EDIT:

Anyone who needs Paddy's mobile number, leave a comment on his blog.

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Hello all,

Whoever is coming out to play in Birmingham/Solihull this weekend - this is for you!

Plans, such as they are, are as follows:

Friday:

8:30pm - Meeting at Bacchus bar, which is located under the Burlington Hotel on New Street (there are links to maps below). It's very easy to find, the hotel is easy to see, it has big flags with it's name on hanging on the outside. You walk into a sort of arcade and there are some stairs and also a lift to go down to the bar.

At some point that evening (after 10pm) we will be heading off to Snobs nightclub which is up on the Paradise Circus, just a few minutes walk from Bacchus (see map).

Dress code - pretty much anything goes. I'll be wearing jeans, trainers and a shirt or t-shirt. I wouldn't reccommend dressing up too much cos Snobs is a bit of a dive, but it's cheap and cheerful.

Saturday:

Daytime - Meet up for something to eat at 1pm at All Bar One in Brindley Place (just off Broad Street, see map).

Evening - Solihull - easiest way to get there from Birmingham city centre is probably by train from Snow Hill station (see map of Birmingham), but there are also buses if you prefer, the best option is the number 37 (see map for the stop), and then you can get a taxi back to your hotel or whatever at the end of the night.

For those who have tickets for the show, it's at the Library Theatre which is accessed through the Touchwood shopping centre, which is easy to find. It starts at 7:00pm. See map of Solihull below.

Those of you not coming to the show could find a bar in Solihull (there are loads of nice ones) or have something to eat or whatever.

Following the show - around 9:30 or 10:00pm - we'll be going to a place called The Barley Mow, also in Solihull. It's a pub with a late license and a dance floor. They play cheesy shite, 70s, 80s, chart stuff, all that jazz. A good party night out.

Dress code - a bit smarter than Friday night, jeans are OK as long as they're tidy, no trainers, no tracksuits, basically smart casual. A shirt would be safer than a t-shirt.

MAPS

Map of Birmingham

Map of Solihull

In Ipswich, looking at boats through the window, in a lovely flat apartment.

Got here around 7:15, drank wine, ate chinese food, chatted, played on a Wii.

A good evening all round!

Going to eat breakfast.

*wave*

I hate spam. The email kind.

I love this website.

They get email scammers to do the most ridiculous things on the promise of some money. They transcribe books, they paint things on their bodies and send pictures, they even send the scamee money! There's a lot to read, but it's good to know that someone is fighting back.

http://www.419eater.com/ - maaaaarvellous!

EDIT:

New since I last visited the site is the Trophy Room - photographic evidence of scammers doing stupid stuff because they are expecting money. Go look!

EDIT EDIT:

You can click on the scammers name in the Trophy Room for the story attatched. I particularly like this one.

I'm not usually one for posting warnings about potential scams but I had a close call yesterday.

I walked into B&Q and some old guy dressed in orange asked me if I wanted decking. Fortunately, I got the first punch in and that was the end of that.

Those less suspecting might not be so lucky so pass this onto your friends and colleagues.

Me, that is.

I should be. I should be writing letters or working on a spreadsheet.

But I'm not. I'm waiting for the clock to strike 2 (they don't actually do that anymore, do they. So I'm waiting for the clock to...uh...tick 2) so we can leave!

Ipswich here we come!

*insert whooshy noise here at 2pm*

I am shocked and saddened at the BBC - and other news agencies I'm sure, but it's the BBC's site I've been looking at.

This guy who has been questioned in Portugal, Robert Murat - I'm not saying he is innocent, he may well be involved in that little girl's disappearance - but they have condemned him either way.

Their top story at the moment has the headline "Man 'a suspect' in Madeleine hunt".

It goes on to say "Police investigating the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal are treating a British man as a suspect."

And then it says "One of those questioned was a British man, Robert Murat, but it has not been confirmed if he is the suspect."

So there is nothing to say that this guy is the suspect of the headline.

Why then is his name being dragged through the press? Even if he has nothing to do with this, his life is ruined! People will always say "there's no smoke without fire!" and God forbid any other kids should go missing in the locality, everyone will look to him immediately.

Bastards. I almost hope he is involved, cos otherwise...poor guy.

Full article here.

There ya go, that should keep you going for a bit!

I'm off to watch Hustle with Paddy. I know it's finished, but we Sky+ed it.

If I don't reply to comments, I'll do it tomorrow. Promise!

Keep watching...

Paddy thought this looked rude when he first saw it.

IRISH MEDICAL DICTIONARY

Artery......................... The study of paintings.
Bacteria....................... Back door to cafeteria.
Barium......................... What doctors do when patients die.
Benign........................ .What you be, after you be eight.
Caesarean Section...............A neighbourhood in Rome.
Catscan....................... Searching for Kitty.
Cauterize...................... Made eye contact with her.
Colic.......................... A sheep dog.
Coma........................... A punctuation mark.
Dilate......................... To live long.
Enema.......................... Not a friend.
Fester......................... Quicker than someone else.
Fibula......................... A small lie.
Impotent........................ Distinguished, well known.
Labour Pain.....................Getting hurt at work.
Medical Staff.................. A Doctor's cane.
Morbid......................... A higher offer.
Nitrates....................... Cheaper than day rates.
Node........................... I knew it.
Outpatient..................... A person who has fainted.
Pelvis......................... Second cousin to Elvis.
Post Operative................. A letter carrier.
Recovery Room................. Place to do upholstery.
Rectum......................... Nearly killed him.
Secretion...................... Hiding something.
Seizure........................ Roman emperor.
Tablet......................... A small table.
Terminal Illness............... Getting sick at the airport.
Tumour..........................One plus one more.
Urine.......................... Opposite of you're out.
2xCondoms.......................To be sure, to be sure

Is this cool or geeky?

It's an installation, don't you know. Art. Apparently.

What it is, is a computer with a printer and a shredder attached. It checks email, and any that are spam are printed and promptly shredded. And then the paper is recycled, as is proper.

You can click on the picture to go see a video of it in action.

So, is it cool, or is it geeky?

Paddy and I have laaaaahvly new phones.

Mine looks like this:

And Paddy's looks like this:

Beeeyooooootiful. But MMS don't work, for some reason. Makes mobile blogging problematic.

Radio chatter from an unknown aircraft waiting in a very long takeoff queue: “I’m fucking bored!”

Ground Traffic Control: “Last aircraft transmitting, identify yourself immediately!”

Unknown aircraft: “I said I was fucking bored, not fucking stupid!”

(also stolen from www.ianfitter.com)

I have not posted for a wee while, and I have a collection of stuff I've been meaning to blog. Here I go!

First off, dogs and cats:

Excerpts from a Dog’s Daily Diary

8:00am Dog food! My favourite thing!

9:30am A car ride! My favourite thing!

9:40am walk in the park! My favourite thing!

10:30am Got rubbed and petted! My favourite thing!

12:00pm Lunch! My favourite thing!

1:00pm Played in the yard! My favourite thing!

3:00pm Wagged my tail! My favourite thing!

5:00pm Milk bones! My favourite thing!

7:00pm Got to play ball! My favourite thing!

8:00pm Wow! Watched TV with my master! My favourite thing!

11:00pm Sleeping on the bed! My favourite thing!

Excerpts from a Cat’s Daily Diary

Day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and myself are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape.. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the floor.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a “good little hunter” I am. The audacity!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of “allergies.” I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded! The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. The captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe……. for now….

(found at www.ianfitter.com)

...will be resumed shortly. I've not been very well.

Atchly, since I am officially Laziest Blogger, then perhaps the last week has been normal service. Hmm.