Mac Update

My 1st generation iPad was basically rubbish - I'd had it in a wall-mounted, handmade, pine frame in the kitchen for recipes for 2 years but its browser was regularly crashing :-( I sold it on eBay for about £80 just before Xmas :-) I spent the money on a G4 iBook :-) (more about it below).

My main (most powerful) iMac has a 2TB hard drive in it and a WD MyBook for Mac 4TB external drive used as its Timemachine :-)

Media Server is now a WD MyCloud 6TB drive. Both my flat screen TVs connect to it via WD TV Live boxes. When I go on holiday I take one of them with me and 2 WD My Passport 2TB drives which hold most of my TV show Boxed Sets and Movies. The WD TV Live model I have has both analogue and HDMI outputs so I can connect to the hotel room's TV and plug either WD My Passport drive into one of the USB ports of the WD TV Live to watch my media. I also take an old Samsung Chromebook with me to backup photos I take with my phone to one of the WD My Passport drives.

In my bedroom I have an old G4 1.25GHz iMac with 1.25GB RAM (recently replaced the 512MB SODIMM with a 1GB SODIMM) and a 500GB SATA drive which has a small SATA to ATA100 adapter board to talk to the iMac's ATA100 interface.

Currently typing this on my G4 1GHz iBook with 1.25GB RAM (recently replaced the 512MB SODIMM with a 1GB SODIMM) and an 80GB hard drive (recently replaced the 60GB hard drive) .

I've been using the iBook to learn Java with a book called "Head First Java". Wanted to learn Java so I could use iText to do a project for work where a large quantity of pdf documents from the 1940s have to be electronically stamped with a message and a hand written signature. Unfortunately, the book "iText in Action" I bought is the old edition and the current version of the iText library available online isn't compatible. Now that I have learned Java, I'm close to being able to get things working :-)

When I do get things working, I will be able to reveal more about the documents as they will be able to be published online -- they're currently Classified :-(

Watch this space lol

Just connected my iPad to the TV :-)

Had to post about this :-)

Wanted to be able to connect my iPad to a TV for watching movies on when I'm away on holiday.

I've had the iPad about a year and a half and taken it on holiday abroad 3 times now. In November I got a bonus at work for finishing a project and bought a GoFlex Satellite WiFi hard drive that talks to the iPad for movies and other media. So, I have all my DVD movies and TV boxed sets ripped onto it :-) And it's great I don't need to pick which movies to take with me on holiday -- I just take them all!

Before I went away for Xmas I was looking for a device/cable to be able to connect it to a TV in hotel rooms to have a bigger picture. I couldn't get anything in December as no-one sold such a thing. Popped into Maplin today for a browse and they had this iPad/iPod/iPhone AV cable on special offer for £14.99 :-D bought one and it's great! I'm watching a movie just now from the iPad. Only difference is the one I got was black which is better anyway as my 1st Generation iPad is black :-)

A Prayer Chain for OUR Military on Rememberance Day...

I received this in an e-mail at work today. I think it's a good thing to pass on so, I decided to post it here -- not sure how it will format into my Blog's template... THE FINAL INSPECTION The soldier stood and faced God,  Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass. 'Step forward now, you soldier, How shall I deal with you ? Have you always turned the other cheek ? To My Church have you been true?' The soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't. Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint. I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough. And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough. But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep... Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep. And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here. They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears. If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand. There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod. As the soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God. 'Step forward now, you soldier, You've borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell.' Author Unknown A Prayer chain for our military... Don't break it!  Send this on after a short prayer for our soldiers - Please Don't break it!   A Prayer chain for our military... Don't break it!  It's the Military, not the reporter who has given us the freedom of the press. It's the Military, not the poet, who has given us the freedom of speech. It's the Military, not the politicians that ensures our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It's the Military who salutes the flag, who serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag. If you care to offer the smallest token of recognition and appreciation for the military, please pass this on and pray for our men and women who have served and are currently serving our country and pray for those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

Banana & Ginger Trifle :-P

Was sort of watching Saturday Kitchen before I had lunch and during eating my chicken chow mein. Some bloke was making a "Raspberry Free-Form Trifle" which ended up looking like pretentious wank. Slices of Madeira cake on a flat plate with raspberries, brambles and blackcurrants on it with expensive fresh custard poured over it.

I did, though, get the urge to make a trifle and thought I'd make one with what I had (instead of religiously sticking to my Mum's traditional recipe. I did follow some of the steps of the pretentious wank recipe as they seemed sensible...

I used some McVitie's Jamaican Ginger Cake as the base.
I then put some Peach Schnapps in an omelette pan with sliced banananas and some sugar and water and sort of lightly stewed them so the sugar, schnapps & water turned to a syrup.
I tipped that onto the cake and squashed it down a bit with a spoon.
Then I had to go out and get custard and double cream.
Poured on custard (just sensible Ambrosia)
Whipped some double cream and poured it over.

It tasted quite good -- I've about a third left -- sorry no photo of it as I was hungry and had to dig in the minute it was finished. lol

Bored & Sore

Had 3 teeth roots dug out yesterday...

I went back to work this morning but only lasted for three and a half hours -- I just felt so rough :-(

Still feeling rough now -- I wandered down the road to Aldi to get a tin of soup so I don't starve as eating is quite sore.I took me much longer to get there and back -- about an hour for the 1 mile round trip. just wish I could feel better.

The message is "kids clean your teeth and don't eat too many sweets or you'll regret it when you're older!".

Old 1993 Holiday Diary Published

A few months ago, I was tidying and going through some old papers. I came across a holiday diary I kept when I went camping in Belgium in 1993.

About a month ago, I typed it up on my iPad but hadn't got around to posting it here to my Blog.

This morning I finally got around to publishing it -- There are some typos but it's finally there -- and I haven't edited out any of the gross bits -- lol

Kept wondering if I ought to update it -- there are loads of exclamation marks where now there would probably be smileys.

Maspalomas Pride 12/05/2010 -- 18/05/2010

Spent the next 2 days trying unsuccessfully to find an earlier flight and running up an extra £40 on my mobile phone bill. Finally gave up telling my boss it wasn't worth the stress.

Stopped typing up my diary -- partly as I wasn't really on holiday any more lol

Los Salmones is a nice complex but suffers from being at the far east of the resort, high above the beaches (about 200metres from a cliff) and exposed to the strong winds that you don't get elsewhere. Was frequently cold in the apartment even having to wear a fleece hoodie indoors.

I am just going to post some of the photos I took during the extra third week.

Maspalomas Pride 11/05/2010 Tuesday

Got up about 06:30hrs and had breakfast Pint of milk and a huge orange that was a bit dried out :(. Showered then did final pack throwing out several pairs of white socks as they were past their best and the old blue jeans I bought in Vecindario 5 years ago…

Handed my keys in to reception just after 08:00hrs bumped into a guy that was using their internet terminal that said the flight to Bristol today was cancelled – had to go to the airport anyway to see what Ryanair were saying. Got to airport went for a pee then had to find the Ryanair desk which was hiding in the basement :( a long queue to wait in which took 3 hours to get to speak to someone. Got offered a flight tomorrow to East Midlands and would have to find my own way to Bristol (Seem to remember the flight was going to arrive at 23:30hrs) said I wanted a flight to Bristol as that was what they had contracted with me to do. Given flight in one week’s time – same time and flight on 18/05/2010. Asked if they were going to arrange my accommodation and food until then and told that Ryanair would treat this as a national disaster and I could try claiming but had to arrange everything myself and unlikely to get anywhere. Had phoned my travel insurance and told I was not covered for ash clouds and I was on my own :(

Tried to signup for wireless internet on an airport hotspot but couldn’t get anywhere so went to find a bus back to Playa del Ingles. Eventually got a bus and got off at Yumbo. Tried to book accommodation with Travel Republic at an internet terminal but couldn’t book for starting today :(

Went to Nestor to ask where the Yumbo travel agent is and went to it and paid for a week at Los Salmones for £132.50 on my credit card. Took a taxi there and signed in and paid for a safe for the week. Discovered wireless internet and got the code – only meant to use it in the bar but did get connected from room does drop out from time to time – am I cheating? Checked status of ash cloud and will get worse tomorrow so East Midlands not really worth having tried. Had phoned Mum and my boss both told me should have taken East Midlands – I bet it gets cancelled too!

Maspalomas Pride 10/05/2010 Monday

Got up at 07:30hrs and decided to walk to the beach and swim in the sea and have breakfast on the walk home. Left at 08:00hrs and phoned Mum on the way there. Got there about 09:00hrs and had a skinny dip for a bit. Towelled dry and walked back by the dunes dressing when people walking towards me were clothed lol.

Stopped on the way home at Benny Hill’s bar for a cooked breakfast. Back home by 11:00hrs Mobile’s pedometer says I walked 8.3 miles in that round trip. Showered and shaved. Had a practice packing of my bags and weighing them with my luggage scales. Then walked to a supermarket in San Fernando I think it’s a good 4 mile round trip but my mobile was on charge so can’t confirm) to get a couple of things including the Honeyed Rum they give you a shot of with your bill at dinner. Will have to leave some stuff behind to make the weight limit on my hold luggage :( but I had planned on what could be left so not really a problem.

Went to Reception to see if I could hand in my safe key in the morning they’re not open until about 09:00hrs so no. The guy was the odd-job man that spoke no English but I understood enough of his Spanish to know I had to go back about 16:00hrs to hand in the safe key and get my €15 deposit back. Suspect I only got billed for one week for the safe but it’s their mistake and I don’t really think this practice of charging for using the safe in your appartment is fair anyway.

Had lunch then listened to music and started Harry Potter 4 snoozed a bit then went to hand in safe key – got my deposit back as it was the odd-job man that sorted me out :). Decided to sweep the floor in the bedroom as when I got back from safe to get the laptop out from under the bed, my backpack was covered in fluff:( swept the downstairs too and the stairs so took me a bit. Been listening to music and typing up this since – now it’s 18:30hrs.


Won’t got out to eat until 09:00hrs then not stay out drinking – don’t want to leave the laptop and video camera etc not secured in the safe unattended for long…

Went out to the Marbella and had the Chicken fillet in mushroom sauce and then had a banana split for €5 -- it was my last night :-)

Went home and finished the Gin then went to bed. Up early tomorrow for my airport transfer.

Maspalomas Pride 09/05/2010 Sunday

Had a lazy lie in then had breakfast read a lot and snoozed a lot finished the Harry Potter 3 book.

Went out in the afternoon for lunch a toasted cheese and ham sandwich then went on internet in the amusement arcade to check on flight news… Says to keep checking…:( Also watched 2 movies Latter Days then The Day of the Jackal.) Had a bit of sinus pain which was giving me a sore ear and headache.


Went out for dinner to the Chinese place on the corner at the far end of the Yumbo – the one with fixed price “House Menus”. Took them a good time (at least 10 minutes) to notice me sitting there even though I’d waited to be shown to a table! Then they gave me a menu and asked what drink. I asked for a large lemonade WHOOOOOSH and it was by my side then a 20 minute wait ( I checked on my watch) with the three waitresses who weren’t at all busy ignoring my attempts to catch their eyes to order my meal. I was not impressed – they were totally ignorant and frankly rude. I had quite a long wait for my spring rolls starter and a 15 minute wait for my main course after I had finished my starter. The food when it came was swimming in grease, tepid and over-seasoned with massive quantities of MSG. It was unlike any Chinese food I have had in many European countries and in two other Chinese restaurants in the Yumbo...

They then took ages to bring the bill when I was finished and even longer to bring my change too. Needless to say, I did not tip.

Interestingly, the staff made no attempt to hide what they think of the food they are serving by having several pizzas delivered for their staff meal.

I’ll note the name of the place tomorrow -- Took the photo of it (above) instead.

Had a look in Jackie’s bar for the 2 trannies as they said they’d see me for a drink – no sign of them so, sore head still there I went home and straight to bed.