Camp number 2: Wet Wet Wet

Just arrived home from work having finally managed to get my car fixed at a cost to me of £310 which was my excess. The day was quite good, found out that two of my close friends have finally decided that they are going to get married and are due to get married next month (at last)

the weekend was spent on camp and it absolutely chucked it down with rain over the whole weekend. The rain was also well over due but did cause some havoc over the weekend, I was just glad that we were indoors rather than outdoors that wouldn't have been good at all. I heard reports of rivers running through peoples tents!!

As yet although the requests were raised not managed to get my hands on the photos of me from Brecon after I damaged my nose but I promise that they will be posted as soon as I have them. However I have attached some photos of me on the assault course on camp for your amusement in the mean time.

Spring Sun and Walking

Spring has finally sprung here with temperatures the last couple of days being in the mid 20's the Centigrade not Fahrenheit. The sun has been splitting the sky and there hasn’t been much rain although we are due to get some at the weekend. I must admit that not having much rain isn’t that new for the South East of England as it is dryer here than the like of Rome, South of Spain and also Texas. So whatever the rain at the weekend it will only dampen the surface of the shortages of water that we have here I’m quite sure.

Last weekend I went on my usual trip (with the Scouts) to the Brecon Beacons in Wales for some walking across the peaks. With the good weather it was a fantastic time, even though there was some rain on the last night causing all the tents to get wet. The worst things that happened were some of the older boys getting lost in a Forest that had been cut down and therefore taking a few hours longer than expected to get to there check point, meaning that we were close to calling out mountain Rescue to look for them as we had no idea where they were. The funniest thing that happened to me was the fact that whilst scrambling up a slope I slipped and a reed went straight up my nose and pierced the inside causing it to flow with blood. The other leaders and the kids that were with us had a good laugh at me when I got to the top with a chunk of tissue hanging out of my nose to stem the bleeding. I also got a good ribbing about it over a couple of drinks in the evening.

If I get hold of the photos over the weekend I will be sure to post them for you all to laugh at.

Nwe Cars and other people

A few weeks ago my car decided that it didn’t want to start after Id been away on holiday for a week. So rather than face this problem every time that I go away for a few days I thought that it would be best to replace the car rather than risk the same thing happening for at least a third time this year.

About two weeks ago I test drove a number of car ranging from Renaults, Mitsubishis to Nissans and a few others. Quite quickly I decided that the Nissan Almera was just for me a good size (a bit bigger than my Rover, OK a lot bigger than the Rover) the engine was a 1.5 so I bought it and have now had the car for a week. Today however I went to fit the new car mats that I had just bought to protect the car from wear and tear to find a massive dent in the back door of the passenger side of the car and a small one on the front door. The dent hadn’t been there yesterday morning when my friend had a look at my car so all I know is that the dent appeared sometime between yesterday lunch time and about 1045 this morning (when I noticed the dent).

I have my suspicions about when exactly the dent was inserted into my car but sadly don’t know who it was or why they didn’t let me know that they had done it. Ive reported it to the police so hopefully the person that did it will also go to the police and confess however I doubt it.

Of course the funniest thing about it all is that it happened on “Good” Friday, well Id beg to differ nothing is good about this years good Friday.

3 Months on

Well its almost 3 months since I joined the bloggers world and funnily enough Im stitting exactly where it all started in December at my parents house in Scotland. I guess that over the past few months Ive not had too much to write about but hey life hasnt changed too much. The biggest thing too have happened is the fact that I was selected for next years World Jamboree in Chelmsford, UK as a leader for one of the surrey groups that are going.

Not much has happened with that, Ive not spoken with the contingent leader but have spoken with the other assistant as he happens to live just up the road and whilst in the pub on Friday night one of my mates who is also going but in a different contingent has already had planning meetings with the olks that she is away with.

Think dinners ready better go.

Police problems

Already half way through my first week of my 2 weeks off work. Monday was spent on a 3 Hr hike it was perfect weather for walking dry but cool, needed a jacket thou as its still a bit nippy out there. Yesterday was fairly quiet did some stuff about the house.

Today I did some shopping for some new T-shirts etc. but didnt get much however when I got back to the car then thats when the problems of the day started. When I got into the car the keyfob wouldnt turn off the immobilisor, I thought that it may have been the battery but however this didnt change a thing. I then phoned a friend to pick me up so that I could get my spares again this didnt work. Eventually I had to phone the recovery company, likewise they couldnt see what had suddenly caused the problem. Then it clicked the carpark is righ next to the local police station and it turned out that the signal that they send out interferes with some of the car immobilisors. We got it started thankfully as I was dreading a bill for a couple of hundred pounds to get it fixed. Needless to say dont park your car near a police station, it may not get stolen but you might not be able to start it again yourself.

Holiday time

Well actually still got a couple of days to go!!!!

At last Ive decided that Im taking some leave, I decided about a month or two ago but its almost here at last. Yes as of Friday afternoon some time Im having two whole weeks away from work. The first week is kind of forced as the office is shut whilst they redo the air conditioning but Im still having to take time off as I dont fancy sitting in the libary reading books and papers and the second week is to be spent at my folks, not seen mum or my sister since Xmas so looking forward to that. Saw my dad at the weekend as he was in the area visiting his folks although he chose the wrong weekend to come down as I didnt see him much as I had a Scout hike on the Saturday followed by a mates birthday in the evening.

Dont know quite what to do for next week yet Monday night Ive got a meeting, then Ive got to be here on Friday and Sat before flying home on the Sunday. Therefore need to do something on the Tuesday throu Friday lunchtime. Was planning on doing some walking as havent been walking for ages (I was manning check points on Sat, the life of a leader!!!) but the weather looking a bit crap be it rain or some snow Im bound to get wet.

Any ideas what I could do???

Dave & Sarah: the boys growing up quick

Snow Joke

Well its actually more serious than that.

Although I compained earlier in the year that it hadn't snowed here yet it has actually been snwing here today and despite there being rain also it has actually lying on the ground. However we have reciently had a Indian chap start in one of the departments here and before today he had never seen snow before. Guess I should stop complaining about not having had any up to now

Sporting Disasters

Well only a couple of hours ago I watch the US ice hockey team continue there rediculous run in the Olympic with yet a further run. However unlike the other losses that they have had this means that they are infact on there way home and back to train with there respective NHL teams. Finland however move forwardinto the next round of the comp and closer to possibly winning a medal.

Now Im listening to my football team Rangers losing at half time by two goals to one in a home game against the Spanish side Villireal. Hopefully we can still win but the two away goals will hurt us regardless of the final result tonight in the second leg. But hopefully we can still get a couple of good results and continue forward into the last 8 of the European Cup.

Photo

Ive finally managed to get a photo of myself with dad from New Year that my mum took on her new camera

Jamboree 2007

Well since last Saturday Ive been told that Im getting to go on to the World Jamboree as an Assistant contingent leader. Aparently there are 9 of us going including one of my close friends although she happens to be in a different Contingent. Surrey Scouts have 75% of 3 contingents each consisting of 27 Scouts, 3 Leaders and then a further 9 young people and one of their leaders. Just got to think of a way to raise the money need to go now. Any zany ways of raising funds for 30 people would be great so let me have them

Computing from the Country

You may have to blow this up a bit to see it.

I owe my parents....

1. My parents taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE. "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."
2. My parents taught me RELIGION. "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."
3. My parents taught me about TIME TRAVEL. "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
4. My parents taught me LOGIC. " Because I said so, that's why."
5. My parents taught me MORE LOGIC. "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."
6. My parents taught me FORESIGHT. "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."
7. My parents taught me IRONY. "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."
8. My parents taught me about the science of OSMOSIS. "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONIST. "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA. "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."
11. My parents taught me about WEATHER. "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."
12 My parents taught me about HYPOCRISY. "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"
13. My parents taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE. "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."
14. My parents taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION. "Stop acting like your father!"
15. My parents taught me about ENVY. "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."
16. My parents taught me about ANTICIPATION. "Just wait until we get home."
17. My parents taught me about RECEIVING. "You are going to get it when you get home!"
18. My parents taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE. "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."
19. My parents taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"
20. My parents taught me HUMOUR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."
21. My parents taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."
22. My parents taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."
23. My parents taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"
24. My parents taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."
25. My parents taught me about JUSTICE. "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you"

Jamboree 2007

Had a fairly busy day today. The Scouting Association are hosting the 2007 jamboree here in the UK were 40,000 participants are due to fall in Essex during the first week in August next summer. What has all that to do with today well each area (county) puts forward a contingent of participants and today I attended a selection day complete with interview for one of the spots for one of the Surrey Scout Contingent Leaders. So the day was spent putting up tents, building a ballista out of garden canes, orienteering, making lunch, devising a sketch for a camp fire about the UK and having a short interview all so that I could sell myself to the team of selectors into becoming a Leader for the event during next summer.

All sounds and actually reads fairly straight forward which I suppose it wasn't however as Im absolutely knackered this evening and could hit the hay at any time I feel. Im quite sure that I wont have too late a night as Im visiting my Grandparent tomorrow for lunch before I go off to Octopush training in the evening, all that means Ill miss the rugby but should mean that I get in in time to see the Super bowl which is been shown in full length rerun in the evening on ITV which should be good. Not sure how late it will be on knowing my luck the match wont start till midnight, but one can only wait and see. So no revealing the score just yet, as for who I want to win, not sure, it would be nice for either side to win it as I believe that even though the Steelers have one it 4 times they haven’t one it in about 25 years or so however since the Seahawks have never been there and the Steelers beat the Viks last time they were there my vote should go with the Hawks.

Day is done, as is a picture

Spent the day in the New Forest in the South of England an area that is ideal for both walking and cycling however I happened to to neither although I did manage to book my Scout troop a lovely campsite for our summer camp in July. Its not too far away only an hour or so by car so a couple of hours by minibus. There should also be plenty for us to do whilst we are there apart from the fore mentioned there is climbing, absailing, shooting, Frizbie Golf and beach volleyball, all at a graet price. There is even a major car museum there with cars from the past century aswell as some from films etc, looks like a great place for a day trip if needed.

Ive tried to download a picture of myself, at the time of writing it was being a bit slow, however I seem to have got it there now. Its as fresh a photo as you can get it was taken in the last 5 minutes or so (well just before I wrote this basically). Tend not to take photos of myself and try not to hand my photo to too many people. Will try and keep photos coming for you all. Im slowly trying to grow my hair so its a bit of a mess at the moment, how long I will get it Im still waiting to work out and how long it will stay long is a completely different question.

Time for an Update

Well I must admit Ive not posted anything for a week now and the reason being is that there hasn't been much to post over the past week. As for the end of LOST well there is one thing I can say is that Im still Lost for an answer. How can anyone end a series with more questions to be answered than when you went into the episode, I relise that is a way of gearing me up to watch the second series (which incidently starts in the spring so not too long to wait) but I still dont know what is in the thing in the ground, what will happen to Wark or the other three that were on the boat with him, where are the "others" from or where they got the boat let alone the fuel for it and of course wha will happen to everybody else.

Back in the real world not alot is happening I finally got the results back from my Xrays taken during the first week of December on my ankle for them to say that they couldnt see anything and therefore the results were inconclusive. Im not bothered that that was the result as it means no bones were damaged but it took them a month to send the results to my GP, good job it wasnt urgent.

Scouts started back last week (Im the Leader) with a games night quite successful I feel the boys all seemed to enjoy it and didnt want to stop many of them but time pressed and so they had to end. This week is a wide game so hopefully it should go well. Ive found another new one called Fox and Hound so with the help of some snap sticks we are going to see what happens.

Well better go right up my notes for work before this afternoons meeting and then home (and possibly the gym if this cold is better)

No Pictures

I know that I havent put many pictures up yet and I guess that I should be putting pictures up of myself but Ive still not bought myself a Digital Camera and Ive never been one for taking my own photio anyway but as I find some I will stick some up I promise

High Spped

Ok in reading what Im about to say most of you will probably laugh.

My home connection is now officially Broadband, yes at home the connection I have had till now has been 57K Modem dial up. In my defence however I tend to use the connection at work even for writing this (although this is from home) , all Ive used this for is updating the Scout website, now I can do that quicker although since the provider has changed I need to change al that too I guess as I wont be able to access my old one. If anyone knows of a cheap almost or actually free good and reliable webspace provider for websites then please let me know.

Well LOST starts soon so gotta go watch it.

TV gets top ratings

I must admit that over the past couple of years TV here in the UK has been bolstered by US imports, not since the X-files do I feel that programming getting this side of the pond been so good. Over the past few years terrestrial TV has benefited from first showings of 24, Lost and now Invasion has just started. Granted 24 has lost its standard broadcast and has been thrown onto pay TV but the seeds had been sowed early on and although I only saw the first 2 series on the TV I have all 4 on DVD, Lost ends tonight and Invasion just started here this week. Add all this to the crime dramas that are hitting our screens all seems well even if a bit bloody at times although the CSI teams rarely leave a crime unsolved. I believe that Series 5 of 24 has hit the US screens (or is about too) as has series 2 of Lost. I dont know much about invasion but if it carries on at the pace that it started at I recon that over the coming months (24 weeks I guess) without relenting the pace the story will go quite far. Now here comes a request everyone state side, without telling me what happens in any of the series' as that would just spoil things here what other programs should I be looking out for when they hit the screens here.

Whilst US TV is getting my top ratings Channel 4 in the UK is in the process of showing a new set of housemates this time of the Celebrity nature featuring Dennis Rodman and Tracy Bingham from the US along side a UK MP (George Galloway) and a mixture of singers and TV stars. Personally it’s about time that all these reality TV shows got the boot and someone thought of something new and exciting.

Back in the South

Well Im back at work after to weeks of holiday and what excitement it is to be back half the lab is off ill so the room is deserted.

My flight last night was cancelled and so I was placed on a later flight spending 4 Hrs in the airport rather than just 2. Why it was cancelled is apparently because planes of the smaller size cant land/take off in FOG, granted seeing the runway from the terminal was a problem.

Then just to top things off this morning because it hadnt been used for 2 weeks the car took ages to start, then it stalled on the way to work nd took a further 20 minutes to get restarted. Fingers crossed that it will start when I go home and then when I leave the supermarket as I havent got any food

Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Just got back from the film and thought it was pretty good, the animation was fantastic and the scenery much like the 3 LOTR films was once again up to scratch.

I must admit it has been a long while since Ive read the book and so the finer points of the film I cant comment on but in general the story was as I remembered it and I knew that things were going to happen as they did in the widest form possible.

I hope that there are more to come, Im sure there will be after all there are 7 books in the series, I recon that if they continue the series Harry Potter wil once again be beaten by another set of books that have already enchanted two to three generations.

Best wait and see what is to happen