Look up your birthday in Wikipedia. Pick 4 events, 3 births, 2 deaths, and 1 holiday.

November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. There are 43 days remaining until the end of the year.

Events:

1307 - According to legend, William Tell shoots an apple off of his son's head.

1926 - George Bernard Shaw refuses to accept the money for his Nobel Prize, saying, "I can forgive Alfred Nobel for inventing dynamite, but only a fiend in human form could have invented the Nobel Prize."

1928 - Release of the animated short Steamboat Willie, the first fully synchronized sound cartoon, directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks, featuring the second appearances of cartoon stars Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. This is also considered by the Disney corporation to be Mickey's birthday.

1987 - King's Cross fire: In London, 31 people die in a fire at the city's busiest underground station at King's Cross St Pancras.

Births:
1962 - Kirk Hammett, American guitarist (Metallica)

1960 - Kim Wilde, British singer

1906 - Alec Issigonis, Greek-British car designer, developer of the Mini (d. 1988)

Deaths:

2002 - James Coburn, American actor (b. 1928)

1994 - Cab Calloway, American bandleader (b. 1907)

Holiday:

Roman festivals - day 1 Dios dedicated to the sun god by emperor Licinius



Well there you go!

It is finally happening...
Way back the mid/end of October we (Dysdera and I) put an offer on a nice 3 bed terrace.
By the 29th October our mortgage was all sorted .. so off we go ..
We are renting, so no problem there ..
Sellers are buying .... errm ... something ??
A little while later we find out ... a new build ... all finished and ready to move in ... no problem completing before Christmas ... No chain ... no problems ...

HA!

Well Christmas & Easter came and went and the Sellers were still sorting themselves out.

Finally everything was sorted and we said, let's move 18th (give them some time). No they want the 11th. No problem we don't care!

11th arrives, solicitors tell us we can go and get the keys (11:30am) ... so arrive at estate agents ... he'll have the keys here at 6pm.

They were still packing at 6pm (though we got the keys from them)... talk about disorganised ... and at 7pm still packing ... 7:30pm they had everything left in the back garden and left the house ...

After nearly 6 months, waiting 7 and half hours extra wasn't much ... but it was OUR HOUSE they shouldn't be there...

Now we have the fun of ripping out their bad taste in decor and putting in our own (the living room has looked like a bomb site for the last week, who knew that ripping off a bit of artex and knocking out a fire place would take so long!).

Address will go to all those that deserve it and a housewarming party will be just around the corner ... Bring a bottle, overalls & paintbrush!

Okay - it's actually a week and a half.

Yup, just over a week now I have been in my new job; getting used to the way they do things and getting on with the new people.

A nice bunch of people, which always helps, and most things are pretty similar to how I'm used to working - even if they seem to be a bit behind the times with some of thier systems.

For those of you who don't know; my old employer has decided it's time to retire and close his business, thus making poor old me with out a job (actually he made sure I was okay).

So new employer, new people, and half the job is the same as before and the other half is nothing new.

What I am overjoyed about is my leaving pressie which I received yesterday (yes it's a bit late but it had to be ordered).

A Pure Evoke Marshall radio - a nice looking beast - made in the style of the Marshall amps, circuits designed with Marshall so its got some nice bass and turning it up to 11 (yup 11, it's one more than most radios) it still sounds great on Planet Rock :)

Well it's been a while since I posted; so I thought I had better :)

But then nothings been happening, Christmas and New Year were normal, nothing extra special but I enjoyed both.

There's a lot about to happen, but nothing yet.

There is baby first! (Just under 5 weeks away!)
Looking forward to it with both apprehension and excitement.

Then there is the new job. (Just under 4 weeks away!)
It could be very interesting; baby and job arriving at the same time, so if I have grey hair when you next see me you'll know why!

Looking forward to the new camping season, and a couple (at least) of exciting camps this year as well as the usual ones. (Bedlam could really be 'bedlam' this year!)

Centenary Camp beginning of May (baby only gets to visit that one)
Week Celebrity Camp in August (baby gets to stay on that one! That'll be fun.)

And then we'll try and get our own holiday in there somewhere too... Camping with baby is going to be a whole new experience (especially as the Granparents want to come along too!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PIXIE!!!

Have a good one mate.

This wont sound much to most of you (if not all).

But last night I managed to actually accomplish something I have been thinking about and trying on and off for a few years. It's not much, it's a little 'visualisation' for Windows media player.

But after finally getting all the software to work, that took a week, I managed to write my little bit of code that did what I wanted. The initial effect worked first time.

Sad init, that this causes me so much pleasure. But its nice when something that you have wanted to do for so long you finally achieve (how ever small).

I can now have fun with my little project and get it to achieve exactly what I want and lots of other things to.

Ho hum that means many more geeky hours in front of the screen for no real purpose.

Dys and I went for the "Scan" yesterday.
I sat around and listened and watched while Dys was prodded, poked and covered in goo!

Amazing pictures of the baby, just makes it all more real actually seeing it :)

All we have to do is wait for the 12th March 2007 ... or a date there abouts.

Updated the website.
Things are done differently in the background, but you shouldn't notice that; I hope.

Also wrote another Lemon, so that's two down and sixteen to go!

Oh a link: Lemon 2:Bent

Accept today was different.
Today I went to a tradeshow up at the NEC.
The idea is to see all the new products, talk to the manufacturers and see all the offers they have for us. Well I did all this.

But there was an added bonus, Ainsley Harriet was promoting some blenders with his name on. So I got to shake his hand and get an autograph which made the whole event better than just a day out of the office :)

YAY!
(Just incase you're wondering, I'm a big fan of Ainsley)..

Another great camping experience.
A weekend of fun activities, like minded people and good weather always goes down well.

A shame it's probably the last camp of the year (maybe one more).

Feeling tired, but happy.

Glad I managed to abseil for the second time ever.
Think I can do it again and again now.

And even learned a few new things along the way :)

I emptied the dragon on Sunday (it's a very fat money box).
After a lot of counting of 1p's (£4.60 worth) and 2p's, etc a came to the grand total of about £44. A quick look in my wallet and raid of Dysdera's purse and I brought the grand total to £50.

So once baby is born and we open it's bank account it's going to have more savings than me :)

Suprising how much can be saved by just sticking in the odd coins at the end of a day.

Just got a 'computer hide-away' so we can errm .. hide away the computer.
Of course it was a flat packed item that came in three boxes (one weighing 47Kg) which was hard work getting up the steps and in the front door.

A quick scan of the instructions ... time to build approx 1.5hrs.
Yeah where did they get that from ...
Started just before 8pm and finished about 12am!
A lot of time was spent working out which bit of wood was which and finding the correct bag of screws, dowells or locking bits for said bit of wood. (Though they had labelled each bag, which made life easier, there was just a lot of them!)

But it's done now, it stands solid, and it looks good where it sits and it went together really well. It just took a long time screwing in all the locking pins, etc.

Getting the computer and peripherals in took another 1.5hrs.
Whoever had the job of deciding where the cable holes go, got it wrong and a lot of the cables are stretched to their limit. Glad I had cable extensions for the mouse and keyboard leads otherwise they would not have reached properly.

So a rather tired me made it to bed at 1.30am. And then had a very restless night not sleeping very well and having bits of odd dreams.... But then that's nothing new.....

Not busy yet. But it's that time of year; where both work, Scouting and personal life all get busy.
So I thought I would have a complain to myself while I had a chance!

Works not a problem, it's nice to be busy, the day goes quicker and there is a certain buzz from rushing around, sorting out problems, etc, etc..

Personal stuff is just there! And I suppose most of it (if not all of it) and don't have to do if I don't want to.
Then it's not really _that_ busy, a few shows to go and see before Christmas, then there is Christmas to worry about and then there's sorting things out for the up&coming baby ... And really I think each of them will be dealt with in the order above. Of course the odd night out and weekend away will still make an appearance. So all in all I'm happy with that to.

So that just leave's Scouting ... now this one I do have some problems with ... I'm not really sure why.
Usually I'm lloking forward to this term, pack holiday, autumn camps and everything else.
But the summer holidays have had me thinking about my time (especially with baby on its way) and how much of it I will loose in a couple of weeks. It will probably all be okay once we start up again, but I think I have had too long to go through too much. If it was just turn up each week, run the programme, keep the Cubs entertained, go home, I'd be happy.

There's more to it than just Cubs - I have sorted out Scouts way too often, all the group paperwork is annoying (not that there is much) and I really don't want to worry about it all.
And there's still Pack Holiday to sort out and the Survival Camp (but then that's Scout so I shoudln't have to worry about that).

The thing that has been on my mind most lately is next years county camp. Mostly the date. I don't know who picked the date, but they picked the wrong one. Everyone in the UK is meant to be camping around the date May 26th, so our county has their big event the 5th - 8th May. Now Scouting has started to make a big thing about May 26th, and I personally would like to be part of that date, I also think my Cubs should have a chance to be part of that date.
So what do we do? Do we go to the earlier one and have one the correct weekend, or do we go to one or the other, or just have our own? It's not a decision I want to make - and one I think I will leave to the Cubs.
I am going to give them the option - but it makes it difficult when I am on the team organising the camp for the wrong date. Will it be a problem if I tell them my Cubs have decided not to go ... and they would miss out on so much!

This term is make or break - this term I need to organise some people and get some changes happening in the group.

Hmmm - well my thought are out now ....

The moment of truth - do I post this to livejournal, email it to a few people ...

Maybe it shouldn't be public - there are only a handful of people that read my lj anyway...

Having just got back from camping trip #4 today I started making sure we are prepared for camping #5. Applications had to be in by the 1st of August, but it will be going off in the next couple of days (Trev, the organiser, isn't worried).

5 weeks to the next trip (unless we squeeze one in before).

Don'tcha just love the summer :) ... okay the next camping trip is technically in the autumn ... but summers good, autumn too.

Yup only two days to go until I'm off on holiday...

Two weeks in bonny Scotland ...

I say "I'm off on holiday", but so is Dysdera, Faerie_in_Boots and Steeeve too.

No good going on a two week trip without friends to enjoy it with.

There will be a lot to tell after the holiday I'm sure...

Two weeks ago today I gained my driving licence.
Yesterday I managed to have my first accident.
Fortunately it was only a little one, I'm all okay, and it wasn't my fault!
The car needs a new rear bumper, wheel and some body work sorting out.

So this is what happened....

I'm happily driving down Dunstable Road, just come off the Tesco's Roundabout.
I'm on the (inside?) lane (nearest the centre island) and theres a very big lorry outside.
Unknown to me (I can't see them, big lorry in the way) there are two cars parked mostly on the path; so the lorry needs to come out a bit to get around them.
Unknown to Mr Lorry Driver I'm to his right, I think I was in his blind spot.
So as he comes out he clips the back of the car ... EEEEKKK!! (It was the trailer that caught me, not the cab).
This knocks the car into the kerb of the island, which the tyre really isn't happy about, and makes the tyre blow (I think the cars going to take off!!!!!!).
The car ends up either side of the central island, just glad I managed to stop it going any further over!!
Mr. Lorry Driver immediately pulled over and came and saw if I was okay, just very shaken.
I manage to drive the car and we sort of have a conversation (He was Hungarian).

He gives me his details, checks I'm fine again, apologises lots and off he goes.
I get back into the car and slowly drive off, car making funny noises, into side road, get out look around. No the back of the car isn't touching the wheel, the bumper aint making those noises either ... oo-err (at this point I hadn't realised the front wheel had blown!).

A little further along I check under the car, around the car but nothing is hanging off under neath and bodywork is scratched and dented but nothing serious. As I am about to get back in I notice the flat tyre! Ho hum, for the first time ever I change the tyre on the car and then still rather shakily drive off home to tell Dysdera that her car is damaged.

Added some excitement to the day and gives me something to talk about ;)

Lying in bed that night all the things that could have happened go through my head....
But I am glad it was as minor as it all was....

Had another driving test yesterday..

Driving lesson before was a disaster ... if I could do it wrong, I did!

Stalled the car, drove over the kerb, not noticed people ... not the sort of things you want to do.

But then it came to the test, and we started off we a bay park, which wasn't done the best way ... (but good enough) and the rest of the test went fine.

Except I couldn't find 4th gear up Hatters Way (5th was okay) and going over 40 the Luton end isn't meant to be done either.

But hey only 5 minors and I am now allowed out on the road on my own :)

YAY! Well on the road on my own if Dysdera will let me use the car....

Another weekend, and another weekend away camping.

This time with 48 8 to 11 year olds. As well as a good number of like minded adults.
A very hot and sunny weekend, on which I managed to get sunburnt, which was enjoyed by all.

Helping keep 48 Cubs entertained for a whole weekend is hard work, but for some reason I enjoy it and keep doing it.

And there's nothing better than relaxing around a camp fire with a can of beer and friends after the 'little angels' have all gone to bed.

I have only been to Wales once before, and that was the middle of the night. We crossed the border stood on a hill, got back in the car and drove home. A rather pointless journey but it's the sort of thing that used to happen.

This trip was a little more exciting, a little more fun, and a little more soggy.

The main aim of the trip was to climb Snowdon, something I have often thought about doing but have never actually bothered to get around to. So when the opportunity was mentioned to me the chance was grabbed and we joined in on the trek to Wales and the climbing (okay, walk up) Snowdon.

The Saturday was wet and the Monday wetter but lucky for us the Sunday (Snowdon climbing day) was nearly all dry.

I really enjoyed the walk up, though I did wonder if I would make it about 3/4 the way up. The knees had decided that all this walking was a bad idea. But my own determination and the fact a six year old girl seemed to be managing it without any problem I persuaded the knees that actually they could do it. So we reached the top, took some photo's had some lunch and met the GF's who decided the train was the way to go.

Coming down was easier (and much more fun). We took a different path and bounced down the first part (carefully) everyone seemed to make way as we were moving faster than those going up or down!

The parts of Wales I saw were spectacular, the scenery is wonderful, and I am sure that some time in the future another, maybe longer, holiday will be there.

Anyway back at work and time to relax before another, more hectic, weekend of camping happens...