Started by shopping and cleaning. Moved things around a bit here in the flat to accommodate the second machine on a semi-permanent basis.
Set about fixing bits and bobs on this site. In the process got a 'search' function going, which attempts to highlight the occurences of the string entered in the results. Also fixed the webcam image to reflect the camera not being online at all times. People have asked several times about a release of Areopagitica - frankly, I'd be ashamed to let this out with so many loose ends and hacks.
Back to work tomorrow, and perhaps a little calm before the storm? Trying to plan the weekends ahead in order to visit the Family Records Centre and the London Metropolitan Archives. Also think I might be coming down with a cold...
Decided to take advantage of some Great Western diversions to get some unusual track today. Chose the first day of service after the holidays, and also one on which there was network-wide engineering work happening. Hence, I had a lot of company all day!
Set out for Westbury to pick up a Paddington to Penzance service which travelled via Yeovil to Exeter, using the curve between Yeovil Pen Mill and Yeovil Junction. Two long cold waits and an entire leg of the journey standing in a vestibule later I turned around and did the same again. At least I got a seat on the return journey.
Extended wait at Westbury for a Bristol bound service heading back. I have to say that Westbury is probably one of my least favourite stations to get stranded at. Oddly, I've found myself there three times in the last couple of months!
Overall, I spent nine hours making a journey which I could complete in around two by the more direct route. It's fair to say that common sense was not a factor in the decision to do this. You'd need to be a track basher to understand I suppose.
Finally got around to piecing together the various spare parts I have lying around here, and resurrecting the Duron. With 256Mb of RAM and a 20Gb drive I got ridiculously cheaply on eBay, it makes a reasonably good machine.
Kicked off an ftp install of SuSE which didn't seem to work well. Eventually put Fedora Core 1 on to get things working. Seems fine.
Need to decide what to do with it...
The last couple of days seems to have flown by. Since leaving work on Tuesday, I don't seem to have stopped for a moment.
Yesterday finally completed present shopping I planned to do weeks ago. I really had good intentions this year, and hoped to put more thought into the 'New Year' gifts. The chaos of the last couple of weeks has led to me being utterly selfish and not thinking about (let alone buying) gifts at all.
Quick visits then over to Burnham. Brief wander around town pubs with the Funky Uncle. Met a few interesting people from the past, which was fun. Burnham doesn't change much in many ways. Spent an uncomfortable night with little sleep.
Started Christmas Day with a brisk 'Historical Highbridge' walk, followed by presents and lunch (and a far too early start to the liquid entertainments).
Taxi back to Weston, then a second lunch and even more drinks. Added bonus of a chance to listen to some splendid guitar playing (and even join in vocals on occasion!).
Retired early, in extreme need of sleep after last night.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
