Month: January 2005

Because I’m too busy for anything else… (via):

# Charles Lindbergh took only four sandwiches with him on his famous transatlantic flight.
# Moon was Buzz Aldrin’s mother’s maiden name. (Buzz Aldrin was the second man o n the moon in 1969.)
# “Freelance” comes from a knight whose lance was free for hire, i.e. not pledged to one master.)
# A ‘jiffy’ is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second.
# Twelve or more cows are known as a “flink.”
# The common goldfish is the only animal that can see both infra-red and ultra-violet light.
# Goat’s eyes have rectangular pupils.
# The correct response to the Irish greeting, “Top of the morning to you,” is “and the rest of the day to yourself.”

Now bugger off and leave me in peace.

Peter is considering a widescreen TV and reminded me of one of the advantages in owning one. Namely, on a news channel, you can watch the production assistant crawl in to view at one side and discretely push some papers up onto the desk all the while oblivious to the fact that he is ‘on screen’. OK, it only happened once but it was very funny.

Dentist was fine, which is always a relief. I think this stems from my childhood trips where I’d receive, on every visit, a filling or three. Looking back I do wonder if the dentist was just in it for the money – you do hear these stories – and I do get a bit annoyed that he has tainted the whole dentist thing for me. My current dental practise is a joy. They phone you up the night before to remind you about your appointment (just as well in my case), and both my dentist and the hygienist are friendly and … well this may sound a bit odd, but they treat you like an adult. They don’t seem to have that power thing going on, which several previous dentists of mine have had. This may, or may not, have something to do with the fact that they are both ladies.

Lyle is, rightly, upset with WordPress (the language may offend, but you knew that, right?). I have to agree with him on this issue. As I mentioned in a comment on his site, it does seem to be a bit of a developer playground at the moment and whilst I think it is an excellent and very usable product, the next release seems to be adding in functionality for functionality’s sake. Never a good thing.

Still at least somebody is having a good day.

Tonight is the night then. Get your haggis in the oven, mash those neeps and tatties, open your best whisky and enjoy the company.

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us
An foolish notion:
What airs in dress an gait wad lea’es us,
An ev’n devotion!

To a louse – Robert Burns

Not sure what I’m blethering on aboot?

Thought: Is this the closest Scotland will get to rivalling the impact of St.Patrick’s Day?

My Dad is currently president of the Dumbarton Burns Club* and also sings and recites at many a supper at this time of year. I think last year he attended … well.. more than 8… I think (Dad, feel free to clarify here!). I’ve yet to fully embrace our national bard but it’s only a matter of time. Mind you I used to be able to sing a few of his songs by heart so there is some hope for me yet.

UPDATE: Just got an email from Mum who says: “Dad is off to Dumfries to sing at Burns’ s old pub and to sleep in Burns’s old house -the very bed no doubt. He’s quietly chuffed and spent last night pacing the floor trying desperately to look casual and as if it was an every day occurence …”

* He also created the website and his mugshot is somewhere on the site as well.

Inspector Sands has bought himself a pedometer in an effort to measure if he walks the suggested 10,000 steps each day – he’s not far off as it turns out. Seemingly the average is around 3,000 steps, and I thought I’d analyse my average (work) day walking habits. Hell I may even buy a pedometer!

So, if I average out the main “walking” parts of the day, and start with, say, 1000 steps for daily things (getting up, going to bathroom etc) what is MY average?
In the morning I get a lift to the station – 0 steps
Station to office – 4 minute walk – 200 steps
Random trips around office – 100 steps
Out for lunch – 4 minute walk – 200 steps
Random trips around office – 100 steps
Office to station – 4 minute walk – 200 steps
Station to car park – 100 steps
Pottering around in the evening – 300 steps.

Grand Total = 2200 steps

No, that can’t be right. Can it?

I hear her breathing but when I woke up, with a start, she wasn’t there. The breathing continued whilst I frantically pull at the covers searching for her, I can hear her, where is she? Suddenly she appeared, standing over me, panicked and sweating, something about my Dad… my heart racing I suddenly sit up and realise I had been asleep. I turn to my left and there she is, lying next to me, shallow breathing her way through her dream.

Bit of a disturbed sleep last night, took me ages to get over as well, mind racing, make a list for that, start doing that, remember not to forget to do that.

Amongst the triviality of my day I need to phone the gas company and tell them I’ll pay the bill on Friday (payday), go to the bank to deposit a cheque from the Inland Revenue, all £14.81 of it, and consider getting a haircut knowing fine well I’ll leave it until next week. What excitement does your day hold?