Twitter!! (again!)
So, having signed up for Twitter about a year ago, I finally worked out how to get it working on my phone ... and a big Hi to my chums on here who are already following me! Nothing very exciting to tweet about just yet, but if anyone wants to follow me, let me know & I'll send you the details :-)
In other news, I'm trying very hard to immerse myself in stuff to take my mind off my situation ...
I ordered a new soft-top roof for the car. I had to order it from the States, and they make them up to order, so it'll be June before I get it, but hopefully it should remove the existing problem with wind-noise at speeds over about 60mph ... and also reduce the amount of water that comes in when it rains! To be fair, the rain isn't a problem when you're driving along - it's more if the car sits outside in the rain overnight ... which results in the carpets & roof lining getting soaked, the latter then dripping on you as you drive along!
My eldest took the preliminary motorbike test (known as the CBT) a couple of months ago, and took delivery of a brand new Honda CBF125 on Tuesday ... so I've booked myself in to take the same thing in a couple of weeks' time. I've never been that fussed about motorbikes before - must be a(nother) sign of mid-life crisis setting in! But going to the bike shop with him the past few weeks, and a number of other things - not least a few of my friends being keen bikers - have persuaded me to give it a go!
I've also bought a terabyte external hard drive - to hopefully allow me to sort out the mess on my PC. I got a 500GB external drive for it ages ago, but it developed a fault, and "lost" all my photos, videos & music. I've been able to retrieve (the majority) by using ScanDisk, but now they're all a jumble of files with no recognisable file extension names ... and the process has managed to totally fill the hard disk and external drive, so the computer now runs at snail's pace & tells me I'm running out of hard disk space all the time. It'll be a slow process to sort it all out, but hopefully the new drive will speed things up quite a bit!
I've got tickets to go see Pendulum in June, and Rhod Gilbert (Welsh comedian) in October - on the basis that I'd've really liked to go to both with my GF ... but doesn't look like that's going to happen now, so will probably sell the Pendulum tickets, as unlikely to find someone who wants to go in the next month or so ...
I did toy with the idea of volunteering for the Samaritans. I've always liked listening to people and their problems, and I do like the idea of receiving some formal training. Not sure I can commit the time, tho.
I have finally (very nearly) finished sorting out the bathroom! I ordered a new shower / steam room unit back in July of last year, which finally arrived in October, and I started installing it in November. I foolishly thought it would be a good opportunity to re-tile the entire bathroom (walls and floor) with thick stone tiles ... and replace the radiator at the same time!! I got the shower unit working fairly quickly (around January), but the tiling has taken forever. To be fair, I haven't spent any time on it at all in the past couple of months, but that's meant my tools lying around everywhere for all that time. I had some spare time over the weekend, so did a fair bit of tidying up, and it's nearly there now! One more good day should finish it off!! (and then I can take some pictures!!)
I'm still waiting for my blu-ray copy of Avatar to arrive. It was apparently posted on 22nd May, but still hasn't arrived :-(
I also need to start selling stuff on Amazon again soon. I have sooooo many DVDs that I'm never going to watch, and I could do with the cash!
On a positive financial note, I got a cheque for 900 quid in the post yesterday. Some of my Dad's shares are in a company that's just been acquired, so they've bought us out. I have to share it 3 ways with my sisters, but still quite a nice windfall! :-)
I've been a bit lax with my health & fitness this past few months. I still do loads of sport (badminton, football & 5-a-side), but haven't really done any running since September. I also started smoking back in August, & I've seen a big impact on my fitness in the past few months. My knee has been quite bad, which is the main reason I haven't been running, but I've started takling Glucosamine & Chondroitin tablets, and I think they're helping. My diet hasn't been awful - I still like stir-fries, and Tescos do a really good range of "healthy" microwavable meals. I'm still quite into soups, which are quick & easy if I have to be in-and-out in a hurry. I do like the occasional pizza, tho, and I've also re-found my taste for chocolate & biscuits - damn you, chocolate hob nobs!!
I'm making a conscious effort to improve, tho, and have pretty much cut the junk food out of my diet. I got down to 14 stone (just under 200 lbs) last year (from over 16 stone (over 230 lbs) the year before), and I'm only up to 14st 10lbs (210 lbs), so now's the time to stop the rot! Not sure I'll get back to running again in any big way cos of my knee, but there's a trial session at a local gym next week, so I might dig out my trainers & give that a go.
I did my usual trick of taking up reading again on holiday when I was in Dubai in Feb / March, and I'm consciously trying to keep that going. I read pretty much every night, and while I do have to force myself to do it sometimes, I really like it. Latest books include:
Do Not Pass Go: From the Old Kent Road to Mayfair by Tim Moore - a sort of travelogue around the streets of London that feature on the Monopoly board. I've been down to London a few times recently, and it's really interesting to read about what they were like in the 1930's, when Monopoly was initially designed.
Uneasy Rider: Travels Through a Mid-life Crisis by Mike Carter - a fantastic read about a 42yo journalist who wakes up after the Xmas party only to find out he's announced to all his colleagues that he intends to ride a motorbike around Europe for 6 months, writing a weekly column on the way.
Screen Burn by Charlie Brooker - Charlie Brooker is an acerbic TV journalist, who makes Jeremy Clarkson seem very middle-of-the-road! This is his first collection of weekly articles about mainstream TV, so is based in the early noughties, but it's still hilarious in places, even if the TV shows he's tearing to pieces are long-gone.
I had been watching a lot of TV & films up until recently. As we were unable to go out locally together, we tended to stay in ... a lot!! Memorable shows included Green Wing (yeah, I know it's old, but I'd never seen the 2nd series before), Season 3 of Gavin & Stacey (which is wonderful!), Life on Mars (a fantastic parody of the 1970's British cop show) and it's follow-up, Ashes to Ashes - which isn't quite as good, but is still excellent. I didn't get into Season 2 of True Blood at all - partly cos my GF hadn't seen Season 1 ... and I still haven't seen Season 4 of Dexter!! Maybe I'll start downloading it when I get this external drive sorted? They're showing the entire 4 seasons on Sky right now, so I'm watching Season 1 again, which is brilliant. I'm sure I've watched some really good films over the past 6 months, but the only ones that stick in the mind are District 9 and Inglorious Basterds. Not sure why!
Well, I've wittered on for far too long already! I still intend to update this regularly from now on ... hopefully, I've covered most things now, so future updates can be a little shorter!!
In other news, I'm trying very hard to immerse myself in stuff to take my mind off my situation ...
I ordered a new soft-top roof for the car. I had to order it from the States, and they make them up to order, so it'll be June before I get it, but hopefully it should remove the existing problem with wind-noise at speeds over about 60mph ... and also reduce the amount of water that comes in when it rains! To be fair, the rain isn't a problem when you're driving along - it's more if the car sits outside in the rain overnight ... which results in the carpets & roof lining getting soaked, the latter then dripping on you as you drive along!
My eldest took the preliminary motorbike test (known as the CBT) a couple of months ago, and took delivery of a brand new Honda CBF125 on Tuesday ... so I've booked myself in to take the same thing in a couple of weeks' time. I've never been that fussed about motorbikes before - must be a(nother) sign of mid-life crisis setting in! But going to the bike shop with him the past few weeks, and a number of other things - not least a few of my friends being keen bikers - have persuaded me to give it a go!
I've also bought a terabyte external hard drive - to hopefully allow me to sort out the mess on my PC. I got a 500GB external drive for it ages ago, but it developed a fault, and "lost" all my photos, videos & music. I've been able to retrieve (the majority) by using ScanDisk, but now they're all a jumble of files with no recognisable file extension names ... and the process has managed to totally fill the hard disk and external drive, so the computer now runs at snail's pace & tells me I'm running out of hard disk space all the time. It'll be a slow process to sort it all out, but hopefully the new drive will speed things up quite a bit!
I've got tickets to go see Pendulum in June, and Rhod Gilbert (Welsh comedian) in October - on the basis that I'd've really liked to go to both with my GF ... but doesn't look like that's going to happen now, so will probably sell the Pendulum tickets, as unlikely to find someone who wants to go in the next month or so ...
I did toy with the idea of volunteering for the Samaritans. I've always liked listening to people and their problems, and I do like the idea of receiving some formal training. Not sure I can commit the time, tho.
I have finally (very nearly) finished sorting out the bathroom! I ordered a new shower / steam room unit back in July of last year, which finally arrived in October, and I started installing it in November. I foolishly thought it would be a good opportunity to re-tile the entire bathroom (walls and floor) with thick stone tiles ... and replace the radiator at the same time!! I got the shower unit working fairly quickly (around January), but the tiling has taken forever. To be fair, I haven't spent any time on it at all in the past couple of months, but that's meant my tools lying around everywhere for all that time. I had some spare time over the weekend, so did a fair bit of tidying up, and it's nearly there now! One more good day should finish it off!! (and then I can take some pictures!!)
I'm still waiting for my blu-ray copy of Avatar to arrive. It was apparently posted on 22nd May, but still hasn't arrived :-(
I also need to start selling stuff on Amazon again soon. I have sooooo many DVDs that I'm never going to watch, and I could do with the cash!
On a positive financial note, I got a cheque for 900 quid in the post yesterday. Some of my Dad's shares are in a company that's just been acquired, so they've bought us out. I have to share it 3 ways with my sisters, but still quite a nice windfall! :-)
I've been a bit lax with my health & fitness this past few months. I still do loads of sport (badminton, football & 5-a-side), but haven't really done any running since September. I also started smoking back in August, & I've seen a big impact on my fitness in the past few months. My knee has been quite bad, which is the main reason I haven't been running, but I've started takling Glucosamine & Chondroitin tablets, and I think they're helping. My diet hasn't been awful - I still like stir-fries, and Tescos do a really good range of "healthy" microwavable meals. I'm still quite into soups, which are quick & easy if I have to be in-and-out in a hurry. I do like the occasional pizza, tho, and I've also re-found my taste for chocolate & biscuits - damn you, chocolate hob nobs!!
I'm making a conscious effort to improve, tho, and have pretty much cut the junk food out of my diet. I got down to 14 stone (just under 200 lbs) last year (from over 16 stone (over 230 lbs) the year before), and I'm only up to 14st 10lbs (210 lbs), so now's the time to stop the rot! Not sure I'll get back to running again in any big way cos of my knee, but there's a trial session at a local gym next week, so I might dig out my trainers & give that a go.
I did my usual trick of taking up reading again on holiday when I was in Dubai in Feb / March, and I'm consciously trying to keep that going. I read pretty much every night, and while I do have to force myself to do it sometimes, I really like it. Latest books include:
Do Not Pass Go: From the Old Kent Road to Mayfair by Tim Moore - a sort of travelogue around the streets of London that feature on the Monopoly board. I've been down to London a few times recently, and it's really interesting to read about what they were like in the 1930's, when Monopoly was initially designed.
Uneasy Rider: Travels Through a Mid-life Crisis by Mike Carter - a fantastic read about a 42yo journalist who wakes up after the Xmas party only to find out he's announced to all his colleagues that he intends to ride a motorbike around Europe for 6 months, writing a weekly column on the way.
Screen Burn by Charlie Brooker - Charlie Brooker is an acerbic TV journalist, who makes Jeremy Clarkson seem very middle-of-the-road! This is his first collection of weekly articles about mainstream TV, so is based in the early noughties, but it's still hilarious in places, even if the TV shows he's tearing to pieces are long-gone.
I had been watching a lot of TV & films up until recently. As we were unable to go out locally together, we tended to stay in ... a lot!! Memorable shows included Green Wing (yeah, I know it's old, but I'd never seen the 2nd series before), Season 3 of Gavin & Stacey (which is wonderful!), Life on Mars (a fantastic parody of the 1970's British cop show) and it's follow-up, Ashes to Ashes - which isn't quite as good, but is still excellent. I didn't get into Season 2 of True Blood at all - partly cos my GF hadn't seen Season 1 ... and I still haven't seen Season 4 of Dexter!! Maybe I'll start downloading it when I get this external drive sorted? They're showing the entire 4 seasons on Sky right now, so I'm watching Season 1 again, which is brilliant. I'm sure I've watched some really good films over the past 6 months, but the only ones that stick in the mind are District 9 and Inglorious Basterds. Not sure why!
Well, I've wittered on for far too long already! I still intend to update this regularly from now on ... hopefully, I've covered most things now, so future updates can be a little shorter!!