Sweeties, Pies and Ginger

I met up with a couple of old colleagues and friends today. Firstly I had lunch with SteveT as due to me having to work all hours last week and he having to help Aliya outfit her school room, so we couldn't do dinner. It was great to catch up as it's been more than a couple of years since we saw each other last. In the evening I met up with RogerB, whom I haven't seen for about seven years, and his other half. Everyone will be pleased to hear that he hasn't changed a bit, except he evidently eat vegetables now. It was really great to see them both again, I just hope it wont be so long till next time.

So I'm currently staying in the heart of Silicon Valley in the US, North Sunnyvale to be precise. It's pretty grim I have to say, it's like living in the middle of a large industrial estate. There's nothing of significance within walking distance of the hotel and I've been working all hours for the last week to help out with a deadline that was supposed to be for this morning.

So I come to the conclusion that this blog is pretty well dead. Karen has been badgering me for weeks to get on Facebook, which I wont be doing, just out of principle. I'm definitely going to change over to using WordPress and I think I'll only write occasionally about beer. It's the subject closest to my heart and I wouldn't mind starting to home brew again, so that's what I've decided to talk about.

Patrik Sinkewitz testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone before the tour, Alexandre Vinokourov out due to blood doping, Michael Rasmussen missing tests and breaking news of another rider caught with elevated levels of testosterone. It's far too depressing.

We have decided to call our little bundle of joy Audrey Elizabeth Arnott. Both she and Karen are doing well.

I'm pleased to announce that at 07:43 this morning Karen gave birth to our second child. No name yet, but both mum and daughter are doing well.

Everyone seems to be on a blogging wane at the moment, at least most of the people I know who blog. It's not that I don't have anything to blog, got bloody loads in fact, it's just a combination of can't be arsed and too much to do at work and home to be bothered.

If I wasn't veggie before watching this, I would be now. When they cut the cows throat I nearly barfed. If you're squeamish, then it's definitely a program to watch through your hands. Gruesome.

I've decided to digitise my vinyl collection, it'll probably take most of the year, but then I'll be able to listen to all those obscure twelve inches that I've got. The main problem is what turntable to buy to enable me to do this, as you can now buy USB turntables that plug straight into your computer. However, these look suspiciously like the bottom of the range DJ decks with a built in pre amp and USB interface, I know I'd get better results just buying the bottom of the range deck, plus a half decent pre amp, cartridge and stylus.

Took the car to be scrapped this morning, it was quite an emotional experience. I've had that car for over eight years and she's been a good little runner who's taken her fair share of abuse. However, time has finally caught up with her and not only was the gear box on the way out, I'd already lost fifth gear, but the M.O.T. showed up some rather nasty corrosion to the chassis. It's currently looking like I'll inherit Karen's nasty VW Golf and we'll get a second hand large family car. I Just want my wee Corsa back...