Been a while since my last post and quite a few things have happened;

It’s not until an unfortunate event happens that you realize close a community is and I don’t just mean the physical but also the virtual community. A couple of days ago my Mum was taken ill again, with a temp of 40.3 and with the severe shakes she was unable to speak and breathing was difficult. After calling the 999, the ambulance and doctor were at the door within 10mins, they went straight to business checking her vital signs and reassuring us.

I quickly tweeted the situation and within minutes Graham (imjustcreative.com) was on the phone checking I was ok. Moments later I was getting tweets from across the globe expressing their concerns and sending prays, it was a reassuring feeling and welcomed.

We rushed to St. Georges and Mum was taken directly to resusitation where here temp was reduced to 38 degrees. Two hours later she was moves to A&E, I popped out to update the world via Twitter only to find another batch of well wishes. I tweeted the updates and returned.

By 10:00 I thought we were in the clear, but fate had other ideas. With Mum still on the bed it was time for my Dad. The has this reoccuring problem that the doctors haven’t identified yet; almost like a fainting/seizure episode. With the colour draining from his face by the second I called the nurse as his eyes dilated and he “switched off” with a vacant stare. It only lasts for a couple of minutes but it’s a scarey thing to see and within seconds doctors were surrounding him, and putting my Dad onto a stretcher and taking home to the cubical next door. He recovered in about 10 mins but they kept the monitors on checking his ECG etc.

I spent most of the night & early morning going between the two small rooms checking and talking with the both of them. About 1am Mum was taken to a ward and I spent about 20 mind sorting out the paperwork before returning to Dad. We sat there for another 2 hours waiting for the blood test results and the doctors. At 3am we spoke with them and they said that they couldn’t find any problems and to book an appointment with the GP to arrange a 24hr monitor.

We got home about 3:30 and after a quick update I got some sleep. The next morning there were more messages and well wishes.

It’s amazing how such a community can come together in times of need, it’s proven to me that strength doesn’t only come from within but from those around you near and far, far away.

I would like to dedicate this post to all the people that sent their well wishes and prays to my family – it made such a difference knowing I wasn’t alone through that difficult time.

Appologies for any typo’s this was written from the heart and I won’t be editing it.

Thanks again.

Just a quick post from Starbucks in a very sunny Croydon.

Got a busy weekend, need to write pt2 of the "Google Reader and TwitterFeed" guest post on http://styl.eti.me also prep read my assignment for my 1st week on my UNI course; and there’s more, update a clients website with new content. Blimey!

First of all I’d say thanks to a couple of good friends; Graham (www.imjustcreative.com) and Roger (sty.leti.me) for inspiring me, and encouraging me into writing some posts and guides – keep your eyes open.

Secondly my search for a Mac flatbed scanner continues, I need a new one as my old canon one “just didn’t work” when I plugged it into my Mac – sort it out Steve! What do you mean you’re trying fix a pile of cr@p called MobileMe? Ok give your guys a call at the Kingston shop and tell them I’m coming down and I want answers.

Damn, why is it so called “assistants” in shops such as Currys, PC World think we are stupid? I ask them for information on; in this instance a camera and they read out the paper ticket – “yes, I can read. Any other information?” I typically get a blank look back, and the answer “no”, why bother?

My drink is melting and it’s time to venture forth into the masses again; the throng of fools and idiots that apparently can’t read! I you ask your typical shop assistant.

Well haven’t done this for a while, weekly life-dump. Hi to all the new readers from www.twitter.com

It’s been busy at work spent a couple of days at the datacentre performing general audits of hardware. A number of projects are ending and a new one is starting.

I’ve been tasked to design the hardware and assist in the network development for a large client in the UK. Involves a number of web and db servers for the primary site and the remote DR site. It will take a couple of weeks for the design, then a break while the suppliers pull their fingers out and finally the build.

Family are doing well, mum’s going back into hospital at the end of the month for a couple of weeks for her heart, so we hope all goes well with that.

I’m happy to say I’m a student (again) I start a couple of Open University courses in October and they count towards a BA/Bsc if I hang in for the full 4 years.

Walk down any street in most towns, cities or countries and there will be someone that wants your opinion or will try and sell you something. For example; take a walk through Staines in the UK and more than likely one of the many guys in army camo’s will try and get you to sign up for a game of paintball. Likewise, Croydon and Kingston there will be people asking for you to help out on a survey, you’ve met them all I expect.

Well I have a tip for you that will enable your swift escape; guaranteed – I’ve tried it many times and it’s worked every single time. Of course you could use the approach “No!”, “too busy”, “Je ne parle pas Anglais” (yes, I’ve used that one), but I have a more sympathetic approach.

The approach

You see there is one thing that all canvassers have in common; a spot. They have been assigned a particular location and can only engage in a conversation in that area. They need you to stop and talk with them, sure they are polite but they need the numbers on the clipboard, and what starts as a couple of minutes can extend into a lot more.

The trick

As they start to talk to you, probably introducing themselves, apologise to them and tell them you are in a hurry; some will let you go but others will persist. Here’s the killer, tell them you are happy to answer their questions with a smile providing they walk with you. This is the crunch, it will take them out of their assigned location – they will not walk with you.

Give it a try next time you’re approached and let me know how it went – it’s never failed for me.

Just in Croydon (picture at Surrey Street Market), and it’s damn hot; almost 30 degrees Celsius. But why the SB letdown? Their ice machine Is broken, gah! So I had to have a nice hot Latte instead.

Work has been short and sweet especially when you only worked two days last week, needless to say there was stuff waiting for me when I returned last Thursday.

Family is all well (as can be expected) and I’m sure the A/C will be on when I get home.

Thought I’d try out the new Starbucks in Sutton; certainly a lot bigger than the other one which I can see from the door, lot more arm chairs – but, hasn’t got that homely lived in feel yet. Of course the style and look is identical to the others.

The drinks? My Strawberry’s and Cream Frappachino seems a little unfinished, as us the piles of used plates and mugs at my table. Believe me when I say that usually the cream that typically crowns my drink is attempting to escape the dome.

Well, back to the old Starbucks, and I’ll wait for this one to; how we say "bed in".

Well just a quick post today, in Starbucks as usual.

Long weekend so should get some extra posts in, also booked Tuesday and Wednesday off.

No films scheduled for the weekend but may go and see Hellboy on Thursday with Agent Smith.

Ok, still getting used to the keyboard – adverage week, nothing worth reporting for myself or the family.

Of course on a more global state the long awaited olympics started on Friday 08/08/2008; that's very lucky for the Chinese.