My Blog Posts

The family Todd are just back from a four day break in Barcelona. Lovely town, lovely people, lovely food and lovely rioja. Marvellous. Mind you, sharing a hotel room with JFGP does limit one’s evening adventures somewhat. We were reduced to watching Spanish television (and CNN naturally). Unless we wanted to watch third rate Bruce Forsyth clones present incomprehensible games shows we were faced with a diet of wall to wall Euro 2004. My opinions on football are somewhat similar to Jon from Rogue Semiotics, but I swallowed my pride (and a couple of San Miguels) and watched anyway.

A final mention, for now, of UK politics. Last week in addition to the Mayoral election there was a Europe wide poll for the European Parliament. As I may have mentioned before, Scaryduck wrote a tremendous piece on narrow minded people. Unsurprisingly he chose the Cornish. In turn it wasn’t a great surprise that the UKIP received lots of votes in the South West. Mainly from those who think that they are being hard done by. Usually, they think, by Europe, London, Plymouth or just up the road. Because everyone really is out to get them. Hang on, no we’re not, that’s the plan for dealing with the Welsh.

A thoroughly enjoyable day today with the 70’s Throwback at the Bill Gwynne Rally School. We were driving Mark II Escorts around their gravel stage, practising the art of travelling both sideways and forwards at the same time. We also managed rather a lot of handbrake turns as well. Which was nice. When I grow up I’m going to have a house with a garden large enough to have it’s own rally stage (right next to the Olympic sized pool and tennis court). Then I can spin around on it until I’m not actually completely rubbish at the whole lark.

SWMBO has updated her blog. Possibly the least regularly updated web site ever, there have been a mere fifteen months between posts. Worrying though, are the adverts that appear on the page. These are Google Ads which are targeted by addressing subjects that are mentioned on the page itself. When I viewed Bobo’s Babblings the adverts were for flatulence and general stomach relief. Does this tell us anything?

Today, for the first time since about 1990, I exercised my democratic right to vote. There are a number of reasons for the gap. Amongst them are apathy, poll tax dodging and living overseas for a number of years. But it felt good to get back into the democratic saddle. Across the country we have the elections to the European Parliament. Which is not a gravy train, honest. Here in London we get the added responsibility of electing a mayor. Whilst I think that cuddly Ken is probably the best man for the job I couldn’t bring myself to vote for him. He is, after all, the official Labour Party candidate and as I may have mentioned once or twice we differ in our views on ID cards and software patents.

Over on my other blog there is news of my latest gadget. This is what happens when SWMBO gives me some pocket money and tells me to “go up west and buy yourself something nice.” Although I’m not sure she meant me to splash the cash on some technology. This could be quite tragic. It means that I can surf the web from the sofa in the evenings. Expect more rambling blog posts as the Nelsons slip down.

Congratulations to the Tinkie-Winkie Palmers of South East London on the arrival of their first born. Baby palmer, a strapping young chap, was born at 9:51 am on Monday the 7th of June, 2004 and apparently tipped the scales at 7 pounds and 8 ounces or a bit over 3 and a third kilos in new money. No name yet, or pictures on the intar-web-net. Which is a bit slack, I’m sure I had pictures of JFGP up the same day.

Once more, old Scaryduck hits the nail on the head with his latest observation on those St George’s flags which are popping up everywhere. We, naturally, have none on our car, nor any items of Burberry attire, thankfully. For those living in a whole in the ground, or overseas, Euro 2004 starts next week. As with the World Cup a couple of years ago a football tournament these days seems to be nothing more than a PR bonanza for the British National Party. The 70’s throwback has it right when he calls this kind of mass hysteria “a bunch of jingoistic nonsense.”

Courtesy of the smashing people at Wisden I bring you the words of John Birmingham; “Formula One racing is real-world proof of chaos theory. As is Zimbabwe, but without the same number of hotties trackside.” On ya, Johnny. Although the ever scary Kerry O’Keefe runs him a close second with this gem; “Boy George would be considered straight at the University of Western Australia.”

Some of the finest writing, and coherent arguments, I have read in a very long time are in this piece written by Kurt Vonnegut. It doesn’t mention ID cards or software patents but hits the nail on the head time after time. If you do nothing else today have a read, then tell me what you think in the comments.

At last. The tickets are booked and (almost) paid for. We leave this sceptred isle on the 4th of October and land back in Sydney for a resumption of our Aussie lives on the 13th of October. I can’t wait. The delay is due to a short layover in a little place in Thailand for family rest and recuperation. I can’t wait for that either. Really we only came back to the UK for three months to get married. That was in July 2002. By the time we leave it will have been two years and three months. We did get slightly sidetracked by a little bloke but now is as good a time as any to return to the land down under. Of course, we’re waiting until October to avoid consecutive winters. With a bit of luck we will go from a nice warm Autumn in the mother country to a nice, shiny Spring in Sydney. Well, a chap can dream.

I was going to write about yet another busy (long) weekend for the Todd clan. I was planning on waxing lyrical about our Saturday trip to the Zurich final, our Sunday lunch to celebrate my mother-in-law’s birthday and the (extensively catered) barbecue at Lewis mansions on Monday. But then I spent today changing nappies. Rather a lot of nappies. All full of very smelly and very sticky poo. Henceforth this will be known as the international day of poo. I’m off to wash my hands.

Alright, maybe a quick digression to this rather wonderful geeky doormat. Definitely one for Ciaran

Sorry, too busy to blog, I’m watching Hells Kitchen. Blimey it’s good.

A nice little piece about how great software patents are over at DNA Lounge. Mumble, mumble, diversity, innovation, mumble.

Tomorrow is looking to be a poor day for the cushions on our sofa. In chronological order I shall be watching; The Super 12 Final - Rugby Union England v New Zealand in the first test at Lords - Cricket The FA Cup Final, Man Utd v Milwall - Football The Parker Pen Cup Final at the Madejski stadium - Rugby Union Qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix - Motor Racing

I’ve just forked out a small fortune for the latest Ben Folds ep’s. They are called Speed Graphic and Sunny 16 (sorry no URL for the second one). As usual with Mr Folds work they are interesting, moving, thought provoking and just darn good. Top marks, however, go to the first track on Speed Graphic, a cover of The Cure’s in between days. Two minutes and fifty three seconds of pure genius. Music like that is what makes life worth living.

Did I mention that software patents get my goat almost as much as ID cards? I’ll get me coat.

For no reason other than I can, henceforth my first born son will be referred to on this here web site as “Jumpers For Goal Posts” (or JFGP for short). There is a reason, but I’m sure my culture savvy readers won’t need me to explain it.

We are back from a romantic weekend in Rome. We went child free courtesy of Outraged and the IMoT. As you can see from the photo SWMBO didn’t fret about the parting at all, this is just one of the calls she made to check that number one son was prospering. I, of course, had no doubts about the quality of care he was receiving. After all their two children (sorry folks, no photos by dictat) are in fine fettle after six and three years respectively so I knew laughing boy would be fine for a couple of days.