Personal

No words

No words tonight.
Just a late amble round the square,
glancing at the reflections in the windows
and a thinking. A lot.

My Christmas wish is ... ?

Greenbelt

Working down the list

Why does November catch me out like this? I've minutes from two Greenbelt meetings to edit, a stack of annual bills to sort out and what feels like a hundred other minor things to arrange.

I'll surface again in a week.

Comment

Paperless

Remember the vision of the paperless office? Didn't work out, did it?

The latest way my employer rebels against the notion is by sending memos. You know, made out of paper. Presumably the idea is that there's a novelty in snail mail which means the message stands more chance of getting through whereas electronic messages are lost in the vast deluge of corporate spam.

No doubt in six months time when everything's delivered this way the tide will turn and we'll be expected to be impressed with the unconventionality of email.

Tech

Delays

Another day, another new online service.

Did you know you can find out whether or not a specific train is delayed? Punch the train's destination station into the Live Departure Board, then click on the "Details" link to find out what time it arrived at each station on the way.

What this service doesn't tell you is whether the staff at a station know which train is which, whether your friend has been put on a London train instead of a Manchester train. It's also ignorant of whether the replacement bus service they're on has just glanced sideways into a tree.

But hey. It's a start.

Comment

Sunset

A visit to Brighton wouldn't be complete without a quick check on the state of the West Pier.

The sun was setting as we drove past, and the starlings were caught up in their evening flight.

It's still beautiful. Broken but beautiful.

Comment

Decadence

How is it that despite being a regular visitor to Brighton for a decade I've never been inside the Royal Pavilion? Today Emma and I set that right.

Indian on the outside; Chinese with Egyptian influences on the inside; all seen through the eyes of 18th century British craftsmen - this is one mixed up building. Built as a palace of entertainment for George IV, the Pavilion's decadence and quirkiness should come as no surprise.

The exterior is peculiar; the interior is stunning. Well worth a visit.

Tech

Catching on

Today's key task: get my car through the MOT which was due three days ago.

I'm late getting this done because I've come to rely on being notified when such things are needed. MOT has remained a quaintly hand-written affair.

But today's test brought a pleasant surprise: the Department of Transport has discovered electricity - and even better, communications networks. The test certificate is now computerised, and can be verified online. (Could it even be I'll get a reminder through the post this time next year?)

The surprises don't end there. Armed with a new-style MOT it's possible to apply for a tax disc online. Will wonders never cease?

Turns out the answer is "yes". They may have a fully automated tax system but it still takes five working days to ship the tax disc out, and it's against the law not to display one. Since mine runs out on Wednesday you'll find me queuing in the Post Office to do it the old way.

Tech

Still not living in Dilbert land

The Dilbert version would show Catbert having the employees who have just been made redundant interview candidates for their replacement.

Today I learnt that the HR computer systems aren't as well integrated as they might be. Otherwise I'd have thought they might spot that I'm not the best person to interview recent graduates right now.

But professionalism won out, I put recent events to one side and had a great time. The candidates' wide-eyed enthusiasm was contagious.

The one down-side is that I didn't get to set up the classic C++ interview joke – "What is a 'friend'?" – but that's probably for the best. When interviewing geeks you don't want them to burst into tears saying they haven't got any.

(For those wondering, I'm still waiting.)

Angels

Thank-you my angel

My angel rides a Triumph.

I didn't take a photograph so I'll have to use words instead.

My angel turned off the dual-carriageway behind me. He followed me over the roundabout at the end of the runway, past the airport buildings and through the traffic lights at the ring-road. He seemed content to sit behind me, no rush to overtake.

The two lanes became one and the BMW alongside me got aggressive. With fierce gestures and belligerent driving he tried to claim the road for himself. About to yield I glanced once more to my side and saw the car had been replaced my a motorbike. My angel had intervened.

Job done, my angel overtook me. I waved as he passed. He lifted his visor and winked.

My angel rides a Triumph. His number-plate ended "PAB".

Comment

Getting colder

While temperatures here in the UK are on the way down, it's still not too cold to go outside without thermals.

Which is why I'm not building two climbing towers made of ice in my garden. The Alaskan Alpine Club's Twin Towers are twenty feet high at present but don't expect that to be the final height. The tower they built last year reached 150 feet.

Half of me admires them. Half is deeply worried. (Imagine the risk assessment!)

Comment

What next?

My office turned thirty today.

I remember first noticing it before I was even a teenager. As a family we'd come out this way once a year en route to Sizewell Hall. I asked Dad about the strange building towering above us. I forgot about this until fifteen years later when I returned for an interview.

In London as a child I remember pointing out Imperial College too, not even dreaming that I might study there.

So as I come to another cross-roads I'm rummaging through my memories for buried clues. Am I there, unconsciously pointing out what's next?

Walks

The lowlands

Distance: 5.05 miles
Ascent: 84 metres
Duration: 1 hour 19 minutes

Walk 5: Dingle Marshes from Dunwich

Dingle Marsh is at the other end of Suffolk's scale of heights. The land here is under constant threat from the sea and Dingle Great Hill is little more than a bump, rising only twelve metres above the level of the water. This walk circled the marsh, starting out by walking along the sea-front then back on the edge of the forest.

The shingle bank that separates the sea and the marsh is suffering badly at the moment. The waves have taken great bites out of it recently and it's easy to imagine it being breached this winter.

The walk round the marsh is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours but I wonder how much longer it will be possible.

Walks

The highlands

Distance: 9.26 miles
Ascent: 159 metres
Duration: 2 hours 51 minutes

Walk 23: Denham Castle and the three churches

There's not much 'up' in Suffolk. Today's walk is set near the roof of the county and reached the grand height of 102 metres above sea level.

The frozen ground, the pervasive mist and the frequent crack of the huntsman's gun gave the walk an eerie feel.

Near Denham Castle a deer bolted across the field right in front of me, eager to get back to its herd which I could see in the distance. I guess I'm not the only one chilled by today's weather.

Comment

Independent thought

As I entered work today a sheet of yellow paper was thrust into my hand. The banner at the top named the ultimate manager of everyone on site and stated that he would be supporting the event that the remainder of the sheet promoted.

The mood in the company is such that I suspect this sort of endorsement might not have the desired effect.

Then again, I'm puzzled as to what the publisher of the leaflet was thinking. Are they a member of some secret cult of the senior manager? Or do they believe that everyone at the office always follow like sheep?

A quick summary of those attending would give the answer. Sadly that's something I can't furnish you with - I decided to be busy elsewhere.

Tech

Size matters

They used to call it the Slashdot Effect: when a link from one website to another drives so much traffic to the second site that it is unable to cope with demand. The phrase was coined years ago; the phenomenon is well understood.

Which makes it all the more disappointing that we're still seeing compelling new websites unable to keep up with the users they attract. Take the UK Most Wanted site as an example. Launched this morning it crumpled under the load within minutes. Was it really a surprise that so many people wanted to gawp at mug-shots?

Websites are not like TV channels. Each time someone visits a site, they use a small amount of a finite resource. Those who build sites ought to know this. Those who commission them need to know this. If your server won't be able to cope with demand, you need to extend the capabilities of your server or manage down the demand. If you don't, that big launch will be remembered for only one thing: your mistake.

Arts

Film: Wallace and Gromit in The Case of the Were-Rabbit

My local cinema rarely has more than twenty people in the audience. Tonight's different. The place is packed for a film that's been out a month already. People here are fiercely loyal: if a British film is hyped in the press they act as if it's against the law to miss it.

The good news is that everyone's right to be here. I can't agree with Liz; The Case of the Were-Rabbit is a wonderful film, from the Wallace's seventies sideburns in the opening frame right to the gag at the very end of the closing credits.

You can almost hear the production team saying "that's it - waving rabbits". With the Oscar pretty much in the bag they kicked back and had fun for the rest of the picture.

The same can't be said for the B-movie it played with. The Madagascar Penguins in a Christmas Caper is tedious, tiresome, schmaltzy pap. (Or is this view coloured by the fact that it's not Christmas yet.)

If you're wondering whether to see Wallace and Gromit, I'd urge you to go. Just make sure you're ten minutes late.

Comment

The East Andean Project

Landmark East took another step closer to their goal for a landmark for East Anglia today by publishing details of the four projects they are pursuing. It's interesting to note that two of the projects are in Essex, one is in Bedford and the last is in Cambridge. Suffolk and Norfolk - the counties at the heart of East Anglia - won't get any new landmarks. It looks like we're still too conservative out here.

Of more interest to me though was the publication of the full catalog of competition entries from which the four finalists were selected.

There are some absolute gems here. Best of all is the East Andean Project, which calls for the creation of a new mountain range across our flat-lands, to boost tourism. The proposal is rounded off by a picture of alps rising behind Constable's Haywain, complete with caption "The East Andean rescue services are always on stanby when flash floods occur".

Personal

The front garden

This is where I was swatted aside by a lunchtime jogger.

Under his breath he muttered "tourist" as if it was a swear word.

Fair enough: I was gawping round in wonder. I'd just helped a friend get their broadband set up and was here two minutes later in the shadow of the Tower. This is a front garden to be proud of. I walked on, smiling back at London.

The grunts of our misanthropic muscle man faded behind me. The tourist heart of town seems a poor choice of venue for those who want to exercise in peace but when I thought I heard the splash of second innocent shoved out of the way and into the Thames, I realised there was more to his sport than just running.

Personal

My own medicine

Em's now joined the very small group of people who've driven my car.

I now understand that even though we weren't travelling particularly fast, the car certainly gives the impression of speed. Being a passenger down the winding roads to the cottage was a taste of my own medicine.

Personal

Moving in

This may be why I noticed the houses yesterday: Emma's moved into a place of her own. It's a small cottage tucked away in a wood above the Ystwyth.

It's a beautiful place, complete with wood-burning stove downstairs and open fire upstairs.

The cottage isn't the only accommodation Em moved into this weekend. She's now got an Angel Lane email address. At the risk of continuing my geek reputation I'll admit: this feels really significant somehow.

Personal

Country house

Each time I drive across the country something new catches my eye. Last time it was the canals; this time it's the country houses.

They're dotted everywhere across the hills, these grand old buildings. Some are dangerously close to major roads; others seem almost inaccessible. There are warm timber-framed cottages as well as bold upright stone mansions. A tourist would be in heaven.

Comment

Democracy

Stop it.

Stop calling for resignations. Stop branding people traitors. Stop turning politics into a personality-centred farce.

Personally I'm delighted the powers to detain terrorist suspects without charge were raised to twenty-eight days instead of the proposed ninety. But it's not a shameful defeat. It's nothing to resign over.

It's a sign that democracy still works.

I look to more matters of importance being decided by personal conscience and genuine representation of the people, rather than the whip system of political allegiance and ambition.

Tech

Yay for Crucial

As a contrast to my experience a week ago, let me celebrate Crucial. I placed an order yesterday at about noon; it arrived with a knock on my door at half seven this morning.

To put this into perspective, all my birthday cards arrive a day late. East Anglia is so remote that the Royal Mail's "next day" delivery service usually takes two days.

I'm stunned.

Personal

The work ethic

A conversation at work intrigued me today. My colleague's been here for six weeks now and was surprised when I told him how close we are to the sea. (It's about five miles; you can see it from one of the buildings on site.)

More than anything, I think this speaks volumes about his work ethic. That and the fact that here's always in the office before me and still here even if like today I don't leave until seven.

Personal

Cover girl

Well maybe not the cover, but a two page spread isn't bad is it?

Ruth, Keith and Abigail appear on pages 20-21 of the latest issue of CIS' Change magazine. I'm dead proud of them.

As if that wasn't enough, there's a big call-out box next to the article hyping Generous. This could catch on you know.

Greenbelt

Behind the laptop

I've been behind the laptop this weekend. It's a traditional thing.

I'm exhausted now but it's been a weekend full of good things.

We didn't talk about debt. We shared drinks, food and stories at the Swan Inn. I'm more animated and excited than ever (both for myself and for Greenbelt). I met with friends and family all the way home. And when I got home I found the first publicity for Greenbelt 2006 lying on my doormat.

Comment

Once a year

On the cup the words read, "It only happens once a year".

In my mind they'd been joined by "so we'll make the most of it we can".

Happy Christmas.

Arts

Film: Howl's Moving Castle

A tip for parents: it may have a U certificate, but I wouldn't say Howl's Moving Castle is a children's film.

For everyone else: it's an interesting animated film that confuses and delights in equal measures though much of the confusion is likely cultural.

I can't make up my mind whether the film is a deep political allegory or a simple love story. Perhaps it's both. In this - and in my recommendation - it's like Belleville Rendez-Vous. Worth seeing, especially for those who enjoy a different cinema experience.

Comment

Terms of use

I was spammed by one of my old schools this week. They wanted me to join their alumnus website.

The site's "Terms of Use" were interesting. They constantly referred to membership of the "Old Girls Club".

I know it's rare for subscribers to read Terms of Use documents, but I was surprised to see that the site owner clearly hasn't read them either. (Clue: why would a boys' school have an old girls club?)

Why do websites feel the need to have lengthy Terms and Conditions anyway? Like disclaimer footers on email messages are they just there to keep the lawyers busy?

Personal , Tech

Waiting

Which technology advance has been the biggest time waster of all? It must be package tracking.

Why do I need to know my parcel started is journey in Shanghai ten days ago? Why should I care that it was next seen in Amsterdam on Friday?

Too much information! Instead tell me the day before it's delivered. You'll save me a week of working from home, twitching the curtains every time a diesel engine slows in the road outside.

Personal

Bedside light