Know Who You Are At Every Age

19.05.2012

Some distant dream-pop from the Cocteau Twins to end Friday with. Goodnight.

Still Awaiting My New Eyewear

18.05.2012

Okay, so the opticians have had my new glasses for a couple of days now but then they did tell me that it could take anything up to a week for me to get them back. My guess is that it’ll probably be sometime around the middle of next week before I eventually get to wear them.

I’ll probably end up posting a photo of myself on here, but in the meantime – and just so you can get an idea of what they actually look like, here’s a pic from Old Focals’ Facebook page, of Gary Oldman wearing the exact same glasses.

New Old Focals

16.05.2012

These actually arrived yesterday.

I still have to take them down to my local opticians to have my prescription lenses put in. Can’t wait to wear them out and about.

Temporarily Ill

16.05.2012

I’m not entirely sure why, but I’ve been feeling quite ill ever since I woke up.

I’ve got a sore throat and headache, and I’m currently feeling quite feverish. Not sure if this really is another attack of seasonal ‘flu or just a temporary thing whilst my body tries to changeover back from nights onto days.

Hopefully, I’ll feel better by tomorrow because I’ve got a couple of things to take care of, so right now I’m thinking to head off to bed again for a while to give my body a chance to recover.

Here’s some fantastic experimental Icelandic music by the equally fantastic múm to listen to whilst I’m gone. Goodnight.

Joi Ito’s Near-Perfect Explanation of the Next 100 Years

14.05.2012

One hundred years from now, the role of science and technology will be about becoming part of nature rather than trying to control it.

Link

Not Really Working

14.05.2012

Okay, so I’m back at work tonight after two weeks away, and I’m glad I only have to get two night shifts out of the way instead of the usual seven this time around.

I don’t know about you but it always takes me a couple of days to adjust myself back into the routine of working for a living, especially when I’ve been away for more than a week, but work I must. And luckily for me it’s been a quiet and uneventful first night back so far.

I brought my new iPad to work with me tonight and the good news is that I’ve discovered it’s possible to log into one of the free wi-fi networks from one of the shops outside the station, so now I can now access the Internet from my office without using any of my monthly data allowances, which is obviously good.

So if I’m at work and blogging and surfing the web then I guess I’m not really working, am I?

Well, tonight might be quiet but I’m sure the rest of my working week will be just as busy and stressful as it normally is.

Some Notes On My New iPad

09.05.2012

Okay, so I’ve had my new iPad for over a week now and I have to tell you I’m very happy and extremely pleased with it, but as someone who covets beautiful stationary it’s probably not that surprising to know that two of my favourite apps are note taking ones – the excellent Penultimate, and the beautiful (and slightly Zen-like) Paper.

There are some distinct advantages with digital note taking over the more traditional pen and paper such as being able to share notes with other people via email or the option to work collaboratively in The Cloud, but there’s also a flaw as anyone who’s ever tried to draw or write on the screen of their smartphone, tablet or iDevice will already know – fingers make lousy pens. So, to get around that particular problem I’ve just ordered myself a Wacom Bamboo stylus (in white, to match my iPad) and I’ll let you all know how that works out.

But even though it’s all very well being able to create and share digital notebooks on the go with my new iPad, nothing’s ever going to replace the old-fashioned pencil and paper in my pocket – especially when those things are even more beautifully designed and executed than the two apps I’ve mentioned.

To paraphrase the Mitsubishi Pencil Company’s Uni White Notebook Project website:

A single pen and notebook will awaken the brilliant imagination that is embodied in all of us. We believe in the magical power of the pen. Pricey computers and high tech electronic gadgets just can’t compare.

And coming from a company which manufactures what, in my opinion, is the finest writing instrument in the entire world – the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni pencil, that’s got to mean something, right? I certainly think so.

(Although they’re not readily available in the UK, you can order Hi-Uni pencils direct from Japan through the excellent pencils.jp website.)

Currently Reading: Distrust That Particular Flavor

09.05.2012

20120509-035628.jpg

Off Out To Get Drunk Again

05.05.2012

Up until about 4pm this afternoon I was expecting to spend a quiet evening indoors watching snooker on TV, but seeing as I’ve been invited by a friend to go out and get drunk again that’s exactly what I’m about to do.

Back later. I probably won’t be sober.

Ordered

04.05.2012

Just ordered a pair of these cool clear frame FDRs from Old Focals in Pasadena, California.

It was Old Focals that provided the glasses for Gary Oldman’s George Smiley character in the movie adaption of John le Carre’s spy novel Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and you can see Gary wearing these exact glasses in this Tinker Tailor movie featurette.

Quietly Fiddling

04.05.2012

It’s been a quiet, relaxing and uneventful week off so far, but I arranged to meet up with a couple of work colleagues for drinks last night.

I only expected three of us to be there, but in the end there was a total of eight of us staggering drunkenly around Kensington yesterday evening.

I had intended on posting a pic or two of the evening’s mayhem but we were all surprisingly well-behaved, and I even managing to get back home to Richmond without incident this time around.

So, after yesterday’s enjoyable night out with the boys I’ve spent most of today quietly indoors fiddling with my new iPad but also been keeping one eye on the results of the London Mayoral election.

I don’t always have the time to go to a polling station to vote so I’d already sent off my postal vote last week for what it’s worth.

Anyway, depending on the outcome I might just post a Boris-related rant on here but we’ll just have to wait and see what the final result is.

From the Estate of Francis Bacon

02.05.2012
  • Francis Bacon free iBook
    An introductory glimpse into the world of  one of Britain’s most prominent twentieth century artists

My New Toy

02.05.2012

Currently Listening: Ekki múkk

02.05.2012

From their forthcoming album, Valtari.

Bloody Weather

30.04.2012

Hell, I can hardly believe it’s been almost a week since I last posted something up here. That’s not good. Must try harder.

But then, in fairness to me I’ve been extremely busy lately. Busy, and tired, and ill, and demotivated, and, if I’m honest, well, a bit lazy too. I’m sorry about that.

The weather’s been bloody awful here for the last week or so – cold and grey with heavy rain and strong winds, and that’s definitely contributed to my lethargy. All I’ve wanted to do is to stay indoors and not do anything, so that’s exactly what I did on my day off last Thursday.

I did pop out in between the rain showers on Friday, but then only to pick up my old spectacles from the opticians.

And so the weather’s inexplicably warm and sunny today and I’m feeling slightly more motivated than usual, hence this post.

Must try harder. Yes, I must.

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