Stagnation and Waiting.
Well hello there people!

I have been rather withdrawn of late - not even venturing onto the internet all that often. I still keep up to date with things, just not responding; which, I must admit, is rather rude.

Well I had a lovely day yesterday. I got up bright and early, made breakfast, drank my cup of tea, played on the computer a bit, made some Youtube vids.

Then, I had a drive over to Holyhead to buy some shoes. I stopped at a friend's house along the way and indulged myself with a cup of tea. After I'd bought my shoes I had intended to park my car at one of the viewing area's for RAF Valley; but I took a wrong turn and ended up at some lovely bay. So I stopped there instead! I even had some nice chicken & cheese sandwiches and ate them whilst reading my book.

My current book is "Exit Strategy" by Kelly Armstrong. I had been reading book 2 of "The Saga of Seven Suns" which I'm really getting into. Prior to that it has been Ben Elton's "Chart Throb". All great books that I would recommend.

Anyway, I'd taken my air-band radio on this trip; not that I expected to be able to hear anything at a military airport, but they handled civilian traffic too, so I thought I'd give it a go. I had at least hoped to find Valley Information but all I could find was a list of codes due to something not being operational for the weekend. I would have to assume that there is a connection.

So as I drove home I got thinking how nice a day it is. So I drove up into the mountains and stopped at one of my favourite spots in North Wales (it overlooks Anglesey). I got my air-band radio out and I was not disappointed - I was in a good enough position to hear London Information. I just sat listening to the chatter on that for 45 minutes or so before finishing the drive back home.

I got back and I decided to pull all the weeds up in the garden. I didn't realise they were weeds at first and I didn't find out until it was too late. But I pulled them all up anyway - despite all the seeds floating around the back garden trying to choke me. Garden is looking far tidier now. Empty, but under control.

Then I just spent the evening relaxing, watching videos on Youtube and eating my tea.

And that brings me to this morning. I just got up, came downstair to make breakfast but couldn't find the bowl I had used yesterday for my porridge. I looked in the living room to see if I'd left it in there, and I looked in the kitchen to see if it was there. But no, it had disappeared. So I took out a clean bowl and made my porridge and went to put it in the microwave. But guess what i found in the microwave? - yes, yesterday's bowl of porridge. I'd forgotten to take it out and eat it! I'm going mad.

Like last week (Tuesday to be precise - how I wasn't late for choir I'll never know) I went to the shop to buy a bus ticket. I reached into my pocket and handed over my credit card, but I kept entering the pin and the terminal said "wrong pin". I couldn't understand it. Anyway, after some fuss we eventually managed to make the transaction. Later on I'd looked at the receipt and I noticed I had been trying to pay with my debit card - not the credit card. No wonder the pin wouldn't work! I was sure I had handed over the credit card though.

I'm losing it! Lol!

So tonight I think I have an extra choir rehersal. It's in a different place (and a different day) but someone said they'd wait outside for me. So all I have to do is get the time right. I think the extra rehersal is due to a concert next Saturday - my first concert hopefully. Not that I have tickets yet for my guests. I hope to sort that out during next week.

For the time being though, I am going to publish my recorded Youtube gubbins before playing a bit on Guildwars. then, when it's a decent hour, I'll put the washing on and cut my hair (no dramatic video for it this time though).

Laters dudes :-)

Evening All.
Hello! Really haven't been up to much. I've been to Blackpool, car broke down (I'll be fixing it at the weekend) and money ran out last week. Luckily I'm paid today.

The Blackpool video I'm editing for Youtube seems to be taking an eternity. It's really not going to be worth the effort. If only I had windows XP - then I'd be able to use loads of nifty free software. As it is, I'm stuck with software that'll only cut and paste video clips. And it doesn't do that all too reliably.

Take care all :-)

Where Have I Been?!.
Well, I've had a busy time just lately. So I must apologse for not being around. I know how you all hang on my every word and yearn for the next sentence to be typed by my delicate wee fingers ;-)

Well I am being a very good boy this weekend. I have got all of my paperwork sorted, cleaned out a lot of stuff I don't need anymore and have tidied up. There is only clothes washing (and, of course, eating) left to do now.

As some may know, I went to a Christening last week. It was the first time I had been to a Catholic church for a service (I have previously visited as part of a school trip to many of the different local places of worship). Though I didn't agree (idealogically speaking) with a lot of the theories behind the service, I did enjoy myself and found the day to be spiritually enriching aswell. My nerves were unfounded.

Though I have to say that meeting some of the folks from where I used to work was very nice. I spoke to most of them (I wanted to speak to all, but did not feel able) and caught up. There was also brief debate on the place that organised religion has in the world.

I stayed overnight at my friends house. It was her son being Christened and he is a cheeky little adorable thing. I felt really comfortable at the house and we all had a nice chat. I would say that they have the 2nd best sofa I've ever slept on. I won't be telling whose is the best!

So anyway, that was last week. It was a shame to go but all good things must come to an end. Even if they are only temporary ends (shouldn't they be called pauses rather than ends?).

This week, Tracy is with me. As I mentioned, we've tidied the house and are looking forward to going to our respective parents' houses. Hopefully, I'l be able to do some decorating. I do enjoy a good bit of decorating and if it involves helping then I'll have managed to coombine two of my favourite things.

I have a couple of things to be getting on with aswell. I have started writing a song but this time I think it has potential. I have lyrics and a melody already. I think you'll like. I also have a decision to make about whether to start saving up for a holiday in 2008 or not. It would be a trip with the choir. I am inclined to go.

So that's about it really. I have been contemplating on the New Horixon's mission to Pluto. I wondered whether the mission controllers are, in the back of their minds, thinking how best to preserve the craft to survive into interstellar space as it looks like, if predictions are true, that Voyager 1 won't make it before its battery power fails.

But that's it. I've written enough essays for one morning and I am yet to have breakfast. So, TTFN

How to Pass the Time Until Dr Who at 19:05 Today...
Step 1 - Decide what housework needs doing.
Step 2 - Charge camera batteries.
Step 3 - Find an innocent looking piece of "male grooming"equipment
Step 4 - Tie an airfix model to your hand
Step 5 - Put all of the above into a video and play it to the world with more enthusiasm than actual skill.
Step 6 - Advertise it so others can also pass the time.



I have been working on this video since about 13:00. That's 5 hours folks. I really did clean the whole house though. Gonna have a shower next. Then for tea I'm having roast pork I hope.

TTFN

Last Night.
Last night I watched the two previous episodes of Dr Who (and their respective Confidentials) before watching Jonathon Ross. A young lad was on the show - you may have heard of him, Pete Doherty. Anyway, he didn't look at all comfortable/well and it was this point that I had a thought.

The thought was of some people I was once quite close to. Their use of certain substances was increasing the last time I saw them. While I'm fairly sure that they haven't, I still fear that they are currently in a similar state to the young gentleman I was watching on TV. And that scares me. Because even though we haven't spoken in years, and they pretty much hate me, I still care for them. I only wish they knew that.

So there we go. I wanted to get that off my hcest. You never know, they might even read this one day.

Bye for now.

I Must Write a Blog.
But nowt is happening! Birthday were right good, as was Tracy's. The video will be on Youtube shortly.

So I suppose I should make an announcement. I have joined Youtube. I even have a grand total of three videos. All me talking rubbish.

Alas, I have driven 120 miles to be here tonight. I am tired and slightly deranged. Not as deranged, however, as The Master on Doctor Who last night. Fantastic! So much to say, but it is all waiting. Everything is waiting. I am sick of waiting.

I'm happy but hungry. Take care all x

Ooh Eck.
Do I really look like a deranged chipmunk with a squint to other people? I do hope not.

Anyway, I just wanted to let the world know that I'm okay. I'm happy. I had a lovely week off work and managed to get a lot done.

In family history work, we have got a little further (and, indeed, widened) the mystery surrounding my mother's ancestors. One of the people in our search left a will. This will be the first time I've been able to use wills in my research. So a little *yay* from the crowd wouldn't go amiss ;-)

You know when I joined (and continue to pay for) that fan forum for the Reverands' Mark and Lard? Well I'm feeling uneasy again. Exposed and vulnerable.

Oh well, can't do anything about it now so I may as well have some tea. Mince with, erm, stuff tonight. Maybe even a rough attempt at chilli con carne. With spaghetti. You would rightly ask "why don't you just have spag-bol?". To which my reply would be - that's a great idea, lets do it.

Byeeeeeeee

I am bored.

I am wound up.

I spent a significant portion of my time last night making weird noises and banging my head on the sofa.

Tonight I have wine.

Bye x

Language.
Why are we, the taxpayers of this nation, paying for documents to be translated into a veritable multitude of languages?

During a recent email conversation I found myself thinking how absurd the concept is. That is, when you delve deeply into the subject. I could have mentioned it in the email, but instead I wanted to explore the topic here. I will not go into great detail (alas, I have not the energy) but I will outline my case.

Now then, lets start with some praise. Helping new-comers to this country to know what is going on is a noble sentiment. Very friendly, very, well, probably very British too. But then where is the encouragement to learn the language of the realm (English)?

Surely by rendering it unnecessary to learn a language then you won't (unless you particularly want to, of course). Surely being able to converse with your adopted society is a prerequisite for becoming part of that society?

So, assuming (for the sake of brevity) that it is good to unite the realm under one language, why is the Welsh language given such attention? I don't mean to single out the Welsh, but it is they who appear to have put in the most effort to keep the language in use. The Scottish, for example do not, to the best of my knowledge, have bilingual signs (though they do have non English speaking areas like Wales).

I can understand wanting to save a dying language (another noble sentiment) but surely using a different language is accentuating the differences between the members of the realm? Shouldn't we be trying to unite these members since we are supposedly one great nation? Or do we want something like the Australian Commonwealth model?

But where do we stop? Where do we draw the line between keeping a language alive (which, from an academic point of view, can only enrich our appreciation of the world) and creating subdivisions within a united country?

In fact, where do we stop subdividing? England itself was not one united kingdom until late in the 9th century. Given that the Welsh language can be traced back to the original Celtic inhabitants of the land, and so can Scottish, then surely the English version of the Celtic tongue is the one the English should be learning?

But there is a problem with this. Nobody knows what the English Celtic languages were like (with slight exceptions that I would love to go into, but here is a link instead). It truly is dead. So we are forced to move forward in time. To the next language spoken. That of the Anglo-Saxons. After all, it was from these Germanic settlers that we get the name England in the first place.

So perhaps we should take on our local dialects of anglo-saxon (the sounds of which, by the way, are still evident today)? For me, it would be Mercian. Taking on sounds from the Viking north and the Germanic east. Read more here.

With all of the links I have had to include, I hope you can see why i can't go into that much detail. There is just so much and I do not have the energy or inclination to do it right now. However, any debate would be greatly appreciated.

Take care :-)

The Post That Was to be Called "The Right Thing to do is Rarely the Easiest".

Words seem to be flowing quite well today.

I have no huge rant about politics. I will, however, point you in the direction of WebCameron. Alas, I fear that this is yet another attempt to pretend that the people actually matter in politics. I'm not so naive as to think that I can be pleased all of the time. Difficult decisions have to be made and you're not going to please everybody all of the time.

In my shorter than average time on this earth I have witnessed things improve. I have also witnessed things get worse. I shan't bore you with the detail.

Well nobody seems to have mentioned the bank holiday weekend when I had guests. Yes, you read correctly, guests. They were well mannered, tidy and good company. I must admit to a feeling of sorrow when they left. Well, I say sorrow. I think they may have been quite glad after stopping up late to watch the complete Genesis of the Daleks episode.

The meal over in the "big city" was nice though. Talking of which, I have another one to go to tomorrow. Should be fun. I doubt I'll be stopping out late. I'm busy on Saturday too. I'm helping a friend move some things.

Talking of Saturdays (see how smooth my links are?!) I am contemplating joining a community project. It isn't my community (which kind of ruins the point) but at least I know that they will know me. Therefore they won't be quite as ready to think I'm some teenage hooligan. It's only a bit of gardening, but it'll get me out of the house.

Talking of gardening (see - you'd think this was planned!) I have to sort out the back garden. It's starting to look a bit wild. So I have bought a fork (the large gardening variety, not the eating variety) to dig up weeds and the like. Should be good!

Anyway, it's getting later and later as I email and write blogs, and email and email and email. So I'm wondering if I'll ever get to do the washing up! (Washing up being required prior to the commencement of cooking).

So goodbye people. Stay safe, stay happy, stay beautiful.

It Takes More To Amuse A Girl Like Me.
Hang on, I'm not a girl. Bugger.

Well it is indeed Wednesday. Thursday is tomorrow. I was meant to go to a seminar today but I didn't. So I've had a good day getting things done instead.

I have just cleaned my car's front and back windows. My hands now smell of the cleaner.

Yesterday I had minced beef, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives (green olives), and curry powder for tea. It was nice. I kept some for lunch today. That was nice also.

Today I have 90% movement back in my limbs after Saturday.

Might do a cottage pie type affair tonight for tea. Only with sweet potato instead of the usual variety. Again, I'll save some for lunch tomorrow.

After the essay I wrote in my last post, this one seems rather feeble.

I finally managed to attend choir practice last night. It was good to be back. We were given a new song to learn. It's a really nice song.

Something I have been contemplating is recording me singing these songs and then making them available online. Trouble is I don't want to 'dirty' myself by going to myspace but being an audio feature, I don't think YouTube is appropriate. Unless I make some sort of music video. We'll see. I have to upgrade my OS first and I still am in two minds as to what to do.

If I convert to Linux will I still be able to play my games? Cos I like my games. They are, after all, the primary use of this computer. Though I am looking to expand my PC's role. So the next upgrade is going to be a big one I think. I'll have to save some pennies first - and that aint looking likely!

Well, I'm off. I've been watching Dr Who and Snooker online. Ideal has finished now I think (I'll check in a bit).

How lazy am I today?! I can't even be bothered to go and research my ramblings.

t'ra

The Grand Old Duke of York...
...He had ten thousand men
...He marched them up to the top of the hill
...And he marched them down again.

Indeed he did and indeed have I.

Or, in plain English, I climbed a big hill today. Or, as an equally crap title could have been "She'll be coming round the mountain" but that's doesn't quite have the same resonance for some reason!

Man do I feel exhausted. My toes hurt, my muscles are sluggish and my concentration is faint. I climbed 300 metres above my house, which really took its toll on me, before I went on to complete the 6 mile (ish) round trip.

The views were amazing though. I could see right over to Queensferry and straight over to Holyhead. If visibility had been better I bet I could've seen Liverpool.

Anyway, it's Saturday evening, so you know what that means - it's another half baked Doctor Who review! 'Yay' I hear you all chant!

Well, as I said last week, there were a few loose ends that needed tying up and they got tidied up quite nicely. So I have been comforted by the daleks behaving like daleks. None of this namby-pamby genetic hybrid mallarky.

The way Martha appears to fancy the doctor is, whilst understandable to a degree, getting a bit too much air time for my liking. But I guess it appeals to the more casual viewer and it does tie the story back to reality. After all - how many women do you know that find the Mr Tennant more than a little scrummy? Personally, I know loads.

That's all I wanted to / had the energy to say. I liked the episode, my worries from last week's episode were cured and my addiction to sci-fi has been alleviated successfully. So I'm a happy bunny.

Okay, so a smelly happy bunny. I'm looking forward to having a shower later. There's another show on tonight that I'll be watching. Who remember's Allo Allo? Not who as in doctor - I'm not punning. I'll let the BBC explain. It's on tonight at 9. That's 20 minutes from now.

Have fun all :-)

For Those of a Curious Disposition...
Here is a hastily propped up version of what the completed model should resemble. Obviously it's missing one or two things. Like people, extra platforms and, erm, a head. But I hope that clears things up.

I'll be starting the paint work on the body this weekend. I also intend to work on my own body by walking to the top of the hill at the back of my house. I'll show you all a picture from the top - then you can tell me if it still classes as a hill!

So do you know what's bothering me this week? Well putting to one side this nonsense about prosecuting parents for what theyallow their children to drink in their own homes; and putting aside my continual (and ever increasing) irritation for inaccurate journalism; I have only a couple things to say.

The first is a general complaint about myself to myself. That's regarding my apparent inability to be able to save money just lately. £300 I spent altogether on birthday presents for my sister's 21st and my Mom's birthday. Just before my wages went in today I had £23. My rent needed to leave my account two days ago so I am having to pay that in cash.

So I have a complaint about banks. Not only do they charge me £38 for their own incompetence but they also decide that it will take 4 days to process a standing order. What nonsense! I know exactly what's happening with that money and it's nothing but greed.

Anyway, I have a serious point to make and it is regarding the Welsh Assembly elections taking place soon. I have had a Lib-Dem candidate visit my house and I have had leaflets from the Lib-Dems, Plaid Cymru, Labour and the BNP.

Firstly, the lib-dem candidate who visited me just dropped off a leaflet. I was hoping for a sales pitch. Instead I was just told to vote no matter who I vote for just vote after which he walked off. I wasn't very impressed to say the least.

Then I had a Plaid leaflet who give the reasons for voting for them as follows (and I quote)...

• To stand up for Aberconwy and North Wales in Cardiff.
• To help unseat Labour's incompetent government in Cardiff; and in doing so,
• Deliver a GUILTY verdict on Blair's record as Prime Minister.

Erm, right. So nothing to do with your listed priorities then? In all fairness their "key priorities" are better - even if they are just the bog standard catch-all stuff like 'save our hospital' and 'look after our small businesses'.

I had a field day with the BNP leaflet - mainly becasue it contradicts itself. Here we have a party that believes in Britain; that doesn't believe in regional assemblies / governments yet at the same time makes the distinction that this is the Welsh branch of the BNP. Surely a group comitted to a united Britain shouldn't be making such distinctions. Surely this can't be a non-too-subtle ploy to appeal to the Welsh electorate? Surely they can't be joining the bandwagon of having "everything England has but suffix it with Wales to pretend it's 100% Welsh".

I mean - how can BBC Wales be all so welsh when the BBC proper is, first of all, British. Second of all it's based in London and funded by the whole UK. Thirdly it's roots are from the very first regular radio station in London set up by Marconi. Now I don't think a name like Marconi is Welsh, though I could be wrong.

Back to my main point then. If I remember correctly, the BNP leaflet also had a few criticisms of Blair. As did the Lib-Dem leaflets.

Then we have the Labour candidate. Last leaflet to arrive. I was almost suprised to see no criticism of Blair but then I remembered who the leaflet was from. As usual, there was nothing of substance just a 'we'll keep making things better' and 'look what we've already done' speech.

So, I ask in all seriousness - what is the choice I have to make? There are three parties whose sales-pitch centres around the perceived hate everybody has for Blair. Then there's Labour itself; inextricably linked to Blair becuase that is the way he wanted it - he wanted to make his party about personality rather than policy. He wanted to create a media frenzy around a couple of charismatic people. So is it any wonder people feel mislead when they finally wake up to what is really going on?

Personally speaking I do not believe in "party politics". I believe that the person who is elected should express the views of those he/she represents. Not 'towing the party line' and certainly not out for personal gain (unlike some local councillors I could mention). So when confronted with a load of people who seem uninterested in what I have to say then what am I to do? What do I do when faced with the dilemma of liking a candidate but disliking the party they are allied to?

I think government and the people have become seperated. The fact I felt I could make that distinction is proof. The government works for us - "representation for the people, by the people". I think we have forgotten this.

I think we've stopped taking responsibility for our own actions and our first answer to any problem is "let's create a law".

So how does that fit in to choosing a local representative? Well I think it goes a little something like this...

If folk were more community minded (taking part in parish meetings for example) then they would be aware of the local issues. With a more locally aware and less media-driven populace we would know what we needed that we didn't already have. We would then know to take this to, for example, the county council. If we knew the work the council did and bothered to read the notices they are legally obliged to make publically available then we would know what the issues are on a wider scale and be able to decide, in our own minds, what the priorities should be. Continue this up the scale and you have an lectorate who knows what is needed and can therefore vote acurately.

It's all very well a candidate suggesting "I'll save your hospital" without for one second mentioning what it will cost (whether monetarily or otherwise). If the populace bothered to know about such things they might think "ah, but if this hospital is closed then 20 mini-hospitals can be built that will provide even more local care".

I'm not for one minute suggesting that every person get bogged down in the minutae of detail of every parish/county/regional/national governmernt meeting. But we should all have an appreciation of what is going on.

Take The Times newspaper as an example. Within this paper they have a dedicated section that will cover a few court cases. They also carry announcements stating what the royal family are busy with. Why aren't the local proceedings made as readily available? Why can't a dedicated local newsletter give a summary of local happenings? At least then the electorate would have the opportunity to be educated.

But what do I know - I'm only 23.

Grrrrrr - have just noticed that my last post has formatted wrong. Can't be arsed changing it yet, I'll do so later and then post an update to this post saying that theis post about the last post is now recalled and we can all rest safe in the knowledge that only I have the foggiest idea what I'm prattling on about.

No I'm not drunk - how dare you suggest that! Lol!

Seriously though, I'm not, I'm just tired and should really be going to sleep istead of sharing my insanity with the couple billion computer users worldwide. Cos any one of you could be reading this.

Poor things

Monday Eveningtide!

For some reason I've been thinking it's Tuesday today when all along it's Monday. Oh how we laughed.

I've also been rather naughty. I've been watching the first ever episodes of Doctor Who and I have to say that I was impressed. Usually I find that when I've joined a series part-way through and then go back to the beginning then I can be disappointed. However it is not the case this time. From the very first episode I was hooked. The episodes just flew by leaving me wanting to know more.

Were there plans in action for decimilisation in 1963?

I also saw the first episode made using The Sims 2. This was rather impressive, and like many others I liked how Susan was listening to an ipod. Very classy - and somewhat clever despite the inevetibility.

I'm tired so please excuse the poor grammar and spelling.

I've been model making today and I wanted to show you what I've done so far. You ready?

It's a bit over-exposed but you get the idea. It's taken 4 months to do this. Though I have been doing it on and off. Cumulatively I have no idea how long this has taken.

I didn't make the remote control by the way. I just thought I'd tell you that in case you got confuddled ;-)

So then, it's currently 16 minutes past bedtime by my computer clock. Which means I'm a very tired bunny cos I stopped up last night looking at old continuity clips and closedown sequences from the BBC. I was also reading an account of the media response to Princess Diana's death in 1997. It made very interesting reading.

Well tonight I was supposed to get a list of meals compiled for the next few weeks and to do an online shop at Tesco's to get the stuff delivered (since the boot of my car no longer opens :-\)

You may have guessed that I have not done this. I have the book sat next to me on the sofa though.

Come to think of it, I'm sat in a very strange position. I have the monitor turned 180 degrees so that it faces the side of the sofa. I have the keyboard placed at the end of the sofa closest to the monitor. I am sat in the middle of the sofa with my left knee against my chest and the other leg tucked underneath me.

My advice to men everywhere is to not attempt this position unless naked. I am not naked. This position hurts because clothes are digging into me, I'm also squashing my foot.

Anyway, I have my monitor this way round so that I could lie on the sofa and watch video online. I like to do this. So what I am thinking of doing is going one step further. If I get a nice big flatscreen monitor and a TV card, then I am not going to need my traditional Tv am i?! Nor will I need a stereo.

So over the course of the next few years I think I may slowly build up the capability of my computer so that it can handle all this multi-tasking. I want to wait until quad-core processors come out first though. I have a feeling I'll need that ulti-tasking capability.

One thing that annoys me about new computers is that Windows likes to use up most of the resources for itself. It's all very well having a super-snazzy OS but if it's gonna take a severely hyped up PC to run it - then what's the point? The OS only needs to run the software - that's all. Maybe some clever management to reduce processor bottlenecks, but that's it - surely?!

Not that I'm a software engineer. Not that I know what I'm on about. Yet recruitment agencies who still insist on sending me emails are still asking if I'd like to go for a software job through them. Gits.

So I am increasingly being pushed in the direction of Linux. I know I've been talking about this for years (well, perhaps mainly just thinking). At least then I would have the freedom to limit what the OS does and to let the software that I actually want to run the things I actually want to do as opposed to making an OS that does a million and one things of which I only use a handful of features.

Ye Gods that was a terrible sentence. Far too long and the structure was terrible. I would score it at 2 out of 10 purely because I used punctuation.

Unlike some.

Well, I have rambled quite a bit tonight. I am off to bed to rest my weary head. Goodnight one and all, and to all a goodnight.

Journalistic Standards; and the lack thereof.
BBC News, 18:00 hours on this, the eleventh day of April, in the year two thousand and seven.

Making the national & international headlines at 18:00 today:
1) Captured Royal Navy personnel selling their stories to the press. Government admits it was wrong (to allow it).
2) Survey proves that families are breaking down and that single parenting is rampant. Thus community spirit is being eroded leading to more arguments amongst neighbours.
3) America says Iran has been arming Iraqi insurgents. Also, mass-wedding ceremony occurs in Baghdad.
4) In sport - Can Liverpool make it 3 clubs into the champions league final?
5) Expensive piano falls off lorry in Exeter.

I despair - I really do. I didn't count, but I would guess that in the first two stories the word "disaster" was used 10 times and I'm sure "crisis" was involved too. I may have heard "shocking" included in there for good measure. Where is the independant, unbiased reporting when such emotive words are used again and again? The BBC seem to be enjoying saying "I told you so". I can't say I recall them saying anything.

Story 3 has the capability of being a serious story. But no. We have some quick accusations and then straight into the wedding. Asking what sort of future will be in store fo all these newlyweds that have braved the violence - will it all be in vain? I believe this is called emotive journalism.

The fourth story was more of a gesture of sports news rather than anything worth reporting. But I did like how the BBC didn't shy away from the British media's role to pile the pressure on to our sportsmen immediately prior to their performances.

Now we come to story 5. The one that inspired this post. Why oh why is a piano falling off a lorry making national news? Why did the BBC feel the need to add a "lighthearted" story? Was the reality of the world a little bleak? Was it a little too dark for the producers? I don't need to know about some piano falling off a lorry.

Is it just me or is the news trying to become appealing? News is news. Report the news as it is - don't sugar coat it. How else is the country going to find out the reality of what's going on in this world?

While I'm here, I wish to complain once more about the Science and Technology pages of the BBC News website. To me, they are crappy stories written by people who seem to not give a damn about the topic they are writing about. Becasue they don't understand it, they miss the important details. Leading to stories that don't actually tell you anything.

Don't even get me started on copying and pasting from other websites.

The BBC is in existence to serve the public. It is founded by royal charter to educate, inform and entertain; a relevant excert of the charter is provided below. How does a documentary about the airport police at Heathrow airport do that? Viewing figures are irrelevant for the BBC. They don't have advertising revenue to make. It is the BBC's job to do what is not commercially viable - to give funding to new talent etc.

You know what - I can't be bothered to go on.

3. The BBC’s public nature and its objects
(1) The BBC exists to serve the public interest.
(2) The BBC’s main object is the promotion of its Public Purposes.
(3) In addition, the BBC may maintain, establish or acquire subsidiaries through which commercial activities may be undertaken to any extent permitted by a Framework Agreement. (The BBC’s general powers enable it to maintain, establish or acquire subsidiaries for purposes sufficiently connected with its Public Purposes – see article 47(3) and (4)).

4. The Public Purposes
The Public Purposes of the BBC are as follows—
(a) sustaining citizenship and civil society;
(b) promoting education and learning;
(c) stimulating creativity and cultural excellence;
(d) representing the UK, its nations, regions and communities;
(e) bringing the UK to the world and the world to the UK;
(f ) in promoting its other purposes, helping to deliver to the public the benefit of emerging communications technologies and services and, in addition, taking a leading role in the switchover to digital television.

47. The BBC’s corporate nature and powers
(3) The BBC shall have the capacity to sue and be sued and do anything appertaining to a body corporate. In addition, the BBC shall have all the capacity of a natural person.
(4) However, the BBC may use these general powers only for the purposes set out in articles 3 to 5. The use of any of these powers for other purposes would amount to a breach of this Charter, with all the consequences that could follow from that (see in particular article 52). Subject to any overriding rules of law, such a use of powers shall, nevertheless, be valid: for example, contracts entered into by the BBC would be valid and enforceable against the BBC for so long as the BBC continues to exist, to any extent permitted by law.

How Cool Is This...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/1/hi/magazine/6523155.stm
My English teacher from High School gave a quote for this story! So I thought I'd mention it.

That's all I wanted to say really. In fact, that was the high-point of the day. Oh how I giggled and made my colleagues stare at me. I would have explained, but the moment would be lost on them.

Has anybody else started using the new £20 notes yet? I have just visited a cash machine and received my second such note. I have studied it in great detail, compared it to the Euro banknotes and have come to the conclusion that they are remarkably similar.

Earth shattering news or what?!

In honour of my former English teacher, I am going to spell-check this post for a change.

Bye all

Chilling Wi' Da Still.
Food of yesterday was lovely. I think it managed to upset my tummy a bit, but I would still call it a success. Haven't slow-cooked today, will set it all up tonight for tomorrow. Therefore tonights meal shall consist of Sausages, chips and assorted vegetables. Not very healthy, I know, but I haven't had sausage for ages and I have a bit of a craving.

Not any old sausage mind, oh no! Cumberland sausage no less. In fact, come to think of it, the Cumberland sausage served at the northbound M6 Carlisle service station was and still is a rather pleasurable meal after several hours on the road. I would highly recommend a visit. It's an eco-friendly place and you can sit next to a lake watching birds flutter around the sweeping countryside.

So what am I going to do with this evening? I am in a fair mood. I think I should practice some singing since I've not done any this week. I have to change clothes because these trousers are making me itch :-s So I'll have to put the washing machine on aswell.

You know this BACS problem with paying us our wages? Well my rent payment bounced because of it! I have a back-up plan though, so don't worry, it will get paid. The charge for the standing order failing was £38 though! A little steep in my opinion. Still, it has been refunded so I can't complain this time.

I'm offski now - I'm not going to be spending all night on the computer without eating again - I need deeding at sensible hours!

Take care

Still haven't eaten - it's getting late and dark and cold and everything.

Foooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood!

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Musician   Doo doo de doo waaaa doo de doo! (<-- That's you playing something.) Everyone appreciates the band/orchestra geeks and the pretty voices. Whether you sing in the choir, participate in a school/local band, or sit at home writing music, you contribute a joy to society that everyone can agree on. Yay! Welcome to actually doing something for poor, pathetic human souls. (Just kidding.)
Social Nerd
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Drama Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Literature Nerd
Anime Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

Good News!
I CAN do an MSc on a distance learning course! I SHALL go to the ball. My name ISN't Cinders, but I don't care. You can call me chief fraggle of the dodecahedron of quintuplessy for all I care.

FIVE COMMENTS too! A record!

So apart from a couple of incidents - one being the driver who tried to ram me off the road on my way home from shopping - I am having a lovely day!

I wonder if a new episode of Ideal is available on the BBC3 website yet?

*wonders off to look*

Alas, no. But never mind, I wish to share some more proactive positivity with the world before I wash my hands cos they smell funny :-s

I have rejoined the SETI@Home project. Years ago (back when it started) I joined the program but my computer was so pathetically slow it never finished the first packet of data it was sent to process. But now, something like 7 years on, the same computer (sort of - it's more spiritual than physical) is churning them out at the rate of one every 14 hours!

Erm, lets gloss over the fact I want/need a dual core processor shall we?

That's right, the nutter is ignoring reality again. Still, it makes him happy.

I haven't done ANY work on my models of late - 3D or LOTR. The LOTR stuff is sat next to me at the computer and is looking pretty damn fine even if I do say so myself. I am looking forward to fixing it all together. Well, the parts I've painted. It's taken 4 months to paint 8 parts. And just to show I haven't lost my 'Engineers Edge' that's 1 part every two weeks.

Guess what I've got for tea tonight?

Since I am in a good mood, I am going to treat myself to some smoked mackerel in some sauce I found. The combination could be utterly disgusting since the sauce is made for chicken. But you don't know until you try.

Then for the rest of the week I'm going to be using the slow cooker. Could've done with a mushroom sauce really, but I'm sure I can knock something up. Something, not necessarily the right thing.

Well hasn't this been a bizarre post?

Free-Range, Organicly Grown Emotions...
...Not a good thing!

So this morning I woke up and I just lay there. I lay there thinking of all my problems and just how many hills I have to climb. I went through several emotions; melancholy, anger and resignation to name but three.

It took something like 30 minutes for the intelligent part of my brain to kick in - which is very poor by my standards. This part of my brain acts as a watchdog - making sure the rest is behaving as it should. As I have said in previous posts, the mind likes to play dirty so you have to be on your guard unless you want to fall into depression.

I have realised this morning that the mental training I do in order to keep my mood on a high has been rather slack of late. I say slack, more like non-existant. I have been dwelling on things and avoiding issues - the top two things I'm NOT meant to do.

So remembering what I have learnt, I got up out of bed and decided to go downstairs to the computer and share my training with the world. It's not complicated, it's not difficult and it will sound bloody obvious but the trick is to keep an eye on yourself and take action rather than the knowing what action to take.

• If lying in bed dwelling on things, make yourself get up. Make a cup of tea, change the sheets - anything. Your mind is trying to put you in a miserable mood using the snowball effect (i.e. one thought leads to a worse thought that leads to a worse thought, and so on). Getting up and doing something will give your mind a new focus. This is not the same as avoiding the issue (see next point).
  
• If you can feel that you are in a bad mood (lets face it, we all have off days), take any opinion you come up with with a pinch of salt. That opinion will be tainted by your mood and is therefore biased. For instance, if you are in a bad mood and look in the mirror, you might see a worse looking person to the one you see when in a good mood.
  
• ALWAYS keep in mind that you can be a good person if you choose to do so. There is ALWAYS choice. It is not egocentric to have faith in your abilities, noris it egocentric to believe that you can be a force for good in the world. Remember that little things will always make a big difference. Saying hello to people with a smile, for instance, will often make the other person smile, who will then go on to make other people smile and so on. A rather simplistic example I know, but I hope you get my point.
  
• Personally speaking, I do not believe in organised religion (please remember that belief in a god and belief in a religion are two separate entities). However, their more general teachings are the basis for a happy life. For instance, treating others how you wish to be treated will often lead to them returning the favour. However, for me, if they fail this test, then I begin treating them how they treat me. Only fair, but I give them ample opportunity.
  
  I do believe in peace of mind and feeling secure within yourself. So I always remember things like this - if I treat people with respect, and they show me none, then I am the better person and I should feel proud for being the better person (as opposed to feeling sad/anxious because I am treated badly).
  
  To me, if you are secure in yourself then you do not need religion. However, many people find religion equally as beneficial. So whichever route you take it doesn't really matter as long as you have your dignity and belief in your own abilities.
  
  Nobody but nobody can take away your self-respect and have absolutely no right to tell you how to behave. Suggesting or advising is one thing, ordering/forcing is another. You are not wrong for resisting this type of treatment.

There are many further tips I could give, but I would end up writing a book. In fact, much of this advice is already in books. One of the books I gained a hell of a lot from reading was this one. I would recommend it highly.

So now, guess what? I am in a far better mood than when I started this post. Writing this has helped me to remember a few points I had forgotten. So I am going to get a lot done today and stop avoiding things. For instance, I have a lot of washing to do. There is also tidying up, cleaning and - the most important of all some would say - eating!

Doctor Who.
It's back. And I must say I enjoyed tonight's episode. I was looking forward to a tie-in with the end of Torchwood, but I have a feeling we won't see that until later this series.

This new companion, Martha, I like her. She's different and, if I'm brutally honest, as long as there is no love interest this time, then I think I will thoroughly enjoy watching her alongside The Doctor. I just worry that if the show goes all romantic again then I'll just lose interest. After all, it isn't a love story is it?! Well, that's not why I watch anyway.

So if somebody came to ask me what I would rate it out of 10, I would have to give it a 7. Great acting, some impressive CGI and a strong storyline but far too short if you ask me. But perhaps I should increase the mark to 8 - after all, it's good to leave the audience wanting more - isn't it?!

Cloak and Dagger.
My posts seem to be getting more and more suspicious everytime I write something! I assure you, no cults are involved.

I must tell you of an event that occurred recently because as a blogger, I feel it is my duty. Indeed, I feel I have an obligation to tell the world.

There was an attempt to curtail my civil liberties. Obviously I do not intend to allow this. This country is (more or less) a free country where I have the right to conduct my life how I see fit. If this breaks any laws or other rules, then the appropriate democratic procedure should be followed.

I further feel I have a right to live without fear and without threat of punishment when I have broken no laws.

Erm, due to the vague nature of this post I have just realised that this sounds extremely suspect. Unfortunately, I probably would be breaking laws if I gave any further detail. It's like when the media say that they have found something but have been banned from telling anyone exactly what it is they have found.

And so the details of this, along with the 2 other matters I want to share, will have to wait. The original two matters contain good news in case you were wondering. If you have my email address, then I will gladly tell you in confidence.

Late Night Tales of the Unexpected.
Yes, the unexpected happened this evening.

After 2 weeks of not being able to go to choir practice, I finally turn up and the normal rehersal room is completely empty. Well, I say completely, there was the piano and some chairs, but no people. So I drove home.

I also found where the local radio station is broadcast from and actually saw one of the presenters working away in the studio.

I have two big stories at the moment but they need to be kept quiet. I hate keeping secrets, so I thought it only proper if I told you I was keeping secrets even if I don't tell you. I do realise this may drive some people to the brink of insanity with curiosity - but you'll just have to wait won't you.

Hehe.

Well I'm off to bed now. Night night all x

Mothers' Day.
What an emotinal weekend it has been. I managed to lose control of my emotions (if they were ever under my control in the first place). Lets start at the beginning.

There is a man I have been sitting next to at work for the past few months. He has provided stimulating conversation and entertainment - not just for me, but for the whole office (if not the entire company). Well, he has decided that he has had enough and has quit his job.

I was suprised at how upset I felt - after all, I've only known him a few months, others have known him for years. So when it came to his leaving do, I didn't feel I had the right to be upset or the right to talk or do anything. I wanted to tell him how I'd miss his company but feared it wouldn't be received as honest.

As a compromise I allowed myself to stick around with a few of the 'hardcore' stayer outers. This was all going very well until we went to a particular bar. I have made a mental note not to go in there again but no doubt I will forget in a few weeks time.

Lets just say (as I'd rather not go into details) that fate decided to try and take advantage of my emotinal mood that day. So I just got up and left. Fast. Shaking. Probably pale as a sheet and sweating. The world had kind of gone fuzzy as my brain steered me out of the building and into my car (note that I had been drinking coke so I may have been high on caffeine). I felt so rude but I could not stand being in that building any longer. Through no fault of the people I was with.

When I got home I felt so rude - I felt such a mess. I cried for a bit, texted one of the people who was there to apologise for me running off and tried to relax / distract myself.

So then we got to yesterday. That was a bit of an emotinal disappointment too. And now we're on today.

Today, Mother's Day. Another marketing exploitation of love. I don't need a special day to tell the people I love that I love them. If I did then why don't they have "Friend Day" too? That way I could get cards for the male and female friends to say thanks for being my friend without looking like some emotionally unstable fruitcake.

But of course, if you don't get a card there'll be hell to pay. Just my luck then that I missed the postman and now the card will arrive late.

Then there's a few stresses at work at the mo - don't ask as I can't tell you. I'm glad I have holiday booked for soon though.

When I have a rough patch like this, I am always reminded of what one suprisingly-terrifying-for-her-age woman said to me once in that tone of voice that goes straight to your inner child. She said something along the lines f "some people have their bad luck spread out, some get it all at once now shut up and get on with your work".

Anyway, I shouldn't just come on here to moan - though I have to admit, it does help me to put things into perspective.

I do, in fact, have other things, less whiney things, to say. I have just finished reading a book by Mark Thomas called "As Used on the Famous Nelson Mandella". It was about the arms trade and I found it very interesting. I wouldn't say I disagreed with anything he said, but some things were a little lacking in substance here or there. But on the whole, it was enlightening. It was also rather scary just how easily front companies can be set up and trading in arms to 'dodgy' countries can be carried out. So thanks for bringing this to my attention Mark.

And on that note I shall depart. I am afraid I have run out of energy. Take care all x

Ask a Stupid Question and You'll Get a Stupid Answer.
A few days ago I received this message on a family history research site:

Hi,

Do you know who the parents of Edith were?

Kind regards,
Pat

This is fairly typical of the standard of email I receive. I should mention that the subject of the email gave a surname too, but that is all. No date of birth or anything. How am I supposed to know who this is about if there are multiple Edith's with that surname?! So, fed up with these stupid emails, I replied with the following:

Hi,

To answer your question, yes.

Can I assume that you would like to know who they are? If so, then would you kindly like to supply me with sufficient information to allow me to actually figure out who you are talking about?

For example, John Smith (b1833, Henley, Oxfordshire) will allow me to pinpoint exactly who you are on about and will enable me to rule out multiple John Smith''s.

It would be a nice courtesy if you were to suggest names for, in this example, John''s parents. For instance, "Do you have John''s father as Edward (b1800, Droitwich, Worcestershire) ?" would be an excellent question when used in conjunction with the first example I have given.

Regards,
Lee

Then today I received this email:

What an arrogant individual you are!

I have been doing family research for around 10 years helping many people along the way and I have never seen such a rude reply in my life.

I am not going to respond to this directly. I have made my point but unfortunately it appears to have gone right over the head of this person. I was expecting a reply along the lines of a justification. Instead I got a completely unfounded attack on my character. It was a rude message from me but that is not the same as me being a rude or arrogant person. But, to be fair, I did assume that this Pat wrote all their emails in this way - which may well not be the case.

Even so, I do not think it that unreasonable a request. I could have used far less sarcasm, but I had had enough. So, Pat, it's nothing personal. If it hadn't have been you, it would've been someone else.

An Update
15:41 Mainland Wales

Move has taken place slowly and inefficiently. However, all is now settled and, on the whole, well.

Car window (rear screen) got broken again during a storm on Monday night. Part of the exhaust dropped off today.

Attempted to carry out some business in town but there was a power cut. Lights were flickering everywhere.

To calm down I have been playing on the flight sim until it crashed. I flew from Caernarfon to the Isle of Man, then to Belfast and was just on my way to Dublin when it crashed.

Sky has got on my nerves this week. Their ongoing bickering with Virgin is only making me sympathise with Virgin - a company I couldn't really have cared either way for prior to all this fuss. I could write a huge rant but sufficed to say, I think it has all been planned well in advance by the folks at sky.

Take care all.

A Progress Report.
18:21 hours, Anglesey.

Books, dvd's and cd's are packed. As is most electrical stuff. Clothes are being boxed tonight.

At 23:00 hours on 30/01/07 I finished watching 24 up to 19:00. It just got very good and viewing shall recommence at 21:00 today.

No enemy activity sighted. General is considering a plan of attack to occur in the coming days. Details are to remain classified until such time.

Progress report ends.

Snow in the Mountains.
There was such a lovely sight as I walked from my car to my house. Snowdonia was still coated in a thin layer of snow, and it still being light, I was afforded the sight of the sky's dusk shades reflected onto the snow. It was nice. I was going to take a picture, but it's dark now.

Anyway, I've nothing else to report. Other than I'm hungry and have a lack of money.

Take care

The Vultures Descend.
Am very annoyed right now. You will see why. But first, good news; I have found a new house and will be moving in the next few weeks.

Now for the bad news.

I will start by talking about the DVLA cos I think poor treatment of "customers" over the phone by folk whom I AS A TAXPAYER pay to keep in their f'ing job is f'ing appalling. The least they can do is not talk in a patronising, bored shitless and arrogant tone of voice.

I sent my licence off for the address to be updated. I left the necessary time before getting in touch and asking where it had got to. So I ring up and ask and they tell me they sent it in November and that I would have to pay them £19. I have to pay £19 because I didn't call within 3 months. Now it doesn't take a genious to work out that November is not yet three months away. So after 5 minutes of worming it out of the patronising get, I managed to find out that the 3 months is in fact 12 weeks from the date they received the licence.

So, folks, be warned.

I got a letter today, saying ever so casually that a certain company wanted £412 off me for the privilledge of moving out of this unsafe house and into a new one. I will be questioning this tomorrow but I think companies just see my coming and think "right, now how many ways can we charge this lad something".

ALSO, MOT is due on car. ALSO, car repair costs are due next month. ALSO, I'll be paying two rents. ALSO, I need to somehow hire a van but I don't have my driving licence do I?!

So next month I am going to be paying at least £1,194. Now, take the time to work this out. To afford all of that I would need to be earning at least £20,000 a year. Needless to say, I'm not. Needless to say, it's a f'ing high price to pay to have peace of mind, to be able to go outside on an evening, to be able to sleep all night without interruption, to have a house that doesn't freeze me halfway to hypothermia and most important of all to be happy.

Why is it that if you can be taken advantage of, companies just go ahead and do it. Whether it be a customer's naivity about your actual legal rights or just a 'simple' pressure sell to old people. Why, when it is perfectly possible to run a moral business do folk have to go for the cruel option; the option where a business is run on fear; the option where exploitation is a common occurence.

Is this really the level that we, as humans, feel obliged to sink to? I would have thought, that being able to think would give us an advantage over other animals. But no. Oh no. That would be far, far, far too easy. It's hard to be nice. Apparently. It's hard to do the right thing. Apparently. And society tries, subconciously, to drag all the good souls down with it when really they should be looking up to those few good people and encouraging, nurturing, but most of all LEARNING from them. THEY are the ones we should idolise and try to copy.

The world doesn't have to be so f'ked up.

Good News!
I did my audition for the Male Voice Choir tonight and I passed. So now I'm a proper member. You should've seen me grinning when I got the news!

Gossip From the Front Line.
There is one of these ferral youths whom I strongly suspect played a leading part in damaging my property. He got beaten up quite badly at the weekend. No sympathy from me - I laughed heartily when I heard this!

Also at the weekend, a lot of kids (about 30 so I'm told) gathered here in this village. For what purpose I have no idea, but since then, all has been very quiet.

News From the Front Line.
Unfortunately some people's idea of what constitutes "starting the new year on a high" differs greatly...

In my village, like just about anywhere in the UK at the moment, there are those sorts of kids that hang around outside the local shop wearing hoodies and tracksuit bottoms whilst getting drunk and taking drugs. Ferral youths I've heard them being described as. Up until the 2nd January I had had no trouble whatsoever with these lads, though they have been getting louder and more aggressive in general over the time I've lived here.

That was to change.

They started on me, smashed windows on my car and smashed one of my house windows. All in the space of 5 hours. The Police were called twice.

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly express my suprise at how well I was treated by the Police that night and how well they're keeping me up to date. I know that there is not much they can do - but there rapid presence certainly stopped these people from going any further than they did - and it is this that I am very grateful for.

Alas I can't go into too much detail at this time as there is still the possibility of arrests happening, but the full story will be posted here at a later date.

As of today, the car has been fixed (at a cost of £250) but the house window won't be done until later this week. I'm physically undamaged - luckily for me, they were too drunk/high to punch properly. I am also making arrangements to leave this house and village posthaste. Work is being extremely supportive, as are the letting agents. I thank you both, here, publicly.

I have a new house lined up - there's just a few formalities to go through and then it's sorted. It's going to be expensive - but you can't put a price on personal safety can you?! Anyway, the costs will be minimised.

The Grand Christmas Tour of England.
This is the first post in a very long time where I've thought "where on earth do I start?!".

I'll start with December. I got my heating sorted - it's now on economy 7 and when they recalculated the bill for this 2nd quarter, I had to pay just £16.
Christmas was an impressive feat. The first Christmas party with work (the 'formal' do) was fun, I stayed out until 2:30am (we started drinking at 1pm). The second Christmas party (the unofficial one to celebrate the start of the holiday) went well. Only stayed out until 8:30pm but I had Tracy with me.

That last party was the Friday before Christmas Monday. Tracy came down and stayed until Sunday (Xmas Eve) where upon I drove her back to Blackpool. From Blackpool I then drove to Huddersfield to visit a couple of friends. They were VERY suprised to see me, but they seemed happy about it. I then drove down to the parent's house. I finished my epic journey just before 11pm Xmas Eve!

Christmas day and the week that followed it were wonderful; all I did was sit, eat, drink and watch old episodes of Stargate with Mum and Dad. Bliss.

For New year I drove up to Blackpool and spent New Year there. It was slightly strange being with a different family (and in yet another different place from last year!) but it was all good. New Year's Day I drove back here to Anglesey, with Tracy, and relaxed once more.