Despite practicing hard and learning three chords I’m left sitting in the garden this evening, ukulele in hand, watching it on the TV.

At least there’s no queue for the drinks and the foods home cooked …

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When I grew up you all seemed the coolest kids in town. Your own cartoon series, great songs and a lead singer way cooler than the Osmonds.

You introduced me to Motown. I loved what Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton did for you on Thriller.

I don’t know what demons haunted you but tonight, with you dead, it’s sad all those people who admired you in life didn’t stand by you in your darkest hour or take a little more care to help and advise you. Perhaps if they did then tonight we wouldn’t be missing you so much.

Posted by Mark at 11:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

All you need to know about Google Wave

Perhaps this is the solution to scheduling Sunday lunch …

Google launches the new, interactive web.

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I’ve been thinking a lot about bread again.

The white steamed stuff we get here just doesn’t cut it for me anymore.

The Polish freshly baked bread from the shop at the top of the road is a much better option but perhaps this, from Mother Earth News, may be the answer. The five minute a day approach to fresh bread. Go try it !

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After 74 years Kodak announce the end of an iconic filmstock.

A sad day for all those who still shoot film.

If you think digital is good take a look at these shots

Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away

Paul Simon - Kodachrome

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After being snubbed by Lord Louis Mountbatten (who was running a dog show at his place) K and I ended up at the Harold Hillier Gardens for a walk in the sun, a look at the woodland pigs and some art in the gardens.

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It’s not every day you drop two dress sizes but today K managed that.

A lot of my time will be spent in Next from here on in …

Posted by Mark at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We all need a little distraction in life, welcome to my new one ….

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So the MP’s expenses have finally been published.

The fact that my local MP’s claim for ████████ was paid seems a complete mystery as she lives at ███████████████ in ██████████████████ Her █████ for his husband was allowed despite costing █████ in one ██████ alone. I’m she’s allowed to claim for ████████ and also for ████████ and ████████████ but claiming for █████████████ ████ times in one █████ alone seems excessive.

This isn’t freedom of information, it needs to change for Parliament to be trusted.

Posted by Mark at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

So, The Times has done it again - this time through the dogged detective work of it’s journalist Patrick Foster.

The ruling of Mr Justice Eady that blogging is, “essentially a public rather than a private activity” will blow like a cold wind through the ranks of anonymous bloggers. People who write thought provoking, interesting and challenging blogs will now have to consider if their writing leaves them open to witch hunts from the media, or worse, employers.

Why bother to continue to write, to put into words that thing which you are passionate about and want to communicate to a wider audience if that could lead to you loosing your job and suffering all the bullying and aggressive tactics that other bloggers have faced at the hands of The Times.

No, it’s much better that we suffer in silence or complain in ones or twos over a pint at the pub.

Ironic, isn’t it, that in the week we champion anonymous Iranian bloggers and Tweeters we remove that privilege from people in the UK.

Goodnight Jack.

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Ever considered what would get you off the sofa and out to meet your neighbours ?

That’s what I’m wondering about this evening.

Somehow the discussion has moved from using technology to reach out to people to what do we do when we have them.

Does litter picking and planting shrubs in a local park appeal to the Nintendo generation ? Would a summer fete work ? Do people still Line Dance ?

Suddenly I realise just how anti-social I am.

What would make you go out and meet people ?

Posted by Mark at 11:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Google Squared is an experimental search tool that collects facts from the web and presents them in an organized collection, similar to a spreadsheet.

Give it a go here to see information about American Presidents …

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“If you see a handbag in that shade of pink, or darker, then get it for me”, said K’s Aunt as I held a hatbox and admired her wedding outfit.

Outside the family are gathering for a barbeque.

Odd how life changes isn’t it ?

Posted by Mark at 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A late birthday present from K.

A trip into London, an afternoon in Vinopolis and some time with Oz Clarke learning about wine, why we dislike the French and the finer aspects of viticulture.

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“Three acts ?”, asked K as we ordered interval drinks.

It seemed a little wrong to be ordering for both intervals as well as a glass before.

“Second interval”, we both agreed.

Come the first one we went to the bar and ordered from the other person…

“I am not a heavy drinker. I can sometimes go for hours without touching a drop.”, Noel Coward

Posted by Mark at 11:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So, finally, I have put my time where my mouth is.

This evening I went to the local residents association and made a pitch to improve their web presence and to market themselves better.

It’s clear they want the least risk / least management option - which I think I can provide - but if this is to work then they need to buy into the idea and it needs proper management and I think we’re a little way from that yet….

Posted by Mark at 10:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Finally we have some time booked off.

No big plans - days out and hopefully some sun and sitting in the back garden.

I can’t wait. It’s time to see what’s on at museums, plan a few walks and dust down the bbq…

Posted by Mark at 7:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Instead of a day in the office and series of meetings all I have managed today is to update my Linux laptop and watch a few things on TV in between sleeping.

Tomorrow will be a challenge to catch up…

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In “The Cathedral and the Bazaar”, Eric Raymond writes:

“When you start community-building, what you need to be able to present is a plausible promise. Your program doesn’t have to work particularly well. It can be crude, buggy, incomplete, and poorly documented. What it must not fail to do is (a) run, and (b) convince potential co-developers that it can be evolved into something really neat in the foreseeable future.”

That plausible promise also needs to exist in a company in order for it to gain the trust and respect of the workforce.

People try for higher salaries and are usually happy with something a little less. People ask for 10 training courses and are usually happy when 5 appear.

When the plausible promise is broken (or when people fear it will be) then the rules of the game are completely changed.

Posted by Mark at 8:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

So, at the end of weekend when we remembered our proudest day in Europe at the commemoration of the D Day landings we allowed the BNP into Europe.

Our elected representatives in Europe, the people who represent this country are those who think that global warming is invented by big business to control the price of petrol. That’s one of it’s more palatable statements.

Fair enough if you voted for the BNP because you are a racist. Shame on you if you this was a protest vote.

There is nothing British about the BNP

Posted by Mark at 7:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While everything seems quiet in the kitchen at Marco Pierre White’s Yew Tree Inn the parking can be hell.

Despite a small car park to one side of the 17th century building, parking in front of the building on the roadside and spaces across the road there still seems to be just too few to handle a full service on a Sunday.

But don’t let that put you off. The staff are friendly and attentive and the kitchen accommodating. Call ahead if you’re a vegetarian and especially if you’re a pregnant one.

Enjoy the fresh, well cooked and presented food and try the Billi Billi Shiraz….

Posted by Mark at 8:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

And most of it was wrapped around a pole.

The Naked Truth a world away from Shakespeare, full of ribald humour and missing a hook at the end…

Posted by Mark at 11:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I read last year that you could grow peas in a hanging basket I was a little dubious but so far it seems to be working well …

Posted by Mark at 7:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I was young I’d spend hours trying to walk so gently that my steps wouldn’t tear rice paper.

I didn’t really know what rice paper was, only that it was something stuck to the bottom of my mother’s macaroons, things that were good for pulling at my first set of teeth in the hope that the vash dispensing fairy might be summoned. How could you tear that stuff ?

I remember a summer when I walked around with a stick and tried to see the tracks of one of the local stray dogs on the hot tarmac. I even considered taking up karate but unlike Troozers I never got beyond the moment when I tried one of my father’s large white shirts and tied a belt around my waist.

For me David Carradine will always be Kwai Chang Caine and will always be a memory of those long, long summers.

Posted by Mark at 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Because that’s what every girl wants …

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It’s somewhat ironic that on the first say of summer one of the more popular (and little advertised) national DAB radio stations has been taken off air.

Birdsong radio was originally used as a “placemarker” for a DAB station that was oing to be launched sometime. Today it was taken off line to be replaced by Amazing Radio.

Amazing is only the third national digital only station alongside Planet Rock and the armed forces station, BFBS Radio.

Amazing is here for a trial six month period featuring a mixture of indie, urban, rock, jazz and pop music from unsigned acts some of which which can be downloaded with 70% of the revenue going to the artist.

Given the success of DAB radio perhaps this autumn the birds will return…

Posted by Mark at 7:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“We could be on holiday”, said K as we sat in the sun and listened to the music.

Not a bad way to have Sunday lunch, catch up on gossip and book a band for your wedding…

Posted by Mark at 7:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Amazingly warm, long summer day - suddenly everything is flowering.

Posted by Mark at 10:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Once upon a time I seemed to be able to work for months (perhaps even years) without a serious break.

These days I can’t wait for the next holiday. The days are getting longer, the stresses mounting and the need to get away from this desk (even from th house for a while) is getting greater.

I’m glad this is happening in the summer rather than Winter.

The garden calls…

Posted by Mark at 6:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Interesting, inventive, challenging, funny, sad this site always has something of interest in it’s short films.

Check out Mediastorm today

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So far this is the best summary of what Apple may have in store for 2010.

Kindle killer or Newton reborn it’s clear that there’s a lot of interest and a lot of people out there waiting for one. Me ? I’ve started saving already.

Apple tablet speculation
Apple tablet is real says Asus

Posted by Mark at 10:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

How to Properly Retweet

Before we get into the greatness of retweeting, it would probably be a good idea for you to understand how to properly retweet.

The common syntax starts off with the use of a label. My favorite label to use is “Retweet:” - the label “Retweeting:” and “Reading:” work as well.

Next comes the crediting. You can credit the original poster by simply using the @reply syntax, for example: “@originalPoster”.

Lastly, you should add the link along with a quick note about the link and why it is relevant. Here is a full example of retweeting:

Retweet: @originalPoster The 5 Best Blog Tips http://is.gd/56f - great tips

Now that you understand how to properly retweet, lets move on to some basic concepts of retweeting

So, take a look at these Tweets.

Me
@allaboutcricket
@allaboutcricket again

If you are going to automatically retweet interesting things then at least do it properly rather than passing it off as our own work and make sure whatever thing you use to retweet doesn’t automatically retweet your own work…

Posted by Mark at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

“That looks like someone’s house”, said K as we stood by an impressive set of open gates.

Stay on the path and bear left in front of the farmhouse it said in the instructions.

It didn’t look like a farmhouse. Neatly raked gravel stretched ahead of us. Beyond that well tended lawns.

Miles away from any roads on a warm sunny day it seemed idyllic.

I wondered how much money the farmer had got for selling the land.

The date on the map was 1992.

We turned around and headed back to the pub…

Posted by Mark at 7:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A joint of beef, a barbecue, drinks on the patio and full Sunday roast under the vines. Doesn’t get better than this.

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It’s not every day you start off working on the smallest veg patch in the world then trying on a morning suit in the afternoon.

Another thing almost ticked off the list …

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Many years ago, when I took this picture, jazz and bands were all I cared about.

For a hour today they were all that mattered.

Booking a band for September is underway …

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“That’s the thing”, said Bev as we stood in the sun on the corner of the street.

I looked longingly at Mr Singh’s old shop. When he closed down I’d suggested to Bev that we take it on and run it.

A few years later and corporate life was taking it’s toll on both of us.

“You see, it is just admin but so many people can’t do that now, they just aren’t organised”.

Long ago I used to technical things - even management things.

From my pocket the alarm went off on my phone reminding me I had a spreadsheet to fill in.

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“Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot”. ~Truman Capote, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1958, spoken by the character Holly Golightly

I’m still trying to work in some regular time every week to read but, luckily, I’ve managed to ind a few hours recently.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a wonderful read - I’ve not read any Capote before but this a good place to start and comes with a couple of short stories as well.

Next on the list Here Comes Everybody

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It’s all about immediacy.

When I shoot digital I can bring that picture back, download it, post-process it and post it within a few hours.

With film I’m trying to find things that can be used months from now.

It’s quite a change, and quite a challenge.

Posted by Mark at 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There’s no such thing as an entente cordiale in the world of mattresses.

We bought a mattress topper from Dreams last Saturday and tried it on the bed. King sized mattress, king sized topper, 3 cm gap all the around.

Early Sunday, back at the store, we were cheerily told, “Ah Ikea bed, happens all the time, refund ? No not the company policy - we can offer vouchers for pillows or something”.

So, the lessons of this tale are :

If you buy anything from Dreams you need to know their policy differs from most of the high street as far as returns go - all you will get is vouchers for use in the store.

If you have an Ikea bed / mattress it’s a different size from an UK one - not by much when you purchase sheets but by a lot when you purchase some things.

Sadly, a quick search around the Net reveals that many people have problems with Dreams - you’d think in the current climate customer service would be something you’d want to improve…

Posted by Mark at 8:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

“It’s too wet to sell soap”, he said, hanging on to the inside of his stall.

Outside in the village high street the water was cascading down the road.

Hard to remember last year we were watching the Morris Men in full sun.

We’d still move there in a moment though ….

Posted by Mark at 8:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)