A Stapleton Diary

How To Fashion An Instantaneous Association With Anybody

2010-09-21T08:43:00.001+01:00

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation with somebody, and you had this feeling, some kind of vague feeling of comfort, that kind of felt like you knew this person for a long time? Like you felt really relaxed and at ease with this person? Maybe it was something about them, you couldn't really put your finger on why you were able to feel so comfortable and open, but everything this person said just made sense?

How would you prefer to have the ability to create that feeling in others wi

The Secrets Of Giving

2010-09-21T08:09:00.001+01:00

Here is the secret to get what one wants. It is just giving. The reasons for it are based on the well-known philosophical dictum "Which comes first, the chicken or the egg?" The egg, and the chicken that is born out of it, create the circle of life, and form the basis for a profound comparison for attaining and giving what one wants: the circle of joy. This brilliant concept is analyzed in the clear voice and lucid prose of Masami Sato, the author of the book named ONE.

As humans, most of us

How Halal Restaurants Abide Islamic Dietary Laws

2010-09-20T08:04:00.001+01:00

A lot of us have encountered the word "halal" on food tags and restaurants, but not all of us know what it really means. Our Muslim friends base their choice on this term because it indicates what is permitted for them to purchase or consume. For a country that has citizens with mixed religious affiliations, that term is just as critical.

Muslims in Islamic nations don't have troubles eating in halal eateries and picking up halal products as most likely than not, they are halal-certified. But

Self-Help With Self-Storage Warehouses

2010-09-20T08:02:00.001+01:00

Ah, the eternal quest for larger space! Self storage serves many purposes. This essential service is offered by any good warehouse firm and has gained favour among both businesses and individuals. It helps in handling household items during a restoration, or in dealing with items that take up too much floor area without often coming to use. The reasons could be numerous but before deciding upon a self storage facility there are many questions that you ought to ask the company.

The most import

Should I Grieve?

2010-09-19T08:17:00.001+01:00

We grieve as instinctive reaction to loss. It is the pain that you experience when someone who or something that is part of your life, someone or something you love, is no longer there.

Some examples of situations that are reason for grief are the following:

- a falling out with a person you have are in a relationship with - you were sacked from your employment - loss of the chance to pursue a dream - a loved one is dying from a serious disease - you are discovered to have a serious illness

The Drawbacks And Benefits Of Joining A Gym

2010-09-19T08:14:00.001+01:00

Joining a gym may have a lot of benefits for people who want to focus on their fitness. However, there are people who decided on quitting and get themselves exercising alone. Now, why do you think these people join a gym and why do others do not ever consider joining a gym? Below are some of the benefits and drawbacks of joining a gym.

Benefits of joining a gym:

In gym, you have the access on advanced quality equipments than what you can't afford. Such equipments include several varieties of

Excellent Samsung LN40C630

2010-09-18T01:12:00.001+01:00

Have you heard about the latest HDTV that's so in these days, the Samsung LN40C630? It is packed with numerous features and functionalities that are truly desirable. It features 1080p picture quality that's so lifelike. Plus it offers a 120,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio which produces the best video ever. This device also features 120 Hz technology and the Touch of Color design that complements any type of room.

The device's widescreen measures 40 inches. It allows you to connect a Blu-ray pla

What's The Best Commercial Shopping Cart Software

2010-09-18T01:07:00.001+01:00

Shopping cart software is largely what has made e-commerce websites so successful. Customers can browse for products online and have them shipped to their door after they have purchased them. If you are starting up an e-commerce site, you need to take some time to consider which shopping cart software will work best for your site. When going through the exercise, there are a few things that you should consider.

What Are the Main Features of a Good Shopping Cart?

When looking around for shopp

Why You Might Consider A Career In Medical Transcription

2010-09-17T09:14:00.001+01:00

If you are sick of the same old routine and barely making any money with it, then you will want to make sure that you are looking for something that will give you the ability to find work just about anywhere you go and that you can make money with. In the field of medical transcription, you will find that there are always plenty of options for you. This means you will never have to hold back in getting what you want out of your career.

This is a field that is in high demand. Even though it is

Business Financing Through Merchant Advances

2010-09-17T08:58:00.001+01:00

Looking to obtain business financing but finding it hard to do so? If you are, then of course you already know just how many obstacles you need to struggle with just to be able to get your way when applying for small business loans from banks and other similar institutions. It can really be an arduous task, especially if you need to meet conditions that are close to impossible. If you are experiencing these hardships, a merchant cash advance can be the best solution to your business finance di

Important Thing's To Consider When Buying A Business

2010-09-16T08:21:00.001+01:00

Correctly understanding the worth of an existing business can be one of the most stressful parts of buying a business, getting expert help is always a good idea when looking to purchase an existing business.

In order to gain a good idea of how to evaluate a business there are several important factors a corporate financial advisor will want to take into consideration. To evaluate a business you should aim to look at the history of the business, the performance of the business at the time and

How To Master The Wizard Of ClickBank Easily And Quickly?

2010-09-16T08:14:00.001+01:00

If you are attracted to the huge money making possibilities of ClickBank, then you are not alone. The affiliate marketing profit potential is really high. But like any new market, you have to learn how to work the system to your advantage. The quicker to become a wizard of ClickBank, the faster you will make some real money in this digital marketplace.

As a merchant, how can you master the wizard?

From a merchant's standpoint, you will have achieved a "wizard" status when you are selling a w

Tips To Get The Best Event Photographs

2010-09-15T08:17:00.001+01:00

Professional event photography is a booming career. An event photographer is one who attends weddings, sports events, music performances, award ceremonies etc. to take photos of the event.

There is a false impression among many people that all an event photographer does is turn up at the venue with a camera and start shooting merrily. But this is absolutely false. Many advanced courses are dedicated to train people to become an event photographer and like any other highly skilled job, an eve

What It Takes To Be A Good Event Photographer

2010-09-15T08:14:00.001+01:00

Event photography is a career that provides both financial as well as creative satisfaction. The work demands covering important events by clicking impressive photos. You have to be led by your gut feeling to creatively portray an occasion in all its splendour. In the process, a good event photographer creates memories through photographs that will be remembered for years to come.

Several people believe that event photographers just turn up at an event and shoot photographs without any prepar

Purchase Complete Camera Systems To Continuously Record Any Activity

2010-09-14T08:30:00.001+01:00

When I opened my first shop, I was very excited to start doing business. But I had to find a way to digitally record all activity day in and day out without it being too obvious.

Because I was located in the more secluded part of Michigan, I had to be extra careful in case of robberies. I searched for complete surveillance systems that are capable of securing my entire shop but in an inexpensive way.

Instead of buying one camera at a time, I decided to go with one whole package. That way, I

Your Health Is What You Make Of It: Learning To Live With Your Incontinence Without Letting It Change Your Life!

2010-09-14T08:29:00.001+01:00

Often, unexpected health issues force us to make lifestyle changes that we never imagined. This sort of change is certainly a factor when making new lifestyle choices associated with incontinence. Becoming incontinent makes the individual consider access to bathrooms in a whole new light, and these new concerns must be addressed prior to going out in public. Whatever the situation, this is not a topic to talk about even among close friends or family.

Incontinence occurs in many forms. The mos

Importing To Asia- Expansion Consultant - Imports To China

2010-09-13T08:02:00.001+01:00

In these monetarily gloomy times businesses are looking outside the box for a localized injection of economic stimulus. Banks are hording their bags of government bailout money while the small business owner is forced to fend for themselves. Nothing but doom and gloom seem to infest all aspects of present and near future financial forecasts.

There is, however, a fiscal niche being carved out as we speak by ultra aggressive and eager angel investors. Angel investors, private investors, micro t

Trade Show Rentals Equipment Allows You To Focus On The Trade Show

2010-09-13T08:01:00.001+01:00

You may be aware of the importance of trade booth design for the success of any product exhibit. Even so, it would be foolish to address this issue if you know next to nothing about the aesthetics and the mechanics of 3D design. The only thing for you to do is to leave the matter in hands of experts and focus your energies on those things you can do well. Promotional handouts need to be worded and printed. Advertising scripts have to be written and you personally have to know all about what yo

Internet Marketing Can Work For Any Size Business

2010-09-12T08:40:00.001+01:00

Internet marketing can work for any type of business. Marketing online can increase visibility and drive sales to small businesses and large corporations. Internet users go online to find all types of information, and having a presence online is a necessary part of doing business today. Marketing online can be simple, such as having a simple web page, or more complex, such as large email campaigns.

All types of businesses need to have a presence online in the marketplace today, including bus

Lower Office Expenses By Using A 4Inkjets Coupon Code

2010-09-12T08:28:00.001+01:00

Typically, we purchase ink at local office supply stores when we need more. However, by purchasing ink online instead, you can often save 50% or more off typical retail prices. In this article, I will walk you through how to purchase ink on the Internet. I will also give you a link to a 4inkjets coupon code so you can get bargains on your online orders.

First, to buy ink successfully online, you need to be aware of when you will need a new cartridge. Fortunately, most printer models have an i

UFC Flashback: Joe Lauzon Tops Jeremy Stephens In Ultimate Fight Night Main Event

2010-09-11T08:15:00.001+01:00

Ever since he burst onto the MMA scene Joe Lauzon has been working to earn respect. Hes lost only once since then--to top contender Kenny Florian in a bout that earned fight of the night honors--but for some reason hes had trouble being taken seriously as a top contender in the UFCs lightweight division. In the main event at the UFC Ultimate Fight Night in Tampa, Lauzon withstood a game challenge from late replacement Jeremy Stephens to earn a 2nd round submission victory.

Lauzon was in contr

UFC 98 Review: Machida, Hughes Big Winners

2010-09-11T08:14:00.001+01:00

When golf legend Jack Nicklaus was still a young upstart in the sport and only starting to tear up PGA courses, legend Bobby Jones commented following 'The Golden Bear's''65 Masters win that "he plays a game with which I am not familiar". Following Lyoto Machida's absolute destruction of Rashad Evans in the main event of UFC 98, there's likely a few MMA fighters saying the same thing. Machida completely befuddled Evans en route to a 2nd round TKO victory after which 'The Dragon' looked as if h

Colts' Owner Irsay Says Team Will Break Bank To Retain Peyton Manning

2010-09-10T08:07:00.001+01:00

In what has to be one of the least difficult front office personnel decisions in sports history, Indianapolis Colts' owner Jim Irsay has confirmed that the team will sign quarterback Peyton Manning to a contract extension that could make him the highest paid player in NFL history. Manning's current deal will expire after the end of the 2010 season, with the final two years having been voided due to his meeting a number of performance based criteria.

You can tell that an owner is adamant about

Saints Blitz Giants To Claim NFC Supremacy

2010-09-10T08:03:00.001+01:00

Heading into last Sunday, there was a consensus that the New York Giants were the best team in the NFL with an undefeated record, a productive offense and the league's top ranked defense. The New Orleans Saints made a compelling case to the contrary, however, as they dismantled the Giants to win 48-27 behind yet another MVP-like performance from quarterback Drew Brees. Brees threw for 369 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions as New Orleans kept their record perfect on the season at

Something For Everyone, New York Attractions

2010-09-09T08:34:00.001+01:00

There are several places people want to visit on their vacations and one of them is listed as the top vacation destination: New York attractions and everything the Big Apple has to offer. There is a little bit of excitement for everyone, no matter their taste. From museums to statues and Broadway shows, everyone in the family will have a good time in the city that never sleeps.

Even if one tired, they couldn't miss the tallest building, the Empire State Building and it's a 'must-see' on nearl

Save Money On Life Insurance - Important Tips

2010-09-09T08:23:00.001+01:00

The importance of life insurance grows, as you get older. It's important to invest in life insurance, whether term life insurance or whole life insurance, if you are the primary financial provider in your family. You want to make sure that your family is well taken care of financially after you pass. Though the price for life insurance that you pay highly depends on your age, health, as well as whether you are a smoker or non-smoker, there are other things you can look into to help you save mo

Making Money Online Is Possible

2010-09-08T05:23:00.003+01:00

It is common to see advertisements all over the internet about making money online. It seems all the ads claim you can make money doing one thing or another, but is this really true?

The simple answer to your question is, definitely. There is money to be made online. Just ask yourself what you are comfortable doing online to make money. For some people it is selling crafts, some people had rather write or offer other secretarial services. Others may choose something dealing with design. The p

Earning Money Online Is Possible

2010-09-08T05:23:00.001+01:00

There are so many ways for you to earn money doing jobs online; all it takes is some computer skills, a bit of research and time dedication. While some people are still hesitant to even try this money making online. It's actually much easier than you think. Sometimes it may take a little time to start seeing a good profit, but if you stay with it, then it is possible.

One of the most common ways of earning money online would be getting paid by companies who advertise on your website or blog.

UFC 92 Flashback: Mir Scores Knockout Win Over 'Big Nog'

2010-09-07T08:15:00.001+01:00

Two titles changed hands at UFC 92, with Rashad Evans defeating Forrest Griffin by TKO to win the light heavyweight title and Frank Mir knocking out Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira to claim the UFC interim heavyweight title.

While nominally taking subordinate status to the Evans/Griffin main event the most shocking result by far was Frank Mir's second round TKO stoppage of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Nogueira was the overwhelming favorite coming into the fight and had never been stopped inside the dis

Dana White And Tito Ortiz Kiss And Make Up

2010-09-07T08:14:00.001+01:00

In the 'real world' time heals all wounds. In the fight game, money has the same curative effect. This was vividly illustrated with the recent announcement that Tito Ortiz has patched things up with Dana White and will return to the UFC. Tito left the promotion over a year ago after a highly publicized split with the UFC president. He never found a new promotional home that would give him the money and the high profile status that he craved.

Ortiz has had several run ins with the UFC over the

Ben Henderson Bests Donald Cerrone In WEC Epic

2010-09-06T08:07:00.003+01:00

No one knew quite what to expect in Saturday's WEC Interim Lightweight Championship battle between Donald Cerrone and Ben Henderson. Henderson was known for his dominating wrestling skills, while Cerrone has a reputation as a punishing striker. Instead of being a clash of styles, however, it was an instance where the differing approaches of the two competitors complimented each other perfectly. The result was a 'fight of the year' candidate bout that Henderson won by a narrow-yet unanimous-dec

UFC 88 Flashback: Evans Dominates 'The Iceman'

2010-09-06T08:07:00.001+01:00

Rashad Evans was fighting for respect. He didn't scream about demanding respect in his prefight interviews because hes smart enough to know that respect must be earned. He earned it and then some with a devastating 2nd round TKO of Chuck Liddell in the main event of UFC 88: Breakthrough.

If Evans needed any more validation of how little respect he was getting, he could have taken a look at the UFCs text message prediction poll of the main event which favored The Iceman by a whopping 81% to 19

5 Top Tips For Home Business

2010-09-05T08:26:00.001+01:00

5 steps to expand a home business are listed below. Discover where to look for a new pool of buyers. Uncover a new source of revenue. 21st century technology provides owners with another tool to grow their small business.

Get International Exposure

Online home based commercial enterprises can get at clients all over the world. Marketing suggestions including documents, training and tools are usable on the Internet. Associates can employ their Cyberspace presence to make potentially huge amou

The Absolute Best 10 Top Omaha Plumber Tips And Forms Of Advice

2010-09-05T08:16:00.001+01:00

Before looking for an Omaha plumber, there are a few things you should consider. By investing the time to understand your construction plumbing and looking for the right plumbing help; you can save money and limit any damage caused to your home. Installing the right drain service for your property is essential.

Plumbing leaks can cause a huge amount of damage to your house and drain pipes can frequently become blocked. Clogged plumbing can often be shifted using a plunger or clearance chemica

CPA Arbitrage - An Introduction

2010-09-04T08:18:00.001+01:00

CPA Arbitrage is a team of e-books and video lectures that contain valuable information on how you can make money online. The Web is a wonderful source of income generation. CPA marketing is one of the most successful amongst them. However, to be successful in this complicated field, you need to unravel the secret formulas that really work.

The system offers great information for both product users as well as affiliates. Chris, who cobbled up this product for you, is a remarkably experienced

PC Certification For Cisco CCNA Simplified

2010-09-04T08:16:00.001+01:00

The CCNA certification is where it all starts for Cisco training. This teaches you how to operate on maintaining and installing network switches and routers. The internet is made up of many routers, and large companies that have various regional departments rely on them to keep their networks in touch.

Routers connect to networks, so seek out training that features the basics on networks (maybe the CompTIA Network+, possibly with A+ as well) before getting going with CCNA. You'll need this ba

Tips For Choosing A Good Plaque Making Company

2010-09-03T08:12:00.001+01:00

Life is filled with many special memories and achievements. These moments are often accompanied with documents, photos, and awards that are worth displaying. These items are important to you and should be displayed in a way that proudly displays your successes. The quality of the plaque and the materials used for creating the display can make an important difference in the appearance of the completed plaque.

A quality plaque can display an important photo or document proudly for many years. A

Housekeeper Resume - Writing An Effective Housekeeper Resume

2010-09-03T08:06:00.001+01:00

You should give careful attention to your housekeeper resume if you want to get employed as soon as possible. It may be a challenge on your part but it is a must. It will not be too difficult if you already had a vast experience in this field. The problem is how will you be able to write an attractive resume if you have no real experience as a housekeeper?

If you are new to writing resumes, getting employed will be easy, as long as you add a bit of ingenuity into your housekeeper resume. You

The Top Sites To Find Cheap Guitar Amps

2010-09-02T08:03:00.001+01:00

Getting hold of good quality but cheap guitar amps can be quite difficult if you look in the wrong places. Music equipment and other gear can vary in price a lot and it's always worth hunting around for the best prices to try and save you money.

Over a lifetime, you can spend a great deal of cash on guitar equipment, especially if you take it seriously and produce music too. Other items like computers and software all add up so below we are going to look at some good places to find great deal

More Cost Effective Than A Defamation Suit

2010-09-02T08:02:00.001+01:00

Defamation Suit No Longer Needed

Sometimes bad news follows us around. With the Internet's ability to remember ever little thing, that happens even more often. Someone doesn't like you or your business and, whether that opinion is valid or not, they send out some kind of attack over the electric wires. And that's the stuff that sticks around forever, haunting your reputation and damaging your business.

It's not all monsters out there online to chew you up, though. What kind of a place would

Cutback The Cost Of Electricity In Your Home Budget Easily

2010-09-01T08:01:00.003+01:00

These days everyone is trying to lower their utility bills and save money any way they can. Here are some things you can do to reduce the cost of electricity in your home.

Starting with some rather small power savings, you can convert your lighting to those new compact fluorescent bulbs which use far less power than the old fashioned kind. Your digital devices are another source of power drain when not in use. Simply keep them unplugged when you are not watching a movie. Your recharger for ce

Is SEO The Best Way To Help My Business?

2010-09-01T08:01:00.001+01:00

So what is SEO? What makes Toronto search engine optimization important and how can SEO help me to get new business leads?

You have assuredly heard all the great buzz about SEO and SEO content writing. You are sure that those three letters means something big and you are not sure what it is. You need an answer to those questions you have about the service and then you need to solve the next step in the equation - you need to learn how to generate leads. Toronto search engine optimization can

A Brief Understanding Of Choosing Registry Cleaners

2010-08-31T08:24:00.001+01:00

There are a variety of registry cleaners that are available on the market. Many of these offer different options that you can use to fix some common problems that you may be experiencing with your computer. For those who aren't familiar with these types of programs, here is a short overview of how they properly work.

Generally, if you notice that your computer continues to crash repeatedly, it is probably because you are having a registry issue. These issues can happen when numerous programs

Free Agent Lamar Odom Returns To The Lakers

2010-08-31T08:21:00.001+01:00

After a month long free agency soap opera, both Lamar Odom and the Los Angeles Lakers got what they really wanted all along. The Lakers retained the services of their valuable sixth man, and Odom will return to the team after an intense recruiting pitch from the Miami Heat. Odom officially signed his new contract with the NBA Champions and along with the addition of Ron Artest the Lakers may actually be stronger than last years title winning squad.

Terms of the deal weren't immediately releas

Visual Webcast

2010-08-30T18:04:00.001+01:00

12 Month Millionaire: Audio Coaching Sessions With Vincent James

2010-08-30T17:52:00.001+01:00

12 Month Millionaire: Audio Coaching Sessions With Vincent James

A program called 12 month millionaire was recently released by Russell Brunson, which is a 6 part audio interview with direct mail marketer. This program is based on Vince James now out of print book 12 Month Millionaire.

Vince James is a former convicted criminal, who makes more money per year than most CEOs of very large companies; He reportedly has made 100 million dollars by doing direct mail marketing which is an o

Making Money with Articles: Article Directories

2010-08-26T07:45:00.001+01:00

Article directories are websites that house free articles. These articles are usually put there by whoever owns the copyright to them as a promotion method. Each article has the owners byline placed under it so that those who eventually read the article will know who wrote it (or at least who owns it) and will be able to get in contact with or visit their website for further information.

Articles directories are a great place to put your articles so that they will make you money. By using this

Making Money with Articles: Article Directories

2010-08-24T08:43:00.001+01:00

Ban beak-trimming for hens

2010-02-26T11:39:00.000Z

Ban beak-trimming for hens

Debeaking or 'beak trimming' involves cutting off around a third of a
chick’s beak with a red-hot blade or an infra-red beam. This serious
and painful mutilation was due to be banned in the UK from 2011

In 2002 our government agreed a ban on beak trimming to come into force in 2011. Now they appear to be back tracking.

A parliamentary motion known as an Early Day Motion (EDM) has been
tabled calling for the UK government to uphold the 2011 ban on beak
trimming.

Please follow the link to find out more and how you can easily ask your MP to support EDM 92. It takes less than a minute and you don't even have to know the name of your MP (he/she is identified by your postcode)

Returning to work

2009-11-20T15:32:00.001Z

Finally, after 6 long months and failing my medical treatment, it’s time to get back to work. Although treatment ultimately failed, it did get rid of more than half the virus (virii ?) and , now that the drugs have worn off, I do feel better than before.

2008-07-22T15:28:00.000+01:00

What's an Oncology?

2008-07-22T02:02:00.000+01:00

It's almost a year since my last post here. It seems an appropriate place to leave some notes as this blog has barely any visitors so feels like a private space even though, potentially at least, anyone could drop by and read these little anecdotes.
I hope I can avoid being overly wordy and curtail any tendency to being maudlin. If you feel I've failed miserably in either of these simple aims then feel free to leave a comment before dashing off to find something more cheerful.
And so to the meat of this particular post...
Approximately 10 years ago, after a holiday in the IoW that consisted of much trekking around that fine coastline, I started having pains in my feet. The pain was, at times, extraordinary enough to cause the need for a walking stick and became so debilitating that I could barely walk the 300 yards from home to the bus stop. I'm sure I must have seen my doctor about it at the time but don't recall any visits until some 6 years later, in 2004. Since then I have MRI scans, X-rays, both NHS and private health examinations and nothing has been positively identified as the cause. Over this period I also started to experience "foggy thinking", memory loss, fatigue, sleep disturbance and, not unnaturally imho, depression. All these symptoms weren't continuous, in fact there were times I felt almost 'normal' . It was just so confounding that I couldn't say exactly what was wrong.
Until today, when the results of my latest blood tests have revealed that I have rheumatoid arthritis and also some kind of liver problem. At last! I'm pleased to have found a name to pin to my condition but the new knowledge of a liver problem and the need to visit Frenchay Hospital's Oncology Dept. is a bit of a concern.

Montbretia (Crocosmia Lucifer) & Campanula.jpg

2007-07-29T00:01:00.001+01:00

Montbretia (Crocosmia Lucifer) & Campanula.jpg, originally uploaded by DSNet.

Bristol Sunset

2007-07-27T18:05:00.001+01:00

Bristol Sunset, originally uploaded by DSNet.

Every sunset is unique and beautiful in it's own way. I have taken this shot across Eastville Park in Bristol dozens of times and just don't seem to tire of it.

Grasses

2007-07-27T17:38:00.001+01:00

P5052508
Originally uploaded by DSNet

I took this at Blagdon Lake, just south of Bristol, in May with my Olympus E-500.

A Butterfly in December

2006-12-09T10:57:00.000Z

It's a sunny frosty December morning in Stapleton, not a time of year I would that I would expect to still be able to see butterflies.
However, there was a Red Admiral sunning itself on a bush in the front garden garden. Unfortunately by the time I had found the camera it had gone :(

Bonzo Dig Doo Dah Band at Colston Hall, Bristol

2006-11-09T07:35:00.000Z

2006-11-07 23:51.
I've just returned from the Colston Hall gig and it was very good indeed.
I'd already seen the DVD of one of the early shows so was prepared to a degree but it is so different to be part of the event rather than a passive viewer.
For a start, they are a BIG band, and there is always more than one thing going on. The gags, visual jokes and delivery of the songs veers anarchically from music hall to toilet humour to pathos, from deliberately excruciatingly bad playing to cacophanous sounds on a grand scale to some really good jazz solos.
And then there's the songs; Neil Innes has written so much good stuff over the years and the expanded Bonzos, with Ade Edmundson and Phil Jupitus present them so well. Neil Innes looks really pleased with how the tour is going , and he should be. Everyone seems to be having a really good time.
I have one warning however; I got rather carried away by the whole thing and spent all my cash on the merchandise!
I didn't hang around long after the end but as I was leaving I noticed Phil Jupitus had come out to sign a few autographs.

Finally, I happen to have a ticket for Saturday night at the De Montfort in Leicester, which is sold out. I can't go so let me know if you're interested.

Campaign wins street drinking ban

2006-09-11T12:28:00.000+01:00

The BBC website reports that drinking in the street will be banned in the Fishponds are of Bristol after months of campaigning over complaints about anti-social behaviour.
The alcohol free zone, which centres on the area's park at the junction of Fishponds Road and Manor Road, is due to come into force from 3 October.

"Local people have suffered great disruption from excessive street drinking," said councillor Bill Payne.

A petition demanding the drink-free zone was signed by 363 people.

My opinion: I haven't personally seen any anti-social behaviour as a result of drinking in the park but I can imagine it could be worrying for parents with small kids and for the elderly too. When young people gather together, which they need to do to socialise, they can be quite boisterous even without a drink. Alcohol makes the situation more volatile and it's the unpredictable behaviour that scares others.
If there were an increase in community policing perhaps people would keep a check on their own behaviour and not feel compelled to impress their friends by belittling others or damaging public property.

Bristol University Masterplan approved

2006-07-21T07:22:00.000+01:00

On the 14th July, The City Council approved a major development scheme by Bristol University

The university will still have to submit detailed planning applications for each new development within the precinct. The planning policies adopted by the city council together with the new masterplan will provide the framework and parameters against which proposals will be judged.

Subjects of future planning applications will include new Biological Sciences and Mathematics departments on the former Children’s Hospital site in St Michael’s Hill and a new complex in Tyndall Avenue incorporating a major library and students’ union building.

The area covered by the plan stretches from Cotham Hill down to Park Row and from Priory Road/Elton Road and University Road across to St Michael’s Hill.

DSNet.info has disappeared!

2006-07-21T07:11:00.000+01:00

My main website, www.dsnet.info, suddenly want offline sometime yesterday evening. The host , UKhost4u, is also completely unavailable so presumably all their servers have gone down. A search on Google shows a few people have had bad experiences with this company while others have been more encouraging.
As I have no way of contacting them, I'll just have to wait for now :(

Bristol Street Art : Banksy Wins The Day

2006-07-21T06:25:00.000+01:00

I came across an article on Bristol's very own Banksy at the Wooster Collective blog today, which has a nice review of his latest work. Our council has a very enlightened view of street art and decided to ask for local opinion at AskBristol.
The poll ran until 14th July and the result was

You feel that Banksy should stay and the Council agrees. Nearly 200 people gave their views within the forum and only a handful were against keeping this piece of graffiti. Many people felt that the piece was thought-provoking and brightened up the urban environment. Those who did not want the image to stay argued that by keeping it, imitators would produce more graffiti that would make the city look scruffy and that lawlessness should not be encouraged.

Well done us! I encourage Bristolians to register at Askbristol as you can then make your opinions known directly to the council on a number of subjects. After all, if you don't speak out nothing's going to change is it?

Happy Together

2006-06-04T02:34:00.000+01:00

I signed up to YouTube today after finding some old footage of It's A Beautiful Day. What a great site, I could spend hours there. Click here to see some more music videos I found.

The Taming of the Shrew

2006-05-24T20:10:00.000+01:00

Booked tickets for tomorrow evening's performance of Taming of the Shrew at the Bristol Old Vic.
It's had some good reviews from The Bristol Evening Post and The Daily Telegraph
The Post says that 'an objectionable plot for a modern liberated audience' is transformed by director Anne Tipton to become a play that is really about the roles society forces us to play, and how people will adapt and swap personalities if it is to their advantage. The Telegraph says that 'the Bristol Old Vic has once again, excelled itself'.
So , looks like an entertaining evening.

Welcome To Eastville Park

2006-04-30T22:00:00.000+01:00

This was taken last Thursday afternoon at the Wickham Glenn entrance.

On the noticeboard was this list of species that had been spotted during 2005.

Nasturtiums on our windowsill

2006-04-30T21:54:00.000+01:00

A Visit to Brean

2006-04-30T21:30:00.000+01:00

The Latest Addition

2006-04-25T23:05:00.000+01:00

I bought these from a stall at Dyrham Park last weekend and forgot to ask what they were. All I know is that they like shade, the leaves smell a little like wild garlic and the flowers are supposed to have a marzipan fragrance. If that doesn't sound too good a combination, they did indeed smell a bit oniony in the car on the way home but after being outside in the rain for a couple of days that seems to have gone leaving a very light fragrance from the flowers. No problem then, and they look quite good really. Wish I knew what they were.

Mystery Cat

2006-03-22T18:53:00.000Z

Do you know this cat?

Although we already have 2 cats, we seem to have something that causes the occasional cat to become obsessive about moving in with us.
The cat in the photo above has been camping out in our front garden today and rushing to the front door whever it's opened. It would be a shame if it was a lost stray as it's still pretty cold outside at night. There is a little round ball on it's collar that appears to be a magnetic 'key' but no nametag or other ID. If you recognise it, please let me know!

Twilight Over Eastville Park

2005-12-06T20:58:00.000Z

This was taken on the 4th December 2005 using a Fujifilm FinePix 4700zoom. I tried taking a shot on the night setting but there was too much camera shake so used manual at 800 ISO. Some colourising helped reduce the noise and add atmosphere. I really liked the result so here it is. I think I should start using a tripod though.
Is that Saturn directly above the Moon?

Colstons' Fireworks Finale

2005-12-03T23:04:00.000Z

Here's a couple of nice shots of some of the fireworks we could see from our house. I have to admit it was quite an impressive display. Shame I ran out of memory, I only had room to take 4 and missed the actual finale.

Snow before Christmas

2005-12-03T19:31:00.000Z

I was working early, so early it was still dark outside. The curtains of the patio doors were drawn wide, as usual and all I could see out there were the dark shapes of trees against an even darker sky.
Morning light seemed to come quickly, most likely because I was absorbed with stabbing at the laptop keys trying to communicate an early morning system problem via a chat window with Nikhil, my support guy in Mumbai (or is it Bombay again?).
A slight chill in the air caused me to look up and then , rather pathetically, "wow, look at that, snow!"
It seems so long ago since we last had some. The 1st morning is always the best, making our world pure and softly quiet.

2005-11-13T18:31:00.000Z

One of the main reasons I love the internet is how one can start looking for information on one thing and in no time at all find yourself somewhere completely unrelated.
Today I reread an offer I had received via email from Serif advertising Your Handwriting II for £20 plus £3 p&p. I wondered whether it was actually any good and if it could be had cheaper elsewhere. A search on Google produced quite a few reviews, mostly very good, and a couple of links to uk sites where it could be bought. The most obvious one was Amazon but when I went there , along with the glowing testimonials, I found that it was discontinued and was only for Win 95 or Win 98. The image looked different from my Serif ad so presumably it referred to version 1.
Somewhat depressed and defeated I looked further down the list of potential links and hit upon
Your Handwriting Font Creation Program. Here I found the delightful blog of Richard Bell, a talented illustrator and diarist of that mysterious realm us southerners call 'The North'.
Last September I drove up to Edinburgh, first up the M5 then carried on up the M6,A74 & eventually the M74. It was curious to keep seeing the big blue signs pointing the the way to 'The North', a place you never seem to actually reach.
Richard in fact mostly writes about and illustrates life in Yorkshire. Well worth a visit.

Autumn planting

2005-11-06T09:47:00.000Z

Vicky and I finally planted out the dwarf crocus bulbs, all 125! They are in between the foxgloves and around the azalea. I cleared away quite a lot of the geraniums; they spread really quickly and swamp the other plants but, on the other hand, they are hardly touched by the slugs and snails and flower for a large part of the year. In fact there are still a few flowering now.
Vicky cleared away the remains of the tomato plants. They were very successful this year and we have several pots of green tomato chutney; sweet but very tasty and excellent in a cheddar cheese sandwich.
Last week, or was it the week before? my memory is so poor , we finished planting all the campanulas and the remainder of the foxgloves plus some montbrecia from Peter and Janet's garden in Harpenden.

2005-06-04T15:50:00.000+01:00

We've let our garden go a bit wild to counteract the obsessive and unnatural neatness of city gardens. The beeb has a great page on why we should all try and leave some part our garden alone.

2005-06-04T12:58:00.000+01:00

Foxgloves
Are foxgloves easy to grow? They must be, as we have had 100% success with the packet of seeds we bought. I think they look really good and created a lot of interest from the bees, which is very gratifying given the hard times that bees have had.

2005-06-03T08:35:00.000+01:00

Foxgloves and Bees

Scrapzilla - The Birth of the Bristol Rubbish Monster

2004-07-07T10:44:00.000+01:00

recycling news - the recycling consortium: "The Birth of the Bristol Rubbish Monster
Also known as Scrapzilla, the Bristol Rubbish Monster has been developed by the Recycling Consortium (TRC) to persuade Bristolians to reduce, reuse and recycle more. Scrapzilla represents the volume of rubbish that Bristol sends to landfill in one month, a staggering 71,000 cubic metres, which is 14,200 tonnes.
He has been taking centre stage at local events, drawing the crowds and highlighting the issue of waste. TRC's Action on Waste staff explain to the public that in one month he will double his size, and in three months he will weigh as much as the Titanic. To stop him growing bigger, everyone needs to reduce, reuse and recycle more than ever!.
TRC hopes that with additional funding, Scrapzilla could move on from his present 2-Dimensional form, to become a gigantic 3-D showstopper!!"

Animated Encounters, Bristol, April 21st-24th 2005

2004-07-07T10:38:00.000+01:00

Animated Encounters, Bristol, April 21st-24th 2005: "
Animated Encounters, described by Matt Groening as ' the place to be if you want to see the best new cartoons and meet the geniuses behind them' returns in 2005 with four days of all things animated! Dedicated to celebrating the diverse world of animation, Animated Encounters will take a year off in 2004 due to extensive building work at its venue, Watershed Media Centre in Bristol but returns with its 5 th Bristol International Animation Festival from Thursday 21 st to Sunday 24 th April 2005. "

Bristol UK Weather

2004-07-07T10:30:00.000+01:00

Bristol UK Weather is a peculiarly detailed record of daily climactic readings taken in Totterdown, Bristol.
For example, June 2004 shows we had wind gusts up to 45mph on the 23rd and humidity was a remarkable 99% at the start of the month:

The Secret Life Of The Milk And Honey Band

2004-06-27T09:53:00.000+01:00

LOL! Check out this translation of a French review of The Secret Life Of The Milk And Honey Band:

C?est the first time that Ape Records launches out in the exit d?un album in which Andy Partridge (XTC?), its owner, n?est directly not implied? Is necessary it to see an unspecified sign there? According to is Partridge itself, The Milk And Honey Band a group with share, one of those which l?on only crosses too seldom in a life? From Brighton, the group is a trio articulated around Michael Tubb, Richard Yale and Robert White, three multi-instrumentalists who touch indifferently with the keyboards, guitars, low or percussions, last the city also ensuring the lead-song and its two assistants the ch?urs. Recorded between 1995 and 2003, "Secret The Life? "s?offre two guests, Karen Butler-Meadows with the ch?urs on two titles and Laurence O?Keefe on part of low?

Does C?est amusing to see at which point The Milk And Honey Band manage to recreate an atmosphere end sixties, seventies beginning? In good songwriter qu?il is, Robert White composed of the impeccable melodies and wrote songs which are not without pointing out Beatles sometimes, sometimes large Floyd. Matured with the passing of years, l?album does not leave any place randomly and makes a success of the turn of force not to lose an ounce d?attractivity throughout its listening. Between pop melody and delicate songs, "The Secret Life Of The Milk And Honey Band" wants to be reassuring as a big brother who would bring his serenity in a musical landscape in perpetual chaos. The trio chose continuity and the respect of the traditions but is not deprived of some very personal effects. With l?image of these "Satellite", "Servant boy From The Moon", "Photograph" and other "Silver Horses", "The Secret Life? "resolutely vintage is an album which was recorded and carried out under very current conditions. The result speaks about itself and if the radios fall on top, that very quickly will make a large paperboard!

The original review can be found here

btw this is the 1st non-XTC related band released on Andy Partridge's APE label

ps This qualifies for entry as Swindon is not all that far from Bristol and , well, I like XTC, so there. And not a photo in sight.

2004-06-20T23:28:00.000+01:00

Looking

2004-06-20T10:07:00.000+01:00

The Pier at Clevedon

2004-06-19T12:13:00.000+01:00

Autumn View towards Eastville Park from Stapleton

2004-06-18T20:08:00.000+01:00

Passion Flowers

2004-06-17T22:52:00.000+01:00

Just out today

2004-06-17T20:18:00.000+01:00

Dog Roses

2004-06-14T00:06:00.000+01:00

Greetings from Eastville Park

2004-06-10T16:14:00.000+01:00

In the garden today

2004-06-09T16:12:00.000+01:00

Sunset over Eastville Park, Bristol

In the garden

2004-06-09T07:56:00.000+01:00

Campanula, I believe.

2004-06-08T15:37:00.000+01:00

Mystery Fly

2004-06-07T16:57:00.000+01:00

Brachyscome multifida

Gardening for wildlife

2004-06-06T15:11:00.000+01:00

Planting non-native species can sometimes introduce diseases that seriously affect native ones eg Dutch Elm disease. Dutch Elm Disease is the fungus, Ophiostoma ulmi, which is spread by the bark beetles Scolytus scolytus and Scolytus multistriatus. These beetles feed in the upper branches of the tree and introduce the fungal spores to exposed tissue. Once infected the disease spreads rapidly and unless treated at the early stages the tree will not survive. Although the disease was first recorded in the UK in 1927 it was a non-aggressive strain and had a very limited impact. However in the 1960's a more aggressive strain, originating from North America, was imported into this country via diseased timber. Within 10 years 50% of all English elms in the south of Britain had been destroyed. Further north the effects were less devastating due to climate and relative isolation.
Japanese Knotweed is a prime example of introducing a foreign species that then thrives due to having no natural enemies, much to the detriment of local flora and fauna.
With the destruction of local species comes the reduction and eventual loss of all those that depend on them ; butterflies and birds being particularly sensitive.

Visit The Natural History Museum's Postcode Plants Database. It has provided us with an extensive database of native flora searchable by postcode based on the Atlas of the British Flora, 3rd Edition (published by the Botanical Society of the British Isles, 1982).
Using the Postcode Plants Database to identify suitable plants, gardeners and householders can contribute directly to native species conservation in Britain.

In my postcode area, I found that there are over 600 native species , including

142 annuals, e.g. Anthemis cotula (Stinking Chamomile!)

38 biennials, e.g. Campanula glomerata (Clustered Bellflower)

6 climbers, e.g. Clematis vitalba (Traveller's-joy)

43 geophytes, e.g. Iris pseudacorus (Yellow Iris)

59 herbaceous perennials

17 large shrubs or small trees

19 large trees

36 marsh plants

202 perennials

2 parasites ie Cuscuta europaea (Greater Dodder) and Viscum album (Mistletoe)

2004-06-05T22:08:00.000+01:00

Eagle Sculpture in Ashton Wood , Bristol

2004-06-02T16:52:00.000+01:00

Sunset over Eastville Park, Bristol

The 1999 Solar Eclipse over Stapleton

2004-06-01T16:36:00.000+01:00

Solar Eclipse over Stapleton on Wednesday, 1999 August 11 around midday.
I took this photograph, during my lunchbreak, with an Olympus OM1.
The light was quite unusual , very different from moonlight. Before the eclipse there had been considerable chatter from the birds then, as it grew darker,all conversation quickly dropped off until an eery silence was added to the alien light. After a short while,just a few minutes I think, the light began to return to normal and with it the birdsong and normal life returned. A very interesting experience.
More info on this eclipse can be found here