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Sunday, August 31, 2003 Taking one's love of back bacon just a tad too far. Thanks to Eloon's friend, Matt, for helping me out with the iPod issues. It's still f***ed, but my fingers are still crossed. Rob came round today. Tom is back from Zurich and he cooked a lovely Leg of Lamb, Sunday lunch. Mmmm... Memories of Thursday's Tube power cut are fading. posted by Darren | 7:10 PM Wednesday, August 27, 2003 "eeeeee, I've copied all the Beastie Boys albums except the main (& best) one. Where could it be, Edward?" - Dave. posted by Darren | 9:25 PM Tuesday, August 26, 2003 If I could find a photo on Google of an iPod in flames, you'd be seeing it above. But I can't. And after the week I've had trying to get my 'wonderful new toy' to work, I really don't have the patience to look for a photo of some other kind of technology gone up in smoke, or to even attempt to get it up and running tonight. Everything ipodlounge has to offer has been tried. What, in this day and age, happened to Plug-'n-Play? Why does technology have to be so complicated? Its thoroughly depressed me. posted by Darren | 6:47 PM Monday, August 18, 2003 Core Update Didn't we have a loverly weekend the day we went to Bangor....errr, I mean...Blackpool. See Dave for details, including our dog having a poop-fest on the streets of England's premier coastal resort. Not writing much about it myself, as I got a call this afternoon to let me know that my iPod had arrived. So I've been a little pre-occupied tonight. posted by Darren | 9:39 PM Thursday, August 14, 2003 Third World Grid I think BJ may have turned his air con back on, in New York City, and caused this. I hope Mark is out on his bike capturing it for us. posted by Darren | 10:58 PM iPod Update Of course I haven't got it yet! I was told 7-10 days is a possibility if I paid a deposit. Which I did. 10 (business)days ago. This week I was told, "yeah, maybe this week, but we have a massive shipment coming in next week anyhow". Massive? Really? I wonder how big "massive" really is. I hope its more than 7, as I'm seventh in the "deposit list". I don't want to get it until next week now, anyways, as we are off to Blackpool for the weekend, tomorrow night.* * Always remembering the Dave-Rule of course: never drive to Blackpool(or back) between the hours of 9am and 9pm (with possible exceptions if late on Sunday evening). posted by Darren | 7:36 PM Wednesday, August 13, 2003 Life Update Rob and his sister had a lovely afternoon/evening in our garden (they DID, he says so, here). A woman of discerning taste, she recognised what a natural beauty I am. Bless her for her charitable words to an old man. And a man even older since Monday, when I turned the ripe old age of 29, again. Oh, OK! 36. When you get to this stage though, it all melds into one. Though I'm sure I'll think otherwise as I get ever nearer to 40. And I'm sure there will be those who say "Life begins...", and I've seen plenty of evidence to prove that point, so I'm not getting anxious, oh no. And to celebrate my birthday, Dave took me and Edward to Burnham Market on the northern coast of Norfolk. We spent two days wandering around the coastal villages & towns, and ended our trip by coming home via Great Yarmouth, which brought back many memories for both of us. Me, holidaying near there with the family back in 1975, and Dave a few times in nearby Holiday Camps throughout the 1970's. Dave enjoyed the Roller Coaster, while I sat that one out, in the shade, with Edward. Lovely weather, cooler than London, more like the beautiful British summer weather we are used to and love. As we drove back home, the temperature rose and, coupled with last night's restless sleep, conspired to try to rid us of the memories of a blissful two days. Where the weather failed, work did its damndest to succeed. I'm just clinging to the thoughts by my fingertips. posted by Darren | 7:18 PM Saturday, August 09, 2003 Not So Lazy Saturday (Morning &) Afternoon I have vacuumed, I have polished the taps(faucets), I have tidied away and disposed of newspapers & magazines that had been lying around for weeks, I have purchased some nibbles(Walkers Sensations, incl. 'Roast Lamb and Mint' - I mean, Lamb&Mint crisps(potato chips!)!!, whatever next; Pringles; Dips; Californian Red Wine Box; R Whites Lemonade; Californian Chenin Blanc; Tonic Water). The mercury continues to rise. Its easily 100+ degrees fahrenheit in the garden, in the sun. Rob will be here in about half an hour, with his sister, who is in London for the weekend. She has never met any of his friends. We shall try not to let him down. We shall try not to be too camp, but we shall be ourselves, which is, I'm sure, what he would want. posted by Darren | 2:58 PM Friday, August 08, 2003 
Dave won't drive back from Blackpool between the hours of 9am and 9pm again. 6.5 hours versus 4 hours when setting out before 5am. No contest. I don't know if I could stay awake. posted by Darren | 7:23 PM Thursday, August 07, 2003 Red Windmill Dave has gone to Blackpool to pick up the keys to our new house. We're not moving yet. Its an investment and retirement option. We're not allowed to move to New York you see. We aren't indispensable. There are Americans who could do any job we tried to get into. I took the opportunity to watch Moulin Rouge again. We first saw it in Sandusky, Ohio, in the spring of 2001. I loved it. Dave didn't. So, ideal film choice, while the old dog is away, with the young dog. I think I have Chicago on DVD coming for my birthday next week. Do you think I might be gay? posted by Darren | 10:11 PM Wednesday, August 06, 2003 Dinner at BT Tower 
They were launching their new Wide Area Network comms package....zzzzzzzzzzz....... Anyway, the former revolving restaurant near the top of the BT Tower is a fantastic marketing tool. I've written about the building before. Its a London landmark and a 1960's icon. Noel Edmonds' Christmas morning shows (used to) come from the building, with underprivileged kids rubbing shoulders with C-List celebrities, who didn't have families, or who needed the money or exposure so much, they could afford to spend Christmas Day on TV, rather than at home with the family, like everyone else. The building was opened in 1965 and over 4 million people visited the observation deck near the top of the tower, before a bomb(blamed on the IRA, but no-one ever claimed responsibility) blew a hole in the gents loo and the walls of the building on the 31st floor, in 1971. The revolving restaurant on the 34th floor remained open until 1980, when the lease ran out. Since then, the upper floors have been refurbished and are now used as presentation and function rooms, known as the 'Tower Suite'. This is where BT took me and some colleagues, to wine and dine us, 600 feet above the city. Coming out of the lift , facing straight out above London, was amazing. The view was so clear. Lots of London landmarks that you know from the ground, were laid out all around. Everything was visible. London is such a flat city. Anything above five floors towers above the surrounding buildings, and the City and Canary Wharf (which became stunning when the sun set and the city lit up) towered further above the rest. The Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Centre Point, British Museum, University College, Hyde Park, Regents Park(and London Zoo), the Gherkin, Euston Tower, Kings Cross, Nelsons Column... The catering staff pretended to be amused at the games that people (always) play - how long can you stay standing with one foot on the revolving section and the other on the central, static section of the building(Robin lasted for 74 seconds, but he IS 6 foot 4); how long does it take to get back to the napkin you've left on the floor on the central section (usually 22 minutes). 
I'm glad I went. posted by Darren | 10:06 PM Tuesday, August 05, 2003 Walthamstow Dave I love Darren I Love Karen On the Window Screen Head full of Clouds And a Mouthful of Cum...err, sorry, Pie. posted by Darren | 10:53 PM Monday, August 04, 2003 Six Feet Under 
I saw a young undertaker on his way to the morgue this morning. Its a delightful diversion on my way to the Tube of a morning and on my way home. The young men can often be spotted nipping across the road to the garage to buy sweets, biscuits or a Ginsters pasty, and a Daily Star or Sun newspaper to look at the pictures while eating. They're very smart, all in their waistcoats if there is a funeral that day, or in their clean protective over-clothes consisting of surgical gloves, gumboots, plastic aprons so designed that the front hangs over the top of the gumboots, face masks and linen overcoats to all employees and all other persons involved in post mortems, and each such employee or other person shall, at all times when so involved, wear such clothing if there are no funerals and they are working on bodies post mortem. 
posted by Darren | 7:10 PM Sunday, August 03, 2003 Lazy Sunday Afternoon Following our late night out - Getting home at midnight,after seeing T3, takes it out of me at my age. By the way T3 excellent, popcorn fluff. Very funny. I THINK they were playing it for laffs, but can't be certain. Anyway, following that, we decided on a quiet Sunday(no shopping for paving stones or plants). Rob came round for a cup of tea, bringing three packets of biscuits with him. Dave made light work of the biscuits, while I plied Rob with Tinto Verano's and Vodka Tonics. A beautiful sunny, hot afternoon, spent under the gazebo in the garden. Friendship is a wonderful thing. posted by Darren | 7:26 PM Saturday, August 02, 2003 The attack will be spectacular. "The attack will be spectacular and designed to inflict mass casualties against U.S. facilities or interests. Attack preparations have been made. Attack will occur with little or no warning." - CIA Intelligence Report for President Bush, July, 2001 (60 Days Prior to 9/11). "President Bush and his top advisers were informed by the CIA early last August that terrorists associated with Osama bin Laden had discussed the possibility of hijacking airplanes." - The Washington Post, May 16, 2002. "Family members of victims of the terror attacks say the White House has smothered every attempt to get to the bottom of the outrageous intelligence failures that took place on its watch." - Salon.com, June 18, 2003. "If I did anything like this as a policeman, and killed 3,000 people, with this much evidence against me, I'd spend 100,000 years in jail." - former New York City police officer Bruce DeCell, the Nation, June 19, 2003. "Iraq is 'six months away' from building a nuclear weapon... I don't know what more evidence we need." - 'President' Bush, September 7th, 2002, citing a report that was apparently drafted in Brigadoon. "I don't want to see a single war millionaire created in the United States as a result of this world disaster," Franklin D. Roosevelt warned as WWII loomed. Yet presidential grandfather Prescott Bush forged lucrative alliances with the Nazis anyway and war profiteering remains a Bush family tradition. Does the US public realize this? Do they care? "When Kennedy got his highest rating after the debacle of the Bay of Pigs," Gore Vidal wrote, "he observed, characteristically: 'It would seem that the worse you fuck up in this job the more popular you get.'" Perhaps that explains Bush's approval ratings? They certainly don't make sense otherwise. But then again, few things do. In many ways the United States of America isn't recognizable anymore. Take a look around, if you live there, or the next time you visit. The CIA was right. The attack has been spectacular indeed. posted by Darren | 12:23 PM Friday, August 01, 2003 
Oh god, it might actually be in stock this Monday! Thats, like, less than 3 days away! Oh, man. posted by Darren | 9:14 PM |
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