Off

Posted: Mon 2 October, 2006 | Author: | Filed under: Domestic, Geeky, Getting Organised, Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »

And now I’m off to check in at the B&B of choice this week (actually, it’s a Travelodge – check me, Mr Glamourous) and hopefully get that bloody USB Freeview DVB thing working.

I may (or may not) write more later. Otherwise it’ll be tomorrow, but I’ll let you all know how it goes.

I bet you can’t wait. </sarcasm>

Yellow

Posted: Mon 2 October, 2006 | Author: | Filed under: Travel, Weirdness | Leave a comment »

Oh yeah, I was going to write a bit about my holdall, wasn’t I? (Well, I said I would, although that doesn’t necessarily mean it was going to happen)

The holdall I use is probably one of the best buys I ever made. It’s made by Caterpillar (whose boots I swear by), and is bright yellow ripstop nylon. Nothing fancy, not even a solid base or anything. But it’s tough as old boots, and has now seen me through eleven years of use. It’s fantastic. It’s been used along the way for laundry, general luggage, up to two weeks away from home, as well as being a general carrier of crap, clothing, CDs, DVDs, shopping, and anything else that can get stuffed through its zip.

But the best use for it at the moment is – to be blunt – scaring the shit out of people in London. Particularly on escalators. So many people flinch when they see this big yellow bag coming into their eyeline as I belt down the left-hand side of the escalator, it’s really funny. Mind you, I’d probably flinch at the same sight, if I didn’t know it was my bag…

Wheels

Posted: Mon 2 October, 2006 | Author: | Filed under: Sweary, Thoughts, Travel | 2 Comments »

Following today’s journey, I’m now fully convinced that everyone who uses a small wheeled suitcase should be summarily executed.

I don’t mind (as much) with the big “two weeks in Spain” type wheeled suitcases, but the littler ones that seem to be deemed “carry-on” are just a pain in the arse. Or ankles. People just seem to drag them without any thought or consideration, and definitely don’t realise that they’re suddenly three times as long as they normally are, and thus can’t squeeze through the same gaps in the crowd.

I find now that if someone does hit me with their poxy little pull-along toy, a hefty kick seems to get the message across. (Kicking the pull-along, not the person, I should point out) But all the same, summary execution seems to be a better bet. After all, if it’s only that size, the lazy fuckers can carry the poxy things. I’m carrying a week’s worth of clothing etc. in a holdall (of which more later, I suspect) and have no problem. In fact, I suspect that half the problem with these pull-along things is that actually the solid handle, base, and wheels actually make the things so heavy that it is hard to carry them. Whereas a backpack, or simple carry-on satchel type thing would be fine.

On My Way

Posted: Fri 29 September, 2006 | Author: | Filed under: Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »

Travelling home from Week the First.

It’s been good, but I really do hope that the trains aren’t delayed or anything. I do want to just get home…

Day Five

Posted: Fri 29 September, 2006 | Author: | Filed under: Getting Organised, Travel, Work-related | 3 Comments »

So, that’s the first week over and done with. And so far it’s all gone pretty well, I’m pleased to say.

No, the entire situation isn’t ideal – I’m not a great fan of the entire “being away for five days” thing, for a start – but it’s a means to an end, and it has to be done. I’m sure I’ll settle into things a bit more from here on, but the first week was always going to be a bit of a weird one, what with one thing and another.

On the plus side, I’ve worked for the last week of the month. Because of the way Parasol works, I now need to send in my timesheet for “the month”, as well as my expenses. (which I have to photocopy first, so I’ve a copy in case Inland Revenue decide they want a word with me at some later as-yet-unspecified date) But it means that effectively I’m going to be getting paid twice for this week, once by Parasol and once by my now-ex employers, who paid me to the end of the month. (and the same is true of October, effectively, as I also got paid off with a month’s pay in lieu of notice)

Not a bad way to start, is it?

Along the way I’ve started learning more about the layout of Cambridge, signed up at the local library, sorted out a different place for me to stay next week, and generally just getting things more figured out. I think next week will actually be a better week than this one.

Evenings

Posted: Thu 28 September, 2006 | Author: | Filed under: Geeky, Travel | 5 Comments »

One thing I think I’ve done more this week than I have in ages (and get your minds out of the gutter – pervs) is watching – or at least listening to – some really bad TV. The two B&Bs I’ve stayed in this week – the first one was already booked solid for Wednesday night, so I was in another one for that night – have both had the strangest set-ups of TV I’ve ever come across, with the channels all messed up (Channel 1 was actually Channel 4, Channel 2 was ITV, Channel 3 was BBC2 and Channel 4 was BBC1 – in both places!) and only four channels anyway. Channel 5? Not a chance.

So I’ve ended up having on some background noise, and it’s been bloody awful TV. Things like Channel 4’s “How Clean Is Your House” , and whatever the thing is with the poo-inspecting obsessive fuckwad twat Gillian McKeith, for example. It’s amazing just how much really really bad TV can be made to fit into four channels.

Anyway, I’ve ended up making a decision, and ordering myself a little USB TV/Freeview receiver which should at least allow me to a) get more channels and b) record them if I want to. I’ve just had the email from Amazon telling me they’ve sent it out, so I should be able to install that on the laptop this weekend, and then we’ll see how it works out next week. Should be interesting, if nothing else.

Gideon

Posted: Thu 28 September, 2006 | Author: | Filed under: Thoughts, Travel, Weirdness | 1 Comment »

What on earth makes the Gideon people believe that people in hotels or B&Bs will want a bible to look through?

It’s something that’s always befuddled me, and the point is just getting reinforced yet again this week. I’ve never wanted to read a bible while in a hotel. OK, come to that, I’ve never really wanted to read a bible.

But if someone’s enough of a believer to want to read a bible in a hotel room, surely they’re more likely to have brought their own one with them?

Or am I missing something?

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