At least Bungles Bugle have arrested a downward trend in Gameweek points (As the graph below shows).
Points going up and Gameweek along the bottom graph fans...
Sunday, December 31
Fantasy Premier League IV
Ok, so replacing Lehman with Van Der Sar didn't work out in the first Gameweek, with Arsenal's German Keeper picking up 3 points even though they lost, while Man Utd conceded 2 goals against Reading to leave Dutchman Van Der Sar with 1 measly point.
Saturday, December 30
Saddam is dead!
Ding dong the witch is dead!Or rather the brutal former dictator is dead!
We came down this morning, turned on the telly and flicked onto BBC News 24, to be confronted by news that Saddam Hussein had been executed at 6am Iraqi time. Strug up by the neck until he was dead.
C's first response was, 'Good' and in all honesty it's difficult to come to any other conclusion.
The oft-repeated sentiment on the telly is that we, the West, disown the death penalty and find Saddam's execution 'distasteful'.
Not sure I entirely agree with that supposed consensus. Leaving aside the opposition to his execution that many will instinctively portray simply because it may be seen as a victory for the US-led invasion of Iraq three years ago (It won't), a nasty, evil murderer has suffered the same fate he metered out and I can't find it within myself to oppose or find 'distasteful' the justice Saddam was handed.
Fantasy Premier League III
thedacs Fantasy Premier League team - Bungles Bugle - has had a bit of a defensive shake-up over the past week.
Goalkeeper Lehman and central defender Terry have been replaced by the Man Utd pairing of Van Der Sar and Ferdinand. I didn't want to replace Terry but he wasn't playing and was due for an operation that could have kept him from playing for around 6 weeks, now it seems that he is back in training a day after the op! Never mind, as long as Ferdinand plays (He didn't in the last Gameweek, as about 4 of my team didn't, which had a major effect on my Gameweek score!) then he should rack up a decent enough points tally.
Arsenal's defence just isn't up to much at the moment, hence the replacement of Lehman.
Sod's Law will dictate that Lehman keeps a clean sheet for the next half dozen games now...
Goalkeeper Lehman and central defender Terry have been replaced by the Man Utd pairing of Van Der Sar and Ferdinand. I didn't want to replace Terry but he wasn't playing and was due for an operation that could have kept him from playing for around 6 weeks, now it seems that he is back in training a day after the op! Never mind, as long as Ferdinand plays (He didn't in the last Gameweek, as about 4 of my team didn't, which had a major effect on my Gameweek score!) then he should rack up a decent enough points tally.
Arsenal's defence just isn't up to much at the moment, hence the replacement of Lehman.
Sod's Law will dictate that Lehman keeps a clean sheet for the next half dozen games now...
Friday, December 29
Ipswich and the FA Cup 3rd Round
Ipswich Town FC have a new opponent in the FA Cup Third Round due to the extraordinary expulsion of Bury FC, their orignal opponents, from the competition last night.
Bury had fielded an inelegible player in their Second Round tie against Chester City FC and thus had broken the rules. It seems that the paperwork (Ha!) had not been done and the on-loan player did not have the correct permission to play.
What a sorry state of affairs!
Bury had fielded an inelegible player in their Second Round tie against Chester City FC and thus had broken the rules. It seems that the paperwork (Ha!) had not been done and the on-loan player did not have the correct permission to play.
What a sorry state of affairs!
Either way, i'm sure that Ipswich (Winners of the FA Cup in 1978) will find a way to lose the tie and be eliminated from the Cup...
Picture of the FA Cup nabbed from thefootie.com
New year could see debt 'tipping point'
Have a read of this article from the BBC website regarding 2007 being a negative tipping point for the debt-ridden.
I seem to remember that such articles have been something of a mainstay of the past, oooooh....five years. Many have been waiting for the housing market to crash and indeed, many have predicted it will do so over the last half decade or so and been proven utterly wrong.
It has to come eventually though, as residential property is ridiculously overpriced, personal debt is higher than it's ever been, interest rates are on the up, utility prices have risen beyond the capability of the working man to keep pace (That's the average working man, not the working man in the City or elsewhere who are being paid extortionate amounts) and the general public mood regarding our finances seems to have already reached a tipping point of its own.
It's a mood that is reflected in the tightening of belts, a desire to clear debts and save cash instead of spunking it up the wall. Of course, there will still be a sizeable number who carry on as if the good times will roll on forever, continue to draw equity from their property and/or carry on racking up the credit card debt, but as far as thedacs can see the mood is changing.
Whether the greater awareness of environmental issues has come into play (Even slightly) to affect that mood I dunno generally, but personally speaking, knowing that a light left on, a phone charger left plugged in or the heating whacked up while a window is open costs me money for no gain has led to a desire to cut down on the excesses.
That desire to conserve has spread into other areas and thedacs have ensured that no credit was used to finance Christmas (Which was a bit of a struggle with the current accounts left almost empty and a long time until January's pay arriving) and 2007 will see us clearing C's credit card and Uni loan.
It's almost as if we're expecting worse times around the corner. Maybe we can smell it in the air or maybe it will become a self-perpetuating prophesy, but i'm pretty sure that 2007 won't be as rosy as the past decade.
If it means the housing market slumps then I can't get too worked up as we have no stake in that, and on present trends never will. If the general economy gets into trouble then obviously it's going to be difficult even if we hold onto our jobs, but we'll survive easily enough. Many won't but that's because they've over-extended themselves and will get no sympathy from this quarter.
Maybe i'm just a pessimist though. The Government would certainly say so, but then their figures for the economy don't ever seem to reflect our situation and many others I suspect.
I seem to remember that such articles have been something of a mainstay of the past, oooooh....five years. Many have been waiting for the housing market to crash and indeed, many have predicted it will do so over the last half decade or so and been proven utterly wrong.
It has to come eventually though, as residential property is ridiculously overpriced, personal debt is higher than it's ever been, interest rates are on the up, utility prices have risen beyond the capability of the working man to keep pace (That's the average working man, not the working man in the City or elsewhere who are being paid extortionate amounts) and the general public mood regarding our finances seems to have already reached a tipping point of its own.
It's a mood that is reflected in the tightening of belts, a desire to clear debts and save cash instead of spunking it up the wall. Of course, there will still be a sizeable number who carry on as if the good times will roll on forever, continue to draw equity from their property and/or carry on racking up the credit card debt, but as far as thedacs can see the mood is changing.
Whether the greater awareness of environmental issues has come into play (Even slightly) to affect that mood I dunno generally, but personally speaking, knowing that a light left on, a phone charger left plugged in or the heating whacked up while a window is open costs me money for no gain has led to a desire to cut down on the excesses.
That desire to conserve has spread into other areas and thedacs have ensured that no credit was used to finance Christmas (Which was a bit of a struggle with the current accounts left almost empty and a long time until January's pay arriving) and 2007 will see us clearing C's credit card and Uni loan.
It's almost as if we're expecting worse times around the corner. Maybe we can smell it in the air or maybe it will become a self-perpetuating prophesy, but i'm pretty sure that 2007 won't be as rosy as the past decade.
If it means the housing market slumps then I can't get too worked up as we have no stake in that, and on present trends never will. If the general economy gets into trouble then obviously it's going to be difficult even if we hold onto our jobs, but we'll survive easily enough. Many won't but that's because they've over-extended themselves and will get no sympathy from this quarter.
Maybe i'm just a pessimist though. The Government would certainly say so, but then their figures for the economy don't ever seem to reflect our situation and many others I suspect.
Back at work
Until midday anyway. Didn't get up until past 8am either so it's going to be a very short working day, which is good as there is bugger all to do in the office now.
Not that i've actually done much mind
Not that i've actually done much mind
Thursday, December 28
Blogger Beta is out of here
Spent far too long today just fannying around on the computer and especially on this blog.
Now that Blogger Beta is out of here and all the new features of the new Blogger are available, i've been slowly exploring, changing, tweaking and trying to improve what was /is an insignificant little puff of consciousness thrown into the swirl of the internet.
Whether i've succeeded is another matter and only time will tell. As will the new flashy hit counter i've added at the bottom of the blog (No link so scroll down you lazy bastard!) which tracks all sorts of visitor info that will be of absolutely no use other than to satisfy my fascination with basic stats.
Maybe we'll improve on the nearly 1000 hits in the space of 9 months that thedacs achieved (?) through 2006, and the new year will bring a marked improvement. Let's say we'll have to treble the visitor numbers by the end of 2007.
Anyway, i've been having lots of fun with all this tweaking! Cheers to the spods at Google!
Now that Blogger Beta is out of here and all the new features of the new Blogger are available, i've been slowly exploring, changing, tweaking and trying to improve what was /is an insignificant little puff of consciousness thrown into the swirl of the internet.
Whether i've succeeded is another matter and only time will tell. As will the new flashy hit counter i've added at the bottom of the blog (No link so scroll down you lazy bastard!) which tracks all sorts of visitor info that will be of absolutely no use other than to satisfy my fascination with basic stats.
Maybe we'll improve on the nearly 1000 hits in the space of 9 months that thedacs achieved (?) through 2006, and the new year will bring a marked improvement. Let's say we'll have to treble the visitor numbers by the end of 2007.
Anyway, i've been having lots of fun with all this tweaking! Cheers to the spods at Google!
A woman's work
Another day off for D, due to some team laziness/skiving at work where we divvied up the three working days between Chrimbo and New Year between us for maximum time off. D will end up doing most of it (He was in all day yesterday and will be tomorrow for half a day) but that's only fair considering he's the only full-time member of staff.
What's that got to do with a woman's work unless D has undergone a sex change though?
Well, D is quite happily sitting in his slob clothes (Blues bottoms if you must know. That's Blues as in operating theatre scrubs.) on the sofa, tapping away at a meaningless blog entry while looking out of the window and watching C wash the car.
The family car is C's so it's only fair really that she cleans it don't you think? Not that you should believe D or A would have any opportunity to wash the car mind. That has nothing to do with D or A's willingness to wash the car (Actually, it does for D) but rather C's willingness to let them.
She is a perfertionist. Whether it's washing the car, decorating the home, painting a wall, preparing for surgery at work, washing up, wrapping presents, whatever....C has a motto that runs, 'If it's worth doing a job then it's worth doing it properly'.
Since D and A tend not to have the same perfectionist tendencies (In fact they're both quite slapdash in their approach) they tend not to be allowed to partake in some area's. Not that C is totally anal about it of course, just that she'd rather get on and do things herself. Independent woman see.
What's that got to do with a woman's work unless D has undergone a sex change though?
Well, D is quite happily sitting in his slob clothes (Blues bottoms if you must know. That's Blues as in operating theatre scrubs.) on the sofa, tapping away at a meaningless blog entry while looking out of the window and watching C wash the car.
The family car is C's so it's only fair really that she cleans it don't you think? Not that you should believe D or A would have any opportunity to wash the car mind. That has nothing to do with D or A's willingness to wash the car (Actually, it does for D) but rather C's willingness to let them.
She is a perfertionist. Whether it's washing the car, decorating the home, painting a wall, preparing for surgery at work, washing up, wrapping presents, whatever....C has a motto that runs, 'If it's worth doing a job then it's worth doing it properly'.
Since D and A tend not to have the same perfectionist tendencies (In fact they're both quite slapdash in their approach) they tend not to be allowed to partake in some area's. Not that C is totally anal about it of course, just that she'd rather get on and do things herself. Independent woman see.
Tuesday, December 26
Chrimbo is over
Boxing Day is entering the evening and thus our extended Chrimbo is drawing to a close. It's been a pretty good one with plenty of family, friends and fun all over.Like everyone though, we've over-indulged a bit. Too much rich, sweet food distending our bellies, too much booze swilling about our livers and far too much smoke addling our minds!
So the end of Chrimbo see's the rest of thedacs taking a leaf out of Scruffy's book and taking a good, long rest!
Friday, December 22
Work is over for Chrimbo!
Yaaaaaaay! C finished last night, A finished yesterday lunchtime and D just finished at 12.00 today! No more work or school for a while yet!*
No is the time to get utterly wasted for a few days. Everyone is coming to us this Chrimbo so we don't need to drive much and can afford to crack open the booze at midday! That's the real meaning of Chrimbo. As well as presents!
* C isn't back until the 2nd of January, A doesn't go back to school until the 8th of January and D is back at work on the 27th December...Boo!
No is the time to get utterly wasted for a few days. Everyone is coming to us this Chrimbo so we don't need to drive much and can afford to crack open the booze at midday! That's the real meaning of Chrimbo. As well as presents!
* C isn't back until the 2nd of January, A doesn't go back to school until the 8th of January and D is back at work on the 27th December...Boo!
Thursday, December 21
Fog off!
Still, isn't the fog gorgeous! I love it! It's dead sexy, primeval and utterly out of human control. Perfect! Just reminds you of what a wonderful little island this is and the fantastic history wreathed within it. I almost expect King Arthur to emerge from these mists.
You can see more of these pics (Lifted from the BBC) here.
You can see more of these pics (Lifted from the BBC) here.
Airport chaos shocka!
I don't know about you, but i'm pretty despairing of the news coverage of this little delay at airports due to the foggy weather. Sitting here watching ITV News (Yeah, so what? It's 6.30 and the BBC news has finished, C4 News hasn't started yet and I need to see the news today) I can't say that i'm terribly surprised that they've gone for the 'human' angle or, as it should be known, 'hysterical, sensationalist' angle.
I know that people will be upset that their flights are delayed but really, it's days until Chrimbo yet so do you really need to be snivelling like a weak-willed child on national telly like some bloke just has been? Get a grip! And what is the point of throwing an eppy at the airport staff? It's fog. There is fuck all you can do about it, so grow up and stiffen that upper lip.
It's nothing but a little delay, not the bloody Blitz! React in proportion please 'stranded travellers' and media freaks...
I know that people will be upset that their flights are delayed but really, it's days until Chrimbo yet so do you really need to be snivelling like a weak-willed child on national telly like some bloke just has been? Get a grip! And what is the point of throwing an eppy at the airport staff? It's fog. There is fuck all you can do about it, so grow up and stiffen that upper lip.
It's nothing but a little delay, not the bloody Blitz! React in proportion please 'stranded travellers' and media freaks...
Wednesday, December 20
Fantasy Premier League II
I've only just got back into doing my Fantasy Premier League team over the past few weeks as i'd lost interest for a bit after signing up again this season, but as you can see from the graph below there has been a marked improvement since i've taken charge once more.
thedacs for England manager!
thedacs for England manager!
Fantasy Premier League
This is my Fantasy Premier League team - Bungles Bugle - in an absolute mess of a teamsheet and stats, but I couldn't copy the swish graphics that the game site produces and i'm sure it's utter nonsense to you but hey, here it is.
=====P=== T === P === G === CN === CP === CD
Lehmann - AR - ----62 ----- 1 ---- - 5.8 - ---- 6.0 --- - 5.8
Terry ------ CH --- -- 89 --- - 0 ----- 8.2 --- -- 8.0 ----- 8.2
Carragher - -LI ----- 74 ----- 7 - ----6.8 ----- 7.0 ----- 6.7
Finnan ---- - LI --- - 76 ---- - 9 - ---- 7 --- -- - 7.5 ---- - - 7
Gerrard (C) - LI - --- 84 - --- 10 - --- 10.5 - --- 10.5 - --- 10.4
Carsley --- - EV ---- 52 - --- - 2 - --- - 5.6 --- - 5.6 --- - 5.6
Barry ------- AV --- - 83 - --- 3 - - --- 7.4 --- - 7.3 ---- 7.4
Hunt -------- RE --- - 33 - --- 5 - - -- 4.5 --- - 4.5 - --- 4.4
Saha - ------ MU --- 84 - --- 2 - --- - 10.2 - --- 10.0 - --- 10.2
Drogba ---- CH - --- 87 - --- 9 - --- - 11.5 --- - 11.3 - --- 11.5
Pedersen -- BW - --- 17 - --- 1 - --- - 5.3 - --- 5.5 --- - 5.3
Crossley - -- FU - --- 0 - --- 0 - --- - 3.5 - --- 3.5 --- - 3.5
Wheater --- MI - ---- 1 - --- 1 - --- - 3.3 - --- 3.5 --- - 3.3
Murty ------ RE - --- 41 - --- 0 - --- - 3.8 - --- 3.8 --- - 3.8
Stewart ----- WA - -- 33 - --- 2 - --- - 4.5 - --- 4.5 --- - 4.5
P=Player
T = Team
P = Points
G = Gameweek
CN = Cost Now
Cp = Cost Paid
CD = Cost At Last Deadline
If you want a far, far superior view (the proper one) you'll have to sign up to have access. In fact, you should do so anyway and start your own Fantasy Premer League team. Then join me in a league. I'm not in touch with B from the Council/HBS (Boo!) anymore so I was never invited to play in a league this season.
=====P=== T === P === G === CN === CP === CD
Lehmann - AR - ----62 ----- 1 ---- - 5.8 - ---- 6.0 --- - 5.8
Terry ------ CH --- -- 89 --- - 0 ----- 8.2 --- -- 8.0 ----- 8.2
Carragher - -LI ----- 74 ----- 7 - ----6.8 ----- 7.0 ----- 6.7
Finnan ---- - LI --- - 76 ---- - 9 - ---- 7 --- -- - 7.5 ---- - - 7
Gerrard (C) - LI - --- 84 - --- 10 - --- 10.5 - --- 10.5 - --- 10.4
Carsley --- - EV ---- 52 - --- - 2 - --- - 5.6 --- - 5.6 --- - 5.6
Barry ------- AV --- - 83 - --- 3 - - --- 7.4 --- - 7.3 ---- 7.4
Hunt -------- RE --- - 33 - --- 5 - - -- 4.5 --- - 4.5 - --- 4.4
Saha - ------ MU --- 84 - --- 2 - --- - 10.2 - --- 10.0 - --- 10.2
Drogba ---- CH - --- 87 - --- 9 - --- - 11.5 --- - 11.3 - --- 11.5
Pedersen -- BW - --- 17 - --- 1 - --- - 5.3 - --- 5.5 --- - 5.3
Crossley - -- FU - --- 0 - --- 0 - --- - 3.5 - --- 3.5 --- - 3.5
Wheater --- MI - ---- 1 - --- 1 - --- - 3.3 - --- 3.5 --- - 3.3
Murty ------ RE - --- 41 - --- 0 - --- - 3.8 - --- 3.8 --- - 3.8
Stewart ----- WA - -- 33 - --- 2 - --- - 4.5 - --- 4.5 --- - 4.5
P=Player
T = Team
P = Points
G = Gameweek
CN = Cost Now
Cp = Cost Paid
CD = Cost At Last Deadline
If you want a far, far superior view (the proper one) you'll have to sign up to have access. In fact, you should do so anyway and start your own Fantasy Premer League team. Then join me in a league. I'm not in touch with B from the Council/HBS (Boo!) anymore so I was never invited to play in a league this season.
I've forgotten how to drink!
Twice during the course of this week i've had cause to go out and have a drink. Once when I stormed out the house on Sunday due to an argument and found myself having only the pub as a refuge. And last night when we had a works drink after a meeting.
On both occasions I only had one pint. One was Stella, the other Kroney. Although each went down fairly well, I didn't really enjoy them and the next day woke up to have bubbly guts and a twitchy sphincter.
I've literally forgotten how to drink since i've been with C.
It's all the smoke. There is no need, or sense, in drinking while smoking unless you like being utterly spanked but in focusing on that for so long I can't remember how to process booze.
It must have been sometime in my mid-20's that beer started to sit on my guts in a different way and lead to explosive, and smelly, trips to the toilet the morning after a session. It also seems to be a common affliction amongst drinkers at around that age too according to anecdotal evidence.
It's not so bad if the drink isn't lager as that seems to be the main culprit. But lager is nice and i'd like to be able to drink it in copious amounts once again.
On both occasions I only had one pint. One was Stella, the other Kroney. Although each went down fairly well, I didn't really enjoy them and the next day woke up to have bubbly guts and a twitchy sphincter.
I've literally forgotten how to drink since i've been with C.
It's all the smoke. There is no need, or sense, in drinking while smoking unless you like being utterly spanked but in focusing on that for so long I can't remember how to process booze.
It must have been sometime in my mid-20's that beer started to sit on my guts in a different way and lead to explosive, and smelly, trips to the toilet the morning after a session. It also seems to be a common affliction amongst drinkers at around that age too according to anecdotal evidence.
It's not so bad if the drink isn't lager as that seems to be the main culprit. But lager is nice and i'd like to be able to drink it in copious amounts once again.
Monday, December 18
1000 hits
Can we attain the magical mark of 1,000 hits before the end of the year.
What? You have write interesting stuff first? Oh...in that case, um, let's not worry too much.
900-odd hits in about 9 months is pretty shit isn't it.
What? You have write interesting stuff first? Oh...in that case, um, let's not worry too much.
900-odd hits in about 9 months is pretty shit isn't it.
Oh dear
You know that woman in the other office who I said was pretty fit and we seem to be flirting on an upwards curve? Well, although i've not spoken to her (Let's call her X) since last week it would appear that the flirtation/attraction has been noted by those around us.
We were having a conversation in our office as to why the really successful Chrimbo parties don't happen at the police station anymore* (Well, I was being told 'cos i'm the new boy whereas the others have been here for donkeys and are dead institutionalised) and that led on to some of the other people who had worked here, primarily one woman who was getting divorced and had a merry old time romping through the coppers.
Anyway, that conversation ended and it was only as P was leaving the office that he piped up about this woman again. He started banging on about her behaiviour, how he had to chaperone her at one Chrimbo bash, how she would be after men and how one she did get, who showered her with cash, didn't show affection and ended up boring her. This led P to another ramble about affairs, how she should have gone for a fling with someone who did show affection and keep the boring one too.
All well and good, until he just suddenly came out with, "We're wondering when you and X are going to get it on'. Fuck! Has it been that obvious? Or is this organisation so filled with old people that the sight or sound of two relatively young people getting on well can only mean adultery in the making?
I should have asked him what odds he was offering...
* Apparently the big Chrimbo bash was in full swing, usually an all day event with plenty of booze and the like, and a high-ranking delegation from the Met were visiting. As they were shown around a station revelling in the party spirit, they were ushered into the gym to be confronted by a CID Inspector getting sucked off by an Admin girl! Hahahaha class!
Needless to say, all booze has been banned from the station and subsequent Chrimbo parties have been as dead as a Dodo.
We were having a conversation in our office as to why the really successful Chrimbo parties don't happen at the police station anymore* (Well, I was being told 'cos i'm the new boy whereas the others have been here for donkeys and are dead institutionalised) and that led on to some of the other people who had worked here, primarily one woman who was getting divorced and had a merry old time romping through the coppers.
Anyway, that conversation ended and it was only as P was leaving the office that he piped up about this woman again. He started banging on about her behaiviour, how he had to chaperone her at one Chrimbo bash, how she would be after men and how one she did get, who showered her with cash, didn't show affection and ended up boring her. This led P to another ramble about affairs, how she should have gone for a fling with someone who did show affection and keep the boring one too.
All well and good, until he just suddenly came out with, "We're wondering when you and X are going to get it on'. Fuck! Has it been that obvious? Or is this organisation so filled with old people that the sight or sound of two relatively young people getting on well can only mean adultery in the making?
I should have asked him what odds he was offering...
* Apparently the big Chrimbo bash was in full swing, usually an all day event with plenty of booze and the like, and a high-ranking delegation from the Met were visiting. As they were shown around a station revelling in the party spirit, they were ushered into the gym to be confronted by a CID Inspector getting sucked off by an Admin girl! Hahahaha class!
Needless to say, all booze has been banned from the station and subsequent Chrimbo parties have been as dead as a Dodo.
Thursday, December 14
MySpace II
Well, I left the temporary (And chronically unfilled) MySpace profile up on the site for, ooooohhh all of a day or two in the hope of getting a message back.
When I hadn't received anything after that time, and my disgust at getting all wistful and sad had become overwhelming, I deleted the profile and decided to forget the whole thing. Why dredge up old shit and cause myself unnecessary sorrow?
Anyway, I eventually did get a reply to my old Hotmail account*
It basically said, and I may be paraphrasing here as the email was deleted instantly, "I can assure you that this mail is a one-off. I would have replied to your message but you've deleted your profile. How ridiculous. Thanks for the sentiment".
The 'How ridiculous' sounds about right on two fronts. 1) It's pretty much a phrase she used fairly often and 2) it was a bit daft but hey ho!
But it's over now. Thankfully. I hate being confronted with old times and ex partners/friends/aquaintances/workmates, etc. Considering i've moved around a fair bit and done a few jobs and almost always ended up disappointing people, it's becoming harder to find places I can go without the possibility of bumping into someone I don't want to.
* I opened it up for the first time in ages a month or so ago and had over 200 messages. All junk of course or to crap i'd signed up for previously. It's also the email addy I had when I was a total internet tart and used to arrange meet-ups and the like with married/single women. It went out of use when I met C of course and, while the temptation to reignite that lifestyle very occassionally raises its head in mine, it's never something i'd go back to.
Although there is a woman in one of our other offices who i've got a sneaking suspiscion quite fancies me. She's pretty fit too, I quite fancy her as it happens and, unless my old skills have deserted me, i'm fairly sure that we're flirting on an upwards curve. Not that it matters, any extra-marital shenanigans would spell the end of thedacs and that's a price far too high to pay for a quick hump or seven.
When I hadn't received anything after that time, and my disgust at getting all wistful and sad had become overwhelming, I deleted the profile and decided to forget the whole thing. Why dredge up old shit and cause myself unnecessary sorrow?
Anyway, I eventually did get a reply to my old Hotmail account*
It basically said, and I may be paraphrasing here as the email was deleted instantly, "I can assure you that this mail is a one-off. I would have replied to your message but you've deleted your profile. How ridiculous. Thanks for the sentiment".
The 'How ridiculous' sounds about right on two fronts. 1) It's pretty much a phrase she used fairly often and 2) it was a bit daft but hey ho!
But it's over now. Thankfully. I hate being confronted with old times and ex partners/friends/aquaintances/workmates, etc. Considering i've moved around a fair bit and done a few jobs and almost always ended up disappointing people, it's becoming harder to find places I can go without the possibility of bumping into someone I don't want to.
* I opened it up for the first time in ages a month or so ago and had over 200 messages. All junk of course or to crap i'd signed up for previously. It's also the email addy I had when I was a total internet tart and used to arrange meet-ups and the like with married/single women. It went out of use when I met C of course and, while the temptation to reignite that lifestyle very occassionally raises its head in mine, it's never something i'd go back to.
Although there is a woman in one of our other offices who i've got a sneaking suspiscion quite fancies me. She's pretty fit too, I quite fancy her as it happens and, unless my old skills have deserted me, i'm fairly sure that we're flirting on an upwards curve. Not that it matters, any extra-marital shenanigans would spell the end of thedacs and that's a price far too high to pay for a quick hump or seven.
Saturday, December 9
The MK Wheel
Ok, so not as big as the London Eye or with as an impressive view, but it was still fun to go up last night. Very cold too.
Maybe we'll go up again during the day and get some better pics of the panoramic views of our gorgeous little city.
Personal debt
Time to confiscate C's credit card and the Argos Card. At least until the outstanding debt is paid off which, if we stick to the plans we discussed last night, could be in 3-4 months. Although that will leave us perilously low on cash for that time, i'm not bothered as I can cope with not spending but C might struggle. Tough, she needs to show some discipline again, especially as until the card debts are cleared she can't put aside enough into savings to pay off her loan debt early. I want her to get the money she works hard for and not have hundreds of pounds going to the banks to service debts, but before the gain it's going to take a bit of pain first. Time for me to take extreme measures to ensure no more debt is added and we clear it all away.
It's our money, we earnt it and we want to enjoy it. Not hand it over to the banks for purchases we can't even remember!
It's our money, we earnt it and we want to enjoy it. Not hand it over to the banks for purchases we can't even remember!
Thursday, December 7
Is that it?
1.25 pence on a litre of petrol and £5 on air passenger duty. That's all Gordon Brown could stretch to in his Pre Budget Report for the environmental cause.
Plenty of environmental groups are, if not up in arms, extremely annoyed that further measure weren't put into place by the Chancellor and, to be fair, it wasn't a great day for the environment considering Labour have started making big noises publically over how they're going to save it.
Still, even though it isn't going to change behaviour it's better than nothing and environmentalists shouldn't expect the world to give up all its luxuries and neccessities overnight, because it won't.
Culminative measures will work when it comes to societal wide changes as the public will feel part of the change rather than feeling they are being dictated to.
Plenty of environmental groups are, if not up in arms, extremely annoyed that further measure weren't put into place by the Chancellor and, to be fair, it wasn't a great day for the environment considering Labour have started making big noises publically over how they're going to save it.
Still, even though it isn't going to change behaviour it's better than nothing and environmentalists shouldn't expect the world to give up all its luxuries and neccessities overnight, because it won't.
Culminative measures will work when it comes to societal wide changes as the public will feel part of the change rather than feeling they are being dictated to.
Tuesday, December 5
Crime on the up in MK
Apparently. Had a brief conversation earlier with our manager (Who gets to sit on in meetings and the like with the Police) and it seems that Milton Keynes is bucking the national trend when it comes to crime.
While crime is supposedly falling across the country (Except in some areas), in Milton Keynes the same crimes are on the increase.
Vehicle crime has always been quite significant in MK, but now it's steadily on the up with gangs coming up from London to break into cars and steal the Sat Navs. Good resale price Sat Navs.
Violent crime has increased something like 25% in the last year alone, making MK one of the most violent places in the Thames Valley region.
These increases in crimes are quite baffling and, although top dogs from the Police and Home Office are heading into town with a remit to find answers why crime is on the up here, for once the media aren't making a story of it. The local press could quite easily sensationalise the increases in crime, creating a fog of fear around MK but they haven't so far. Which the Police are, so i'm told, quite thankful.
Will it last though...
While crime is supposedly falling across the country (Except in some areas), in Milton Keynes the same crimes are on the increase.
Vehicle crime has always been quite significant in MK, but now it's steadily on the up with gangs coming up from London to break into cars and steal the Sat Navs. Good resale price Sat Navs.
Violent crime has increased something like 25% in the last year alone, making MK one of the most violent places in the Thames Valley region.
These increases in crimes are quite baffling and, although top dogs from the Police and Home Office are heading into town with a remit to find answers why crime is on the up here, for once the media aren't making a story of it. The local press could quite easily sensationalise the increases in crime, creating a fog of fear around MK but they haven't so far. Which the Police are, so i'm told, quite thankful.
Will it last though...
Friday, December 1
3 things i'd change about the world
Inspired by something seen on telly last night (Although it was '10 things...') and for wont of anything better to post before I disappear for the weekend.
1) Running out of food and having to shop for a few bits at the end of a long week. Especially when it involves having to be outside in the pissing rain and even more so when it involves nothing more than buying a poxy bag of spuds and some baccy.
2) Boredom at work. Yes it could be dealt with by actually throwing yourself into some work (It's what you're paid for after all) but if there is no one around to have a laugh with or talk to, it's like school without all the good bits.
3) Nintendo. Or more specifically anyone over the age of 13 who plays them, likes them and gets erect over their release. DS, Wii, whatever. They're for children and other small people with outsized heads that resemble Nintendo characters.
1) Running out of food and having to shop for a few bits at the end of a long week. Especially when it involves having to be outside in the pissing rain and even more so when it involves nothing more than buying a poxy bag of spuds and some baccy.
2) Boredom at work. Yes it could be dealt with by actually throwing yourself into some work (It's what you're paid for after all) but if there is no one around to have a laugh with or talk to, it's like school without all the good bits.
3) Nintendo. Or more specifically anyone over the age of 13 who plays them, likes them and gets erect over their release. DS, Wii, whatever. They're for children and other small people with outsized heads that resemble Nintendo characters.
MySpace sad
I feel quite sad.
Sad in the emotional sense that is, not the everyday feeling of loserdom which lingers like a permanent bad smell.
This sense of sadness has been brought about by an invite from someone I was once very close to inviting me to joinj MySpace. Now, they didn't leave any message with the emailed invite (Which was probably a good thing) and i've resisted the impulse to join, not that it was ever more than a fleeting curiosity mind.
I couldn't, however, resist trying to track down this persons MySpace page and I guess it was being successful in that search that has led to my sadness. Seeing that person again brings back memories from years ago and reminds me of what a twat I was. Not because I regret no longer being with that person (Hell no!) but rather because our time together was, to put it mildly, not my greatest moment*. And I regret that, because this person is a good one, with an incredibly sharp mind and sense of wit (Which I find to be fantastic qualities).
It's just a shame that they came to see me in the state which I feel haunts me - aimless, insular, bitter, arrogant, self-centred and faded - and is probably the reason why all my relationships, friends as well as intimate ones, fizzle out and are never looked back upon by me.
I'd like to think that ever since thedacs came into existance i've managed to find myself a bit more than I ever have before. Come to know myself a bit better, to accept certain things and to have my eyes opened to my own past, to others and that is all down to thedacs. But there is still something missing and it's within me. I'm still aimless, flitting while never knuckling down and I know, I know, that i'll regret that more than anything on my deathbed. That I wasted it all.
Maybe that's why this invite made me sad. Because it reminded me of my own lack of self-worth. But maybe i've learnt that it isn't all about me and I should accept the invite, say 'hey' and see if life is going well for this person.
And then seethe that is while mine hasn't kept pace hahahaha!
*In fact, my twenties wasn't my greatest decade. It was a washout. Lots of fun at times and great moments, but....well, it was, in hindsight, lived under a cloud of depression and lack of any achievement or sense of worth whatsoever.
Sad in the emotional sense that is, not the everyday feeling of loserdom which lingers like a permanent bad smell.
This sense of sadness has been brought about by an invite from someone I was once very close to inviting me to joinj MySpace. Now, they didn't leave any message with the emailed invite (Which was probably a good thing) and i've resisted the impulse to join, not that it was ever more than a fleeting curiosity mind.
I couldn't, however, resist trying to track down this persons MySpace page and I guess it was being successful in that search that has led to my sadness. Seeing that person again brings back memories from years ago and reminds me of what a twat I was. Not because I regret no longer being with that person (Hell no!) but rather because our time together was, to put it mildly, not my greatest moment*. And I regret that, because this person is a good one, with an incredibly sharp mind and sense of wit (Which I find to be fantastic qualities).
It's just a shame that they came to see me in the state which I feel haunts me - aimless, insular, bitter, arrogant, self-centred and faded - and is probably the reason why all my relationships, friends as well as intimate ones, fizzle out and are never looked back upon by me.
I'd like to think that ever since thedacs came into existance i've managed to find myself a bit more than I ever have before. Come to know myself a bit better, to accept certain things and to have my eyes opened to my own past, to others and that is all down to thedacs. But there is still something missing and it's within me. I'm still aimless, flitting while never knuckling down and I know, I know, that i'll regret that more than anything on my deathbed. That I wasted it all.
Maybe that's why this invite made me sad. Because it reminded me of my own lack of self-worth. But maybe i've learnt that it isn't all about me and I should accept the invite, say 'hey' and see if life is going well for this person.
And then seethe that is while mine hasn't kept pace hahahaha!
*In fact, my twenties wasn't my greatest decade. It was a washout. Lots of fun at times and great moments, but....well, it was, in hindsight, lived under a cloud of depression and lack of any achievement or sense of worth whatsoever.
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