Month: July 2005
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Bigger willy
Junk mail. Pain in the neck. But don’t the spammers realise that a message saying "now I don’t worry about the size of my penis" from someone called Georgina is probably not going to work.
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In case you were wondering…
A few people have noticed that things have been generally quieter than normal in these parts lately. One friend even suggested that I was coming across as distracted.
In addition, I’ve alluded to a few sleepless nights that we’ve had lately.
I even had to turn down an invitation for drinks from the Uborka Two and will be writing to the Sevitz to say that we can’t fit into his bra. Or something.
Here’s why:
Hels and I are absolutely delighted to announce that we are to be parents, with a baby due in January. When we’re not being absolutely terrified, we’re smiling like loons. Not everything has run smoothly thus far, as we’ve had a couple of scary moments in the emergency ward at the local maternity unit (where the staff are splendid, I must add). But things seem to be running relatively smoothly at the moment, with just the usual nausea, tiredness and urges to vomit. And that’s just me.
More news as things progress, and feel free to kick me under the table if I turn into a baby bore.
And before you ask, we don’t know yet if we need blue or pink baby clothes. We do intend to find out when the time comes, but we’ll be keeping it to ourselves until the baby is born (and I’ll try ever-so-hard only to refer to "it" or "the baby" and not to "he" or "she". Or "Dave".)With apologies to those who should have been told in person – we think we’ve told everyone that should have been told prior to "going public", but if you hadn’t heard it is due to idiocy on our part and not malice.
And if you can’t figure out what is in the picture, that’s the baby in its little sac thingy with the head on the right, the bum at the bottom and four little limbs in the upper left. -
Thought for the day
Poached shamelessly from 2lmc:
If cities are surrounded by high walls against invaders, that’s a sign that the people are weak and afraid. It’s when you see a city without walls, that you know the people who live there are strong. -
Just as well…
…that this happened today and not yesterday, otherwise the Olympics would probably not be coming to London.
EDIT: when I wrote that, the reports were of a power surge that had left a few people slightly injured. Now a full picture is emerging that is much more disturbing. My cousin and several friends work in the area targeted by the bombers. I’m really quite worried and the reports of eyewitnesses give little encouragement.
FURTHER EDIT: all safe and well.
ADDITIONAL EDIT: the media keep talking about the low levels of fatality. But I can’t help thinking that that is optimistic. Surely the triage operation at the scene will have left the dead laying where they were whilst the efforts were focused on the injured. It’s hard to imagine what the bombers hoped to achieve by this.
LATER: My fears have been realised with reports giving the number of dead as between 33 and 41. I suspect that figure may rise. As for the reaction, I think that Ken Livingstone got it right by saying that this was an indiscriminate attack on all Londoners. George Galloway got it wrong – many people might agree with his opinion, but to voice it today is distasteful and shows a lack of compassion for the bereaved and injured.
LINK: With so many bloggers in the world now, there is often one of our number present at a major news event. Justin survived and recorded his experience. -
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Serious muso
I’m so utterly out-of-touch with music these days. Back in the distant past of bachelorhood, I’d spend at least a couple of evenings each week listening to obscure music on Peel, the web or odd CDs I’d picked up for a couple of quid in those boxes that the record stores in North Laine stand on the pavement outside their shopfronts.
These days, with a wife, two kittens and an all-consuming small business, time like that is a luxury.
But, occasionally, an opportunity presents itself. Today, that opportunity has been doing my accounts, which has meant a long period spent at the laptop with headphones on to try and shut out the outside world (and also to help preserve my sanity when I realise exactly how many receipts I have from the Post Office).
But where to start? There is so much good music on the web, as well as an awful lot of dross. I’ve got a few editions of GHC sitting on the hard drive that I haven’t got round to yet, but somehow I wasn’t quite ready for a full two hour session with Lars. So, I cast my mind back to some of the stuff I’d heard on Peel and thought about looking a few of the bands and artists up. I’m not sure why they crept into my head, but my thoughts wandered to The Bays. Go there now. Register (it’s free). Download. Listen. Enjoy.
And check out their "profile" section to get some background on The Bays and their whole ethos. And read "Taylor’s Tales" – somebody give the man a book deal, ok? -
News
I’ve just heard that London has won the Olympic bidding process – and how did I hear? Not from the BBC – their server has given up the ghost. Not from Ananova or Reuters, who haven’t updated their pages with the news. I heard from LinkBunnies – officially first with the news.
Anyway, well done to the London bid team. I’m not sure if it is all a good thing or a bad thing – it’s probably good. I also think that I’ll start planning to be abroad whilst it is taking place.EDIT: This Isn’t London comes out of hibernation to list the major new infrastructure projects the announcement brings forward:
145,000 estate agents have been mobilised in a four-mile radius around Stratford to add a zero to every house price they can find