Friday, August 31, 2007
Not a good day at all
Still pretty grotty after the cold from hell. More importantly, Fluffy has still not reappeared after last Sunday and his food is uneaten. Wy is jumping at shadows and complaining a lot.
So all the fun of the missing cat bit. Slightly better because Fluff is at least microchipped, so the calls round the local refuse department/cat refuges/local vets are unnecessary. But still no clue as to where he might be. We've asked the most local neighbours, none of whom have seen him since the weekend- just finished printing out (and folding) leaflets for the rest of the estate. Will have to deliver them later when I feel up to it. Insurance company have authorised small reward, which is worrying me because the conditions for paying it still seem worryingly vague despite my attempts to clarify it- short of going into a number of subclauses I couldn't do much!
The party was excellent but is all too soon receding into distant memory in the face of current troubles. I have worked my way through Mac for Dummies and now know my way around my new and beautiful computer much better. Finished the Temeraire books which were splendid fun and I will press on Son as soon as he's finished reading all the Culture novels.
We have had a long discussion about the new Bioshock game, which he had planned to buy (or at least to get someone over 18 to buy)- while I am not a great fan of censorship of teenagers, I have seldom come across a game which seems to justify its 18 certificate quite so obviously. Having spent some time arguing at the weekend that videogames can't be automatically considered harmless, I felt I'd better apply some consistent principles and refuse to buy this one. Compromise- he can play it at other people's houses if he wishes, but the total immersion business that he applies to his own games does not seem to be a good idea with this one. I don't think he found the decision very surprising. He'll just have to play Gears of War instead.
So all the fun of the missing cat bit. Slightly better because Fluff is at least microchipped, so the calls round the local refuse department/cat refuges/local vets are unnecessary. But still no clue as to where he might be. We've asked the most local neighbours, none of whom have seen him since the weekend- just finished printing out (and folding) leaflets for the rest of the estate. Will have to deliver them later when I feel up to it. Insurance company have authorised small reward, which is worrying me because the conditions for paying it still seem worryingly vague despite my attempts to clarify it- short of going into a number of subclauses I couldn't do much!
The party was excellent but is all too soon receding into distant memory in the face of current troubles. I have worked my way through Mac for Dummies and now know my way around my new and beautiful computer much better. Finished the Temeraire books which were splendid fun and I will press on Son as soon as he's finished reading all the Culture novels.
We have had a long discussion about the new Bioshock game, which he had planned to buy (or at least to get someone over 18 to buy)- while I am not a great fan of censorship of teenagers, I have seldom come across a game which seems to justify its 18 certificate quite so obviously. Having spent some time arguing at the weekend that videogames can't be automatically considered harmless, I felt I'd better apply some consistent principles and refuse to buy this one. Compromise- he can play it at other people's houses if he wishes, but the total immersion business that he applies to his own games does not seem to be a good idea with this one. I don't think he found the decision very surprising. He'll just have to play Gears of War instead.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Holding message
Holiday was excellent; lots of sun, Germans and cheap board games. And red squirrels and parakeets in the campsite. Went kayaking on the Rhine and Main with a very hospitable German kayaker. Moods remarkably stable.
Back now and all suffering from icky colds, all of which will have disappeared by the weekend. I'm working from home (yes really, I am) and Beloved is snoring on the rest of the sofa.
I have Thurs/Fri off to try and get the house and fridges into a suitable state for people descending at the weekend. Hurrah!
Back now and all suffering from icky colds, all of which will have disappeared by the weekend. I'm working from home (yes really, I am) and Beloved is snoring on the rest of the sofa.
I have Thurs/Fri off to try and get the house and fridges into a suitable state for people descending at the weekend. Hurrah!
Friday, August 10, 2007
Is this the least plausible news story ever?
Colonel John Blashford-Snell and the Double Nosed Andean Tiger Hound
It reads like a session report from one of Marcus Rowland's games.
I particularly liked the closing line about the church organ from Dorset.
It reads like a session report from one of Marcus Rowland's games.
I particularly liked the closing line about the church organ from Dorset.
