House Move?

Gill and I realised that if we don't see and sign both contracts before the end of next week then I will not be able to sign them as I'm away on business.   I suppose that I could drive back from Cambridge to do it...

Looks Like Another Hot Day

Got up early and went for a run.   If we don't sign the contract this week, then we will not be able to sign it in time for moving on 22nd August.   It could go either way, but I wouldn't mind waiting until September to move - there's just too much going on in August.

Hot

It's been several weeks of sustained high temperatures.   As I type this its 31ºC / 91ºF.   It may hit 40ºC on Thursday.

Dog Day Haiku

old man leaning on a stick
pauses for his faithful dog ;
limping ten feet behind


I saw this at a supermarket; first the old man moving slowly with a walking stick carrying a shopping bag. When he stopped, I presumed that it was to catch his breath on this very hot, humid day. But he turned and, as he turned, I followed his gaze and there, 10 feet behind was an old collie dog moving slowly. The zen moment was the dog and owner's eyes meeting. Pure love.

QR Code

This is a QR Code for this web site. Apparently it's a 2D bar code which can be read by mobile phones (provided that you have a driver (see reader.kaywa.com)). Not for my mobile (yet) though.

At the GEC

It's my company's General Engineering Conference again. I organised last year's and so it's good just to attend this one (in Loughborough). Navigation here was via my GPS and worked just fine...

Couldn't Resist Driving Past

Windsor Castle

Gill's away, so Esther, Stephen and I had a day out at Windsor Castle. As a committed republican, I don't like the instution of the Royal Family (nor most of its members), but I kept quiet and we had a lovely time. Even got to see the guards changing. Mind you, they took their time about it.

Back to the Airport

Made it. Mind you, I had the in-car navigation systems, my GPS, printed directions and map (just in case).

Got up Early

Had to come to Aachen on short notice, so out of bed at 5am and in a taxi by 5.30am. Made Heathrow in good time and the drive from Dusseldorf to Aachen was ok as I had good directions.

Having no sense of direction, I brought my GPS with me but also got a hire car with navigation. Trouble was, I couldn't figure out how to set the language to English and then, when I got out onto the road it started giving me instructions in German to some place that I didn't want to go (sounded irritating too). Managed to switch it off after a few miles. Talk about worse than useless.

Geocaching on Mountain Bikes

Went out with John this morning on mountain bikes this morning - we'd decided on Friday night (after a fair amount of beer and wine). I programmed up several geocaches and let John hunt for them. John managed to find one that's been alluding me for months.

He's a bit keen - his new bike is £1700's worth of trickery; I took his old bike out. Seemed fine to me, better than my (fixed frame) bike - it has suspension both ends, disk brakes, more gears than you can imagine needing. He's asking £450 for it - I'm tempted. Luckily the gymn visits have helped and I could keep up on his route - 10.3 miles. I uploaded the route and e-mailed it to John so that he can load it into Google Earth.

The most exercise that I've had on a Sunday for months.

Meal after Hangover

After last nights evening drinks at Dina and John's we went out for a meal with Stephen at Pizza Express.   Once the irritating screamy child was out of the way, it was very nice.

Looking forward to tonights Dr Who.

Me and Stephen

Day Off House Clearing

I took today off; Gill and I did a couple of car's worth of loft and garden clearing - taking stuff to the dump. We also now have a pile of stuff for charity / eBay. If we keep this up we should be in a good state for the move (whenever that is). Looks like Mid-August or Mid-September.