Archive for September, 2007
Sunday post – on standby
Well on Friday afternoon I was drafted! Called to duty I guess, and and since Friday I’ve been on 24/7 call for a client on cutover; their new servers went online Friday 6pm… So far only a single call – lets try and keep it that way guys.
I’ve now got a referal from my doctor so I can go private with my wrist, and my company is going through the official route to get a letter off my doctor for diagnosis of the problem; apparently it costs £200 for it!
Still very concerned about Mum, she’s always very tired and weak, she hardly sleeps through the night. All this and the doctor says its the best he’s seen her – I don’t always believe what I’m hearing from her.
Busy week ahead, scheduled work for 2 datacentres over 3 days… Phew!
Beetle Milestone
Little celebration on the way home from the datacentre today; my VW Beetle turned 50,000 miles! I like the car, it has its good days and bad days – but I still love driving it around.
Earlier on I was working at home, one of the perks of my new job – it’s still not 100% perfect but the iMac performs well emulating 2x XP workstations, and if required a further Windows 2003 server. Below is my normal setup;
The iMac is running 2 screens, the one on the right is my "work" XP VMware machine and the main iMac screen is running iTunes, and my "personal" XP VMware machine. The laptop is from work, at home I don’t use it much.
Why convergence is good
I would normally take my camera wherever I go, but I wished I had.
On the spur of the moment I decided to go to Bognor Regis, of course with convergence I would also have my camera if it was built into the phone! But it isn’t.
The car performed well on the way down, temp adveraging between 96 to 98′C varying only a little compared to the 10+’C perviously.
It’s a shame I don’t have the camera as the clouds are very weird, I imagine them something like a ceiling broad, low and heavy. It looks like rain so I won’t be staying long. Looks like there is touble towards the East of the town, three fire units have just shot along the sea front.
Saturday post
Well, routine is good – I’m in Starbucks!
Got my car back Thursday evening, they replaced the fan switch and the water pump to the cost of £500. Its running like a dream, with the temp’ steady around 98′C, much more healthy than 145′C.
I feel my health is going down hill, the problem with my wrist is not improving, I’m having to change the way I perform simple tasks, in my opinion thats can’t be good. The doctor believes its a inflamed tendon but it’s just as bad 1st thing in the morning after I’ve been alseep. There is a continious dull pain, which changes to a sharp pain after I’ve been using the computer or if I pinch or twist using my thumb, like undoing a bottle cap etc.
I’ve been referred to a private hospital using my companies Personal Medical Insurance – hopefully they will descover the problem.
Film:: Bourne Ultimatum
Synopsis: Bourne is once again brought out of hiding, this time inadvertently by London-based reporter Simon Ross who is trying to unveil Operation BlackBriar–an upgrade to Project Treadstone–in a series of newspaper columns. Bourne (Damon) sets up a meeting with Ross (Considine) and realises instantly they’re being scanned. Information from the reporter stirs a new set of memories, and Bourne must finally, ultimately, uncover his dark past whilst dodging The Company’s best efforts in trying to eradicate him.
Conclusion: You know, I wish there were more films like this. Through each of Jason Bourne’s missions, they always get better. The chases were amazing as were the fights. I’m always amazed at the characters ingenuity for using common items to get the desired results. I would recommend this film to anyone; and I’ll be in the line for the boxed set.
Busy Day (no Starbucks)
Well, the Beetle is back in the shop. I’ve asked the garage before to check the water temperature – and yet they said the fan’s were OK. Wednesday on the way to work water Temp topped 108 degrees Centigrade. I spoke with the garage, and they told me not to worry and only worry if the red warning light came on.
Left for Hatton Cross at 5pm, at the temp went up to 145dC, and you guessed it the red light came on; I called out the AA (after spending £117 to join for the year) and they believed it to be a faulty Temp sensor (which was replaced a month or so earlier). He also suspected the fans switch to be faulty as well (the item I asked the garage to check), last year the fans would continue running after the ignition was switched off; just for a minute or so – but this year nothing, I think the only reason it hasn’t shown up earlier is that I’ve had the AC on most of the time. I dropped the car in on Thursday, but they couldn’t look at it until Friday; I left the AA report with the details with them. I took the offer for a rental at £20/day expecting to have the Beetle back for Friday, but I got a call Friday pm to say that they couldn’t get a replacement fan switch, tried a patterned one but it didn’t fit so I had to wait until Monday, I wasn’t to amused when I was told I should of brought it in earlier in the week!
I’ve had the Beetle 2 years now, and I’m wondering if it’s time to look for another car, so today I test drove a mini cooper-s which was very nice, and also a SMART Barbus – I’m considering the leasing option again, but I need to investigate other manufactures; Vauxhall, Toyota, Hyundai also.
The 1st ~ 10th Dimension explained
I only knew about 4 dimensions?!
weekend post
Well, it’s been a fun week in my new job – nailing the lid shut on the Bridge, and prepping for the continuation of the AV rollout. I’m meeting Deano on Monday for the handover, and to go out for lunch – haven’t seen him for a month.
Mum is back home but only as a temporarily, she’s got a bit of colour but she’s still very weak. She has an appointment with a specialist next week, who was proposing the operation on her heart (again) but after some tests they decided that she wasn’t currently strong enough for surgery.
Myself? I’m suffering a bit with some pain in my left ankle (possibly connected with my psyrosis), and my right wrist. I think the problem with my wrist is RSI, although the Doc beleives it to be a inflamed tendon, I’ve been on 1,200 mg a day of Nurofen but it has had little effect. I’m planning to see him again this week…
That’s about it for the time being; any news and I’ll post something..
Movie:: 1408
Synopsis: Based on the short Stephen King horror story of the same name, 1408 surrounds supernatural writer Mike Enslin, an author of two hit books focusing on supernatural phenomena. As research for his latest book, Enslin is determined to check out the notorious room 1408 in a New York City hotel by personally staying as a guest in the fabled room. With the intention that 1408 is just a myth perpetuated by stories and rumor that Enslin has collected for his past works. However, hotel manager Mr. Olin has strong objections to Enslin’s stay and only warns him of possible danger to come. But Enslin is determined to go through and convinced that the horrific past of 1408 is just mere coincidence and a myth. But what Mike Enslin is about to experience is no myth, as 1408 truly is a room where the guests don’t check out by noon.
Conclusion: This is a corker, I think I’ve stayed in this room! It’s a great story, with twists and turns, highs and low’s – a true rollercoaster. Just when you’ve got it figured out there’s another twist; Stephen King you’re a genius. See it!