AndyBlog

It looks pretty, doesn't it?

Do you know what this is? It's nice isn't it? It's a picture that you can find in the news on the BBC site at the moment, and that's where you'll also find out what it's a picture of. It looks a bit like a piece of snot, doesn't it? If you find out what it is - and it's an image that has been magnified many times - please leave the answer as a comment.

A Kind Of Nothing

It seems pretty clear to me that I often break my golden rule of Blogging a little every day. I let a few days pass, then engage in what might be categorised as an “outpouring”. At other times, like when I am away or in hospital, I go to the opposite extreme, and Blog far too much. So far so good - I'm telling you what you already know.

This entry is, I suppose, more an attempt to cover a third piece of Blogging behaviour that, because of its very nature, you never see - well, not until now. I call it the “Non-Blog”, and it consists of weak or forgotten entries that, for one reason or another, never get posted. I shall field a few Non-Blogs here and see what you think.

Rainbow

I saw a rainbow today. It looked quite nice, framed against the dark sky - and McDonalds. I was in a car park, sitting in my car and just reached for the camera in time, because moments later it was utterly gone as a wave of rain lashed down on the eager shoppers around me. I thought “It's not a very good rainbow picture, but it'll do for my Blog.” Was I right?

If you'd like to see more weak observational photography, please vote: Rainbow.

Fire

Whilst in Leeds for a rehearsal, we went to a pub in the suburbs to kill time. Due to a mix-up, we had arrived a couple of hours early. I was annoyed at getting the message wrong in the first place, and Fiona was not best pleased either. However, upon entering this pleasant pub, we found seats on a leather sofa in front of this fire, and suddenly things didn't feel so bad. Later, we queued briefly in the restaurant section, before enjoying a reasonably pleasant lunch there, accompanied by some excellent Tetley's Bitter. (a drink which seems to taste good only in that particular corner of West Yorkshire)

If you'd like to hear more heartwarming rubbish like this, please vote: Fire.

Trifle

As long as I remember, I have loved trifle. It is a pudding that, for some reason, makes me feel good. I would always opt for trifle, if I had any reason to be confident of the quality. Not for me the fancy or clever trifle, either. This trifle is a great example of what ticks my boxes. Plenty of sponge at the bottom, making it nice and solid. A thin layer of thick, but runny custard - not 'set solid' custard - which is horrible. Finally, a thin layer of cream - or, I'm willing to admit, fake cream - which is wonderful. My favourite fruit theme is raspberry, but anything is good, if done well.

If you'd like to hear more about my odd eating affectations, vote: Trifle.

Colin McRae Rally 2005

I'm not exactly ashamed of enjoying this game on my PC, but I am aware that broadcasting my enthusiasm may well tar me with a nerdy image that I feel I don't really deserve. I also know that the more I try to defend my fascination, the worse it gets. With this in mind, I decided not to write too much about it, even though I was tempted to mention that I am slightly dyslexic with right and left-hand directions - a fact which often sends me careering off a cliff or into the bushes as I dutifully follow what I think are my co-driver's instructions. Nevertheless, I enjoy my rallying, and I'm very impressed with the responsiveness and realism of this simulation. It's a kind of fun that I can highly recommend.

If you'd like to see more sad obsession with software, please vote: Rally

I can't adequately express how close I came to not posting this entry!

Another Saturday...

...another gig.

Here we are at Hexham cricket club to help some people celebrate..erm...something or other.
I guess all I have to do is play, and survive. It's going to be a tough night as I am feeling pretty rough and my leg has sprung a leak.
Fiona is away, so it will be to an empty house that I return later. Oh my, I've just depressed myself!
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Posted with mo:Blog and my Treo600

First mo:Blog test

Well, Liz.

You said you were doubtful - but I have managed to source and configure a Palm blog client to post messages with the correct title, and also to be able to upload pictures from the Palm's memory card just the same as the desktop client.

Granted, it is not as flexible, but it runs on a phone, and that makes it cool in my book.

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Posted with mo:BLog and my Treo600

Graveyard Bash

You're going to want to click on this picture to see the larger version. I have never seen anything quite like it - and I'd be fairly sure that you haven't either. Calm as you like, they are systematically taking apart the graveyard opposite our house. Knocking it to pieces - destroying gravestones, digging out graves and generally trashing the place.

"Is this some group of sick thugs?", I hear you ask, "Is it some twisted powermonger trying to intimidate people?", "or is it some kind of 'Beadle's About' joke, in a taste even worse than the great man himself?"

It is, of course, none of the above. It is council employees carrying out their duties to the best of their ability - a standard which is, tragically, pretty woeful. Nevertheless, the whole graveyard has been condemned and it has to be made safe. Apparently there are problems brought about by mining works, which have made the surface unstable. Seemingly, this is sufficient for all the graves to be dug up. Quite why they need to break the gravestones....I am agog.

Ideas? Anyone? No? Anyone? No? Ideas? Anyone? Dust? Anyone? No?

Outraged, of Stanley

The telephone bills arrived today. Actually that's not true. They arrived several days ago, but I have only today had the courage to view my business line bill. The reason I am outraged is nothing to do with British Telecom - a fact that I only mention because of its novelty. The real reason I am outraged is that my telephone bill is always the same. Not exactly the same, but between £155-£165 every single quarter. It's been this way for over a year now and it's starting to seriously annoy me.

Why? ...you may ask. I suppose the reason has more to do with me than telephones or BT or anything else. I am so upset that I am this predictable - I quite obviously talk to the same people for the same length of time every single month. For all my supposed creativity and "spur-of-the-moment-inspiration" I have ended up as boring and pedestrian as anyone on the planet. The bill isn't even outrageously high, like it used to be before fixed rate internet was wonderfully invented.

In all seriousness - if two more things happen to show me I am boring I will have to compensate by doing something completely extraordinary.

Like paying the bill.

Winter in the air

When I woke up today, winter was in the air. I could smell it as soon as I opened the door, and very soon feel it reach right through to my bones as an icy blast caught me on the way to my car. The stuff that was gently dripping from the sky was almost certainly rain, but as I made the short journey into town, I fancied it might be sleet or even the beginnings of snow.

The leaves have all fallen now and they are turning to a miserable brown mush, the beauty of autumn is all but lost. The arrival of our coldest season brings fear and trepidation for many, joy for a few - and I count myself amongst that number today, because this is the time when I am starting to be free again.

As I go about my very ordinary tasks, there is a spring in my limp, and a smile on my lips. I feel an optimism for the future that I have lacked for a very long time. Sure, it is not without its fragility, and I am painfully aware how easily it could be destroyed, but I believe in living for the moment, enjoying the now that holds promise, rather than fearing the set-backs which give rise to despair.

I am enjoying the feeling of looking back- yes, actually looking back on the recent, rather painful, past. Just a couple of weeks ago I could barely sit at this desk for 20 minutes without being crippled in agony. Now I can be here a couple of hours before I need to retreat. The pain, which at one time robbed me of virtually all the personality that makes me who I am, has been cut down to size, a manageable size. I feel like I can be useful again, I feel like I can add my own unique flavour to the happenings around me.

It matters so much to me to be able to help, and not to be a burden. My inspiration in continuing is that I can make my mark on this world, maybe not a big contribution, but one that is worthwhile - one that has genuinely helped others. It sounds so much like an ideal spouted by a Miss World contestant, but that's how I feel. Much of the frustration of being completely laid up, is about wanting to be involved in music, design, being part of various projects and adding some of my own brand of meaningless babble to the meetings I attend. Maybe I flatter myself, but I feel that I can make a bit of a difference. I may not be able to solve the problems of the world, but I can usually go some way towards improving the quality of someone's wet Wednesday afternoon.

Every serious illness reminds us of how fragile our existence is. How short our time could be on this world, how precious the people we love and how important to do the things that really matter. As I look forward into the coming winter, it is with optimism and a some excitement.

I hope I can pass a little of this on to you too.

(Click on the pictures, I took them today, and they go all big and smashing if you do)

Goodbye Chester Wing

Although this sounds very much like the title of the sort of brilliant, but marginal, film Jason might like, you'd be wrong. It refers, instead, to my recent discharge as an outpatient of said wing. My specialist, the delightfully titled Mr. Ventricle - a vascular doctor - declared me cured and duly signed me off.

How does this leave me feeling? Pretty good, actually. Much to my surprise. I suppose that is because what the doctor says is in line with how I'm feeling. So, rather than feeling dumped while I need help, I feel rightly liberated. The condition of my legs has definitely improved, and I would say that they are now out of the acute phase. So now, I have to concentrate on continuing the weight loss, keep my legs up wherever possible and be really really careful. I'm sure that the longer I go, the more I'll be able to do.

This is an important time, because, at the very very least, it is the beginning of the end of this bout of illness. I can now look forward to the condition going into remission and, who knows, maybe a more complete cure in time. Still, it's too early for that kind of talk.

I think I'll just enjoy the moment.

Mobile Blogging

I've just acquired this handy little tool for my phone. If it works, it's a fully working blogging client.

When I was in hospital, I posted using the email method, but I noticed some of the formatting looked rather strange. Hopefully, this will handle the line lengths correctly.

This posting is even boring me. It must end.

Tablets

Of course I know it, and have known it for some time - but sometimes knowing it is simply not enough. It takes me by surprise, regardless of how well prepared I think I am. I refer, of course, to tablets, and their effect on me.

The tablets in question are antibiotics, and I know they make me feel down and depressed. It happens every time I take them and I know that it is going to happen. Yet, with alarming regularity, I watch myself slip down the path of depression and have no idea what has caused it. Then, when I am well and truly down in the dumps, it hits me.

I feel so foolish, to continue being suckered in. This time, I am on some new medication as well which also has the same effect. So, for a while at least, I have to be down in the dumps artificially, and only when this period of extra tabulation is over will I know exactly how I really feel.

Here endeth the lesson I need to learn.