w.atching the w.orld unw.ind

Today's lyric:

"Am I too shy to ask, what I really want to do?
Racked with my own self doubt
I stumble and fall, like a fool in love
My mind in the air, heaven knows where
Yeh, heading up west in an open top deck
Trying to remember just what for."

Paul Weller: "Clues"
From the album: "Paul Weller"

... to see "We will rock you" (for the third time) at the Dominion.

And - time permitting - visiting the local Virgin Megastore, just to see, y'know, if there are any interesting CDs looking for a new home?

I'm also in the market for new Walkman head (not 'ear') phones - up to £50.

Any suggestions/personal preferences?

Today's lyric:

"Every day I spend my time, drinking wine, feeling fine.
Waiting here to find the sign, that I can understand."

Python Lee Jackson feat. Rod Stewart: "In a broken dream"
From the album: "The Story So Far"

I was on holiday, in America. We were at the beach, swimming in the sea near a big naval harbour. A local guy got a call to say that a friend wouldn't be able to join them, because an "All ports held" order had gone out, signifying that the ships were to be prepared in readiness for action.

Everyone on the beach repaired to the nearest bars, to get some facts to replace the eddying rumours already circulating..

I was stood in a swirling sea of high emotion, with young men, especially, silently musing about what this could mean to them. That yawning second between fun and no responsibility and peace - then war and all that that could bring upon them.

I was part of the group of people, and yet, not of them. My foreigner/tourist status set me apart. A strange detachment of feeling, even though they were fellow human beings?

"I've got to blog this!" I thought. "I'll be one of the first to 'report' this situation back to home." I rushed outside.

And then I woke up. It was just a dream, after all. Yet there are British and American personnel being killed even as I write this, in a 'war' that should never have kicked off in the way it did, and should not have endured the time it's run so far, with no immediate sign of respite?

And where are those headlines now?

I'm attempting to replace my wireless router.

I may be gone some time...

update

Phewww

Today's lyric:

"Hey you! Out there in the cold
Getting lonely. Getting old. Can you feel me?
Hey you! Standing in the aisles,
With itchy feet and fading smiles
Can you feel me?"

Pink Floyd: "Hey you"
From the album: "The Wall"

If I told the people who know me about Aprosexic, they might have read my "2005 Reads" list (over there on the left) and not bought me three copies of Clarkson?

Ah well, receipts will be called for...it is, after all, the thought that counts.

Today's lyric:

"The kids at school have parents seem so cool
And though I don't want to hurt them, mine won't be their way
I clean my room and my shoes
But my mother found a box of blues
And there doesn’t seem much hope, they'll let me stay."

The Who: "Cut my hair"
From the album: "Quadrophenia"

The router's lucid moments are getting ever shorter, so posting is a "publish and run" affair at the mo'

I've just bought definitely the last thing pre the FOTCR™.

The Ginger Whinger decided to run up the lounge's net curtain at 11'ish last night (I hate nets - apart from fishing ones, that is - but as we live on a traffic light-controlled junction, it's like being in a goldfish bowl without them) so I had to schlepp out at first light to find a shop which sold 8' 4" poles to replace the one she managed to snap in half.

At least she's stopped calling (for a mate) so, as that will have flushed the contraceptive pill from her body, in the immortal words of Number One Daughter, next time she's "off for a boning."

Whatever that means...

So - definitely the last pre-xmas post from me. Have a great time, drive safely, have one for me and be grateful for whatever you get.

It's a nice life, in't it?

between-chores update

And Lo! a star appeared in the East

Oops, no, it's just Number One Daughter stirring from last night's 'celebrations'

"Spannered", she calls it. We used to know it as being pi55ed!

Today's lyric:

"To the tune of "Good King Wenceslas"

Come and have a drink with me
It's nothing you've not mastered?
We could have a drink or three
We could get dis-masted
Though you are a feckless tw@t
You are not a b@st@ard
Come down to the pub with me
We'll get truly pla-a-stered!

Anonymous drinking song

Home, and with a near-dead router, this may be my last post before the replacement (allegedly) arrives on the 29th.

So, just in case, have a great time y'all, and speak soon?

And that's this .com's 400th post.

Today's lyric:

"California tumbles into the sea
That'll be the day I go back to Annandale
Tried to warn you about Chino and Daddy Gee
But I can't seem to get to you through the U.S. Mail
Well I hear the whistle but I can't go
I'm gonna take her down to Mexico
She said "Oh no, Guadalajara won't do..."

Steely Dan: "My old school"
From the album: "Katy Lied"

I emptied out the rucksack this morning, to make room for the usual sandwich box (Oh yes, we City slickers really know how to party on down) and a 'kin great tin of chocs which is my contribution to the First Of The Charity Raffles (FOTCR™), proceeds of which will go towards our trek round London next year.

(We've made 53 quid so far)

As mentioned earlier, when we get our official packs, I'll be passing among you with a bucket for generous contributions... it's that time of year!

Today's lyric:

"Flavours of the mountain streamline
Midnight blue casino floors
Dance the cha-cha through till sunrise
Open up exclusive doors. Oh wow!."

Roxy Music: "Virginia Plain"
From the album: "The Ultimate Collection"

I have it on very good authority (Mrs.D. - so it must be true) that retailers in general view their customers as being in their shops at their 'request'.

This means that, once inside, they are able to enforce unpublished rules on said customers.

One being - and hence the source of this mini-rant - that you may not take photographs of the interiors without prior permission.

In fact, if you are 'caught' doing so, you can be asked to delete the shots (remove the wet film, despite what may else be on the roll?) and if you refuse, can be escorted from the premises and possibly banned. For life.

For taking photographs? And without being fore-warned that it is an offence?

Now, you regular readers (yes, all three) and the droves of Unknown and Blocked Referrers (why do you do that?) - could you please, on your divers travels, ask shop assistants if you need to get their Manager's permission before snapping their shelves?

Cos I'd just like to know if this is an isolated incident of commercial paranoia.

Today's lyric:

"Me hat is frozen to me head
Me body is loike a lump o' lead
Me shoes are frozen to me feet
From standen at yer windoe."

Planxty: "Cold blow and the rainy night"
From the album: " Cold blow and the rainy night "

Kee-riste, but it's sharp out there today!

Now, where was I? Ah, yes.

Where my mate works (blummin' heck - two posts in quick succession!!) they have a pigeon problem. Their crap is destroying the lovely brickwork of the museum where he 'works'.

So ten years ago (yes, Matey, it is that long) he liberated my BSA .22 Superstar air rifle (can't provide a link as works' filters prohibit me accessing sites offerring weapons of mass destruction) and wanders around culling occasionally.

It's a lovely model - and with a 'scope mounted, damnedly accurate.

If there are three roosting together, he'll just 'take out' the middle one. He reckons the two left outside look at each other, as if to say "Didn't see him take off?" The carcasses are re-cycled via the local fox population, so everyone profs. Well, obviously not the pigeons..

Now, anyone who knows me will admit that I am, if nothing else, quite gregarious. But I made a secret resolution from the outset not to strike up relationships - even nodding ones - with my fellow commuters. Only because I wouldn't want to offend them by appearing to 'blank' them on those days where I'm happy just to hide behind a book (which reminds me - must remember to change my "Reading" link, over there on the right) and my minidisk's earphones. Not antisocial, just 'private'?

So when some of the regulars disappear, I've no inkling whatsoever of what's become of them.

One, who never failed to toss his head in disgust whenever an old slam-door turned up instead of the new sliders, hasn't been on the platform for weeks. Another, who always used the same service as me - in and out of town - and who paced just behind or just ahead of me on the walk back home, veering off after 90% of my trek to go to his own cave, hasn't been seen for months?

Maybe they've got lucky? Been promoted, or moved to another job? Won the Lotto? Emigrated?

Or maybe they've been made redundant? Got some terrible illness? Killed in a car crash?

Either way, I'm unlikely to ever know. Hours and hours in each other's 'company' without a word exchanged. Potentially great friends who will never be.

Maybe I am a bit anti-social?

Today's lyric:

"Face front; you got the future
Shining like a piece of gold
But I swear as we get closer
It look more like a lump of coal
But it's better than some factory
Now that's no place to waste your youth
I worked there for a week once
I luckily got the boot."

The Clash: "All the young punks (New boots and contracts)"
From the album: "Give 'em enough rope"

Me Ma's Christmas card carried the usual seasonal felicitations.

But it ended with "... and best wishes for 1906."

I'm hoping she's bought me a calendar for xmas, cos I'll be able to flog it on't Antiques Roadshow and buy that boat I'm after.

Today's lyric:

"You raise the blade, you make the change
You re-arrange me 'til I'm sane.
You lock the door
And throw away the key
There's someone in my head but it's not me."

Pink Floyd: "Brain damage"
From the album: "Dark side of the Moon"

So - end of Floyd week.

And just back from a meeting in deepest S6, where I managed to pick up three more jobs. Oh joy!

And tomorrow I'll be delivering xmas presents to in-laws and out-laws down in Pompey, so that'll be another blur (sorry, Officer!)

So, yet again, Friday's (later than normal) posting is just to wish you to enjoy your weekends, y'all!

* dashes off again *

Today's lyric:

" No more turning away, from the weak and the weary
No more turning away from the coldness inside
Just a world that we all must share
It's not enough just to stand and stare
Is it only a dream that there'll be no more turning away?."

Pink Floyd: "On the turning away"
From the album: "A momentary lapse of reason"

What time did you get up this morning?

5.45am. The train leaves at 7:13 and it takes me that long to get ready/there.

Diamonds or pearls?

What?


What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

LOTR3 - yeah, regular movie buff, me


What is your favourite TV show?

Top Gear. Bring on the pollution!


What do you usually have for breakfast?

Coffee. 1 cup. Black. (The coffee, not the cup)


Favourite cuisine?

Indian. Chilli prawns are a regular fixture on the menu.


What food do you dislike?

Too long a list of vegetables to list here/keep your attention long enough to get to the end. (that'll displease someone)


What is your favourite CD at the moment?

Paul Weller: "As is now" The Man - he back.


Morning or night person?

Both, actually. See Answer #1, but I want to live after work too?


Favourite sandwich?

Tuna/mayo.


What characteristic do you despise?

Vegetarianism. No, only joking! Bullying


Favourite item of clothing?

Barbour jacket - it's seen me through some rough weather.


If you could go anywhere in the world on holiday, where would it be?

Back to Hawai'i - I really felt like I belonged there..


What colour is your bathroom?

Ask Mrs.D. -it's one of those 'hint of somethings' that defies description?


Favourite brand of clothing?

Nah, have never done labels. Though I do stick to Levi's button-fly jeans (their zips are crap)


Where would you retire to?

A boat.


What was your most memorable birthday?

50th - scuba-diving* in Hawai'i. Sat on the seabed, w.atching the w.orld unw.ind


Favourite sport to watch?

Motor-cycling / motor rallying


When is your birthday?

7th August. A Leo. Get down and beg for favours.


What is your shoe / fin* size?

8

Pets?

Three Burmese cats. A replacement Dobermann will be acquired when I have to time to devote.


Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?

The crew here at the Office look like we've been accepted to trek round London one night next year. I need sponsorship?


What did you want to be when you were little?

An officer in the Royal Navy. (Born in Portsmouth, y'see, and I still have saline blood)

What is your favourite flower?

Red ones. Don't know the names.


What date on the calendar you are looking forward to?

Tomorrow. Witchy was bang-on with that one!


One word to describe the person who you snaffled this from?

Spelly

This meme will probably now self-destruct, as all (both?) of my reg'lars have already done it. But please, feel free to cut and paste.

Today's lyric:

"Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd
Smiling.
Merciless the magistrate turns round
Frowning."

Pink Floyd: "Fearless"
From the album: "Meddle"

My regular reader knows that I generally blog from work, around this time of day, and blogvisit during my lunch hour.

Unfortunately, the servers here have been severely misbehaving themselves for the past two days, so calling on the usual suspects has to be done during those little windows (mullions?) when the dreaded "Page cannot be displayed" messages aren't popping up.

But it looks like the crew of us here have been accepted to trek round London at night next year, so I will be milling amongst you later for a little sponsorship (not necessarily wearing the Official Bra) - though if it brings in more contributions for the charity, I may be persuaded otherwise...

Don't expect pictures, though. Oh, but you just know there will be, don't you.

Today's lyric:

"Lost in thought and lost in time
While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted
Outside the rain fell dark and slow
While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime."

Pink Floyd: "Coming back to life"
From the album: "The Division Bell"

Well, the last four days, perhaps.

On Saturday night, between taxiing Mrs.D. on her staff xmas party, my mate announced that until recently, he didn't even know that Floyd was a British band!

So a compilation cd is in the making and I'll be 'previewing' the tracks during the next few days.

And therefore, if you don't like their lyrics, look away now (and for the rest of the week!)

Unfortunately, it was kipping time for most of the critters while we was all suppin' vodka cocktails (very weak ones, sadly) but some neat stuff was later forced down, so that settled the dust a tad better.

Today's lyric:

"People try to put us down
Just because we g-g-get around
Things they do look awful c-c-cold
Hope I die before I get old."

The Who: "My Generation"
From the album: "Live at Leeds"

Fortunately for Mr Daltrey, no-one's yet defined "old". We partied on down, anyway.

Today's lyric:

"I'd have thought that with time
Thoughts of her would leave my head
I was wrong and I find
Just one thing makes me forget..."

UB40: "Red, red wine"
From the album: "The Very Best Of UB40"

And vodka. Mmmmmm.

Enjoy your weekends, y'all, cos icbatb...

Photos Monday.

Today's lyric:

"Oh, I'm rolling, flowing through the whole population
(Mr. Skin, you know where you've been)
Oh, The high- and the low-born are my friends and relations
(Mr. Skin, you know where you've been)
I can bring you pain, I can bring you sudden pleasure;
Your life will only gain if your love's final measure
Ah Mr. Mr. Skin, you know where you've been . . .."

Spirit: "Mr Skin"
From the album: "Twelve dreams of Dr Sardonicus"

The Office will be Xmas Partying here tonight.

If there is a post tomorrow, it's likely to be blurred. Or could that be bleugh-ed?

Today's lyric:

"That's where we'd spend our days
And that's where my lovely lady plays
Come share the shade with me
Come find some peace beneath the tree."

The Bluetones: "Emily's pine"
From the album: "Science and Nature"

Two days off meant unhurried mornings, brunch and two afternoons out in the daylight, the first washing months of salt and grit off the Cooper. As we're still on a hosepipe ban, that means sloshing buckets of water indiscriminately over it, which must surely be more wasteful of the resource than using a concentrated jet exactly in the right spot?

The second afternoon saw a rare attack of the garden, trimming back years of matted undergrowth, dead branches and bushes.

I actually got a windtan, but also hands and forearms that look as if I've made very close friends with a blender!

Memo to self: Buy some gardening gloves next time. Yeah, right, next time! Next time, I'm getting someone in!

Today's lyric:

"The power of love
A force from above
A sky-scraping d'ove

Flame on, burn desire
Love, with tongues of fire
Purge the soul
Make love your goal."

Frankie goes to Hollywood: "The power of love"
From the album: "Welcome to the Pleasuredome"

The office has an unforced, but regular and well-attended social calendar. Different types of events, not (always) necessarily culminating in a visit to the pub!

Last night was an "Intro and Outro" competition, with a dozen of us - of the complete age spectrum - gathered in the grand boardroom, sat at the huge, solid-wood table, munching on nibbles and wracking our brains for those famous but forgotten tracks, bands and years.

In between rounds, someone suggested that I hook up my minidisk player to the PA, just for some background music?

I was a bit hesitant, because my eclectic tastes rarely find a empathetic audience - but hey, we're all friends here.

"Oh, I know this one" someone said gratefully.

"I can't believe you like this one too" said another (read:"for someone as old as you")

Etc.

As we turned to the torture of round two, several were not-so-secretly wishing we could have carried on with my compilation, instead of the quiz's brain-teasers...

So today I slipped Mr.D's Favourite Ballads Vol.1 into the player, (and Vol.2 into the rucksack for the return trip). And as I head into a four day weekend - Woot! Yay! Nang? - I thought I might create Vol.3 while I'm off.

But I need some inspiration - so what is/are your favourite ballad(s). And, possibly, why?

Nothing overly-schmalzy, please. Remember, I've got to listen to it, not you.

There must be something that Mr Whiskers uses to calm his wolves?

And will Witchy notice the covenish reference on this here page, and be moved to suggest a track?

Maybe even the Pistols wound down to something a little more * cough * melodic?

Come on then - if you think you're soft enough!

Today's lyric:

"Receiving dept., 3 a.m.
Staff cuts have socked up the overage
Directives are posted.
No callbacks complaints
Everywhere is calm.

Hong Kong is present
Taipei awakes
All talk of circadian rhythm

I see today with a newsprint fray
My night is coloured headache-gray."

R.E.M.: "Daysleeper"
From the album: "In time"