Of Chelmsford & Harlow

T

his week I have been Quite Busy. I've been back in the town I grew up in, Chelmsford, and back in the town in which I was born, Harlow.

I've been here in Good Easter for many weeks now, but this week I've been actually into Chelmsford for two full days. The first was Wednesday, when I met Graham, Siggers and Malton for lunch etc. Twas a bon occasion — went into Phones 4 U, where they broke out a live 5800 for me to play with (all I had to do was sit through them trying to sell me it). Graham also presented me with his gift to me for my 21st. They're Dr Who cufflinks (the red diamond logo from Tom Baker's era), tres bon, and they'll be treasured and oft-worn, so many thanks indeed to Mr Rutland!

The second of my trips was today, to help Malton out at KEGS (my dear old school), where he and Craig are nearing the end of a summer-long installation of 220 brand new computers (that's very nearly every one in the school!). It was great to see inside the brand new Sixth Form Centre, and it was particularly great to see Vicky, Lorraine and Roy, from whom there were surprise visits. That image is the 2nd floor Common Room. My brief thoughts about it are on facebook: 1 & 2

Also, this week: upgrades! As I mentioned, I tried out my new phone (& music player), the Nokia 5800, and I'm very happy with my choice, so now I just have to run out of credit and order my new contract :D More importantly, I've been gifted my choice of laptop as a 21st gift — I'm very, very thankful, and am actually quite impatient for its delivery. Relatedly, Thursday was a visit to my Nanna in Harlow, with Mum, for gardening and furniture moving — twas good to see her, to help her out, and to get away with some nice bits and pieces into the bargain! Including a fantastic carriage clock, which, like my signet ring and cufflinks, I shall be keeping very carefully indeed — as one does with special gifts for a milestone birthday.

But soon...

...back to Southampton!

Huzzah!

Quite busy (inc. the scale of groping)

I haven't blogged in more than a week. At first, it was because I had nothing new to say and little inclination to type up one of my ideas languishing in drafts... In the last few days, though, it has been because I've been... Quite Busy.

Two things have primarily made me Quite Busy: the first is my Quest for a New Phone, the second, Shiny New OS. I've had my Samsung D900 for 2 years now, which is twice as long as any previous phone. But a recent change in my pay as you go tariff, and, methinks, a coinciding increase in friends, drove my monthly top-up level to new heights. So i've looked into and chosen a contract and spanky new phone (Nokia 6800), for which I pay an initial sum. Being of little financial substance these days, I decided to use a free voucher from my current network to get a handset to sell. It's an LG KS360, and it's now on eBay, and already has a bid! Hoorah for capitalism!

I also joined the Windows 7 Beta programme and got me the Release Candidate (in both 32- and 64-bit versions). I've just installed the 64-bit version of the Windows 7 Ultimate RC — it took a bit more than 20 minutes start to end, and, what impressed me most was that, when it was "completing [the] installation", it detected my dual screens and adjusted itself them to the right resolutions! It's gorgeous, and it runs speedy. Actually, it runs speedier than its dualboot sister XP x64... Je recommend.

I've also watched through all of the American university drama "Greek", which I just love. I love the characters, the drama, and particularly the dialogue, which is at almost Joss-like standards. I recommend it, particularly for the Cappie-Casey relationship (and Cappie himself, really). Here's a quote from a last night episode designed solely for soppy awwww-inducement:

CASEY: Why can't you find someone else as perfect for you?!
CAPPIE: Because no other girl in the world compares to you

— "Social Studies" (Greek 2x19)

N'awww...

Time for a funny quote to round off the post. This is a later-night sleepy exchange between myself and a certain Mr A.T.:

DBD: well, that explains it
a teacher who's the child of a teacher is like a
*flounders for simile*
very rare thing indeed
dodo egg!
damn.
fail.
[...]
hens' teeth!
that was the one i was groping for
AT: careful :P
DBD: dw, I am alone in my room
any literal groping would, alas, be of myself
AT: not sure if that's better or worse
DBD: worse than consensual groping of a ladyfriend, better than any groping of a manfriend, much better than nonconsensual groping
AT: well there is the scale of groping

And that is the origin of the scale of groping.

Next time: who knows, or dares to dream?