Just had the last 2 of my latest set of books arrive. Nice to get out of the office for 20 mins in the fresh air to unload the lorry as I didn't fancy a wander at lunchtime. We seem to have kept up our standards of print and presentation, so that might earn me a brownie point or two.

We have had one of the job-sharing Personnel Managers move in with us this afternoon. She is trying to get a feel of what we all do in order that the review goes smoothly. I hope she gets the picture and we all come out of it better off, with a few extra bodies to share the load.

Seems like things were still catching up with me yesterday. After fiddling on the PC in the morning and planning to iron through the GP, I proceeded to fall asleep during the first ad break and missed the rest of it! Oh well, at least the result was better than the last few. Will try again in 2 weeks.

We have finally caught up on all the ER, Holby and other stuff we taped whilst Shiela was here. Some cracking good episodes in the mix there. And genuinely upsetting in places too. And I don't mind admitting that either.

So, back at work today (although Joan is off - we'll get synchronised one of these days). No major repercussions from Friday, and everything pretty much as normal. We have, naturally, had some timetable changes come in before most people have got hold of our new books which kind of annoys me. I think most of them are minor but still, why can't things stay stable? Why can't I stay stable? Still feel like I could use a few more hours sleep and would rather be somewhere other than here in the office.

Not even had the motivation to listen to much music of late, which just shows I'm feeling down again. Got to pick up soon though.

Feeling a bit more human again today. Probably because apart from a couple of phone calls we were pretty well left to our own devices last night. Watched Harry Potter off DVD at last and enjoyed it just as much as at the cinema and reading the book. Hoping they make as good a job of translating the rest of the series.

Today has been a frenzy of ironing, with a bit of light painting and stuff thrown in. I was of course outside up a ladder about to paint the light when the heavens opened, but that just seems to be the norm lately. Have managed it now though. I also watched the qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. Haven't watched any of the last two races as I was getting a bit bored of the Schumacher Show, but after all the controversy following the last one I thought I'd give it another go. And a very good session it was too. Am actually looking forward to the race tomorrow. And Joan is at work so I will have to watch it to stop myself getting lonely. Or something!

Time to do a bit more work now.

Never made it home early, people chatting that sort of thing. Still, trip to the airport went off OK, it was when we got home that things went strange.

I'd thought I was going a bit downhill over the last week or so, but hadn't realised how much it had affected Joan. Seems while I was turning in on myself she was also suffering and both her sisters had noticed. They had a big argument about it wednesday night and Sheila got the job of telling her to get me to sort myself out. I was planning to do that anyway, but really wasn't aware of what my problems were doing to Joan. I guess I just turn inwards and lose track of my surroundings to some degree. I do of course feel drastic about not realising I was hurting Joan, which then makes me feel worse about myself but it is better to have it all out in the open to try and work on it.

So today I have seen my doctor and not been in to work. The only appointment I could get was at 9-15, booked just as I got to Ipswich so I had to come straight back again. Still feeling zonked from all the late nights as well as everything else so I phoned in sick and came home. Then proceeded to sleep for 4½ hours so I must have needed it. WIll try to go in on Monday and see how it goes. I know I am better trying to do something rather than sitting around worrying, but I'm not sure I want to be at work either. Oh well, things can only get better, and other such cliches.

Well, there's a turn-up for the books. Not only was the meeting most interesting and productive, but I have probably ended up as the lead person when it comes to maps and stuff. Crikey.

Time to go home early for a half hour nap I think.

Urgh, just got drenched in one of those unexpected downpours. Drip, drip, drip.

Got a fab and groovy (not) meeting about the Ipswich town centre gyratory system this afternoon. Must take pillow. All the traffic will soon be going the other way, and I want to know who's going to pay to move all the bus stops. Then it is the trek to Gatwick to dispose of Shiela. Another late night ahead so tomorrow will be real zombie territory.

Hey, guess what? Yup, no winnings for the ladies last night either. Still, they did at least enjoy themselves.

Oh, I did avoid unloading the lorry yesterday. Snigger. Wonder if I can manage it for part two on monday as well.

Now the pain is kicking in! Well, more of a sort of ache in muscles not used to that sort of work. Joan also noticed it - and we both kicked in around 4pm. Very strange delayed reaction type thingy.

Have watched some of the extras mentioned earlier tonight and noticed a very strange thing about the DVD case for HHGTTG - all the photos are the wrong way round. Odd. Wonder how that slipped through the production process, given the immaculate attention to detail elsewhere on the discs.

The Mrs due back from Bingo any minute, so that's all for tonite.

Monday night was too long! Picked Joan up just after 11, so half past by the time we got home, and nearly 12 when we got to bed. Had a real problem staying awake during the course yesterday. Still, she had a really good time and I think the whole company is going inthe right direction at the moment, so perhaps things will get a bit easier for her. I also watched The Italian Job rather than any DVD stuff - one of my all time favourite films of all time.

Yesterday was the Work/Life course. Not the most useful day I have ever spent. People who have been on it before rated it really well, but we had a different guy running it and he spent half the time telling us about other people he's seen on other courses etc. Not very relevant to us unfortunatley though. His main thrust was that most companies will probably let you work less if you want to. What I was looking for were ways to make the work bit less demanding and for it not to intrude on my home life, not how to earn less money. I shall read the course material over again sometime to see if it makes better sense with a bit of hindsight, but I think this subject may be one for a few hours in the library instead.

In the evening Joan and I went to a new BodyBalance course that was on at the Leisure Centre across the road from us. It is mainly based on Yoga but adds in bits of Tai Chi, Pilates and a whole bunch of other stretchy bendy balancy things. We really enjoyed it and will definitely be back next week. I never thought moving slowly could be so exhausting though. Looking forward to getting a bit more flexible and staying on better shape. Plus being the only chap in a class of 25 has certain advantages too. And I'm not in agony today, which is nice.

This morning has not been so good. They decided Dawn should stay on as acting manager until we get a new one. I'm not too bothered about not having the work and stress involved in it, but I could use the money. As a consolation prize I get to be on the team that will be looking at all the jobs we do in here and deciding who will do what in the end. So, I will try to make myself a nice job at the end of it with more money! Not sure how it will go, though. Watch this space. I shall also keep looking in the papers on a wednesday to see what else is coming up.

Now I have a tedious sounding meeting to go to, which will probably manage to keep me away from unloading the new area books for a change.

Tonight the girls are at the bingo for the final time. Shiela & Helen have been twice without Joan but not made major wins. I shall chill out and enjoy myself.

Several hours later and I'm not really feeling any happier. On top of that I now feel a bit shaky and panicy too. Wish I could just go home, but plenty of other people seem to have done that already and there are only 3 of us left in the office. Popping up to the Park & Ride sites this morning was nice but frustrating as it just made me realise all the more that I'd rather be out in the sun. Plus my arm is killing me from where I landed on it yesterday. Moan, grizzle etc.

I think I will have to divert myself now by attempting to find some desk under all the heaps that have accumulated since I last located it. So long as I don't just find something that should have been done weeks ago.

Tomorrow I am out of the office all day on a Work/Life Balance course. Have been told it is very interesting, and I am looking forward to it. I just hope I can put some of the ideas into practice without negative effects on income! I also hope I can stay awake during it. Joan is not leaving Haydock Park until 1745 tonight so not likely to be back in Ipswich to pick up this side of midnight. Might need to take some matchsticks.

Finished watching Hitch Hikers yesterday. Enjoyed it thoroughly as it has been a long time. A real pity they never made a second series. Hopefully the film will still go ahead and also be decent despite the death of Douglas Adams. I will possibly make a start on all the extra material on disc 2 tonight, or possible wait for the weekend. What an exciting life I lead!

Well, I've made it into work but really don't want to be here today. I just can't seem to get motivated at the moment. I'm not even sure if I want the manager's job anymore - it just seems like a complete load of hassle at the moment. And now the group manager has decided to retire on health grounds the ops manager has been made up to acting boss of the lot of us. He is now sticking his nose into our stuff far more than anyone else ever did and frankly I've had enough. Days like this I could even consider going back to shops.

God, I've only been here an hour and look at me! Might be happier later, but don't hold your breath.

Ended up going round to Ma & Pa's for dinner. V tasty plus had a good old sesh on the Dreamcast with Richard. Thrashed him 20-2 on Dead or Alive 2. Ha! Mind you, in real life I think I lost a teensy bit - slipped on the threshold entering our bedroom when getting changed to go round and hit the deck with a mighty wallop. Arm and leg look like they will have some interesting bruises later.

Joan arrived safe and sound after a pit-stop at Donington (although it seems they got lost at one point) and hopefully is finishing a nice dinner now. Just waiting to hear when she gets back to her room so I can say goodnight. Ah, bless.

Also picked up an Atari ST emulator today and a couple of games to make sure it worked. Will have to get a shedload more now of the good ones. Llamatron with sound again. Wa-hay. Going to have a bath and an early night now I think.

They didn't win!

Nor did Helen & Sheila when they went again last night, but I'm getting ahead of myself there. The BBQ won, so basically all we did was shop and eat yesterday. I know the weather wasn't up to much else, but I'm sure we could have fitted something else in. Oh well.

Today I have taken Joan to Ipswich to catch a coach. The Argos annual conference has been extended to all members of management and supervisors this year spread over two weeks, and they have thrown in transport, hotels etc. So, she is currently on her way to Haydock Park where the event will be tomorrow. Not sure when they are due back tomorrow night, no doubt quite late. She is off tuesday but I will just have to yawn! I am just going to take it easy for the rest of today - play some games, watch a film, that sort of thing. Dull, but good for the brain!

I don't believe this. They've gone to the bingo again. That's four times this week now. I just hope they win.

Bored now and want to be somewhere else. Wouldn't even object to being somewhere else working, so long as it wasn't here at the moment. Half the office is still not around, and half of what's left has either gone home or gone to meetings and all I've got is a couple of letters to write that I just can't be bothered with. No inspiration on how to saythe same thing in a nice way and stop them writing back. And it is so quiet. Normally all the noise and distractions get me down, but right now some of those would be welcome.

Strange old world.

Not sure what we will be doing tomorrow. The original plan was to go to Bury St. Edmunds for the day, but a BBQ at Helen's has also been mentioned for the afternoon. So, which will win? I can't see both happening, that's for sure.

Three sunny days in a row, must have been a mistake made somewhere in the weather planning bureau.

Had the consultation meeting with the assistant directors on the staffing review this morning. I think some new ground was covered rather than the usual circular arguments but I wouldn't like to state exactly what. And we do now have a deadline to try and get a new structure in place, vacancies filled etc. So, roll on September and let us see.

Just been up the town in the sun. Saw Joan & the sisters as they were having lunch before hitting the shops in a big way. Wonder what they will buy. I know I have to wait here until they want to go home though to save them the bus fare! I got the latest Terry Pratchett book to hit paperback (Thief of Time) which I will look forward to reading. Not just yet though, as I think the next fiction in line will be Harry Potter 3.

Watched Billy Elliot again last night. Just as brilliant on the second viewing, although some of the continual bad language does grate after a while. I know it adds to the realism to a point, but it begins to lose the impact when it gets that frequent.

Only a few hours to go until freedom kicks in for the weekend.

Now we have the hottest day of the year so far, I am of course back at work rather than enjoying the sun. I have managed to get out of the office twice though, which doesn't do much to compensate, but is a start.

Tuesday we did Ipswich. Lots of rummaging in the cheap shops and purchasing of cushion and duvet covers to go back to Canada. I do recall seing such products over there at what I thought were reasonable prices, so I'm not sure of the logic. I think perhaps Sheila is stuck in a timewarp taste-wise from when she went over the Atlantic. All I ended up with was a pair of trousers that I took back today as despite claiming to be the same size as all my others, I could only just do them up and certainly couldn't breathe. Hey ho. Then in the evening we went down the seafront to let her play on the fruit machines. Shopping and gambling, what a life! Joan and I tried out a rollercoaster simulator they've just got in. Quite fun, but actually leaves you more queasy than the real thing I think. Probably due to staring at a screen and not getting the actual rush of air.

Yesterday we went to Woodbridge again. Got some trousers that do fit! Also had a very nice lunch at the Bull. Need to go there more often! In the evening they tried the Bingo here in Ipswich (winnings = zero) so I called in to see m'poorly colleague Gary. Watched The Parole Officer, which was a hugely funny film. And I can't normally stand Steve Coogan either. Perhaps it was the character - not quite so naff as some of his others. It won't be an essential purchase, but if I ever see the DVD cheap I will probably grab a copy.

Finished The Shelters of Stone this morning with breakfast. Absolutely top book. Hope the next one doesn't take another 12 years, especially as there are several loose ends dangling now. Pretty much all the other 4 could have been the end of the series fairly satisfactorily but this one definitely needs more. I'm also looking forward to reading it again without being quite so desperate to find out what happens next, but able to savour each bit. Next up will be a non-fiction for sure, but have a stack of magazines to get through first.

Why does time have to pass so quickly? What ever happened to the weekend? Stay tuned for the answers to these questions, and more....!

Friday went in a real rush. I had to meet some people at Park & Ride in the morning, so spent most of the time trying to get stuff done before that, then in the afternoon I was leaving early to go to the dentist, so more rushing to finish things off. Third of the four hygenist visits, so not particularly fun. I did find out why they can't inject lower jaws though - all to do with nerve distribution and bone density. Then Sheila was back in Suffolk so we went along to Helen's for tea.

Saturday Joan was at work so I pottered about here for a while, did some Ironing, that sort of thing before heading up to Ipswich with Richard. Had to replace the joypad he got me for Christmas due to it breaking last week! Helen invited us up for dinner again, and after that the girls went to Bingo so I had a nice quiet evening.

Yesterday we did our own things in the morning - they went to the market, we went to Homebase and bought plants for the garden as well as doing some shopping. Had everyone over here for dinner and Shiela is now staying with us until the end of the week. A fun evening, even if I was feeling a little down for no apparent reason.

Today we have been into town and now they are Bingoing again. So time for me to put my feet up a little I reckon.

Yesterday went really well. Got there nice and early, had a very interesting presentation, a good meeting, a nice lunch and a nose about the city on a new bus. And another 110 miles to claim for! I do like Cambridge, and must go up there for a shopping day sometime soon. When warm weather can be guaranteed.

Today has been work and more work. Had a surprise timetable change come in just when I thought I'd managed to get the whole set of books finished. Luckily it wasn't for one of the three that have already gone to press so we have been able to slip it in. Actress, Bishop etc. I'm once again getting frustrated by the things that are going on in here, but am trying not to get too affected by it. Have booked three days off next week to try and clear my head of it all. Plus Shiela will be back with us so we can have a couple of days out.

Nothing much else exciting has happened...

Busy old weekend.

On the way home Friday night (after getting the stuff to put the patio down with) I got hit by the headache from hell, that put me out of action for the rest of the night, which was not fun. Saturday Joan was off, and by the time I was feeling compos-mentis it was at least mid-morning. So, we wandered into town, had lunch then went shopping. Afternoon spent tidying up for the evening when Helen, Bhupen & Alexander came along for a Chinese. A good time was had by all, and I finally felt 100% human again by the time we went to bed.

Sunday Joan was at work. I did a bit on the patio area in a levelling sort of way until I managed to snap the head on the rake. Then it was time to go and look at the old cars etc. on the Ipswich - Felixstowe historic vehicle run. Some absolute corkers as expected. Didn't get all the way down the prom to see them as there was a CD fair on at the Leisure centre which kind of sucked me in. Finally managed to get hold of the re-released, re-mastered Iron Maiden Live After Death at a price I was prepared to pay for something I already have on vinyl, and also got hold of TWO Diesel Park West CDs, one of which I didn't even know existed. Looking forward to giving them a spin soon. Then in the evening we went to Ma & Pa's for dinner. They now have a nice trench all round the garage where the extension is going. Managed not to fall in it.

Yesterday being a bank holiday and all, we were not at all surprised to see black clouds when we woke up. It did cheer up in the end, and with the assistance of Jerry from next door and Old Eric from up the road got the patio finally down and finished. Also cut the grass and did some general tidying up while Joan made cakes. And very tasty they were too. Then to round off the day we watched The Mummy Returns. I know the plot is a bit thin, and the effects tend to take over, but it's still a fun couple of hours and we like that sort of stuff!

Been to Norwich this morning for a meeting and off to Cambridge tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be zonked by the end of the day, but at least I'm getting paid for it!

Another day of escaping the rain. Not that we've had any yet today, but I'm sure it is only a matter of time.

I managed to restrain myself last night when it came to starting the Shelters, made myself wait for as long as it took to return Skies to the shelf and pick up the new one. Which I think was pretty good going by anyone's standards! Certainly seems to be living up to expectations so far anyway. And now we are nearly at the weekend where hopefully I will be able to dedicate some serious time to sitting around with my nose in the book.

OK, so I have to do a spot of patio laying if at all possible, but that's not nearly as important.

Then again, it is 10% off day at Homebase and I have a £7 voucher as well, so I'd better get the sand/cement mix to lay them on tonight on the way home rather than waiting for tomorrow. Its not that I don't want to get the thing doen, more that I can't see it being the end of the process. I just wish we could enjoy the damn garden occasionally rather than working in it.

Been fairly quiet at work today, which is nice. And thus I should be able to sneak off fairly early. I think I deserve that.

A result at last! Have put together a promotional page in the East Anglian Daily Times about Park & Ride to tie in with a reader offer and the corporate people like it!

Hoorah.

And it uses a couple of pictures wot I took myself, so now I'm a press photographer too.

Time to go home now, with a smile on my face for a change. Actually, most days the smile is there, but its because I'm going home rather than any other reason.

Just had a lucky escape - been to do a spot of shopping, got back and now it is raining like it's going out of fashion. Hee hee. Basement flood imminent I think.

Yesterday was both great and horrible. The grotty bits were all related to work, strangely enough. Had a little presentation at Park & Ride for the charter mark. Just the director and one councillor handing over certificates and getting their picture took. You'd think that would be fairly straightforward, but the number of people who have to stick their nose in or have an opinion is just unbelievable. Oh well, it seems to be calm again now. And good news is that two of the sicko's are back at work today, unfortunately we've lost someone else to it to compensate.

The good bit from yesterday was stonkingly good though. Finally got my hands on a copy of Jean M. Auel's The Shelters Of Stone. Only been waiting 12 years for it to be published so I had to invest in the hardback! Looks like the fiction/non-fiction alternating pattern will have to take a back seat for now as I don't intend to wait any longer than finishing the Anne McC book before I start that one, and with any luck that will be tonight. Another 700+ pages of prehistoric fun and frolics await. I was also tickled by the quote WH Smiths are putting on their carrier bags at the moment: Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read Groucho Marx. Oh, and am thoroughly enjoying the Skies of Pern despite the slightly glaring continuity glitches. I suppose they are inevitable in a series that developes over as much time as this one has and the author tends to jump around rather than always writing the next book to follow on from the last, but it does niggle me when things are referred to as gospel that weren't mentioned in a previous book because they hadn't actually been thought of then.

Nothing else to say for now, but I might be back later if things spring to mind.

This office is absolutely freezing today. I might have to go out and buy a jumper at this rate.

One of the girls in office services has a birthday today so her desk has been decorated with the traditional balloon arrangement of one long one and two smaller round ones. If that was on a chap's desk he'd probably get done for sexual harrassment. Hey ho.

OK, I've had enough of the rain now thankyouverymuch. Wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't so windy at the same time - when you need 2 hands on the brolly it isn't nearly as much fun. And I've got to get out of the building at some point today as I have things to buy and pick up from Park & Ride and stuff.

Anyway, I blew another fiver on a PC game on Sunday (at Sainsburys of all places) and am now getting to grips with Grand Theft Auto (and the London expansion levels, all in the price!). Took a while to figure out a control method that worked with my joypad, but am happy now. I think I will have to try not playing anything tonight though to give my thumbs a rest.

Not done anything else with the pics I scanned yet, so you'll have to wait a little longer.

Grrrr, another alarm call out to Argos at 2-30 this morning. Another git peeing through the door. Can't we run 30,000 volts through them or something?

Still, turned out last night wasn't a meal at Ma & Pa's but an invite out with them instead. Richard was out with friends from work so rather than taking the opportunity for a rare evening on their own they took the even rarer opportunity to see us without him. We went to the Beagle so that was great. Had the Hunter's Chicken which was absolutely superb.

Have this morning scanned some of the house pictures, so might get some fo those online this afternoon when I've trimmed them a bit.

Off into town to tax the car now. More money!

Still raining so I won't have to dodge people due to not leaving the building... I think the people of Ipswich should be fitted with brake lights and indicators the way they just suddenly stop or veer in front of you when trying to walk around town.

And now, according to the BBC, it seems people are "rushing" to buy Queen Mum stamps. Never realised there would be so many people wanting to lick her backside.

The rain has returned at last, which is great for the farmers and gardens and stuff, but a bugger for traffic congestion. Then Joan is on a course here in Ipswich today so I gave her a lift. She then managed to drop her phone getting out of the car and has apparently broken it - but it was OK to call me on and tell me it was broken so perhaps we can save it. Wonder if anything else will go pear shaped today.

Yesterday we had a grumpy delivery driver who brought 40 boxes of timetable cases then refused to take them where we wanted, dumping them in reception instead. What a git. It got me some more fresh air moving them, but not how I'd planned to spend half the afternoon!

Made up for it with a nice evening though - did our first "summer" favourite. After Joan had been to her osteopath we got chips and sat down at the port viewing area for tea. A lovely, sunny evening with ships coming in and out and a front row parking slot. Absolutely glorious and another reason I would not want to move away from Felixstowe. Tonight we have been invited to Ma & Pa's for dinner. Don't think there is any particular reason or ulterior motive bnehind it. Although they are about to have a major extension built on the house so perhaps they want to get one last nice family meal in before the disruption starts.

Hmm, so why is it that a hygenist can do procedures that need an anasthetic, and can indeed administer them to the upper jaw but has to call a proper dentist in for the lower? Must remember to ask next time (10th may). Still, no real pain to speak of except for where the needle went in and a little jaw-related stiffness today.

Still busy at work - even fewer of us today as we have 3 of the remaning 9 out at a transport forum thingy. I like the peace and quiet though.

Finally finished the Trevithick book. Quite astounding the number of things he started off then never made any money out of compared to the people who took them up after him. Have now switched back to fiction and embarked upon The Skies of Pern by Anne McCaffrey. Possibly my favourite of all the sci-fi/fantasy series' I've read, so this latest has a lot to live up to. Doing OK so far...

Now to get some fresh air and money from Ipswich.

I think we have gone through Busy now, and the word will no longer suffice. So let's go for ultra-hectic instead. Only really got time to write this now as I've just reached the end of something and am planning to leave work in five minutes so not worth starting anything else major. Pity the reason for leaving early is another of those trips to the hygenist (so agony for this evening is forecast) rather than spending tome in the sun with Joan, but never mind.

Just a quick plug for ACME by the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion and Deep In The Hole by The Masters Of Reality. Plug. plug.

Let me see, my face is slightly red, my arms, legs and back are aching and I have some good blisters on my hands. What can I have been up to? Its got to be either (a) something extremely kinky we'd best draw a discrete veil over or (b) the continued good weather brought out a rash of gardening yesterday.

It's (b) I'm afraid. Took out a Eucalyptus tree that had died (real shame) and then stripped the turf from a large patch of lawn where we are going to lay a new patio. At the far end of the garden that gets the sun inthe evenings. Only something we've been planning to do for 6 years now, but I guess the inside of the house took precedence. Now all we need to do is level the remaining soil and lay the slabs. Which we do have already. Then get a skip for the day to get rid of all the turf. Then either move and convert the shed already at that end, or obtain a little summerhouse type affair for those hot summer nights. That's put a curse on the sun for the rest of the summer. And what happened to spring anyway?

Even fewer people in the office today as we now have one in hospital for an op on his knee and Dawn off for the day. So really, even less time to distract myself like this. However, I've just finished ploughing through the proof books and am now waiting for Charles to check for anything I may have missed before sending any corrections back to Pindar. Oh what a busy life.

Despite the work in the sun, we still managed a few other things this weekend. I was basically chained to the iron on Saturday, but kept myself amused with the assistance of Aerosmith (Nine Lives), The Chemical Brothers (Dig Your Own Hole) and the Hitch Hiker's Guide to The Galaxy (tv series DVD). Also assorted other musical influences through the tv I can't be bothered to list here. Watching HHG again after many years was great - especially with the quality, previous edited bits put back in and also the production notes on the disc. Almost as good as a full commentary but also not as distracting from the plot. Looking forward to all the extras on disc 2 when I reach the end of the series.

Last night we rewarded ourselves by watching Gladiator again. It was actually free with the DVD player, but one I would happily have paid full price for. Was amazed to realise we've had it well over a year and that was only the second time we've watched it. Where does all the time go? And yet another film I'm looking forward to listening to the commentary on. And watching all the extras. Oh, and we watched a borrowed copy of Boogie Nights on Friday. Quite amusing in parts (is that the right term to use??) but not one we'll be rushing to catch again I don't think.

Nearly time for lunch now...

Nearly 5 on a friday. Why am I still here when every other bugger seems to have wandered off early? Partly cos I still need to make the hours up, and partly cos Joan is having to stay late so I might as well too.

Had one of the regular Car Park meetings I tag along to today. I don't really have much to say but its nice to get Park & Ride recognised as part of the overall town centre scheme of things. And I get to pick up the odd bit of juicy gossip relating to the town as well. Followed that up with lunch with my former colleague Richard who now works for Ipswich Borough Council (as assistant Car Park Manger, funnily enough) - a nice Wetherspoons Minted Lamb Burger and pint of cider. Total outlay for the two of us was less than a tenner, so not bad value either!

Am now heads down in the proof checking of the new area timetable books. Found errors on 30 pages in the first one I've looked at, so I guess next week will be spent in more of the same. In the past I've taken them home to work on, but I'm not doing that any more. Home is not to be messed with. That's one thing I've learned in recent months since my last attack of stressage.

Another musical recommendation is Black Market Music by Placebo. Well, the first half that I listened to on the way in for now. Not that I expect the rest of it to go dramatically downhill. Awesome drum sound.

Busy morning, and I probably shouldn't be taking the time for this either. Just sent off an advert for Park & Ride to go in the Suffolk Business Magazine's Suffolk Show special and now have to write them 250-500 words of copy to go with it. I don't mind blowing my own trumpet for p&r (well, that is my job...) but I always assumed that the people who worked for magazines actually wrote them. Another one to add to the list of misconceptions then. Have also thrashed out another timetable for our next set of books and drawn on some maps. Hopefully this afternoon will give me a chance to do the collation of opinions stuff.

Only 1½ days to the weekend! And at least this weekend I haven't got to go anywhere with anyone so I can be a bit selfish for a change. OK, there will be the usual stuff to do like ironing and another crack at finding some shelves from under the piles of junk in the study, but at least I will be able to choose the accompaniment. However you spell that.

On the health front, I do at least seem to have got through the waves of feeling like death that were hitting me a couple of weeks ago. With any luck that will continue. Of course some of that could have been due to a mysterious bend that appeared in my glasses and is now fixed. Answers on a postcard or sealed antelope.

Finally got my own car back again. It's only been a week and a bit, but feels like forever. Had to remember to change gears and things which put a damper on waving to people when cornering at high speed. Only joking, I'm too much of a grumpy git in the mornings to be waving. It did mean I got back to the Star Wars radio series as well after the same gap. Good job I know the story backwards anyway!

Remarkably thin on the ground here in the office today. Most of the network team are out surveying bus routes, and their boss has phoned in sick. Nearly did that myself as I wasn't feeling too hot first thing, but seem OK now. Person I'm most annoyed isn't here is Danny from Policy. Not because I'd prefer it if he was here, but because he is at a conference in Denmark - in Arhus, one of my favourite places in the world. The swine.

Time to crack on then.

Meeting not as tedious and predictable as feared, and I seem to have ended up with the job of collating our points/ideas/questions into something we can put to a higher level. Not sure if any of our input will resolve anything or change what happens in the long run, but we've got to try.

So now it is nearly time to go home. Should finish catching up on the tv we didn't watch last week tonight. Well, actually we've already caught up on those tapes and now just have to watch the stuff we recorded while catching up. If that makes sense. So Monday's Billy Connolly and last nights Holby. Completely forgot about Holby last week, which is a bit of a blow, but I'm sure we'll work it out.

In a typical move, now I've finally got round to buying those Miles Hunt cds claiming to have stuff from a forthcoming album because the album still hadn't forthcome what do I find in the shops today? Yup, a new CD from the man himself. Not the one these proclaim though. It does have some of the tracks I've just bought, and also some from his previous album but also some new stuff so I expect I'll get it sooner or later.

Time to get out of here for the day.

Had a PC freeze there and thought I'd lost all that. Seems to have survived though, now to do some work.

Was listening to Papa Roach on the way in today, and I have to say it surprised me. Not the quality of their shouty rappy metally stuff (which didn't put them in my top 20 but I won't be erasing the minidisc either...) but the simple fact that where I was expecting the odd swear word, there weren't any. Having heard one of their songs (Last Resort) via Kerrang TV I was assuming I'd only encountered a doctored-for-daytime-tv type version as the lyrics seemed to suddenly cut out at the end of some lines - the obvious answer to that being a bit of editing. However, the same thing happens on the cd I borrowed from the library. I know some films get doctored for tv or airline versions (like, removing the plane crash from The Mummy for the airlines, can't think why...) but I can't believe this is a special library version of the album. After all, I've borrowed plenty of others that sound just like they should, rude words and all. Obviously some form of either self-censorship or just done to make us think perhaps? Either way I'm intrigued.

I think today is going to be a long one. The staffing review we were initially promised before Christmas (in fact, I think we should have had it in September) finally materialised on Monday, and we are having a group meeting this afternoon to discuss it. I can't see that being over quickly. From a personal point of view, I am once again annoyed to see the idea raised of moving Park & Ride from my responsibility to the network team. The part of my job I enjoy the most. I will not be giving that away without a fight. They also seem to have forgotten about large parts of what we do (such as bus stop maintenance, shelters etc) so I reckon we could be in for some lively debate. The biggest problem at the moment is of course the fact that they haven't done anything yet to replace my manager since he retured in January (like, it came as a surprise to personnel) and Gary is off with pneumonia. So Dawn and I are left trying to do four jobs. No wonder we both look zonked half the time. Of course, that means I should really be getting on with stuff rather than writing this, so I'd better do so. More later I think - I'll probably need to let off steam!

Just occurred to me that I have done precious little in the way of what it says on the left, and talked about cultural input of late.

What with the busy week, there hasn't been much in the way of it (still reading Trevithick, only listened to the CDs that came in the post) but we did watch the whole of series 3 of The Royle Family last week. OK, so that is only 7 episodes at 25ish minutes each, but notable anyway. We are all agreed on the total brilliance of the show - from concept through to realisation. Especially the way it evolved over the three series to encompass slight variations on the sitting around watching tv theme. Personal top bit is the stripping of wallpaper in time to Mambo No. 5 in the 3rd series, but all of every episode is noteworthy in some shape or form.

A real pity that Caroline Aherne had to leave the country for her own good. Am now hoping that (a) the series she has done in Australia turns out to be up to scratch and (b) they release the series she did with Craig Cash of Mrs Merton & Malcolm which was equally hilarious in its own special way.

Off home now.

...Wasn't expecting that to mean two days later, but there you go.

Where was I? Oh yes, Thursday we stayed around Felixstowe - partly so they could see the "market" (if you can call it that with the low number of stalls) and partly because Joan had to go to the dentist. Strangely enough, we actually managed to spend some money at the Market for a change and it was nice not to be rushing off to somewhere else. In the evening the girls went Bingo-ing again (and, again, didn't win more than the cost of getting in) while us chaps went to the pub to play darts and pool. Oh, what a fun time we had.

Friday morning we went to Woodbridge via Homebase for Stuart to buy wallpaper to take home to Canada. Some of that lumpy Anaglypta stuff they can't find at home apparantly. I get the feeling that my taste in interior design is a bit different from theirs! Perhaps they are still thinking about the UK they emigrated from 30+ years ago rather than what we have now. Anyway, Woodbridge was as pleasant as ever even if bitterly cold in the wind/shade. When will we start to get some real heat from all this sun then?

In the evening we went to The Beagle at Sproughton for dinner. One of my favourite pubs in the area for a meal, and it lived up to expectations once again. Part of the Vintage Inns chain run by Greene King, so they are probably all just as good.

Saturday we did Ipswich with them. I ended up with some new trousers and we got the last of Richard's birthday presents. It is actually his birthday today (we went round there last night for dinner and to gift him up). And then yesterday they left us to go up North.

Fun but frenzied few days, and my ears have just about returned to normal levels of input now. Not sure how long it will take the cat to calm down though. She really doesn't like Shiela, and the feeling is reciprocated. I'm glad I haven't got to worry about getting all the stuff they have bought home - they've had to buy an extra suitcase already - after the hassle we had coming back from theirs last year. Shiela will be back with us in May for another week or so.

So now I am back at work, and have just about made it through the emails and in tray after 7 hours of slog. Would much rather be at home catching up on lost sleep from last week. Didn't even manage to get away from the desk for lunch today, so nothing interesting left to talk about for now.

I had the feeling I wouldn't get much time to update this week, and it seems I was right.

Anyway, got round the County with my home-made versions on Tuesday, so I guess I'll have the real things waiting for me when I finally get in to work on Monday. Not that I am particularly looking forward to going back, other than for a rest - sure have been hectic over the last few days.

Wednesday we went down to Clacton. Not been there for about 5 or 6 years when I did a couple of weeks cover at Argos there. The place hasn't changed at all - still as common as muck! Just the sort of tacky British Seaside resort it always has been. And it was very "bracing" out on the pier. Or in other words, we nearly got blown off the side! On the way home we had a look at the designer shopping outlet village place that opened up a couple of years back. They called it Clacton Common back then, but have changed since. Half the shops were empty, and there were very few people about, so I'm not sure how much longer it will last. I bought a couple of cheap t-shirts, but most of the other stuff we saw was not reduced over the normal prices. Not much impressed.

More later.

Playing the waiting game again. Got most of the stuff I need to go out and get on with the stuff that dragged me in here today, but am just in need of a couple more timetables. And I really don't want to go out, come back and go out again - I'd rather go out late and get back late if that's what it takes. After all, I could use the extra minutes that such an eventuality will build up as I took a flexi-day off yesterday. Hopefully the roads will be fairly clear today as people sit on their backsides watching the ceremonials from Westminster.

Joan didn't win anything last night, but Shiela won enough so that when they shared it out it covered the costs of getting in, which is a start at any rate! I think they are planning to go again later in the week, so perhaps the millions will flow then. And perhaps it will rain frogs over the Kalahari and George W. Bush will turn out NOT to be an alien. Just enough to replace the car would do. The rattle is now diagnosed as a sticky tappet and will hopefully be sorted by a service on Wednesday 17th. Am borrowing the mother's for the time being.

Tum, tum, tumty, tum. Can't stand hanging about here - perhaps I'll just tart up what I've got into Word rather than waiting for the "proper" versions and get out of here. Of course that will ensure they arrive just as I don't need them... 10 minutes of browsing the web later, they still haven't shown so I'm definitely about to annoy myself by doing it in Word for no real reason!

Busy, busy, busy couple of days.

Friday night went round to Helen's to welcome the Canadian contingent. An evening of fun and jollity ensued during which I was reminded just how loud they all get when stuck in a room together! Still, was nice to see them again, and a bit shorter gap between visits than before.

Saturday's trip to York was great. Apart from the early start that is. Train trip went well - only a little bit late leaving Ipswich, whihc we made up on the way, and actually got home early, so not to be sniffed at. Was a bit strange whizzing through the old home town of Welwyn Garden City. And being on a train full of sad spotters was a joy to the laughter areas of the brain. Such frantic notebook action whenever we went past a station or depot ("Oooh, 607106, haven't got that one yet"). Funnier still was watching them at York running to get photos of a couple of rarities on other trips with about 30 seconds to spare before we were leaving - oh, and the crowds on the first 4 or 5 bridges as we left York with their zoom lenses at the ready.

York itself was lovely. Went to the Minster, Jorvik centre, Castle Museum and National Railway Museum as well as walking in the sun and having a good lunch. Should hopefully have some good pictures of some of that, so will sort out some onto the web soon. Oh, and have now taken some of the house, so they'll be on soonish too.

Yesterday we just met the mob down at the market and had a spot of lunch before they all came up here for dinner. Joan surpassed herself in the cooking stakes - absolutely top notch scoffing. And another round of fun and laughter.

Today we've wandered in to town to meet up for lunch, and now as I write the girls are at the bingo. I think the other chaps are at the pub watching football, which appeals to me about as much as sticking needles in my ears, so I'm here listening to the Orb and writing this!

Am actually at work tomorrow (well, originally Joan was supposed to be on a course, so I was going to take her in and back, but then that got cancelled when QM died but I'm still going in as watching the funeral is the last thing I want to do). Won't be in the office much though as there are a whole bunch of services changed today that I need to get out and do roadside publicity for. I bet there will be nowhere open serving lunches so I think I will take sarnies and park up in the sun somewhere! Report later.

Grim lunchtime. The sun was still doing its thing, but the wind has come back and everywhere not being shone upon was decidedly chilly. Add that to spending too loong in bookshops looking but not buying and realising that I have a stack of unread books and no time to read them and you get a gloomy Simon. Perhaps starting the week after next I shall start taking my lunchtime wanderings to a comfy bench somewhere and reading. Might get closer to the speed I used to devour books at when I was still at Argos and read whilst eating. Trouble is here I feel odd doing that cos I'm sat at my desk not in a cosy staff room. Plus there's the web to read then as well. It should also mean a reduction in the impulse purchases I tend to indulge in simply because I'm wandering round the shops. I'll let you know!

Even the production of cake by m'colleague Danny for no reason other than he felt like it has done little to lighten the mood. Will run out of tablets to keep the smile on my face next week so have made an appointment with the Doctor. Why is it that every time I have a few good days and think now is the time to come off them for good, something like this comes and makes me change my mind again? Perhaps I should just go and get drunk instead. No, perhaps not. At least not until I've got rid of the tablets, if I do.

But, walking around town feeling like I want to just keep walking rather than coming back to the office is not the best way to end the week. So I forced myself in and have written a few e-mails just to keep myself looking busy. Don't think I can keep this up much longer. But what other job would give me the lattitude I sometimes cope with?

Definitely leaving here early today, even if just to nurse the car home! So only 30 mins or so to go.

This is hilarious but also very worrying:

Paranoia paradise
By Chris Horrie
BBC News Online

What makes a good conspiracy theory? What is it about some stories that, however unlikely, convince people that they are true?

French author Thierry Meyssan's book L'Effroyable Imposture (The Appalling Fraud) - which claims that the US government may have "staged" the 11 September attack on the Pentagon - has been condemned for lack of taste. The book has found thousands of readers in France

But it is merely the latest contribution to the mushrooming media "conspiracy industry" - based on the premise that whatever anybody in authority says, the exact opposite is almost certainly the truth. In an age of The X-Files and a lack of trust in the scientific, political and military establishment, there are millions apparently prepared to believe that what they see on the TV news is a complete con and that "the truth" is being suppressed by mysterious and unidentifiable Powers That Be.

Who controls the British Crown... who keeps the metric system down... we do! we do!
Anthem of the Stone Cutters, from The Simpsons

In short, the world seems to be coming down with a bad case of mass paranoia.

There are those, for example, who believe that the Titanic was not sunk but captured by Albanian pirates (why Albanians?), its cargo of gold bullion stolen, its crew and passengers sold to white slave traders and a "fake" wreck created to cover up for this near-perfect super crime.

Less obscure are the numerous theories surrounding the death of John F Kennedy - the most outrageous (and recent) that he was somehow shot by his wife, Jackie.

Then there is the persistent campaign to convince everyone that the moon landing was faked in a TV studio and on location in an Arizona desert in order to boost the popularity of Richard Nixon.

There are entire interest groups with names like The Grassy Knoll and The Conspiracy Continues devoted to "researching" ever more convoluted versions of the Kennedy assassination, many now finessed to entire alternative secret histories of the world dating back to the Garden of Eden.

Conspiracy Planet links to all the familiar conspiracy theories - Elvis is not dead; UFO abductions; tireless efforts of drug companies to suppress cures for diseases, and car companies to prevent the development of the electric car.

Homespun UK conspiracies of recent vintage include the idea that MI6 killed Diana, Princess of Wales, to prevent her marrying a Muslim and endless stuff about British intelligence services being under the thumb of the Russians, the French and - strangely enough - the Swiss.

If all of this seems to be like the script for a particularly duff edition of The Twilight Zone, remember that ex-BBC presenter and Coventry City goalkeeper David Icke preaches that the world is being secretly run by super-intelligent lizards from another planet.

Modern day conspiracy theorising like this may seem harmless to some. But belief in a sinister group of super-secret political puppet masters controlling world events is an old idea, pre-dating even modern science fiction.

Fortunately, the more nutty global conspiracy theories have generally been confined to the fringe.

But not always.

The Nazi regime in Germany based its persecution of Jews on the idea that leaders of the religion acted as a secret governing council of the world, waging a secret war against Germany by cooking up communism, capitalism, jazz, pornography and modern art.

This nonsense had its roots in 19th century France, where Jews were blamed for both the French revolution and the defeat of Napoleon.

A best-selling French "non fiction" book, The French Jews, maintained a Jewish world council based in Gibraltar controlled the world banking system and was plotting the destruction of European civilisation. The book went through 114 editions in a single year, sold millions across Europe and made its author, Edouard Drumont, a leading player in French politics.

Drumont's most extreme followers even believed that Jews had infiltrated the Catholic Church and placed a "Jewish Pope" on the throne of St Peter. Later, Drumont's ravings were perfected by the Russian secret police who faked a complete set of documents "proving" the existence of a "world Jewish conspiracy" and published in millions of copies around the world under the title of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion".

Almost as horrific - on the political left - was the Communist conspiracy theory in 1930s Russia that famines caused by economic mismanagement were being deliberately manufactured by richer, conservative "Kulak" farmers - working conspiratorially with undercover German and British spies. "Spy mania", together with the wild idea that the Kulaks were deliberately starving themselves to death, led to countless executions and further intensification of famine, claiming the lives of millions.

In the 1930s the controversial German psychologist Wilhelm Reich diagnosed belief in conspiracy theories as a form of mass hysteria and as a type of contagious "emotional plague".

The problem is that once the basic idea is accepted that an endlessly devious, super-secret cabal is running events, everything that happens can be seen as further and ever more convincing evidence of conspiracy.

-----------------

Not sure what I could say to top that today!

Anyway, having suffered despair this morning over the people prepared to spend the night on the streets of London in order to possibly catch a glimpse of the QM's coffin being taken from palace to hall (and does anyone else remember last year when even Princess Anne said doing that sort of thing was "stupid"?) I had real problems of my own on the way to work when the car started making ghastly rattling noises. No, don't give up on me now, I can't afford to buy a new one! It did at least get me here, and should hopefully hold together to get me home but after that things are less certain. I've sorted out a loan of Richard's for tomorrow as I don't fancy the prospect of a brekdown on the way to the station tomorrow and missing the trip to York.

Hopefully it will be easily (and cheaply) fixable but will no doubt mess up at least one day of our hols next week. Grrrr.

Time for a spot of work, more later!

What a great day out this has been. The sun has been glorious, the pool car I was using has both sun roof and air con so I've been swapping between the two to keep nice and cool either with or without noise and I got all my deliveries done. Only three things could have made it better: 1 - not spending half the day stuck behind volvo drivers resolutely doing 10-20 mph less than the speed limit whatever the road conditions; 2 - not feeling like I wanted to throw up for the stretch between Leiston and Saxmundham and 3 - an aux input socket on the car stereo. I have one on mine which is how I connect the MD player. Am currently about 1/3 in to the Star Wars radio series (300 minutes all on one disc in 4xLong Play!) and would have rather listened to that than Jimmy Young, but never mind. The rest of Radio 2 is worth that small segment, half of which I was having lunch for anyway.

Actually, make that 4 things. The cafe we used to use in Saxmundham has been taken over, and the new people have changed the menu dropping the pork & apple burger option. Which is a real blow - we'll have to find somewhere else to stop now!

Now I think it is definitely time to get out of here. Joan staff training this evening so I'm going to do a bit of shopping and have a leisurely stab at clearing the study until she gets home. That'll be me done then!

Well, a simple chair delivery took over an hour, but I am trying to be on my best behaviour (even if I was absolutely famished by the time we finally got home) and didn't make a fuss! And no plans made as yet for next week so it still has a chance of being enjoyable.

There was bugger all worth watching on the telly last night, so we finished off the Batman DVD boxset with Batman & Robin. Not the most popular film in the series with the critics (or indeed the cinema audiences) but I like it. George makes a good Bruce in my opinion, and we can always watch Alicia Silverstone in rubber. A-hem. I'm not sure why people didn't like it so much - after all if you look at some of the original comics they are even more ludicrous! That only leaves one film and a couple of tv series discs we haven't watched yet, although we have seen them when they were originally broadcast or off tape so nothing sitting their crying out too loud for attention.

Oh, and there was also an Australian Changing Rooms care of the satellite. Not sure about the style of the show there - the New Zealand version mirrors the UK one almost exactly, but the Ozzies do things a bit differently. Still, the end results were interesting as ever (with ideas that may make their way into our place when I have the energy to pick up a brush again) and the girl who presents it in white shorts has rather nice legs!

Hmm, I seem to be turning into a dirty old man today. Better get on with some work. Actually, am out doing the deliveries mentioned yesterday - but not going out until a bit later as have just ordered a bacon roll from Alberts. Well, one a week won't kill me (unlike some of my colleagues who seem to be indulging every day).

And finally for now, actually saw this Blog listed on the most recent updates bit of the front page after yesterday's waffling went on, so if anyone saw that had a look and has come back again - Hello!

Oh, you have to laugh. Today half the papers are still QM and the other half are torn between how people are either paying too much or too little attention to her. I think my favourite quote so far has to be this one from the BBC Suffolk message board: "I'm sick of this nauseating grovel-fest. This is the 21st century, not the 15th. The BBC is doing its listeners no favours by the mass cancellation of the programmes we want to listen to just to whine about a woman that matters only to the feeble-minded and social climbers". Says pretty much everything there and applies just as well to the TV.

Tonight we begin the process of pandering to Joan's family's every whim by taking them a dining chair and coat hangers to borrow as they don't have enough. Why do I get the feeling that Joan and I are just going to get dragged along with what everyone else wants to do over the next week? Perhaps I'm being cynical, but I'm already getting hints along the lines of "they won't want to do" things we've offered as worth seeing etc. And if one single activity gets cancelled or cut short because of the damn dog or Alexander coming home from school I shall probably go a bit mad. Well, I shall at least make sure we take our car so have some control over things. Must make sure people realise this is our holiday as well as theirs.

Hmm, all of that sounds like I was feeling before we went to Canada last year, and that mainly came out alright in the end so perhaps my fears are unfounded. We shall see.

The cds from America finally arrived yesterday. Two new Miles Hunt eps and one from the Wonder Stuff. The Milo ones are labelled as selections from a forthcoming album, but as they are both dated for 2000 and the album itself has yet to materialise I thought I might as well invest in them anyway. The stuffies disc is one they gave away (or possibly sold) at the second batch of reunion gigs last Christmas featuring three tracks from the first wave that didn't make it to the eventual live album and a couple of other previously unheard tracks. Now all I need is time to listen to them! Probably tomorrow evening as Joan is doing a staff training session so will be home late. I wonder how much $35 will translate as on the Credit Card bill.

I have managed to find time to polish off a few more pages on Mr Trevithick and am finding it very interesting indeed. If only I'd though to bring it to work to read between the exciting bits (hmm, when were they?).

Think I will head up to Bury Road Park & Ride this afternoon. Mainly as a simple expedient for getting out of the office (and possibly therefore something to actually do when I get back) but also because they have a Scania demonstrator on loan at the moment which I fancy a nose at. Tomorrow I am having a day out delivering timetable books and, darn it, I'm having to go on my own so nobody will be forcing me to hurry!

Well, another fun day at the office nearly over. And I even managed to get a bit of work done as we had some timetable changes come in I needed to thrash into Excel. Not much else to say though. So I won't!

I really must stop expecting to have time to do things I want to do over the weekend! And what a weekend it was too. Got the bedrooms finally finished and suitable for people to look at/sleep in, had a nice meal round ma & pa's while Grandma was up to visit and got thoroughly jarred off by the continuous Queen Mother's dead coverage on the tv. Why do the BBC bother having a 24 hour news channel but then taking over the others when something happens. And when they just spend hours repeating the same information over and over again it really gets on my wick. Although they were saying today that the BBC got 100 complaints about Peter Sissons not wearing a black tie while he was repeating himself but 700 about the continual messing up of the schedules. I think that says what we really think.

Personally, I was more upset by the passing of Barry Took (top comedy scriptwriter in the '50s and '60s and host of The News Quiz on Radio 4 for 25+ years) and the continual chaos in Israel than anything Royal. I don't know what I really believe when it comes to the grand scheme of things, but to be having running battles in what may be the birthplace of Jesus just seems wrong somehow. Still, what do I know?

So here I am back at work wondering what stupid questions people are going to fire at me this week. Mainly from the temp staff on the TraveLine who can't seem to remember stuff from one day to the next. Still, only 4 days of that this week, and with any luck I shall manage to get out of the office for at least one of those. And next week we have booked every day except Tuesday off to be with S&S. Technically, Joan is on a course on Tuesday, which is why I thought I might as well be at work, but it is of course the day they will be burying the Queen Mum, so anything might happen. Probably won't get an official day off for it, but we shall see.

Not sure what we will be doing together next week, I've provided details of loads of nice places to go but expect to be outvoted! They actually arrive on Friday and we are going to see them then as it's also their wedding anniversary but on Saturday we are on a pre-booked trip to York. Having to leave Ipswich at 0652 so leaving home at something like 0615. Urk. I think will have to have an early night on Friday!

More later perhaps.

So much for a relaxing long weekend! It was only 10 minutes old when the phone woke us up. Yup, at 0010 on Good Friday we had to get up and go check out the alarm at Argos as neither of the other two were answering theirs so Joan was last resort (this is the third call-out we've had this year to their NONE). And why was the alarm ringing? Because some idiot had decided to have a pee through the gap between the front doors and triggered the detector. Absolutely lovely. Still, the Police were in attendance this time so we didn't have to worry about an attack if there had been some other cause. And at least it was a straight re-set and come home again rather than a four hour wait for an engineer like we had on Boxing Day. Which was handy as Joan was in on her own yesterday.

So, while she worked at work, I worked at home and got all the painting finally finished. It does look a treat though now it is done. And I really will take some pix soon to stick on our photo site.

Today I've been taking it easy so far, so nowt else to report really!

What I didn't say just then was that I did get the new issue of SFX, big feature on the next Star Wars film - looking forward to that. Also listened to some of an album by the Flaming Lips. Know nothing about them - Richard just handed me the MD and said "you'll like this" and I do. A bit reminiscent of Eels and someone else I can't quite place.

And still the sun does shine down upon us. Could we be in for a good-weathered easter weekend? I hope so.

Have had my constitutional up the town in said sun and managed to resist the various tempting offers on at the moment (3 cds for £20/buy 1 DVD get another ½ price in Smiths, Sale in HMV and 5 cds for £30 in Virgin). And all that on payday too. I must be coming down with something.

Joan was in Ipswich on a course yesterday, so we ended up having a meal on the way home. Very nice carvery it was too.

And today I have also heard that my schoolfriend Sadie has now had her baby, so congratulations there.

Hee, hee, hee. Some times patience can be rewarded! About this time last year we got approached with an offer we really couldn't refuse to put an advert for Park & Ride in someone elses car park in Ipswich at a ridiculously low price. Naturally we accepted and after several checks that the car park people wouldn't mind it all went ahead and got put up. Then their area manager saw it and went rather ballistic at the ad agency (can't say I blame him) who promptly covered it over and gave us our money back.

Today the cover up ad has gone and ours is back on view. So more free advertising. Wonder how long it will last for this time. I have managed to get a photo now, though, so at least we will have some record of our non-investment. Oh, that has put the smile back on my face :-)

Back to the topic in hand, I do still enjoy the odd blast of Sonic the Hedgehog (and 2 & 3) on the megadrive, but that was also when my attention span dropped off a bit. Probably because the games are available so quickly rather than waiting ages for them to load off tape on the Spectrum it doesn't seem so vital to stick with something once it is in use. I dunno. Might go back to talking sense tomorrow.

Classic games of the past then. On the speccy it was pretty much anything by Ultimate, but especially Lunar Jetman, Attic Attack and Knight Lore. All of them defining or even inventing a new style of gameplay, as well as being phenomenally addictive with the right level of simplicity to start with and growing difficulty as you progress. I still dig them out on the PC emulator from time to time, but they aren't quite as much fun without the rubber keyboard. There were also a couple of really good 'uns put out by Durrell - especially Saboteur and Critical Mass.

Don't know if it was the timing co-inciding with harder exams, or the price of games being over twice that for the spectrum, but never really got that many for the Atari. And the ones we played most were shareware or freebies. Particular top of the heap (and again still a regular PC retro-blast) was Llamatron. Think Robotron but with furry beasties instead. And even better, Mr Yak is back in the real world again rather than off working on consoles that never get anywhere so check him out >>>>. And then I moved on to the current PC a few years ago as I needed compatability for work. Again, haven't exactly invested much but do enjoy some older titles and free stuff. Mainly of the highly compelling Tetris variety which I just can't stop once I get started, but I tend to use it more for "serious" stuff rather than srtict entertainment. Have actually let my brother buy more than I have myself! Will go away and think about consoles now. Back later.

Hoorah, I've finally managed to get this PC to accept that I am who I am and remember me for Blogger! Don't have to sign in every day now...

So, I got Tomb Raider installed and it all plays much as it ought to - except for one little snag. What's the point in me having a gamepad with half a billion buttons and things on it if the darn game will only recognise 4 of them? I reckon I can configure it to give a usable combination, but most irritating nonetheless. Did actually whip off the first level while I was getting sorted with controls and detail levels and other configuration options so I might be getting number two sooner than I thought!

Been thinking about it and realised I've been playing games on various systems for over 20 years now. Which is a bit scary! We started with the Sinclair ZX81 and moved on the the Spectrum, Atari ST and now PC. Plus I bought a Sega Megadrive and Atari Lynx and my brother currently has Nintendo 64 and Gameboy Advance, Atari Jaguar, Sony Playstation and Sega Dreamcast. So quite a bit of variety! I've not been a fanatical player since the Spectrum really - I tend to get bored with things pretty quickly if I'm not doing too well and can't be bothered to persevere with them. In fact, thinking about it, Tomb Raider is the only game with an ending (rather than just increasing difficulty or faster tracks or whatever) I've actually stuck with and completed since the Speccy days. Not sure why it grabbed me the way it did - probably just being very good and pitched at the right difficulty level. Of course, it was during the 12 weeks I had off work back in '98 when I borrowed the Playstation to stop me going too mad so I had the time to get involved for a change, so that might also have been a factor cos I also went a fair distance into Doom as well at the time. Anyway, enough of this waffle, time to see if I have anything work-ish to do today. Will probably waffle on about games again later today or tomorrow, thinking back to some all-time enjoyable ones.

Ho hum, bored with work again. There always seems to be a feast or a famine with little in the way of regular background "stuff" to be getting on with. Next week this won't be a problem in the same way as it will be next year then (financial year that is) so I'll have loads of files to update and add 12 months to etc. I could start on some of that now, but I have a feeling they would immediately get too complicated for some of the other people who need to use them. So as is often the case I have set a bunch of wheels in motion on other jobs and am waiting for people to get back to me with answers. It frustrates me a bit that people don't respond quickly to anything. If someone comes to me for help I do at least try to acknowledge them even if I can't respond there and then so to continually get nothing back for days or weeks drives me up the wall.

**Don't know what is happening upstairs at the moment, but it sounds like a horse wandering about, which strikes me as being a bit unlikely.**

Have booked some holiday off for when Joan's Sister Sheila and her hubbie Stuart come over from Canada in a couple of weeks. It will be good to see them as we had a great holiday over there last year. Hope the weather holds. Don't know what we are going to do while they are here, but I'd be happy to show them London or the dleights of Suffolk which I see on a regular basis through work. So long as I'm not here then I don't really mind.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy this job most of the time, its just when I'm left waiting for things to happen I get a bit tired of it all.

Had a good wander up the town at lunch time (to the strains of the Masters Of Reality album Welcome to the Western Lodge, good old md player) in the sun which did lift the mood a little, even if the wind is still chill and the kids are off school getting in the way everywhere. Having decided that £300-odd for an X-box is far too much for me to be spending at the moment, but wanting some more interactive entertainment in my life I blew a fiver on Tomb Raider for the PC instead. Yeah, I know it is a bit old hat now, but I enjoyed it on the Playstation and I just fancy playing it again. Perhaps I'll follow up with number 2 and the Chronicles at some point. I think I can get away with it at that price! Now all I need is some time to enjoy it. Long weekend beckons - although I do now have yet more painting to do.

Joan repainted the bottom half of the wall up the stairs and along the landing yesterday so I am now going to have to re-do the glossing so it doesn't look tatty in comparrison. At least that won't eat up the whole weekend though.

Right, time to find something to look busy with again. Perhaps I should just wander round the upstairs corridors with a clipboard for a while looking like I know what I'm doing there....

Mmmm, watched Shrek last night. Now that is a funny film! Not quite sure why Robin Hood ended up with a French accent, but otherwise excellent.

Forgot to mention I'd managed to listen to the Levellers acoustic CD as well over the weekend. Absolutely top notch stuff, must see them again soon.

Well it looks like I failed in the plans for getting online this weekend after all! I only managed about an hour of PC use in total over the whole four days, and most of that was spent updating the virus protection. Oh well, here I am now.

Apart from a stonkingly bad migraine on Saturday morning (worst I can remember for years) the weekend went very well if very busy. Got all the furniture delivered on Thursday so most of the rest of the day was spent putting it together (was going to slide in a joke about Screwing there, but I'll let you fill your own in). Bed is extremely comfortable and the room now looks fabulous. Will definitely be taking some pictures to plop on the web somewhere over the next few days. The only downside is that I now haven't got the "nowhere to hang it" excuse to avoid doing any ironing. Bum.

Then just lots of odd-jobbing, grass-cutting, house-sorting kinda stuff.

Did find the time to finish HP & Chamber of Secrets. Just as good as the first one and looking forward to seeing the film before Christmas. Have now embarked on a biography of steam pioneer Richard Trevithick by Anthony Burton. He did a really good one on Thomas Telford (Roads, bridges, that sort of stuff) a couple of years ago, so expect this one will also be a worthy read.

And we added American Pie 2 to the DVD collection. Just as good as the first one in the laughter files, and another film I'm looking forward to some of the commentaries on (only 4 to choose from!). Also got The Green Mile today as it was cheap in the HMV sale. Another absolute classic from Tom Hanks there.

Still no sign of the American CDs but we did get this year's Council Tax bill instead. Boo hiss. I know I work for the council and would like a pay rise, but I don't see why I should have to pay for it myself!

Right, time for a bit more work.

Another day with nothing much happening - apart from the return of the rain that haunted us all last week. Had to leave work early yesterday to pick up a parcel which turned out to be two Levellers CDs and a Video I'd ordered and got home to find some books I'd also ordered waiting for me (a new book on Brunel and a Dilbert omnibus) - wonder when I'll get the chance to read them. Have also got some CDs on order from the US so hopefully they won't be too long.

Really looking forward to tomorrow, and more for the arrival of the furniture and new bed than not being at work. Hopefully then we can get the house back to some semblance of normality and think about other things. Like the fact that I really could do with losing some weight. Not that anyone other than me thinks so, but I seem to have developed a small slab of spare stomach over the last couple of years and I think it's time to get shot of it. We shall see. Trouble is, just can't be bothered to exercise at the moment and like my food too much. Caught on the horns of a dilemma.

Sad to see the end of the current run of NCS: Manhunt last night. That and Waking the Dead are my faves from the BBC crime doubles and I could watch them every week. Will have to look around for repeats through the dish, even if I will know the end!

Plan to weld myself to the PC at some point over the weekend and do some scanning and stuff, so might get around to adding to this too!

Yeeep, how can it be tuesday already? Oh well, weekend went very well. Finally got the bedroom finished to our desired design, complete with large cherubs drawn on the wall (and a sunburst in the spare room) - pictures available soon. Also had a trip to London on Sunday for a golden wedding bash. Quite a good little trip (well, I did sleep for the majority of the driving bits) and good to see a whole slab of the family together.

Not much else been going on as a result of all that. Got a few more pages into HP, but not even had time for that really. Then again, am having thurs and fri off this week so should be able to find some time to enjoy myself over a four day weekend.

A definite case of Friday Afternoon Apathy is spreading across the office at the moment. I know I can't be bothered with any proper work. The weather doesn't help of course - a mix of rain and fog casting a cloud over the area.

No wardrobes still so not sure what my plans are for the weekend now. Nothing else to say today, just thought I ought to enter something!

Tuesday had its ups and downs. The down was definitely the dentist. Well, hygenist for the first treatment proper on the sequence mentioned previously. The scraping and whatever was OK, but I seem to have a slight reaction to the anaesthetics that just leaves me dizzy. All fun and games. Ups were the carpet arriving and getting some drawers together. Really is looking nice in there now. Pity there is still no bed or wardrobes (and they now say they are out of stock so we might have to wait longer. Better turn up before our guests do!).

Had a design meeting for Martlesham Park & Ride yesterday. We are looking at an eco-friendly building with grass roof, rainwater toilets etc. Could be very interesting in the final mix. Watch this space!

Am currently waiting for a call to go over and provide back-up for a Park & Ride report going to one of the council panels this morning. Trouble is, I really need some up to date passenger information which I'm also waiting for. I just hope they get to me in the right order! Got another mention in the paper yesterday about the Charter Mark. That makes three now from one press release. Talk about value for money.

Finally got around to listening to the Alien Ant Farm cd I got for my birthday. I like. Another one for the recommended pile I'm afraid.

Also finished the '96 yearbook and now on to Harry Potter 2. Enjoying it more than the first as I don't know what's going to happen this time. Good surprise factor so far.

Time to go and hassle for my figures I think.

Another week already. Still, got the glossing done in the bedroom at last, and the carpet is coming tomorrow which means I can start putting the furniture together. Well, the bits we've got anyway - the bed and wardrobes are still on their way! Also means I get a day off to wait for it.

Had a complete shock yesterday - was watching Q tv on Sky and discovered Russell Crowe has a band called 30 Odd Feet of Grunts (strange) and they are actually quite good. Will have to invest in the CD sometime. I wonder who else out there makes music that could surprise me. If only I had more time to sit and listen to it. Especially now the BBC have launched their new Radio station which we can also get through the dish. They are promising lots of archive concerts so providing they actually publicise when they are going to be on (and then play them when they say they will) we could be in for a serious mini-disc crisis!

Watched Moulin Rouge from DVD yesterdy. Absolutely superb but not at all what I was expecting. Not really sure what I was expecting, but not that! Will have to do the writers commentary ASAP to find out if any of the bits I didn't recognise were also stolen from songs. And if I ever get a video capture card or work out how to nick images direct from the DVD in my PC it will be one of the first to be snaffled from.

Oh, and did indeed start a yearbook - 1996.

Had another one of those lousy feeling crap moments today. Trouble was I was in the middle of Mildenhall doing roadside publicity when it happened so didn't have the same turn round option. A bit of fresh air got me on the way again, but I still feel pretty grotty. Still, got the job finished so all the complaining punters will at least have timetables to look at while they wait for the revised buses on Monday. No doubt some bugger will miss one tomorrow as they haven't got the old version to look at, but that's just tough. I ain't going out doing them at the weekend for nobody. Oh, and we actually had a thank you email from one of the managers, which is rather unusual...

Nearly finished HP now and looking forward to book 2, but I thin kI will make myself wait by cramming in some non-fiction first. Probably one of the old Buses Yearbooks I got cheap and haven't read yet.

Off home now for a relaxing weekend I hope.

What a waste of a day that was. And worse, the train from Ispwich to London had not been given it's seat reservations so I had to find my own and on the way back from Bedford to London we sat outside King's Cross for nearly an hour as someone on the train ahead of us had died. So I didn't get back to Ipswich until 5pm after leaving at 0730 for a 1½ hour meeting!

Still, it did give me time to finish all current magazines and I'm now on to the first Harry Potter book. Enjoyed the film loads and am now enjoying picking up on the bits they left out.

Very nearly didn't make it in to work today. Got about half way here when I came over all peculiar - light headed and nauseous etc. Did actually turn the car around but after sitting for a minute at the side of the road, taking my coat off and opening the roof I began to feel a bit more human again. So here I am. Fool!

OK, time to do some work-related tidying up!

Tum, tum, tumty, tum. Why is it that so much of this job involves waiting for other people to do stuff? Currently sitting here waiting for some files from the printers, and tomorrow will no doubt be waiting for other counties to make their minds up on the Sunday issue. So what can I do but wait? OK, I could get on with my newsletter but will no doubt get into full flow only for the files I'm waiting for to arrive thus making me lose the plot.

Yeah, I know many would argue I lost it years ago...

Haven't heard any more on the legal front so perhaps they laughed at the chap when he got to the court. General opinion here is heading that way certainly.

As well as Tuesday meaning Holby City tonight, we are also looking forward to part two of the NCS: Manhunt crime double. My colleagues couldn't get into at all, but Joan and I thought it was just as good as last year's pilot. And from looking at next week's Radio Times it appears that one of the subplots will be ongoing from this week. Could this finally be a series with a proper arc being made by the BBC again?

All that catching up yesterday and I completely forgot about the Grand Prix. Not quite the start to the season I was hoping for but well done to Mark Webber scoring at home on his debut. The accident with Ralph was fairly spectacular but I was very surprised that they didn't stop the race. Better luck next time to the half of the field wiped out before the first corner. Also looking forward to seeing what happens with the Prost entry - have heard that it has been bought by both Tom Walkinshaw of Arrows and VW to use as a Skoda team. Either option could be interesting, but will need a lot of money pumping in.

Bit quiet in the office so far today. Most of the team is off sick or on holiday with meetings eating up those who are left. I'm trying to write my latest Park & Ride newsletter but can't quite get motivated on it yet. Off to Bedford tomorrow to talk about Sunday ticketing. Not sure my contribution will really be worth all the effort involved in travel and time, but at least I will have the opportunity to get on with some reading. We are also having a strange bloke on the phone trying to get an injunction out to stop a bus service changing next week. Most peculiar.

Didn't do any painting in the end last night as the carpet is not coming until next week, so I can finish off at the weekend instead. I did print out a couple of photos to frame for the walls so it will be nice to look at something I've created rather than the usual "art". Not that I don't like art, you understand.

That'll do for now.

Unk, busy busy four days.

Thursday was good - in London again, this time for an ATCO meeting. It was hosted by the main rival to the printers we use for publicity and timetables so it was very informative to see what they do differently. Not actually all that much in terms of final output, but quite a different approach to getting there. Might just have to give them a bit more serious consideration when it comes to tender renewal time. We also got a ride on a preserved bus (RT 1720, trivia fans) a nice meal in a pub and a 10% discount at the national map centre out of them. Oh, and a free mug! Didn't buy any maps but did get Peter Ackroyd's biography of London. Which looks very interesting and is on the list to get read soon.

Friday I was in Colchester for a Transport Visions Network workshop. Again, very intersting and informative. Managed to resist the temptations of Red Lion books though, despite it being next door.

Then we had the weekend. With a bit of help I got the old wardrobes moved from our bedroom into the spare, and then did the main paintwork. Just the glossing to do this afternoon/evening. As I write my good lady wife should be choosing the new carpet, and as soon as that arrives I can start assembling the new furniture and we can begin to move back in! Hope there is not a delay. Have also ordered our new bed and wardrobes which are on 3 week delivery...

Finished The Martians - overall I enjoyed it as a nice wrap-up to the trilogy and can recommend the whole lot to anyone prepared to wade through it. Now catching up on this month's magazines before deciding what to read next.

All in all, that was quite a good little presentation/ceremony thing. I didn't fall asleep, the food was good, I was forced to travel first class with reserved seats and I got to pose with the award rather than someone who hadn't done all the work and was merely senior. Also met a few people from other councils who want to use our Park & Ride as a model for theirs, so much kudos all round. And I got a kiss off our assessor while the director didn't. Ha ha ha.

I also had a bit of free time to wander about, but the London Transport shop at 55 Broadway was shut for refurbishment and then it started raining, so I came home comfortably early instead.

Today seems to have been a mad scramble to catch up on yesterday and get ready for not being in the office again this week. Hopefully I can do some real work next week. I did manage to get to the Library though at lunch time, so now have a Chemical Brothers and a Placebo to listen to. And there was a CD on the fornt of Kerrang so I bought that as well. Used to get it every week back in the early - mid '90s but then marriage and mortgage intervened so now it needs a real incentive or a band I've actually heard of to ensure that purchase. Reort to follow when ears have ben abused (and not listened to the birthday stuff yet - still - due to lack of time.

London again for tomorrow, no first class travel but we are meeting Claire from Norfolk CC on the train so a good time will still be had! Report on that plus Friday in Colchester next time!

Where does the time go? Not sure about Friday but I do know what happened to the weekend - the planned trip to London got put off due to painful foot problems still for Joan and I ended up painting the spare bedroom. Glossing tonight! And all so that we can do our bedroom. I'll work out the logic of that some day I swear.

Anyway, in London tomorrow to pick up my Charter Mark so won't be writing anything then either.

Currently listening to some Blink 182 I borrowed from the library this lunchtime. Short & sharp songs, just what I like at the moment.

Looking back, we did indeed have a nice meal at the pub (mmm, I could eat that lamb again right now) and very reasonably priced too. Then my folks came round to throw presents at me (well, you know what I mean) - Clangers on DVD now! Friday I have no real recollection of at all then painting. So that's me up to date with nothing really deep or meaningful to say. So what's new?

Will try again on wednesday!

Well, blow me down if I'm not 31! Thoroughly spoilt by Joan this morning (and her sister last night) with my own family due to visit tonight. Don't think I'm going to list stuff here though cos that would be tedious. Will probably also squeeze in a meal at the pub tonight as well.

Joan's wandering about town yesterday has caused her wounded foot to flare up again, so London on Saturday is now looking unlikely. Still, going there twice for work next week so I'll still manage some capital fun. Then again, she is seeing the doctor about it this afternoon so perhaps some form of miracle cure will be forthcoming. Seems unlikely to me though.

Not actually anything wonderful to say today so I'll stop.

I was right, hurt like Hades. And no actual treatment carried out either - just measurements of how deep my pockets are (in both senses cos its going to cost nearly 80 quid by the end of the treatment) - little needles poked in six times around each tooth. OK to start with but got a bit tedious by the 30th tooth, and ached all day! Never mind.

Joan came into Ipswich to spend money on me today, so we met for lunch, which was nice. After I'd given her a few ideas for other things I'd quite like I had a major greed-related guilt trip and tried to get her to take them back. I don't think it worked but I've calmed down again so am not feeling so put-out now. Why can't I just accept that people like me? Especially my own wife.

Oh, and on the Martians front, have now decided that I wouldn't want to have read the stories as part of the main text as (a) they are not all from the same "reality" and (b) they feature other characters who have no other place in the main narrative which was spread over enough people as it was. Still very enjoyable though and giving a new slant on some aspects of the story.

Time to go home now, so next entry will be on my birthday....(that's tomorrow!)...

Sure was nice out there in the sun. Pity the wind is still so cold when you move into the shade though. Still, spring must be coming soon.

Theoretically, we are being environmentally audited today to ensure we aren't doing nasty things to the outside world. Our section gets done this afternoon but as there are two scheduled interviews not due to finish until 5ish I reckon I could get away with my ignorance! How are we supposed to check that bus companies are disposing of waste oil responsibly or using the right cleaning materials anyway? Especially given that we are not being allocated any additional budget to do this with.

Now I've seen everything in this place. My colleague Danny has just produced a pair of wet trousers he washed at home this morning and is now attempting to hang them in the window to catch the sun and dry. Takes all sorts I suppose.

Anyway, I was talking about music earlier but didn't mention any band names, so I will now. Those I'd never heard of before getting the dish and now either have invested in or want to know more about include: Sum 41 (mentioned below somewhere), Lostprophets, Vex Red, Rival Schools, The Drowning Pool and several others the names of which escape me. Those I did know about but had never heard include Linkin Park and Marilyn Manson (whose cover of Tainted Love is possibly the most ridiculously brilliant thing I've heard for years). It hasn't all been gosh wow though. I have been reassured that my initial thoughts from reading about them only have not let me down when I reckoned that I wouldn't like Slipknot, Kid Rock or Limp Bizkit. So I guess I'm safe for now!

So we are now in the week containing my 31st birthday. I am definitely feeling a lot better about myself than I was at this time last year, when I came very close to the edge of sanity but that seems a long way off now. Not planning anything major this year (last year we had a reasonable sized party) although we are having a day in london at the weekend. Looking forward to that as it seems like ages since we last went down. Will just have to try not to go into too many shops as we really should be saving to get the new bedroom furniture we urgently need.

Joan is off this week but I'm too tied up with meetings to join her for more than tomorrow. And then I'm seeing the dentist (well, Kirstie the hygenist actually) whihc will no doubt be excrutatingly painful. Damn my insufficient bone growth and extra-deep pockets.

Hurdie Ho!

Weekend seemed to go in a flash. I did get online for a while, but not long enough to add anything here so...

Doctor did the trick, and I've now cut the meds in half again. So hopefully a couple more months and I can come off them completely. OK, so I seem to be brewing a bit of a cold at the moment, but otherwise feeling pretty darn good. And the sun is shining too so with any luck I'll get to go out for a wander in it shortly.

Finally got round to starting a new book - The Martians by Kim Stanley Robinson. Having recently finished the main mars trilogy I was looking forward to this as I didn't want to reach the end of that. They were quite deep in some places (a bit too much science and not enough story perhaps) but I still wanted every page to be a few words longer. So the chance to fill in some of the gaps in the narrative is quite nice. I wonder what the overall result would have been if these "leftover" bits had simply been inserted into the main trilogy and that extended. Anyway, let it just be said for now that I am enjoying catching up on bits of the "past" that were only hinted at before.

Didn't actually listen to any coherent whole albums over the weekend. Music mainly came from the assorted appropriate channels on tv, although many of the tracks encountered that way were archived to mini-disc so will get listened to again soon. I used to be a real addict for new bands, but then had a period of no spare cash and no spare time and no decent radio stations to find them and just enjoyed what I had. But getting the sky dish has really fired my imagination again. Everywhere I turn there are bands I've vaguely heard of but not experienced before and I'm finding I like them all. Which is good in the short term but could damage the wallet eventually!

Right, now for a walk in the sun.