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Went to visit my family at the weekend. I couldn’t face driving so I went by train. Mistake!
I was going from Guildford to Reading to Coventy to Tile Hill (which is the nearest station to them). My Virgin Trains service from Reading was cancelled. The next (and last) meant I had to change at Oxford go I got a through train there to be ready in time. After a not-inconsiderable wait that one was cancelled too. An announcement said to catch the next train to Leamington Spa and change there. I do as instructed (on one of the new Virgin Voyager trains. Very nice - one small comfort in all this) only to find there were no more trains to Coventry. It’s a good thing I called my sister beforehand and she offered to pick me up. I intend to get my
A reorganisation at work. I’m now in a department called ‘Operational Development’ (actually in a sub-section called ‘Engineering Unit 2′). This makes no real difference to me in terms of what projects I work on and I’m still busy.
X-Files 4 arrived today - I think it’ll be the last. I only bought it because I got an e-voucher from smile.
I’m now on the lowest level of the BA Executive Club - Blue. I have 4300 BA miles - hopefully to increase when my recent return flight is included.
I’ve been looking for antique cookbooks for boyf, who is interested in such things as he’s one of the best cooks in the world (well, I think he is - and so does he!). He’s particularly after those before 1930 and those that include stuff on household management. I’ve bought him a reproduction of of Mrs Beeton’s book of household management.
New mobile e-commerce project has started at work. As usual I’m more interested in the project management side of things instead of the software side, which I’m supposed. Yet another project manager I’m going to drive mad through interference!
It was such a nice day I went out and took some photos around Guildford. I’ve uploaded some of the castle (here and here) and grounds (here and here).
Also a couple of pictures of Lewis Carroll’s house. There are two sculptures and his gravestone I intend to add to the collection for those who are interested.
While in the US, boyf used my BT chargecard to make a long-distance call (within the US). He doesn’t have long-distance set up on his phone for cost reasons. Anyhoo, I received the bill when I got back: the 38 minutes call cost
My flat was inspected yesterday by the letting agency. Apparently they check every three months to make sure I haven’t trashed the place. It took all of four minutes and there was no comment.
I got efax working on my Linux box last night with very little effort. It’s very good; the perfect embodiment of unix app principles - do one thing and do it well. I’ll probably use it for all my fax sending (I don’t do fax receiving).
I haven’t asked about my sojourn yet - my boss has been away and there’s a prescedent I want addressed first (someone else is doing the unpaid leave thing too).
It’s been nice weather recently. I’ve even enjoyed walking to work. T-shirts very soon I hope.
I’m back - did you miss me?
I think I’m becoming more intolerant of air travel than ever before. During the return flight I felt so sick I really thought I was going to chuck. Of course I wasn’t upgraded again and ended up in Super Galactic Traveller Class in a centre seat (yuck). The guy sitting to my right was cute though - as was one of the cabin crew who kept touching me up at random moments. I think he was Danish.
Boyf cried a little and didn’t see me off at the coach. His friend Rose took me down to where the coach leaves (on Langdon Street, outside the Student Union for those who care) and patiently hung around with me until it came. No matter though as it was a beautiful day… in contrast to the weather I returned to 
I think I will progress the plan to stay with him for three months and look for a job. Apart from my flat and a few friends, I don’t think I’d really miss this country. Certainly not the transport! First stage is to ask for the unpaid leave and to ‘downsize’ my finances (i.e. get rid of 20+ credit cards). I really felt at home in Madison and it would be nice to live somewhere where sexuality wasn’t an issue - as opposed to here where the best I could hope for is being ‘tolerated’. Hah!
Now I know why the USA has issues when dealing with the rest of the world - they know so little about it, if their TV news is anything to go by.
I’ve just watched CBS news which, in 30 minutes and if you exclude the Middle East, covered world news in less than four minutes. Even that was only bad news - is it because officially nothing good happens outside the US.
Futhermore Bush and Powell haven’t actually achieved anything in the Middle East yet but their mere involvement is considered to be ‘great’ news.
It’s sad and worrying and something for Americans to think about when it comes to wondering why the ROW complain about their motives. Indeed, another report has just mentioned the US has refused to ratify the UN ICC treaty.
OK - rant over.
I really wish all these Linux news-sites and weblogs would stop going on about Microsoft, as if the only objective of Linux is to destroy them. Failing that it distorts the overall ’strategy’ of Linux development to make it some sort of Windows-clone. It’s sad.
Stuff Microsoft! Follow your own agenda.
Boyf’s re-arranged apartment, avec sofa, does look nice. He likes it.
I must buy some presents from the various nice little shops along State Street today.
The mail doesn’t get delivered here until after midday!
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