End of one, start of another

This is probably the end of this blog. I am creating a blog at www.stevenhorner.com, which will be more technical or web related. Unlike this which at times over the years was far too personal.

I haven't entirely decided what will go on the new blog. I am thinking of setting up another website that will be walking related.

Over the last few months I have come up with several ideas for websites. Hopefully I will get them off the ground rather than procrastinating about them. Funnily enough one of them is www.failtocomplete.com, which sums me up!

Anyway for updates on what I'm planning or how to get in touch, check out the new site which should be updated in the next few days over at: www.stevenhorner.com

Thanks
Steven

chilled weekend

I've done nothing this weekend, Friday I was supposed to be going to the Lakes to walk Bowfell, Scafell Pike & Sca fell but my partner in crime is/was ill and there was gail force winds. So I went nowhere and have been nowhere since.

All I've done is watch, films browse the web and listen to music. Haven't even watched any TV. I have done a little bit of work on my walking website. Although I have come to the conclusion I need to do masses of reading. I need to properly read up on PHP, Javascript, MySQL, XML, CSS and the Google Maps API. I have dabbled with all of these at some point but need to know a lot more for this project.

I realised last week that I learn best visually and by hands on messing around with things, seeing how stuff works. I get bored quickly reading computer books and tend to jump ahead. Looking back I have alway been like this with everything I do. I lose interest quickly if anything drags on. I need quick fixes or rewards to keep my concentration. Although I learn very quickly, maybe its because I miss out the waffle when learning stuff?

One thing I don't normally do is work very well with structure or plans. I create them but find it incredibly hard to stick to them. Its them same with the lists and aims I've created on this blog many times before, I rarely complete any. I start at a pace then very quickly become fed up and move onto the next thing.

I need to figure out how not to do that with my website project, I have been thinking about doing this for ages and want to actually finish it or at least get it to where I am happy with it. But how do I do that?

I mentioned above all the things I need to learn more about, but know if I set off reading a book on each one at a time. I will be sick by the time I get half way through the first, with my mind wandering to knew ideas for the site. I guess I probably already answered my own question. I probably have to learn by hands on, looking up the things I need to know for the task I'm trying to do. This often feels like I'm going around the houses to find out how to do a simple task because I haven't got full knowledge in the language.

I'm rambling once again, just really want my website project to succeed, putting off starting because I don't know where to start :-(

From the bedroom

Sorry its not that exciting!!

Finally fitted my Samsung TV to the wall, although still needs some adjusting. I was laid on the bed listening to music from my Xbox and had an idea. Why not connect up my Mac Mini to the tv. The Mac Mini has been sat in the kitchen unused since moving my main computer into the Dining room.

So I'm sat in front of the TV typing this post using my Mac Mini and using the Samsung as a 37" monitor :-)

If I think it useful I might buy a bluetooth keyboard/mouse. I like the look of the Logitech DiNovo Mini, but steep at £99.

This week so far

Its not been the best week so far but things could be a lot worse.
After a good weekend last weekend, things went a bit down hill. Worked
until 8 on monday in consett.

Then when i walked in the house on tuesday night, i was met by my dad
rushing down the stairs telling me the pipe was leaking. If had been
fitting a radiator for me, but when he had been fitting a new copper
pipe he'd disturbed one of the old pipes. That wasn't soldered very
well.

I walked a bit further into the house and saw water coming through my
living room ceiling and a pool of water developing on the floor.

Things could of been a lot worse if the water had dripped onto the tv
i had just bought or onto the couch.

I took the following day off and my dad replaced the pipe that had
leaked and luckily the ceiling should be ok, once painted (i hope).

The other thing that was annoying on tuesday, was that i had picked 1
horse to bet on that day as its cheltenham. I didn't get time to put
the bet on though and it came in at 10-1. Nevermind it could of lost
just as easily.

I worked late in middlesbrough on wednesday night, but got home on
time tonight. My dad was in my house when i got home, looking at
another problem i had with the heating, hopefully that might be fixed
tomorrow without having to buy anything else. Thought i might have to
buy a new central heating pump, but hopefully not now.

If i was superstitous, spelt wrong i know. Then i would think my watch
i have had for years is bringing me bad luck. The few times i have
worn it this year, something has gone wrong. Just coincidence but
don't thing i will wear it for a few days, just in case, lol!

The rest of tonight i spent sorting some of my paper work i have had
laid around the last few weeks and filing it away. Boring but pleased
i got it done and started to tidy a few things away but no point until
after tomorrow when my dad will hopefully of fixed my heating problems
and have my bedroom lcd mounted on the wall. That's enough of my dull
week, its putting me to sleep.

Rambo

Rambo: I watched this last week, which is in total contrast to Enchanted which I just posted. This I probably enjoyed more because there has been a total lack of movies like it in recent years.

While a lot has been made of the death count in the movie, its not as bad as its made out. Well maybe it is but there is an underlining story to the film if you look hard enough. I think it sits somewhere between First Blood which had an excellent story and Rambo III which if it had one I can't remember it?

Just watch it, I gave it 8 out of 10.

Enchanted

Enchanted: I watched this last night and suprisingly really enjoyed it. The first film I watched on my new TV snuggled up in bed.

Its about a cartoon princess who is pushed down a well and ends up in the real world. Its one of those family heart warming movies but I highly recommend it.

I would gave it 8 out of 10 on IMDB. Not what you would expect to be my sort of film, clearly going soft in my old age.

Challenges

I have just updated the challenges on the side of this page. I still want to do the Wainwrights but I don't want to have to rush them, if it takes years then so be it. The 1001 albums to listen to before you die challenge got boring because lots of the albums were rubbish.

So the new challenges aren't too hard and are certainly achievable.

• Learn to Snowboard - already done this although need to go back for more practice
• Learn to climb - I have found a couple of places locally where I can learn on a climbing wall but would then like to climb outdoors.
• Smile and have more fun - may sound stupid but I have been known at lots of points in my life for not smiling and being miserable. I feel better if smiling and obviously need to be having fun to feel happy and want to smile :-)
• Walking Website - I mentioned this in a previous post or hinted at it. I have had an idea in my head for months, mainly because I haven't found a website that does what I want. There are some that offer very similar services but they are often pay for sites or are badly designed. When I have something up and running I will post more details. I don't think anyone else will be bothered, but will be useful for me and my dad if no one else.

This is a short list but a major problem with failing challenges and goals is due to unrealistic targets. I started to write if I only achieve one of the 3 remaining goals/challenges I hope its the website, then thought what am I writing. It would be "Smile and have more fun", it doesn't really matter if I don't do the other 2. BUT to be happy is the most important thing in the world, surely?

Money growing on trees

I need to tighten up on my spending, I've been spending money like it grows on trees. Just bought another TV and stand. I bought the same TV a month ago originally for my bedroom but I set it up in my living room to test it and it never ended up getting as far at the bedroom.


I am trying to do one room at a time and finish one before moving onto the next. I'm working on my bedroom first. I have repainted the walls from the baby blue or whatever the bright blue was. I can't remember the names of the paint but it looks a lot better. When I've finished I will probably take some pictures.

A new radiator is being fitted by my parents on Saturday, while I'm working (know I'm lucky). The radiator is about £140 because its quite big, the old one was useless.

Then after that I need a new carpet, which wont be cheap and bedding, curtains, etc...

I'm being paid some overtime this month which will cover the TV and the radiator (hopefully).

Anyway I need to stop spending money, I am out for a meal tomorrow night. After which the purse strings will have to be tightened. Although last night I had a dream that I received a cheque for just over £102,000 and have had this dream or at least the cheque part for the last few nights. I'm hoping this part comes true, not sure what the rest of the dream was about but I have a feeling that the rest wasn't so good. Can remember being unsure whether I wanted the cheque. If I have the dream again will try to remember more.

New Website idea

I have had an idea for a website I've wanted to do for months but never got around to actually doing it. Recently I've started being a bit more pro-active and reading up on various topics and thinking of web site names.

Wont say too much at the moment in case I never get it off the ground or change my mind. It does involve walking and other outdoor activities.

Recently more and more I've realised how much I love being out walking and I guess the 2 things I love to do the most are walking and computers. So its natural to try and join them together in some way.

I'm not going to have much time to do anything with the idea over the next month due to work, have already worked a load of overtime this last week and will be doing more probably most nights in March.

I need to keep the website project moving, so hopefully writing it on here will keep me motivated!

Too often I never do any of my ideas and I have seen a few make lots of money for various companies. Not that there is any money in this one.

Back? Maybe...

Its been nearly 4 months since my last post declaring it was the end of the blog. Although I did say it may be back in the future.

I have missed blogging and recently I have referred back to previous posts to check things, its like an always accessible reminder of what I've done and was thinking.

If this is the return some things will be a bit different I don't think it will include those late time posts where I would say exactly what was going through my head in my personal life. It often caused several different people to get upset. If anyone wrote down the things that went through their head, there would be so many different emotions that you feel at anyone time that you are always bound to upset someone. So those will be kept to myself this time!

Cool old Skool Scooter is on the TV with "Hyper Hyper". Just looked at Metro Radio arena because I remembered I saw they were on. It actually sounds really good, Cascada, Scooter, N-Trance, Booty Luv, UltraBeat. Its £25!!


So much has happened the last few months but gonna try and look forward.

The End

The Doors – The End

This is the end of this blog, well for the time being. I just haven't had the time to update it recently, after 1200 posts going back to February 9th 2005 I am stopping posting (at least for now). I am sure every now and again I will decide to post things on here and in some ways I have missed posting runs and walks which I know no one else was bothered about but this blog was always about me. I started it at a time when I kept everything inside and felt very low, this blog was a way of letting go and writing what I was feeling. Although when people who knew me started to read it, I could no longer truly write what I thought or felt.

I have come a long way personally in the last 2.5 years and changed beyond recognition at least to me. I went from being a very lazy, introverted at times, always out drinking with mates yet very lonely person. Now I feel more confident, fitter although not as fit as I was a few months ago. I have done so many things that 3 years ago I just wouldn't of experiences or even thought I ever would and there has been some incredibly hard times too. Below are a few posts I just looked back at, none of the posts below are newer than July 2006. Before anyone moans about the Friends bit, if your not on its because you probably never had a post just about you. Thinking about it this is exactly why I am stopping I have to think about what people reading this are gonna moan about.


Friends: Angelika, Wendy, Laura,
Scotland, more Scotland, more Scotland,
Parachute Jump: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Bought a House: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
Random Posts: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,
Music: 1, 2, 3,
Snowboarding
Running
Walking

I have made several attempts at getting organised (Organised, 2,) none have been successful. I am hopeful that the system I am trying now will help and it finally makes sense and appears to fit with me.

I intend if I get time to update/create some of my other websites. Flickr, stevenhorner.com, walking website maybe but for now I am taking a break.

Real life at the moment is far more important, I was told the other day that there had been a change in the way I am at work being more postive and it had been noticed. Others have just moaned that I'm not the same anymore, I don't care what others think, its how I feel and in general its good.

Thank you and goodbye!

Organising and where have I been?

I wrote a few posts ago that I probably wouldn't be writing on here as much, this must be about the longest break I've had over the last couple of years (13 days).

I'm not sure I should write everything for the whole world to read anymore. Yes I want to record my walks and runs on the internet for me, not for everyone else. The things in my head are possibly better kept to myself or if I feel I must write them down, keep the privatively. I don't know yet!

I will write a few things I've been up to over the last week, Monday last week I went to the lakes and walked up Scafell Pike from the bottom of the Hardknott Pass. The fog/cloud was terrible and I couldn't see anything on the top. I had decided to take an off track route up. A very bad idea in those conditions, as I found out as I was literally climbing up the side of Scafell Pike. I got a bit worried at one point but carried on regardless. I will probably post the route and stuff at some point.

I have put some weight on over the last few weeks and I don't like it. Lots of people have told me I needed to put weight on, one person who I don't know very well said I looked very gaunt and drawn. Maybe I did but I felt a lot better than I do now, I don't feel very motivated and have been getting worse over the last couple of months.

As I just said I have had a total lack of motivation recently, in everything. I find myself sitting doing nothing at home for hours which is very depressing. At work I have also found it hard to get interested in what I'm doing and have found myself putting sticking plasters on problems, because I haven't had the time to find proper solutions so they don't reoccur. I realised I was working from my inbox constantly waiting for the next thing to come in and deal with it. Even though I had loads of old emails and tasks just sat there waiting for me to do something with them.

I decided over the weekend that I needed to do something about my motivation and organisation at work. I have over the last 10 years or so tried most tech solutions to getting organised from PDAs, Mobiles phones, online calendars and task schedulers but there had been problems with every one of them. I have also tried a standard diary but a normal diary was too limiting and mine was too big.

I realised I needed to find something that was gonna work for me and the way I think and work. Going low-tech is the solution, I hope, after reading several articles over the weekend. I have ordered a FiloFax (yeah they still exist) but I intend to not just use it in the way most people would. I have also ordered "Getting Things Done" a book that has almost cult following among tech people. The way this works appeals to me and I'm hoping will start to sort me out. I intend to use some of the templates form DIY Planner instead of the standard stuff that comes in a FiloFax. This will take a while to implement but one thing I did start today was "Inbox Zero", its a very simple way to deal with your emails and it worked today. I felt so much better and had more time to concentrate on my work.

The guy behind the "Inbox Zero" idea gives presentations on it and I enjoyed (if thats the right word) watching his presentation at Google. Much better than reading through all the stuff on his website.



I'm not sure if any of this stuff will work because one of main problems is sticking with something, I become bored easily but if I can see this working I'm hoping I will stick at it. We will see over the next few weeks once I have everything in place and I tailor it to me.

Scotland Border Time Out

Tonight I decided I needed a drive out to clear my head and have a bit think. Ever since I got back from Canada I never seem to of gotten away to think. The only problem with tonight was I had to wait in for Tesco to deliver my shopping. So it was 10pm by the time I set off. I had already decided I was going to drive to the Scottish Border then turn around and come back.

It was 130 mile round trip, which took 3 hours. That was including going to Crook for Petrol (closed) and missing my turning off the A69 (head not with it).

I got the Scottish Border at 11:30 stopped to take a picture of the Stone saying Scotland (it was too dark though). Then turned around and came back. Going up it was like being on a rollercoaster going over the blind summits, in the dark and thick fog in places. I got back a few minutes ago (just before 1:00am)

Cleared my head a little bit I think, could probably do with a weekend walking too. Maybe I should take Monday off!

A few more

Here's a few more from when I was older...
For bigger versions go here

Old Photos

I started looking at old photos tonight, brought back lots of good memories. Set myself another task to scan all the old photos into the computer.

Here's a few baby photos of me, they are poor quality though.

Music

Its strange how music can influence how you feel and think. One of the most moving songs I've heard over the last few months was by Jeff Buckley:


Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah

Its not exactly the sort of music most people would think of me listening to, another that I used to totally hate but is now ingrained in my brain is:

Gary Jules – Mad World

U Couldn't Make This Shit Up

Fashionable

Even Beckham is wearing Iron Maiden T-Shirts these days. I was just reading that Maiden are doing a world tour next year, will keep an eye on it, gotta see them again. They will be playing all the 80's classics and will be travelling in their own plane painted with Eddie on the tail and Iron Maiden on the side. The pilot is Bruce Dickinson.

My New Car

This is my new car, just bought it from Holiways in Newton Aycliffe. It's a Ford F0cus 1.6 LX, I looked at a Zetec model but couldn't justify the extra money for front fog lights, alloys and heated wind screen. Cost me a bob or two, but its about time I had a decent car and as someone said to me the other week. I get paid money towards my car £65 for running costs and if I ever remember to put mileage claims in. it will help to cover the cost.

I pick it up on Thursday, it was registered in February so its only 7 months old.

Jay singing

Jay singing "Queen - I Want To Break Free", you can hear Kev "Bring the Guitar in.."