Yearly Archives: 2002

Marry Me

I went to a wedding today on The Golden Hinde in Southwark. Then we were ferried to Camden to eat on board a canal barge. Finally, the evening reception was a The Canal Museum. It was a superb event and thanks to Derek and Lili for the whole thing and it is always good to catch up with old friends at a time like this.

On this day…

2007: Read The Manual
2005: My Idea Changed
2004: Administrative Apologies
2003: Buffalo Soldiers
2003: Another Russian Birthday
2003: Not Another Teen Movie
2002: How do you say Happy Birthday in Russian?

Back To A Normal Life

As if you didn’t know: Kate won Big Brother 3. Johnny was second, Alex third and Jade forth. Once again this year I started off with very little interest but, as time went on, it became more interesting. For the past two years, the same thing has annoyed me. How come some of the contestants (for it is a game show) seem so ignorant of what the whole thing is about. If they have never watched it they can’t fail to have seen some of the media coverage. They must know what it is all about. But no, they moan about the whole concept and how bad Big Brother is. Why? [BB3]

On this day…

2003: Pride

All For A New Pair of Shoes

Tonight was the Official Opening of The Commonwealth Games. Does anybody still care about The Commonwealth except when they have these games? And I missed the opening ceremony – which, to be honest, is likely to be the only bit I would have watched. I was running in my new running shoes which I suspect is one of the best excuses I have ever had for not sitting on my backside 😉 I bought them this afternoon. I went to Run and Become which has a branch not too far from where I work. While there, I was made to run up and down with my trousers rolled up. Apparently, this was so that the sales assistant could see how I actually run. Personally, I think she was doing it for the amusement of the diners in the cafe opposite. Anyway, I came away £60 lighter with a nice new pair of running shoes.

On this day…

2006: Here Comes Zune
2005: Coming Soon To A Browser Near You

City Hall

I may not agree with everything our delightful new Mayor does but I have to say that I think the London Assembly building, which was opened by The Queen yesterday, is a stunning building. I am pleased to see that, in this age of taller, squarer buildings, we (occasionally) still strive to build something that is visually stunning. Now all I have to do is get down there and see it with my own eyes.

On this day…

2005: Button On The Podium
2003: Home again

Running Shoes

And I went running again today. I am fairly pleased that I did the training run as it says on my training sheet (it’s a 20 minute routine with 1 minute running followed by 1 minute walking). Still hurts and I think my cheap trainers have resulted in some busing to the foot. So, if I am to continue with this folly then I shall have to invest in some proper running shoes. I think it will be money well spent but I have no idea what I should be looking for in a running shoe. It is years and years since I did anything like this. Given that exercise is not my thing I do not think that I should be enjoying it as much as I do!

On this day…

2007: Anything You Can Do
2002: Fix My Car
2002: Oh Canada

Oh Canada

Don’t you just love Canada? I do. “Canada took a major step toward legally recognizing same-sex marriage on Friday when an Ontario court ruled that to do otherwise is unconstitutional”. I believe that this is a positive step forward. [other thoughts]

Unrelated but when will these guys start shipping to the UK?

On this day…

2007: Anything You Can Do
2002: Fix My Car
2002: Running Shoes

We just want to stop being ripped off

I am pro-Euro. I think it would be a good thing for the UK to use the single currency and that’s why I applaud the “blonde babes and cross-dressing comedians” who today protested in The Gap about the differences in pricing between European Countries. Let’s see UK prices more in-line with those of our neighbours across the channel. Go Eddie! [Yahoo]

On this day…

2003: Britain’s Net Pioneers

Fool If You Think It’s Over

This morning, I get up and watch F1. This at least relaxes me and, although I am not a Michael Schumacher fan, I do enjoy the fact he’s made history today. Then I go for the first of my training runs. My body (in particular my legs – from the knees down) decide that exercise is evil and I hobble back to the house after the required time.

At this point in the day I am in pain but nonetheless head off to Wimbledon for a picnic and then to see Elkie Brooks in (open-air) concert. She walked on stage and looking bored, giving a lacklustre performance of Fool If You Think It’s Over. But then she warmed up and was fantastic; I never knew she sang the Blues. So, despite my sore legs and the cramped seating, a great night was head by all (even the picnic food was great 😉

On this day…

2002: Try the M11

Try the M11

I feel it was an interesting weekend. Some of it I don’t want to repeat but mostly good fun and the kind of things that should be done at weekends if you slave all week in an office. It started yesterday afternoon when my brother arrived and we spent two hours in a car driving round south London roads to get across the river and on to the M11 motorway. It’s not the easiest thing from South West London and should really start another rant about the state of London’s roads but I am too tired for that! (it’s also good to see somebody else wondered what the strange tower was)

Arriving in Takeley for a family christening and all is well. It is nice to see some of the members of the family who I do not see too often. We had planned to leave around 8pm and head back for SW17 but we were having a good time and partied until 11pm. It’s hard partying drinking only water but I still had a good time.

So, off we set. 10 minutes on the M11 and the radiator overheats, I lose all power on the car and just about manage to get it onto the hard shoulder before it grinds to a halt in the middle of the carriageway. Then, 50 minutes later a bloke from the RAC arrives and, without really looking at the engine because he can tell it would do no use, loads the car onto the back of the truck and me & my brother into the cab for the ride south. Then we hit the Blackwall Tunnel. At 1am (Sunday) we are caught in a traffic queue for an hour as traffic try to negotiate one lane in the tunnel (cue for another rant about London traffic). Eventually, the car is unloaded outside my house at 2.45am (with apologies to all my neighbour who would have been woken up by the noise).

On this day…

2002: Fool If You Think It’s Over