First Tooth

First Tooth
Originally uploaded by Jasonthejoker.

Sat 28/01/2006 22:31 Tooth You wouldn't know it, but this is Joni's first tooth! Now I know it doesn't look like much, but I suspect it may be the cause of some of the sleepless nights.

I'm The Only Dame In The Village

One night down two to go! We had an exceptionally good opening night of panto. There were the inevitable slipped lines and missed cues, but I don’t think you’d notice all that much. The audience were exceptional for a first night crowd, I’m sure de in part to the heavy familial presence! Diana is somewhat uncomfortable with an eye shadow wearing husband, but it soon wiped off!* So now onwards and upwards to the remaining performances. Perhaps Di wont be too shocked when she eventually gets to see me on stage… as a lady!

*I had wiped the worst of it off before going out into the cold harsh night air, but it’s a difficult thing to remove!

And it's all gone quiet over there!

Yes I've been a bit quiet. I think it's something to do with the heavy pantomime rehearsal schedule and the effort of applying for a couple of jobs. The panto's coming on well and I've just finished the second job application. I'm not desperate to change jobs , but I've seen some advertised that I just can't ignore. There's a little part of me that thinks perhaps God is trying to tell me something! I'll soon know if he is, because perhaps one of the jobs will come to something.

On a similar note I'm down to do a "grown up" talk at church! I think I'm quite excited. I've been through a range of emotions about it, including the inevitable wondering whether I'm really up to it! I'm sure God will show me the way and I'm certainly looking forward to the challenge.

That reminds me... I don't think God's mentioned enough here. Must rectify that!

Well I'm off to enjoy my family!

Are You Kidding Me Bill???

Now I don't mind outsourcing. Sure it worries me slightly that a large number of jobs are lost by moving a call centre from England to India, I'm a consumer - I want a better value product and in general cheaper is better value. As such I wasn't at all surprised to phone Microsoft and be put through to India. When you first phone Microsoft for a hotfix you have to speak to someone and tell them article you've calling about. They then confirm that this is the problem and put you through to the right technical department. Microsoft has a big product line, so I don't think it's reasonable to expect the first guy to know everything, especially since we're talking about some pretty techinical server stuff here. Eventually I get put through to the right guy and the conversation goes something like this:

Jason: [After some discussion and name swapping] RIS is giving me the error message described in KB article 315074
Techie: Ok. So you're not able to view images?
Jason: No, that's not the problem. I'm not able to install the OS via RIS
as described in the problem.
Techie: Ok. So let me get my notes right. You want to be able to view
pictures correctly?
Jason: No. The problem says image, but that doesn't mean picture. It means
the files for the OS.
Techie: Ok. [Long silence]

And so it went on... the moral of the story is this - If you phone a supplier about their product, don't necessarily expect them to know more about it than you do!

Now I have to see if the fix actually works.

Prince James

Prince James
Originally uploaded by Jasonthejoker.

Mon 16/01/2006 20:30 What a brave soldier. This is Prince James, in full battle costume. He hasn't got to go to battle just yet, but he's ready anyway!

Yes he is very cute, even if his mum did laugh at the crab stick story!

I Thought They Were Made With Seaweed

I always thought that crab sticks were made of seaweed. It’s the kind of thing you pull out at the pub in a “did you know?” contest. So imagine my surprise when following a conversation with my dear wife I was forced to look up the contents of an average crab stick. Now you can find anything you want on ‘tinternet, but crab stick ingredients were convincing, but not conclusive. I am convinced that the primary content is not seaweed, but I’m yet to be convinced that it’s not a constituent part.

I know what you’re thinking… You’re thinking “Why does it matter Jay, get over it”. You’re right of course it’s not the most important thing in the world, but when I asked my mum she said seaweed. I reckon it’s her that told me in the first place. If she was wrong about that, what else might she be wrong about??? I mean perhaps the cat didn’t go to live on a farm! Perhaps drinking loads and loads and loads of coke won’t make me sick! And if I’m honest, I’ve often wondered why I didn’t go blind!

I think I can forgive my mum though. It’ll be tough, but she holds the purse strings on the car insurance budget… and Dad’s just got a new Beemer! I reckon that’s worth preserving the status quo for!

Busy Times

Well this is apicture of Joni. She's not been particularly busy today, though she does have lots of toys that HAVE to be played with. She's not quite sitting unaided there, but not far off. Certainly paying more attention to the toys and to mum and dads silly noises, songs or games!

Panto is coming along well. I've realised that it hasn't even been mention in the blog yet! Well I hope it will be good none-the-less.

I finally got my HND certificate through today. I've been working for around three years and had two seperate jobs, but better late than never I suppose!

In other news, the new car is looking good. She's got a new stereo now (rescued from Di's old car) and she's had a fluid check. The spare wheel is still off and she's just begging for some more off roading! I'm not at all jealous of Dad's new beemer... well maybe a pit jealous!

Is it worrying that I spent as long talking about the car as I did talking about Joni? I suppose I've made up for it with the picture of Joni... Perhaps I should take a picture of the car. Don;t wat her to feel left out!

Making Millions!

So we've started trying to make our millions. We haven't got a million dollar homepage, but we'll start with a few ebay auctions. Now we need as many visits as possible, so spread the word. If you tell all your friends and they tell all their friends, it wont take us long to find some keen buyers!

So tell everyone about it. It's an auction for a disco light (A very good one at that!), but there will be more to follow! See the auction here.

Wish us luck!

Another New Baby For The André's

No, don't get too excited... It's our new baby in the form of a car. In truth probably more my baby, than Di's, but she is cool. Doesn't she look pretty? She's dirtier than that now.

For those of petrol headed tendences she is a 1994 Vauxhall Frontera 2.4i, LWB. And yes she has already been off road, having had her for less than 24hrs!

She's not perfect, but not bad either. Hopefully we'll have some fun with her in the months to come!

Is it worrying that I've humanised car???

Childhood Memories

Childhood Memories
Originally uploaded by Jasonthejoker.

Fri 06/01/2006 12:47 Childhood memories can't be manufactured. They have to be born gradually out of life experience. This is one of my childhood memories - the cafeteria at Trent Park. Dad would drop me, my next door neighbour and our bikes at the Hadley Road car park. We'd cycle through the forest and Dad would magically appear in the cafeteria. A coffee for him and a milkshake each for the us. I'm there was lots of trips with him following us (and breaking Seamus' bike I seem to remember!), but I selectively remember the bits I liked best I suppose!

I hope Joni likes this place as much, though I can't see me letting her ride through on her own, not in this day and age. That's a shame I think!

Memories

Memories
Originally uploaded by Jasonthejoker.

Thu 05/01/2006 15:20 This is Edmonton Green station. Not remarkable, I hear you say. You would be right until you consider the last time I was here. Standing on the left, talking with my girlfriend. In fact it was the last time I took a train with said girlfriend. In fact I can remember the conversation exactly. It went something like this:
"Do you think X will get married?"
"Maybe he'll ask her tonight!"
"No that would be well cheesy! I'm never gonna propose on Valentine's"

At which point my little girlfriends face sank. I got rid of my girlfriend that night... Swapped her for a fiance!

Aww, sweet!

Isn't She Beautiful?

Isn't She Beautiful?
Originally uploaded by Jasonthejoker.

Mon 02/01/2006 22:42 So peaceful , though not normally this peaceful in the middle of the night when she's screaming! Hard to be upset with that gorgeous face though.

Duck a la André

Duck a la André
Originally uploaded by Jasonthejoker.

Sun 01/01/2006 17:51 Dinner Sometimes you have to try something new. Today that new thing was Duck. Looks good, no? In truth it was a bit tough. We enjoyed it though!