest at the moment, is "Blogs" and as such I would like to see what I can do with them

Does anyone have any links to any sites that can advise on building Templates for this, and other blogs.

Although the template I use on this site is OK (more than that in fact) but I want to learn how to do things for my self (I'm just a curious sort I suppose)

It would be much appreciated if anyone could leave either a weblink on our Website GuestBook or by e-mailing us direct

God Bless

Dave

ANOTHER NICE DAY

In this part of the world (England), and as I said yesterday about a severe lack of a "Proper" Summer, the last few days have been somewhat of a revelation.

Even though the weatherman has put the "cat amongst the pigeons" for the next few days - it was a lovely day.

Today was a work day. But whilst driving from one job to another, I was lucky enough the go between jobs through the English Autumn Sunshine.

The air was fresh (too "fresh" for some), but as I drove along you could see all the beautiful browns, reds and russet colours of the slowly turning leaves. The bright Sun lit the trees up poetically (I sometimes wish I could write poetry - but I've never had that skill) - It makes you glad to be alive.

What a Lovely Day!!

Well what a lovely START to the day.

Dear Log ( and to any one reading your very welcome)

After the last few Rain soaked day (and pretty much an iffy summer to boot) the start of this morning was a wonder.

The Sun was out, there was that "nip" of cold in the air, and that clean smell you can get at the start of a lovely Autumn day. It was beautiful. It was such a nice change (especially as this is one of my days off), to walk in pleasant weather whilst taking my little girl (she'll love me for that - we all know what seven year olds are like) to School.

It makes you pleased to be alive - what a boost.

Mind - I shall not comment on the weather forecast for this afternoon (UGH)



God Bless

WHY????

I know this is several days after the appalling attack on the island of Bali - but the shock and horror has yet to really subside.

With this , and what has happened in New York, you seriously have to question how Mankind has managed to survive this long.

These sorts of things would be unacceptable if they were directed at the Military - sadly that's what they are there for. But to pick on the innocent, the Holiday Maker, the ordinary Joe/Jean in the Street - what have they done to anyone but try to enjoy a Break, or even just trying to make an ordinary living.

I know these targets are picked for exactly the reason that I am probably writing this entry right now - the World sits up and listens. There is little or no chance of actually catching the people who have carried out these atrocities - even if they do know the poeple behind these kinds of attacks.

In some ways I can sort of understand why people would want to do this sort of thing - but only sort of. I do not think that I could ever be involved with this sort of thing.

Aren't there enough problems in the World , without these making things worse.

Test Message

Dear Log - and to
anyone reading, you are most welcome

size=2> 

this is really just
a test to see if this particualr system works. As you have seen I am realitivley
new to this "Blog" way of working - but slowly and surely I'm getting used to
it.

size=2> 

So if this has
worked - brill, if it hasn't there are always another way to do
things.

Kind Regards
Dave.

alt="" hspace=0 src="cid:010263106@10102002-11a7" align=baseline
border=0>

Feeling Sad

Dear Log (any to anyone reading welcome)

Here I am, sat yet again, in front of the computer trying to place my thoughts into words. I am listerning to BBC2, which is showing the memorial program to Spike Milligan.

The sad bit - anything like this, and a few other things, tend to remind me of some of the people that are now sadly gone from my life, particularly my Dad. The people I loved, and still love and who will always be in my heart (although I now wished that I had let them know that a little more when they were alive), I still sit and wonder in those quiet and lonely moments, I still wonder WHY?. I know everything has to come to an end eventually, even my own end - but I still find it hard to understand why?

I suspect that to some one reading this, they may well feel that it is rambling and spurious, and it may well be, but I'm a simple man, who finds it hard to talk about his feelings - let alone put it down "in black and white".

I know this is probibly a little morid and dark, maybe I just being human, maybe it's one of those "try and get it off your chest" moments - Maybe

Why does Life have to be so hard?

This week has been one to quickly forget. After a fairly steady start, from Wednesday onwards things collapsed in what can only be called, a "heap of scrap"


I have long since suffered from the dreaded "SINUS'S"- but this week really takes the biscuit. It's bad enough feel sick within your own four walls - but to then go to work feeling sick, and then to just clear a customers frontdoor to be sick, sick, sick - then I am really getting fed up with this.

And then, this morning - we had two upset children when one of the Guinea Pigs past on. I know it's that high up on the scale of human tradegy, but it's hard to two kids who loved their pet.


Let's hope next week is better than this.

NETSCAPE 7 and Why Bill Gates will never be poor

I am sat here, before the Computer, in the early light of a Sunday Morning, several weeks after downloading the latest version of Netscape,Netscape 7, "somewhat wondering what have I done!!"


It has been a long time since I used Netscape as "the browser of choice" - it was not flexable enough for me (no fulll screen view for one - my fav functions - sad though it is - on IE)

So I down load Netscape 7 to get a shock - it has full screen views and a few other things it should have had years ago - it is relatively stable (which compared to IE somedays is a good thing) and over the last couple of weeks I have tried things out to a varying degree. Also over the last few weeks it has become very apparent that this is a very Internet Explorer world - most Websites are optimised for Internet Explorer and I think I know why.


It can only be covered by the statement "Old Habits die hard".

Normality has swept in and I have gone happily back to what I am used to. That is no reflection on Netscape - it works well. It does all the things that Internet Explorer does - and if I could be bothered to look - the chances are that there is something else there.


But when it comes down to it, most people are happiest when they are comfortable - and people are comfortable with what they know.
And this is why Mr Gates will remain a very rich man (Shares be blowed). There is no effort in looking for a reasonable Browser - it basically comes with the computer. It is straight forward to use - a very shallow learning curve - as long as you can work out how to set up a connection to the Internet and then fire up Internet Explorer - away you go.

Netscape, I think, lost it's chance a long time ago - which is a pity - a little proper competition and you never know which thing would have gone.

If you wish to make on comment on my log click here

HELP

I'm Pulling my hair out

I have just been trying to upload an image to this page - using the help files listing what to do and how to do it.

What ever I try I fail.
I use internet explorer as the FTP client - I cann't get logged in - even though , I think, I have put in all the correct information.

The same happens if I use a seperate FTP client (WS Pro). I have set up an account within the program (just the same way I have for uploading to my website and that works OK) and the user name gets recognised but not the password (which is the same passwrod as the one I used to log into the main site and type this)

I have tried ftp-ing whislt logged onto this site - whilst log off this site and as many combinations as I can come up with in the middle. Anyone else have any ideas - could you please e-mail via this link Click here

Another day at work has gone by - what a day. Started off well enough (after stubbing my toe twice) 1st job went a treat - 2nd one went less well . Then the monthly "how you are doing talk" with the Boss. That was not as bad as I thought. Did enough jobs to justify may wages , kept the quality of the jobs up to the level, and I don't use my Mobile to much.

Morning all - hope you are well

What a start - am hobbling around after stumbling into two chairs and a kitchen unit - my foot is still numb. I hope today doesn't get any worse

Hi there and welcome to my first posting.

This, as they say, is the first in an occassional series of little ditties outlining my day, maybe an opinion, or even a moan is something in the day has seriously teed me off.

Today has been a strange sort of day. Work has been tiring and somewhat frustrating - for many reasons that shall, for now , remain in my own mind. I have found this site for the first time - isn't it strange how quickly you can get into something - although as time goes on - I hope to find out some of the hidden tricks .