After a day which held the promise of rain and, brought the odd light rain shower, as dusk approached so did a darker heavier shower, the sort that makes one think the gods are vengeful! It really is good to have the curtains drawn, as the temperature has taken a distinctly wintry turn, to shut out the blustery darkness.
Dvd and video recorders are both set up for more of the mini Dylan season and, we’re all set to watch “CSI: Miami” and a repeat “CSI: New York”, both on Channel 5.
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Friendship has broken out between the minnows in the aquarium; it could well be a sense of gratitude that they don’t have to face the autumnal changes that the pond fish are experiencing.
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I just give thanks that we are fortunate enough to have food in our belly and, a roof over our head.
- living and frequently struggling with moderate M.E. -
where (bad) health, faith, politics and the joys and troubles of daily life collide.
ME
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Monday, September 26, 2005
Televisual Treats
Just caught the end of the Dylan profile, though we've recorded it all on Dvd, and now I'm just watching a follow up programme, "Dylan's Legends" (BBC4) at the moment about Woody Guthrie and featuring Pete Seeger (one of the heroes of my youth) ... we're currently recording this on VHS. It's always good to have one or two recordings to look back at and, look forward to!
Watched the final episode of "Rose & Maloney"(ITV1), which co-incided (time-wise) with the first hour and a half of the Scorsese Dylan profile. The electronic media is a wonderful thing; it's so easy to champion it when it presents programmes that suit one's own interests!
A bottle of 'Stafford Lodge', Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2003 enhanced our appreciation of these televisual treats.
Watched the final episode of "Rose & Maloney"(ITV1), which co-incided (time-wise) with the first hour and a half of the Scorsese Dylan profile. The electronic media is a wonderful thing; it's so easy to champion it when it presents programmes that suit one's own interests!
A bottle of 'Stafford Lodge', Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, 2003 enhanced our appreciation of these televisual treats.
From blood-letting to libations
Today, it was time to visit the blood-letters once more, although only one phial was required to carry out a liver-function test. It was really good to walk straight in, no queues, just yours truly. Helen, my beloved chauffeuse, didn’t even have time to read one page of her book in the waiting area; it was all over and done with so quickly! On my next visit they’ll require several phials of the red fluid but, that only adds seconds to the process. The important thing is to remember the quiet periods!
On my return home, decided to do a bit of work in the garden (details of which are recorded by Heterocon). Both Helen and myself are looking forward to the first part of Scorsese’s “No Direction Home – Bob Dylan” (BBC2) this evening. An event to be recorded! Perhaps I ought to raid the wine cellar to find an appropriate libation.
With threatening skies outside, it will be wonderful to just cosy-up with my beloved!
On my return home, decided to do a bit of work in the garden (details of which are recorded by Heterocon). Both Helen and myself are looking forward to the first part of Scorsese’s “No Direction Home – Bob Dylan” (BBC2) this evening. An event to be recorded! Perhaps I ought to raid the wine cellar to find an appropriate libation.
With threatening skies outside, it will be wonderful to just cosy-up with my beloved!
Sunday, September 25, 2005
To Love One's Enemy
To love one's enemies is the most difficult directive of Jesus, even loving one's neighbour is fraught with difficulty, especially when we realize how broad a definition of 'neighbour' is given by Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could live without prejudice?
I hate prejudice and yet, my own life is so full of it! I'm just watching "Frost" (ITV1), a programme I always enjoy but, I find almost from the off my prejudices come to the fore. I almost cringe at the 'piety' of the victim's brother in law; a former lover of the victim I instantly sympathize with, recognizing his all too human frailty. Of course, in this case a forensic pathologist is called in and, she's frightfully middle-class, I take an instant dislike. The priest in the picture acts very guiltily and, I think that must be par for the job!
My bets are on the pious brother-in-law ... not that I've got any evidence but, he's pious isn't he? In a situation like this, loving one's enemy is certainly hard but, it's almost equally difficult to know who's the real friend!
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PS (10.19 pm) : I can't stand "know-alls" but, I was right!
I hate prejudice and yet, my own life is so full of it! I'm just watching "Frost" (ITV1), a programme I always enjoy but, I find almost from the off my prejudices come to the fore. I almost cringe at the 'piety' of the victim's brother in law; a former lover of the victim I instantly sympathize with, recognizing his all too human frailty. Of course, in this case a forensic pathologist is called in and, she's frightfully middle-class, I take an instant dislike. The priest in the picture acts very guiltily and, I think that must be par for the job!
My bets are on the pious brother-in-law ... not that I've got any evidence but, he's pious isn't he? In a situation like this, loving one's enemy is certainly hard but, it's almost equally difficult to know who's the real friend!
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PS (10.19 pm) : I can't stand "know-alls" but, I was right!
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Idling Around and finding a bargain
After a very lazy start to the day, it has been a really good day. No sudden relief from my regulation tiredness but, I’ve enjoyed the day. Having found a bargain 512Mb Usb2 Flash Drive online, Helen drove me down to collect it from PC World … the assistant in the store seemed quite bemused that an item on the shelves for £50 could be collected and bought for £20 if ordered on-line.
After the visit to PC World, we drove into town to collect a book that Helen had ordered. Immediately on return, I set to preparation of the turkey steaks, that I’d marinated earlier, ready for Sunday lunch. The reason for this promptness was, the (not unreasonable) expectation that fatigue may have set in if I left the task any later. As it happens … fatigue hasn’t occurred yet! A fluctuation of body temperature, from over-heated to very cold, within an extremely short time-span has recurred this evening … perhaps that’s the bodies reaction in lieu of fatigue!
Once again, this evening we’ve been entertained by the ‘X-Factor’ auditions and, I’ve remembered to set up the DVD recorder, for the repeat showing (BBC4) of the two Loudon Wainwright III programmes we so enjoyed last night.
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It was good to see that The Fox had re-entered the blogosphere last-night and, here’s hoping that normality is soon restored to his domicile after the recent re-wiring.
After the visit to PC World, we drove into town to collect a book that Helen had ordered. Immediately on return, I set to preparation of the turkey steaks, that I’d marinated earlier, ready for Sunday lunch. The reason for this promptness was, the (not unreasonable) expectation that fatigue may have set in if I left the task any later. As it happens … fatigue hasn’t occurred yet! A fluctuation of body temperature, from over-heated to very cold, within an extremely short time-span has recurred this evening … perhaps that’s the bodies reaction in lieu of fatigue!
Once again, this evening we’ve been entertained by the ‘X-Factor’ auditions and, I’ve remembered to set up the DVD recorder, for the repeat showing (BBC4) of the two Loudon Wainwright III programmes we so enjoyed last night.
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It was good to see that The Fox had re-entered the blogosphere last-night and, here’s hoping that normality is soon restored to his domicile after the recent re-wiring.
Friday, September 23, 2005
A Little Light Music
Hilarious, poignant, gently cynical, that’s Loudon Wainwright III currently providing some exhilaration to lift me from my humdrum routine. First we have one hour of a special concert, interspersed with interviews, courtesy of BBC4, to be followed on the same channel with some archive footage for a further hour. Fortunately, both programmes will be re-shown from midnight on Saturday so, I’ll remember (hopefully) to set up the DVD recorder. Thanks Loudon, thank-you BBC.
It’s truly amazing how he’s resurrected this fatigued soul! Tiredness had, once more, been the keynote of the day, exacerbated in no small way by an afternoon brief brisk walk. That relapse was overcome by a little kitchen creativity, a new variant on my celebrated Salmon Savoury Rice.
Afraid Mr Wainwright is distracting me from the serious matter of blogging so, I bid y’all a fond farewell!
It’s truly amazing how he’s resurrected this fatigued soul! Tiredness had, once more, been the keynote of the day, exacerbated in no small way by an afternoon brief brisk walk. That relapse was overcome by a little kitchen creativity, a new variant on my celebrated Salmon Savoury Rice.
Afraid Mr Wainwright is distracting me from the serious matter of blogging so, I bid y’all a fond farewell!
Food For Thought
Although I got up reasonably early this morning, I've not yet felt ready to have any breakfast. Sure, I know all the arguments about the importance of this first food input of the day but, quite honestly, I'm just not hungry!
As I've been surfing the web, I came across this powerful and well presented PDF - Hunger In A World of Plenty: Facts Have Faces - and, once more it hit home just what a privileged life I lead! Whereas I can skip a meal, simply because I don't feel like it, there are millions who would love to have that luxury.
I am totally convinced that, if only we in the developed world had the political will, hunger could be abolished. An accompanying scandal is the degree of poverty prevalent in the most affluent nations.
Strange, how suddenly I begin to feel both hungry and, not a little, guilty!
As I've been surfing the web, I came across this powerful and well presented PDF - Hunger In A World of Plenty: Facts Have Faces - and, once more it hit home just what a privileged life I lead! Whereas I can skip a meal, simply because I don't feel like it, there are millions who would love to have that luxury.
I am totally convinced that, if only we in the developed world had the political will, hunger could be abolished. An accompanying scandal is the degree of poverty prevalent in the most affluent nations.
Strange, how suddenly I begin to feel both hungry and, not a little, guilty!
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Getting Nowhere Slowly but enjoying the trip?
Although I've had no fresh incidence of the Security Centre/AntiVir conflict this evening, I did finally get around to entering a question about it on the AntiVir Support Forum as their support team still haven't bothered to reply!
Today has passed amazingly quickly, in spite of experiencing some incredibly disruptive technological misbehaviour. A very human trait of computer technology seems to be its temperamental nature.
Yes, I've got to admit that I can be temperamental too!
Today has passed amazingly quickly, in spite of experiencing some incredibly disruptive technological misbehaviour. A very human trait of computer technology seems to be its temperamental nature.
Yes, I've got to admit that I can be temperamental too!
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Kein Vorsprung Durch Technik
Sought advice on the PC Advisor forum re the apparent conflict between AntiVir Personal Edition Premium and Windows Security Centre. Received a response which pointed out how common a problem slow startup can be. Problem is I'd been aware of that difficulty for some time; the current problem is that the recent warning messages have been received whilst the Anti-Virus is already up and running.
At least that response was much quicker than AntiVir's support service. We are still waiting to hear from them. If that's the level of German customer service it's not surprising that their economy is encountering difficulties.
At least that response was much quicker than AntiVir's support service. We are still waiting to hear from them. If that's the level of German customer service it's not surprising that their economy is encountering difficulties.
AntiVir Personal Edition Premium - lack of support!
I wrote a couple of days ago about a problem, that both my wife and myself were having with AntiVir Personal Edition Premium and the messages that it was "turned off" we were receiving from Windows Security Centre. It has become increasingly difficult to know which statement we believe, that it is turned off or that, according to the programme itself, it is "active"!
Both of us have contacted support at AntiVir but, two days later, no reply is forthcoming. By now, it seems quite definite we will not be renewing our Premium payments next year. As I said previously, this sort of problem never occurred when we were using the same companies free Anti Virus.
Both of us have contacted support at AntiVir but, two days later, no reply is forthcoming. By now, it seems quite definite we will not be renewing our Premium payments next year. As I said previously, this sort of problem never occurred when we were using the same companies free Anti Virus.
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