One Man's Notes

Today, it's 25 minutes later than my self-imposed deadline.

I will get better at this, oh yes.

Book: Show us one of your favorite cookbooks.

Chinese Cookery

Ken Hom

Sutton from the 13th floor.

So, back in sunny Sutton and back at the blogface after my weekend of indolence, and already the effects are beginning to wear off. I'm looking at a slightly-stupid workload before my departure for New York and the Movable Type Summit next week.

Heigh-ho.

My plans to take a walk out of the building at least once a day are looking under severe jeopardy right now.

I suppose part of this is to do with switching from a job with a finite amount to work to be achieved each week to one where the more successful you are, the more your workload increases, and in non-predictable, non-linear ways.

I will adjust. It will just take time.

Another one from the growing digital archives

Mum & Dad in Spain, 1963

Last one for now, as e-mailed around by Karl:

Video: Show us a clip of a TV show you miss.

Stolen without shame from Jay Allen:

This came up on the Ravens GuildChat list earlier (which is pretty off-topic for a World of Warcraft guild, but there you go…) and I just couldn't resist reVoxing it:

You have to wait for the mole, but it's almost worth it…

Did you order Girl Scout cookies this year?  What kind?

Y'know, one day Vox is going to realise that it's an international service...

They're called Girl Guides over here, and they don't bake cookies biscuits.

So, no. Never.

Show us a candle burning.

Candles

Here's an even earlier pic: my Dad (far right) with his National Service buddies serving in Suez…

Dad in Suez

What is your current obsession(s)?
Submitted by eijsr.

Currently, getting some sleep. I seem to be in a semi-perpetual state of sleep deprivation right now.

So, March. That's one sixth of the year gone. How the hell did that happen…?

Still, moving on, I'm very proud of myself right now. As Lorna will happily tell you, at length, I'm not the world's most mechanically talented people. It's just not my strong suit. I'm better at it than my Dad, for whom the simplest of flat-packs was a nasty challenge, was or my brother, who just pays people to do it for him, is, but I'm only good by comparison.

Last night, one of my headlight bulbs went. This made me nervous. For one, it's illegal to drive around with a headlight out, and I'm the sort of clean-living guy who gets done as soon as I step out of line. For another, last time I tried to change a headlight bulb, I remember it being a bit of a nightmare. In the end, I had to get Lorna to do it for me.

I stopped off at Halfords in Sutton. I spent a while working through the guides to find the right bulb for my Megane. And I installed it. Just like that. I stood with oily hands in the Halfords, slightly amazed at my own marginal competence, and gaped at the working light.

Of such material are life's small victories cut.

Another bit of e-mailed video humour, this time from Karl:

Office Coffee Supply

What's your favorite blend or brand of coffee or tea?

Tea-wise, it's jasmine all the way. I find it a wonderful mid-afternoon de-stresser. I drank loads of it in a Chinese restaurant in Bristol last year, and something went "click" in my taste buds. It's been a major part of my beverage intake ever since.

Coffee? I'm on a bit of an Union Coffee Roasters kick right now. I find their coffee to have a flavour a notch above that of most ground coffees, and it's really perking up my work days right now.

Michael Targett of Black Sheep e-mailed this around, but it's good enough to share here:

Show us how your work week begins.

Monday, monday