After a visit to Minty's Menagerie I went to a link he had posted and honestly thought I was going to pee myself. I am a simple fellow and animals mucking about, (jumping at walls, spinning on the floor, dropping into things), really makes me chuckle. I suggest you have a look for yourself so you can see what I mean (thanks for that link Minty). There are plenty of animal videos to check out. They range from pointless to side splitting.

I got sent this link to a card trick online which I can't quite work out. Have a look and see if you know how they do it. (* I've just worked it out - I will leave the answer to how they do it at the bottom of this page, just click here).

Oh yeah. Have a Happy New Year too!

Now the new theme doesn't kick in for a day or two but I couldn't resist putting up a macro shot from the home now. Besides it doesn't seem right putting up more Christmas images when the whole affair is over now. Well, at least until September.

**UPDATE** - I have posted a new Christmas photo here and a close up shot here (not taken on my new Sigma macro lens though).

Good Lookin' guy eh?

Well, did we all have fun?

I had a great time at my mums. Huge amounts of food and drink was consumed and consequently I am now the size of a small country. I got a phone, a lens, chocolate, socks and stacks of other things. The presents I gave were opened to fits of 'oos' and ahs' which I think sounds like they were wanted.

Nikki is busy painting the spare room at the mo' and I have taken it upon myself to sort things in the house out, all the while trying not to think too much about that box of Thorntons toffee in the living room.

Next months photo theme will be 'Macro in the Home' to give me a chance to use my new lens and to give Ian a chance of getting some photos. I do have one or two more Christmas shots which I will post if I have time in a bit.

Thanks to Nik who got back to me about who would play our old RPG characters. Here is his list.
Harlequin: Shannyn Sossamon
Sharn: Heath Ledger
Narren Ash: Daniel Craig / Christian Bale
Saralyn Jeran: Frank Langella
Juthloon: Paul Bettany / Stanley Tucci as Juthloon in the future
Orthain: Miriam Margolyes

Here is my list so far (I may add some more if the other guys give me their lists and remind me of characters I have forgot).
Amonastar: Ewan McGregor
Sharn: Heath Ledger (I think this one is perfect!)
Charlotte: Scarlet Johansson
Evermall: Milla Jovovich
Harlequin: Monica Bellucci
Narron: Daniel Craig (Unshaven or with beard).
Saralyn: (Young) Jake Gyllenhaal
Aalon: Sean Astin
Lucien: Matthew McConaughey
Sardath: Christopher Eccleston (young) Johnathan Rhys Meyers
Orthain: Miriam Margolyes (Again, I think this one is perfect!)

These are my first thoughts. I will see what the guys think.

Not long now folks and, if you are like me, I am sure you are getting in the mood? Or rushing around buying last minute presents for loved ones (you know who you are!)

I hope you all like the cheesy Christmas image above (thanks to Luce for that one) and here is a rather nice Christmas flash animation that has been around for while now but still looks the bizz.

We had an amazing last day at work.

Christmas Happiness

There were some last minute things to finish ready for the New Year but otherwise we had a bit of a larf!

My brain is that way... I think?


Sinister Christmas


Blow up boobies... The best Christmas present ever!


Alright! That's it! No more work.


Gona be fed soon...

Much eating and drinking was done and there was frantic Wii playing.

Christmas Flapjacks, Blackberry Yarn style.

I have to say I have seen great consoles with pretty graphics and been impressed but not to the point of actually considering getting one. Its the motion sensor control panels you see? They really make using the console fun and you actually get to move most of your body to work the games. I can see this really taking off with maybe fitness applications for those healthy people out there.

Later in the evening we visited the Mint Restaurant in Mountsorrel, opposite where we work. The food was to die for, even if the bill must have been murder. That said you could really see where the cash went. Haute Indian cuisine that is out of this world.

Well I won't be posting tomorrow because its Christmas and everything will be busy, busy, busy as usual.

To one and all. Have a very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year. See you after all the fun!

Yep, we are almost at the end of the week. Tomorrow we will only be working for the morning then having a gaming afternoon. On the cards is a little Ghost Recon and some Wii action. From what I have seen of the new Nintendo console it looks great fun.

I have also emailed my old friends from Peterborough concerning some of the characters we used to play in times gone. This will mean nothing to most of you but if any of you bretton lot read this, let me know your choices for actors to fill the RPG character roles we used to play. Just for the hell of it!

I have run out of time to post Christmas cards again. I would love to say I am too busy (but that is such a shit excuse though true). I really must make more of an effort in the future. So apologies to all my friends. Lucky you having such a moron like me for a mate. That said I am only going off on one because I care! (egh, vomit!).

Gigantes in Tenerife is small and beautiful, the same of which can be said of its church.

I don't believe it! I have woke up with the same sodding headache I went to bed early with. It must be something I have eaten and the only thing that is out of the ordinary is the huge amounts of sweets I have consumed in the office. Reader beware! I think chocolate can give you a hang over.

Not many days left until 'C' day. I hope you all have your prezzies ready (uh, yours truly is relying on his girlfriend to buy her own gifts. Man I suck. Ah, but not all is lost. I have a few surprizes up my sleeve, or rather, below the tree.)

Oh and regarding the Urban Ninja sketch on the Menagerie. Ninja Stokes would NEVER allow himself to be recorded... and would use the rooftops ONLY when necessary! (Thanks Minty for reminding me of the hunt in Bretton. Made me chuckle!)

A lot of my friends are emailing me with their Christmas plans and wishing everybody a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year so I thought I would join in.

I did want to add a little more tonight and maybe some more holiday photos but my head is killing me so it only a quick visit to imagi tonight.

I will try and come up with something worth posting later in the week.

I have made a slight tweak to the blog entries again. Also, I thought I may as well use my intro animation made for the 3rd version of imagi (which I never finished). As I said, somewhere back at the start of this imagi my websites have numbered 4, including this one. The first was a basic HTML, the second a sort of 'fake virtuality' site, a bit like one of the old 'choose-your-own-adventure' books. The third was minimal, clean and designed but took a lot of maintenance. Subsequently I chose to simplify my designs into a modular site, to have something that wouldn't take too much time to run (so I would actually update it) and something I could add to as and when I felt like it.

That is this site. It won't get any design awards but it does fulfil my needs at the moment. I do want to expand my web developing skills a bit.

We have had talks at work about cross training and I think, especially for a small business, that it is a great idea. Just hope I can get my peanut brain around all the CSS, PHP and god knows what else there is to learn. (James, help!)

16th December 2006 **UPDATE** - Christmas Holly

I have decided to add titles to the entries to help explain quickly the subject of the entry.

There is another Christmas image here.

16th December 2006

Minty has posted his 'evening with Oliver Stone' entry so check that out. I did notice from the Menagerie that the Star Wars Christmas clip is out and about (as Minty remarks). Oh and check out new defence intelligence HQ in Moscow photos.

15th December 2006

First here is another shot from hols.

Second in light of the recent comedy entries to imagi may I say that if you are staying in with the missus a great dish for her this Christmas is Cumberland Sausage in Cider....

Think about it... (thanks to Ian for that gem).

14th December 2006

To get us all in the mood for Christmas, here are 21 sayings which we can only get away with at this time of year...

1. I prefer breasts to legs
2. Tying the legs together keeps the inside moist.
3. Smother the butter all over the breasts!
4. If I don't undo my trousers, I'll burst!
5. I've never seen a better spread!
6. I'm in the mood for a little dark meat.
7. Are you ready for seconds yet?
8. It's a little dry; do you still want to eat it?
9. Just wait your turn, you'll get some!
10. Don't play with your meat.
11. Stuff it up between the legs as far as it will go.
12. Do you think you'll be able to handle all these people at once?
13. I didn't expect everyone to come at the same time!
14. You still have a little bit on your chin.
15. How long will it take after you put it in?
16. You'll know it's ready when it pops up.
17. Just pull the end and wait for the bang.
18. That's the biggest bird I've ever had!
19. I'm so full, I've been gobbling nuts all morning
20. Wow, I didn't think I could handle all that and still want more!
21. I do like a good stuffing.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year all! (Thanks to Spencer for these).

12th December 2006

Typical! The phone Nik is getting me for Christmas has just about sold out everywhere. Oh well! I hope everyone out there is having more luck getting Santa stocked with prezzies than I am.

That apart, here is another Christmas quicky...

11th December 2006 **UPDATE**

Heard from (Mat) an old friend I went to Uni with tonight. Nice to catch up on what he's been up to. He has a bar in the centre of Leicester which I recommend visiting for a great night out (if you get the chance).

11th December 2006

Another shot from Tenerife here.

9th December 2006

Here are a few more shots from Tenerife (after we touched down there in the dark). We stopped near these massive cliffs which give their name to the area. The sea was rough but there were areas of calm. We walked along the promenade a lot, passing houses, pebble beaches and objects in the streets. Over head people flew in microlite contraptions (which I am not sure I would trust my life to so high up).

8th December 2006

Here is a Christmas shot and another holiday photo is here.

7th December 2006 **UPDATE**

Here is the first of a few holiday snaps.

7th December 2006

One thing I didn't mention last night is that we got a new sofa off a pal of Nik's dad. It is the most massive sofa set I think I have ever seen. The 4 seater (at least) just fits in our lounge with the single seater chair (again, this chair is more like a bed on its own!). The two seater had to go in the conservatory as there was no more room in the inn (festive huh?). To prove its immensity I will take a photo at some point. It does mean I can have more people over to stay and, essentially have a few more places that they can sleep quite comfortably (hear that Repo Dudes?? Getting set for a visit from you guys in the summer).

Anyway, that took up most of last night, (other than the quick update to imagi), and in the moving process I managed to kill a photo frame (the photo survived) and chip some door frames. I just don't have any strength anymore since I stopped weights a few years ago. In fact I have to make more of an effect to stay in some kind of shape. Near Years Resolution anyone?

6th December 2006

First I must apologize, I have become very lazy and/or very busy and imagi has suffered for it.

'Strange things are a-foot at the Circle K' as Bill S. Preston Esq. once remarked, and this applies to my life at the moment.

There have been marked changes at work (and yet things remain the same).

Christmas rushes forward with a speed I can see ever increasing with progeny.

Everything feels a bit like a dream at the moment. I realise this probably makes no sense to you reader, but it's all I can muster at the moment as the remainder of my energy is being spent on having to update the site for December after being away on hols. I will add more soon but in the meantime check out Rock Shape for more great Illustrations and the Menagerie for more wise musings from Minty.

I promise to try and add some more photos and come up with something worth saying asap. (Yes, sorry Ian, I will post some holiday shots soon but I am too tired now).

Which reminds me - note that this months photography theme is Christmas, unsurprisingly! Here is my first entry which is an old shot I took for work and we never used. I always quite liked this one.

*(Answer to card trick - they change all the cards, they just display similar looking cards so it looks like they have chosen your card mysteriously)