a photo blog

2005-04-29T13:19:00.000+01:00

I know Lee doesn't read this blog. In fact, he doesn't read. So it is safe to let you know that Lee, this weekend being his stag do, will be dressing up as an attractive lady. He doesn't know this of course. We are, or Marc is, going to steal his luggage and the rest of us are going to present him with the clothes we've lovingly bought him. There's been no coordination between any of us except for determining who is acquiring particular clothes items. I, I have got this lovely little red number. It feels very nice against the skin. I'm sure he'll appreciate it. Hahahahahahaha. As Royksopp sing, 'Poor Leee, no!'

2005-04-29T13:10:00.000+01:00

Poor old John. He couldn't cope being on his own after the death of his friend the same morning. By early evening John past away and Simon laid him to rest in our front garden, under a rock. I shall miss him dearly.

Faithless

2005-04-29T12:59:00.000+01:00

Faithless.

What can I say except for you should have been there.

NEWSFLASH: Sleeping with the worms

2005-04-21T18:10:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately, one of Simon's goldfish has died, and the remaining fish is now lonely and soon gonna die itself by the looks of it. Out of respect and by the wish of Harriet, Simon buried the fish in the front garden under a stone, rather the flushing it down the loo.

I'll get a snap of the remaining goldfish (sorry, I've forgotten their names) before it snuffs it.

Panoramas.dk QTVR from the best VR photographers

2005-04-19T12:48:00.000+01:00

These pictures are cool. I've been to one of the panorama pics - the Blue Mountains. They instantly take me away from my prison cell in Durham. Not long until I'm free!

Panoramas.dk - Montecarlo, Royal Palace in Monte Carlo, Monaco - QTVR from the best VR photographers

Who should you vote for?

2005-04-16T13:13:00.000+01:00

Who should I vote for?

Your expected outcome:

Labour

Your actual outcome:

Labour -2
Conservative -23
	Liberal Democrat 27
UK Independence Party -4
	Green 33

You should vote: Green

The Green Party, which is of course strong on environmental issues, takes a strong position on welfare issues, but was firmly against the war in Iraq. Other key concerns are cannabis, where the party takes a liberal line, and foxhunting, which unsurprisingly the Greens are firmly against.

Take the test at Who Should You Vote For

Petals Around the Rose

2005-04-14T19:52:00.000+01:00

Have a go at this puzzle if you fancy wasting some time. It took me a while to get it but remember, it's all in the name.

Petals Around the Rose

Curves

2005-04-11T00:01:00.000+01:00

Don't get me wrong, I like curves just as much as the next man. But the curved corners spread throughout this page are ugly. I will slowly change the corners, colours and contours of this page. Please bear in mind that I am hindered by colour blindness and I make no apologies if, at some point, I offend your vision.

The old site. Not much different yet I know.

Creep animation

2005-04-10T23:35:00.000+01:00

Here's a cool animation to the song Creep by Radiohead. Check it out courtesy of Monkeehub.com

I'm a winner on the grand national!

2005-04-10T12:23:00.000+01:00

Yesterday, the Grand National took place. I never usually participate in betting except for the odd occasion when I find myself at the Epsom Derby or greyhound racing in Wimbledon. Anyway, thought I'd liven Saturday afternoon up after the Royal Wedding by placing a couple of bets on the big race at 16:10. I placed bets on two horses, one chosen by random and the other, Royal Auclair, chosen only because I just watched the royal wedding. The odds for Royal Auclair were 11-1.

I was gutted when Royal Auclair came 2nd as I thought I'd placed a bet for a win only. My online account said I had won and had a credit of £30 much to my surprise! Thinking my luck is still in I've just placed a bet for a footie game this afternoon. Come on Everton! Though folks, please do not worry about me developing a gambling addiction. I have withdrawn my initial £10 stake and once my winnings have been frittered away my betting days will be over. Just a bit of fun, though please cross your fingers.

Author Bill Bryson becomes Durham University Chancellor

2005-04-04T19:18:00.000+01:00

University News

Simon, a bit drunk

2005-04-04T00:51:00.000+01:00

Elvet Bridge

2005-04-04T00:16:00.000+01:00

On our way to Harriet and Simon's dinner party I snapped this:

If it wasn't for the taxi firm, Mac's Taxis, then we wouldn't have walked. Thanks Mac. I wasn't aware that it wasn't in their job description to notify you, i.e. ring the doorbell, once they are ready and waiting outside. When I phoned up the taxi firm to ask much longer they'd be, the operator told me it had been outside for ten minutes, it had drove off and was not going to return. So there! I was a little annoyed and suggested that it would be courteous to at least let their customer know that they were waiting by, perhaps, knocking on the door. No. It's not part of the service. So the Mac's taxi driver prefers to waste 10 minutes of his as well as my time instead of spending at most 10 seconds moving his or hers fat arse to my doorstep and back. Well, Mac can stuff his taxi's. I deleted his number from my phone instantly. I suggest you do the same.

On our way back I snapped the same scene, around 1am Sunday:

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Fans snap up Glastonbury tickets

2005-04-03T13:15:00.000+01:00

Hooray! I've got tickets for Glastonbury. Well, I've got the confirmation email and that's good enough for me. I didn't manage to get through to the ticket ordering page but my mate Al, who has a measly 56k modem, did and ordered himself 2 and me 2. 112,000 tickets sold out in less than 3 hours. I'm sure it would have been quicker if the web servers could have coped with the traffic.

BBC NEWS | Entertainment | Music | Fans snap up Glastonbury tickets

KT Tunstall

2005-03-31T09:42:00.000+01:00

I saw KT perform on the Jools Holland TV show a couple of months ago and immediately wanted to hear more. Now, having listened to her album a few times, I have become a fan of her almost addictive raspy voice. Watch a few session tracks courtesy of the BBC collective.

A Confederacy of Dunces

2005-03-31T09:15:00.000+01:00

I've just started reading a new book courtesy of Steinunn. Ta very much. Having read the first chapter I already have a dislike for Ignatius J. Reilly, the central character. If I were to meet him I think I would probably have to put on a balaclava and punch him on the nose.

Camden Market

2005-03-26T16:40:00.000Z

There was plenty of junk to be had in markets of Camden, late on Saturday afternoon. Here's Steinunn making a tough decision about which elephant throw to purchase.

Brighton beach

2005-03-25T22:05:00.000Z

On Good Friday, Marc, Linda, Lucy, Steinunn and I went down to see my sister and Zack. Mike and his daughter Pixie were there too. This is a photo of the the three kids taking a break from throwing pebbles into the sea with much relief from all those a stone's throw away. Let's just say the pebbles didn't always land in the direction of the large target ahead of them.

London Eye

2005-03-24T14:22:00.000Z

The London Eye, millennium wheel, whatever... here Steinunn is posing with the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Bridge in the background.

Here are our hosts for the Easter weekend, Marc and Linda.

Impromptu Pizza Party

2005-03-23T19:26:00.000Z

Well done to those who volunteered their services to the Iranian Conference hosted by IMEIS (BTW, I think the website is a little out of date). The poor little overworked souls deserved a few beers and five pizzas, which, according to Reza the treasurer, were devoured faster than a hungry pack of wolves.

WikiPedia

2005-03-23T14:24:00.000Z

To the left, I've added a link to WikiPedia. Just click on the link and you will be whisked away to a random page, informing you of something you didn't know. I usually read the page of info then forget it by the next day. Do I have some form of amnesia? My memory sucks!

North along the River Wear

2005-03-22T18:56:00.000Z

On a walk that had no particular destination, just the rule to follow the river whatever, we stumbled across this railway bridge with "very nice architecture" and lots more beside.

No matter what, nothing would get in the way of our walk beside the river, so when greeted with a sign saying 'No' that we guessed meant the end of the public footpath, 'No Entry', we hopped over the fence, across a stream, and into no man's land. Anticipating a confrontation with a farmer and his shotgun, we stuck to the low lying almost sandy beach-like shore line of the river that hid us from view from most vantage points in the undulating pastures. Anyway, I'm going on a bit, read stpie for the rest of the walk culminating in a wait at a prison bus stop with a drainage unblocking van blocking our view of a deep orange setting sun.

Liv Anna visits Durham

2005-03-22T17:54:00.000Z

The latest exciting event in Durham was Liv Anna's visit.Originally hailing from Iceland, now studying and living in Glasgow, Liv Anna does not rate Durham's pitiful excuses for hip'n'happening night-time venues. Up until this weekend, I was quite happy existing in a state of disbelief but now the stark truth burns through and it hurts, a lot. J.A.'s sucks. It's official.

Where shall we go now?

------------

Update - It's been 3 weeks since Liv Anna's visit and J.A. has not had our custom. I couldn't say we haven't been in the place as it is frequently used to get from street to river level. Here is a blog entry when I cared for J.A.'s.

holiday begins on wednesday

2005-03-15T18:09:00.000Z

I've had a work-free week so far. Wednesday is the last day of lectures before the Easter break, I get 21 days, which makes me very happy! I'm gonna start work on my final project during the holiday, to give myself a headstart, as I know studying during the summer will prove to be a difficult task, to remain indoors when the sun is shining ...

Iranian blogger jailed for 14 years

2005-02-24T10:08:00.000Z

Iranian blogger jailed for 14 years | The Register