American Pie Presents Band Camp

American Pie Presents Band Camp: This was pretty much what I expected, although nowhere as near as funny as the 1st one. Can't really remember laughing. Was an easy movie to watch but nothing new here.

There was hardly anyone from the 1st 2 movies either. Although maybe this movie had slightly more story and meaning?

I gave it a 5 out of 10, not really missing much if you don't see it.

Decision, decisions, decisions...

I will be 27 in 3 weeks and I then have to decide what I want to do, I can no longer just go with the flow and let whatever happens happen. I have changed a lot over the last couple of years but need to change more. I need to decide what to do for a career, more and more frustrated sat at a desk all day fed up being told things will change and then not. Well that's not entirely true, things do change but rarely for the better.

I guess I have 1 month to make up my mind once and for all.

I did look into volunteering for the Forestry commission in Hamsterley but according to the website they aren't looking for any. I always said I would never volunteer for anything but I think its a good way of seeing if I would like to do that kind of work. I keep wondering if I could somehow make some sort of career combining the countryside, walks,etc.. and the internet. Keep thinking of a few ideas, certainly wouldn't be a career initially more a hobby. Need to look into it more, just never have the time at home at the moment.

Moving Computers

I moved my server up to my house last night and placed it in its new home under the stairs, next to my server cabinet. when I plugged it all in it wouldn't boot, there was no sign of life after trying all sorts I eventually found out it was a dodgy mouse. Once I got rid of the mouse is worked fine. I watched a film on my Xbox that was streamed from the server.

My dad also said he played music from the server as well from his house over the wireless link.

Tonight I moved my desk and my main computer and all the junk that goes with it, it is all working and I am typing this post from it now. I have piles of cables and a load more computers to connect up but I'm in no rush for them at the moment.

The Da Vinci Code

The Da Vinci Code: I went to the pictures last night at Boldon and watched The Da Vinci Code. I had heard a few reviews that weren't all that good but went with an open mind and wanted to like the film.

I enjoyed it although having read the book (audiobook), I already new the story and some parts of the film felt like it was rushed. They seamed to solve any problem in seconds that the came upon.

Tom Hanks did a good job as Robert Langdon. Worth watching but although it was on a long time it still appeared that some parts were rushed and not explored as well as they came across in the book.

I gave it 7 out of 10.

The Ringer

The Ringer: When I read the plot for this it sounded bad about someone pretending to be disabled to win the Special Olympics but it was actually quite good. Rather than taking the piss out of the disabled thay were taking the piss out of the so called "normal guy".

This was the first film I wactched in my house on Sunday night :-)

I gave it 6 out of 10.

first night

im spending my first night in my house. it feels very strange not
because im alone or anything but because its so damn quiet. i have had
a computer running in my bedroom all the time for years. not used to
complete silence. whenever i stay at someone elses there is always
some noise from a road or something, like someone snoring, grinding
teeth. completely quiet here. feels good though.

i am sleeping tonight but Havent really moved any of my stuff up just
some clothes for work tomorrow.

forgot my ipod and forgot the power cable for my laptop so wont last
much longer if i turn it on, typing this on my phone. well i will get
some sleep or try to :-)

Living Room Video

I uploaded a video to Google Videos the other day, mainly to check out how easy it was to upload them. It takes a while for the videos to be approved, so I forgot about it until today, when I remembered to check.

Anyway the video link is below, its poor quality because it was taken with my digital camera not a video recorder. It was also dark.

Living Room Video

Should be able to see that I still need to add "Accessories", very bare at the moment.

Old colleagues

Just bumped into Lynn and Phil Knowles outside Asda in Bishop. Used to
work with them when i was at the Red Cross.

She said they had been down sussex for the last 3 years. working as a
house keeper and gardener. Although the lord they were working for died 3 weeks after they
started, but they were loving it (don't mean him dying).

They are starting a new job in Scotland doing the same thing near Loch Lomand.

Makes me think even more why don't I move onto to something totally different?

Boring work

Sat here thinking why am I here (I mean work), finding it harder and harder to get motivated. I always said I would hate to work on an assembly line because the work is too monotonous. I did work on one for a couple of months nearly four years ago now (I hated it and vowed never again). Yet the job I do now is as monotonous as that was most of the time.

I keep being told that this or that will be happening soon, well I'm still waiting. We are currently going through a pay review and I will be very pissed off if I don't receive a decent rise. Maybe thats what I need as a kick up the arse to leave. I get too used to somewhere and don't move on when I should, was intending to wait until pay review is over and see what happens with being given more Admin powers back. But I could be waiting months. The main reason I'm still here is because I have made a lot of friends but if they are 'good' friends I would still see them if I left.

This is sort of another moan but its the best way I have of sorrting out stuff in my head but writing it down. I keep moaning about work, so its time I did something about it. I kinda don't know what I really want to do anymore, which is another reason I've been dragging my heals, think I've been so worn down by boring shit that I'm turning away from IT and been looking at working out doors in the countryside. Did have another idea to do with my current job but not gonna say anything on here until Ik haver done some research.

Well that's enough moaning for now ;-)

Google

I have been messing about with Google Notebook for 30 minutes or so tonight, think it will be fairly usefull. When you find some information on a website that you want to record you cna just add it to your notebook and make any comments you like.

Google keep impressing me with the stuff they keep producing, I've been using Google Calendar for over a month and I'm very impressed. There are still a few things that need adding like reminders on all of a persons calendars not just the main one. But besides for this it is excellent.

I have also made Google Home my homepage, it lets you create a custom Google Homepage by adding various modules.

There are tons of other stuff I like but think still need work like, Reader, Video and Bookmarks.

Living Room

Above is a picture of my living room as it is now, with the couches finally in. Got them in on Monday afternoon after having the window removed by IC Davison. Couches were bloody heavy carrying them from parents garage. My dad was knacked by the time we had finished.

Above is my 3 seater couch, because of the 2 cushions it may not look like a 3 seater. Will do plenty of lying out on there :-)

There is still small stuff to be done in the living room, like lampshade, pictures, possibly some curtains (already blinds), etc..

Oh and a computer somewhere hopefully hidden!

purpose

sometimes you hear people wondering what their purpose is in life. if
people really did have a purpose set out, i think mine must be to
boost peoples egos and listen to peoples problems. i dont mind but
would be good if one of those people would return the favour once in a
while!

busy time

Havent posted anything for ages just Havent had the time. been busy
working on house. i also went to london last friday to watch a mate
box for the british light welterweight title but unfortunately he lost
on points.

i will write a proper post hopefully tomorrow night. took some
pictures of my living room with couches in but Havent uploaded them to
the computer yet.

Sponsored Walk

I did a sponsored walk yesterday, you can see the route above (marked in blue). It was about 9 miles. The GPS said I'd done 8.93 but the computer said it was 9.25 (whatever).

I ended up finishing 2nd, although the person who finished 1st did set off an 1 hour 45 before me. I ran about the last three quarters of a mile because I wanted to do it in under 2 and half hours. Not easy running with the bloody coat I had on and full of rubbish.

The walk was fairly easy, except for Wears bank. You can see in the image below that steep line is the bank at about the 3.5 miles point.

Holiday

Not exactly a holiday but my challenge to walk up Ben Nevis is now booked up or at least the campsite is. I didn't want to spend any money on hotels like I did last year when I went to Scotland, thought about Youth Hostels but decided on camping instead. Its gonna cost me £21 for 2 nights, I could of gone a lot cheaper but seams a nice place and not far from Fort William.

I am staying at Linnhe Lochside Holidays which is near Corpach on the shore of Loch Linnhe. Its only a few miles to Ben Nevis. Only staying a couple of nights (21st & 22nd June), I will be walking Ben Nevis on the 22nd and going home on the 23rd.

I am doing a sponsored walk this Saturday from Frosterley to Wolsingham, up onto the fells and back down to Frosterley its only 9 miles. My mother is setting off an hour before me, so might see if I can catch her up and pass her. She is walking with her friend who doesn't walk very fast, so should be able to, might even run along the tops.

Flooring Finally

Finally it feels like I'm getting somewhere in my house. Me and my dad put the flooring down over the weekend in the living room, we did a good job even if I say so. Its laid better than most of the floors I've seen done by proper fitters. Maybe coz we like stuff done properly. The Fire is still covered up from the plastering (must remove it). Forgot those shitty curtains are still up as well.

We had a slight problem when my radiator leaked all over my new flooring about an hour after we had finished laying it. Hopefully it will be OK (or I might cry, lol).


Started laying the flooring in my bathroom tonight as well, its only Vinyl planks. Looks like wood, was gonna put laminate down but down but just about everyone said theirs had warped. This looks almost as good and should be fine after I have my bathroom like a Sauna fromt he shower. Still got a few bits to do to it, then the skirting needs putting on. Then the toilet can be put back in and the basin.

Tomorrow night I will finish off the flooring in the bathroom and hopefully put the carpet back down in the main bedroom (old one for now).

I'm hoping in the next 2 1/2 weeks it will be nearly finished (or enough to move in). Can't move in at the moment with the toilet being out. That should be sorted at the weekend.

I wasn't gonna set a date, but think I better or will never move in. I WILL be in by the 21st May (2006, before anyone makes any comments). Only 6-7 weeks after the original date I set. The only reason this is so far in the future is because I will be out quite a bit over the next 2 weeks. Sponsored walk, Boxing, old work get together, etc...