John: Best of luck on the other side of the world! Hope it all works out!
Nigel
Oswestry, Oh, one more thing... - Fri Apr 29 21:27:31 2005

 DSP: I don't think I ate a thing all day! Ran on adrenalin! Waterproof cover on car seat ... (waters break - you know it makes sense) Umbongo sounds good - it *is* always warm in maternity wards. Make sure there's something back at home to eat though, because once you have to leave the hospital, the shops are prob closed and hunger does finally reappear! Beer is good too! A great day!
Nigel
Oswestry, Bank Holiday Weekend...! - Fri Apr 29 21:26:33 2005

 This has been my first chance to get on the web since wednesday, today and yesterday have been really hectic what with finishing off the thesis (submitted today!) and packing up the flat... and I bet I've missed you all now - you've all gone home for the weekend!
John
- Fri Apr 29 19:15:14 2005

 In the US, Mother's Day is May 8th. Could I wait until then to get her a new one or would that be considered to be in poor taste?
Travis
- Fri Apr 29 17:34:31 2005

 Hi Rob, how are you??? I never get an update from Tom as to how you lot are doing.
Sarah
- Fri Apr 29 13:55:37 2005

 Top tips! Thanks Sarah!!
dsp
- Fri Apr 29 13:53:51 2005

 dsp: take some music and a book. Make sure you get plenty of sleep as you wont be getting any once the little bundle is here. It's usually really really hot in the rooms as well, make sure you have a t-shirt and shorts with you!!
Sarah
- Fri Apr 29 13:51:40 2005

 John: I shall be doing a bank holiday Friday runner shortly, and just wanted to wish you and Chie a safe journey. I shall look forward to some interesting posts from Japan.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 29 13:40:28 2005

 Dsp: I'll wait for the pics!! Travis: Tough one, you can certainly create hell on earth for her, as she would probably do if it happened that you lost the ring... :)
Lox
- Fri Apr 29 13:36:38 2005

 dsp: Mind you, I should also include a packed dinner and possibly a packed breakfast as well.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 29 13:36:15 2005

 dsp: depends on whether its lunch time or not.
mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 29 13:35:28 2005

 If she's not your wife, then she is obviously NOT the mother of your child(ren). Think on the implications of that Travis. I should buy her another one quickly!
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 29 13:34:15 2005

 I'm accepting suggestions: My wife has lost her wedding ring. She has recently been working out and has lost some weight. The ring became loose and apparently fell off at her place of work. I'm pretty sure I'm obligated to divorce her...if she is my wife. What do you think?
Travis
- Fri Apr 29 13:27:42 2005
dsp
- Fri Apr 29 13:06:42 2005

 Nigel: Thanks! Have you any recommendations for 'the bag by the door', I'm told I need a pack lunch, is this true? I might have to go and stock up on Umbongo box drinks.
dsp
- Fri Apr 29 13:05:51 2005

 Rob: Fair point about the topics of conversation!
dsp
- Fri Apr 29 13:04:24 2005

 Hi Lox: Due date is Sunday May 1st. No false alarms yet. Clare's on maternity leave now, and very soon I'll be joining here with two weeks of paternity leave.
dsp
- Fri Apr 29 13:03:48 2005

 Interesting on how 10 years ago the main topic would have been "Bore Aid", "GARP" and "PIE".... :P
Lox
- Fri Apr 29 12:28:39 2005

 Nowhere else on the internet will you find conversations regarding cooking pasta and childbirth on the same page. Congrats Sarah and Tom!
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 29 11:23:12 2005

 dsp: DOH!!!! Both you and Rob are rather colourful (to say a nice word) when commenting my bread production... Mmmmm I wonder if you are trying to tell me something there!! I hope that the receipe works well !! Ah, I take your wife is still at home, correct? When is the baby due exactely? Already rushed to the hospital for "false alarms"?
Lox
- Fri Apr 29 10:58:16 2005

 John - can you give me a call sometime soon. By the way, we still have your Christmas present all wrapped up at home!
Sarah
- Fri Apr 29 10:41:10 2005

 Thanks Lox, sounds YUMMY!!! Thanks for the threat of making me some Loxstone-loaf, I though I was your mate!
dsp
- Fri Apr 29 10:38:48 2005

 Ciao Tim! Chop a bit ofonion and garlic put some olive oil in the pan, and fry until they start turning a bit golden. At that point add ham and peas. Stirfry 2/3 minutes and then put the double cream and keep stirring until you have a dense sauce (runny cream sauces are rather bad in my opinion). Remember to add some salt to the sauce and sprinkle with some black pepper. If you like it you can add a touch of nutmeg. I suggest short pasta, maybe "CONCHIGLE" or "RIGATONI" so that the sauce goes inside them. Once the pasta is cooked put it in the pan, mix everything (low heat) and serve (a fresh basil leaf put on the top is nice for looks). I also suggest a red wine (cabernet sauvignon from north of Italy or France will do perfectly, possibly 2003 or 2001 if you find them), or a rosè wine (but I don't know many of thoose as I don't like it too much). Almost forgot! Remember the bread (ciabatta or whatever), or if you like I can cook some Loxstone-loaf and send it over!!! :)
Lox
- Fri Apr 29 10:10:02 2005

 Thanks Tim, couldn't believe it at first. Quite a shock to the system but looking forward to having another bundle of fun. Due approx. 24th Sept and it seems to coming all too quickly this time round.
Sarah
- Fri Apr 29 09:38:47 2005

 DSP: Best of luck! No fainting now!! Last time I was in the delivery room, Joc nearly crushed my hand in the process. Strong, these women you know! Plus she let vent with a few choice words... All in the heat of the moment you understand...!
Nigel
Oswestry, That Vaio again... - Thu Apr 28 19:45:46 2005

 Lox: Back in the uni days, you cooked a pasta sauce made with ham, peas and cream. I recall it had to be kept stirring whilst it cooked. Can you remember if it was single or double cream? Was it as straight forward as heat the cream stirring continuously then add peas and ham, then pour over pasta? (the sloppy English kind of course!)
dsp
- Thu Apr 28 19:14:53 2005

 Thanks Sarah!!! I believe congratulations are in order for you and Tom too! Fantastic!
dsp
- Thu Apr 28 19:12:53 2005

 Hi John, haven't been in touch with any of you for ages and I'm sorry about that. Tom's been busy and I've left it up to him to sort out social get togethers which of cause hasn't happend. All the best T & C with the baby, remember to breath! :-)
Sarah
- Thu Apr 28 17:13:06 2005

 One of the kids who lives on my neighborhood is called Porsche! Yikes!
dsp
- Thu Apr 28 17:12:37 2005

 Wwwweeelll Roberta ok, but GINGERA!?!? How about Sootya or Loxya then? EXOTIC!!
Lox
- Thu Apr 28 17:04:15 2005

 If those are the sort of names YOU have in mind, I suggest that Kate runs for the hills now!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 28 16:08:49 2005

 Roberta is a good name. As is Gingera.
Rob Lang
- Thu Apr 28 15:55:20 2005

 Bradietta is perfect! It reminds me of that world famous town near Florence (Bradlio) of which I had to post a picture but completely forgot to take it last time... :)
Lox
- Thu Apr 28 15:33:06 2005

 Also, I'll be in the Delivery Room, wouldn't miss it for the world!
dsp
- Thu Apr 28 15:31:47 2005

 AHA! Delivery Room... Thanks a lot! Good Luck Tim!
Lox
- Thu Apr 28 15:31:21 2005

 Thanks everyone. Its really sureal waiting for a new person. Like most important deliveries, I wonder if we will have to sign for this one? We're having a girl, and are about 80% settled on a name. Bradlietta has a certain ring to it, don't you think?
dsp
- Thu Apr 28 15:31:11 2005

 Congrats there, DSP, to you and the wife. It's "delivery room" in the US, btw.
Travis
- Thu Apr 28 14:48:36 2005

 Good luck, DSP!
Rob Lang
- Thu Apr 28 14:44:10 2005

 Good Luck to you and your wife, dsp. Hope all goes well.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 28 14:40:47 2005

 "Delivery Room" Lox
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 28 14:39:32 2005

 Woooo hoooo!! I'll hold the congrats till the baby is born, have you decided the name already? Boy or Girl? How's your wife? Are you going to go in the op-room (or whatever it is called)?
Lox
- Thu Apr 28 14:06:54 2005

 John and Chie: Are all your things packed up or stored away now? Best of luck on your travels. Is it Monday that you fly?
dsp
- Thu Apr 28 14:03:45 2005

 Howdy boys and girls. Hope everyone is alright. We're expecting a visit from the Stork anytime now!! I'm very excited!!
dsp
- Thu Apr 28 14:03:04 2005

 Ooookkk Ill wait for the number then!
Lox
- Wed Apr 27 16:05:40 2005

 Lorenzo - yes of course! Plus will try to check the maison regularly too... Not sure if Chie will still be able to use the last mobile she had in Japan (it might have been de-activated or whatever), if not I'm sure she'll get a new one, and either way I'll let you know the number as soon as I know.
John
- Wed Apr 27 08:33:44 2005

 John YOU ARE going to read some mail from Japan aren't you?! I mean how am I going to catch up with you overthere? Send me a mail with Chie's mobile phone number so that I can call you directly ...
Lox
- Tue Apr 26 15:09:58 2005

 I have a feeling I had a beer called Kutz last time I went to Germany - that explains a lot!
John
- Tue Apr 26 09:08:19 2005

 A quick follow-up: So there is a large German-descended population in PA. In fact, there is such a thing as Pennsylvania Dutch which is actually German, from Deutsch (spelling?). At any rate, PA Dutch are quite "backwards." For instance, I attended two universities with crazy names: Kutztown and Schnecksville. Vomit town and snail ville, if I've been told correctly.
Travis
- Tue Apr 26 00:24:27 2005

 Mmm...Reading Beer Festival. Sounds like a good deal of fun. Closest thing we had in Pennsylvania was a large Oktoberfest celebration in Kutztown (if you know German, teehee...all the PA german place names are ridiculous) including a ton of microbreweries showing up to pimp their product.
Travis
- Tue Apr 26 00:22:38 2005

 John...your leaving England?
jeff
UofT, - Mon Apr 25 21:02:01 2005

 Well, I would say see you there then, but I bet you'll have passed out and been carted off in an ambulance by the time I get there scabz.
John
- Mon Apr 25 16:56:04 2005

 I will be at Reading beer festival all day SAturday. I apologise for my behaviour in advance.
Scabz
- Mon Apr 25 16:21:54 2005

 I'll be going on Saturday. because it's near my birthday, and it would be rude not to. Also, Andy Raven is playing at some point during the evening, which will be nice.
Graf
- Mon Apr 25 15:45:15 2005

 Are you going to live now or is it just a holiday?
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 25 14:57:03 2005

 I think I will be there on Saturday, which will also be my last night in England!
John
- Mon Apr 25 14:00:49 2005

 Anyone going to Reading beer festival at the weekend?
Scabz
- Mon Apr 25 12:48:35 2005

 Rob: you played a blinder this weekend. Thanks for all your help. We couldn't have managed without you - well, I wouldn't have been at work today, but crashed out somewhere in a darkened room.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Apr 25 09:58:54 2005

 Had fun babysitting at the weekend and then rushed home to buy a printer to print out Kate's dissertation images. They're all fine now, but I nearly used up an entire colour cartridge. After the weekend's frivolity, am now really really tired. But it's pay day, so hurrah!
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 25 09:20:06 2005

 That reminds me, Nigel! Its time for my jab,pill,and check! **wink wink**
Jeff
UofT, - Sat Apr 23 20:12:59 2005

 Evenin' all. Wow, what a busy week! It's been that time of the year when I get "reviewed" at work... Of course it goes without saying I'm Grade A Marvellous, but I just had to convince my line-managers... ! Talking of pets, this evening was my cat's yearly MOT at the vets. All okay for a thirteen-year-old apparently. A jab, a pill and a big cheque and all was done! Let's see what the weekend brings...
Nigel
Oswestry, Home again, naturally... - Fri Apr 22 20:36:28 2005

 Lox, my friend is going away for the weekend. And it's always nicer to leave your trusted beast with a friend who will take care of it as opposed to leaving it to run the house or boarding it. Ah, we crazy Americans...now for the sodomy.
Travis
- Fri Apr 22 19:47:18 2005

 Nearly 5.00 and time to go home. Have a good weekend everyone.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 22 16:37:10 2005

 I don't understand baby sitting, either. I think a Lord-Of-The-flies style household is much better.
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 22 11:39:22 2005

 Don't Worry Jill, they are Americans!! :)) (I am joking Travis!!)... I don't understand the business of Dog-sitting... I mean you can leave your dog in the garden while you go to a nice romantic dinner with your wife/girl/whatever... I can understand you cannot leave babies while doing so but...
Lox
- Fri Apr 22 11:25:38 2005

 ROBERT - BEHAVE!
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 22 11:21:22 2005

 If your friend was going to settle down with your two dogs, I'd call the police if I were you... Oh, you're in Texas now. Sorry, forgot. That's ok then! ;)
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 22 11:08:01 2005

 "He" in the first sentence referring to the friend's dog, not the friend.
Travis
- Fri Apr 22 10:07:03 2005

 Am dog-sitting for a friend. He is a noisy bastard. It's 4 am here and I need to be up and moving before 7, but haven't been able to get more than 2 hours of sleep. Hoping he'll settle in with my (two) dogs or this will be a long weekend.
Travis
- Fri Apr 22 09:57:02 2005

 Hmmm probably not sadly...
John
- Fri Apr 22 09:52:04 2005

 John: does your visit to London include a visit to your favourite club?
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 22 09:37:37 2005

 Woooo ohooo Friday comes!! Good morning to everyone, and a special good morning to Jill, Bethan and John!
Lox
- Fri Apr 22 09:36:12 2005

 Morning Jimmy, morning Mumsie. I'm off into London today...
John
- Fri Apr 22 09:30:03 2005

 Whoopee, its Friday and Bethan arrives tonight (with her Mum and Dad).
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 22 09:14:05 2005

 Good mornin' everybody!
Jimmy
- Fri Apr 22 08:02:08 2005

 Rob: Don't think so, but I could ask FLT Sgt Patel
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 21 16:29:58 2005

 Mum, do they ever play that Blue Max game at 78?
Rob Lang
- Thu Apr 21 16:26:14 2005

 Rob is saving his strength for the weekend. He's I/c Bethan, from Saturday morning, until Sunday lunch. Great fun.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 21 12:06:32 2005

 As ever!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 21 12:05:41 2005

 Indeedy!
Rob Lang
- Thu Apr 21 11:41:21 2005

 Buongiorno a tutti! Busy busy as bees everyone?
Lox
- Thu Apr 21 11:27:06 2005

 Do you ship free over to Europe? I am still on for the "safe keeping" of your savings, I am planning to invest them in Beer, so that I will keep it with myself all time and you are sure that they are safe!! What a great friend am I!!
Jokes aparet, do you have a Japanese mobile already? Please send me a mail so that I can contact you there!
Lox
- Wed Apr 20 15:26:40 2005

 Does anyone want to buy a washing machine? It's not much over a year old, and in very good condition... at a bargain price!
John
- Wed Apr 20 15:20:57 2005

 A snip at that price, buy two and get the fast jet to carry it in!
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 20 11:31:07 2005

 john, you need one of these: http://shop.infosat.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=US&Product_Code=SL6000-75&Category_Code=skylink that'll learn those temples !!
Kev
- Wed Apr 20 11:07:22 2005

 I like fasthosts, maybe it doesn't suit everyone, but it works for me.
John
- Wed Apr 20 10:52:46 2005

 Are fasthosts good for web hosting? My web hosts have messed up my domain renewal for the second year running, so I'm thinking it's time to move (just wish I'd backed up my site).
Graf
- Wed Apr 20 10:47:31 2005

 Yea maybe the internet has already gone out of fashion in Japan and they're using something newer and better! The problem is more that if you're staying in hotels or rented accomodation, or with friends or whatever you can't always guarantee that there'll be an internet connection. For example, I stayed in a temple once, and they definitely didn't have an internet connection.
John
- Wed Apr 20 10:35:59 2005

 Tokyo and Osaka, as for the internet in Japan it's quite the countrary, they have it by the truckloads overthere!!
Lox
- Wed Apr 20 10:34:30 2005

 John, your post worries me - are you implying that they don't have the internet in Japan!!!
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 20 10:28:25 2005

 Lorenzo - We're flying on the 1st May, but other than that not really much in the way of fixed plans. We'll probably spend the first week in Hiroshima, and then head over to Tokyo. After that it really depends on how the job situation goes - I guess if I'm lucky and everything goes well I might even be able to begin work at the start of June or something.

I'm hoping I can check the message board / email quite regularly while I'm there so I can keep you updated on my whereabouts in that way. Do you know already when you are likely to be in Japan over the coming months...?
John
- Wed Apr 20 10:25:09 2005

 Does the logic apply to smurfs?
Scabz
- Wed Apr 20 10:01:00 2005

 Ho are you today Johnny boy? Weather here is shite... When are you leaving for Japan? We have to fix a time to meet!
Lox
- Wed Apr 20 09:26:58 2005

 Errr, yes?
John
- Wed Apr 20 08:40:35 2005

 Does it apply to soft drinks too?
Lox
- Wed Apr 20 08:22:31 2005

 Things like paraffin and methylated spirits are often dyed blue to ensure that they are not accidentally mistaken for something that is safe to drink. I have taken to applying this same logic to Blue Curacao.
John
- Tue Apr 19 16:57:40 2005

 Or even worse you could mix it with Snapps or Blue Curacao...
Lox
- Tue Apr 19 16:49:34 2005

 I wouldn't recommend cherry coke as a hangover cure. It is the sort of thing that, at some point in your life, when already very very drunk, you probably had the great idea of mixing with a near criminal amount of vodka. Imagine the horror of realising, when hungover, "Oh yes, I have had this before, and I was very s-" BLUUUURRRRGGGGHHH.
John
- Tue Apr 19 16:47:18 2005

 Is Cherry Coke as effective as Irn Bru as a hangover cure! (Teaching today has been much more pleasant with no hangover)
Scabz
- Tue Apr 19 15:52:06 2005

 No as you are a gay vegetarian with strange fingers.
Lox
- Tue Apr 19 15:34:48 2005

 If I say that I like both Irn Bru and cherry coke, will that destroy your statistical model...?
John
- Tue Apr 19 15:16:47 2005

 Of course if I like it it sells! (at least to one single italian!!), on the other side tell me who buys cherry coke!
Lox
- Tue Apr 19 14:26:30 2005

 Mmmmm to be honest TRAVI is usually related to Wooden articles, I would translate it as TRAVERSINE or even SBARRE (of course for the plural) but the little advert launch would sound like a kick in the b******s...
Lox
- Tue Apr 19 14:25:54 2005

 Do you think it would sell there Lorenzo? At least the slogan would sound cool in Italian:

Fatto in Scozia dalle travi.

Presumably travi is Italian for girders. I'd really hoped it would be something more like "girdelli".
John
- Tue Apr 19 14:18:39 2005

 I am totally disappointed to notice that even after 6 years since I left England Irn Bru has not yet landed here in Pizzaland. I mean, we now have Red Bull and friends, 123 different variety of Coke, but not Irn Bru! What are they waiting for?
Lox
- Tue Apr 19 14:07:22 2005

 Try this: http://boreme.com/bm/APR05/a/magic-missile/fr.htm (oops)
dsp
- Tue Apr 19 13:17:58 2005

 The best thing I have ever seen: http://boreme.com/bm/APR05/a/magic-missile/fr.htm (you need the sound track!!)
dsp
- Tue Apr 19 13:17:32 2005

 So does Diet Irn Bru have less Irn in it then...? Or is it just less Bru-ish...?
John
- Tue Apr 19 09:21:27 2005

 Being a lover of full fat (with extra iron filings) IRN BRU, I was not very please with Diet IRN BRU but I know a number of other people who dislike it.
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 19 09:19:02 2005

 talking of irn bru, has any one else tried the new diet version ? I didn't think it too bad myself.
Kev
- Mon Apr 18 16:42:13 2005

 Rob: Canteen did not run to Irn Bru - but I did try full-fat coke. Still felt pretty bad - but was deserved. I did the Central line pub crawl on Saturday. This involved starting in WEst Ruislip and visiting many stops.
Scabz
- Mon Apr 18 16:32:30 2005

 Year 7 is 1st year of high school - kids are 11 when they start it. They do their GCSEs at the end of year 11, and A-levels in year 12 and 13. I have now completed my day of hungover teaching, and I don't want to do it again for a while.
Scabz
- Mon Apr 18 16:30:42 2005

 Hmmm I think our years are roughly equivalent to your grades then. To confuse matters a bit, these years can reset as you move to different schools - primary/elementary school, high school etc.
John
- Mon Apr 18 16:11:09 2005

 Year 8s and 9s...how old are these students typically? I'm assuming this is a UK thing. We go by "grades" here, where 1st graders are typically 5 or 6. 12th graders are generally 17 or 18. After 12th, off to college or work or mother's basement.
Travis
- Mon Apr 18 15:37:03 2005

 What's that Rob - to prevent vomiting or induce it?
John
- Mon Apr 18 14:05:03 2005

 Scabz, An ice cold can of IRN BRU and half a lemon normally sorts me out.
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 18 13:43:47 2005

 Perhaps you could kill two birds with one stone - let yourself throw up, which will stop you worrying whether you will or not, and then gets your students to analyse the chemical composition of what you've just hacked up over one of their desks, which will give them something "interesting" to study.
John
- Mon Apr 18 13:20:41 2005

 Maybe an "1ncest" video would make you feel better. It certainly helped my hangover!
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 18 13:07:38 2005

 Thanks for the gold fact!!! I now have my year 8s in detention. ANd they are sitting silently thinking that I am working really hard. But really I am attempting not to be sick.
scabz
- Mon Apr 18 13:07:38 2005

 Scabz: I am not sure I know any hangover cures specifically for 9 year olds but you could try here http://www.hungover.net and sorry I don't know any exciting facts on elements, mixtures and compounds - apart from- "apparently all the gold ever discovered or mined ever is still in existence somewhere in the world, except for the bits sent into outerspace on spaceships"
Kev
- Mon Apr 18 12:59:38 2005

 Rob, I'm 26. Had a nice birthday. Hope you enjoyed yours, too. Now back to the 1ncest?
Travis
- Mon Apr 18 12:59:16 2005

 Anyone know a cure for hangovers? My year 9s re currently sitting a test and I am not sure what the procedure is for vomiting in the lab. Also does anyone know any exciting facts on elements, mixtures and compounds that I can wow my kids with this afternoon.
Scabz the hungover teacher
- Mon Apr 18 12:37:05 2005

 Clearly Antony's website is infact hosted on a different planet. 'MyWorld' planet to be precise. I would therefore assume that 1ncest must be perfectly leagal there !
Kev
- Mon Apr 18 12:09:17 2005

 One wonders if Antony's website is hosted in a country where "1ncest" isn't actually illegal - like Scotland for example.
John
- Mon Apr 18 11:49:09 2005

 Hapy Birthday T-Boy! How young are you now?
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 18 09:00:44 2005

 Happy birthday Rob and Travis!! Hope you had a great weekend! Why not use your birthday money to treat yourself to one of Antony's girl videos!!
dsp
- Mon Apr 18 08:57:17 2005

 Hi. This my first post. May be I'm wrong? But I think this is interesting and not very bad. Wellcome: http://girlvideo.many1ncest.com/1ncest_story_archive.html http://girlvideo.many1ncest.com/free_1ncest_chat.html http://girlvideo.many1ncest.com/family_1ncest_world.html
antony <antony98@hotmail.com>
World, MyWorld - Mon Apr 18 00:39:57 2005

 Thanks, Mumsie. My wife set up an incredible surprise party for me last evening. I drank far too heavily but I'm feeling pretty okay now. (The irony of me attacking the howsyourdrink site) 26 years old!
Travis
- Sun Apr 17 22:23:52 2005

 Travis: I think we have to say Happy Birthday to you today. Hope you are having a good one.
Mad Mumsie
- Sun Apr 17 20:24:55 2005

 Happy birthday Rob!!!
Jeff
UofT, - Sun Apr 17 17:58:11 2005

 Happy birthday Robbie!!!!!
Lox
- Sun Apr 17 15:00:27 2005

 Am 29 now. Thanks for the wishes. Spent the day fiddling with graphics and relaxing!
Rob Lang
- Sun Apr 17 10:01:01 2005

 Robby Robby Robby oi oi oi. Robby Robby Robby oi oi oi. Robby. Robby. Happy birfday, Rob. How old are you, you slag?
Travis
- Sat Apr 16 16:44:52 2005

 Yes Happy Birthday Rob - hope you're having a nice day whatever you're doing!
John
- Sat Apr 16 14:19:33 2005

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Bithday dear ROBERT, Happy Birthday to you.
MAD MUMSIE
- Sat Apr 16 09:28:15 2005

 Yep, it was the firewall at work preventing me seeing those pictures. Wonder how? Any which way, curious images, eh? Somehow doubt it's raining as much in Nevada as it is here right now...
Nigel
Oswestry, Vaio... - Fri Apr 15 22:25:46 2005

 Ha-ha! Kev. You've been reading The Inquirer too I guess?! The firewall here won't let me view the piccies - or have they been removed? I'll have to wait until I'm home...
Nigel
Wrexham, Work... - Fri Apr 15 15:57:13 2005

 Bored on a Friday afternoon ? How becoming a Spy? http://www.livejournal.com/community/the_unexplained/37956.html
Kev
51 - Fri Apr 15 15:40:43 2005

 I think I read somewhere that hiragana are modified/simplified kanji, and as such they may have once represented some real objects.
John
- Fri Apr 15 15:32:27 2005

 John, my Japanese instructor gave us loads of tricks to remember hiragana (I don't really even know much katakana and almost no kanji). I wonder if they were all just helpful or if the some hiragana are similarly "picturesque" like that. I'm sure some of the suggestions were just ad hoc.
Travis
- Fri Apr 15 13:42:06 2005

 Yea I was a bit confused by all those different writing styles at the bottom. When Chie writes kanji they look more or less the same as what you'd read in a book, or see on a PC. Nice and boxy and easy to understand, none of that wavy cursive nonsense. Maybe this bears some sort of analogy to joined up handwriting?
John
- Fri Apr 15 11:54:50 2005

 Hmmm. Interesting stuff. Complicated - though I take it there is only one general style in use nowadays? For example is hand-written the same as the computer font type? My assumption was pretty wide of the mark though - Kanji seems very stylised.
Nigel
Wrexham, ... - Fri Apr 15 11:39:20 2005

 Yes some are supposed to look like the things they represent. Here's a good page about the origin of kanji.
John
- Fri Apr 15 11:00:24 2005

 That's actually genuinely facinating, John. Having no knowledge of the language myself, does that mean the characters operate a bit like Egyptian heiroglyphics?
Nigel
Wrexham, Oh, you know... - Fri Apr 15 09:45:39 2005

 I was actually able to read one of the kanji that make up the word hanami - the one on the right hand side is meant to look like an eye on (human) legs... and is meant to represent the concept "to go and have a look", or just "to view" I suppose.
John
- Fri Apr 15 09:37:50 2005

 Funny you should mention that... :)
Nigel
Wrexham, That Powermate again... - Fri Apr 15 09:27:03 2005

 Nigel: do you get scores of Japanese outside your gate wanting to picnic on your back lawn?
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 15 09:14:21 2005

 I guess I'm lucky in that I have a Cherry Tree in my garden. So if the UK weather was Ok, I could go and sit under it! Actually sounds a pretty pleasant way to spend an hour or two! Rob: see - http://www.asij.ac.jp/elementary/japan/hanami/hanami.htm The trees there are rather bigger than mine!!
Nigel
Wrexham, Work... Friday! - Fri Apr 15 09:06:44 2005

 What's a hanami, Lox?
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 15 08:57:21 2005

 Leaving Japan angain, as usual I dont wanna go back, but hey that is part of the job apparently... At least I will arrive during the weekend which means that I can rest. I have also managed to see the cherry blossoms, that was quite nice considering that the last hanami that I did was almost 8 years ago!!
Lox
- Fri Apr 15 04:13:03 2005

 Considering the total absent social life that I have been leading for the past 4 years I have scored a whopping 4 (yes, four) in that test... It said that 73,4 percent of british people also scored that... Oh well does it make me a beer-puff?
Lox
- Fri Apr 15 04:11:19 2005

 I am not sure I like the way you are utilizating obscure colloquialisms there John !!!
Kev
- Thu Apr 14 22:38:46 2005

 Mental note to self - must work "you're off your chump" into conversation over the next few days.
John
- Thu Apr 14 21:50:34 2005

 - There's nothing so odd about that, Kamal Attaturk had an entire menagerie named Abdul.
- No he didn't.
- Did.
- Didn't
- Did did did and did
- Oh alright
- Spoken like a gentleman sir. Now are you going to give me a fish license?
John
- Thu Apr 14 21:49:03 2005

 Hey... new job is good. More later. :-)
tom
- Thu Apr 14 15:37:34 2005

 That bloody "Beer-nanny" could be incorporated into MS office as an assistant .... "Hey! it looks like you're drinking a lager!" etc.
Jimmy
- Thu Apr 14 12:52:11 2005

 I scored 10. What a load of utter, nannyish crap. Sanctimonious, self-righteous gits. Bigoted, mis-informed idiots. Who *do* they think they are?
Jimmy
- Thu Apr 14 12:38:05 2005

 In retrospect, the only thing that makes my drinking remotely dangerous is the fact that on St. Patrick's Day, I drank heavily and felt like crap afterwards. I'm just as "at risk" as someone who does that 10 times per year? Don't think so.
Travis
- Thu Apr 14 00:36:56 2005

 John, I scored a 12. I drink very rarely (maybe twice or thrice per month) and almost never to excess (almost never more than 2 pints). I am good for one stupor at least once a year, however.
Travis
- Wed Apr 13 19:02:39 2005

 (By the way, you can tell that there's no-one watching over my shoulder today, by the number of posts I've managed to make...!)
Nigel
Work, ... - Wed Apr 13 15:49:44 2005

 Trouble is, I can just imagine that some people might view these tests as a macho type of bragging among mates. As in: "Ho-ho! I scored 45". Mate: "You scored what? Wimp! I scored 52" kind of scenario. They have a personal value to encourage people to review habits I guess. I know I drink less now than in my student days, but how long can a score be sustained? One glass of red a day is meant to be good for us... One bottle, not so etc..
Nigel
Work, "Thanks for your call..." - Wed Apr 13 15:48:44 2005

 Sorry I've re-read your post and realised now we are talking about the same one.... please ignore earlier message.
John
- Wed Apr 13 15:35:13 2005

 I think we did different tests Nigel - my scores are from the test on howsyourdrink.org.uk - similar, but a bit longer than the one on drinkaware.co.uk.
John
- Wed Apr 13 15:34:03 2005

 I am crest-fallen! I scored 3 !! Am I getting boring, or what?!? I particularly liked Q7 - school-boy chuckles all round!
Nigel
Work, Refreshed... - Wed Apr 13 15:25:51 2005

 On the second attempt I got 11, which is apparently also higher than 73.5% of adults. Hmmmm...
John
- Wed Apr 13 15:16:09 2005

 Has anyone done the test on howsyourdrink.org.uk...? Similar to that annoying drinkaware.co.uk. I got 14 - apparently "risky", and higher than 73.5% of UK adults.
John
- Wed Apr 13 15:13:18 2005

 ...which also backs-up your argument again the pubs charging for "ambience" etc. No one says to their mate : "You fancy a crisp after work?" Crisps are "accessories" not the main function of a drink with friends (who are the ones needing ambience etc). Mind you, I do think I'd pay good money for those splendid sea-salt and cracked black-pepper pan-fried jobs. Rather nice!
Nigel
Wrexham, Nearly time for coffee... - Wed Apr 13 15:00:38 2005

 Actually I think the Guinness was £2.90, and the crisps an astonishing 60p per bag (we're talking just run of the mill, normal sized Walkers here).
John
- Wed Apr 13 14:49:29 2005

 I quite agree. As you and DSP pointed out the other day, you *can* eat for a decent price, even in a big city like London. I used to *enjoy* a lot of Guinness and it has always had a price premium. It's certainly a quality drink but at over 3-pounds a pint? Other beers too are dear of course, but I dislike this new "Drink Aware" smugness the breweries are plasting on their packaging, while still really encouraging you to drink as much as poss..
Nigel
Wrexham, As usual... - Wed Apr 13 14:46:48 2005

 I know what you mean about the post office, I have had exactly the same thought before (how can they moan about being unprofitable if they are always full). You hear the same sort of thing from people who run pubs and restaurants and this winds me up to, especially given the rediculous costs of eating and drinking out. I bought a pint of Guinness and two packets of crisps (not both for me I'd like to add) and it came to a crazy four pounds and ten pence. In a supermarket I could probably get all of that for about a third of the price. OK there's ambience, blah blah blah... but surely if the supermarkets can make a profit by selling me that lot for say, 1 pound 50, then in effect the pub is making at the very least 2 quid 50 profit on that. That is a whopping great mark-up for any retail establishment, surely?
John
- Wed Apr 13 14:39:48 2005

 John: Separate entities. Following a kind of cyclical picking process - grape, nibble of carrot, bite of sandwich, tomato, grape, slurp (perhaps), grape etc... Mind you, I spent the first half of my break standing in the queue at the post office. Why do they complain about not making money when they are always busy and full to capacity? We can do no more than post everything we can?! (Sorry, minor rant...)
Nigel
Wrexham, Still here... - Wed Apr 13 14:19:36 2005

 Not got anything planned at all. Most of my weekends are going to be quite hectic after the one coming, so i don't know when I will celebrate. Normally do something with Byrn but we've not really got our act together this year. Ho hum.
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 13 14:04:51 2005

 Hey I've found out a bit of wholly off topic trivia - the guy who plays the Alcatraz prison guard in one of my favourite ever films (but no-one else's) So I Married an Axe Murderer - Phil Hartman - does the voices for Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz in the Simpsons... and sadly he died a few years ago. Does this mean that after a certain point Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz stopped appearing in the Simpsons then? I think here in the UK we get the Simpsons so long after they were originally broadcast, and repeated seemingly in circles, and possibly out of order, that I have no real idea of anything really.
John
- Wed Apr 13 14:03:48 2005

 Just to get this absolutely clear, were the grapes, cherry tomatoes and carrots consumed as separate entities, or did these consitute part of the sandwich?
John
- Wed Apr 13 14:00:01 2005

 You may! Grapes (x6), Cherry Tomatoes (x2), Carrots (x2) Anchovies on cucumber under thick brown wholemeal. (A personal favourite, not to everyone's taste...) Dowe Egberts medium roast...
Nigel
Wrexham, Infront of the Powermate again.. - Wed Apr 13 13:42:06 2005

 I'm intrigued by your "Nice lunch" there Nigel - may I pry and ask what you're having?
John
- Wed Apr 13 13:26:39 2005

 All these birthdays... Long may they repeat!
Nigel
Wrexham, Nice lunch... more calls... - Wed Apr 13 13:21:03 2005

 *sniff* It's my birthday on Sunday, but I've got no plans. My wife's b-day was last week, so we generally celebrate the two at once, often somewhere inbetween either actual date.
Travis
- Wed Apr 13 13:06:34 2005

 So Rob, any plans for Saturday?
John
- Wed Apr 13 12:46:38 2005

 You're right John, he will be 29 on Saturday
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 13 12:04:04 2005

 Well, the IT support used to be for a regional network over a UNIX/AIX to PC bridge (Tuxedo, PCXII etc), local wiring and config - not the main network nodes or servers. The Customer Service stuff involved (now *not* IT) is for the government's Job Centre network. You probably know EDS won this contract some time back. I do *not* work for EDS!
Nigel
Wrexham, Those bells, those bells...! - Wed Apr 13 11:54:45 2005

 Nigel: What products/services do you provide support for?
dsp
- Wed Apr 13 11:47:56 2005

 Suddenly my annual "it's Rob's birthday sometime around now" alarm is going off...
John
- Wed Apr 13 11:46:35 2005

 It's in Hex. Doh! Making her 50. Haw Haw. Actualy, it's in Plutonian years. Making her 7926 years old. Doh!
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 13 11:21:09 2005

 I have to say I'm disappointed Nigel - I'd always pictured you as a leggy blonde. Errr.
John
- Wed Apr 13 11:19:32 2005

 Talking about bases... I was just looking at this link: http://www.ascii.cl/conversion.htm (don't ask why) and noticed the HOSTITO.COM banner add. I just wanted to point out that no one in "Customer Support" here looks quite as good as that! No, not even me!
Nigel
Wrexham, Just after a "Support" call.. - Wed Apr 13 11:16:41 2005

 Sorry guys none of those will work - she's far too intelligent to get sucked into those.
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 13 11:16:17 2005

 Yep, you can't go wrong with the old octal excuse - cast iron that one!
John
- Wed Apr 13 10:55:04 2005

 Or, of course, Octal. (Why did I opt for the difficult one first time tound?)
Nigel
Wrexham, Hmm... - Wed Apr 13 10:29:38 2005

 Rob: I was trying to think of a get-out clause for you on that one... How about you accidentally typed in the age in Base-5 ?
Nigel
Wrexham, That NEC Powermate again... - Wed Apr 13 10:19:49 2005

 Rob: Was that wise?
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 13 10:11:02 2005

Happy Birthday Alex!

32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32 32
Rob Lang
- Wed Apr 13 10:03:56 2005

 Universal affirmatives can only be partially converted: all of Alma Cogan is dead, but only some of the class of dead people are Alma Cogan.
John
- Wed Apr 13 09:07:35 2005

 I missed all the logic and statistics. I'm now saddened. I'll make up by pointing out that possessing ginger hair and growing tomatoes would not make Alex a Rob because that's simply to affirm the consequent, which we all know is a fallacy.
Travis
- Tue Apr 12 22:25:01 2005

 Ho! Yes, that might be rather infuriating! Thanks for the good wishes. Apparently I will also be subject to a "Mystery Shopper" caller now and then too... I take it this is not someone who randomly throws money at me for unspecified goods... :/
Nigel
Wrexham, Trying a new chair... - Tue Apr 12 15:56:42 2005

 You see Nigel, I run a help desk for the libraries in a delightful leafy London borough - and some of the questions I get asked - again, and again, and again, and again. And if I said "Have a nice day" to anyone who has just lost all connection with the main frame, well I can hear the response now! Good Luck.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 12 15:47:40 2005

 Rob: Have the others all left 616 then.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 12 15:41:46 2005

 Andrew? Luxury! I was almost called Mungo, but at the last minute my dad wanted to go for something a little more exotic, and thus John.
John
- Tue Apr 12 15:41:11 2005

 Good luck with the new work, Nigel. From my experience customers tend to be much more pleasant when fixing things, whereas internal IT tasks tend to be quite thankless. It's almost as if people see you as the reason their machine has crashes 6 times today. A change is as good as a holiday. I can now say that 50% of the Nigels I know work in Customer Services, the other 50% I'm related to.

I find these mad sites by reading a number of different news lists. Too numerous to mention here, I just scan the headlines for interesting stuff. Ah, the joy of Firefox and its active bookmarks!

Oddly, I've just found out that 100% of the Robs I know were nearly called Andrew...
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 12 15:20:04 2005

 Mad Mumsie: Our messages crossed, but yes, I think you are probably spot on :/
Nigel
Wrexham, Having a Nice Day... - Tue Apr 12 15:08:38 2005

 Ha! I certainly hope not! Besides I can speak English too well and don't pinch PIN numbers... (News yesterday...) No, I think it means I now have to be nice to people, or something. Shall I practice? "Have a Nice Day Now!" Hmmm.....
Nigel
Wrexham, NEC thing... - Tue Apr 12 15:06:33 2005

 Nigel: This means you have to be really nice to people - all day long, no matter how stupid the question.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 12 15:05:41 2005

 Customer service eh? Does this mean you're moving abroad?
John
- Tue Apr 12 15:04:10 2005

 So there. The deed is done. From my new reporting year I'm no-longer IT!! Scary... no more IP, no more unlocking, no more wiring!! I'll have a go at "Customer Service" to see what that feels like :/ If I don't like "that"... hmmm..
Nigel
Wrexham, In front of a NEC PowerMate.... - Tue Apr 12 14:52:51 2005

 Autofellatio is also a rather good one... How did you find this site Rob?
Lox
- Tue Apr 12 14:39:07 2005

 Forgot to add that all the Tim that I know are rather poor at betting too..
Lox
- Tue Apr 12 14:37:07 2005

 AHA.. also 100% of Blackpool population goes to summer camps at least one a year...
Lox
- Tue Apr 12 14:36:16 2005

 Alex: Not unless yer father made a horrible mistake when registering you.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 12 14:06:48 2005

 I especially like "Kitten Huffing" in the uncyclopedia.
Jimmy
- Tue Apr 12 14:06:34 2005

 Alex: yes- your name is Rob.
Jimmy
- Tue Apr 12 13:56:59 2005

 I listen to radio 4 and I sometimes grow tomatoes. Does that mean my name is Rob?
Alex
Work, - Tue Apr 12 13:48:05 2005

 I do not listen to radio 4, neither do I grow tomatoes. This proves that 100% of the Robs I know are beatnick hippies.
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 12 13:25:04 2005

 This is genius: http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 12 13:22:30 2005

 Well he certainly does have red hair, not that you can see it now that it's been cut sooooooooooooo short - don't know about Radio 4. He used to be force fed Radio 2, but that was a few years ago now.
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 12 13:20:58 2005

 All this statistics business is complicated, isn't it? So, I have to ask, does Standard Deviation apply to any of the Rob's you know? +1 or -1 ?
Nigel
Wrexham, Back in the saddle... - Tue Apr 12 13:14:35 2005

 So, errr, therefore our Rob must not listen to Radio 4...?
John
- Tue Apr 12 13:09:23 2005

 I know a Rob!!!!!
Mad Mumsie
- Tue Apr 12 13:04:18 2005

 I know a Rob. His hair isn't ginger, but he's a radio-4 listener, and he also grows tomatoes.
Jimmy
- Tue Apr 12 12:38:27 2005

 So then I had to assert that 50% of people called Rob are liars, but then, if they are lying, are they really called Rob, and in that case does that statistic really apply to them? ...and then my brain melted and dribbled out of my ears.
John
- Tue Apr 12 11:38:31 2005

 For a long time I was able to reasonably assert that 100% of all people called Rob had ginger hair... however then I met somebody who was called Rob but didn't have ginger hair. So logically I came to the conclusion that this new person was in fact lying about being called Rob.
John
- Tue Apr 12 11:16:02 2005

 Well it's turned sunny here today!! After a pretty wet start (Yes I'm being "British"!) Bit chilly, but otherwise rather nice. Shame I'm working :( Though I'm all IT trained I've decided to give IT up - work in a different dept instead. Of course my own interests still include IT and the like, I've just realised I'm no shining star as a programmer or SysAdmin. Time to change... One of those "life-changing moments" perhaps!!
Nigel
Wrexham, More work stuff... - Tue Apr 12 11:03:40 2005

 100% of Italian men can make building materials from the ingredient for bread.
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 12 09:35:53 2005

 Arg I missde the statistic bits, but I'll add something anyways.
To my knowledge, 100% of Ginger haired males in England drink Irn-Brew (tm) - 20% of British men are vegetarian and have dodgy fingers - during 6 months homes get burgled at least twice....
Lox
- Tue Apr 12 03:26:02 2005

 john: you could buy a gun with real bullets and rob a bank or post office.
kev
- Mon Apr 11 18:38:56 2005

 Failing that, plan the old roulette classic of double your bets to cover your loss even-odds strategy.
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 17:03:46 2005

 John, I have another money making plan, but before I go into the detail, do you have access to a time machine?
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 17:01:49 2005

 This may show how long it was since I ate in London, but Mr Wu's (just off Leicester square) did an all you can eat buffet for £5. I seem to recall being very pleased with it.
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 17:01:16 2005

 Those sort of returns are only possible on a cumulative basis over a long term, if you're thinking of going into Bonds / Shares and the like. Tim's mentioned the most likely method but I'd stay with the grand if I were you.
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 11 16:54:02 2005

 John: May I suggest a horse at 10:1 odds?
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 16:27:41 2005

 It's not impossible to get a decent meal in London for under a fiver - I went to this place on Goodge Street once that did pizzas (like the sort you'd get in a Pizza Express) for about three pounds. I just couldn't see how they made any money - they've probably closed now! Alternatively Tai Won Mein / Tai Top Mein in Elephant and Castle, noodles by the bucket load, very good quality, and most of the dishes are about four quid.
John
- Mon Apr 11 16:24:18 2005

 Just seen a great headline on The Inquirer: "American universities produce pants programmers" :) Now I know what the story is about, but couldn't stop the images flooding in... "Wallace and Grommit - The Wrong Y-Fronts". Oh it's good to laugh...!
Nigel
Wrexham, Laughing... - Mon Apr 11 16:23:57 2005

 You mean you can eat out in London for five pounds? Wow! (Sorry, I said I was going mad...)
Nigel
Wrexham, Going slowly mad... - Mon Apr 11 16:03:10 2005

 Incidentally, when I get my ten grand on Friday afternoon, the plan is to re-invest five of it, and spend the remaining five on fine dining in London over the weekend.
John
- Mon Apr 11 15:48:54 2005

 "... And anyone you do meet is only a figment of a derranged imagination."
Nigel
Wrexham, Still.. - Mon Apr 11 15:48:03 2005

 Right, I'm fed up and have decided I do want to give into greed and let myself blindly believe that having money will solve all of my problems. So I've got £1000 I'd like to turn into £10,000 by the end of the week please. Any suggestions for how to do this? Do any of you have any experience of online share trading?
John
- Mon Apr 11 15:45:34 2005

 Considering the quality of phone calls I'm getting here today I'm starting to believe we may be the only human population "out there" at all... Do you remember that bit of dodgy statisics in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - "Population of the Universe = Nil. Space in infinite, but we know there are only a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any Infinite number divided by a finite one is as near to nothing as makes any difference" As I said "dodgy" but funny :)
Nigel
Wrexham, Work, work, work.. - Mon Apr 11 15:45:13 2005

 John, given my experience - no. It can be reasoned that there must be an equal number of Japanese and English people living there. If you (John) leave, then Chie would need to be evicted to keep the status quo. It's a harsh system - but fair.
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 11 15:32:52 2005

 <ShirleyBassey>Its all just a little bit of history repeating.</ShirleyBassey>
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 14:58:21 2005

 So does that mean that if I live in Pangbourne there is a 50% change of me being Japanese. Cool.
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 14:49:10 2005

 Rob, does this mean that when we leave Pangbourne, it will actually become unpopulated?
John
- Mon Apr 11 14:48:56 2005

 Tim, is the "moral" of that statistic supposed to inform Lorenzo that any future attempt to buy a bike is futile - given past records it is in fact a certainty that it will be nicked.
John
- Mon Apr 11 14:47:50 2005

 To my knowledge, Lorenze has had 100% of his bikes stolen.
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 14:44:03 2005

 John wins 8/10 bets against Tim. 50% of the population of Pangbourne is British and 50% of it is Japanese.
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 11 14:42:38 2005

 Every Nigel I know is called Nigel and every Nigel I know is not called John. Everyone I know who is not called John is not called Nigel. Which is Skip.
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 13:17:32 2005

 Well according to that song/book "The World is Full Of Married Men". If this is a statistic then "full" means no room for more - so no-one is single... 'Unmarried' and 'girlfriends' are a thing of the past... Lies, Damn Lies and Statisitics! Yes, I am the only human in Wrexham!! Read into that what you will...!! :)
Nigel
Wrexham, Yep, that work thing... - Mon Apr 11 13:12:28 2005

 ... and every Max sports a beard ...
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 11 12:40:46 2005

 Based on my experience, I believe that 100% of the population of Wrexham is called Nigel.
John
- Mon Apr 11 12:02:31 2005

 It does make one wonder what percentage of unmarried men are married to French women.
John
- Mon Apr 11 12:00:52 2005

 Rob: Does that mean if you extrapolate your experiences onto the population, then 50% of married Enlglishmen are married to French women. Its clear to see how if in the wrong hands, statistics could be used for evil.
dsp
- Mon Apr 11 11:53:46 2005

 Mind you, don't tell the wife - she's a Scot !!
Nigel
Wrexham, Same... - Mon Apr 11 11:46:07 2005

 English girls? Fine fillies!!!!!!
Nigel
Wrexham, Round about some work, stuff... - Mon Apr 11 11:44:49 2005

 Jeff, I know two Englishmen with French girlfriends. But then, I know only a couple with English ones.
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 11 09:03:24 2005

 Lox, my wife is from Texas. I have no complaints.
Travis
- Sun Apr 10 19:59:29 2005

 Jeff: Its not that cold in London, in fact the Water Board here is already talking about a hose pipe ban because we have had so little rain this winter the reservoirs are much lower than they should be.
Mad Mumsie
- Sun Apr 10 18:19:46 2005

 I actually have a very good friend who was born in Houston, then did uni in Austin and is now living in Australia!! He always said that the women are great in Texas...
Lox
- Sun Apr 10 08:25:49 2005

 From everyone with whom I've spoken, Austin is by far the coolest place in Texas. I pray I'm able to go there after I finish my MA. I would love to do a PhD in ancient philosophy there.
Travis
- Sun Apr 10 03:51:58 2005

 I'm sure you ALL don't care what happens here in a sqawt room with a roommate who draws in his notebook all the time and will make more money than me...being a star in his own mind. The University of Texas is rather boring actually. I really want to leave this place...go live in London freezing my balls off for the sake of literature; having a french girlfriend...
Jeff
UofT - Sat Apr 9 22:46:01 2005

 The signs of "Keep Austin Weird" are utterly real, Travis. You missed the Span-a-Rama ball including Spam olympics, and Spam-jam were local bands play. Who knew that a meat product could end world hunger? As to the sign? I assume that only lesbians cross that way, they throw rocks at me...
Jeff
UofT, - Sat Apr 9 18:15:47 2005

 Still there, mate!
Rob Lang
- Sat Apr 9 16:31:01 2005

 Rob: What happened to the chom isis2 site? It's unreacheable from Japan today!!
Lox
- Sat Apr 9 09:55:11 2005

 Better late then never: Guiness and Asahi all the way!!!
Lox
- Sat Apr 9 04:53:20 2005

 Tom, that was incredibly funny. I saw a web site a few months back of a local band in similarly ridiculous poses. If I can find it, I'll post the url. Just a bunch of 17 or 18 year olds wearing all black, posing with their instruments as if they were cluthing weapons.
Travis
- Fri Apr 8 23:51:30 2005

 I'd like to give a wider range of beers a sampling, but it's somewhat difficult given where I live. I don't know if I've ever seen a Japanese beer, for instance.
Travis
- Fri Apr 8 23:49:40 2005

 Tom: Yeuch!! The BM pictures I mean! I'll say it again - Yeuch! Ok, I'll defer - fave beer for years was Guinness, but I also like Tiger and Bass (got to be the best bitter - even in tins)...
Nigel
Oswestry, Just there... - Fri Apr 8 22:05:06 2005

 I'm liking Red Stripe at the moment. Also Coors, Miller, Fosters and XXXX. Not really into bitter, but if I was cornered, I'd go for Bombardier (where available).
dsp
- Fri Apr 8 15:28:53 2005

 http://www.ruthlessreviews.com/top10/10blackmetal.html
tom
- Fri Apr 8 14:45:39 2005

 Guiness Extra Cold please! (although I got some Stella for the boys in work).
tom
- Fri Apr 8 14:41:30 2005

 Hmmmm... Asahi or perhaps Sapporo (predictably both Japanese of course). Whilst in Cologne last year I enjoyed some very good Kulch, although hell will freeze over before I have another Schneider Weisse. Belgium does seem to be a fountain of great beers, Leffe is also a favourite of mine, although I don't have it very often.
John
- Fri Apr 8 14:38:20 2005

 Hello all! I took a look at Gizmondo and was right confused! I take it it's a PSP-type sustem with LCD built-in? I suppose trying to forestall the portable PS that's due...? I seem to be going off games these days.. Don't get the time mind you! I have bought a new MP3 player - a Xen EMP-200. A great little item, and classy too! Only 128mb but it's enough for me. Runs off standard AA batteries. Invested in some "proper" headphones though - ear buds fall out of my ears... :)
Nigel
Oswestry, Round about the VAIO... - Fri Apr 8 14:32:34 2005

 Beerwise, I like to drink Leffe.
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 8 14:26:10 2005

 Now you've got me thinking. What beer(s) do you prefer? I must admit that I hadn't been much of a beer drinker until the last 2 years. I prefer Guinness (I've mentioned this before), NewCastle, Paulaner's Hefe-weizan (see it spelled a lot of ways), and a recent find, Ziegen Bock (only available in Texas). I must admit that I sometimes drink Michelob Ultra as well.
Travis
- Fri Apr 8 14:15:12 2005

 Beer at work is even better. Though I haven't had that opportunity in quite some time.
Travis
- Fri Apr 8 14:12:46 2005

 MMMMM beeeeeer.
tom
- Fri Apr 8 13:51:25 2005

 Perhaps *you* need to stub out a ciggy?
tom
- Fri Apr 8 11:03:42 2005

 Tom I am having quite an experience with shite bosses.. :(
Lox
- Fri Apr 8 10:43:07 2005

 I brought beer into the office for all the guys. :-)
tom
- Fri Apr 8 10:26:39 2005

 Thanks guys. The cigarette stubbing thing can't be done. My boss is off (has been since Weds). He didn't even say goodbye or wish me luck. Hope he doesn't wonder why I'm leaving?
tom
- Fri Apr 8 10:26:17 2005

 Good luck, Tom!
Pete, my old housemate, has a PSP and I had a o on it. He got his imported from Korea and it's great. Absolutely fabulous. Ridge Racer knocked my socks off!
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 8 10:05:05 2005

 Or maybe an mp3 player... GOOOOOODDDD I am too undecided on what to buy!! There is a bluetooth earphone too for my mobile... :(
Lox
- Fri Apr 8 09:49:42 2005

 Kev: Yep that was the info that I knew too... Let's see if they sell me one, the problem is that it costs quite a lot and I might re-direct the money towards a usb2 dvd double density burner instead...
Lox
- Fri Apr 8 09:48:33 2005

 Tom: CONGRATS!!!

As for the PSP thing I have to research better, It seems strange that they block foreigners to buy PSP, but it was written GAKOKUJIN (in kanji) and I am 100% positive of the meaning (foreigners)... Maybe it was only that shop... On sunday I will make more research..
Lox
- Fri Apr 8 09:47:20 2005

 Lox: from what I understand the PSP games are not region locked, but the UMD movies are. So moves you buy in europe or usa will not work but all games will.
Kev
- Fri Apr 8 09:43:31 2005

 Yes Tom, congratulations and everything!
John
- Fri Apr 8 09:38:20 2005

 Tom: Enjoy your last day, Good luck.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 8 09:37:50 2005

 I grew up with kids like that - unfortunately - perhaps none of them talked quite as fast as that, but they sure as hell talked a lot of crap.
John
- Fri Apr 8 09:36:35 2005

 John: you've obviously missed your vocation, perhaps you should take up writing "Vicky" scripts.
Mad Mumsie
- Fri Apr 8 09:25:00 2005

 ...and you can imagine it being worked into a Vicky Pollard monologue: No but yea, but no, but, no, because there was the whole other thing what you don't even know about because I wasn't even there, I was with Sharon Johnson who was throwing an eppy because her boyfriend Jason dumped her by flicking a fag in her face, and it was lit, and there was all these sparks everywhere, but don't listen to her because she's got a wooden leg she don't even tell no-one about... etc.
John
- Fri Apr 8 09:05:56 2005

 ...it has a slight feeling of Hounslow about it, don't you think?
John
- Fri Apr 8 09:02:36 2005

 Tim - strangely I do sort of vaguely recall the legend of the cigarette flicking, but I don't remember where it came from - so maybe it wasn't one of my friends...
John
- Fri Apr 8 09:01:33 2005

 I now have comedy visions of people dumping their girlfriends and them entering a self-distruct sequence, there's something marvellously SRW about the image.
dsp
- Fri Apr 8 08:59:34 2005

 (as impressive as it sounded, I don't think it was a massive Hollywood explosion where people run away in slow motion)
dsp
- Fri Apr 8 08:58:30 2005

 John: Was it one of your friends who dumped their girlfriend by flicking a lit cigarette in their face resulting in an explosion of sparks?
dsp
- Fri Apr 8 08:57:29 2005

 There's buses full of fake Louis Vuitton bags everywhere, that'll learn 'em.
dsp
- Fri Apr 8 08:56:40 2005

 Tom, may I suggest as you exit, stubbing out a fag on your boss's forehead. It's the only way to go.
John
- Fri Apr 8 08:55:54 2005

 Sorry Tom, I genuinely forgot that you were a vegetarian. Perhaps a fried egg butty instead.
dsp
- Fri Apr 8 08:55:15 2005

 Good for you Tom! Will you be ordering a bacon breakfast butty to celebrate?
dsp
- Fri Apr 8 08:54:46 2005

 Lox - Can't be sold to foreigners? So you're saying if you don't look Japanese they won't sell you one? Blimey! Is that legal? Mind you, I recall a time here when Louis Vuitton would only sell a maximum of one bag to anyone who looked a bit Asian, because they were worried they might be exporting them to Japan or wherever. Well this kind of behaviour just puts me off a brand altogether - and besides Louis Vuitton bags are generally pretty gaudy and crap anyway.
John
- Fri Apr 8 08:52:45 2005

 It is my last day at work here. WOOO HOOO!
tom
- Fri Apr 8 07:57:44 2005

 The thing that concerns me most about the more expensive MP3 players - the 'Giz' (pfft Jizz...) included- are statements like: "The device's digital encryption technology uses digital handshake, restricted access and 'destruct at engagement' methods to prohibit piracy and theft." No good to us then...
tom
- Fri Apr 8 07:57:17 2005

 Jeff, what do those "Keep Austin weird," signs mean? And are the ones that show two women holding hands intended as a joke against the original meaning?
Travis
Lubbock, - Fri Apr 8 05:22:42 2005

 Kev: I need to ask a question on PSP. I am currently in Japan and it was written on the shopping window that the Japanese PSP cannot be sold to FOREIGNERS... is there a sort of block or something? I thought that the games were universal...
Lox
- Fri Apr 8 02:42:29 2005

 John: I was looking at a gizomondo myself, but I don't think it has touchscreen, so I not sure if its more of a gaming toy with a gps thingy in it. GPRS looks intersting but I couldn't really see myself using it ( too expensive ) What about a PSP instead http://www.us.playstation.com/psp.aspx
Kev
- Thu Apr 7 18:57:05 2005

 Its rather cold at night and blistering days, should be in the 70s and tonight in the lower 40s! Makes you wonder..."Is there a God? Which underwear to put on...
Jeff
University of Texas, - Thu Apr 7 17:01:51 2005

 Hmmmm do I want to buy a Gizmondo - it has built in GPS!
John
- Thu Apr 7 16:19:23 2005

 Does anyone want to go and work in Dublin by any chance?
John
- Thu Apr 7 11:54:39 2005

 ... and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Jimmy
- Thu Apr 7 11:10:01 2005

 It's actually a case of oneupmanship. The weather is so variable across the UK, sometimes across one town, that one can gloat when the sun is shining and someone else has pouring rain - or snow - or fog - or all three!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 7 10:04:46 2005

 It's just really really interesting. Honest.
tom
- Thu Apr 7 09:30:26 2005

 One wonders why this is the case (that the British tend to talk about the weather). Is it purely because it is so changeable, and therefore always topical... Or is it some deeper psychological motive, that as a nation we are scared of getting into a conversation that is anything other than superficial...?
John
- Thu Apr 7 09:29:36 2005

 Tea anyone?
tom
- Thu Apr 7 09:26:03 2005

 How terribly British - discussing the weather first thing in the morning.
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 7 09:19:59 2005

 True. No clouds overnight = sunny start, but no warm air trapped.
tom
- Thu Apr 7 08:47:40 2005

 And cold!
Mad Mumsie
- Thu Apr 7 08:45:32 2005

 It's nice out today so far. A bit windy, but quite sunny!
tom
- Thu Apr 7 07:11:09 2005

 I know - getting better!
tom
- Wed Apr 6 15:12:44 2005

 Not so dreary now - the sun's come out and there's blue sky up there.
Mad Mumsie
- Wed Apr 6 14:33:37 2005

 It eventually gets out on port 80 its just the version we tried seemed to do that last so it takes ages :)
kev
- Wed Apr 6 14:10:51 2005

 Thanks Kev. I can probably tunnel it through via some means or other though. :p
tom
- Wed Apr 6 13:54:57 2005

 Skype is not particularily corporate firewall friendly though, tries to punch out on all sorts of ports which makes the IT Admin guys jumpy :)
Kev
- Wed Apr 6 13:52:10 2005

 I'm here Tom! It is a bit of a dreary day isn't it? Perhaps that is leaving most people pretty uninspired in terms of posting to the board.... Incidentally no I haven't used skype, but I know people who have and say it is very good.
John
- Wed Apr 6 13:21:04 2005

 Anyone out there?
tom
- Wed Apr 6 13:17:47 2005

 Has anyone used Skype?
tom
- Wed Apr 6 11:17:11 2005

 A couple of days before I LEAVE HERE!
tom
- Wed Apr 6 09:03:34 2005

 No, you don't get thumbnails from tivo, and you can't get it to recompress the video (it's not got much of a processor on there). You can stream video, and play it on a specially modified version of MPlayer, but I don't expect a PDA would be powerful enough to run that.
graf
- Tue Apr 5 20:01:20 2005

 There you go! Good idea Kev! DSP: I took one look at .NET and ran screaming from the building, returning to my C roots. I bow before you!!! I did consider JAVA as there are some good PDA runtimes out there, but they're not up to John's needs I suspect... :/
Nigel
Oswestry, Vaio... - Tue Apr 5 19:44:44 2005

 transferring large clips to Pda even over wireless can take ages... how about the webserver on the mini-itx ( controlled by the PDA browser ) scheduling clips and copying them to a local Compact flash or SD card reader( USB) on the ITX. This way you can just walk up to your machine pop out the card, pop it in the PDA and your away :)
Kev
- Tue Apr 5 18:28:36 2005

 If you want to do the TV/PC side of things, I can do the mobile bits.
dsp
- Tue Apr 5 18:13:17 2005

 I got a Dell Pocket PC Axim something or other. I went for the cheapest they did that had WiFi and Bluetooth. Approx £230. Creating apps could not be easier with .Net, its a snip.
dsp
- Tue Apr 5 18:11:33 2005

 Great idea John! Get programming!! You could sell the software, for sure on Handango. When I had an iPaq I also registered a shareware prog to allow own-created IR remote menus/codes. AND I registered Pocket C to do some programming in... Sadly the iPaq has gone now. My interest fizzled-out. But it's a great idea in a happening area. I think the stumbling block might be getting the Mini-ITX to send the necessary within PDA mem consraints... But you're the programmer! :)
Nigel
Oswestry, Fending off the off-spring who want the PC !!! - Tue Apr 5 16:34:21 2005

 My Thomson DHD4000 does thumbnails. But it's not connected to anything.
tom
- Tue Apr 5 16:32:34 2005

 ...Yes the tivo is very clever.... but I bet it doesn't give you thumbnails, does it? Eh? Eh?
John
- Tue Apr 5 16:25:26 2005

 You can do most of that stuff with a tivo, and tivoweb, which is a web server for the tivo.
Graf
- Tue Apr 5 16:17:36 2005

 ...and an FTP server allowing you access to (recompressed and resized) programs you've recorded, which you can then upload onto your PDA to go and watch on the plane, or whatever.
John
- Tue Apr 5 15:15:53 2005

 ...and the TV could even send little thumbnails of each program you could potentially be watching to the PDA..... mmmmmm thumbnails... mnph mnph mnph. In fact all you'd really need is for your TV to have a little web server in it, in effect.
John
- Tue Apr 5 15:12:33 2005

 Thinking about getting a PDA (an English one this time). Any suggestions? Dell again seems promising... Incidentally, my reasons are twofold:
John
- Tue Apr 5 15:08:19 2005

 Eventually the whole Internet community will be bored of cigarette adverts like the previous one and will ignore them or automatically filter them out. Then one day, some one will be trapped inside a cigarette factory with a nasty injury and will be unable to get any help. That'll learn 'em!!
dsp
- Tue Apr 5 15:04:05 2005

 I read that as Landrover Baptists "Religion for All Terrains"
dsp
- Tue Apr 5 14:34:08 2005

 http://www.discount-cigarettes-planet.com Online Discount Cigarettes at Cigarettes Planet. Visit our online shop and buy only high quality products, don't damage your life buing low quality cigarettes. The prices on our site will amaze you. We offer cheap Marlboro cigarettes, marlboro lights, marlboro filter. Visit http://www.discount-cigarettes-planet.com, a wish planet for a smoker.
Discount Cigarettes Planet
- Tue Apr 5 13:58:16 2005

 Ok yes I've found a reference to it saying it is satirical... thank god for that!
John
- Tue Apr 5 12:22:42 2005

 I am being inescapably drawn into the website for Landover Baptist Church ("Guaranteeing Salvation Since 1612"), and can't quite work out if it is a spoof or not (it must be, surely?!). Either way, it makes for hilarious reading.
John
- Tue Apr 5 12:18:03 2005

 I bet you get a higher placing than me.
Rob Lang
- Tue Apr 5 12:06:54 2005

 Rob, during my designated break period (TM) I did the usualy browse around on the web to see if anyone new had linked to us.... and apparently you and I have been entered in an Ugly Nun contest (not sure whether to be pleased or offended) apparently hosted on a forum for some Baptist website (?! - maybe a spoof?): See here
John
- Tue Apr 5 11:56:21 2005

 So, errr, earthquakes then. That's one aspect of spending any lengthy time in Japan that scares the bejeezus out of me. Lorenzo, any experience?
John
- Tue Apr 5 11:25:44 2005

 ehehehehe I told her the same thing... I mean ok one but after 6months the second it's quite... Oh well, at least she's having "fun"... :) As for Dom do you have any pictures on the net?
Lox
- Mon Apr 4 22:31:15 2005

 dom is doing fine. he was kicking a football about yesterday.
tom
- Mon Apr 4 14:51:23 2005

 wow - she didn't hang about...
tom
- Mon Apr 4 14:50:52 2005

 AHA! Yes I remember that you got a new rank recently!! Wow two officers... do you get to do camps or do you fly as well? By the way how is your son? My sister is waiting for the second one and the first (6month now) is soooooooooooooooooooooooooo cooolll (though he doesn't sleep too much..)
Lox
- Mon Apr 4 14:42:37 2005

 (...this is because I can't type and he can...)
tom
- Mon Apr 4 14:22:38 2005

 Lox: I too am an RAFVR(T) officer (althuogh Rob outranks me!)
tom
- Mon Apr 4 14:22:22 2005

 Lox: Only a few this time, so not too arduous. And they were very good. Rob looks very smart in his uniform.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Apr 4 14:13:26 2005

 WOW!!! Compliments to Rob and also to you!! How many girls do you have to look after? It seems like an hard job, but I am sure it must be fun...
Lox
- Mon Apr 4 13:57:06 2005

 Ah Lox you are behind the times. Rob is now an officer in the RAFVR(T) and for a year or two was in command of our Squadron in Wembley. He's now transferred to Reading. And he's still flying. I didn't organise this one, but was in charge of the girls.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Apr 4 13:49:40 2005

 Mumsie: I seeeeee I think that I got them confused with scouts then... Sounds like fun though. I guess that you are a coordinator of the trip then, is that right? Is Rob still part of the Cadets too? I guess that he's probably more than a Cadet now, right?
Lox
- Mon Apr 4 13:42:21 2005

 Glad to hear you had a good one, mum and that the weather didn't ruin it all. John, Can you imagine the royals telling each other this info, it would be like a really contrived soap: "Charles, I have something to tell you..." "Yes, Mother?" "Charles, you know your great great grandmother, Vicky?" "Yes, Mother?" "Well, she's my great great grandmother too" "Oh, the horror! I'll have to go on a killing rampage, then!" Oh, by the way, John, you know aunt...
Rob Lang
- Mon Apr 4 13:39:02 2005

 John: Oh yes, its a prerequisite.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Apr 4 11:52:16 2005

 Which makes Charles his own mother-in-law (or something).
tom
- Mon Apr 4 11:47:38 2005

 Does the Duke of Edinburgh Award include a qualification in making embarassing gaffs about foreigners? Incidentally, did you know Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are actually related - both of them share Queen Victoria as a great great grandmother. That makes them third cousins. Ewww....
John
- Mon Apr 4 11:06:12 2005

 Scout! SCOUT!?!?!?!?! They are CADETS. The main reason for this camp was Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, where they have to find their way using a map and compass - great fun. Hips are fine now, thanks. Almost running up the stairs.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Apr 4 10:43:07 2005

 Ciao Jill!! Long time no see!! Howe are you? Recovered from the bio-hip implant? Guess the sherif wasn't around was he?... :) What do you do with the cadets at these camps? Forset warfare training or just the usual scout-type camp?
Lox
- Mon Apr 4 09:21:51 2005

 Morning everyone - have you missed me. Just had an interesting week with cadets in Nottinghamshire, Sherwood Forest to be exact, and no I didn't see Robin Hood, and yes there were a lot of trees.
Mad Mumsie
- Mon Apr 4 09:04:39 2005

 Hi-de-hi, campers!
Jimmy
- Mon Apr 4 08:50:14 2005

 Morning everyone...
Lox
- Mon Apr 4 01:13:20 2005

 Bring me back a t-shirt!
jeff
University of texas - Sun Apr 3 18:58:46 2005

 Ciao John!! Thanks... Well let's say that on the plan I met this very interesting steward and he convinced the captain to allow me in the CABIN!!!!!!! It was totally awesome, the first time in my life, the view it's brilliant... As for the party nothing happened really, we'll see to have some soer of delayed party when the agent comes tomorrow... I have a tech question.. I managed to configure thunderbird to read the rss feed of the board, but every time I want to post he opens the firefox broweser, while there must be a way to add something directly from TB... None of you have got an idea? Tim?

Going back to Japan, can't wait to meet you here!!
Lox
- Sun Apr 3 15:37:14 2005

 Good work Lorenzo - and happy birthday for yesterday... Was it really awful in the end, or have you been able to salvage any kind of birthday festivities upon your arrival in Japan?
John
- Sun Apr 3 15:15:15 2005

 I am living proof that the Maison de Stuff can survive when John comes to Japan, at the time of writing is 9 in the evening and quite coldish here in Tokyo...
Lox
- Sun Apr 3 14:45:12 2005

 No I doubt it will make much difference to the 'Maison - thanks to the "inter" in internet it will work just as well from another country!
John
- Sun Apr 3 12:45:19 2005

 John, are you moving to Japan? Long term? No more Maison de-Stuff?
Jeff <losbandito_7@tahoo.com>
University of Texas, - Fri Apr 1 23:24:33 2005

 John: Great adventure! Take your laptop though so you can keep us updated from all those Wireless Cafe's and the like. I wonder if you can get one of those country-wide "rover tickets" like BT's OpenZone... I found a BT one about twenty yards from where I work (which effectively means I can access it) but then remembered I get Internet for free at work (yeah, dumb I know) and don't get much chance to travel elsewhere nowadays... :(
Nigel
Oswestry, Within carpet slippers... - Fri Apr 1 20:25:19 2005

 John, this sounds like a bold move on your part. Best of luck to you, sir!
Travis
- Fri Apr 1 18:28:11 2005

 coolio.. will check with the management as it were.
tom
- Fri Apr 1 16:46:11 2005

 Yes Tom I'm free, errr, pretty much all the time really. I think I'm busy Tuesday night and Saturday night next week, that's all.
John
- Fri Apr 1 16:41:55 2005

 (regarding the article) That's great Tom - I knew they'd get there in the end. Dod you have to be paralysed to get one of those chips? I'm forever losing the remote control...
John
- Fri Apr 1 16:38:31 2005

 Well, alright then 'awkins. I'll have a look at your CD collection ;-) When are you free for a bevvie in any case? (Oh yeah - you don't work!) I finish next Friday. :->
tom
- Fri Apr 1 16:34:48 2005

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4396387.stm
tom
- Fri Apr 1 16:32:22 2005

 Yes Lorenzo I'll send you all my money for free, providing you're willing to pay the P+P (150% of the worth of the goods). ...and surely you can buy those little stove top espresso makers in Japan...?
John
- Fri Apr 1 16:28:05 2005

 I volounteer to keep you money during your leave, as I cannot have any of your whiskey and I cannot help you with the boxes! What are you going to do with the espresso machine? I'd reccommend to bring it to Nihon, so that you can amaze friends and family with your italianess...
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 15:29:07 2005

 WOW, John! Amazing news. I will have to hurry up and finish your leaving prezzie!
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 1 15:26:04 2005

 Chie often asks me what I am going to do with my whisky collection when we leave, and I have to say I have been genuinely touched by the amount of people who have, quite selflessly, offered to "help me out" with this particular issue. You guys....
John
- Fri Apr 1 15:19:43 2005

 That's a very kind offer Tom but surely the last thing you want is someone else's clutter...? I'd feel less guilty if it was something you could make use of yourself... CDs / DVDs for example... and of course whisky!
John
- Fri Apr 1 15:17:14 2005

 (If you need to store some stuff at our place, you're more than welcome.)
tom
- Fri Apr 1 15:01:10 2005

 Baggsie the Whiskey!
tom
- Fri Apr 1 15:00:35 2005

 I seeeee.... be sure to check the e-mail then we have to try to hook up a way or another. I wish you all the best luck in you job hunt. It would be great to see each other there, maybe I can take some days off and we could have a tour of Japan, it would be WAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYY cooolll
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 14:59:41 2005

 Tim: err, yes! I'm planning to sell, give away, or just throw away everything but the few things I can carry (or give to my family to put in the attic). We'll draw up a list over the next few days...
John
- Fri Apr 1 14:45:12 2005

 Lox: In answer to your questions:
1) So far I have applied for programming / Digital TV jobs, because that's what I'm best qualified for, and these ought to be very "in demand" skills in Japan at the moment.
2) Nope, I have not been introduced by anyone, just applied through the web. I do have a couple of Japanese people who have agreed to be put down as references if necessary, though.
3) I have considered teaching English, but this is going to be a last resort - I feel it's a bit of a waste of my skills!
4) Not sure where we're going to live, depends where the work takes us (assuming I can actually get a job!) - I would have thought Tokyo is most likely, but personally I would prefer something further west - closer to Hiroshima (Osaka perhaps?) - if given a choice.
5) Yes meeting up for a beer would be great! At the very least we're going to be in Japan for two weeks at the start of May, but given that we now have no pressure to get back for any particular date, we might well stay until the end of May, even if I can't find work there.
John
- Fri Apr 1 14:38:37 2005

 Good for you and Chie! Its great to see people doing stuff like that. Well done!! ps. Can I have your stuff?
dsp
- Fri Apr 1 14:34:10 2005

 You crazy bastards. I remember Rob did an April Fool's Day post last year. It's fun to see it. No one here bothers anymore. I think the last decent April Fool's prank was something my teacher did when I was 6 or 7 (aside from site members). What a sad life I've led.
Travis
- Fri Apr 1 14:26:42 2005

 What types of jobs are thoose? Were you introduced by someone? Have you considered teaching English in Japan? Where are you going to live overthere? Fancy a beer next May/June in Tokyo?
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 13:57:26 2005

 Right, well since it has gone midday, some actual genuine news:

Chie has handed in her notice for her job, and I've given notice to our landlady for the flat... So as of the end of April we are both officially unemployed and also homeless! We're going to Japan at the start of May, we'd originally planned for a couple of weeks, but it may now be longer - as neither of us have jobs to come back to, and we won't be paying rent anywhere in England we can stay as long as we want (visas, money etc permitting).

I've got a few potential jobs in Japan in the pipeline, and will hopefully have some interviews at the start of May. If I'm lucky enough to get an actual job offer, and my future employers wanted me to start ASAP, then it just seemed rediculous to have to come back to England for a week or whatever just to settle everything up. In addition I didn't want to be paying rent for May given that we'd be away for at least half of it! So having everything wound up before we go, just in case, seemed the most sensible course of action in the end.

Of course, it is very possible I won't be able to find a job there, which would then require that I/we come back to England whenever the money/visa runs out.
John
- Fri Apr 1 13:48:37 2005

 I completely bloody missed the chance for tomfoolery. Shit.
Rob Lang
- Fri Apr 1 13:19:40 2005

 Yawn.
tom
- Fri Apr 1 12:39:58 2005

 I thought that Italy looked like Rob disguised as a Mercedes(tm) but diplayed as a leg with a shoe...
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 12:26:37 2005

 That reminds me (not sure how): I think I'm going to have a toasted sandwich for lunch.
John
- Fri Apr 1 12:01:19 2005

 Have you ever notices that Italy is shaped like a leg with a shoe on the end?
dsp
- Fri Apr 1 11:41:29 2005

 Oh sorry I see now - what an idiot I am I completely missed that!
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:40:29 2005

 No but it says that BRADLEY is the author of the map... taking it a bit far it could be the author of ITALY!!
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:39:50 2005

 Hmmm Lox I have had a look at that page and am not really sure what you are talking about! Is something supposed to happen when we click the map...?
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:35:05 2005

 http://www.oldmapsbooks.com/MapPage/MapPages503xx/50313ital.htm While this page could destroy everything that I have always believe in!!! It might shed some lights into the true origins of PIZZALAND!!!!!!
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:29:45 2005

 Oooh, and a Pradelli near Milan - if only that P was a B!
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:28:24 2005

 http://fotka.madness.sk/person-283.php apparently a guy calle d BRADLIO makes some pictures but it's a polish site.... (i think)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:28:09 2005

 You forgot the filthy dog full of fleas and shite in general, plus the general degrade and the sound of the fork rasping between the only two theets that the awful english woman had. Not to talk about the slabbering sounds that would make a cow cringe...
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:23:57 2005

 There does actually seem to be a place called Baradili (close enough - say it fast and it sounds the same!) on Sardinia.
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:23:26 2005

 Apparently Yikes r' Us (TM) - the leading manufacturer of Yikes! is releasing a new range of Yikes! products to coincide with the launch of the Bradlyoni store. Their flagship product is the "Yikes! Noodle" - a Yikes! flavoured Pot Noodle which is touted to replace pizza and pasta as the national food of Italy. The marketing campaign has already been organised, and there's a TV advert featuring a fat uncouth english woman slurping a "Yikes! Noodle" and then shouting "Yummmmmmmyyyyyy!!!!", much to the irritation of her more sophisticated Italian house mate.
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:16:41 2005

 Actually I was contacted for a job in a Yikes factory, maybe linked to the Al-Fayed project? Interesting... Anyways Bradlyoni is now expanding with a new useless piece of engeneering "The Bradlyoni High" and "The Bradlyoni Millennium Dome", plus they are now competing for the 2010 Olimpics.
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:16:35 2005

 Tim: yes Al Fayed talked about the Bradlyoni store - apparently they are going to specialise in sales of "Yikes!", which is forecast to be a big hit in the Italian market.
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:09:16 2005

 No prob, I forgot everyone's birthday too!! :)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:08:42 2005

 ...and I thought I had covered that so seemlessly with the old Brazilian Tile Importer sub-blag. Anyway, happy birthday for tomorrow - blimey - I am hugely crap at remembering birthdays. I have forgotten everyone's this year so far - including my own!
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:07:20 2005

 I am in Italy and therefore qualify fully for April's Fool... :) But you now made me think that I am going to play an April Foot on my Japanese Agent... Gonna call him right now... :)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:06:49 2005

 Second post, where you say that he wanted to go drinking with you and he didn't have a busy schedule (hence the request for pictures, which you totally ignored proving your scheme)... Still a very good job! As for the birthday that will happen TOMORROW, but my flight is at 15:00 meaning that I will sepnd the whole day on the plane...
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 11:05:00 2005

 There's an interesting thought - had I continued to attempt to con Lorenzo after 11, would it have been a valid blag given that it was before midday in my (the blagger's) time zone, but after midday in Lorenzo's (the blagee's) time zone...?
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:04:33 2005

 Well still one hour of blag potential remains (unless you're in Italy where, what with the time difference, the scope for japery has already expired)...
John
- Fri Apr 1 11:02:40 2005

 Well it was good while it lasted... It's just a shame no-one else was here to enjoy it! At what point did you see through it (be honest!)...? Oh, and by the way which day is your birthday then? Tomorrow? ...or do you mean on the way back from Japan?
John
- Fri Apr 1 10:58:59 2005

 John: You'll never guess what I just read on Ceefax. Apparently Al Fayed is also opening a Harrods in Bradlyoni, Italy.
dsp
- Fri Apr 1 10:58:16 2005

 Just to make sure you don't get too far with it, playing along to your April's Fool joke it's great... ;)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 10:55:22 2005

 The more you talk about it the more I think that this story is something to be told to future generations... I'll be eager to wait for the developments, I will be in Japan from tomorrow (did I mention that I will spend my 30th birthday ON A PLANE?) I hope I can check the updates regularly... :)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 10:52:10 2005

 I just got a fax from him asking if I want to go for dinner after the interview on Monday with a couple of his showbiz chums - apparently spoon bender Uri Geller will be there, and so will Holly Valance (you know, that girl who used to be on Neighbours, and is now a singer or something). Oh and there's a chance of seeing Michael Fish, the weatherman, but he's not sure if he's going to be able to make it yet as he's got to go to hospital in the daytime to have an in-growing toenail removed, or something.
John
- Fri Apr 1 10:51:46 2005

 Yep! Trivia fans may be interested to hear his favourite whisky at present is Balblair - in fact he pretty much owns the distillery, as it is on land which is part of his Balnagowan estate in Scotland. He wants to come up with a special edition of malt from Balblair to mark the launch of the new Tokyo store. Balblair is famous for having unusual maritime, almost seafoody notes (despite being nowhere near the sea) a hint of spices, and even gunpowder! So in an uncharacteristic fit of creativity, I suggested he do a range of single cask bottlings under the name "shooting fish in a barrel". He really loved this, and I think this is what prompted the tentative job offer... I was really on top form.
John
- Fri Apr 1 10:42:01 2005

 You MUST take some pictures. It's a once in a lifetime occasion!!
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 10:35:14 2005

 Actually I think he didn't have a particularly busy schedule - he said he was just meeting some Brazilian guy about kitchen tiles or something like that, and he generally finds that sort of thing pretty boring - he'd much rather be drinking whisky!

I have to admit I am starting to suspect he isn't really that interested in offering me a job, and this is all just an excuse to get an invite to the whisky club! Still, even if I don't get the job, going for a few drinks with Al Fayed will be a cool thing to tell the grandchildren...
John
- Fri Apr 1 10:30:58 2005

 Amazing... Getting a man like Al Fayed to postpone appointments is something extremely rare, you do realize that! This episode will surely be featured in my book (assuming that you give me permission to write about it, and assuming, more importantly, that I do write the book!!)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 10:28:09 2005

 Absolutely Lorenzo! Obviously, the job is not in the bag yet, but when I go for my interview on Monday I will definitely put in a good word for you. We've arranged to do the interview in two halves - we're going to be in his office on the top floor of Harrod's for the first half, and then in my whisky club for the remainder - apparently he has postponed his afternoon appointments on Monday so it could get quite boozy! That 75 quid has sure paid off!
John
- Fri Apr 1 10:25:30 2005

 I am totally amazed, what can I say but "COMPLIMENTS!"... Can you ask him is he has space for another foreigner to come to work in Japan? No, honest, even an address to send the CV or somethign... :P
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 10:16:39 2005

 There was a program on TV here last night about Mohammed Al Fayed - the owner of Harrod's. I only caught the last ten minutes of it, but afterwards Channel 4 had one of those webchat things where they gave the viewers a chance to talk to Mr Al Fayed. I asked a (slightly jokey) question about whether or not he was thinking of setting up a Harrod's store in Tokyo, and apparently this is actually one of his current big projects... even more amazingly he actually knew who I was! Apparently he is a bit of a whisky buff, and has read some of my articles about Port Ellen and other single malts on the site. In fact based on my recommendation he actually went to Fortnum and Mason in person to buy a bottle, which apparently caused a minor stir in the media at the time, as the proprietors of F and M were reluctant to let him in!

Anyway, the big news is that we got talking after the official public web chat was over and done with, and he has more or less offered me a job (subject to a proper interview of course) setting up the whisky department at the new Harrod's in Tokyo.... how cool is that?!?!
John
- Fri Apr 1 10:08:57 2005

 Is it the time difference or are you all busy bees today?
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 09:58:34 2005

 Which of course means that everyone in the world should have sex in Italian!! :) (not to speak about cooking)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 08:46:53 2005

 As for Google, have you seen the new VanGogh logo? Way cool! I find it annoying that it automatically shows you the page of the country that you are connecting from, as an english language freak i'd like to have it in english all the time (my philosophy is that you should try to use things in the language they were originally programmed/made)
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 08:45:56 2005

 Tim is correct, there are several sites that track your IP to a certain country, it is possible to connect through a proxy in another country to get a different result. I remember that we were discussing this issue some time ago...
Lox
- Fri Apr 1 08:43:48 2005