A brief comment tonight based on a bizarre one-liner at work, just because it's the rare chance I'll have to document something so peculiar.
While attending a mostly-impromptu meeting around a desk, and realising that we could be spending a little while there, I retrieved a chair from nearby and wheeled it back slowly into place. This resulted in the effect of slowly reversing into the meeting from the side and gliding backwards into the discussion and coming to a careful halt, which earned the utterly random comment of 'Casual Davros'.
It's not an expected nickname, but I like it.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, September 10, 2012
Notable Dates
I was walking back to the station from work this evening when I recalled that today neatly marked eleven years since I started sixth form college. The reason for this recollection was that I now work in Godalming, which was where I went to college all those years ago, and so it was a familiar route.
The actual reason for prompting my thinking was seeing trails of broken eggs and some flour on the road down to the station - it used to be a tradition, and apparantly still is, that the students from the upper sixth would politely welcome their younger co-students in such charming fashion. Makes me somewhat glad I was running late this morning and missed the college rush trains, as with my youthful looks I could probably still be mistaken for a college student.
In other, perhaps more significant date notes, today also marks nine years since Chrissi and I started dating - although as I was discussing with someone at work the other day, because of the way our relationship started online, it was less that we started dating and more that we decided that we were dating. Still, nine years is a decent amount in any case!
Since you ask, the ninth anniversary gift is traditionally pottery in the US, and copper in the UK. Considering I am living in the UK as a Brit married to an American who I married in America, I have no idea which is the one I should be using, but either way we went with chinese takeaway, which is a far better anniversary gift than both!
The actual reason for prompting my thinking was seeing trails of broken eggs and some flour on the road down to the station - it used to be a tradition, and apparantly still is, that the students from the upper sixth would politely welcome their younger co-students in such charming fashion. Makes me somewhat glad I was running late this morning and missed the college rush trains, as with my youthful looks I could probably still be mistaken for a college student.
In other, perhaps more significant date notes, today also marks nine years since Chrissi and I started dating - although as I was discussing with someone at work the other day, because of the way our relationship started online, it was less that we started dating and more that we decided that we were dating. Still, nine years is a decent amount in any case!
Since you ask, the ninth anniversary gift is traditionally pottery in the US, and copper in the UK. Considering I am living in the UK as a Brit married to an American who I married in America, I have no idea which is the one I should be using, but either way we went with chinese takeaway, which is a far better anniversary gift than both!
Sunday, September 09, 2012
Oh, And That Too ...
One thing I didn't mention in my tale of yesterday's accomplishments was that Chrissi and I finally got around to sorting out our Christmas present to each other from last year - which was to go away on holiday together - and finally booked the long-planned and oft-procrastinated weekend break to Europe. We're heading to Barcelona at the beginning of October.
This is handy, as the close proximity to our wedding anniversary means it can double up both as a Christmas present from last year and a joint anniversary present from this. Not quite how it was originally planned, but I'm confident it will work!
We've both taken the Monday off work, so it means that we will have the majority of three days relaxing in the sunny Mediterranean sun - and exploring slightly more of the city than I did on the last time I was there in April 2011 (summarised on my blog as "last weekend I was in Barcelona for a colleague's stag do, more of which will be told in time" - and of course, it wasn't told).
This is handy, as the close proximity to our wedding anniversary means it can double up both as a Christmas present from last year and a joint anniversary present from this. Not quite how it was originally planned, but I'm confident it will work!
We've both taken the Monday off work, so it means that we will have the majority of three days relaxing in the sunny Mediterranean sun - and exploring slightly more of the city than I did on the last time I was there in April 2011 (summarised on my blog as "last weekend I was in Barcelona for a colleague's stag do, more of which will be told in time" - and of course, it wasn't told).
Saturday, September 08, 2012
Relaxing Saturdays
Today was another not-much-accomplished-but-then-it-didn't-need-to-be-we-can-sort-it-out-tomorrow Saturday. The most successful normal thing accomplished was several loads of washing and some cleaning - but a fun day for relaxing and doing not much.
Main highlights were Doctor Who in the evening - which I will avoid spoilers on for Isa's benefit (Dinosaurs on a Spacecraft!) - and a new game purchased yesterday which Chrissi and I played and enjoyed. It's a little odd that I need to clarify that the game in question is a board game - in fact, I've bought four board games since the last time I bought a computer game. Surprising!
The game in question was titled Cyclades, and is set in Ancient Greece as you battle for control of various islands with the aid of triremes, hoplites, mythological creatures such as Pegasus, the Minotaur or the Kraken (release the Kraken!), and the intervention of gods such as Athena and Zeus. It was a fun game, although I think the second run through when we actually know the rules will be a huge advantage - having to change how we were doing things halfway through because we didn't actually know what we should be doing.
All in all, a successful day.
Main highlights were Doctor Who in the evening - which I will avoid spoilers on for Isa's benefit (Dinosaurs on a Spacecraft!) - and a new game purchased yesterday which Chrissi and I played and enjoyed. It's a little odd that I need to clarify that the game in question is a board game - in fact, I've bought four board games since the last time I bought a computer game. Surprising!
The game in question was titled Cyclades, and is set in Ancient Greece as you battle for control of various islands with the aid of triremes, hoplites, mythological creatures such as Pegasus, the Minotaur or the Kraken (release the Kraken!), and the intervention of gods such as Athena and Zeus. It was a fun game, although I think the second run through when we actually know the rules will be a huge advantage - having to change how we were doing things halfway through because we didn't actually know what we should be doing.
All in all, a successful day.
Friday, September 07, 2012
Half Marks
So last week I commented that I had sent out some messages to people I hadn't heard from for a while - from various places, but mainly old university friends - who I have since lost touch with, or if not touch with - Facebook being so prevalent - simply not been in touch with.
A week later, I've not had a terrible response rate. I sent out six messages, and got two proper responses back. There was also one half-response with a promise to write when not on a phone that never materialised. More disappointing is that I know all the others have been on Facebook this week - I've seen various messages or posts - and not responded.
On posting that it seems more selfish than it should do - me, pay attention to me! Particularly as I've not been most attentive in that respects. But it is still disappointing.
A week later, I've not had a terrible response rate. I sent out six messages, and got two proper responses back. There was also one half-response with a promise to write when not on a phone that never materialised. More disappointing is that I know all the others have been on Facebook this week - I've seen various messages or posts - and not responded.
On posting that it seems more selfish than it should do - me, pay attention to me! Particularly as I've not been most attentive in that respects. But it is still disappointing.
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
Five Years
I was going to add something more insightful today, but instead it's an amusing note that approximately five years after Chrissi and I both started playing World of Warcraft - and it is somewhat confusing to refer to her as Chrissi and not by her character name - today for the first time we actually raided together at a maximum level raid.
I've always played more than she has - pesky things like masters degrees getting in the way, plus time zones being a bit of a bother on the European servers as an American, and being at work when events were taking place. We played at weekends, but it was only in July that Chrissi got up to maximum level. Typically when we've played we've often gone to old places instead out of interest as opposed to levelled - so she has been more sluggish in her journey to 70/80/85 as the level cap became with successive expansions.
Of course, this means we have three weeks with her at maximum level, able to raid, until the next expansion, Mists of Pandaria, hits - and we have to persuade her up the levels again to join in! But it was nice for an evening at least!
I've always played more than she has - pesky things like masters degrees getting in the way, plus time zones being a bit of a bother on the European servers as an American, and being at work when events were taking place. We played at weekends, but it was only in July that Chrissi got up to maximum level. Typically when we've played we've often gone to old places instead out of interest as opposed to levelled - so she has been more sluggish in her journey to 70/80/85 as the level cap became with successive expansions.
Of course, this means we have three weeks with her at maximum level, able to raid, until the next expansion, Mists of Pandaria, hits - and we have to persuade her up the levels again to join in! But it was nice for an evening at least!
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
Help Report
A detail I meant to add on Saturday, but forgot to include, was a note to commend the support staff at PC Specialist, who were helping me with my computer issues. I bought the machine from them two years ago - it's a small company, but with an excellent reputation. It is very well regarded in particular for its technical support and customer service.
This was something I was able to deal with on Saturday - and surprisingly for a helpline, not only are you put through to someone quickly, but you're put through to someone polite and competent. It's hard to explain why it was such a good experience - but they listened to my problems, tried to work out how to do it, were clear and honest in their assessments of what was going on - and throughout the call, I got the impression that they were actually interested in helping me and weren't just reading from a script reminding them how much they were allegedly caring. It was simply genuine.
It's sad that what should be such a routine event requires praise - however, I thought a note on my blog was at least deserved for this, as it is not as common as you would hope!
This was something I was able to deal with on Saturday - and surprisingly for a helpline, not only are you put through to someone quickly, but you're put through to someone polite and competent. It's hard to explain why it was such a good experience - but they listened to my problems, tried to work out how to do it, were clear and honest in their assessments of what was going on - and throughout the call, I got the impression that they were actually interested in helping me and weren't just reading from a script reminding them how much they were allegedly caring. It was simply genuine.
It's sad that what should be such a routine event requires praise - however, I thought a note on my blog was at least deserved for this, as it is not as common as you would hope!
Saturday, September 01, 2012
Turning the Page
Today's blog is focused around stopping a slip from becoming a slide - as I have not posted since Wednesday, it would be easy to revert to type [or rather a lack of typing] and stop posting altogether. Which would be a shame, as I do enjoy writing.
Thursday's blog was postponed because ... actually, I forget why. Possibly I didn't have anything interesting to say and decided to actually not share it as a result. Friday I had the page open to write, but as my computer crashed (see last week's blog) before I had time to write, it never got written. Today it simply hasn't happened yet.
Today was tiring but unproductive - what I did achieve was getting my haircut. In addition to that, I watched the first episode in the new Doctor Who series - not bad, will see how the series goes I think - and Chrissi and I also watched the majority of the Angels vs Mariners baseball. This was the first time in months that I think we watched a game that the Angels ended up winning - it's a nice change.
The game tomorrow is on at a UK-friendly time, so hopefully we can continue our streak.
Thursday's blog was postponed because ... actually, I forget why. Possibly I didn't have anything interesting to say and decided to actually not share it as a result. Friday I had the page open to write, but as my computer crashed (see last week's blog) before I had time to write, it never got written. Today it simply hasn't happened yet.
Today was tiring but unproductive - what I did achieve was getting my haircut. In addition to that, I watched the first episode in the new Doctor Who series - not bad, will see how the series goes I think - and Chrissi and I also watched the majority of the Angels vs Mariners baseball. This was the first time in months that I think we watched a game that the Angels ended up winning - it's a nice change.
The game tomorrow is on at a UK-friendly time, so hopefully we can continue our streak.
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