Orientation Day

We've got only seven days to get the balance right. While Junior would undoubtedly be happy spending the entire holiday by the pool, I need to get out. Yes I have my Kindle and I will be happy reading, but I also need to be doing things. I've never been good at just sitting. So some days will be relaxing and some will be activity.

The first day will default into relaxing. We haven't had the briefing meeting to let us know what is going on, so we have a morning in wonderful sun. Junior plays in the pool. Every so often we venture as far as the sea with the snorkels. And cold beer seems a necessity in the heat. One trip in to the sea and we are collecting pretty shells. Junior sees one of interest and grabs it. A second later there is a scream and the shell is hurled far far away. Curious. I find a similar shell and take a look. Hermit crabs. Excellent. Haven't seen these before in the wild! 

Midday and we get the briefing. Possibly the most frustrating part of the entire holiday is being told about a local village market that had been held this morning so we missed it. As a keen photographer, and with Junior a budding photographer (as long as she remembers that one or other of her parents are carrying her camera), this is somewhat annoying. Ah well, to make up for it lunch is another local taverna, more fish and some retsina. It's worth pointing out that in this taverna the menu is in Greek, the waiter only speaks Greek and all the other diners are Greek - a big big family as far as we can work out - not a McDonalds in sight. This is perfect. We are somewhat at a loss as to how to order. In fact, there is a fair bit of confusion as to how MUCH to order and what will come with each dish. To the extent that the poor waiter comes back and indicates that we should drop a dish or two as we have over ordered. We readily agree. And proceed to have a lovely lunch.

Then it's back to the hotel - all of a two minute walk - while commenting on the olive trees with their curiously twisted trunks.

More playing in the pool by Junior. But she has also spotted someone of her age who could be a good playmate for the week. Too shy to go and say hello, I am roped in to assist. Now, if you know me then you will realise that this isn't a strong suit. Ah ha, time to enlist the hermit crabs. We go into the sea and stand close to the potential friend and her mother. I find a hermit crab then comment loudly enough to be overheard. We give the crabs names (Herbie the Hermit Crab, Herbie the Hermit Crab Two, Herbie the Hermit Crab Three, Herbie the Hermit Crab Four - you get the picture), comment on their size etc, all in the hope of attracting attention. Much to my surprise, rather than getting me arrested, it works and we are able to chat a bit. The two girls start to play together. Good job done by daddy I feel.

The afternoon passes pleasantly and then back to the hotel room to freshen up. That evening back on the decking them we spot Juniors new friend on the beach with her parents and sister. Junior is desperate to go and play with her but still too shy. In a step beyond the call of duty (in my opinion) I go down trying to think what I can talk about. Luckily there seems to be a thunder storm on the mainland and we can see the lightening over the mountains.  So this seems a good ice breaker, I can comment on the lightening and how fantastic it looks from the beach.  For a moment it looks as though Junior isn't going to avail herself of my generous sacrifice but then she joins in and they all start playing. The problem being that I am now stuck talking for the next hour or so while J is sat by herself on the decking. However this turns out to be the beginning of a good friendship not only for Junior but for us as well.

They head off to bed but we stay up.  Back on the decking, another beer in hand.  Enjoying a lovely warm evening.  The other two are fine as I'm attracting all the mossies.  Suddenly, out of nowhere, the wind gets up.  For ten minutes we can't play UNO because the cards keep getting blown away.  And then it all dies down again.  And time for us to head to bed.

Arrival

3 hours or so later and touch down. Not the biggest airport in the world. In fact if there are two planes at Kavala then it's busy, and that's including the Greek air force. Instantly hit by the heat. It's OK for the other two as they are in shorts. But I have to travel in the DVT stockings so I have trousers on. Maybe I should have packed shorts in the hand luggage.

Greeted by the rep who tells us how wonderful our hotel is. Excuse me for being cynical but she's hardly likely to say it's horrible. We get on the coach and watch our bags being loaded on a rather dilapidated lorry. We are taken to the local port where we have to get the ferry to the island. I am about 500 feet from a cache but between me and it is an expanse of water. We try walking around but there just isn't time (this was to be a recurring theme which lead to a bit of ill so this is the only time I will mention the failure to get a cache during this holiday). Getting on the ferry is an interesting exercise in itself, avoiding the cars that are loading at the same time. We quickly find the bar and decide to try a local beer, Mythos, which certainly goes down well in the heat. Then out on deck to enjoy the 30 minute crossing, to revel in the sun, and to watch Thassos get ever closer. And I am pleased to say, to spot the luggage lorry as well.

Another short trip by coach and we are dropped at the hotel. We get a ground floor room, clean and tidy, right next to the pool. The other side of the pool is an area of decking, then the beach, and finally the sea. From our room to the sea is probably 300 feet at most. Perfect. The rest of the day is spent enjoying the pool and the sea, along with another beer or two.

In the evening we walk along the beach a short distance to a taverna for a lovely meal full of tsatsiki and fresh sea food.

The only thing that is a slight culture shock is the discovery that you aren't allowed to put paper down the toilet. No paper at all. That's right, even THAT paper. Bins take on a whole new meaning.

On Our Way

The brief to the travel agent had been a simple one - "we loved Menorca, we hated Tenerife, we want local tavernas and no McDonalds, so what can you find for us".  After a lot of searching and going around in circles they came up with the little known island of Thassos.  This island is small, relatively untouched by tourism, and only accessible by ferry from the mainland.  Sounded good, but wanting to fly from Birmingham we only had the option of going for 7 or 14 days, not the 10 originally planned.  After the rather painful experience of Tenerife we didn't want to risk a fortnight, so 7 days it was.  And we were booked.

Flying from Birmingham is a relatively nice experience.  I say relatively because no airport is exactly fun, but compared to Heathrow or {shudder} Stanstead it is at least bearably painless.  Speed is of the essence, and the smaller numbers mean the queues do not get excessive.  The drawback is that flights seem to be incredibly early!  This meant getting up at around 0330hrs.  Junior did try to convince us to let her sleep in her clothes but we veto'd that one.  However, the excitement took over and getting up wasn't difficult, then in the car with nice quiet roads.  Straight into car park 1, which is all of a one minute walk from departures.  Through check in, all the time looking around to see who might be our companions for the week.  A couple of children around Juniors age, no-one that fits into that "avoid at all costs" bracket.  All looking OK.  Soon loaded onto the plane (sorry, that should be boarded, but loaded seems a lot more applicable).  And take off towards hot and sunny climes.

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Benjamin Francis Leftwich

Go For It

Cat Playing I-Spy

Dreamtime

Last night I had a dream (sorry, not about to call all Martin Luther on you). First I was at a meeting in the Netherlands. I had just enough time to check in and then I had to rush to another meeting in Germany. There I met with some friends and we needed to come back. I got confused and couldn't remember the station I needed to go to. Everyone left me.

That is one of the best summaries of my life in a dream that I think I have ever had. Manically rushing around and not able to rely on friends. Great.

We could craft this thing between us
Make stars of brightness
Rivers
Mountains
Forge in solidity
Unbreakable from outside

Or we can twist it
Bend beyond recognition
Till it drips
Between
Outstretched fingers

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Ah those days in love
Mindless careless
Ever free
Of walking in rain
Laughing
As clothes cling
Of timeless days
That are only time
Of every smile
Every tear
Of lying in fields
Watching clouds
Form myths and legends

Then
Turning the path
Finding lying
The unicorn
Heart rent
Blood spilt
To dream no more

Amazing Horse

This is simply weird!

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Adoption

I sometimes wonder if weirdness follows me around on purpose. A little while ago I blogged about being in London and coming across a woman being "chased" by a man. Well, yesterday I decided to take the daughter to Drayton Manor. She's now over 1.3 metres tall and a new set of fast rides are therefore available. As a speed freak and adrenalin junkie, at eight and a half she wants to go on the fastest rides possible. Problem is that J doesn't want to see junior on the fast rides! So as I was in charge yesterday and J was working, it was an ideal opportunity.

Up until lunch all was normal (if you count an eight and a half year old girl enjoying "G Force" as normal). We had lunch, short walk around the zoo to let the food go down (and I can't go there without seeing the tigers) then decided to go on the Bounty (pirate ship that swings back and forth until you are hanging looking straight down feeling weightless). Standing in the queue Junior gets to taking to this other eight year old girl. That's fine, happy to encourage her to socialise. We are let on to the ride and they rush to the back. There isn't room for me and I'm not entirely comfortable with the idea of sitting in the row in front but hey, she's made a friend and the parent is in the back with them so it can't be too bad. Ride over and we walk out. The two girls say they want to go to Stormforce. No problem. But where is the other parent. It is at this point it dawns on me that the "other" parent was completely unrelated to this girl, instead we seem to have adopted an 8 year old who is wandering around the park by herself. Apparently her father is building a new ride and she is just left to herself for the day. So somehow I end up in loco parentis. What could I do? I wasn't comfortable with her being left alone in the park so it seems better that she comes with us. At one point she's supposed to be back with her father but he rings her (a plus is that she has a phone) and tells her she doesn't need to go back. I end up buying her tea (she did have money and was very polite but I couldn't take a twenty pound note off a child). And she stays with us until the park closes. When I still can't just leave her so walk her back to the ride being built and then spend half an hour getting the attention of her father, who appears more irritated at being disturbed than grateful that I have kept his daughter safe all day.

Of course what I now realise is that there is hours of CCTV coverage of me walking around the park with a girl who I only know by her first name. Anyone seeing us would have assumed she was my daughter as she was hugging me and playing just as "A" was.

All very strange.

Hotels and all that

After so many years if travel, hotels in London still manage to surprise me with the ridiculous prices for hovels of rooms and poor service. Brought into even mire sharp relief today because I have just spent two nights in the MacDonald Spa Bath Hotel before coming here, to the Strand Palace.

The MacDonald in Bath is a wonderful hotel. Set in lovely grounds, it has rooms that are a pleasure to stay in, and staff who could not be more friendly. What's that sir, you're going to London for a few days, well of course you can leave your car in our car park, no bother at all sir.

So today is a rush over on the train. The meeting has already started so I join that thinking I'll check in later. 1830hrs arrives and I'm standing in a long queue. Not enough staff to cope. Finally get to the desk, give my name and the company I'm with. No sign of my booking. OK, well the others are booked in because they arrives last night. No they didn't need a booking reference and we don't have one. First man is particularly unhelpful, not least because he can't speak English. I leave the queue. Fire up the computer. Check and no booking reference. Back in the queue which is now even longer. Another man walking along the queue asking people if they have stayed here before. This is the wrong question to ask because my answer is "unfortunately yes, and i swore I never would again and if I'd known we were booking out meeting here I'd have got them to book elsewhere.". This does at least get his attention. I sit down while he goes to find out what is happening. After 10 minutes he comes back and tells me that he needs to speak to the conference manager. Finally returns. Yes they have found my booking but they had thought it was for two nights and booked menin last night. Si now it seems to be my fault that I was only ever coming for one night while the others were booked in for two. But this still doesn't explain how I got checked in when I wasn't here. Oh well it was a group booking. Hang on, yes a group booking but everyone turned up separately and I HADN'T CHECKED IN LAST NIGHT. My argument that surely they knew who was in a room or not didn't seem to make sense to them.

To paraphrase a famous man - never, in the field of accommodation, has so much been charged for so little.

View

A wall
A window
Dim light
Growing
Standing
Watching
As flames
Fulfil

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The more I think about it, the more I realise that happiness is a state of mind. Happiness is NOT everything going right for you. It isn't not having to make difficult decisions. Happiness is not passive.

It is an active thing. Taking the world on and keeping your head up. Not regretting decisions. Not being afraid to make mistakes. To know yourself. To recognise the beauty around you. And to just BE.

The Girl Who ............. By Stieg Larson

I have just completed the Millenium series. Overall I'd have to say disappointed but the last was probably the best of all. Having read the first I must admit I wouldn't have gone further. But someone in the house wanted the series and once we'd bought them then it was almost inevitable.

The first in the series was, I felt, poorly written although the mystery was good.  Almost a classic whodunit, ut the rather gratuitous sex and violence spoilt it for me.  The second was simply a struggle and too far fetched.  The third then was probably the best of the series.  The writing still not great but at least I wanted to know how it would turn out.  Not too much of a twist though, it became clear where it was heading.  Can't say I'd recommend them, but if you have read one then you may as well read the rest.

More importantly, it was an opportunity to try out the Kindle.  Now the fact that I ended up reading until 0300hrs may give you an idea how I feel about it.  I gree that I kiss the feel of paper.  But it is so comfortable to hold and easy to read.  When you are getting tired if you drop it then you don't lose your place.  You can easily carry it around and read while walking.  It easily slips in pockets.  I thought I would miss proper books, but the sheer simplicity of the thing wins me over.

A poem by Alex Hitchens

Never lie cheat or steal
If you must lie, lie in the arms of the one you love
If you must cheat, then cheat death
If you must steal, steal away from bad company.
And if you must drink, drink in the moments that take your breath away

A Chase

What do you do when you are wandering around London (OK geocaching, I admit it) at nine o'clock in the evening and you see a woman being stalked by a man and in clear distress. On valentines night. It's so easy in today's society to disengage. And for a moment I didn't want to get involved. But she kept stopping and telling him to go away. I couldn't leave her. So I asked if she needed help, and she said this man wouldn't leave her alone. At this point we are down a fairly deserted back street and I can just imagine knives. But I politely address him as sir and ask what he is doing. She walks off rapidly. He explains that it is ok, she is his fiancé. That they have had an argument. And he shows me her ring. What do I do now? I'm still worried about her but it seems reasonable. I ask him what the argument was about. He quite reasonably says it isn't my business. Which is kind of true. But I am now committed into making sure she is ok. Mind you, she's disappeared around the corner by now. So I explain that my primary concern is the lady. He then explains the argument was over his plans tonight. That seems real enough. I ask his name and he quickly gives it to me. So I decide to trust him and tell him I hope he sorts it out.

So was I wrong to get involved. Or wrong not to stop him altogether. Or did I call it right. I will never know for sure. But if there's a murder tonight, I have a name.

Lost Journey

This train
Could be going
Anywhere
I'm past caring
And as my eyes close
I drift away
I remember your lips
Pressed to mine
How your presence
Overwhelmed my senses
A moment
Turned to eternity
Eternity
Lost in a moment
Never to open my eyes again
Never to reach my station

To Kindle or Not To Kindle

.....that is the question!

It's technology, it's a gadget, so of course I am attracted. But I am hesitant. Books are great, not just because of the story, but also because of the look, the feel, the smell. That they can sit on a shelf and when you glimpse them out of the corner of your eye they bring back memories. That seems a lot to lose. Mind you, I have run out of shelf space. And being able to take 5 books on holiday without needing an extra bag seems attractive. Then what about choice, 650000 books sounds a lot to chose from but they may not include some of my more eclectic tastes.

I suspect I will ponder. I will deliberate. And then one night after a whisky I will order one anyway!

A Small Bite

I've been lucky enough to go through my 40-years with very little in the way of teeth problems. Other than removal of the occasional wisdom tooth I haven't needed any other treatment - no fillings etc. And last time I saw my dentist at the end of last year he said he didn't foresee any problems in the future.

So imagine my surprise a week or so ago when one of my front teeth became incredibly sensitive. For someone who likes coffee this was a definite problem. I was contemplating a visit to the dentist as I just wondered if that was a crack I could see across the surface of the tooth. Now imagine my even greater surprise when eating a Brie and chutney sandwich on Friday and suddenly it seemed crunchy. And then I realised that a big chunk of a molar (yes, a BACK tooth) was no longer in it's rightful place, instead floating around my mouth.

So I've spent the weekend with my tongue being sliced by my broken molar every time I swallowed and the front of my mouth hurting every time I breathed through my mouth.

All a bit of a shock really.

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Top Gear

So the BBC have apologised for some comments made in Top Gear about Mexicans. Now I haven't heard the comments but I watch enough Top Gear to know what they will be like. Which is kind if the point. Because if the BBC start apologising for comments on Top Gear then someone in their communications department has a full time job ahead if them. I doubt that there is any group that HASN'T been insulted on the programme. In fact, it's probably an insult NOT to have cruel, snide or bitter remarks made about you.

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Out-grouching the Grinch

I had to head home from work as I realised I was getting grouchier by the minute and my brain was doing less and less work and more and more cussing.  Ever have those kind of days.  It started badly with a 25 minute delay on the motorway.  For some reason I find delays beacuse of rubbernecking a LOT more irritating than because of an accident on my side of the motorway.  So when I found that this one was just down to rubbernecking I was less than pleased.  Then delays to meetings at work, for good reasons, but meant my day was disrupted.  Attempts to buy tickets online for the Saints quarter finals were also more complicated than they should have been - I seem to have bought tickets but no idea where we are sitting or if we are eventogether or how much they cost!  Then a computer that was more happy crashing than running.  Add into that I seem to ache just about everywhere - even my teeth are painful - then all in all this would have been a day better avoided.

Lighten Up

I took my car in for some new boots the other evening.  It does seem to get through the tyres quickly, and I am sure it is nothing to do with the power slides around the MK roundabouts.  Anyway, once they had finished they gave me the keys.  I got in and drove off.  As I went I wondered just what they had done to my dash.  It was much darker than normal.  Cursing them I pondered on which button they may have flicked.  I tried different things but to no avail.  I gave up worrying about it and continued on.  About ten minutes later it dawned on me.  They had turned my automatic headlights off, hence no light on the dash.  I was driving around MK with no lights on!  This is the problem when you get used to the car doing everything for you, you then forget the delicacies such as switching on the headlights.

Camley Street Gardens

As many of you know I am not a fan of London.  But every so often it surprises me - often courtesy of geocaching which brings me to places I otherwise wouldn't have known about.  One such place is Camley Street Gardens, carefully hidden away behind St Pancras and next to the canal.  Camley Street Gardens is a small, but perfectly formed, urban nature reserve.  It is also somewhat eclectic, with strange sculpture and a over-arching eco feel to it.  And even though I didn't find the cache, I am glad I found the gardens.

Bruised

I'll carry the bruises
The mental scars
I'll hold them high
Bear them proud
At least I know
Deep deep down
You cared enough
To hurt me.

Totem - Cirque du Soleil

It's January so it is time for the annual tour to the Royal Albert Hall by Cirque du Soleil.  This year they have brought Totem.  I nearly didn't buy us tickets.  Well how stupid would that have been!

I think this was our 6th Cirque show.  And it by far eclipsed any that we had previously seen.  There was real innovation and uniqueness to this show.  It all passed us by much too quickly.  It was spell binding, mesmerizing.  Cirque manage to be so much.  The music as ever wonderful, the costumes stunning, the acts jaw dropping.  And it isn't just the acts themselves, even the way they bring on and remove the props is part of the story, done with care and beauty.

Am I being rather effusive, yes.  Do they deserve it, yes!

The clip below is of the trapeze acrobats.  It is a fine example of what makes Cirque different.  It isn't just a circus act.  Here they have choreographed two lovers coming together, the shyness, the pretence, the fooling.  And it is done with some very dangerous acts which are incredible to watch.

Time Lag

I've been wondering recently why we, as a society, decided that self service was a GOOD idea.  Somehow we moved from a society where people did things for others - the attendent used to fill your car with petrol, grocers would put together your shopping order, etc - to one where we did it all for ourselves.  And does this change in behaviour now reflect our attitudes to each other.  Society does not care for its neighbour, people do not watch out for each other or each others children, people think that they have a right to things.  Off course 80 years ago things were not all rosey, average lifespan was shorter, less money, and so on.  But in trying to imrpove a persons lot in life we have made the whole thing worse.  Individuals are better off, but culture is sick.

A New Year

I've been blogging a lot less if late. It's mainly a case of how many things can be juggled at once. There's geocaching, photography, rugby, riding, masonry (with 4 different orders thats a lot of meetings), gym, the Saints blog and this. Plus I really need to fit in work as well. But I want to try to get this going again. Not exactly a new year resolution but a conscious decision.

Let's see.

It's Not About The Numbers...

Except for some of us it is. Geocaching statistics are fascinating if not a smidge worrying. I wanted to get to 500 by the end of 2010, and I did, although the snow did mean it was a close thing. So, beginning of the year and where am I:

513 Finds on 512 unique Geocaches


Overall Total Finds: 513 finds in 225 caching days over 2401 total days (9.37 %)

Overall Averages: 2.28 finds per caching day, 0.21/day, 1.50/week, 6.50/month

Last 365 Days: 497 finds in 213 caching days over 365 total days (58.3 %)

Last 365 Days Averages: 2.33 finds per caching day, 1.36/day, 9.53/week, 41.45/month

Most consecutive days with finds: 104, from 06/09/2010 to 18/12/2010

Most consecutive days without a find: 1059, from 09/09/2006 to 02/08/2009

Most finds in a day: 10 on 18/07/2010; 10 on 13/10/2010; 9 on 30/10/2010

Best weekend caching: 13 finds, on Saturday 10/07/2010 & Sunday 11/07/2010

Best week caching: 24 finds, from Monday 16/08/2010 to Sunday 22/08/2010

Most finds in a calendar month: 72, in Jun 2010

Most Cache Types in a day: 3 on 01/06/2010

Most States in a day: 4 (South East England, Nil, Southern England, Eastern England, East Midlands) on 27/07/2010 Note: includes locationless caches.

Most Counties in a day: 5 (Surrey : South East England, Berkshire : Nil, Oxfordshire : Southern England, Buckinghamshire : Eastern England, Buckinghamshire : East Midlands) on 27/07/2010 Note: includes locationless caches.

Fastest 100 finds: 37 days from 12/06/2010 to 18/07/2010

Last 100 finds: 43 days

Total cache-to-cache distance: 13045 Miles, Note: includes locationless caches.

0.52x Earth Circumnavigation,

0.055x Distance to the Moon

Maximum distance in a day: 332 Miles - 6 caches, on 14/10/2010

Nearest cache found: The Go Between 'Two' GC1797J

Furthest cache found: 1847.08 Miles, PICNIC (the 4 islands) GCTVNC

Most Northerly cache found: N 57° 26.064, Never mind the Bullers GCG4W9

Most Southerly cache found: N 28° 11.159, PICNIC (the 4 islands) GCTVNC

Most Easterly cache found: W 0° 05.303, An old street GC1NR69

Most Westerly cache found: W 16° 41.889, Pico Viejo - DP/EC50 GC1WYK8

Cache centroid: N 52° 02.035 W 1° 16.170

Centroid is 18 Miles from home: England, United Kingdom

Youngest cache found: 31/12/2010, D'Abby Dash #21 - Hulcote GC2KVWK

Oldest cache found: 13/10/2001, Accessible by Horse GC22E0

Caches found which are now archived: 24 (4.68 %)

Most FTFs in a day: 2 on 13/07/2010; 2 on 03/08/2010; 2 on 06/09/2010

Most FTFs in a calendar month: 7, in Sep 2010

Most consecutive months with a FTF: 8, from Jun 2010 to Jan 2011 (Current streak)

23 FTF's
 
Found caches on 217 dates in the year
 
Highest cache "Picnic" on Teneriffe at an elevation of 7007ft, and lowest cache "Howzat! Torre Abbey" at 7ft.

19 caches hidden which have been found a total of 271 times by 98 cachers.

A Christmas Simons Cat

Your Song - Ellie Goulding

I don't normally like covers, and especially not when one of the great somgs of our time. But, well listen and see what you think -

Your Song - Elton John

It's a little bit funny this feeling inside
I'm not one of those who can easily hide
I don't have much money but boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where we both could live

If I was a sculptor, but then again, no
Or a man who makes potions in a travelling show
I know it's not much but it's the best I can do
My gift is my song and this one's for you

And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world

I sat on the roof and kicked off the moss
Well a few of the verses well they've got me quite cross
But the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song
It's for people like you that keep it turned on

So excuse me forgetting but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

Bitter Boy - Kate Rusby

There was a boy, a bitter boy,
Who's golden heart I saw gleaming,
I thought I'd win the heart within,
But now I know that I was dreaming.

Chorus:
But I will rise, and I will sing,
Until the day I can't conceal it,
Because I hold the saddest song,
And wish to God I cannot feel it.

Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to me for rest and healing,
He reached in his chest, deep in his breast,
Held out the heart for me still gleaming.

Chorus.

Then the boy, me and the boy,
We walked for miles through stormy weather,
Hand in hand, we roamed the land,
And held the gleaming heart together.

Chorus.

Then the boy, the bitter boy,
He came to take the gleaming treasure,
He reached in my chest, deep in my breast,
And took the gleaming heart forever.

Chorus

Go Flash

Flash scores two against the Wallabies. And the second is an iconic moment, fantastic running from his own 22 in order to score. Beautiful to watch.

Searching For A Scare

Last Saturday we attended a geocache event in Great Brington.  Just, because of the date, this one had a bit of a scary theme.  Although we didn't turn up in fancy dress (we had been watching the Saints beat the Falcons so were in our rugby clothes) many did.  I wonder what the villagers thought to so many ghouls, witches, warlocks and vampires turning up in their rather nice pub.  Anyway, after a nice pub meal we obtained the list of caches that had been especially put out for a night time cache.  Loaded all the co-ordinates in the GPS (seemed a good idea to do this inside rather than in the dark), met up with friends and then set off in the dark.  Not quite enough torches to go around and the kids ran off with most of them, so the grown ups were left making their way down footpaths by moonlight.

Great Brington is where Althorp House is (thus sparking a debate on how it is pronounced, I am sticking to Althrup) so I am surprised that the police weren't out in force as a result of multiple reports of torches in the woods.  There were so many torches flashing around from all the cachers (over 150 I believe) that it was like an invasion.

But the organiser deserves major credit for the thought that went into these caches.  Really went with the theme.  Possibly not too surprising that one was a rat, and one a bat.  A bit more surprising was the severed hand (the cache was called Thing, and had the adults humming the Adams Family tune).  But the real crowning glory was the coffin in the middle of the wood.  Yes, a coffin.  Full sized.  And when opened containing a decaying body.  Oh yes, there was a lot of screaming.  Excellent.

What To Expect At Heathrow!

I hate to advertise for them, but wow:

Ship Ahoy (or No)!

I looked up the definition of asute.  I found "having or showing shrewdness and discernment, especially with respect to one's own concerns".  Which makes HMS Asute's name even more ironic.  Here we have a state of the art nuclear submarine, designed to outmanouvre the keenest of the enemies navy and it can't even get out of the way of an island.  It is supposed to be able to circumnavigate the globe underwater but actually getting underwater seems more of a problem.


It certainly seems that Skye boasts a grudge against the navy as this isn't the first time a sub has run aground there.  Perhaps this is an attempt by scottish nationals to develop their own navy by hijacking some passing submarine.  In fact, quite a few of the navy's subs have had collisions in the last 20 or so years.  Maybe they should be fitted with hazard lights.

With Thanks to Rainbow Dreams

The Invitation ~

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to
be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can
disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithless and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at the edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.

It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Addicted Find

I am sometimes accused of being fanatical. Well, when I say accused, to be honest I would agree. I have a tendency to get VERY involved with something that sparks my interest and might not always have the best sense of moderation. Currently geocaching would fit in this bracket. A supposedly cheap hobby has become an expensive one as I make my own signature items, my own caches, buy geocoins and travelbugs etc etc etc.

So it was nice today, while wandering around London hunting out a few caches, to come across some fellow geocachers and discover that they had flown to London from Sweden for a two day holiday purely to go caching around the capital. Now there's fanaticism!

OK Go - White Knuckles - Official Video

LEGO Stoned Olympics (inspired by Eddie Izzard)

OK Go - End Love

And Another Thing...

I missed off something else.  I missed it because it hadn't really registered as that exciting.  But I just used Wiki and that has changed my mind.

I WAS STANDING NEXT TO TOM HOLLANDER WHEN HE BOUGHT A SAUSAGE!!!!!

OK, maybe that sounds a bit weird.

So, Tom Hollander was at Greenbelt this year, and he was doing a bit of filming.  At this point I should put my hands up and say that a) I don't normally get that excited by "celebrities" and b) I usually can't recognise them anyway let alone know what they have been in.

On with the story - it was lunch time and I wondered what to get.  I thought I would try the Westmoreland and Cumberland Sausage company.  I went and stood in the queue.  Slightly annoying, I thought I recognised the person in front of me.  I racked my brains - had he been in my team in a previous year, did I know him from work, even was he a client when I was in practice near here.  All drawing a blank, but I was sure I knew him.  Just as I was about to tap him on the shoulder and say "excuse me, do I know you", someone else walked over and tapped him on the shoulder.  Then they said a weird thing, they said "can you turn more this way".  Odd.  I looked, and there was a film camera.  Penny dropped, this must be the person they were filming (OK, another admission, at this time I didn't know this was Tom Hollander, I had just got as far as realising this was an actor).  We worked our way up the queue.  He went to buy a sausage, but him couldn't quite nail the character, so he wanted to take a moment to compose himself, he told me to go in front of him.  And then, while I was waiting for my sausage, he came to the counter and ordered two, one with onions and one without.

I wandered off, mildly amused but not particularly excited.  I've been on TV before.  I've been interviewed by Sky and the BBC.  So this didn't rank far out of the ordinary.  I did google up the programme and found that it was Tom Hollander.  But this still didn't mean much.  Until just ten minutes ago.  For "J" I thought I would google a picture of Tom Hollander.  I did.  And OMG, he was in Pirates of the Caribbean!!!!!!!!  And I nearly asked him if he had worked in the Support Team!!!!!

So, if you ever see a programme with Tom Hollander buying a sausage then look for me in the background.  I'm the one in the hat.

Greenbelt

I seem to have missed off blogging about Greenbelt this year.  Not entirely sure why.  Maybe it's because I didn't feel I needed to provide Squeak with running commentary as she came as a punter.  Maybe my mind is on other things.  Maybe there was so much water in the form of rain that I was worried it would short circuit any equipment that could access the internet.

Whatever the reason, it was a good year.  As always it went too quickly.  A blink and it was over.  Were there any highlights.  Well, in no particular order:

1)  The campsite sweep - for certain reasons we ended up doing a sweep of the main campsite.  In previous years it has fallen to our team to sweep the helicopter field on the Friday night.  Slight change this year so we ended up doing the central racecourse.  Never again springs to mind.  The helicopter field is a nice rectangle.  Easy to plan, easy to sweep.  The central racecourse is completely out of shape.  Trying to ensure that the sweep is in a straight line, well spread out, and all areas are checked is next to impossible.  No wonder we didn't finish until nearly 0400 hrs.  And to cap it all we didn't get to use the golf buggies!

2) The team of doom - they know who they are.  An all female pairing which worked together for two nights.  They didn't even need to go looking for things to do, trouble came to them.  We'd turn our attnetion elsewhere for 5 minutes and the Team of Doom would pick up yet another shout.  Even when all else was quiet they were managing to find lost children, burning installations, and just general chaos.

3)  Chinese lanterns posing as the ISS - there were a lot of chinese lanterns being let off this year from around the campsite or from outside the campsite.  One team seemed to make it their sole purpose to report these.  However, in an interesting twist, when they were actually asked to investigate one such incident then they quickly decided that it was the International Space Station passing overhead.  Which led to the classic retort from Control "only if its on fire!" 

4)  A thank you card from the team - Zippie and I were both given a card signed by all the members of the team.  A lovely gesture and, don't tell them, really meant a lot to me.

5)  The team - we were missing a few old hands this year.  But we had some new ones, and also one of the grand originals returned (hard to beleieve that the Support Team is in its tenth year).  And they all did really well.  It becomes very easy for Zippie and me, we get bathed in the reflected glory of a job well done by our team.  I am proud to work with them.

6)  The weather - I don't think I have ever tried to put up a tent in as much rain.  And then discovered that the new tent is poorly designed and gets very damp.  Despite this, the weather improved for the festival itself rather than the set up, and we ended up with sun, plus the most incredible rainbow.

7)  Being accused of stealing the FOMs vehicle - on the second day I was approached by a FOM (Festival Operations Manager) to be told that I was using their vehicle.  Turns out they were sulking because I was using a Nissan Navara whereas they had a beaten up Landrover.  Pleased to say, I kept the Nissan!

Saltimbanco - Cirque du Soleil

A wonderful afternoon spent watching Saltimbanco. Cirque du Soleil never disappoint. This is one of their older shows and it shows in that it is less overt, but it is none the worse for that. It is beautiful, more beautiful than any of the other shows we have seen, with the possible exception of Allegria.  And it is the simplicity that makes it such a visual feast.  I was enthralled by it all.  If you get the opportunity to see it, then don't miss it.

Lightspout Hollow - A Geocache Story

Well todays geocache turned into a bit more of an epic than I was originally planning. It was only supposed to be a quick break to my journey. Instead, well read this epic description:

I parked in the National Trust car park. The co-ordinates seemed slightly off, as they seemed to be pointing to parking up near some holiday cottages, but never mind. I then realised that I didn't have my National Trust member sticker as I have changed cars. So I walked up to the shop and explained. I hoped that they would just take my details and that would be that. Instead they wanted to be more helpful and give me a new sticker. So I had to walk back to the car and put the sticker in the windscreen. Now start heading back up the path again. Only to realise I didn't have my camera. So back to the car again. OK, geocaching bag - check, phone - check, camera - check. Here we go. Oh bother, wrong lens on the camera. Back again. So I haven't even got out of the car park and already half a mile added to the trip!

I walk up the path, passed the holiday cottages, and then find an ADDITIONAL car park. Which would be just where the co-ordinates were!!!!!! So I've added even more distance to the trip. But here we go, finally getting into the hills. Arrow pointing up the valley, and let's stretch the legs. Interesting, it seems that the National Trust are taking some PR pictures. Don't stop, not much time. Nice walk, valley is quiet, lack of muggles. I feel positive. Or at least, I feel positive until the GPS arrow starts swinging to the right while the valley starts swinging to the left. It starts to dawn on me that I might be on the wrong side of the hill. Walk a bit further and yes, definitiely the wrong side. OK. There's a path going straight up, I'll use that. Only the path turns out to be a sheep trail. And the sheep trail turns out to not even be that and my route is blocked. On the plus side I get to see a nice little reservoir. I keep on walking for a bit in case there is a path over the hill, but no, it is not going to happen. Time to retrace my steps. Luckily I spot a path that will loop around the bottom of the hill and I don't have to lose the height I have already gained. But that's another mile or so added to the trip as well.

I round the valley head and am faced by hordes of people. Hmm, obviously a bit more popular this side. For a moment I consider stopping there and then, but I decide to hope that the muggles aren't around the waterfall. Onward and upward. And it's looking good, the path divides and it looks as though most people are going right. But very soon I find a bunch of school children coming down the path - or more accurately, the stream as they've decided it is clever to walk down the middle - towards me. That's fine, it's good for kids to get out and meet the countryside. I grew up walking places like this, and I am pleased that they get a chance. Talking of growing up, I didn't used to get this out of breath, how far up is this waterfall anyway?

The distance ticks down on the GPS. Ah, it's got to be just around this corner. Hurray there it is, but oh no, another bunch of school kids all camped out at the base. This is not looking good. I'm not turning back though. And I climb the rocks to the top of the waterfall. Sit down at what appears to be GZ (ground zero)according to the GPS. I start looking from my position to see anything suspicious, all the while hoping that they will go and I can start searching. Good, they're going. But here come another lot. I soon realise that this appears to be muggle central. A school have decided to have a day out. Not just a class, the whole school. And they keep coming in waves. And unfortunately most of them are unruley and very loud. No chance to enjoy nature. Any self respecting animal or bird has now high tailed it out of here. I manage a little search, then another lot coming, and the cheeky blighters shout out something about me needing the RAF rescue! OK, so I was off the beaten track and scrambling a bit, but this was an unneccessary observation. So I sit down again and wait. But they keep coming. I'm now very conscious that this is no longer a quick trip. And I haven't seen anything around GZ that might be a cache. I'm beginning to think that I will need to call it a day. But there is one more place I want to check. The GPS thinks otherwise, but I would kick myself if I didn't try. A short break in the flow of children, and those nearby are more interested in trying to drown each other under the waterfall anyway, carefully and studiously ignoring the instructions from "Miss" who seems to think repeatedly shouting "Connor" will get him to stop acting like a mountain goat! No-ones looking. Leap, jump, scrabble slightly (me, not Connor). What's that. Does that look slightly wrong? I believe it does.


Hazzah. Cache in hand. It needs some maintenance, can't explain exactly what as it would give the game away. But I have it. And I have the Little Quest numbers. Take the crocodile TB, leave sigitem.

All that remains is the walk back, negotiating the children.

This could be a beautiful spot. It could be somewhere to contemplate life. To admire nature. To simply "be". Unfortunately not today. I want children to experience nature, but this lot needed to be locked up, no respect for their teachers or the beauty around them. Sadly, much like golf, this was a good walk spoiled.

U2 Vertigo

Lion Invasion

Northampton has been invaded by lions.  This is wonderful.  Called the Pride of Northampton, 40 lions have been designed by artists to grace oour streets.  Now, there have been a few detractors, those who complain about the money spent, but I see this as a vision, an attempt to scale the heights.

I didn't know this was happening.  On Sunday I went in to town for a jazz night only to find myself confronted with these lions.  And I was so impressed.  They are beautiful and so tactile (and in case you wonder, this was BEFORE I had had a drink).  You are drawn to them and to admire them.  They bring life and colour to the streets.  Things of wonder.

Art is not of value in itself.  Its value is in what it does to your soul, how it makes you feel.  This is a project designed to ift us above ourselves and, as such, I love it.

Crying

What can I say
To take the pain
To dissolve it
Like salt in water
Until only
A few
Tears remain.

Cool (?)

Sunny day. Cruising along in the Audi A5.  Both windows down.  Tanned arm nonchalantly out the side.  But maybe the street cred blown slightly by "The Archers" blaring out!

Ok, OK,  I know. But I was two episodes behind.

Vanishing Trick

Have you ever had a friend just disappear off the face of the world.  Email, phone, everything suddenly appear to be switched off or disconnected.  It is disconcerting to say the least.  Especially when it's a good friend.  You are left wondering if there is a major earth shattering disaster in their life, or whether it is simply that you have done/said something wrong without realising it.  It's a horrible feeling, it's as though some filaments holding you to the world have been severed and are waving loosely in the breeze.  Not recommended.

When The Pigeon Comes Over The Tree....

Somewhat hard to believe, and sparking a thought that maybe India has April Fools day today, it appears that police are currently holding a pigeon under armed guard.  The pigeons rights are being looked after and there is no torture - it is in a locked but air conditioned cell - but the pigeon is being held for spying.  The pigeon was found in a Punjabi districtneighbouring Pakistan.  As the pigeon had a tag with a Pakistani number on it the police immediately lept to the conclusion that it had been sent in on a spying mission.  I've heard of Pigeon Pie before, now we have Pigeon Spy.

Geobite

Geocaching has suddenly become more popular in the household.  I don't have to sneak off.  This probably has something to do with one of "A"'s friends being a geocacher so suddenly "A" sees it as a cooler activity than when dad wants to do it.

Yesterda after the IRB Sevens "A" wanted to do some caching.  We found one next to the Thames in a lovely spot - recommend a visit to Marble Hill park.  The went for a bit of a drive.  After a while I stopped to see if there were any nearby.  And there was.  In a wood.  We set off, followed a good path.  And discovered that this wood was quite marshy.  The path was OK but if you strayted off then there were overtones of episodes out of Lord of the Rings.  We were successful in finding the cache, which is good news.  Possibly not so good was that there were mossies the size of zeppelins, very hungry mossies the size of zeppelins.  Now, I have always been one of those people that mossies, midges, and any other blood sucking bug, think look like meals on wheels.  They home in on me, whcih is good news for any companions as they are left alone.  Today my legs are one inflamed mass, and there are sore marks on my back and my arms.  I was eaten alive.

Mind you, I ge the last laugh.  I'm still on warfarin.  I wonder what a mouthful of that stuff does to a mossie!

Maybe This Explains It

Co-ordinated

I had a three day trip to Scotland with work this week.  I decided to squeeze in a bit of Geocaching. One of the many advantages of the iPhone is that it has a Geocache app.  And this is very handy as it can show you if there are any cahces nearby.  The actual GPS itself isn't quite accurate enough so a dedicated GPS is important (and I want to upgrade to something even better) but it makes a good starting point.  Over the 3 days I managed to get 10 caches, including some in Roslin alog a nice walk to a viaduct.  One of the things I like about Geocaching is that it gets me out and looking around rather than staying in the car.  It's a fun way to explore.

Eeeek eeeek

There I was this evening happily sitting down watching the recording of the Blues vs Wasps when I suddenly saw some movement.  I quite calmly said "should there be a mouse wandering across the floor".  A comment which elicited a small scream from "J" as she rapidly moved her feet off the floor.  I'm gueesing that the dear cats brought the mouse in earlier and it had been hiding under the hi-fi stand waiting for the cats to leave the room - note that thes weren't cats that had been scouring the room searching but had simply been asleep on the chairs".  Once they left he decided it was safe to come out.  As I was trying to work out how to catch him the cats came back in.  Mouse ran under the gas fire - luckily not on.  Cats managed to catch aforesaid mouse - with not a small amount of hissing at me, very possesive of their mice these cats.  Cats then ran into the garage with mouse.  I left them to it.

An hour later going in to the garage it was clear that the cats had managed to lose the mouse again.  I tried to help by tipping up the washing machine and moving things but couldn't see the mouse anywhere.  So I decided to leave them to it.  10 minutes later cats are in the daughters bedroom.  And one of them has a mouse in his mouth.  Which he then drops as I approach.  Great.  Rogue mouse in daughters bedroom.  Daughter asleep.  Cats hissing and growling.  Give the cat a clip round the ears for growling at me.  Spot mouse.  Mouse dives behind Mickey Mouse.  Move Mickey, mouse moves behind horse.  Cats leave room.  As I move the toy horse I wish my daughter didn't have so many cuddly toys on the floor.  Manage to corner mouse.  I say corner, he was trapped between a pad of paper, the bin, a koala and a hat box.  Squash mouse between wall and small collapsible storage thing.  Mouse climbs up and falls into storage thing, which is also full of little soft plushy toys etc.  Drop lid from a tin on top and carry entire thing downstairs, praying that mouse is still in the small collapsible storage thing.  Take it outside, remove lid.  One mouse looking at me, which I tip out on to the ground and it bounds off into the night rain.

Now I am hoping that both sightings were one and the same mouse.  The other possibility seems to be that the cats have decided to keep a mouse in every room for those moments when they get bored!

Oink

I don't normally watch Watchdog.  And I'm quite pleased with that.  Unfortunately it was on in the background this evening as I was cooking my dinner and waiting for the leader debate.  And they had an item about mini-pigs.  These are small pigs that people can buy as pets.  Buy as pets to sit on their lap.  Now apparently these pigs grow a bit bigger than people expect.  Then they do things like pull the radiator off the wall.

And I end up yelling at the TV "THEY'RE PIGS, THEY'RE BLOODY PIGS, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT!!!!!!!!"

Support Me

Thanks to the DVT I now have to wear stockings for a couple of years.  Thankfully they are of the "below knee" variety so really are just long socks.  When you are first diagnosed with a DVT you are told that starting to wear stockings within the first 2 weeks of the DVT is important as it reduces damage to the valves in the veins, any longer and long term damage can set in.  So it is a little disappointing to find that it takes the NHS 3-4 weeks to get the stockings for you.

Anyway, the NHS will only provide 1 set of stockings, if you want more then you have to pay for them yourself.  Which is fair enough.  And as the weather warms up then more than one set seems a good idea.  So I rang the supplier today to order some more.  The lady at the other end of the phone is very pleasant.  Takes my order.  Then tells me they will be with me in 2 days.  2 days I say, don't you mean 2 weeks.  Gosh no she says, it doesn't take us that long, 2 days.

Can anyone PLEASE explain why therefore it takes the NHS 3 weeks?

Camerons Debate Notes

Flying High

I'm trying to work out if you can be "too cautious" when thinking about flying planes through ash.  After all, if you get it wrong it isn't just your ice-cream dropped on the floor is it!

This is one of those "damned if you do and damned if you don't" things.  A similar thing happened with the FMD outbreak in 2007.  The then CVO was put under massive pressure by the industry to lift movement restrictions, being told that she was too cautious.  She responded and lifted the restrictions, only for a new outbreak a week later and further spread of disease.

Now, especially if I was going to be 30000 ft in the air, I would like to think that people WERE being over cautious.  It seems all very well saying that the planes can cope with small amounts of ash in the air, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it isn't spread evenly up there.  What if there's a thicker cloud of it, the pilot would only know when he hit it.  And past experience has shown that ash CAN take engines out.  So overall, caution seems a good thing.

When The Saints

"A" decided that she wanted to write about the Saints.  It seemed an opportunity to set up a new blog.  So we spent some time yesterday designing it, basic ideas from here and I just add the artistic direction.  Then started posting.  She is the author.  I am editor (with varying levels of editing depending on how it is going).  Anyway, I went for a shameless plug on the Saints forum, and this evening we have had 75 hits!  Not bad going.  And some positive feedback whcih is great.  You see the more I can get "A" interested in all things rugby then the more chance I have of continuing to go to matches.  Yes, there is an ulterior motive, but it keeps me happy!

Soul Mercy

We all do it.  We all buy things on the web without reading all of the user agreement first.  Tick the box to say yes, with a faint nagging feel that it's wrong but not enough to spend the necessary 5 minutes!  Well, on 1st April, if you bought from GameStation then there is a reasonable chance you just gave away your living soul.  Hidden into their terms and conditions was the following:

"By placing an order via this Web site on the first day of the fourth month of the year 2010 Anno Domini, you agree to grant Us a non transferable option to claim, for now and for ever more, your immortal soul. Should We wish to exercise this option, you agree to surrender your immortal soul, and any claim you may have on it, within 5 (five) working days of receiving written notification from gamestation.co.uk or one of its duly authorised minions."

It appears that around 7500 people made purchases on the day.  It seems hardly any contacted the company to say that would rather not surrender their immortal soul.  If you bought from them on that day and you see letters of fire standing six feet tall in front of your house then you ahd better not read them, it won't just be the bailiff.

Saints 38 - Gloucester 23

I had a hard decision today.  I was supposed to be at a Greenbelt ops meeting.  But it is still rugby season and we had a home game against Gloucester.  Compromise time.  I didn't go riding (a big decision) so I could get to the meeting in the morning but I left at lunch time so I could make it to the match.  And, although I miss you all dearly, that was the right decision because it was a great match.

The Saints have been playing an attractive brand of rugby this season, running the ball, counter-attacking.  And some of our opponents have risen to the challenge.  Such a match was today, both sides running, attacking, lookng for the breaks.  Which lead to a match which went from one end of the pitch to the other in the blink of an eye.  An attack, a gamble, lost ball, counter-attack.  Great to watch.  Gloucester supporter behind me said at the end we deserrved to win, but they gave us a run all right.

And at the end a wonderful selfless moment.  Bruce Reihana is the most loved player at the Saints, he has already made sacrifices for the club in that he could have gone back to New Zealand with a chance to get in to the All Blacks, or he could have gone to Munster, but he stayed with us in the lean times.  We all love it when he gets the ball, and cheers of "Bruce Bruce Bruce Bruce" resound around the stadium.  At the end of matches he comes back out and claps us, the fans.  He always has a moment for the children.  A great man.  Today he played as well as ever.  Then, with only 2 minutes to go, he made a break down the wing.  A great run, he stepped passed, or over, tackles.  He made it to the Gloucester try line.  He went over the Gloucester try line.  Then, in a moment no-one believed, rather than take the try himself he passed to Chris Ashton so that Flash could get his hat-trick of the match.  There is no question that Flash deserved the hat-trick, the first two tries being great reading of the game and perfect lines, but Bruce is only 6 points away from scoring 1000 for the club.  He always puts others before himself and is, in every way, a true gentleman who I am proud to have seen playing rugby.

A Rounded Picture

It looks as though, come June, Sony will be launching a 3D TV. I have never really understood all the fuss about 3D films anyway. I don't think that it adds much to a film and, in fact, the current trend suggests that the film makers get overly distracted with the effects, trying to ensure things come rushing out at you, and forget the virtue of have a good story with strong acting.

So, with little enthusiasm for 3D films you might imagine that I would not be swept away with the idea of a 3D TV. And you would be right. Despite being a gadget freak and loving the up to date toys, this one is not for me. The idea of having to sit in the privacy of my own house and wear stupid glasses does not grab me. And then let's think it through fully. Considering what is on TV. And I have suddenly thought of the election debates and actually having Gordon standing in my living room. Well there's a horror movie for you, right there. And I have never liked horro films.

Bang

While truly sorry for those trying to fly out tomorrow, I have to say I am extremely releived that it was this week and not last.  I would have been very upset not to go to Munster.  It was last Friday at 1100hrs that we flew from Cardiff so we would have been right in it.  Extremely selfish I know.

On Off

Thinking of going for a pee in the middle of the night.  Stop right there.  Apparently it could give you cancer.  So glad that the Daily Mail are on top of this.  I hadn't realised what a risk I was putting myself at.  Now I have to work out whether I want to fall down the stairs in the dark or simply wet the bed.  Except, IT'S NOT TRUE.  The science editor for the Daily Mail should be taken out and shot at dawn for completely misrepresenting some scientific findings.  The University of Leicester have been quick to explain that the report is a load of tosh (scientific term there).  It looks as though going to the toilet for one hour and using a bright light MAY be a risk, but that doesn't describe what most of us do at 3am if we are unfortunate enough to ahve to go, when we stagger to the bathroom, keep our eyes half closed, and get it over with as quickly as possible.  So we can rest easy, go when we want, and not have to wake up to a wet patch.

Munster Mash

Well what a weekend trip.  Immense fun and a good example of why rugby union is such a good game.

Northampton Saints managed to get through to the Heineken Cup quarter finals a month or so ago.  We were the only english team to get through but we were at the bottom of the 8, so we were drawn against Munster at Thomond Park (their home ground).  Tickets were scarce but one night, with a rush of blood (or whisky) to the head, I entered the ballot.  And we got three tickets.  I then realised just how much the trip was going to cost, what with flights, hotel, car hire etc.  But in for a penny etc etc.

Last weekend was the trip, and we got back today.  And it was so much fun, despite losing.

First off we were flying from Cardiff to Cork.  We went from Cardiff because I had some work over there.  We arrived at Cardiff airport on Friday morning and checked in.  Then we went up to the departure gates.  Only to realise that we were surrounded by Ospreys players who were off to Biarritz.  I am not a great Ospreys fan, mainly because of their supporters, by they do have some players that I greatly admire.  So to find myself sitting having a cup of coffee while the table next to me had James Hook and Mike Phillips also having a drink, to watch Adam Jones shopping in duty free, to stand next to Ian Gough, was like a dream.  There were all the others as well, names you would know well, but these were the names that I was in awe of.

A good start then.  Arrived in Cork, hired the car and started the drive to Charleville where we were staying.  Only to find that we were driving past Blarney Castle.  So we had to stop there didn't we.  And yes I kissed the Blarney Stone (and no, I really don't care if locals have pee'd on it).

The next morning we got up and took a taxi to Limerick.  And was duly stunned at the number of Munster flags everywhere.  This is a city that lives and breathes rugby.  And the Munster fans were already wandering around in their Munster tops, and we were wandering around in our Saints tops, and everything was so friendly - and this is where rugby scores so highly above football, we could mix and mingle freely and happy to see each other.  We went to Clohessys bar where all the Saints were meeting, and picked up our flags.  We wandered around the city for a while before making our way to Thomond Park.  Of course we fitted in a Guiness or two as well.

The match itself was something else.  Thomond Park holds twice as many spectators as Franklins Gardens,  The noise was incredible.  You cannot begin to believe it until you sit there with Munster fans shouting from all around you.  The noise fills your body.  In fact it scared the life out of my daughter, so much so that we told her we could go, but she didn't want to.  And though we lost in the end, at half-time the Saints were ahead, and for a moment, a brief moment, the Munster hordes were silenced and 6000 Saints could be heard singing.  A glorious moment.  We left defeated but still proud to be Saints, and swapped flags with Munster supporters on the way out.

The next day we made a trip to Tipperary (which is, of course, a ong way to go).  Then headed back to Cork ariport.  As we were standing to board the plane I noticed the guys ahead of us had WRU clothes and bags.  I pointed them out to "J" and said I thought I recognised them.  Turned out they were the ref and other officials from the match!  So "A" had to speak to them when we landed and waiting to collect our bags.  She even got Nigel Owens autograph, and he gave here a WSRUR pin batch, which she can wear on her hat with all her other badges.

Yes we lost.  Yes it cost a lot of money.  But the experience was priceless!

Oh When The Saints

One more sleep to go and I'm flying out to Cork.  Two more sleeps to go and it is the Heinekan Cup Quarter Final Munster vs Saints.  I am so excited that I am having dreams AND nightmares about it.  About the flight, about missing the flight, about the match, about being in Ireland.  I can't sit still, my leg keeps jiggling.  Any spare second and I am thinking about the match.  Oh dear, I think I've become obsessed.

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine version

One, Two, Three

The way I approach work and the way I approach home are markedly, and even surprisingly, different.  When I went for my interview, many years ago, I was asked what my desk at work would look like.  I said it would be covered with papers and things, basing it on what I knew I was like at home.  In reality I have one of the tidiest desks in the office, my email in-box is kept to a minimum (if I have over 5 emails then that's a lot), and I have "to do" lists to work from.  I know there is no other way for me, I need to keep things rolling, it is easier and better to multitask, thus making sure all the plates remain spinning, than to stop and spend too long on one thing.

At home it is rather different.  I put something down and then I can forget about it for weeks, even months.  I know that things need to be done around the house, but I get distracted too easily.  I am a magpie, easily distracted by shimmery things!  So it was a pleasant surprise today to have a list to work from AND TO DO IT ALL.  Now, I admit, it was nothing too grand.  I put up pictures in my daughters room, I put up a clock in her room (OK, technically this was part of the same activity, but I want extra credit because a clock is not a picture), I put pictures up in to the attic, I helped clean up a pile of things in the corner of the conservatory, I booked tickets for the Royal Windsor Horse Show.  I rocked.  Very satisfying.

One Blink

We were supposed to just have a quiet day today.  "A" has been tired recently, although she won't admit it.  So having a quiet day seemd a good idea.  Which makes it all the more mystifying where the day has gone!  Unfortunately I do suffer from rushes of blood to the head (hence off to Limerick in a weeks time, a ridiculous amount to end up paying for a rugby match, what with tickets, flight, car hire and hotel).  And I had a such a rush today, deciding suddenly that a trip to the cinema would be good.  At 1210 hrs we were sitting down in front of "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang".  This then had to be followed by lunch out.  By the time we got home the day had almost gone.

Now, I don't recommend the "Nanny McPhee" film.  The first one was OK but this was more predictable than not.  And easily eclipsed by "Alice in Wonderland".  A burping crow cannot compete with a Mad Hatter.  A cameo appearenace by Bill Bailey did raise a smile, but was not enough to rescue the entire film.  "A" is becoming more discerning as well and didn't think much of it by the end.  Mind you, did see a trailer for "Despicable Me".  I don't really know what it is about, but the fact it has the music from Reservoir Dogs means I want to see it!

What's that coming over the hill...

I love being a Saint, and Tiny has confirmed a three year deal with the Saints, leaving a sorry Sarries behind.

A Tiny Step

This year has gone fairly well for the Saints so far.  We won the LV Cup.  The only english team through to the quarter finals of the Heinekan Cup.  Sitting second in the Guiness Premiership.  There was a cloud however.  Tiny (Soane Tonga'uiha as his real name, you can see why we opt for Tiny) had signed for the Saracens for next season.  Now the Saints had taken Tiny from Bedford as a slow and overweight prop.  Now he is a prop with a desire to be a wing!  Well, OK, that's an exagerration but his intercept and break during the LV Cup final was incredible, he ran almost the whole length of the pitch.  The point is that he is now up there as one of the best in the premiership and we were going to miss him.

Somehow something that started as a rumour, that Tiny had changed his mind and wanted to stay, has got more and more momentum.  It's looking as though he is doing his best, but it is annoying the Sarries quite a bit.  It's exciting news and I believe that the input from the fans, with threads on the Saints forum and even a petition on Facebook, has had a big impact on his decision.  Unfortunately it is likely to get ugly before it gets pretty.  I hope it doesn't distract the players for the rest of the season.

Big Bang

So, while there remains an outside chance that we have all slipped into an alternate reality, it appears that the Large Hadron Collider is finally a success. It's taken a lot longer than planned but cheering was heard within CERN today as the scientists managed to collide protons at previously unimagined speeds. After all the fuss, including an interesting theory that time travellers were coming back and sabotaging the LHC because success would have destroyed the world (there's a Star Trek sized time paradox if ever I've seen one) and another that God himself was breaking it (presumably in a fit of peak that he didn't have one when he created the universe as it would have been quicker so he could have had a long weekend off rather than just Sunday), it was somewhat uneventful. At least, I'm fairly sure that wasn't a black hole on the M1 thus evening as I returned from work.

Drawn Swords

A very happy man tonight. I had an interview for joining Knights Templar. This is something I have been interested in for a long time. The Knights have a long and interesting history. The first global bankers. The origin of "Friday the 13th" being unlucky. Roslyn chapel. So many interwoven pieces to put together. AND I get a sword!

I just hope I don't meet the Pope or the French king.

Rest Time

Now that was an intense weekend. It felt that as soon as I was in the house then it was time to go out again. Fitted in 2 birthday parties, riding, cycling, rugby, lunch out, making muffins, a basketball match, and a jazz evening. And all this when we lose an hours sleep. I think I need the week to begin so I can have a rest.

Of course most of it was for "A" (not the jazz evening, that was me time). Who ended up so tired that I don't think we ended up with due credit for being a taxi service. This is the thanks you get for being a parent! A child protesting wildly that she isn't tired and then crying because she hasn't had a chance to go out and play with her friends. But I wil take an opportunity to say congratulations to her and her school friends, who won the basketball competition (it was quarter finals), defeeating all the other three schools they were up against. Not sure that the rather loud support I provided was appreciated though. Does shouting "Go A, Go A, Go A" while doing a little dance count as embarassing your kids?

Trotting On

Riding is still a big part of my daughters life, and of mine as well. Normally though my chances of riding revolve around hers. So when she has a 45 minute lesson every Saturday then I can sneak in a 30 minute lesson as well. And that's fine, I am happy with that. However today "A" had a party to go to and thus couldn't come riding. I was not going to take her to the party though as it involved having hair and nails done, and make-up and other girly things. So I booked myself an hours hack.

And it was really enjoyable. It was lovely to be able to go out for a ride without having to "learn" all the time. It was lovely to be able to go out on the roads rather than be stuck in the school. It was lovely to be riding for a whole hour. OK, so the fields are too wet for us to go cantering, but it was nice to just be out. Pleasant day.

Blues and Twos

It is with great disappointment that I heard the news that "The Bill" is to be axed. To be honest, 6 months or so ago then I wouldn't have been at all concerned. But the new format is really good. I started watching The Bill when it was first aired. It was good drama, well thought out, with strong story lines. I continued to watch for probably about 15 years. But gradually it became more and more of a soap rather than a drama. And the more it tried to compete with Eastenders then the worse it became. Eventually it was no longer worth watching. But about 6 months ago they announced that they were changing back to once a week and hour long episodes. Well, there's not much else on TV these days so give it a go I thought. And what I found was that they had gone back to a drama format not a soap. And the new format is good, really good. Stories are complex, and don't always end as you would expect. There is enough connection between episodes, with some story lines going over a couple of weeks. I will actually miss it when it goes.

Clean Up

Just about every hotel now has a sign in the bathroom which reads something like "ooo, we really really care about the environment so we will only wash your towels if they really really need it in order to save water". However the reality is that what those signs mean is "ooo, we can save money if we don't wash your towels so unless you leave them specifically in the bath then don't expect nice clean ones!"

Biffy Clyro - Bubbles

OK, it's not the best of quality, but I used to love gigs at the Barrowlands.

Whoa

Toyota have some adverts on the radio at the moment. Clearly designed to encourage buyers to come back to them. The idea is to convince us everything is fixed. They end with a statement "now we're going". I thought the problem was that they couldn't stop!

Saints 30- 24 Gloucester

Last season my daughter started enjoying rugby and supporting the Northampton Saints. This has proved a wonderful thing for me as I have been able to go to almost every home match this season, and even managed to start mixing in some away games. Well today was the final of the LV= Cup, played at the Worcester ground. Now, last year I was at the same final, it was at Twickers, but by coincidence it was against Gloucester. Last year Cardiff Blues trounced the cherry and whites, so I headed towards todays game thinking I would be lucky to be on the winning team two years in a row. This was not helped by Shane Geraghty being put at full back. Shane is an enigma at the best of times, sometimes sublime and sometimes substandard. To put him at full back, out of position was either an act of genius or madness.

What a game. Last year ended up quite a fun affair. The Blues ran in trys for fun and it was an "easy" game to watch. Today was nip and tuck. At times Gloucester were in the lead. Then the Saints would come back. Then the pressure would build again. It so could have gone any direction. I have no voice left (which could be interesting as I have a few presentations to do this week) and my nails are nibbled to the quick. But, in the end, we won. I do have some sympathy for Gloucester, their record is not great in these events, but they played their hearts out. Ultimately though, what makes the Saints so good at the moment, and what fosters incredible loyalty amongst their supporters, is that they really are a close team who are their for each other. It isn't that one man stands above the others but that every one of them throws everything they can into the game.

There were some wonderful moments. "Tiny" (a prop, a very large prop) making a break and runing almost the length of the field. On TV you see him smiling to start with and then the smile changing to concern as his engine fades - props are just not supposed to run that far. A great try by Lee Dickson - so deserved, no-one else puts his body on the line so often. Shane under the high ball - being targetted by Gloucester and showing that he can't be intimidated. Roger Wilson making breaks. All absolutely stunning to watch. A day where my nerves couldn't have taken another 5 minutes, the last two minutes of the game stretching for eternity when the whole game was over in a flash. So enjoyable.

Once again I can say "I was there".

Stuck

Those who follow me on Facebook or Plurk will know by now that I was recently diagnosed with a DVT. The full story is as follows:

Back in the second week of January we were at a conference. After an enjoyable night including dancing and a generous flow of alcohol, I went to bed. Approximately two hours later Iwoke to the most excrutiating pain in my left leg, like the worlds worst cramp. No more sleep for me that night, and when I got out of bed in the morning I nearly fell over as I couldn't put weight on my leg. However I found that the more I moved around then the easier it became. I managed until the night when, after 30-60 minutes of lying down, the cramp started again. Anyway, another night without sleep, but made it through the next day and drove home. A day or two later the pain was easier, especially if I kept moving and even going down the gym, but I noticed my leg was swollen. And I mean really really swollen.

I'm not a fan of doctors. There are probably a few reasons for this, not least a psychological one that my father was a doctor and yet smoked himself to death before I was 10. I suspect there might be some lingering resentment! I was therefore reticent to go to the doctor. After all, the leg was improving (barr the swelling) so why bother them. I could get around well enough. I kept on riding. Describing the symptoms to medical friends and family, it just wasn't a DVT, there were no precipitating factors, no reason I should have one, and it didn't act like one either. If anything the pain was in my ankle and heel, other than that the twinges just shifted around.

After about 6 weeks I decided that I had had enough of my mother nagging me to see the doctor. By this time she had decided that my leg was going to drop off. I went to my doctor ad within 10 seconds of me walking in he had decided it was a DVT without even examining me. That was a sure way to wind me up. I said I thought it might be a deep infection and he agreed to put me on antibiotics. I made an appointment to see him again in a week.

The swelling went down a bit on the antibiotics, but the reality was it was still an unusual looking leg. So I went for my appointment. Minor problem, I turned p at 1910hrs, when I beleived my appointment was, but it had actually been at 1030hrs. Not entirely sure how I got that wrong. Despite the fact that the surgery was empty the doctor refused to see me. I left muttering something about being paid to do nothing with tax payers money, and resolved to find a new doctors. Which I did. But it took more time.

So another week or so passes, and I go to see my new doctor. I get examined. He doesn't think it is typical of a DVT but he can't think of anything else so feels I should start on heparin. Unfortunately it is too late for me to have heparin there so he sends me to the out of hours doctors at the hospital. Who are more than somewhat surprised that I have been sent to them for heparin injections. Partly because they don't think it is a DVT and partly because that isn't the arrangement they have. Anyway, after about an hour and a half I get my injection and we send a form to the DVT clinic so I can get checked the next day.

The next day arrives and I go down the DVT clinic. Where everyone is very nice, probably aided by the fact that there are no doctors around. They assess me, check me over, and announce it isn't a DVT and I can go home. At which point I beg to be scanned. Not because I now beleive I ahve a DVT but because I want proof for the doctors. So the nurse calls the scanning department, who initially say it isn't a DVT so why scan me. Luckily they are quiet and they have a trainee who needs practice. So they let me go down. The scanning proceeds in a very jovial manner (although I wished my underwear was tighter around the leg area, the probe got very intimate) and we are beginning to talk about other things when there is a sudden tone of surprise in the voice of the scanner as she announces that she has found a DVT. And then a second one. One in the ankle and one at the back of the knee. When she gave me my forms back I think the term she used was that I had "bamboozled" them.

Two things annoyed me at this point. One was that the doctor was right. The second was that I wouldn't be able to go to Munster for the Heinekan Cup Quarter Final. The second is now sorted, I am on the warfarin and a nurse told me I can fly to Ireland. The first, well the doctor wasn't right - I have two not one DVT!

What a Shock

This, getting people to deliver electric shocks to other, is not actually new. It is a repeat of a psychology experiment done back in the 60's. It was done in order to explain how Nazis committed atrocities and sows how the human mind can disassociate responsibility when told to do something by an "authority". The study was conducted by Stanley Migram. 65%, yes that's right, 65% of people were willing to deliver what they expected to be a lethal electric shock. What drove them to do it, simply verbal encouragement from a man in a white coat.

So we've known this for 50 years. Why would we even be surprised that people will do the unexpected, perform outside the "norm", when on TV. The television has taken over our world. It tells us what to believe, it shows us what is happening, it provides our pleasure and our grief. It plays with our emotions. So, in this experiment, contestants believe that they are administering shocks to other competitors in order to win a game show. And they do so becasue it is what is asked of them and what they sgned up for. What's possibly more shocking is how we will happily watch programmes that involve pain being done to others. The japanese shows seem to take it further than others, but Total Wipeout is an amazingly big success world wide. Bog Brother is just another variant, it is watched because people suffer.

Many have tried to achieve world domination over the centuries, and failed. The television has succeeded.