We all have our struggles. This story put mine into perspective this morning...

<click here>

S.

There are few gadgets that I'd credit with changing my life significantly but man, if you don’t have an iPod touch (or an iPhone) just get in your car right now and buy one.

I know I’m Mr Macaholic himself these days but whoever came up with this should be given a Nobel prize. Just the way it deletes unwanted emails would be enough to earn my vote. And to be able to read pdf/office files on the go is also pretty stunning.

Here's to me getting my email inbox down to zero messages some day soon...

S.


Stats For The Week (Hat tip, SCS, JL)
Diapers changed: 6
Children:  3
Diapers started and finished: 4
Diapers containing nuclear waste: 2
Diapers noticed but not done: 4 (thanks Sa)
Children’s baths: 9
Visits to medicine cupboard: 6
Meals at The Lobster Pot: 0
Visits to the Apple Store (online): 3
New co-writers: 1
Blogs posted: 3

I collapsed in a heap on Tuesday with hot and cold sweats and the shakes. Something I think I picked up from Monty – he was just like this last week.

I just hate getting ill… I’m not good at it. Now, after a couple of days in bed, I’m beginning to feel human again.

One of my chums volunteered to ‘reframe the symptoms’… it’s a sign that my body is getting rid of the illness rather than it making me ill. A process rather than a state. That kinda makes me feel better already.

I think today will be my last day of daytime TV. At least I hope so... it’s beginning to drive me mad.

S.

Bought a new satnav at the weekend because I was feeling left out. The day before, the five of us were on our way home from a stomp around the countryside in wellington boots and a pub lunch when I realised I was the only one in the car without a screen. Except for Barts, he was asleep.

But I'm still not 100% sure about it. Sandra’s screen is the most interesting (Grey’s Anatomy on an iPod piped into the front speakers). And even the kids’ DVD is generally more interesting than the German sounding dude (who I call Herman) who now issues commands in a high-and-mighty, know-it-all voice about each and every twist and turn in the road I need to drive down.

And that’s the irony. If satnav is supposed to save so much time by giving me the quickest route why oh why do I get such a kick out of deliberately going the wrong way and making Herman the German work for his place in the car?

I’m boss Herman. Just remember that, ok.

S.

Oh and another thing… if Herman is such a clever little monkey why can’t I plug him into my GERMAN car’s cruise control and get our European cousins to do a little 'sprechen zie deutsche' so I can sit down with my wife and watch Meredith while on the move? Can it really be that difficult? It would go down a treat in America.

Someone recently sent me some Church BLOOPERS that actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services... enjoy!

1. The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
2. The sermon this morning will be: "Jesus Walks on the water." The sermon tonight "Searching for Jesus."
3. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
4. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
5. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you.
6. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
7. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
8. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs this evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
9. Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
10. Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
11. A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall.  Wind music will follow.
12. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.
13. Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
14. Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.  Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
15. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
16. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
17. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00pm - prayer and medication to follow.
18. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
19. This evening at 7pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
20. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10am. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
21. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
22. Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.
23. The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
24. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."

There must be a million others out there...

S.

As my alarm went off at 5.40 am this morning to get me up in time for the early train to London for a board meeting my mind grappled with the hour before remembering a little star flashing on my internal calendar… it’s iChristmas: Steve Jobs’ keynote speech today when he'll announce a whole new batch of upgrades, new products and cool things in the pipeline. I’d already ordered Office 2008 but I was keen to see what else was to come.

And he didn’t disappoint… I can feel a major purchase coming on…

S.

Had a day in the studio today. A day sounds like a long time but somehow it’s never long enough. It’s like sleep gets in the way. And eating. And the rest of life. For me it’s like spending a day on my favourite ride at Disney Land. And now there's a new attraction: my new AD/DA converters arrived. So I spent today welcoming them in to to the family.

And we all had a lot of fun. By some twist of fate everything that it said in the manual worked exactly to plan. And now it’s like the studio has moved up another gear or two.

I’ve this theory that in most cases capturing something natural and authentic will turn out better than stuff sounding like it's been processed. Well, these converters help me take a voice or an instrument and get a piece of sonic reality into my computer in the most transparent way known to mankind. And they totally delivered today.

If I'm not smiling right now it's only because I wish I could do another few hours here but I can't.

So I better turn in before I… zzzzz

S.

We’re into playing with bricks in our house. I guess it’s because we got them out for Barts. Poppy was playing with them yesterday. When she’d grabbed all the bits she thought she needed she got to work. Eventually she stood up and declared:

Poppy: “There!”

Everyone looked puzzled

Poppy: “I’ve made the Trifle Tower”

Everyone still looked puzzled

Poppy: “You know, the Trifle Tower in France”

Mummy: “Ahhhh”

I’d love a bit of trifle tower. Or maybe some Arc de Brioche. Or the Chance of Cheeses.

S.

Today didn’t go to plan.

1. Our trip to Oxford to see Bo and his family before going on to a family Christening was called off because Poppy (and frankly the rest of us) were too ill to travel
2. My technical prowess was reduced to ashes as some doll Poppy got for Christmas wouldn’t program to the DVD player (of course Sandra worked it out in 5 minutes)
3. A letter arrived for Poppy with ‘WE WANT YOUR BLOOD’ on the envelope – it was from the National Blood Service… they somehow thought she was 17
4. I went to do something urgent at the cottage and found a six inch hole in the roof that had to be fixed there and then, so had to brace myself for a trip to my least favourite place on the planet… our local DIY store (sells rubbish, staff couldn’t be more unhelpful if they tried)
5. The 4 urgent things on my todo list for today remain outstanding and I haven’t got the energy to even think about them now

On the plus side… it’s my Dad’s birthday today…

Happy Birthday Dad!

S.

Belinda started it <click here> so here’s mine. Also because I can.

Four things you may or may not know about me in no particular order.

Four jobs I have had in my life.
Toilet cleaner in a shoe factory (the Ladies was the worst)
Accountant for a Steam Railway (like on the Railway Children)
Finance controller for Shell Nigeria (I would rather do (1) over this)
Equity Analyst (I miss the bonuses)

Four movies I would watch over and over.
Chevy Chase in Christmas Vacation
Reason training DVD (sad but it is pretty complicated)
Series 1-3 of Grey’s Anatomy (ok, that’s not a real movie)
Our wedding video

Four places I have lived.
Merseyside, where the Beatles came from, I was born there, like
Port Harcourt, Nigeria (DAAANNNGGGEEERRROOOUUUSS)
Holland (for 5 years?!)
Westminster, same street as the British Home Secretary (= dull but safe)

Four TV Shows that I Watch.
X-factor (British version of American Idol)
Strictly Come Dancing (only because Sandra’s brainwashed me into it)
Grey’s Anatomy, obviously (but there’s a Spin-Off???!!!)
Extras
 
Four places I have been.
Moscow (worked there for a while)
The Great Wall of China
Buenos Aires
Bognor Regis

Four of my favorite foods. (4 is so not enough)
Morrocan Lamb with ras el hanout
Veuve Clicquot (does that count as a food?)
Sa’s white-choc brownies
Nights In White Chocolate ice cream (before I programmed it out of my life)

Four things I am looking forward to this year.        
Writing my best song
My dream AD/DA converters arriving on Monday
Going to Vienna with Sa, if it works with the kids
It stopping raining

Moo overheard Sandra talking about bumping into a friend while shopping in the January sales today. Her name is Debra.

Moo thinks her name is Zebra... I just can’t bring myself to correct him.

S.

We got back late last night from NY celebrations with friends who live about two hours away in a big old country house. Great fun, wonderful food, serious fireworks and the odd glass of champagne.

2008 has started well… Barty has finally shaken off the cold and cough he had for about three weeks… but the downer is that he’s given it to the rest of us! So, although I’m nurturing some cool ideas, my process of making ‘New Year Decisions’ has been put on hold until I feel a little more inspired...
grateful for any suggestions!

Hope you have a really great 2008.

S.

PS Yes, ‘Belly Island’ will be on the list somewhere