While the mouse is away...

So Nat's in Germany visiting her sister and brother-in-law. I should have been there but thanks to last minute Home Office shenanigans I no longer qualify for residency here in the UK after 4 years. So I now have to extend my visa for another year, and then apply for residency after 5 years. It's stupid, and expensive, but I have no choice really. And so, as my current visa expires quite soon I couldn't get a Shengen visa to join in the fun in Germany. Balls.

Anyways, as much as it sucks that I'm not in Germany right now drinking beer from served by buxom bar maids, I'm determined to make the most of the bank holiday weekend. Last night I managed to squeeze a couple of pints down (served by flat chested chav girls... boo!) at the Goose in Stratford. Where else can you get supper and a pint for 3.75? (by the way, the Pound symbol doesn't work on my keyboard).

Tonight I'm off for a couple more drinkie-poos at Strawberry Moons in Picadilly. It looks quite swish and I'm expecting a good night. But fuck me... 3.30 (the Pound thing again) for a bottle of beer?! Last night I got supper and a pint for about the same price!

Meme: What do my books say about me?

Book collection
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

Shamelessly following where Nat and Dan have already gone.

Click the pic for more about the books.

Best flash game EVER!

American Dad Vs. Family Guy Kung Fu!

Pheeeeeeew. All bloggered out today.

Observation

Isn't it annoying how once you've spilt coffee granules in the sugar bowl you can never get them all out again!

Without leads there is no hope

So I just heard back from "PC Plod" at Surray Quays police station. He's checked the CCTV footage from outside Tesco and guess what... it's too poor quality to identify the bastard that stole my shiny mountain bike (circa 2 weeks ago). I wasn't expecting much really, but as he said, 'without a lead we've got nothing'.

So now I only have one final hope - that one of these days soon I'm going to see a bastard thief on a tricked out Dawes Watoga cycling past me in traffic while I'm sitting in my car. I'm going to wait till just before he passes me and then open my door violently. The resounding crash will be rather satisfying. I may kick him a few times while he's lying on the ground dazed... I'll have to see how my day's been so far. I'll then pack my bike into the back of my car and take it home. Then I'll call the police and tell them not to worry about the bike anymore.

My only question is what the hell is the point in having CCTV cameras is they're of such crap quality that they can't be used to identify anyone?

Fuck you. I'm dy'eeeeeng

Reservoir dogs in 30 seconds (and re-enacted by bunnies). Unbleeped.

A religious experience

Kit Kat
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

It's true what they say, the Lord does work in mysterious ways. But I give all of my thanks to him for this offering. Beats the crap out of manna any day of the week!

A long time ago a good mate of mine, now resident in Dubai frolicking with the Arabs, introduced me to Kit Kat Chunky with a strap line that has stuck with me for years. His words? "Welcome to the biggest chocolate experience ever."

I've sworn by those words for the best part of 6 years now, so imagine my suprise when this sexy little number appeared on my radar. Pwoaaaah! I had to have a piece of it.

And the best bit? It doesn't disappoint in any way what-so-ever. It tastes exactly how you hope it will. In fact, if you were to design a peanut butter flavoured Kit Kat Chunky, then this is EXACTLY what you would design it to taste like. In fact... if you were to design the ULTIMATE chocolate. A chocolate above all other chocolates. A leader of chocolates. A chocolate GOD even! Then this is what you would design.

I thank the Lord for the skills and talents he bestowed upon the man who is responsible for this creation. He is truely a powerful God and I bow before his magnificence.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! I GIVE YOU... KIT KAT CHUNKY... PEANUT BUTTER!

Above and beyond

Above and beyond
Originally uploaded by Ian Wilson.

Ahhh... this was so almost me.

Every now and again at work we get requests to go outside the call of duty, and far, far beyond the usual drone of daily business development. A colleague asked me a couple of month ago if I wouldn't take a day off my usual beat and go down to one of her universities dressed in the *pictured* berry costume to be a part of some strange activity that she had planned there.

Unfortunately I had to cancel as she didn't give enough prior warning and, although the photo would argue, I do have a REAL job. Thankfully at the last minute a plucky team mate stepped into the breach!

PS. It's not me in the berry costume and I don't care if you think I'm lying.

Roll on June

After 18 months of reliable service, the time has finally come to trade in my old RAZR V3 and get a new phone. My RAZR has served me well over the last year and a half, giving out only twice - once after getting crushed in fall during a rather hairy last man stand in paint ball, and once after being sent through the wash in the pocket of my jeans.

Thank God for mobile insurance is all I have to add to that.

Although my contract period expired about 6 months ago I resisted the urge to upgrade to a newer phone immediately and instead waited to see what this 3G malarky was really about, and for a phone with features that I actually wanted to be released to the UK market. That time has come.

In June the new Sony-Ericsson K800i is released.

It has a 3.2 megapixel camera, so no more lumbering my old Cybershot S-85 around whenever I go out. It's also 3G and supports video calling. Although to tell the truth besides video calling I've yet to work out what's so great about 3G - it seems to be a technology that was blown way out of proportion in the coolness/usefulness stakes. The handset also supports push email, so your email comes to the phone much like it does to your computer, rather than you having to check for new mail.

And the strangest feature is picture blogging. I have no idea how this will work as yet, or if it's any different from blogging via email.

And the best thing? I can keep the same number (including the prefix) even though I may change networks. I've always assumed that you would have to change the first 4 digits to whatever your new networks prefix was, but apparently not.

Moving in

It's true what they say, moving home IS one of the most stressful (and tiring) things you can do. Thankfully most of it is done now.

Don't get me wrong, there's loads still to achieve here - the telephone currently lives on the floor in the hall, and there are a number of large boxes (all mine) littering the living room floor - but the hard work is all done. The relief is immeasurable.

Now I can fall asleep on the couch without fretting that one of perhaps eight other people may want to sit where I'm snoozing. The flat is also smoke free... as are my lungs. Add 20 years to life expectancy - check. Late night parties - those not organised by myself or partner at least - no longer interfere with important nap time. Strange mewling sounds no longer emanate from other bedroom making me worry WTF the other flatmate is dreaming.

There are a host of changes that I'm currently enjoying, but I won't bore any further. Things are very good at the moment, with one solitary smudge on my little picture of perfection. Nat and I have decided to sign up with TalkTalk to get free 8meg broadband. Yes, 8meg broadband for nothing is GREAT! They reckon they can connect us up by July.

JULY!?!?!?!?