The Month Marches On

This is a sleepy human being you see before you. I need some earlier nights for this work (as my mother keeps reminding me at an annoying frequency).
It's tiring stuff being a railway guard, but it's mainly good fun :)

Apparently...there's now a 20% Value Added Tax on hot baked goods, including pies, pasties, cakes etc. Unless it's hot outside, because then the warmth of the goods will be the same or lower than the ambient temperature...um...ok...

Also, there MAY be a strike by petrol and diesel tanker drivers, so the government cleverly told everyone to panic and stock up on fuel. THe result: no fuel in garages anywhere...yay, well played.

Overall then, a bit of a bad week to be in Britain, because our elected representatives have clearly flipped their lids.

Still, love and hugs yo!

J x

Return of the Jimmy!

Oi oi!

I've got myself a job! I'm a train guard on Snowdon Mountain Railway! Wahey! It's pretty hard work because I work for 7 days without a break before my day off, and as it was my first week I was on for a full 11 days until today. Phew!

Well, I must say that a new show has brought TV back up to a standard I enjoy!

"How God Made the English" is presented by Diarmuid McCulloch, and it's not what you think! It's actually all about how the English haven't been tolerant, religiously upstanding chaps since the ROman age. It's really, really good! He dispells myths, educates and entertains. You guys outside the UK, it might not be available on BBC iPlayer's website, but if you can find it, I recommend it!

On another note, my webcam's still busted and my Photoshop has expired :( No photos for a bit yet :'(

Shazam! Love!

x

Birthday birthday!

It's Robyn's birthday today! :D

I have an ingenious plan to make it last forever! Ishall be sending little surprises to her until she's over here! Then she can have a nice time here with me! Mwahaha!

Also, I start work tomorrow! Real true actual paid with money work! On a steam railway! :D It's long hours and hard work, but I think I'll enjoy it! ^^

Wahey! Good stuff's happening!

I also found out yesterday that I'm descended from the ancient Kings of Gwynedd ^^ Nice!


Lovehugs!

x

Right, enough of this!

Ok. People don't think for themselves anymore. FACT!

I am sick to death of people being sheep with this Uganda video, and as a Welshman, I know a sheep when I see one! For goodness's sake people, do a bit of thinking, read a few articles, and do your homework before you donate to people like this! I'm not saying charities are bad, far from it, but you have to be so careful! This charity in particular is not the best ethically or practically. Take care guys, you might do more harm than good. No information is misinformation, as they say!

Anyway, rant over. I'm tired because I had to ride my motorbike through a hailstorm and it really hurt. Owie :( On the plus side, my bike works after 5 months in storage! Wooo! :D

Jx

Doublet Dabbling

Today it was very rainy, so I decided to spend some time tweaking my 17th Century doublet. People in the know told me that the waist of the doublet needed lifting up, and a stiffened collar putting on it, so that's what I did! Compare the pictures and you'll see the differences. I used brown linen for the outer layer, lined with canvas, and stiffened with some dark green felt I had lying around. Eventually I'll stiffen the front and add another layer of lining. But lazy! XD

Not much else to tell today, except that we found a small bird's skeleton in the garden. I'm tempted to collect it and give the thing to my friend Liz who's a Biologist. She puts bones together with wire and things.

Oh, and I started crocheting a new tuque for my mate Ste the Viking boss man! :D

Luv! x

An iPhone Review? Here? Yes actually!

Ok, so whilst I was in Canada, my dad won an iPhone 3G in a raffle and asked if I wanted it. As I'd dropped my Samsung in the bath, i said yes (I was texting and reading a book, ok?).

I've been using it for about 3 weeks now, so I think it's time I did a little review, just in case the WORLD hadn't read enough of them already :p

First of all, looks. Like all Apple products it's smooth, elegant and futuristic. I like the way its gloss black and chrome colour scheme looks, it's classy and it's got a pleasing curve to its shape, an improvement on older models.

The touchscreen is tough, and it responds well to the touch, no need to pound it into submission, as I found with the Samsung sometimes. The power/lock button is unobtrusive, the volume button works well, and the mute slider is a nice touch, and is handy in a meeting, as it saves fumbling and unlocking. Bonus points for functionality!

But you can't take the casing off, and you ned a small metal stick (!) to remove the SIM card. Points for functionality lost. Especially when it crashes. Which it does alarmingly easily (don't press two buttons at once! Ever!). The only thing to do is wait for it to die, then plug it in and pray, which is very annoying.

The power consumption is scary, and if you're going away for more than 24 hours either take your charger or save change for a payphone, because it goes from 100% to flat with ten texts, a five minute call and two photos.

Turn it off at night as well to save power, but if you do, remember the alarm doesn't work.

The ability to see all your previous texts is handy, as is the search function. It comes with Google Maps as standard, and has a number of useful free apps such as a voice recorder, memo pad and iTunes. The only problem with the apps is you have to have an Aple ID, and if you'd rather not get one then you're probably better off with a more basic smartphone from another company.

If you're OK with having an Apple ID, then the phone is great, it's easy enough to navigate and use, it works as an iPod and netbook.

The camera is comprable to a small digital handheld, and films very nicely with good sound quality on playback. Pictures are high quality, fully zoomable, and easily sent via text.

Overall, a good phone, especially if you can get it without paying a fortune. Personally, I found the Samsung Tocco Light more practical as a phone/texting device, but the excellent camera and handy accessories of the iPhone make it more versatile.

If you really want one I say get one, otherwise stick with what you've got until it dies.

Matt Andersen

Last night my Dad said he had a spare ticket for a blues gig at teh Victoria Hotel in Menai Bridge.

He told me the guy was a "Great big Canadian feller". Sounds good, I thought. I was expecting some dishevelled, sixty-something guy with a glass of whiskey in one hand and a trilby perched on him.

But no. He's awesome! Matt Andersen isn't a small guy, in fact his song I'm a big man" is pretty self explanatory. He throws his head back, long curly hair whirling about his face, and plays the whole gig with his eyes closed.

Unrestrained wailing of the finest kind, accompanied by some of the meanest slide guitar you'll hear this side of doomsday, make no mistake, this guy can play.

Some of his self-written songs get a bit maudlin, but that's the more modern tonality rather than a miserable man, as his audience participation, and his beautifully ridiculous "Cookie Monster Blues" kept a cynical Welsh audience roaring for near enough three hours.

I'd see this guy again, and if you haven't seen him at all, well, now's the time!

Here is his website, I recommend his collaboration with Mike Stevens on "Fired Up".