1 2 3 4 5

oooh

2005-12-15T21:56:54Z

How many songs?
1055

Sort by artist
First artist: 28 days later soundtrack - abide with me
Last artist: Yo-yo-ma

Sort by song title
First Song: "highway blues"
Last Song: Z Y Z - they might be giants

Sort by time
Shortest Song: Kanye West - Intro 0:11
Longest Song: The Mars Volta - Cassandra Geminni 31:32

Sort by album
First Album: 5 - Birmingham Sunday - Joan Baez
Last Album: Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah - whiskey in the Jar - dubliners and pogues

First song that comes up on shuffle
Norah Jones - 7 years - live in concert

How many songs come up when you search for "sex"?
0

How many songs come up when you search for "death"?
0

How many songs come up when you search for "love"?
61

*disclaimer* this is only using windows media player and the bizarre array of songs I have downloaded since I have been working away.

suggestions please

2005-10-22T17:28:50Z

I want to buy a new CD - suggestions please. Old, new, classic, any genre do your best.....

Canada in the the fall

2005-10-18T16:04:01Z

Vive le France

2005-10-16T22:13:36Z

Something lurpak mentioned on her journal reminded me of my exchange visit to France. Our headmistress, a nun, had approached my parents and asked if I was interested in a 6 week exchange visit. Thats 6 weeks out of school - the decision didnt take long.

The trip was arranged, my parents scraped around to buy the flight (60 quid) and give me some spending money (40 quid). Looking back this was probably a big sacrifice for them, and no doubt my brother and 3 sisters were not best pleased !

Memories of the trip:

1. The travelling - The only holidays I had prviously 'enjoyed' had been spent at rainswept Lincolnshire coastal towns. Now I was flying solo, aged 10, to Paris. Looking back I cant believe how nonchalant I was. All I knew was that I would be met at Charles deGaulle by someone. Upon arrival at East Midlands airport I was ushered through check-in and assigned 'VIP - Child flying alone' status. This meant lots of fussing and more importantly a trip into the cockpit as we were flying into France. I arrived in Paris, and seem to recall just wondering around for a bit until a woman came up to me and said she was going to take me to the family home. Fair enough, popped in her Renault and off we went.

2. The host family - I lived in Lincoln, in a 3 bed terrace with 6 other family members and a dog. The famille de Glickmanas lived in what seemed like a mansion. Both parents were doctors and they had 3 children. The house was situated above the surgery and contained amongst other things - a huge garden, including elaborate sprinkler system, a piano room, maids quarters, endless bedrooms and so on. I could not believe the surroundings I found myself in.

3. The daily routine - consisted of the following:
- Breakfast - a lavish affair, mainly involving hot chocolate from bowls, toast and nutella
- Off to school - Whilst the kids went off to middle/high school, I was sent to Infant school to learn French with 4/5 year olds. This was fun as I joined in academic chores such as baking cakes, cookies and milk and a nap in the afternoon
- Lunch - I would run home to be greeted by one of the maids cooking a nice dinner. I didnt even have to wash up !
- Evenings - this part sucked. Between 1-2 hours of homework every night, in the confines of your room. On more than one occasion I was found asleep.
- Weekends - Were almost always spent at the golf club, where I learnt to play. Again, not my nomal social circles

4. The food - Blackened steak that took 3 hours to chew, snails in garlic butter, nutella - it was a gastronomic delight.

5. An envelope of letters from my classmates - I cant remember many, one from my then sweetheart and a classic from Brian Rowan - "Man U have been renergated(sic) - ha ha ! NOT REALLY"

There are loads more memories, 99% of which are fond. the trip was a real eye opener for me - not only to see how the other half lived, but also another nation.

Lets just say Benoit didnt enjoy the return leg so much !

_bianconeri_ @ 2005-10-16T15:36:00

2005-10-16T19:37:43Z

I've just realised (slow day today) Toronto Maple Leafs = Grammatically Incorrect Hockey Team. *Eats, Shoots & Leafs *

a technospazz writes:

2005-10-16T19:26:50Z

Is there any way to make this laptop I am using louder ? Stuck without any music I have downloaded some but its pretty quiet.
Do I need to buy hardware or is there any way to make it louder ? All volume settings are set to maximum.

Thanks.

stolen but funny

2005-10-15T18:51:30Z

_bianconeri_ @ 2005-10-13T11:02:00

2005-10-13T15:04:17Z

i am hungover. i am 3516 miles from home (as the crow flies). i want to be in my house, watching films, eating soup.

pet hates

2005-10-12T16:15:38Z

livejournal should have a section for pet hates, as well as interests. common ground can often be found when discussing pet hates.

i'll start you off with one:

people who say they dont iron any clothes.

inked

2005-10-10T21:14:16Z

got a tattoo yesterday - sorry about pic quality its from my phone.

somebody asked me if i was a goth :(

here we go

2005-10-06T12:57:52Z

1.Name someone with the same birthday as you.
Jesus, slackhack

2. Where was your first kiss?
school, behind the boiler room

3. Have you ever seriously vandalised someone else's property?
Accidently put my fist through someones window

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?
Yes. you try having three younger sisters.

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people?
Is 50 people a large number ? If so, yes.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about the preferred sex?
Eyes

7. What really turns you on?
Personality and compatibility

8: What do you order at Starbucks:
Espresso

9. What is your biggest mistake?
Im still trying to figure it out.

10: Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose?
Yes. Teenage boys are susceptible to punching walls in times of grief.

11. Say something totally random about you:
I am thinking of getting a tattoo

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?
Lee Westwood, Paul McKenna, Terry Nutkins, Phil Collins, Rafa Benitez, Huw Eastenders (cheers lads)

13. Do you still watch children’s’ movies or TV shows?
No

14. Did you have braces?
No, snake belt

15. Are you comfortable with your height?
Yes

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the opposite sex has done for you?
Been there for me in times of need.

17. When do you know it's love?
Too late.

18. Do you speak any other languages?
a little Italian, French and Romanian.

19. Have you ever been to a tanning salon?
No.

20. What magazines do you read?
Anything that is lying around.

21. Have you ever ridden in a limo?
No.

22. Has anyone you were really close to passed away?
Yes.

23. Do you watch MTV?
Sometimes.

24. What’s something that really annoys you?
People coughing. I always think they are putting it on.

25. What's something you really like?
Laughing

26. Do you like Michael Jackson?
Yes.

27. Can you dance?
A little

28. What’s the latest you have ever stayed up?
2 days

29. Have you ever thought that you were honestly going to die?
No.

30. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?
Yes, it is not sometihng I am proud of.

31. Do you actually read these when other people fill them out?
Yes.

WooHoo

2005-09-21T13:13:42Z

My setlist* from last night:

1. Johnny Cash - Hurt
2. Stone Roses - Love Spreads
3. Rolling Stones - Under my thumb
4. Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy
5. Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight,Tonight
6. The Who - Love reign over me
7. Elvis - Burning Love

*setlist = $2 worth of jukebox. this is the closest i will get to being a DJ.

went to CN tower

2005-09-19T18:33:43Z

yesterday, its very impressive. I felt my usual feeling of wondering what it would be like to jump off. Not in a suicidal way, more a first human to fly way.

I was bored after my sojourn to the top of the world (c) CN Tower experience. So I went to watch the baseball. Enticed by the big game atmosphere I overlooked the sheer boredom of watching baseball. Bizarrely I got a ticket from a tout which was cheaper and a better seat than the cheapest the box office offer.

Then i got bored, and got drunk. Given my current situation I would expect getting drunk to turn me into a maudlin, self pitying wreck. For some reason its working the other way round. When Im sober I am that wreck, and when I get drunk I suddenly feel calmer and tend not to dwell. Strange.

The hotel I am currentky in has nothing by way of a gym. So Im working on my hotel room workout. Its based on something called Tabata, and is a 4 minute workout. Doesnt half knacker me out.

20 seconds burpees, 10 seconds rest - x4
20 seconds sprints, 10 seconds rest - x4
20 seconds press-ups, 10 seconds rest - x2

Go on, try it tonight !

mememememememe

2005-09-19T18:23:00Z

1. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what's the first thing you look at?
I look beyond my eyes

2. How much cash do you have on you right now?
100$ canadian

3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"?
impressed

4. Favourite plant?
robert

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
the list has been erased when i swapped sim cards

6. What is the main ring tone on your phone?
do do do HELLO MOTO

7. What shirt are you wearing?
blue, short sleeved

8. Do you "label" yourself?
no

9. Name brand of your shoes currently wearing?
timberland

10. Do you prefer a bright or dark room?
dark, unless im eating

11. What did you have for breakfast?
double espresso

12. Since question 12 is weirdly missing, make some shit up.
twelve lords a leaping

13. What were you doing at midnight last night?
asleep, drunk

14. What did your last text message you received on your cell phone say?
is it just your prada jacket. There isnt any trousers

15. Do you ever click on "Pop Ups" or Banners?
sometimes

16. What's an expression that you say a lot?
nause/nausing me

17. Who told you they loved you last?
my dad

18. Last furry thing you touched?
my tongue this morning

19. How many hours a week do you work?
average about 40

20. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
none

21. Favourite age you have been so far?
25

22. Your worst enemy?
myself

23. What is your current desk top picture?
Don't have one

24. What was the last thing you said to someone?
"erm ,yeah" to colleague waffling on whilst i was trying to do this

25. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to go back in time and fix all your mistakes which would you choose?
money please.

long time no blog

2005-09-17T15:25:33Z

im back. i am writing this from inside a wood panelled office in misssauga, toronto. it reminds me of fargo for some reason. i have been here on business (get me!) for the past 4 weeks, and im coming home thursday. i was only meant to be here for a week but the trip just kept getting extended. i have to come home though as my friend is getting married and i am going to dublin.

5 days before i came out here i split up with my girlfriend. i think that sounds better than saying i was dumped dont you ? needless to say this has been a bit of a headf*ck for me. In some ways being 000's of miles from home has helped, in other ways not so. I am not looking forward to going home and having to deal with being so close to her (and yet so far). My friend, who I share a house with, goes out with the girl who shares a house with my now ex. I am also very good friends with my exes brother. in fact i am going to dublin with her family ! great times ahead.

The other guy who came out here with me brought his wife, therefore most evenings are spent on my own. Im getting bored of going out to eat every night, and bored of my solo drinking expeditions. Toronto is a good city - I didnt know what to expect when I came here and I have been pleasantly surprised.

U2 have been in town here, i was thinking about getting a ticket but shirked it in the end. Although Im a fan of the band I dont think a Bono smugfest would be that great. Going on your own to a gig would be pretty bizarre too, especially a large one like that.

Been to Niagra falls, sailed on the lake, seen a baseball match. Tomorrow will be the CN Tower.

can anybody help me ?

2005-07-05T09:38:35Z

I am going to set up a small website for a friend who is in a band.

Can someone with half a brain tell me the best way to host some of his mp3s ?

Is there an equivalent to putfile or imageshack for mp3s ?

Cheers.

Don't be good - it's boring

2005-07-04T14:13:00Z

Charlotte Dorr 1929 - 2005

My grandmother died yesterday, after 6 long weeks of hospital care. A cheeky Irish lady who always had something to say.

RIP 'Car Nana'

This is the modern world

2005-06-24T09:22:45Z

Please indulge me in my rant.

I am becoming increasingly annoyed with todays society. I haven't thought about it too much but I think the roots of this are based in consumerism. Everyone around seems to be wanting, and getting, the biggest the best the shiniest the most expensive.

I am sick of seeing people filling their faces and filling their enormous 4x4s. I am sure that the UK is fast becoming the America of Europe. The gap between us and France, Italy, Spain etc is quite palpable and the further into Eastern Europe you go the gap widens.

Obviously its quite easy for me, from behind my top of the range flat screen monitor, to decry this - and not quite so easy to do anything about it. I try to walk where possible, use local shops etc but what else can we do ?

I'm doing sound

2005-06-23T09:07:45Z

So - we're having a bbq last night, fish is cooked, chicken is doing nicely. Then it dawns on me that there is no pitta bread. No problem I'll drive to the shops.

5 minutes before closing time the corner shop is shut , so I head off to the garage. Park on the forecourt, run in and get some bread.

Reverse to get out and SMASH ! who put that f*$£"%g brick wall there ?

Et voila:

Not only is the bumper and light knackered, the bodywork behind the light has crumpled. Oh joy.

Experienced that lovely feeling of 'if only' and that sickness in the stomach that accompanies thoughts of huuuuuge bills from back street garages.

But as one old bloke told me this morning - worse things happen at sea. Cheers !

Wind of change

2005-06-18T09:32:55Z

Well first things first - I have got a new job ! Yay me !

Recently I have found work to be quite tedious and not living up to the expectations I had of the department I joined 18 months ago. This feeling was echoed throughout the department. So I thought I'd register on a few job sites, see what the crack was.

This led to numerous agencies ringing me up, asking me details and then disappearing off the face of the earth. Until one rang and said I had an interview - in Leicester. So I went along not thinking much of it and only got the bloody job ! Bear in mind I have been with my previous employer for 8 years, since doing an apprenticeship. Most of my friends work there, I know loads of people there and I consider it my only 'real' job (i.e. not packing snide CK One into baskets) so to say I am leaving the comfort zone is quite an understatement.

Its time for a change thoughand the good points far outweight the bad - a pay rise, more responsibility and the chance to experience things at a smaller firm. So bear with me during this transitional period !

In other news I went to an excellent Brazilian restaurant on Tuesday. We had some customers over from Venezuela and took them out for a meal and some beers. I was a little wary of taking them to a South American place after they had come all the way from there, but then again maybe the prospect of CHez's famous chips n cheese did not appeal to them.

The restaurant serves the Brazilian 'Churrasco' - barbecued meat brought out on swords/skewers throughout the night. The place was great, service and host excellent and the atmosphere jovial. The 'caipirinha' cocktails were spot on too.

It amazes me how far little old Lincoln has come - the thought of a such a restaurant, even 5 years ago, would have been laughed out of town.

bletiquette

2005-06-08T14:02:06Z

what is the etiquette of this livejournal malarkey then ?

i often trawl through blogs hopping through friends of friends of firends lists. Can I just add these random people to my friends list if I like the way their jib is cut ?

If so - watch out people!

these are the things i can do without COME ON

2005-06-08T10:08:53Z

i noticed in lurpak's journal she had been stung by a bee. This has never happened to me and got me thinking of other things that I had not done, or had not happened to me. I therefore present....

5 things I have so far lived my existence without:

1. been stung by a bee
2. taken acid - althought i dreamt i did last night.
3. watched grease all the way through
4. stayed a night in hospital
5. been to scotland

Woody goes bananas

2005-06-07T12:39:34Z

I watched this film last night, courtesy of TCM:

It was great fun - I find it really amazing that a film made thirty odd years ago can still be so funny. The amount of average films popping out of studios these days has watered down the movie market so much.

senses

2005-06-07T12:18:02Z

is it me or is the sense of smell woefully underrated ?

I love it when you get a whiff of a smell that takes you back to somewhere in your past. It amazes me that the brain can remember these smells and associate them with events. A lot of them are quite bizarre, for example, I often get the smell of 'France 1989' yet I can not even begin to describe what it smells of.

Or maybe I'm just a tad strange.

Zaragoza

2005-06-06T14:35:16Z

plaza del toros and panorama: