Another book

Here's the book we've ordered for ourselves - it's got most of the wedding pages in, plus all our best shots since last March.

Wedding Album

I'm in two minds about putting this up - as it could ruin the surprise for D&M before they get the book we've ordered. However it could be 3-4 weeks before it arrives, so in the end I've elected to put this here, and hope it doesn't detract from the finished product.
Meanwhile, the video is still a work in progress...

Categories

• wedding
• photos

He's back

Will he ever forgive us.

Categories:

• bingley

What the !

The eggs have gradually being getting bigger - but with this one it's getting a bit ridiculous

Categories:

• eggs

Kitten War

I've added a picture of Cookie to the Kitten War web site. I'll follow his progress...

And here's proof that you can find anything on the web...

Cats in Sinks
What is Cats in Sinks? It's obvious. It's about cats. And kittens. Who like sinks. And basins

Categories

• cookie
• cats

Holiday (not)

And here begins my week off - or at least it should be, but lack of staff, and excess of work load has led to me working a week of night shift, inplace of a week off.

Night shift is actually preferable to working in the day this week, as W has also taken the week off to be with me. So at least I'm getting to see her in the day.

Bingley has gone in for his heap of procedures at the VET, it was very sad seeing him go this morning - it didn't help that he was so happy to be at the vets (nothing nasty has ever happened to his there before). So he was led away wagging his tail. I'm sure it won't be wagging now. - He's ended up having to stay at the vets overnight. He's fine but the vet recommended we don't take him yet, simply to avoid all the excitement he'll have at seeing us. The only good thing from his overnight stay is that I'll get to be with W tomorrow morning when we pick him up (instead of being stuck at work).

This morning was nearly all take up with a guy from ADT security. I'd arranged for him to come over, and look at ramping up our current home security. I knew he was a salesman, but thought I was ready for his power-sell sales pitch. I wasn't! So we find ourselves signed up for some major security upgrade, a hefty wack to our credit-card, and an ongoing committment for at least three years. OK it makes us pretty secure from the home thief, but does nothing for the one's we invite to discuss home security.

In reality we'll never know if it's payed for itself, since if it does, we'll NOT get burgled. I'm not that disappointed with myself for going a bit over the top - we've needed better security since building the place. Our suburb is reasonably safe --- until you get hit.

One thing that isn't very good in Aus is the police policy on alarms:

1. They won't come out to any alarm thats not monitored 24*7.
2. They won't come out to a monitored house if only one 'zone' has gone off. The alarm has to go off, and the burglar has to trip a 2nd detector before the police will do anything.

This 2nd condition basically requires each room to have two independent detectors - a cash cow
for ADT and like.

We've opted for special sensors which can tell the difference between small animals and humans, by monitoring both movement and body temperature/size - pretty neat if it works, a pain in the neck for us if they don't.

Having talked most of the morning about alarms, and sensors, all we really had time for in the afternoon was a quick visit to the local music shop (which we've only just found) to buy some sheet music, and some picks for the guitar - oh and an impulse purchase of a cheap music stand. - I wonder if we'll ever manage to play something, or just keep spending money...

Time for work...

Hooters!

For those of you into this sort of thing - here's a great Hooters Calendar

News Update...

News update:

Bingley is due in at the Vets this weekend for

1. Castration (lets say is as it is)
2. His hernia fixing - he;s had this since birth - a little bit of his tummy sticking out. Apparently this is quite common, and often fixes itself. For Bingley it hasn't
3. His dew claws removed. These are little (thumb) claws partially up his legs. Often these aren't a problem, but he keeps catching his (especially his front right one) and it causes him a lot of pain, or at least he does a lot of whimpering when it happens.
4. A chip implant - so we can scan him at the local supermarket till :-)

W's taken up Bollywood dancing, I'm not sure if that's the correct term for it - but I'm sure you get the idea. Unfortunately it clashes with her Wednesday belly dancing, so she's trying to arrange some classes on another night.

I've made a (rash?) purchase of a guitar. As W pointed out, I've not got a musical bone in my body - but I keep trying (we've still got the rather expensive electric piano sat upstairs). Anyway, next to the drums it must be the easiest instrament to play, so here's hoping.
We went out shopping on Saturday morning, and split up at the mall. We both managed to have a real splurge, buying loads of cloths and things. As our energy started to flag I headed for a music shop, whilst W went into the 'outdoors' shop for some expensive thongs (Australian for flip-flops). In the shop was G who was buying a guitar. I'd looked at buying one a couple of times before when passing, so this just took me over the edge - besides, it was heavily reduced - a real bargain. Now all that remains is to get it tuned (I won this yesterday), and learn to play...

Meanwhile W has decided to try to learn the piano - so she's been practicing the scale of C for the last two night (driving us all mad).

On Sunday it was the Cat Haven's annual AGM. We've not really done much for the Haven for the last year, since I didn't re-elect for the committee. Unfortunately a nutter has been trying to attach the running, the staff, and the committee for the last few years - insinuating corruption and allsorts. He's sent mail to all the members on a number of occasions, and has lost us many members (because of getting all the unsolicited mail - not due to what he says). He's tried again and again to get crazy ideas (or just things that are already being done) passed at the various meeting - always being defeated, yet he doesn't get the hint, bespite almost unanimous hostility towards him. ** Sorry I'm ranting now.
Anyway, once again most of the meeting was took up with the nutter, and the many committee positions coming up for election were left unfilled, simply due to people being put off by the nutters continued harrisment of everyone at the Haven. In the end, we left early, before an extra hour was spent - especially put aside to address this idiots rantings.

I'm currently busy getting the photos and video from the Wedding sorted out - this is going to take me a few weeks, but once it's done I'll post a link to the book.

I offered an Analyst / Programmer to someone yesterday - I realised that's one bit about my job I do enjoy (their's plenty of stuff to cancel it out unfortunately).

I'm off work most of next week. I'm owed days for Mon-Wed, and Thursday is a public holiday. W's taken time off too, so we're trying to think of something worthwhile to do.

Congratulations again to J&A our friends in Houston Tx - on the birth of Olivia, sister to Maxwell.

Oh - those in the UK... Have you looked at Google Earth lately? Last time I looked at it (6+ Months ago) England was really fuzzy. Now you can see all the street marking, houses, cars, everything. I've not checked everywhere, but Sheffield and Liverpool look great.

Wedding

I can't let the weekend totally pass without a quick note on D & M's wedding (short names this time as the post is all about them).

After a hard morning shopping, we made our way to D & M's house. We'd been asked to take some photos, and as a wedding gift we will be making up an album (a coffee table book - we've found a really great place that prints them).

To cut the story short (I'm getting tired - having had a long day since I had to catch the train due to W's car being in for repair) it was a brilliant day. It really was great. The wedding itself was by the river, in perfect weather, thankfully - after some shocking days earlier in the week. Then it was a short walk back to their house where catering looked after our food and drink needs late into the night. Complete with Wedding singer, DJ, and some very funny speaches.

The whole thing was really perfect. Anyway I said it would be short, and it is. However I can't sign off without saying how beautiful Mary looked - she really did, she'd had her hair straightened, and she just looked amazing.

Anyway - I've dumped a heap of photos here

******* PHOTOS HERE ******

Please note... these are just dumped straight from the camera (reduced to fit) so you have to take the good with the bad. Also - theirs a lot, so you'll need a good bandwidth...

Categories:

• wedding

Holiday plans

• Still to do - arrange car hire
• Put holiday plans on calendar
• Day (& Night?) in B'ham, get Joe Roomey & Offer me Goo to take us somewhere good (arty)
• Week in Cornwall (already booked)
• At least one night in Derby - see friends in Derby (meal?)
• Theatre - needs finding, Sheffield / B'ham
• See Sheff rels
• Stop over (1? 2? 3 nights?) at Ninja Kevin Odds (Liverpool) before flying back
• Get Dad net connected

And here's Bingley taking to the bottle! - at least it was light beer

Categories:

• holiday

Bits

I'm in the middle of reading the first real book from the book-club (The Triumph of the Sun). I'm not counting the 1st book (The Red Tree) since it could be easily read in about 10 minutes. This one is certainly more of a challenge - I suspect if we didn't have a January break I’d not be able to finish before the next meeting. My view of the book so far is not good. It’s certainly not one I’d pick to read myself. Any book with either a map, or a dictionary at the back I know is not my thing – this book has both.


Bingley managed to get his eye hurt – probably Cookie gave him a prod when they are playing (Cookie doesn’t really believe in play – playing). -- so another expensive visit to the vet. It doesn’t look like anything too bad, and in fact is now looking a lot better.


At work I’m in mid interviews for the position we currently have vacant. It always seems so sad having to turn down people who so obviously would like the job.

At last we’re using the pool – straight in tonight from work. Followed by a lazy play with Bing. Since initially taking him in the pool, he’s scared stiff of coming near us whenever we’re in it.


Our current series were watching on TV is Buffy we tend to watch whole series rather that the Aus free to air which is predominantly 50% adverts. I will admit that on this occassion I downloaded it. Usually we buy the series on DVD, but the price for Buffy is quite high - especially considering how old series 1 is.

Categories:

• bingley
• buffy

Now it's too HOT

Now it's too HOT - to do anything!

Great news - and congratulations to J&A in H Tx on birth of baby Girl - a sister for M.

The best time to start a blog

I suspect the best time to start a blog is just before Christmas - certainly it would be for me, things are happening that I can write about, and the festive atmosphere leans torwards keeping in touch.

Now it's all over - I've been at work for the week (or near enough), and the festive buzz has turned into the can't-be-bothered-taking-decorations-down, where-has-all-the-nice-food-gone, how'd-the-visa-get-so-big blues.

Oh and the can't-be-arsed-writting-a-blog-today purples.

Belly Dance Video

This video is from the Hafla in December.

The Video

Categories:

• bellydance

By the river

Took Bingley for a walk by the river today, as we had to call in at Voided Hand's to pick up Ws car (since we didn't fancy driving with only one light last night). He had a really great time.

Lots more pictures on the Bingley Chronicles

Categories:

• bingley

Drunken b**t**d

We went to a party at Voided Hand's tonight, giving us the chance to see the New Years day fireworks put on by Canning Council.

Whilst W's car was parked outside their house a (presumably) drunk guy, in a blue Nissan Skyline registered 1AIM 574 hit it, smashing up the front right panel, lights and bumper. The idiot stopped, looked around and then drove off. Luckily for us someone had the sense of mind to take his number plate for us. We've of course reported it to the police, and the only good thing is that they know who it's registered to, and the damage being over $1000 should result in a criminal charge.

Categories:

• christmas
• party