A happy New Year

To all my fellow Xangains, Bloggers and assorted Webloggers:

 

A sort of test......

I have just updated my version of Smileycons, and although I have had the program for a fair while, I have really never used it. I also have Getsmile which add, particularly, assorted smilies, including some additional free ones that I have permission to use. But I have never really used the Smileycons.

That basic idea is select your choice, left click and then drop and drag. It seems to work with the images that they have created, but my own “uploads” seem to be a different manner (perhaps it’s me).

Well her we go, if it works there will be assorted images on the completed page, if not – then back to the old drawing board.

 

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking

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Boxing day TV, as a whole , never really changes a great deal over the years. Here in the UK it is never anything challenging. Worlds Strongest Man, several Kids Films (Mary Poppin’s), you get the general idea. However, to me there was a highlight to all this banality. The BBC were showing their latest Sherlock Holmes commission – “Sherlock Holmes and the case of the Silk Stocking” .

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It has been two years since the last “new” Holmes story, and that was a TV remake of the “Hound of the Baskervilles”, but Holmes’s latest case was not actually, as far as I recall, a “proper” Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story, but a case written based on the Famous Detective.

The case of the Silk Stockings was pre-titled the return of Sherlock Holmes and is based around the abduction and murder of the Daughters of High and Mighty.To be honest, the story was not really up to the “normal” Holmes level, and the ending (and I shall not reveal it for those who haven’t seen it – but it is fairly predictable from around three-quarters of the way in) was somewhat shallow, but that said, it was a fairly good yarn.Some of the listings critics had a “right go” (local phraseology) , but I didn’t totally agree with them (but then I rarely do)

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The character of Sherlock Holmes has over gone several “changes of image” over the years

. The character that most of us know as Holmes has, in my humble opinion, been coloured by the Holmes and Watson partnership headed by Basil Rathbone (right) in the films of the 40’s. Holmes, witty, insightful,COLD, supported by his well meaning, yet bumbling and incompetent “sidekick” Dr John Watson.

The partnership was somewhat leveled with the 2002 “Hound of the Baskervilles” where Holmes remained pretty much as expected, but the Dr John Watson (played in both the new Holmes stories by Ian Hart – left) when the character was given a more realistic attitude and demeanour. Watson is a Man of action in his own right. Ex– Army Surgeon, a brave and tenacious Man, Intelligent in his own right, but no one has the level of intuitiveness that is held by the Master Detective.

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 Up to last night, i must admit my Favourite Holmes portrayal was that of Jeremy Brett’s (above left) in the 80’s Granada series of assorted Holmes Cases (several series over around 10 years. The “new” Holmes is Rupert Everett. A well known actor of long standing, I did wonder what sort of job he would do of the laconic Holmes

The honest answer, again in my opinion, was that he didn’t do a half bad job.The Holmes that came over was that of damaged genius. An opium addict. Insightful, brilliant. Yet unsure, sometimes fearful. That “debatable” character, mixed with his support , his friend, his “guide” – Dr Watson, I thought they made a pretty good pairing.

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Following are a number of links too various Holmes resources if you wish to have a look.:

• BBC Drama 


• The Independent, a report on the latest Program 


• Tiscali, a program guide  – 


• Sherlock Holmes, Media News

Cheers for now

 

 

  God Bless

 

 

The Smudger -

 

        I'M NOT WORTHY      

Snow and a small yearning ........

Just like buses, no blogs for ages, and then three come at once - .

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I somehow knew, when I mentioned yesterday that we had managed to "avoid" the snow, that the weather would come back with some sort of revenge.

I have awoken this morning to find that revenge on the windowsill. It is not as deep as some parts of the UK, just a dusting at the moment, but it is still snow at Christmas

I wonder what the kids will make of it?

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As many of your already know, I have "developed" quite an interest in ghosts, particularly via a Living TV program on Sky - Most Haunted.

As we went to sleep last night, after a busy Christmas Day, I was watching a repeat of the Celebrity Most Haunted which included Vic Reeves and his wife Nancy Sorrell.It wasn't so much what was in the the program, but the reason for the program in the first place - the search for ghosts.

I sat there wondering why I had become so fascinated by contacting the spirits of the dear departed, why am I astonished by contact with the past.

And you know what, I don't really know.

It is a very good program, very good entertainment - that helps. But there is something else, something more basic, something underlying.

Is it a "wish" (if that's the correct term), a yearning, a hope that there could be something else? The thought that there maybe a way to link to those who have gone, those who I sometimes wish were still here.

It was an odd thought to have, and it disturbs me somewhat. I know in "our" physical world, that if someone has passed on, then that is that. But then you listen to stories of contacts , "meetings", visions and then you start to question your view on what is really real. Is there more to this world than we can ever completly apprecaite.

I'm feeling a little lost, confused at the moment.

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This is a very odd thing to "mull over" at Christmas.

Or maybe it isn't that odd at all.

Christmas is one of the major Family occassions of the year, and it is at this time of year that the members of your family who are no longer here are missed the most.

Maybe it's just a wish for something I know I can no longer have, no longer ask for. I know I can't have a heartfelt wish, but it is still a yearning for all that.

twas early Christmas Morning .......

Good morning everyone, I hope everyone is well

( I know what some people are like after a night out on Christmas Eve - )

It is a bit odd really. Here I am , 06:30 on Christmas day morning (or at least it was when I started typing this posting), and, for the second year running, I am alone. I have woken up, as I do do on most mornings, "automatically". I suppose that my body has been conditioned to waking up at this time. I'm typing on the old computer, as Liam is a sleep on the settee in the front room - his Uncle is sharing his bedroom for the Christmas holiday's and Liam isn't used to someone snoring.

It wasn't that long ago that I'd have been awake for hours now - the kids having made a small mountain of discarded wrapping paper. Squeals of delight at what they would find under the Christmas Tree. Laura would particularly be happy to see that the Milk , Biscuits and Carrots she had left out for Father Christmas and his Reindeers had been "eaten". We had even moved present opening to last thing Christmas Eve so that some of us could get some sleep, and, also, that Cathy could see the kids open their presents if she had to work early on Christmas Day (Cathy is a Senior Nurse at the local hospital).

But today, something has certainly changed. Life here at Chez Smudger will probibly not be the same again.Everything has definitely "grown up".

No doubt, within an hour or so , Laura will be up wanting to wake Liam up (to get him out of the way )so she can get to her presents. There will still be the smiles. The "OOHS" and "ARGHS". But there is a definite "change".

What is making me smile. I am listerning to the BBC News 24 service with Bill Turnbull at the moment. He has asked his viewers to let him know where the snow is. And, for the first time in a number of years, there are many places in the UK that have a covering of the "cold, white stuff" for Christmas Day. I looked out of our window.

Not a flake.

Not a sign.

NOTHING.

Well not yet anyway

Anyway, to everyone out there, I hope you enjoy the rest of the day.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Unsure & unhappy ....?

It is a bit of a gloomy title, I suppose, but the that is the way I feel at the minute I guess.

is it just me, or is there sometimes an air of melancholy at this time of year?

I don’t want to sound “Scrooge-esk” but I have a little trouble getting into the Christmas Spirit, in fact I don’t think i would be too bothered if it didn’t happen at all. Don’t get me wrong, I feel pleased for all those people who get some happiness and comradeship out of the season, but I just don’t feel “right”

Maybe this is worse this year because everyone is feeling a little un-well, with one thing or another. I have yet another up and coming Sinus attack.My Mum has also been ill for the last few weeks, and it was obvious that she still misses my Dad very badly.

Maybe that’s why I’m feeling so detached. Christmas was defiantly his time of year.

He loved it. He had the family. He had his Grandkids. He had his Christmas “traditions” – the way he decorated the house,the cards , the whole Christmas experience.

Maybe I will feel a little better when I finish work on Christmas Eve. Even work this year has been “different”. normally, by this time of year it always seemed that the level of work tails off around Christmas. usually enough to do, to potter around. But this year? It’s absolutely crackers. We are all so busy, it just doesn’t feel like the Christmas buildup that i have come to know.

Maybe it is just that, now I’m a little over 40, that I’m feeling a tiny bit old.

Maybe its just one of those things?

I hope they're happy .....

What can you say?

Some people are totally heartless, and its all the worse, I suppose, because its Christmas.

I have woken up this morning, turned the TV on for some "background noise" and the Morning news programs were on. Unusually for me, I left the channel selection alone, and the program that appeared was the ITV network's normal morning news program - GMTV. And there just happened to be a news story running - this has made me so very, very angry.

A single Mum had elected to go into hospital just before Christmas so she could spend her Christmas hols with her Son and her wider family. What she came home to would tear the heart out of anyone. Thieves had broken in while she was away and emptied the house. They took everything they could carry.What I could type now would not be in my normal style, but the "emotions" I feel for these people, on both sides, are so strong.

Yet more Weblogs - HA HA HA

     Smudgers at it yet again -   

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Hi Guys , hope everything is well?

Christmas is but a few days away, but nothing seems to have changed here at "Chez Smudger". Work life goes on. The Kids are still bickering with each other, usually with a venom that would have scared the most evil people in history.

   It's nice to see that nothing has changed - 

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Now to the real reason for posting this dark and cold A.M. (It's half past five in the morning (or at least as I start) I can't sleep, I 'm tired , I have a "snotty" nose - PAH!)

As some of my fellow webloggers across the various my various logs will already know I do like my Blogs. And, even more significantly, I do like to try the various flavours of weblog. Well, if you haven't already guessed (and a big heartfelt welcome to all my new "readers") I've been at it again. Instead of cutting back to several "main" weblogs, I have , in the last week or two, actually joined up with several more.

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Microsoft

The first one seems to carry on that strange fascination everyone has with Microsoft. Their new MSN Spaces system (for my log - click here ) does have, at the moment at least, several "issues". it is quite difficult to attach images to the postings , unlike most of my other blogs. The other big issue, from my point of view least ways, is the issue with using a remote client to post my missives. Apart from my Xanga log, which employs a similar policy (although, in all other ways is , to steal a TV celeb's catch phrase, is "A Bobby Dazzler") I use various blog clients to post to the various styles of weblog. It is not a major disadvantage, more an inconvenience.

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The other weblogs have actually come about because of a program. As I traversed the waves and currents of th Internet oceans, I can across a program that would allow me to post to some of my "more troublesome" logs. This program, hohoblog (available via the hohoblog homesite) allows me to blog to sites like Bravenet, Tripod and the like.

With came the "chance" to see yet another several sets of weblogging technology.

Could the Smudger resist?

Well I tried. The sweat streamed from my brow. The eyes furtive and nervous. I struggled in torment and anguish - FOR FIVE SECONDS

Of course I couldn't resist trying something different. Whether it will be of any benefit to me only time will tell. We shall see.

Perhaps, the time as arrived to make a serious attempt to sort what I want to really do, which sites I really want to maintain.

But, somehow, I feel that I will, for the time being, see more of the "Oh Stuff it" attitude, and I will try and maintain ALL the sites.

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· God Bless – The Smudger -

 

Hi Guys, sorry I have been relatively quite for a little while, but you know how things are. Family. Work, life in general.

Anyway, below is a collection of links that I found interesting from the various stories that where “trawled” up by my Newzcrawler RSS/News reader

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Broadband fuels online expression Having an always-on, fast net connection is changing the way Britons use the Internet, research suggests.

[via BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

In some ways this, and the following two stories are a conglomeration , in the fact they are all interlinked. In my case blogging would be a lot “harder”, as would the rest of my Internet experienced, without my Broadband connection. And,now at least, i haven’t got a clue how I ever managed before on just a dial up connection.As some of you will be aware, as a BT Engineer, part of my skill base is the repair and provision of Broadband for the various ISP’s, so i know how hard it has been for some people to get this “wonderful” connection system.

 

It has certainly changed the way that i use the Internet. I’m still not a great user of Messaging systems, but I can see why people do. And a lot of my web presence is via my various weblogs (I now even have an MSN “Space” (see below). Maybe allowing everyone an outlet for their thoughts and feelings is a good thing, i think so.

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Microsoft gets the blogging bug Software giant Microsoft is joining the ranks of companies offering blogs or online journals.

[via BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

MSN Launches Spaces! MSN® Spaces, a free service currently available in beta version, is an entirely new offering from MSN that allows consumers to create personal Internet Spaces sites where they can express themselves in a variety of ways and interact with the people they care about most. MSN Spaces is more than an ordinary personal Web site; it?s an easy-to-use service that is more like a dynamic online scrapbook, giving people a place to create and update…

Direct and Related Links for 'MSN Launches Spaces!'

[via Lockergnome's Tech News Watch]

 

Should we surprised?

 

I suppose not. What did surprise me was the amount of time it did take Microsoft to join the blogging revolution. That said, I have taken the bait and sign up for an MSN Space.(click here to have a look at Smudgersworld)

 

What is it like?

 

Bare in mind that i have only been tinkering with this for a couple of days, but.

It appears, for the moment least ways, to be an online only system in that I can’t find a way to it post remotely, using either Blogjet, wblogger and their ilk. Not that that’s a completely bad thing, its just a “lazy” issue with me.It has a small number of site themes and they seem to OK. Other than that it is a standard blogging service.

 

Give it a go and see what you think.

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'Blog' picked as word of the year A US dictionary publisher declares "blog" as one of the words of the year.

[via BBC News | Technology | UK Edition]

 

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War of the Worlds Teaser Trailer Friday Building on the intense level of interest and enthusiasm across the Internet, Paramount Pictures will unveil the highly anticipated teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg's contemporary retelling of H.G. Wells' classic War of the Worlds exclusively on the web Friday morning, December 10, 2004.

[via "ComingSoon.net"]

 

 “who would have believed, in the last years of the Nineteenth Century, that Human affairs were being watched from the timeless worlds of Space”

 

One of my favourite memories was listening , for the first time, to the voice of Richard Burton narrating the story of the Martian invasion on Jeff Waynes War of the Worlds Album. The book, the 50’s film, even some of the “odd” TV spin off’s, all part of an “aging” teenagers’ past.

 

For a number of years a new version of the War of the Worlds film has been muted, but always came to nought.

 

But now. We have Steven Spilberg and Tom Cruise in the same story. My only worry is that this, like it’s 50’s predecessor, will turn into some “American-is’ed” blockbuster.I’m not trying to be nationalistic, and i also realise that certain elements of a story have to be “amended” to suit the medium of the big screen, but how many times have we seen a good book, destroyed for the sake of “the film makers art”. To be fair to Mr Spielberg I must admit that I do like a lot of his work, and the way he goes about things.

 

We will see.

 

 

  God Bless

 

 

The Smudger -

 

        I'M NOT WORTHY      

Tired and Fedup

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What a week - and its been mostly bad !!!!

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This is, possibly , going to be a pretty short, to the point, and, I suppose, a NEGATIVE posting. 

  I am Not happy because:

1.   My Archery training session yesterday was, in short, awful. And on top of all that, Liam placed every arrow on target. And he knew it. And he let every one else know it. And it was winding me up because i was angry with myself for not doing to well (and what should expect after only Three training sessions). Tilly just got on with it as she always does. And I got more and more disgusted with my self, partially because Liam was doing so well, but mainly because I was angry for letting myself get so upset for not doing that well.And then that becomes self fueling. The more anger you feel about yourself, the angrier you then get – if you know what I mean. 
   


2. Everyone in the house is suffering from various stages of the current “School” Virus, with Liam just clearing it up, Tilly just coming down with it, and all my bugs finding their usual sanctuary in the sinus passages where they can cause me all their normal Winter pain and discomfort
   


3. The pain in my arm, after a few weeks of relative calm, is re-appearing – AND IT HURTS
   


4. Have been up and down all night with that distinctive sound of projectile vomit echoing around the house.  And on top of that we, that is myself and Tilly (Laura, for those who have not read my posts before is her “proper” or “telling off name” if you know what I mean?) have been up since before dawn broke this A.M. because of it.(Liam's solution, overnight, was to moan about being woken up , and then slamming his bedroom door – and all that after he’s been off school all week sick – What a hero) 
   What is it with that sound, it has that same effect when you see a yawn.
   You see it, or hear it, and then you want to follow the mood evoked.
   You just can’t help it.
   People Yawn – you yawn
   Someone's Sick – the smell, the sound – your throat tightens. your stomach bubbles. That “taste” rises up the back of your neck.
   


5. And to top all this off,  my “new” mobile phone has packed up. A full charge lasting only two hours – and that without doing any talks, texting or even checking your contacts list. So I’m now back on one of our spare “brick” phone (that is the upgrade but three) – but at least it works.

And what went well this week? 

1. Hum, Argh, Durrrrr , Errr.  Don’t know. 
   


2.   We’ve got the computer back from the Repair centre. 
   
   Which is a positive.
   
   Of course its a positive isn't it?
   
   Well sort of yes, and sort of no. Of course it’s good that the computer is back, in the house, in my sight , and fully working (so far). But the “No” , and its a big “No” is that the computer centre re-wiped the disc, and so, slowly , we are having to put back programs, backed-up images, Photo’s and the like. So the work of a difficult week has just been doubled (seeing as we also have the normal household chores to do as well as all that)

Maybe today will be a little better, and things will clear up.

But, looking out the window at the Solid Grass, white fringed with the Frosts of the early morning. And the fact that we have to take Liam to Barton for today Tigers Football Match (Barton is on the Humber Estuary – with the cold Northern Winds usually finding their way down the North sea and onto me) I find it hard to see any improvement.  

We’ll see.

 

God I’m pigged off

     I'M NOT WORTHY 

 

 

 

  God Bless – The Smudger -