bookmark_borderAnd then it was Monday

Today’s challenge, to see how productive I can be having had three hours sleep. Well, otherwise it’d just be another boring Monday, right? Why couldn’t I sleep? It’s all zed’s fault (well her and a splitting headache that developed about 10 mins after I’d gone to bed).

I feel sorry for Monday sometimes. Gets an awful lot of bad press.

Anyway, this week starts slow and doesn’t really kick in until Wednesday evening and the Faithless gig in the Big Red Shed (SECC). I wasn’t massively impressed by their last album but I’m assured that they are an excellent live band, and considering the support is Mylo well, it’s like two bands for the price of one. A new favourite, and possibly my album of the year, coupled with an old pro. Should be good, right?

Thursday night and I’ll be tuning in for Peel Night on Radio 1. If I can get BlogMatrix to work I’ll be recording it as well, especially as it runs from 7pm-1am. Not exactly a one listen show methinks.

Friday night and the annual “drag me along and then have to drag me home” night – otherwise known as our company Christmas party – rolls around. This year we are in the Hilton in Glasgow. Hope it’s up to scratch, as the last two years at the Radisson have been excellent. Right now, sitting here at my desk, trying to stay awake (and wondering why no bugger thought to buy coffee, honestly, what’s the point of having a nice coffee machine if THERE ISN’T ANY COFFEE AND OH MY GOD I NEED CAFFEINE!!!!! Ahem… sorry… where was I? Ohh yes, the Xmas party…) I can see the night far enough, especially as it’s a different venue and I’ve already been forewarned about the price of drinks there. Still, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

Anyway, how rude of me, how was YOUR weekend?

bookmark_borderScottish Blogmeet

Richard and I had a great time. I guess some better planning and advance notice would have allowed some other people to attend, as would the swapping of mobile numbers with those who said they might come along later in the evening if it was still going.

Cos it was. We ended up in the Jolly Judge, a lovely little pub down a close. Discovered Kronenburg 1664 Blanc (delicious), and got chatting to Kurt and Angela from Birmingham. He was an ex-biker, tattoo artist, and she giggled a lot. It was a fun evening.

Wobbled my way back to Glasgow on the train at about 9.30pm, quite drunk and in very good spirits.

As Richard says, that’s 100% improvement on the last blogmeet, one which I originally had said I’d go to but couldn’t, so for the next one we need TWO more people to turn up to keep that trend. Not sure when it’ll be, but I’m already thinking Spring at some point.

We did also ponder heading to Leith to surprise someone in their local, but we weren’t sure if Peter would appreciate the sentiment. 😉

bookmark_borderSnipped

Louise is at her company Christmas night out. She came home at 5.15pm, washed her hair in time for Gillian, her hairdresser, to make an appearance to cut and style her hair. She then spent the next hour getting ready, and swished out the door in a blur of diamantes and glitter. I stayed out of her road (well practised).

I had worked at home today so, whilst Louise was getting ready, I thought I’d keep working and have dinner once she had gone out. Next thing I know it’s 8.30pm. No wonder I’m knackered.

Usual crap on TV on a Friday night (although I did spot that I’d missed Auntie Mame this morning, pity as it’s a funny movie, Rosalind Russell at her best), so I think it’s a quick spot of surfing then off to bed. Don’t want to be too tired tomorrow as I think… yes if memory serves correct I should be heading to Edinburgh tomorrow.

Any “first blogmeet” advice for us newbies?

bookmark_borderFirewall

I’ve been ignoring the pop-up from Zone Alarm for the past week. I need to pay to renew my cover with them but I’m wary.

I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about various, FREE, personal firewalls, and the only additional feature mine needs to cope with is my WiFi network (Internet Connection Sharing required).

Anyone out there got any suggestions? What firewall do you use?

bookmark_borderOriginality

Mike has been busy dissecting the recent Band Aid single. I won’t spoil the outcome, but he does make a good argument for the winner (the question is how much you agree with his musical tastes).

However, as I commented, you can’t really compare them. Sure you can dissect the musical aspects of each but ultimately the people who bought the original 1984 version will still remember Martin Buerk’s news report from Ethiopia, and probably still be able to recall the horror and revulsion of what they saw on screen. It was a shock back then, to see things like that.

These days, we have 24 hour news, so don’t tune in at 6pm. We read headlines of famine, war, and genocide, and scan past the pictures portraying these horrible horrible things. It’s all there, constantly streamed at us, and we are becoming numbed to it. Back in 1984 it was a new experience, sadly today it is all too common.

UPDATE: Having re-read this I’d like to point out that I’m not knocking Mike’s post – it’s very good, go read it. It was just the prompt for this post, hence the link.

EDIT: Corrected from Michael Bell to Michael Buerk. Cheers graybo, I always get those two mixed up.

bookmark_borderForthcoming

Been in here since 7.45am. Busy busy busy.

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No archives at present as I can’t get the archive list to display on this page, I’ve checked the WP code and it’s correct. Permalinks are working, and if you know the URL to the archive page you can use that, it just won’t display the links on here. Odd. Will sort later (tonight).

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Strawberry Switchblade, as acquired from Vaughan, was left on repeat last night. iTunes tells me it played 347 times. My audioscrobbler account is gonna look great the next time it updates!

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HaloScan users – I’m trying to update the FAQ and general documentation that is supplied, what questions do you want answered?

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I have three posts in draft at the moment, one about being fat, one about whisky, one about my tendency to put things off. Which should I finish first?