Michael's Meanderings

Up 7:40 down to breakfast, full breakfast service, like Friday, not a buffet so the egg was fried and there was only one sausage but with added tomato! Had a mild headache, finished packing and checked out by 8:50! Since I really don't need to catch a train until after 10:00 so I decided to stay in the the lobby and surf.

On the Train
So Marcus joined me in the lobby and copied a couple of silent movies to usb stick, and left at 10:15 walked to Boots and got something for the headache then on to Bradford Interchange and caught the 10:34 to Leeds which got in just before 11:00 so I had half an hour to wander the station and got some stuff for lunch. Once again I was in coach B in the quite coach, this time with an actual table in addition to power. So after I finally finished the book I'd started on the journey to Bradford, I pulled out the laptop to update and check out the silent movies and watched one but the difference with and without music meant I didn't watch any more.

I got home at 3:30 and since it was a nice day I went for a walk around Bedelands Farm. I saw a couple of butterflies, and a rabbit, there were even blue bells in the wooded areas. Got back after 45 minutes and started watching the TV I'd recorded over the w/e!

I though I'd better catch up before arriving in Bradford.

On Wednesday I did some training, on Thursday morning some of my colleagues did the same course. While this was going on it was decided I had to visit our two new data centres, one in Acton and one in Docklands. So since it was a nice day all of us walked back to the office. It took the same time as using the Tube, and the were a number of stops to get snacks on the way!

So my team mate and I left for Chancery Lane and took the central line to Acton, then walked to to the estate where the high security data centre is located, saw all the new blade servers in their cages then off to Docklands. Due to G20 Bond St was closed so via x to Canary Wharf then back to the office by 17:30 to swap out the backup tapes for the overnight backup.
Since it was a nice sunny day the unexpected extra walking was pleasant, so much so that I wished I'd left my jacket behind.

Note all that week I was on a late shift 10:00am to 6:00pm

On Friday there was a book sale and I of course bought a book (Readers Digest on Digital Photography) and a set of classic audio books on CD for a mere £10 (RRP over £100)

Saturday I got my back adjusted, and while I still get back pain, I have a much freer movement in my legs. One goal is to be able to touch my toes with my legs straight!

After a wander in Brighton I went home to crash out for a bit before going shopping.

On Sunday I went to the local cinema to se "Monsters vs Aliens" (PG) which was great fun. The main heroes were from 50s B movies; the Blob (sorry Bob), the Creature from the Black lagoon (the missing Link) the Fly (Dr cockroach voiced by Hugh Laurie) and the 50 foot woman (Gargantua voiced by Reese Witherspoon) I was the only one to laughed out loud when the credits showed that the President was voiced by Stephen Colbert!

After I got back since it was still sunny I went for a walk mostly around Bedelands Farm. It's surprising how many public footpaths there are and how much farmland so close to town. I saw a dozen butterflies and may have managed to get some photos.

I've been clearing material from my Sky box (so there would be space for recording over Easter) Caught up on Ghost whisperer, Finished Eli stone and Demons.

On Tuesday I sent a birthday card to my sister, and had a walk arould the area. When I got home I'd got birthday cards from my parents and sister and family, and a present from my other sister from the Discworld Emporium (with Discworld stamps) It was a "The Turtle Moves" pin which was very cool, but where I'll wear it I don't know (no suites so no jackets with lapels!)

Yesterday Patricia C Wrede's new book "Thirteenth Child" finally arrived. I say finally as I heard Pat read from it back in August, ordered from Amazon in December and was told it was on it's way on Sunday. I hoped it would arrived before I started on my Easter holiday and fortunately it did. I spent every spare minute reading yesterday and finished it last night. My favourite book read so far this year!

I've been using my new camera to video the Tuesday juggling class, it's interesting to see the improvements over the weeks. I must try to upload the material somewhere.

I've been practicing club passing for the last few weeks and I seem to be getting better. There are two places where everything usually falls apart. Not throwing the club to your partner in a consistent manner, and managing to fail the basic pass to yourself throw. The latter is more common and more embarrassing!

Yesterday's juggling was the last but one of the term (and since a number weren't going to make the last week) we went for our traditional drink after. This time we just went around the corner to the Potters, where I had a half of Guinness and we had about half an hour before we had to leave.

Last Saturday after my Chiropractor appointment I went to the Cinema in Brighton to see "Watchmen", there was over an hour to wait for the film to start, after i got my ticket, so I sat on the beach for a bit then laid down to have a bit of a rest.

Any way the film was excellent, I haven't read the original book since first publication, even though I did recently get a copy of the Graphic novel reprint.

On Sunday since I wasn't around the previous day I did my shopping and decided, as the weather was still nice to take another walk around Bedelands. This time I took the public footpath across the tran track and home via the roadway.

And finally I just realised that it's been nearly 2 years since I joined Librarything.com, my first book No Quarter by Tanya Huff, was entered on 28 Mar 07

D has been doing some electrical upgrades for me in lieu of rent, so far he's replaced most of the light switches for something more modern, and replaced the original wire-fused main fuse box (which had been really badly installed) the new one has circuit breakers and separate "fuses" for power rings for ground floor, first floor and kitchen, and the garage and shower (also new) on a separate circuit. He's also just replaced one of the kitchen lights. It previously had 4 mini bulbs of 40+watts each and the replacement strip light is brighter and uses less total power.

First weekend in March, on Saturday my Dad drove to collect me so I could visit for the weekend. After arriving he decided that he wasn't feeling up to driving back so I had to!!! I had driven in years (decades) so it was good that I was familiar with the route. Though it's interesting how much more you concentrate on how you get from A to B when you are behind the wheel! The car was very nice to drive, an automatic and with very responsive accelerator and brake. We did get home safely (though one of the wheel trims did come off! And was recovered the following day!)

Went to church with my parents on Sunday, my Mum drove this time. and after lunch my sister took me home.

Tuesday nights juggling have been progressing nicely. I've used use my new camera to video some of the juggling, and the improvement over the weeks is noticeable (I must upload some) It the moment I'm trying to keep the patterns going for a bit longer (i.e. 10 clubs being passed/thrown). We have also been doing patterns with 4 people, the best have been in a cross (+) but also -> with the teacher passing to three of us.

I managed to loose my new Palm TX it was when there was a break in the train lines and I had to get a replacement service bus. Despite contacting lost property I got no result ;-(

Last weekend I spent finally getting around to watching hours of TV I'd recorded over the last 3 month! But mid afternoon it was so nice weather wise that I decided to go for a walk, and tramped through Bedelands Farm, not much growth current but hopefully I'll return and see some transformations. I did take one or two pictures.