Pain in the neck

I've had a sore neck for a little over a week now (yes, I should probably see someone about it) but when it gets a little too sore i've been taking ibuprofen. Great, it usually sorts me out for a few hours then it's not so bad afterwards. Anyway, this week I bought some more, this time ones that dissolve on your tongue, not water required.


What are they like? Pretty much these same (they have the same quantity of drug), but you get the added benefit of having a slightly numb tongue.

Not a great film

April was out rehearsing for her band last night so I had the TV to myself. I’ve watched all 3 extended editions of Lord of the Rings earlier in the month and before Christmas I’d managed to watch episodes IV to VI of Star Wars on Blu-ray. Last week I watched the Phantom Menace and it was, how should I say it? Crap. Yes, that just about summarises it.

Yesterday I put on what I thought to be Attack of the Clones. I think it must have taken me all of 20 minutes to realise that I’d put on the final film Revenge of the Sith by mistake. I don’t think I missed much.

People who work for insurance companies are idiots... oh...

Just had the renewal quote for my car insurance and it looked a little high so just used a comparison website to see if I can get cheaper. It turns out I can with another company that is part of the same group. Maybe they want to have different risk profiles on their books so charge differently according to different circumstances but i'm pretty sure this happened last time. Idiots. All they're doing is wasting my time.




Admiral->Elephant->Admiral

I take that back

I can get to Cannon Street in the morning, but the train is 5 minutes earlier than my normal one.  I don't think i'll be catching that.

Bloody trains

My trains are on a holiday timetable, this means that they are less frequent and they stop more often than usual.  It's not really a problem as the trains aren't that busy and i'm not in a major hurry to get into work as it's pretty quiet and I have little to do.  The main annoyance is it doesn't stop at Cannon Street.  That's an extra 5 mins walk each way.  Resulting in an additional half another over the course of the week.  Bloody trains!

New set of headphones

One of the ear pieces in my headphones stopped working this morning.  So looks like i'll be needing a new set.  The easiest option would be to just order a new pair from amazon but i've them enough money over Christmas.

Reindeer stuffing

The first sitting of our apple fed cockerel and my reindeer shaped stuffing.

Christmas came early for the cats 2

Christmas came early for the cats 1

The effects of catnip

Finished till next Wednesday

Finally. The last few weeks have been really busy at work but am now on my way back home. Only a  couple of hours later that expected...

Good morning so far

Just found a 20 pound note on the way into work. Yeah! I also found a penny!

Always the optimist...

When we started looking for a new house we set up an email address houseclark2011. So that all of our house related e-mails would be in one place and to ensure we could switch it off once we'd found our new home as you do tend to get a lot of spam.  In hindsight it should have been houseclarksometimeinthe21stcentury.

We also have a wedding account weddingclark.  We weren't pessimistic enough to put a year after that though

And no, it isnot for me

Saw this in the toilets of the theatre on Tuesday night and it made me laugh.  And before anyone asks.  No it is not for me.

Rob Deering review

We went to see Rob Deering at the Trinity Theatre in Tunbridge Wells last night.  It was a Christmas based comedy and food night.  2 course meal followed by two comedians Mr Deering and Kerry Godliman.  The food was good although a little overpriced for what was essentially middle to good home cooked food but the comedy was great. 

We arrived at our reserved table which to our horror was right at the front.  Did we get picked on?  Yes.  The compare asked April and I (mostly me) loads of questions.  Nothing too embarrassing...

Mrs Godliman was funny although a little centred on her life and how horrible it is having two young children.  Funny all the same though.  The headline Rob Deering was very good, I recognised his face from somewhere (Quite a bit like Kryton from Red Dwarf) but hadn't seen his act.  He basically pokes fun out of music (this time Chirstmasy themed) whilst playing on his guitar and using his effects peddles.  I'm not really doing him any justice here but if you get a chance go and see him, you wil not be disappointed. 

Verdict:  Very good indeed

Not much of a surprise

Just completed the Guardian questionnaire on social unrest / riots and public sector workers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/reading-the-riots-blog/interactive/2011/dec/20/quiz-revolutionary-were-you-2011

Results = Gordon Gecko

Ha, ha.

Legless reindeers

April kindly baked some gingerbread reindeers yesterday for me to take into work.  They almost made it into London before the tin lid came of and 4 or 5 made their escape.  A few lost their smartie nose and there are many broken legs but they still taste the same.  Yummy.  Not many left.

Not convinced

Just tried a wood pigeon for lunch. Hmm... not convinced.

Only 3rd!

I demand a recount!

http://www.empireonline.com/features/best-christmas-movie-characters/p22

Empire magazine's The Best 24 Christmas Movie Characters placed Clark W. Griswald at number 3!!!  How dare they?  Cousin Eddie Johnson perhaps at 3.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097958/

22 year old.  Jeez

Finally caught up

Finally caught up on all my podcasts since getting back from my honeymoon. I must have had a days worth, plus if I didn't keep on top of it even more would pile up.

Bloody new shoes

My new pair of shoes are trying their damned hardest to cripple me.  They've not only given me a lovely blister one of my big toe but due to me walking differently so as not to aggravate it too much the bridge of my foot is now also sore.  Argh!  Bring on the weekend when I can relax

425 pts left to go

Only 425 points left to get till You Gov owes me £50!  Ha, ha, ha!  It's only taken me the best part of 10 years!

Northerners need translating

I've just had a conversation with someone in a different team at work over the phone.  She was asking for a specific capital modelling paper that our team had produced a few months back so that she could pass it on to head office over in Tokyo.  I'd never heard of it so I suggested she ask the director of our department who was bound to know.  In reply she said.

"Ah but he's in Egypt".

I thought she said EEEJIT (ah but he's an idiot), so I replied,

"...yeah, but he is our Chief Risk Officer..."

It was only after looking at his calendar that I saw that he is in fact on holiday.

Ha, ha.  I don't think she noticed.  Very funny though.  Bloody northerners!

Who's been stealing my weather analytics?

The bloody BBC that's who.  Even the same colours!

The moon at night

Waiting for the train to London at Tonbridge station.

It says a lot about the type of person who watches darts

Spotted this on the local evening telegraph website.

http://www.northantset.co.uk/sport/football/kettering-town/brilliant_painter_claims_first_major_title_1_3329483

The darts championship is sponsored by cash converters.

Just found the bar bill from the wedding

Ouch!

Men are the same as women in many ways...

'They' say... that women 'sync' when they spend a lot of time together. So too do men. But only after going to the pub.

Judge Judge

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16101533
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Chief_Justice_of_England_and_Wales


The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, is called Lord Judge.  Or Igor to his friends.

Lord of the Rings watched

Star Wars first trilogy rewatched, now over the last couple of weeks i've rewatched the Lord of the Rings (Extended Editions) trilogy.  What next?  The second Star Wars trilogy?  Mmm, not yet.  I'm hoping i'll find something else before resorting to that.

Hmm... free cake

I was having a chat to a colleague about his recent 1-1 with our boss in our breakout area when the company chef / cook came in with a cake and offered us some.

Free cheese cake.  Lovely!

How long before I lose my wedding ring?

I keep playing with it, and know before long i'll end up losing it.  I'll have to ween myself off.  For the rest of the day I won't touch it (with my other hand). 

No sale

Not much news on the house front.  No offers on our place despite a second viewing (couple, she prefers our house, he prefers another).  We have a new viewing on Saturday however.  The house we put an offer in on accepted a different offer.  Higher than asking price without a chain.  So back to the drawing board again.

11 work days left

11 working days till Christmas for me.  Can't wait for the 4 days off.  It should be generally quiet leading up to it too with many of the team taking the last of their holidays.  In fact, the 3 days in between Christmas and New Year, I think i'm the only one in! 

Very good show indeed

Having been away for a number of weeks i'd amassed a five episodes of The Walking Dead so over the weekend and yesterday I watched them all.  Brilliant.  It really is a great show.  It has the right balance of character interaction, action and frights to keep me entertained.  And I can't wait for the next episode. 

Anything else good on TV that I can record?

It's not that cold

There was a guy in the gym changing rooms today that put a pair of long johns on under his work trousers...

It's not that cold!  The guy was in his 20's too.  Must still be living at home with his mother.  Jeez!

Productive morning

Just dropped my current account down to a basic account and reduced my monthly mobile contract in half (not upgrading yet), so am saving >£35 / month.  Excellent!

Happy christmas to one and all from Dyson

April was complaining that Dyson were taking ages in delivering a spare part for our 'hoover' which has stopped working.  I suggested that they were probably inundated with orders due to the Christmas rush.

"Happy Christmas my love, here's that replacement hoover part you've always wanted..."

It's now arrived, so April is very happy.  Or at least our cleaner will be.

Another outing

Another Christmas, another outing for the Metallica bauble.

Why building projects overrun

Having a quick drink after work on Friday, spotted these guys. 5 supervisors in high vis and hard hats per 1 worker smoothing out some concrete.

Last night

April at the Duke of Uke Shoreditch, plus a shop sign round the super cool area.

http://www.dukeofuke.co.uk/

5 year anniversary

It's our five year anniversary tonight.  The time has flown by.

What are we doing?  Ukulele shopping then Strada.

Mmm... Rigatoni Speck!  Our favourite.

Rip off Britain

Just had lunch with my brother at the lovely Bodean's.  Ribs, jerk chicken and chips!
http://www.bodeansbbq.com/

As it arrived pretty quick we had a couple of beers in a local bar afterwards.  I paid for the meal so Steve paid for the beers.  Thank god.

"Two pints of Staropramen please"
"Certainly sir, that'll be £10.60"
"..." Hands over some money.

We couldn't be bothered finding another pub so we ordered two pints of Becks Vier, surely that can't be expensive.

"Certainly sir, £10 please"

"..." Hands over some money.

They're now on my boycott spreadsheet.  6 month ban until they drop their ridiculous prices.