Friday, 12 June 2009

My Blogger Blog

I created this blog some time ago to experiment with what Blogger brought to the table. I had originally started playing with it way before Google acquired it. It's improved since then, but I don't think it's moved on as much as it has. My frame of reference is always tied to WordPress, as that's the blogging platform I tend to use most of the time; but it's always good to keep an eye on what's available and what new ideas are hitting the scene. It's like being into racing cars, but keeping an eye on the neighbour's Yamaha rhinos, just to see what's happening down that darkened alley.

I don't think I like the way Blogger doesn't have categorisation around posts, though the labels to allow a certain amount of taxonomy control. Still, can't help comparing it to what you can do with WordPress, especially now that it supports custom taxonomies.

Friday, 5 June 2009

Stay Connected

ERS 2 mock-up (real size) from Cité de l'Espac...Image via Wikipedia

The more time passes, the more connected we all get. And it’s great because we can keep in touch with one another regardless of where we are. Tell me, can you live with your phone for example? I find myself more and more dependant on it .. and new I also have data which is great!

I’ve recently added a GPRS package to my phone and it’s been great playing around with some of the applications that require a data connection. GPRS is convenient, but unfortunately it’s no high speed satellite internet. I’m actually looking to upgrade my phone, so maybe my next one will have a 3G connection or something a little bit quicker than GPRS, just to be able to do things quicker, and use things like video which require a faster connection.

Friday, 22 May 2009

We do what we have to do

Eid Mubarak - عید فطر مبارکImage by Hamed Saber via Flickr

It’s interesting to be involved in supporting people; even though this is just a hobby for me. There are hundreds of firms around the world that supply computer services Orange County all the way to China. I’m not sure if I could ever run a firm like that, as I’m usually happy to help people out just to see their face light up when things work for them. Can’t feed the family on happy faces though … hence the day job!

It’s been an interesting week on the IT front, particularly as I had a lot of mates who seemed to have all sorts of computer problems. From Carol’s AVG who refused to start up, all the way to John’s mobile which refuses to show its contacts; and Steven’s mail which just refused to send email. Some I managed to help, others I didn’t but it’s just funny how you get those weeks where everything just seems to be going haywire.

Long weekend

It's nice to have a long weekend every now and again. Spend time with the family, grab your golf equipment and head off the the golf course, take the family to Butlins .. there are a million and one things you can be doing. Me, I'll be spending time with Arthur and Camille, we have lots of things to do around the house and who knows, maybe we'll get to spend some time outdoors, if the weather holds up.

The UK have a number of these Bank Holidays which are basically national holidays. Next Monday is Spring Bank Holiday; of which I have no idea what the origins are .. but hey it's a long weekend.

Friday, 15 May 2009

Something to wear

I'm a big fan of T-shirts, probably preferring to wear them to anything else I have in my wardrobe. It's partly because or the comfort factor, but predominantly because they allow you to express a degree of individuality; wear your preferences the outside, if you know what I mean. I particularly like this Mixed Martial Arts T-shirt shown here; it's cool isn't it?

I guess different people prefer wearing different things. I don't have the skirts vs trousers dilemma; but I do have the casual vs smart thing thrown at me every now and again. But for me it's T-shirts any time!

Wednesday, 13 May 2009

Arthur and K'Nex

A bridge made from K'NEX.Image via Wikipedia

We had a whale of a time playing Arthur's K'Nex over the weekend. He's a bit young for it, but he's happy to join up things together and build random thing. I've taken the role of building things for him based on what he picks from the book and that's proving to be lots of fun too.

He seems to have a building streak going, so in the future he'll be fixing cars maybe and playing with Polaris RZR accessories. But in the meantime it's going to be just blocks and pieces. Anyway, if anyone has any spare K'Nex blocks they're not using ... you know where to drop them ;)

What do you like playing with?

Friday, 24 April 2009

Toys for the Boys

A John Deere 9420 tractor.Image via Wikipedia

I'm always keeping an eye open for toys I can buy for Arthur and today came across a wooden truck that's one of these John Deere toys. I've always liked wooden toys; I don't know if it's because I never had many when I was a kid; or just because the richness of their texture is so much more pleasing than a plastic toy. Anyway, this was a wooden truck, not quite like the John Deere tractors that the toys are named after.

Anyway, I think Arthur might have started outgrowing things like wooden trucks. Last weekend was spent playing with K'Nex and he enjoyed those tremendously!