I realise the blog has been a bit neglected again over the last couple of weeks, but it's been a busy time on all fronts with parties, barbies, resignations, re-organisations and all manner of other exciting things taking place. None of which directly affect me other than increased workload and the increased need (ok, desire) for beer consumption. Tough job, but I might just be the man to do it.
Unsurprisingly, the one factor that remains unchanged is the house purchase. Yes we're still waiting for his solicitor to send a bit of paper to my solicitor. In fact just to get things moving, I rang mine on Friday. I then rang the estate agent, who rang the seller, who rang his solicitor, got the papers posted, then rang the estate agent back, who rang me, who updated my solicitor that he should see some activity by Tuesday.
A good job all of these people are working for nothing isn't it. No wait a minute, I'm the only one in this chain who isn't making any money out of the deal and yet I'm doing all of the pushing. No wonder they say it is one of the most stressful times you will encounter.
Hmmm, I can feel another pint of Hobgoblin heading this way...
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Monday, July 18, 2005
The truth is out there...
After 9 months of blogging you'd think the novelty would wear off but no, I'm still fascinated by my site stats.
Initially, I was quite happy with my little hit counter from Bravenet and it's still the one I refer to for landmark counts. [Note to self: must find a new firework gif - hit 3000 is approaching] Way back at the beginning of the year, I set up the Extreme Tracking and ever since, I just can't stop checking out the results to see whats going on.
In terms of hits, I'm still at the dizzy heights of an average 10 visits per day, which I still think is pretty good going bearing in mind the drivel that is on here most of the time. Most visitors apparently drop in between 20:00 and 22:00 on a Monday evening, in fact, right about now, so "Hello - thanks for dropping in".
As for the search results that lead people here, I continue to be amazed and wonder in some cases whether apologies are due. I would expect a few "Seany" results, but "Magic Roundabout", "Samantha Janus", "Aborigine lyrics", each only mentioned once (until today) but regular favourites for visitors. I don't want to go through the whole Paula Radcliffe bodily function routine again, but it was disturbing how many visits the site got as a result of one rant. On the subject of disturbing, a fortnight ago someone arrived here after searching for "buy house next to school playground". I truly hope they were researching school catchment areas, but regardless, the post they were guided to was this one.
Finally is the locations of visitors. I'm currently running at about 38 countries, which is probably more than I could name and eight continents, which is 3 more than we had when I went to school. I know I've mentioned these before but I'm really curious to find out where the 16 visitors from "unknown" countries and continents are. Unless of course they happened on a Saturday night in which case it might well have been visits I made myself. Many's the time one of my drinking buddies will remind me "You looked like you'd had a good time, in fact, I'm not too sure you even knew where you were..."
Initially, I was quite happy with my little hit counter from Bravenet and it's still the one I refer to for landmark counts. [Note to self: must find a new firework gif - hit 3000 is approaching] Way back at the beginning of the year, I set up the Extreme Tracking and ever since, I just can't stop checking out the results to see whats going on.
In terms of hits, I'm still at the dizzy heights of an average 10 visits per day, which I still think is pretty good going bearing in mind the drivel that is on here most of the time. Most visitors apparently drop in between 20:00 and 22:00 on a Monday evening, in fact, right about now, so "Hello - thanks for dropping in".
As for the search results that lead people here, I continue to be amazed and wonder in some cases whether apologies are due. I would expect a few "Seany" results, but "Magic Roundabout", "Samantha Janus", "Aborigine lyrics", each only mentioned once (until today) but regular favourites for visitors. I don't want to go through the whole Paula Radcliffe bodily function routine again, but it was disturbing how many visits the site got as a result of one rant. On the subject of disturbing, a fortnight ago someone arrived here after searching for "buy house next to school playground". I truly hope they were researching school catchment areas, but regardless, the post they were guided to was this one.
Finally is the locations of visitors. I'm currently running at about 38 countries, which is probably more than I could name and eight continents, which is 3 more than we had when I went to school. I know I've mentioned these before but I'm really curious to find out where the 16 visitors from "unknown" countries and continents are. Unless of course they happened on a Saturday night in which case it might well have been visits I made myself. Many's the time one of my drinking buddies will remind me "You looked like you'd had a good time, in fact, I'm not too sure you even knew where you were..."
Sunday, July 17, 2005
Never too late...
Steph sent me an e-mail last week to draw my attention to this We're Not Afraid site which is a great indication of the level of sheer defiance that has been stirred up since the events of the 7th.
I write somewhat ashamed on two counts; firstly because 145 galleries worth of people have already found this site before me and contributed and secondly because I didn't get in first with the type of picture I would have submitted had I not been beaten to it. Well done to Huw G for this and my sympathies on sharing my sense of humour.
So it looks like I'll have to get my thinking cap on, but better late than never...
I write somewhat ashamed on two counts; firstly because 145 galleries worth of people have already found this site before me and contributed and secondly because I didn't get in first with the type of picture I would have submitted had I not been beaten to it. Well done to Huw G for this and my sympathies on sharing my sense of humour.
So it looks like I'll have to get my thinking cap on, but better late than never...
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Money, money, money...
Wa-hay - mortgage offer arrived at last!
After all this time, it's actually £200 less than their "offer in principle" (???) but its taken them two attempts to get the house value anywhere near correct. So the valuation survey was obviously money well spent. Big deal - I'm sure I can rustle up that amount of cash and it might save me several pence over the next 25 years. Let's hope they take the same light-hearted interest in collecting my monthly payments.
Now to Mr Solicitor. Land registry enquiries and searches have only just been completed for the previous "almost buyer" so surely it can't take them long this time?
Meanwhile, the estate agent girl has gone mysteriously quiet...
After all this time, it's actually £200 less than their "offer in principle" (???) but its taken them two attempts to get the house value anywhere near correct. So the valuation survey was obviously money well spent. Big deal - I'm sure I can rustle up that amount of cash and it might save me several pence over the next 25 years. Let's hope they take the same light-hearted interest in collecting my monthly payments.
Now to Mr Solicitor. Land registry enquiries and searches have only just been completed for the previous "almost buyer" so surely it can't take them long this time?
Meanwhile, the estate agent girl has gone mysteriously quiet...
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
New single...
Driving in to work this morning, I heard that Tony Christie is releasing Avenues and Alleyways on the 25th July, hot on the heels of his success with the now dreaded Amarillo single. As Johnnie Walker said after the song, "Well, I say new single, it was actually first released 32 years ago".
All the same, I still quite like it, but then I didn't mind the Amarillo song up until a few months ago. Although I wish him every success with it, I just hope this one doesn't go the same way. What the "new" song does have in it's favour is that it brings back memories of 70's TV for me, as it was used as the theme tune for The Protectors. Not that I would have been allowed to watch it I don't suppose at the ripe old age of 7, but I clearly remember the "chime" of the opening five notes which possibly signalled bedtime back then.
On the subject of those opening notes, I've always had my suspicions that a certain Mr Mercury found them somewhat inspiring 5 years later when he wrote "We are the Champions". I wonder if this could be the beginnings of a new copyright dispute? I'm sure Mitch Murray would be grateful of a few quid's worth of royalties.
Off on a complete tangent, this also reminds me of an office where I worked in the late 80's that boasted a window with an excellent position for the sunshine and therefore, growing of plants. I enjoyed much (and seldom repeated) success with a variety of cacti and an enormous coleus plant which I later dubbed Nat King Coleus whose pot was labelled accordingly. So, it only seemed fitting when someone bought me an amaryllis bulb in a pot which later grew to exaggerated proportions that it was also given a name, so I decided on Tony. I had to explain it a lot back then aswell...
All the same, I still quite like it, but then I didn't mind the Amarillo song up until a few months ago. Although I wish him every success with it, I just hope this one doesn't go the same way. What the "new" song does have in it's favour is that it brings back memories of 70's TV for me, as it was used as the theme tune for The Protectors. Not that I would have been allowed to watch it I don't suppose at the ripe old age of 7, but I clearly remember the "chime" of the opening five notes which possibly signalled bedtime back then.
On the subject of those opening notes, I've always had my suspicions that a certain Mr Mercury found them somewhat inspiring 5 years later when he wrote "We are the Champions". I wonder if this could be the beginnings of a new copyright dispute? I'm sure Mitch Murray would be grateful of a few quid's worth of royalties.
Off on a complete tangent, this also reminds me of an office where I worked in the late 80's that boasted a window with an excellent position for the sunshine and therefore, growing of plants. I enjoyed much (and seldom repeated) success with a variety of cacti and an enormous coleus plant which I later dubbed Nat King Coleus whose pot was labelled accordingly. So, it only seemed fitting when someone bought me an amaryllis bulb in a pot which later grew to exaggerated proportions that it was also given a name, so I decided on Tony. I had to explain it a lot back then aswell...
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Time flies...
Checking back tonight, I see it's 24 days since I first put an offer on the house.
Three and a half weeks and still no sign of any firm commitents from anybody. I still only have my mortgage agreed in principle (which could work out bloody expensive now if they don't stick to their principles).
One further update since my last post is that with effecf from last Friday, it is now "Sold - subject to contract". A small step in the right direction I suppose, but we're not out of the woods yet...
Three and a half weeks and still no sign of any firm commitents from anybody. I still only have my mortgage agreed in principle (which could work out bloody expensive now if they don't stick to their principles).
One further update since my last post is that with effecf from last Friday, it is now "Sold - subject to contract". A small step in the right direction I suppose, but we're not out of the woods yet...
Thursday, July 07, 2005
WTF...
There are no excuses for the events today in central London and I doubt there is anything I can say that will help the situation, but my thoughts are with the families of those lost and injured as a result of these mindless actions.
I will say how highly commendable the emergency services appear to be in dealing with the situation both quickly and efficiently.
Unfortunately, I am quite disgusted by a most unlikely source - the BBC news reporters (or at least a good selection of them). Heaven knows, there have been sufficient atrocities to report on in recent years and yet the idiot doing his piece to camera still seems to have a tourettes-style approach to asking the bloody obvious when there is clearly no need.
"Here we have a young man who was trapped in one of the underground trains at the time of the first explosion. Tell me, how did you feel when the bomb went off?"
Please, stop right there. Engage brain before opening mouth. That is not journalism, it's sensationalism. How on earth do you think he felt and what exactly do you expect him to say?
It's not often I have anything too serious to say on this blog, but for fucks sake...
I will say how highly commendable the emergency services appear to be in dealing with the situation both quickly and efficiently.
Unfortunately, I am quite disgusted by a most unlikely source - the BBC news reporters (or at least a good selection of them). Heaven knows, there have been sufficient atrocities to report on in recent years and yet the idiot doing his piece to camera still seems to have a tourettes-style approach to asking the bloody obvious when there is clearly no need.
"Here we have a young man who was trapped in one of the underground trains at the time of the first explosion. Tell me, how did you feel when the bomb went off?"
Please, stop right there. Engage brain before opening mouth. That is not journalism, it's sensationalism. How on earth do you think he felt and what exactly do you expect him to say?
It's not often I have anything too serious to say on this blog, but for fucks sake...
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Game on...
Or more accurately "Games on" - the 2012 Olympics will be held in the UK, which has to be good news I suppose, even though I'm not the worlds greatest sports fan.
I've always been a fan of a good laugh though and must applaud the creator of this photo for getting it circulated so quickly (click on picture to enlarge).
Thanks to Woja & Kirsty who both sent it on to me earlier today...
I've always been a fan of a good laugh though and must applaud the creator of this photo for getting it circulated so quickly (click on picture to enlarge).
Thanks to Woja & Kirsty who both sent it on to me earlier today...
What a load of...
In between some drivel or other on TV last night, I was unsurprisingly drawn to an advert featuring the delightful Claudia Schiffer.
Now I've been working around (not wearing) cosmetics for 10 years, loitering with dubious intent on the fringes of the fashion industry, but every now and then even my boundaries of belief are challenged.
Before I go on, I should clarify that I haven't tried this L'Oreal product, predominantly in case it actually does work and I start to look like Claudia, in which case I would probably never leave my bed again, let alone the house.
No, my problem is with this item is the special wrinkle-freeing ingredient or more accurately it's name, "Boswelox". Bo-swe-lox. Is that the best they could dream up?
Hardly evocative of Ms Schiffer's indisputably clear complexion is it? Sounds to me like a load of old "Cobb-swe-lers"...
Now I've been working around (not wearing) cosmetics for 10 years, loitering with dubious intent on the fringes of the fashion industry, but every now and then even my boundaries of belief are challenged.
Before I go on, I should clarify that I haven't tried this L'Oreal product, predominantly in case it actually does work and I start to look like Claudia, in which case I would probably never leave my bed again, let alone the house.
No, my problem is with this item is the special wrinkle-freeing ingredient or more accurately it's name, "Boswelox". Bo-swe-lox. Is that the best they could dream up?
Hardly evocative of Ms Schiffer's indisputably clear complexion is it? Sounds to me like a load of old "Cobb-swe-lers"...
Tuesday, July 05, 2005
Hold the front page...
Well there's a surprise, just as all of the expensive decisions have been made, look what made the headlines of tonight's Grimsby Telegraph:
Yes folks, Seany's buying a house and now, as predicted, the housing market boom is officially over. Click the picture for more of the story. Oh, bugger.
Still, I suppose everyone's got to have somewhere to live. At the moment, mine seems to be an office...
Yes folks, Seany's buying a house and now, as predicted, the housing market boom is officially over. Click the picture for more of the story. Oh, bugger.
Still, I suppose everyone's got to have somewhere to live. At the moment, mine seems to be an office...
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