@ Friday, Dec. 05, 2008 – 01:35:42 pm
I've just been making friends with Lara.
She walked into the pub and sat at the next table and fixed me with her deep brown eyes and gentle smile, so I had to go and introduce myself.
She's adorable, but then all Newfoundlands are. She's a bit smaller than Paddington was, though. 
@ Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008 – 08:13:57 pm
I've just done a bit of research (didn't take long) and found out that the picture on the card from Merrist Wood is Landseer's "Distinguished Member of the Humane Society"
@ Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008 – 07:51:15 pm
I feel sad that he's gone, but what cheers me up is all the messages that we keep getting about how much people, often almost total strangers, adored our great big lump of a lovely dog.
Penny's obviously missing him as she more often than not can be found waiting at the front door for him to be let back in. What she doesn't know is that he's already come back in, and is lying on the table in the conservatory in a very tasteful bamboo scatter pouch with a condolence card from the pets' crematorium until such time as we can decide whether to scatter his ashes over the common or in the garden.
We even had a card this morning from the girls at Merrist Wood College where he went every six months for a bath and haircut. It's a very nice hand-made card with a picture of a Landseer painting on the front, which I thought was a nice touch. In it they've said that he was one of their best customers as he was such a gentle giant.
Egads, I miss him.
@ Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008 – 04:21:34 pm
I've just googled my initials and surname.
Apparently I sell school uniforms in my stores in Brampton, Cambridge, London, Peterborough, Scarborough and Sudbury.
Not the English ones, though. These are all in Ontario.
I seem to have branched out to British Columbia as well! 
Blimey!
http://www.rjmccarthy.com/School%20Uniform/RetailStores.html
@ Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008 – 09:39:50 am
Over the last few days the weather forecasts have been for snow in parts of Scotland and Northern England which was due to hit us overnight. No surprise there, considering the time of year.
Given this little snippet, you'd think the world had ended when news flashes of road closures and traffic chaos oop North came up.
It gets worse, though. The BBC news team received more than just a few emails from people oop North complaining that they hadn't had any snow at all...
Bloody typical, isn't it? Moan if it snows, moan if it doesn't. 
I guess some people aren't happy unless they've got something to complain about.
Me? I'm just happy it rained this morning so I didn't have to scrape any glaciers from the windscreen.
@ Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008 – 08:20:31 pm
I've just received this email:
Dear Rob,
I'm thrilled to report a major victory for polar bears, endangered bowhead whales and other species that live in and around the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
A federal appeals court has just ruled that the Bush Administration's approval of Shell's plan to drill for oil next to the Refuge in Alaska's Beaufort Sea is illegal.
You share the credit for this fantastic victory because it was your generous support of NRDC that allowed us to wage this long but successful legal battle against Big Oil's disastrous scheme.
NRDC and Earthjustice -- along with a coalition of Alaska Native organizations and conservation groups -- went to federal court and proved that Shell's rush to industrialize this fragile ecosystem posed a greater threat to wildlife and the Inupiat people than the Bush Administration was willing to admit.
Now the court is sending the government back to the drawing board to study and disclose the "significant harm" that Shell's drilling could cause.
Our courtroom victory shows that oil companies can't get away with simply killing wildlife and destroying the Inupiat's way of life, which depends on that wildlife.
The government's own experts predicted that drilling in the Beaufort would cause at least one oil spill, which would have been an unmitigated disaster for wildlife as there is no known method for cleaning up oil in this icebound sea.
That's why we are so determined to keep Shell -- and all the oil companies -- out of our most sensitive Arctic environments.
Thank you again for steadfastly standing with us and defending the coastline of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge!
Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense CouncilP.S. The polar bear is not out of danger yet. In fact, right now NRDC is fighting the Bush Administration, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and America's biggest polluters for the sake of polar bear survival. Donate now to help us win two critical cases that could help save the polar bear from rampant industrialization of its home.
Another not insignificant victory! YES! 
@ Wednesday, Dec. 03, 2008 – 07:07:31 pm
Been really busy day today, but not in a "F### off, I'm busy" way. I've not exactly been rushed off my feet, but I didn't really have a chance to do much personal stuff, like read the papers, blog or things like that.
I really rather enjoyed it. 
What's the betting it won't be like that tomorrow?
@ Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2008 – 03:23:40 pm
I've had my phone since the end of August and so far the only calls I've been able to receive perfectly have all been wrong numbers. 
Isn't it time to go home yet?
@ Tuesday, Dec. 02, 2008 – 12:38:36 am
Yes, I'm bored...
lack; padding: 10px;text-align:center; border: 1px solid #333333;">Your rainbow is strongly shaded blue and violet.@ Monday, Dec. 01, 2008 – 01:44:38 pm
But what the hell.
One of the down sides of the cold weather is that the barmaid at my lunchtime local has taken to wearing a jumper rather than a low-cut top.
This means us lads have now got to look at her face!
*shudders*
*ahem*
@ Monday, Dec. 01, 2008 – 09:34:51 am
How easy is it to rob a man?
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18/20081128/tod-ugandan-men-warned-of-booby-trap-879dccc.html
Miles better than by knifepoint! 
@ Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 – 11:35:59 pm
I'm supporting Swansea in the next round of the FA Cup.
Where the f**k is Histon, anyway?
Yours,
A disgruntled Leeds supporter,
Surrey.
@ Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008 – 12:12:09 am
I went out this evening for a late-night snifter. I got to the pub at half past ten to find my local hosting a rave - or near as damnit.
Those of you who were at last year's Greenwich blogmeet, just imagine the noise level in the Gypsy but in a pub that's about a third the size.
Sometime earlier in the evening they may have been playing some bangin' choons, but by the time I got there all you could hear was bangin', definitely no sign of any choon.
The host of the party was... how can I put this politely... no, I can't. He was a loud, foul-mouthed troll. "Is everyone havin a f$$$in' good time or f$$$in' wha'? Do I know how to f$$$in' throw a f$$$in' party or f$$$in' wha'?" being just a sample quote.
And as for his guests smoking illicit substances in neighbouring gardens and driveways...
Somehow I don't think that they'll be welcomed back with open arms.
@ Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 – 03:51:03 pm
|
Who Should Paint You: M.C. Escher |
|
Open and raw, you would let your true self show for your portrait. And even if your painting turned out a bit dark, it would be honest. |
Cool! 
I don't mind who paints my portrait, as long as it's well hung! 
@ Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008 – 01:47:27 pm
It would appear that I was right all along to suspect that the recycling of domestic waste is not only not as environmentally friendly as we were led to believe, but also not economically viable in the long run.
I can't wait for those councils that are stock-piling recyclable material for a time when it is worth some money to be taken to court for maliciously prosecuting residents who refuse to use their recycling bins...
@ Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 – 05:55:15 pm
WooHoo! 
Yesterday's glitch with kolobok.us was just down to them moving the forums to another server to free up some space.
Everything else is back to normal. 
@ Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 – 04:19:36 pm
...of "Last one out of the office is a LOSER!"
I guess that's me again.
I thought we worked until 4.30 on a Friday around here.
Slackers!
@ Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 – 12:20:36 pm
Recently I've campaigned for justice for Gurkhas, my support of the RBL is notable and several wildlife conservation groups have my support too. It's now time for me to campaign for something even closer to my heart.
I've signed up and have lobbied my local MP. If you want to stop pub closures and the upcoming tax hike, please join us.
Dear Humfrey Malins,
I am writing to you to make sure you are aware of a campaign to save the British pub. As my MP, I want you to sign up to the campaign to show your support for pubs up and down the country. I would also ask that you to write to the Chancellor requesting that he stops the planned rises in beer tax which could ruin the brewing industry.
This is the last time to be considering tax hikes. The current rate of pub closures is running at 36 per week, around 5 a day! Pub landlords are facing a fall in beer consumption, with beer sales at their lowest since the Great Depression. And, the Government already takes a third of a pint in tax.
Yet, despite the economic slowdown the Government plans to further increase taxes on beer! A nine per cent beer duty increase was imposed in the 2008 Budget, and through a tax 'escalator,' the Treasury wants to impose above inflation tax increases on beer in each of the next three Budgets. On top of this the Chancellor has recently announced a further duty increase. This takes the total increase in beer tax to 40% over the next four years.
This could well be the final nail in the coffin for many more of Britain's much loved pubs.
The Axe The Beer Tax campaign has five demands:
1. Axe plans to increase beer tax by a third
2. Enforce existing laws, not create new ones, to deal firmly with irresponsible drinkers and premises
3. To end the irresponsible promotion of alcohol in supermarkets, pubs and elsewhere
4. To trust responsible adults to make informed choices about what they drink, not to punish them for the actions of an irresponsible minority
5. To support the British pub as a vital party of social life in local communities.I hope you will support these demands. To do so, please visit the campaign website www.axethebeertax.com to register your support and help us save the Great British Pub.
Yours sincerely,
standard MP lobbying letter submitted through www.axethebeertax.com
@ Friday, Nov. 28, 2008 – 10:15:24 am
Apparently gay rights campaigners have complained about the cover of the game "Super Mario Galaxy" for the Nintendo Wii saying the artwork contains a subliminal "homophobic message"
OK, let's see how many of my friends of a different persuasion I offend by posting this:
Do you see the message?
No. Neither did I, until it was pointed out to me.
The letters that are highlighted with a tiny little star spell out "U R MR GAY"
Pathetic, you may think, to complain about this, but no. Not according to Bob (I hate that name!) Allen of Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays: "They've done this on purpose." he rants, "This is computer software aimed at children. Kids already use the term 'gay' as a point of ridicule and this will only encourage this kind of behaviour."
No, Mr Allen. You picking up a minor artistic point on the cover art of a computer game and showing it to the world in general to point out an alleged injustice where no malice was even perceived, let alone intended, will only encourage the detrimental feelings that you so bemoan.
Get a grip, man. And then get a life!
@ Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008 – 07:40:41 pm
It looks like I've lost all contact with kolobok.us, where I get all my special smilies!
How am I going to communicate now? 
The site was up and running this afternoon. I hope it's only a temporary glitch. 
@ Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008 – 06:58:02 pm
In Britain we have binge-drinking, groups of friends getting steaming drunk and into fights on a Friday and Saturday night leading to increased police presence in town centres, increased hospital admissions etc, etc.
In South Korea they have Huesiks. I'll leave you to decide which is the more civilised
http://www.france24.com/en/20081124-south-korea-binge-drinking-social-event-huesik
Personally I wouldn't do either, especially the South Korean option. I spend all day with the buggers, the last thing I want to do is socialise with them. Even if it does mean a chance to slag the boss off behind his back!
Nah. I'll do my drinking at my own steady pace and stay in control, thanks. 
@ Thursday, Nov. 27, 2008 – 03:38:20 pm
Not me, I hasten to add, just the equipment in my office.
I'm still waiting for the engineer to come out to try and fix the aging intranet printer that I reported a fortnight ago. He keeps ringing to check that I'm in, but unfortunately he usually does that while I'm out to lunch so he leaves a message on my answerphone. I'm slightly hard of hearing at the best of times, but trying to make out a telephone number recorded on one of those things is nigh-on impossible. Ho-hum.
I've had to log another call-out for my photocopier too, as the last bloke who came to fix it didn't do a very good job of it. Other faults have started to manifest themselves as well.
And to top it all, the copier ran out of yellow toner this afternoon. No problem, thinks I, I've got two yellow cartridges in the store. I got one out, and tried to put it in the machine, but would it fit? Nah!
I looked at the packaging. It looked to be the right cartridge, so I tried again. Still no luck.
So I got the other spare out of the store and tried that. Same thing. I then noticed that the black and magenta cartridges are "C-EXV 16"s, whereas the cartridges that I was trying to fit are "C-EXV 17"s.
Bugger! Someone, somewhere along the line, has cocked up big time.
So for the next three to five working days I will be unable to work.
Oh, shoot!
In the words of the great Marvin - "Life? Don't talk to me about life."
@ Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 – 11:34:22 pm
I need to post this in order to get things clear in my head, more than anything, before I leave Paddington to rest in peace.
According to the vet, the various symptoms that he was showing - among others, excessive thirst and lack of appetite - all pointed towards the inevitable massive organ failure due to old age. Even if it were possible for us to cope with these problems and alleviate some of his suffering, he would still have suffered. I just hope that he didn't suffer too much over too long a period because we were too scared to let him go.
@ Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008 – 03:55:26 pm
Thank you one and all for your kind words and hugs after yesterday's sad news. You've helped remind me why I keep blogging.
It felt strange this morning getting up and there not being a big black rug of a dog lying in the corner of the lounge, and I think Penny knows what's gone on. She seemed very subdued, not even wanting to venture out of bed for a drink of water, which is unusual as she's normally straight out of bed in the morning and upstairs to wake everyone up as soon as any one of us comes downstairs.
Last night felt odd, too. The house seemed so much quieter without the occasional grunt and groan as Paddy tried to make himself comfy.
The place seems empty without him. Mind you, he took up enough room when he was still with us, so there's no surprise there!
Once again, thank you all.
I'm sorry I didn't reply to you all individually, but I was in no fit state to at the time.
@ Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 – 11:59:42 pm
How we laughed!
Gonna miss you, big fella.
