Blog

Steve Gates?!?

Friday, April 29, 2005

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Casa Fantastica!

I really wanted to feature the fabulous new Casa da Música which opened it's doors in Porto, Portugal yesterday. It has been really hard to track down any substantial information about it other than the 2 minutes news segment I saw last night on the BBC. I think this is a stunning building and a very bold design. I would love to experience a concert there so I can see for myself how effective the rippled glass walls are.

I probably won't blog much this weekend as it's a public holiday here in the UK and we have friends staying.

Our weekend looks to be full of days out enjoying the spring weather (yes amazing for a holiday the forecast is good).

See you all on the other side!

(And no Luke even though today is the day Apple unleash Tiger, I still have not ordered my copy - dun dun dun! Oh and "darlink, no capes!" ;) )

[iTunes: "Bees And Wasps" : Eddie Izzard]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Trunk Party

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

I have been thinking about the General Election and more importantly the choice of parties that I have to vote for and it is rather obvious that none of the manifestos' achieve what I want them to.

Ideally I'd like my political party to achieve the following:

Grant people the right to one car per household - this would ease parking problems.
Ban 4x4's and people carriers - my parents didn't need this to get us away on holiday, why do people need them now?
Ban the school run - make the little bastards walk, I had to!
Limit families to one child - that way we don't have to put up with lots of screaming kids
Replace "Parent and Child parking spaces with more disabled spaces. A disability is not a choice, a family is! Why do families get the right to park near the entrance to shops and attractions, especially before the old and invalid?
Increase the school week to 6 days and reduce school holidays. If children learn more as children, they should be studying more!
Spend more money on the rail service making sure that freight is taken off the roads
Regenerate run down areas and derelict housing, to sell to low earners
To set a law that government department plans (such as the NHS) have to remain unchanged for fifty years - this way the tax payer gets to see a service that works and doesn't waste money every four years on new hair brained schemes
Don't allow poor people to buy Burberry and Tommy Hillfiger clothes (as well as shell suits, velour tracksuits and the Rooneys'/Beckhams')
Pay football's an average salary (capped at £30k), forcing the clubs to give the rest of the money over as tax, police funds, local communities and charitable projects
Ban ~~ITV1~~ ITV1,2,3 etc. and Sky TV (or only make it available on council estates).
Keep children in school until they are 21.
Ban smoking
Ban The Sun Newspaper, the News of the World and The Star - I know Chav's have to read something but surely the Beano is about their level? Without these rags polluting the news stands maybe we could encourage better debate and individual thought?
Reduce pub opening hours.

Oh I could go on but I have probably caused enough controversy! I am not apologising if I offended anyone with this post, this is my site, my blog and therefore a place for me to express my opinion(s).

Now where is my voting slip... ;)

P.S. I was more than a little impressed by the A380 test flight today - that's one in the eye for Boeing :)

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Damn it!

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Today looked like it was going to be glorious, so much so that I didn't mind getting up at 7:30.

With the sun burning the clouds away and the birds bringing in the day with cheerful song I set to further extend my current rash of spring cleaning. After tackling the spare room and some of the cellar yesterday I decided to spend the morning dusting, polishing and (shock horror), my least favourite; window cleaning. Now the house is gleaming.

Sexy Sean Maguire

Next stop the garden... Or so I thought when it started to cloud over. Now I don't know what to do, the grass is already too moist to cut and I feel sure by the time I get back from the garden centre it will rain :( Bloody typical!

I guess I could just kick back and upload some more of my favourite photo's to Xposure... (or to find some new flip flops online as the stores here are SO bad!)

I didn't particularly worry that Sean Maguire had disappeared from our screens (or charts) but was rather happy to see him turn up at some Hollywood premiere - finally he's grown into his looks - meow!

I decided to up the juice in my iBook yesterday and opted fro some more RAM. Now I need to find a stronger excuse not to get Tiger!

BTW the BBC are happy to announce that Benedict XVI is installed as Pope. Why does that sound like a dodgy software upgrade? ;)

[iTunes: "Spring Summer Feeling" : Jill Scott]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Treadmill

Saturday, April 23, 2005

I am sure glad that week is over and at last I can think about chilling out and taking it easy.

It's not been the worst week on record but it's been a post holiday week so (as you know), it'll naturally seem ten times worse!

I am tried of listening to the news, especially all the politics that are flooding the news channels. I'll be glad (as ever), when the general elections are over and done with. I know who I am voting for, I don't need a month of campaigning to help me decide.

I think I need to start browsing different blogs as, although I find the content interesting, I do tire of the fact that so many people seem to post the same thing. Nikka Costa

It's great that we all express an opinion of something or want to illustrate something but why do we have this chain of repetition? It's starting to make me think that we are not as individual as we think we are.

There are times where I feel I do break the gay mould as I don't fit certain stereotypes and one of them is the love of comic books and superheros'. (Apart from Batman but that's a whole other argument!). It was bad enough having an ex who was obsessed, I find it just as disturbing seeing all the homage paid by gay guys about films, actors, characters and outfits. Probably all valid gay stuff by why does a guy have to be skinny fitted into some ludicrous Lycra outfit to grab their attention?

OK I admit I joined the Chris Evans band wagon a while ago but that was pre Fantastic Four and I featured him as I think he is hot property. Not the comic book character he represents.

Why have I got so heated about this? Well I am tired of all the Superman photo's doing the rounds. Nearly as tired of that as I am of alleged Xbox 2 photos'. Please if people want to wet their pants over a game console that means they will continue to be a socially inept then let them, but do it away from everyone else!

Right I am off my soap box, I am not going to climb on my funk box - thanks to the fab new material from Nikka Costa :)

[iTunes: "Till I Get to You (Radio Edit)" : Nikka Costa]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Growl

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

I think I must be one of the only Mac users who won't be clambering to get his hands on Tiger when it is released next week.

Yes I would like to see it work and I may end up in the Apple Store in Regent Street but for no I see no need to upgrade.

My iBook is barely a month old and it does everything I want it to do - if I want to spend £90 on it I'll upgrade the RAM before I jump into a new OS version.

Is anyone else holding off? I am sure I cannot be the only one?

Oh well I'd best get back to the world of Man Breaks Nose with frozen Sausage, and Ainsley Harriot being banned from kissing ovens on the telly!

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Robot...

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

Not much to say really, it's been one of them days!

I saw this fab Transformers video online somewhere and thought it was worth a mention though :)

I so want to buy this for one of my friends (who obviously have a baby), but am not sure if it would offend?

Then again I could just buy myself a scrolling LED belt buckle and be offensive all on my own!

As I seem to be in úber spring clean mode I am off to tidy something else away!

[iTunes: "Robot Rock" : Daft Punk]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Quick fold!

Monday, April 18, 2005

Does anyone else think I may have gone overboard with my spring wardrobe sort through?

I know this is very reminiscent of my holiday packing but I seem to be able to get so much more in!

I am almost certain that it will not stay like this for long - I just know I will rip it apart when I am looking for something specific!

(It's worth trying though as it's a great excuse to buy more clothes to fill the space!)

I am sure Knotty Boy will have something to say about this ;)

I would love to say it's good to be back, to the rain, the work and the monotony of normal life but I'd be a bare faced liar! It's bollocks! Some times I wonder why I bother.

[iTunes: "African Battle (2626 Remix) @ Soul Makossa Editions" : Fred Pace]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Lobsters & Wetsuits

Sunday, April 17, 2005

This rather hefty entry was written during the course of my holiday and taken down at various times of day, before and after events. It may be a little confusing to read but I am sure you'll get the gist of it!

Photographs from our holiday will be available at Trunk Guys' sister site Snapshots.

Torrox - Tuesday

I decided early on in the holiday that I would not spend any time writing my blog as I was simply enjoying myself relaxing, taking in the atmosphere and having some quality time with Richard.

Of course this must have been a very loose rule as I find myself writing? Why? No reason other than the iBook was on as I have just transferred some photographs.

So far we have managed to spend a great deal of time doing very little and it feels perfect! Our days have easily slipped into a routine of breakfast, walking along the beach, lunch, Siesta, sunbathing, out for dinner and drinks, moonlight walks along the promenade and bed... Not particularly thrilling but we always said this holiday was intended to help us wind down and it has.

It feels like we have been here longer and that is not a bad thing, at home I can confess to being a clock watcher but here I don't seem to bother (except when wanting to get to our favourite restaurant Arco Iris before all the Germans!)

We had a bit of drama during our siesta when the list alarm sounded in the apartment block, some poor chap got trapped inside the lift between our floor and the one below. As most of the block is currently empty (out of season) he was very lucky we were here to help.

It is so nice to simply sit on the promenade eating ice cream, strolling along the beach taking in lungfuls of clean sea air or simply sitting on the balcony reading. I think this sort of thing should be compulsory!

The rest of Tuesday was spent cruising along the coast in our hire car taking in the scenery and negotiating the numerous twists and turns of the Spanish high way. Thankfully I decided not to drive as being a passenger is hairy enough on these roads!

Loungers

We stopped at a town on the coast which I think was called La Habberbra but I am sure I going to have to check that when I get home. Anyway it was a nice place, very quiet and quite a contrast to Torrox. The whole town was based around a cove with cliffs raising up each side to produce this natural shoe horn bay which has a pebbly beach. It was very quiet and practically devoid of tourists (it is an increasing pleasure to visit these places out of season). Sadly though, as ever, our visit was over too soon.

Wednesday

We decided to visit our usual haunt of Nerja which is just up the coast. This too is another contrast to Torrox, not least because it seems to be over run with Brits! I don't mind people settling in a foreign country, but how foreign can it be when all the shop signs are in English and all offer burgers, chips and sunday roasts? What is the point?

Still that said it is nice to browse around the numerous quaint shops in Nerja and to stroll along the Promenade.

Today has to be the cloudiest by far but that is not to quote today as a grey English summers day but one with a mere wisp of a cloud in the sky - something to give my new batch of photographs some spacial interest.

I spent the afternoon finishing the one book I brought away - "Fete Worse Than Death" and to my amazement, for once, I actually managed to finish a holiday paperback! (This may be helped that I only brought one book where usually I bring several and spend the holiday chop and changing between them to the point of giving up on them all.) The book documents a summer full of typically English pursuits and traditions. This may seem like an odd read to take abroad but I felt it was appropriate.

The book was rather fun and light hearted to begin with but eventually the author just ended up sounding bitter and twisted. Anyway I have finished it now and I must confess I had much more interest in the funeral procession that past by the apartment this afternoon than that dreadful book!

Thursday

It would appear that the weather is getting warmer, the evening sky is alive with Swifts and Bats darting back and forth. The evening sun is warmer than at the start of the holiday and there is a haze out on the horizon. I guess it's only minor but this must be the transition into "summer".

There are points when I wish I could speak Spanish and speak it fluently but I never seem to be able to gain any momentum for foreign languages. I did start lessons when I started my new job but didn't continue them due to time constraints.

An old Spanish senorita stopped to greet us and chat last night and I felt annoyed and helpless that we could offer no response (this is a little unfair as Richard's' Spanish is much much better than mine so he managed a couple words with her). It was also brought to my attention when Steve sent me a text in Spanish, thankfully I could understand some of it and Richard was able to decipher the rest.

If lessons and books don't work, will one to one tuition or subliminal learning? Maybe I should give it a go on my return? Thinking about it, why don't I ask Steve?

There was a cool breeze blowing in the morning so we headed to El Iilanio like any good gay couple for some retail therapy. We didn't rock the boat either, I managed to walk away with a new shirt and t shirt which is some sort of personal record! (Last year I need to purchase an additional bag!)

Once back at the apartment we decided to have lunch and walk along the beach, taking in the sights and trying to spot any cute Spanish totty. As usual though we were confronted by overweight lobster red Germans and ageing Spanish couples.

Sunset over the Promenade

Quiet a wind blew up from the sea so we decided it was best not to stick around too long, even though it was blowing in from Africa it was still blowing with some force. An afternoon siesta before dinner seemed like the obvious option for the remainder of the day.

Friday

I am not too sure that much will be written about today as yesterdays gusts have broken into a night of gale force wind that is whipping up the beach and creating huge crests in the surf. I wish there was a windsurfing cabin nearby as the conditions are ideal.

I have to say something about dinner last night, I don't think I am at all racist or against any creed or breed of foreigner but since being on this holiday I have come to hate the Germans. This is probably not fair as I am guessing the clutch of Germans here are not the usually archetype but then again I have nothing to compare them to so I am guessing they are. It may be the visiting generation, the late forties to mid sixties, fat overbearing, rude, lobster skinned and arrogant part of their generation. I simply hope that the rest of German culture isn't like this and I hope for future generations they don't all end up being like this - it would be a terrible waste.

I have observed them this week and watched how they all like to parade the promenade in 1970's gear, fake leather jackets, David Hasselhoff haircuts and show off their blistering sore sun tans. I have no ideal what compels them to do it but it would seem that German men particularly have this urge to come to the coast, expose themselves to the sun and smell their burning flesh. Considering the colour most of them are they must have either broiled themselves before coming out or used lard as a sun block.

And then there was the arrogant son of a bitch we had to endure at dinner last night. He was loud, he was crass, he insisted on smoking a cigar (through a filter!) and blowing it over everyone. He made no attempt at speaking Spanish and he was down right rude to all the staff at the restaurant.

Before you start commenting that I am basing my thoughts of an entire nation on one man, maybe I am. But from the things I have witnessed this week I fear I am not far wrong.

If I offended any german readers I apologise but I feel you must apologise to all other cultures for the way your elders invade other countries and act the way they do.

And what's with this obsession of taking your 30 something son on holiday with you??? It makes German family groups look like some sick OAP 70's porn outing!

OK I am off my high horse now - honest!

Saturday

Well this is our last day and I am really sorry to see it arrive - we have had such a lovely week.

Yesterday turned out to be more adventurous than either of us imagined as the strong winds brought out a plague of fit, strapping young men in wet suits, wind and kite surfing along the coast. It was really interesting to watch them speed along the waves.

The kite surfers were being towed out to sea at some speed. Kite guys make wind surfers look like wimps - especially when you observe how they have to launch themselves into the sea and onto their boards. One poor guy got dragged across the beach on his back before he hit the waves with some force - ouch.

I managed to capture a number of shots from this afternoon and the odd video too. What an exhilarating way to end the week!

We are off for a walk and some lunch before we pack up and clean to apartment. When you read this I will already be home.

Adios!

I have just been through all the snaps I have taken and they are available to view at Snapshots. The shots will feature in the foreign travel section and I will put some of the surfing shots in their own location.

[iTunes: "We don't have to take our clothes off" : Jermaine Stewart]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Sent packing...

Friday, April 08, 2005

I am in a quandry... What should I take on holiday with me?

a)

Jerry Cat!

or

b)

This seasons multi coloured wardrobe?

You know I am sure I may have packed a little too much! (again!)

That's me for the next week - hope you all have a great week and I look forward to blogging some more on my return :)

Oh yes, Luke... I don't have kids cause you don't get kids by sticking your happy stick up someones poop shoot! LOL (Sorry couldn't let that one go!) ;)

[iTunes: "Music Sounds Better on a Holiday" : Stardust v Madonna]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Pope on a stick!

Thursday, April 07, 2005

With regards to the death of Pope John Paul II I have to admit I don't quite understand the out pouring of grief or the "pilgrimage" to Rome but I guess we all have our reasons.

What I don't get is people who queue and behave like this. I think this is just disturbing.

I guess I shouldn't be so worried about technology infringing someones' privacy in such a way... and on that note I'm off to get set for the wedding of the year! :)

What is the world coming to?!

[iTunes: "Pope" : Prince]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Pull Up to the Bogie!

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

It's so good to see that even in her latter years Grace Jones can still cause mayhem wherever she goes!

So we are heading for a General Election on the 5th of May? I just hope this doesn't bring the same media circus that seems to occur in America and I hope our election does not have the same shameful outcome.

Hans has a good eye for photography and cool sense of humour too ;)

Is it Friday yet?

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Take a Deep Breath...

I started my day feeling positive, hoping that my trip to the doctors' would mean I could stop using the prescribed inhalers and get things "back to normal". After all my cough has all but gone and I am feeling much better.

Imagine my annoyance when I was prescribed a new inhaler and a peek flow monitor for the next month. Apparently this is to make sure that everything is okay, to find out if I have any points of weakness and to see if intermittent use of an inhaler would help.

I don't mind but it feels like I am a bit of a guinea pig for my surgeries Registrar. I shouldn't be so negative though as she is only trying to help.

I just cannot believe I have got to 31, I am fit and healthy and now it looks like I may (even sporadically) need to rely on an inhaler to help my breathing.

I have had years of "improvements", my nose was straightened, my septum was widened and still there are problems. How come I feel fine?

I just don't get it.

This seems to have grabbed my attention most of today though which is not good. I don't think I should dwell on it, I should just monitor my progress until May and see what the outcome is. I cannot help it though. I guess I may be scared of the outcome... I don't know!

Hopefully a week on the coast will put paid to any problems once and for all?

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

iWhat???

Monday, April 04, 2005

Someone please tell me that iCopulate is an April Fools gag? You cannot be serious?

I get the idea, the concept, the application, but the name, the look and the whole marketing angle is just crazy!

Would you buy one?

Would you let your beloved iPod be soiled by dock on dock action? Does this mean your iPod is gay?

Where would you expect to buy one? iAnne Summers? iClone Zone?

WTF!!!!

[iTunes: "Sex" : Prince]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Sites Like Buses

Sunday, April 03, 2005

Not content with it being sunny or being able to spend more time outside I decide that I need to develop a new web site. Well that's what I thought until I decided my original concept wouldn't achieve what I wanted so I decided to develop two websites!

I have wanted a photography site which lets me illustrate my collection of photo's and somewhere to highlight favourite shots. I have had this in various guises (Flicker, Zoto, Photo Diaries in here etc.), but didn't like the fact that none of it was coordinated and the sites took a bit of work to get anything online.

OK I know I am a Web Developer/Designer by trade and this should be second nature to me but this is exactly why I want to spend less time on my computer when home as I do enough of it at work!

Anyway the Photo Diary has been removed, my old photography site has been redirected and I solemnly swear that no more updates will be made to my Zoto account, my Flickr account or my .Mac account which was used to highlight the photo's from Blenheim and Waddesdon.

From now on all my favourite photographs will be displayed at Xposure, this is my new photography blog where you can see the cream of the crop and leave comments for me.

Snaps will be featured at Snapshots, a web site designed to let Richard and I show you, our friends and family photos' that we have taken whilst out and about (such as holiday snaps etc.).

I hope I have not made this all too confusing? It just helps me better organise my digital life! ;) (Cheesy line but couldn't resist)

(*Note you get get to these sites at any time using the floating menu or via Links)

P.S. Can you let me know if you visit Do Buddhists Watch Telly? from my BlogRolling list whether it crashes Firefox? It doesn't on my Mac but it does on my PC due to a rogue Quicktime file. I have notified Alaistair as it's damn annoying :(

[iTunes: "Walk Out To Winter (Long Version)" : Aztec Camera]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Blurred

Saturday, April 02, 2005

OK so the Back to Mine compilations usually have some avante garde music and a surreal set of illustrations on the covers. But who they hell designed the Pet Shop Boys edition? It's awful.

I bet Neil and Chris didn't give approval!

[iTunes: "Pope" : Prince]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

Movable Eye Candy

If you fancy a bit of moving eye candy, check out the link on the right of this page which plays some interview footage of the gorgeous Ben Cohen :)

[iTunes: "Macho Man" : Village People]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail

4 Fun!

Hurrah! There is a new Fantastic 4 video online and it gives you even more opportunity to see the delicious Chris Evans :)

I am quite surprised how Internet stores manage to distribute stock. I ordered Natalie Imbruglias' new album Counting Down the Days from Play and it arrived yesterday. This may not sound very breakthrough but according to various web sites and an interview Natalie gave to Jonathan Ross, the album isn't due out til Monday the 4th! But hey I am not complaining, it's a fabulous album full of sweet, fluid, adorable tracks. I don't care if it's taken Natalie three years to produce - you can just tell, it's brilliant.

I did get my first bad web store experience yesterday and it annoys me that a small selection of business don't care about the reputation of online commerce. It was not a big purchase but it's been a month from acknowledgement of my order, the money has been debited from my account and no goods. I eventually got through to them by phone yesterday to be told they had had "gremlins in their system" - funny how the gremlins lost the order but still took the money. I have demanded my money back... I just hope receive it. (I wasn't going to name the company but hey what do I care - don't use shirtpocket.co.uk, you have been warned!

I have been snooping around the web and am quite surprised and scared that American infomercials are now appearing online - run for the hills! ;)

[iTunes: "Counting Down The Days" : Natalie Imbruglia]

0 comments

Why not have your say? or leave me a voice mail


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.	site disclaimer