tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86218003028376038962011-04-22T05:15:20.947+10:00It's exactly what it says in the title.Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comBlogger431100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-34948504834563281722008-09-02T18:29:00.003+10:002008-09-02T18:30:54.903+10:00

The footy posts have been removed from the cricket ground at the back of my flat. That means I'll soon hear the sound of leather on willow again. Spring is officially here. Yay!

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-4812557724022580602008-08-31T17:24:00.003+10:002008-08-31T17:30:52.629+10:00

US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain has picked Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska, as his surprise running mate. BBC News - Read more ... If she was picked primarily because she was a woman, then this is a step backwards from breaking that glass ceiling. It will only truly be broken when real opportunities are available to women and when all achievements are

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-42590897695932926552008-08-30T23:32:00.004+10:002008-08-30T23:45:22.455+10:00

Lance Franklin reached his ton and Brendan Fevola came tantalisingly close as Hawthorn tuned up for the finals in fine style with a resounding 78-point victory over Carlton at Telstra Dome on Saturday night. Sportal - Read more ... My award for the most miserable team of the season goes to Hawthorn, for believing a 72-point win wasn't good enough and doing whatever they could to

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-52774947669774005972008-08-24T23:54:00.001+10:002008-08-25T00:23:37.881+10:00

So, the games are over for another 4 years. And dear old London town gets to host the next party. The build up to the Games weren't the best publicity for the Chinese (some justified, some over the top imho) but I reckon sport won out in the end. Which has to be good news. There were many memorable moments for me: Phelps - BBC News Bolt - BBC News Georgia and Russia embracing - BBC

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-11756798301341481032008-08-24T13:56:00.000+10:002008-08-25T00:04:58.552+10:00

DOCTORS say the State Government's decision to include a 24-week gestational threshold after which a woman will need the approval of two doctors in order to terminate a pregnancy creates an unnecessary complication in the bill to decriminalise abortion. theage.com.au - Read more ... After reading this article today, I couldn't believe that there a people who believe a woman can

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-7749256173982991932008-08-24T13:48:00.000+10:002008-08-24T23:56:13.061+10:00

The Sunday Age can reveal that the Sydney Symphony Orchestra mimed key parts of its performance at the opening of the Sydney Games in 2000. And it gets better - it was, in fact, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra whose brilliant playing was heard by millions around the world at the Sydney Olympic opening ceremony. theage.com.au - Read more ... It never fails to amaze me how much

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-63286062174778927612008-08-23T16:20:00.004+10:002008-08-23T16:28:43.713+10:00

I took my Australian Citizenship Test yesterday, and passed with flying colours. 20 out of 20 questions in under 5 minutes! I didn't think it'd be hard, but there's always a doubt in my mind when I'm taking a test. I was quite relieved when I got the results. Last night, I filled in my online application form. Now, I'm just waiting to hear that it's been accepted and I can make my pledge.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-63208663071737644462008-08-20T21:11:00.003+10:002008-08-20T21:26:05.962+10:00

In my task of re-posting the entries from my first life, I posted this one today: Work was completely demoralising. I beginning to realise that our whole team is no longer working as a team. Everyone is out for themselves now that the ship is beginning to sink. Did's Life - Read more ... By sheer coincidence, I can echo that feeling again today. Albeit for different reasons.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-60398725392088293612008-08-18T23:37:00.001+10:002008-08-18T23:41:05.901+10:00

Medals table Monday, 18 August 2008 14:28 UK China - 39 Gold USA - 20 Gold Great Britain - 12 Gold Australia - 11 Gold BBC News - Read more ... (dynamic content) I can't believe that GB is ahead of Australia in the medals table! Apart from a little time in the middle of the day, they have been for over 24 hours. I've made the most of it at work, coz

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-41550638142841771872008-08-14T18:09:00.003+10:002008-08-14T18:37:28.373+10:00

Why are some people such jobsworths? I was working in the new building today, where the hot desks are not yet setup with network connections so you've got to find anywhere you can to work. Not everybody has moved in, and so some floors are pretty empty. The building itself has an open floor policy. You need your pass to get onto each floor, but everybody has access to them. The only

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-79602607109668738932008-08-12T23:10:00.003+10:002008-08-12T23:22:19.857+10:00

"Russia has invaded a sovereign neighbouring state and threatens a democratic government elected by its people," said Mr Bush. "Such an action is unacceptable in the 21st century." BBC News - Read more ... So, was the invasion of Iraq okay because a) it wasn't a neighbouring state; b) it wasn't a democratically elected government; or c) it was unfinished business from the 20th

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-18308516594678846532008-08-11T22:26:00.005+10:002008-08-11T22:41:08.038+10:00

In the hope that wallowing in my past blogging glories (okay, so I might be wearing some very rose-tinted glasses at the moment) will get myself back into the swing of blogging, I'm re-posting the first edition of my life - one entry at a time. All entries will be published un-edited. I'm just adding titles and labels to those that haven't already got them. Here's the momentous occasion when

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-22937321743236076922008-08-11T12:01:00.001+10:002008-08-11T22:04:30.766+10:00

Scientists in the US say they are a step closer to developing materials that could render people invisible. BBC News - Read more ... If I can't be a wizard, then this'll help me pretend!

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-59247609793868041612008-08-10T19:39:00.001+10:002008-08-11T22:04:17.097+10:00

A cold snap has brought snow to many parts of Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT. In Victoria, falls have been recorded at Daylesford, Woodend, Kinglake, Kilsyth, Trentham and in the Dandenongs. ABC News - Read more ... Blimey! I knew it was colder today, but I didn't think it was that cold!

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-54646086686867711802008-08-10T19:01:00.003+10:002008-08-10T19:24:10.886+10:00

.. until I read those lines. I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows this morning. A bit behind the times, I know, but the rest of my collection is in paperback so I waited until now. It's made me feel a bit emotional. Not balling-my-eyes-out emotional, but a bit might-cry-if-I-watched-Lassie emotional (the old TV series - not one of the later telemovies that was on 7 recently). I

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-39797267739939120112008-08-09T23:05:00.004+10:002008-08-09T23:29:24.768+10:00

Begrudglingly, I have to give Beijing the edge on their Opening Ceremony when compared to Melbourne 2006. But, then again, this was the Olympics. There were only a couple of things missing. Firstly, the Chinese may have invented paper, but they can't make a man walk on water. Secondly, me. I wasn't in the crowd waving my flashy wotsit that seems compulsory for ceremony attendees to be given

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-54726717481568059762008-08-05T19:59:00.005+10:002008-08-05T21:46:55.085+10:00

As an IT guy, I am not worthy of working in our main city office. The Nerd Inspectors (think of the wizarding world's Dementors) have cast us and our loving machines into the wilderness of the Melburnian suburbs. To be honest, I didn't mind this because whenever you're around the business (i.e. the customer) they're always hassling you and asking awkward questions like "When are you ever

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-8640382399955330652008-08-04T22:17:00.003+10:002008-08-04T22:21:48.081+10:00

Flat earth theory is still around. On the internet and in small meeting rooms in Britain and the US, flat earth believers get together to challenge the "conspiracy" that the Earth is round. BBC News - Read more ... But my favourite quote from the story has to be from a flat-earther: "If you will forgive my use of the term 'global'"

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-21347872176183441172008-08-03T18:44:00.005+10:002008-08-14T18:47:57.572+10:00

The foreign media outrage over the limits placed on the internet — a bit self-righteous, but fair enough over all — and the suggestions that some in the International Olympic Committee had cut a deal to renege on the agreement to allow free reporting, seemed to set up a culture clash between a China paranoid about dissent and a West that values free speech, even when it's uncomfortable.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-80398065774082054822008-08-03T16:51:00.003+10:002008-08-03T17:01:20.867+10:00

People often ask me "Why Melbourne?" - even some Melburnians. Everyone seems to think that Sydney is the place everybody heads for. Fortunately, that isn't true and the enlightened few experience everything that this great city has to offer. Including a new NYE celebration that will hopefully be an annual event: Sensation has identified Melbourne as the right place to kick off their

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-24286259177821244872008-08-02T14:01:00.004+10:002008-08-02T15:03:01.935+10:00

Q&A is the australian version of the long running BBC show Question Time and, after a ropey start, it is beginning to become as enjoyable as its british counterpart. (Although I do wish Tony Jones would stop saying "We'll take that as a comment" whenever somebody in the audience makes a comment.) This week, they took a question via a video submission that asked the panel (specifically a gay

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-21229641244760369352008-07-31T21:35:00.005+10:002008-07-31T21:54:51.219+10:00

I decided to be good and ignore the chocolate pudding looking very forlornly at me, and eat an apple instead. Now I wish I'd chosen the pudding, not least because I can't get rid of a bit of apple between my teeth.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-52190455067649670242008-07-28T23:02:00.002+10:002008-07-28T23:04:39.340+10:00

After three weeks of staying up to watch the Tour de France (and seeing an Aussie come second to a Spaniard again), I can finally go to bed at a reasonable hour. Night, Night.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-6262751357618140512008-07-27T22:31:00.004+10:002008-07-27T22:56:43.150+10:00

Nearly 12 months have passed and the urge has returned! It must be something about these cold wintery evenings. So, after fiddling with the template for a couple of weeks, I think I'm finally ready for the relaunch of my life (in blog terms, at least). I'm not an expert at editing these templates, so if it looks like a mess in your browser then please let me know. I'm not sure how you'll know

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-76028138922411964752007-08-04T00:12:00.000+10:002007-08-04T00:46:44.032+10:00

I've no idea why, but I suddenly had the urge to bring Did's Life back to ... well, life. And I try not to resist my urges. Which probably explains why I need such thick glasses these days. Anyway... More soon. I hope. Not that anybody will be reading this yet. Unless somebody is constantly googling "Did's Life" in the hope of my return. But I doubt it.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-81857708117015591312003-07-22T21:34:00.000+10:002008-08-31T17:38:07.699+10:00

This could be my last post in the old world of dial-up internet access. Last week, I applied to upgrade my Virgin.net account to give me Broadband access. It's only an ADSL line from BT, but it's better than what I've got. One of the main things that was stopping me upgrading was my plan to emigrate. I didn't see the point of locking myself into a 12 month contract. But this good ole ISP

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-81111517116645899142003-07-22T18:45:00.000+10:002008-08-31T17:37:05.041+10:00

I'm just about to leave work. I ought to be going to the gym, but I can't be arsed. I'll go tomorrow.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-74930192902517518002003-07-21T18:06:00.000+10:002008-08-31T17:36:02.233+10:00

Yesterday, I was at Silverstone for the 2003 Fosters British Grand Prix. For those of you who have read the reports, you will know that this was one of the best F1 races in years. I certainly enjoyed the day immensely. Unfortunately I read this report this morning. SILVERSTONE, England, July 20 (Reuters) - A 56-year-old British driver was killed when he crashed his historic sportscar

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-32520123653099093312003-07-16T13:08:00.000+10:002008-08-31T17:33:45.369+10:00

A consignment of thousands of rubber ducks is expected to wash up any day on the coast of New England - after more than a decade at sea. Read more ... The moral of the story? Never challenge a Rubber Duck to a cross-channel swim. They have more endurance than you imagine.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-16600504299281217602003-07-11T20:59:00.000+10:002008-08-31T17:32:26.377+10:00

Does this still work?

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-34491992479572613152003-05-16T12:54:00.000+10:002008-08-25T00:26:32.432+10:00

No groans please! Haven't got long to post, so a quick hair update: everyone likes it. The Word is that it suits me and is trendy. Hurrah! I'm now off to New York on Concorde with my Parents. I'm looking forward to it, providing my parents can actually stop being bitchy to one another for the 5 days. I'll post all the stories when I get back.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-19781924466923657492003-05-10T20:56:00.000+10:002008-08-23T16:18:50.347+10:00

me: I'm thinking of having highlights in my hair and getting a new look. Where could I get it done, Zara? Zara: Well ... (she thinks for a while) .... somewhere good. me: Thanks, Zara. That's a great help! Today was the day that I got this new look. I'm really pleased with it. My friend, Zara, came along to hold my hand and then we went into Milton Keynes to do some shopping. I'm now

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-69106824313778518372003-05-09T18:04:00.000+10:002008-08-23T16:16:26.039+10:00

Well, we didn't seem to make it to the new server. But the template worked. I'll investigate the problems FTP'ing to Virgin.net at the weekend.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-3847821964554754042003-05-09T01:07:00.006+10:002008-08-23T16:15:15.584+10:00

ok, here goes. I've designed a basic site and I'm gonna try and move this blog onto it. Hope it all works! You can find my site at http://freespace.virgin.net/d.waller/. See you there! Edit: This failed miserably coz Virgin.net don't give FTP access to Blogger. Now on Yahoo. 16/07/2003. Update 23/08/2008 - In the end, I stuck with Blogspot and used Yahoo for hosting the supplementary

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-56330007018442160002003-05-08T15:28:00.000+10:002008-08-20T21:10:37.200+10:00

Courtesy of A Blogs Life I found this link to genuine 999 calls to Avon & Somerset Police. The Salmon Sandwiches call is a corker! Update 20/08/2008 - I've updated the link and the same calls appear to be there!

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-51151203036676383492003-05-08T11:07:00.000+10:002008-08-20T21:07:32.392+10:00

I was in a real pissed off mood yesterday. Work was completely demoralising. I beginning to realise that our whole team is no longer working as a team. Everyone is out for themselves now that the ship is beginning to sink. I wimped out of going to the gym last night coz I felt so crap. I must go tonight coz I haven't been since Saturday. My cars beginning to play up again, which reminded me

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-27765141778787843832003-05-07T13:38:00.000+10:002008-08-18T23:10:16.736+10:00

I've just posted this message to the 'Have Your Say' section of BBC News Online "How can politicians decide that someone deserves to be in prison for the rest of their life, without any hope of release, without hearing the individual case details? Prison should be a balance of punishment and reform, not a vote-winning policy. I certainly don't want my taxes paying for somebody in prison who

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-3117975115972910212003-05-06T18:15:00.000+10:002008-08-16T17:30:29.413+10:00

Just taken the BBC Test the Nation IQ test. I scored 125 - one point up from last year.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-79571968840681114642003-05-06T13:30:00.001+10:002008-08-16T17:30:59.971+10:00

Back to work today and the sun is shining! But not even that can dampen my spirits today. This morning I received a letter from the Australian Computer Society confirming that I have passed their Skills Assessment. This means that I can now apply for an Australian Permanent Residence Visa (Skilled - Independent). I've been waiting for this letter for 7 weeks. Now I've just to get all the

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-78926494509820617932003-05-04T21:36:00.001+10:002008-08-14T18:49:47.792+10:00

Nigels Bash went ok. There were quite a few of us there - it seems that the group has gotten very sociable in the last few days. The host was already pissed very early in the evening, as usual. His girlfriend seems very nice. To be honest, I didn't talk to her much coz she hid herself in the kitchen until most people had gone. Apparently she thought that most of us didn't like her coz there

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-54871146501165601922003-05-04T17:43:00.001+10:002008-08-14T18:41:47.888+10:00

I was out in Northampton last night with some mates. Five of us bothered to go out, the rest either stayed in or just went to the local pub. Five was quite an achivement, though. It's normally just Matt, Richard and myself who go. You see, our mates are not the biggest party animals in the UK. But Trev and Nigel joined us last night until they left around midnight. Tonight Nigel is throwing

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-38622938151578956312003-05-03T17:47:00.000+10:002008-08-11T22:34:19.559+10:00

Rushden & Diamonds have just won the Nationwide Division 3 Title, despite a goal from Hartlepool in the last few minutes. The score ended 1-1. I was listening to Radio Diamonds and the presentation was taking place. They say that the Hartlepool fans stayed in the stadium to watch and applauded the Diamonds players. All credit to them coz there's nothing worse than sore losers, but Hartlepool

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8621800302837603896.post-51878907762219685022003-05-03T16:51:00.001+10:002008-08-11T22:26:05.640+10:00

Well this is it. This is the start of my blog. A momentous occassion, even if I do say so myself.

Didhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10326420886194083715noreply@blogger.com