Saturday 31 January 2009

QPR 0 - 0 Reading

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship : Table 31 Jan 19:16




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Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD PTS
1 Wolverhampton 30 11 2 2 32 14 8 3 4 28 23 23 62
2 Reading 30 12 2 1 37 8 5 5 5 21 18 32 58

3 Birmingham 30 10 2 3 20 12 6 6 3 17 15 10 56
4 Cardiff 29 9 3 2 23 11 4 9 2 18 15 15 51
5 Sheff Utd 30 7 4 4 21 14 6 5 4 19 12 14 48
6 Preston 30 11 1 3 23 13 3 5 7 19 25 4 48

7 QPR 30 9 4 2 21 12 3 6 6 10 15 4 46

Thursday 29 January 2009

Toys Are Us

Spent the day here visiting the trade only London Toy Fair where the company I work for were exhibiting. It's a tough life but someone has to do it LOL.





A very pleasant day was spent wandering round, chatting with some of the other companies within the toy industry, specially the girls and boys at LEGO. Most exhibitors were more than happy to demonstrate and show off the items they believe will be big at Christmas 09, although one or two appeared to be somewhat paranoid and at one point I was asked not to enter a rival company's stand; I don't think they were too keen on sharing. Hmmm.


On another unrelated note, let me recommend the Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes flick The Reader. Not exactly what you might describe as a feel-good movie but certainly a gripping one that will challenge the audience from the opening through to the end credits.

Tuesday 27 January 2009

Week Three


Have been back at college for three weeks now after a longer than usual break and it feels good to have my hands in clay.

I'm not intending to post every week but I thought it was time to post an image of my current work in progress. The pot has changed quite a bit since I took this part way through the evening, so watch this space as they say...


Reading 1 - 0 Wolves

Monday 26 January 2009

Australia Must Be Very Proud?

To mark Australia Day, the Aussies welcomed Leo Sayer as a citizen.

Expect a huge influx of our "cousins" into the UK trying to escape LOL.

Sunday 25 January 2009

Doctor Who Was Never Like This, Was It..?

Actress Katy Manning (who played Jo Grant to Jon Pertwee's third Doctor) obviously wanted to shed her goodie-two-shoes image when she left the show in the 70's....






Do you think it worked?












I used this image a few years back for the "Media" segment of my City & Guilds Creative Studies, dontcha know.

Saturday 24 January 2009

Party















One party entertainer, lots of cake and 18 children. 'Nuff said LOL.

Thursday 22 January 2009

Thought

So does George W get extra pay for being President a day longer? LOL

Read here.

Tuesday 20 January 2009

Five















Forget the so-called most powerful man in the world, the most important boy in the world (at least to me) celebrated his fifth birthday today. He's all grown up now LOL. Chocolate cake all round!

Saturday 17 January 2009

Ruin


Took Little Lad out on the train today to Reading, our County town and also the site of the ruins of our Abbey. We spent a pleasant time wandering around the remains of what was once an extremely important religious centre.

Founded in 1121 by King Henry I, who was later buried there in 1136, the North-South width across the transepts was an impressive 200 feet and the total length was 475 feet and including associated buildings the Abbey covered some 30 Acres.

In the 1530's Henry VIII brought about the dissolution of the monasteries and Reading Abbey's fate was finally sealed after Hugh Farringdon the last Abbot was found guilty of high treason. In November 1539 he was hanged, drawn and quartered at the Abbey. The Abbots' lodgings for a time then became a royal palace and other buildings were put to other uses. Further damage occurred in 1643 thanks to bombardments during the English Civil War.














Swansea 2 - 0 Reading

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship Table 17 January 2009


P GD PTS
1 Wolverhampton 28 22 59
2 Reading 28 31 54

3 Birmingham 27 11 52
4 Sheff Utd 28 15 47
5 Preston 28 7 47

Friday 16 January 2009

Let's Take A Vote


OK hands up all those who now only want to fly with Capt Chesley Sullenberger? Read the incredible story here.

Tuesday 13 January 2009

Health

The doctor called briefly this morning with my blood test results.

Blood sugar levels are acceptable at 4 (on a scale of 1 to what?) and he wasn't too worried about the haemorrhage in my eye, suggesting it could be checked at my next routine eye exam at least 12 months away.

However my Cholesterol is higher than he would like at 6.3 (again what scale, what is acceptable?). Apparently I need to change my diet (less animal fats) and my lifestyle.

He wants to arrange another blood test in 6 months time. No biggie.


Click here to see what the BBC News web site has to say on the subject.

Monday 12 January 2009

Dream Job?

Found this on the BBC News web site.

Queensland Tourism Board are offering a 6 month contract to one successful candidate to live and work on Hamilton Island (population 5000). The salary for the period equates to around £70,000 for approximately 12 hours work per month. That's £972 per hour! As if that wasn't enough the employee will get to live rent free in a 3 bed house for the period, overlooking a palm tree ringed lagoon.

Duties include feeding turtles, watching whales and picking up the island mail. The candidate must also be prepared to keep a weekly Blog and give media interviews. Skills necessary including speaking English, good swimming skills and a love of snorkeling, scuba diving and other water sports.

Sounds too good to be true, surely? I would apply but I don't snorkel LOL.

The Results Are In

Apparently I need to speak with my GP tomorrow morning, although it's "non urgent." Not gonna wake up dead in the morning then LOL.

Friday 9 January 2009

Reading 4 - 0 Watford

Reading FC remained on course to bounce straight back up to the Premier League with a clinical 11th home win of the season. Goals from Armstrong (38 mins), Noel Hunt (67 mins), Doyle (68 mins) and Lita (89 mins).

Thursday 8 January 2009

315


Today history was made as the Bank of England cut interest rates to 1.5%, the lowest level in its 315 year history, as it tries to aid an economic recovery.
The half percent reduction brings interest rates below 2% for the first time since the Bank of England was founded in 1694.Good news for borrowers (unless you already have a fixed rate loan), not so hot for savers.
So who will this really help?

Tuesday 6 January 2009

All Grown Up

Little Lad started proper (Infant) school this morning. He'll do 9 to 12 for two weeks, then until one thirty for a further two, before going full time.


He seemed to be looking forward to the whole experience. He's growing up fast, bless.
















Also had my visit to the GP this morning for Asthma clinic and blood tests. Results from these and last weeks tests will be due individually over the next week to 10 days.

Monday 5 January 2009

Let It Snow


We didn't get the white Christmas (do we ever?) but a we did have a white and chilly first proper day back to work. Brrr!

Looking forward in the next few days and weeks to getting several more inches (oo er mrs).

Sunday 4 January 2009

Could Have Been Different

Had quite a chat with Dad today. It seems shortly after WWII, his father, my Granddad bought several acres of land in one of our former far flung colonies. Apparently a fair amount of it was wooded and my Dad remembers about twice a year- if not more frequently- Granddad would receive a cheque from a logging company, which he then gave to a friend to cash into Sterling. Granddad didn't believe in bank accounts LOL.

Dad tells me the intention was for the family, Granddad, Grandma, Dad and his older brother to emigrate to a new, better life. Granddad never made it there, even for a visit and the land was eventually sold, it's exact location lost to us now.

Makes you think how life might have been so very different, doesn't it?



Good to see Tony "Baldrick" Robinson and the Time Team crew back on our screens today, now into something like their 15th series.

Web Shots

Just created a new folder on Web Shots. Will add more images as time goes by, hope you like them.


Oh yeah in case you didn't know...

Saturday 3 January 2009

Through The Looking Glass

This morning's temperatures were down at -5.5 degrees C (brrr) but nevertheless took little lad to the Lookout Discovery Centre. This is a kind of nature and science based interactive museum when children can play with light and sound experiments, hot air balloons and even a small hydrogen fuel cell demonstration. You get the picture. Later on they put on a small (40 mins) planets and the stars show, so we got to sit on the floor in the dark and stare at the night skies. Cool.


















This evening in a blaze of fanfare and publicity the BBC announced that 26 year old actor Matt Smith would be the next Doctor. Who? LOL

Friday 2 January 2009

Health Check Friday

Today I had three trips to see medical professionals. Firstly my annual contact lens and eye sight test with the Optician. Next over to the local hospital for some (fairly routine) tests and finally to my own GP, for some advice regarding some bites on my legs I have picked up over the Christmas period that seem to have had an adverse reaction.

The Optician found a haemorrhage on my left eye and suggested I speak with my GP. Co-incidence I already had that organised! My GP checked my blood pressure which was a little high, although within accepted limits. He's organised a blood-sugar test for Tuesday in case this is a sign of Diabeties. Means I will have to fast for 12 hours before hand hmmm.

Oh and I got a prescription of steroid cream for my legs.








Also today, the BBC confirmed they will announce the name of the 11th actor to play the lead in Doctor Who tomorrow 3 January.

Thursday 1 January 2009

My Mate Marmite

You either love it or hate it tm. New Year I mean LOL.

Have a splendid 2009 everyone. May all your dreams be realised and goals achieved.
















(You have to love Marmite. It's the law LOL.)