another day in my life

Memory problems

2006-08-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

So, below are instructions for resurrecting your phone from "death by washin machine":

1) Disassemble phone as far as will allow.
2) Get angry with yourself for being stupid enough to put your 5 day old phone into the washing machine.
3) Leave overnight.
4) Plug into the charger and turn on - it works! Leave on charge to generate internal heat.
5) Place on the windowsill with a battery from the phone your dog ate last week (causing new phone to be purchased) inserted, one that holds charge because it wasn't put on spin.
6) Ensure the sun is shining though the window to toast phone and internals.

Voila! The phone works and only has a small water stain on the INSIDE of the screen....

Of course, you could ensure that your dog doesn't munch your old phone, thus needing a replacement half the size that you forget is in your pocket following a torrential downpour (that you were in because you had to walk the dog...). And don't forget to check ALL of your pockets for said tiny phone.

Magic. Other gripes - the second set of forks I have bought from ebay for my wife's new handbuilt bike (stretch the truth - I am hand assembling components) don't fit. Thus requiring more forks. Arse.

That'll do for now I think....

Loafin. Pure and simple

2006-07-30T04:32:00.000-07:00

Hello all (if anyone still reads this!). I know it has been two months, but I have had a fair bit on. Very hectic at work, ensuring everything was in order in time for summer leave, which i am now on. yes - 4 weeks off of work, with NOTHING to do. My better half is still working, precluding a sunny vacation, so I sit at home, keep the dog amused and play alot of XBox (just purchased Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon - all good so far!).

I have also had a visit from Mort, my brahim, and have had my tricky shoulder operated on. I kept dislocating it, so I have been under the knife, keyhole stylee and had it stabilised. There now follows 5 weeks of physio to regain movement and strength.

Other things on my mind, are my car. I own a Mk3 Golf GTi, one of the most overtly sporty cars I have owned. Now right now I cant drive (the shoulder), but it just isnt quite the hot hatch I was always led to beleive. A little lacking in power. May need to spice it up a bit, but not too MAX POWER...

My new job is running well - I am responsible for the reformation of a prestigious unit returning to my regiment. All goes well so far, including trying to dig into their history a little more. The World Wide Web is not the info oracle it once was, at least not when i want it to be...ebay continues to provide many unexpected finds of useful (?) things and will continue to be a financial burden.

Well, that's it for now - stay safe y'all!

Sun is shining, everyting is Irie...

2006-05-13T05:45:00.000-07:00

At least I think that's how it goes - my West Indian lingo is a little rusty.

The sun is indeed shining - mostly - and most tings are good. The stark contrast between here and "the other place" is comforting in a way:

# Trees
# Grass
# Animals
# Birds (of the feathered type)
# Real houses
# All modern facilities.

The other place had the following:

# Rockets
# Sand
# Mortars
# Sand
# Sun (tto hot, too bright)
# Sand

And some more sand.

Bad things continue to occur there, but here is no different. Pretty high on the gross-ometer is the fact that the tic that has been attached to my dog's belly for the last 4 days (he wouldn't let me take it off), detached itself in the kitchen. Pretty minging, but that's not all. I then stood on it. SPLAT! Pretty minging. Not all - I was barefoot and the slime went a clear 6" across the floor. Still at least the tic died a painful death...

Other than the fact that the dog is blessed with the runs and I am trying to place unused items on eBay (a fairly evil site - cue link to Mort). Hard work. Ruthless de-junkification of the house continues, as well as finding things i had forgotten i had - Coca cola Spinner, Binoculars, Kodak Brownie camera (it takes film!!) and more. Some must go, some HAS to stay...

Back once again like the renegade master...

2006-04-27T05:13:00.000-07:00

Hmmm...

I am now back in my humble abode. With my enormous dog and my b-e-a-utiful betrothed.

I am sliightly concerned that I have just seen my mate's dog for the first time in 6 months - he has a Weimaraner. Only next to my Labraweilersation (as I beleive the mix should be) he looks like a minature whippet.

Yes, the hound I left behind has grown. Long legs, glossy hair and an endless appetite (cue sexist pig joke from "The Todd" 'sounds like some other beeeatches I know - high five'!!). He is now the size of a small shetland pony. Good for me, I can hire him out at fetes!

Having returned relatively unscathed from my second desert experience (I cut my leg on the shower door) I can safely say that I will be most upset to return....

My braw, who's site is linked, sounds in a chirpy mood too - maybe he is happy for me to be back. He is also visiting me in Germany during World Cup season...

Well, I'll be off. The blog has been brightened up to reflect my change in outlook.

Laters

The giant egg timer...

2006-04-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Through which the sands of time are trickling at an ever increasing rate. Or so it would seem. Yup, I have days to push. My replacement is here, he is my new best friend and i even pursuaded him to buy my TV and DVD player today, for only a $20 depreciation. Alles Gut.

Soon I shall return to the Fatherland, for that is where I am unfortunate enough to be based right now, to be reunited with my dearly beloved and the Hound of The Baskervilles. Apparently he is a labrador/Rottweiller/Alsatian cross, which bodes well I think. He is slowing growing up and calming down, so the threat of cutting his nuts off diminishes daily.

Unfortunately, it turns out he hasn't really got his pet passport (bluffing fool - did he think that customs wouldn't check?) so he can't come back to the UK to visit the extended family. Instead he will have the pleasure of returning to the kennels for a short time. Now, some people would try to convince you that a kennel is just like a hotel for pets. I say crap, it is more like prison - noisy, cramped and the bitch in the next cell keeps eyeing you up and slavering suggestively...no wonder he doesn't like it. Still, I need to see my Mum and Dad and the outlaws, so away he must go.

Not much has steamed me up recently, apparently our pal Norman Kember gushed profusely at the braveness of soldiers everywhere, the TV in the office is fixed, I am going to leave soon..

But all is not well, because even at this late stage in our tour, another of us has been killed. Very sad. Hopefully, something can be fixed here that means no more people have to be killed - on any side.

I'll let you know when I am back. All of you stay safe and thanks for the support you have given me while I have been here. To my replacements good luck and stay safe, to the Iraqi people good luck with all the difficulties that lie ahead on the road to a better country. To those who wont be coming home, in the past, now or in the future, We Will Remember Them.

Put him back where you found him

2006-03-26T01:18:00.000-08:00

So, Norman Kember didn't say thanks to the boys from Hereford for rescuing him. Or to the military in general. And he wouldn't assist in answering questions in his debrief. And he ignored Foreign Office advice by travelling to "the most dangerous country in the world" to "help the Iraqi people".

WHAT A TW*T. Feel free to insert any vowel you like, as long as it is "A".

Naive doesn't cover it. Do gooding, geriatric meddler comes close. Going to a country where he is guaranteed to get at the very least kidnapped and probably killed. Saying that if he was kidnapped, he didn't want a military rescue. OK, so you fancy a few years in an Iraqi hovel? I think this place sucks and I generally steer clear of the locals - they smell and they don't live in fantastic conditions. To be held by them, blinfolded and probably likely to be slotted isn't on my list of to do's. To then ask to be freed by peaceful means is bloody stupid.

To then not be grateful is ridiculous. How much effort did he think UK PLC would put in to finding him? How many peoples lives put in danger to find the dodgy old punter?

Fella's, pick him up from Pinner (or wherever he lives). Fly him back. dump him and we'll see how quickly his "Faith" and "peaceful means" get him out of the mire.

END OF TRANSMISSION

38 days and a wake up....

2006-03-23T05:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right. Less time than it took for the big JC to be reborn or something like that.

Then I will be out of here....

Of note, a recent VIP visitor (you watch the news - he's Scottish and has "Defence" in his title) came to visit. Now, while I am nowhere near important enough to visit, I am not saddened by this. He visited our HQ on a sunday *BOO!*, he arrived at 0745 *BOO!*, he then proceeded to ask how long the people he had met had been out here *HISS!*. Hmm, i wonder. Given that you were directly responsible for sending us, it does not fill me with confidence in your political abilites...

Good to see that England and the other home nations are pulling in the medals in the Commonwealth Games. Remind all the others that the Motherland still has it in her to produce winners.

I shouldn't spend too long on here actually. I was caught by my boss earlier, who was in a bad mood. He appears to have morphed into some kind of T100 Terminator. His mission is to destroy every officer in this department, leaving no soul untarnished. If we dont die, we are to be made to work until our eyes dribble out of our head as useless liquid, ebola stylee. Nice. Guantanamo Bay interns take note - you have it easy. I even like the colour orange, but not the colour of my daily attire. HARRUMPH.

Saw a Desert Fox the other night - he was pretty cool, and other than the mouse that i caught in my room (pesky nugget kept eating all my stuff) and the sparrow, there has been a drought of wildlife. Not too surprised though - I only live here because I wouldn't be paid else....oh and I think I could be court martialled, which is bad.

Reading a good book - SilverFin. Best described as James Bond - the school years. Written by Charlie Higson of Fast Show fame. Very Good.

Rainbow Six 3 is keeping me glued to the XBox and I did a 10km "Fun" Run for Marie Curie Cancer Charity. Well 2 out of 3 isn't bad - it was 10km and I ran....

Speak soon y'all

A random collection of thoughts.

2006-03-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

ISF are ready to assume control (Iraqi Security Forces). They just wont do the same job as us, in the same way. They will do it their way. Which ultimately will be the prevailing way for the future.

"Do not do too much with your own hands. Better the Arabs do it tolerably, than for you to do it perfectly. It is their war, and you are to help them, not win it for them." T F Lawrence 1917. Or Lawrence of Arabia if you will. And he knew what he was on about.

Other than that:

XBOX: Rainbow Six 3 - brilliant.
DVD: 24 - still series 1, up to about 4pm.
DVD wants: Scrubs, PrisonBreak, Syriana (new Clooney film).

books read - The Pyrates (GMF - funny), Split Second (David Baldacci - recommended).

50 days to go. 75% of tour complete. Spare a thought for the US Army - year long tours, still only 2 weeks R&R, but at least its tax free.

Raymondo signing off, but never, ever could I be OVER AND OUT. Impossible.

The Ty lion got a pin in its head.

2006-03-02T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hmmm... so when the last unfortunate bunch of souls left the building for good, they left behind a "Ty Beanie Baby" called "roary". He now has a large drawing pin jammed in his forhead and has been liberally hurled about the office. No reason, just a slow day.

2 more servicemen were killed the other day, one of whom I had met. While it is always sad when it happens, it is particularly somber when you new him, no matter how vaguely. May they both Rest in Peace.

BUT...the crowd that developed around the scene of the explosion began to stone the cordon troops. Not so good. In all credit to the troops doing a difficult job there was no return of the violence. But that probably didnt make such an impact in the news.

TAX was an issue that brother Mort bought up (see Mortworld). interestingly it rears its head here a fair bit. Australian and American troops serve operational tours tax free, but not us. Any comments?

MARMITE - great to hear that the little champ likes it, must agree it is tasty.

On the viewing front, I have procured 24 Series 1-4 for the rediulous sum of $45. I am watching "Tour of Duty" an interesting series about a Platoon in the Vietnam War, filmed in the 80s and not that bad. Unlike Eurotrip. Which was. And a film called TAMARA, which was borderline garbage, amateur Witch is killed during a prank and comes back to life a a super-sexy vixen and kills the lot of em...weird.

Right, must go. See pinkfluffybubble.blogspot.com for my other half's view on the world.

Hands up if you care

2006-02-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

So, another weasel journalist is prepared to put soldiers lives at risk by publishing and/or airing "new" footage of abuse scandal in Iraq.

Surprisingly enough the "new" footage is 2 years old (British) and 2 1/2 years old (american, Abu Gharaib).

While there is no excuse for what happened and any individuals or small groups responsible for breaches of Military, Civilain and Human Rights law shuld be punished, WHY does this stuff need to be shown to the world?

People at home dont care - the opinion polls proved that over the last few days. They were more concerned as to why these things happened. Where they unprovoked attacks? People here dont care (in comparison to floods, no food and getting KILLED by former regime and now criminals, as opposed to a beating by Coalition troops), as violence seems to have been such a frequent part of their lives that they accept it.

More concern was raised over the cartoons. But enough about that.

I have been to Abu Gharaib and I have seen the embarrassment of the Americans as a nation - they were appalled that it happened and more appalled that everyone knew. I have seen the effect of people stirred into activity through the practice of freedom of speech "for the good of the people". Rubbish. Most of this is "chequebook" journalism. News is slow, hammer the troops. Better than a hero story, or one about how we have help rebuild this country and it's ability to function as a comparitive state for the region (it will never be Britain or US, but it could be Kuwait or Saudi or Jordan).

Rant over.

Of more importance, I watched "The Great Raid", based on a true WWII story. Excellent. "Eurotrip". Tonk. "The Island" - Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johanssen. Excellent. Not much else.

I think that's enough for now. Stay safe.

Ug....

2006-02-17T05:40:00.000-08:00

This wont be a long one as I am rapidly losing the will to live....

Bad points this month:

1) The Iraqi I knew best out here was assassinated last week. He was a good guy and wanted to see his country function as it should - he wanted to help. A sad day. May his god be with him now and thoughts to his wife and children.

2) Still have 2 1/2 months to go and I have been back from R&R for 2 weeks.

3) My dog is ill.

Good points:

1) I am going to receive a 3% pay rise in April.

2) um......

Well there you go, it is officially rubbish here, ask anyone!

Stay safe.

Sunshine on a rainy day...

2006-02-06T22:41:00.000-08:00

Makes my soul, makes my soul drift, drift away....

Name that tune.

In relevance to here, it rained to day. Booo.

We were suppoesed to be on the ranges. Booo.

It was cancelled. Yay!

I found $100. Yay!

I am supposed to hand it in in case anyone stupid enough to drop $100 has reported it. Booo.

I have been back for 7 days now and it hasn't been easy to readjust. Waking up early (06 something), working til late (gone 10 sometimes) and then not being able to sleep is not good. I have the bloodshot eyes of a seasoned alcoholic, without the drunkeness (boo) or hangover (yay).

I have managed to squeeze in Rambo 1,2 & 3 (better than I thought they would be), The Interpreter (Very good) and Flight of the Phoenix (good), plus played Forza Motorsport on XBox - jury is out as to comparison with GT4 on PS2.

Right must dash, as I am supposed to be working.

We will remember them.

2006-02-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

Sad day yesterday.

Three of my fellow servicemen returned home for the last time - the 99th, 100th and 101st British Servicemen to be killed here were repatriated.

A sad day for all here.

My thoughts are with their families and friends.

May they Rest in peace.

Or not as the case may be....

2006-01-29T12:08:00.000-08:00

Survived my R&R (Rest and Recuperation) in Austria skiing with my better half. Not so sure she did - it was her first time and she now looks like a multi-coloured jelly!

I got back from the 7 hour train ride - long but pleasant, these Europeans really know how to do public transport - to find that the car wouldn't start. shite. and then the taxi was 35 euro (£25). and i still haven't got the car back. It's ok though because it is in a pay and display car park and this is Germany, so their not efficient or anything.....

Luckily though I have got my dog back. He is a black lab cross. Crossed with what we're not sure, but after today's performance I would guess at black bear/Tasmanian devil and PCP/speed addict.... he is a 4 legged whirlwind that chases anything that moves (including cars) and tries to eat eveything that doesn't. I tried to stop him by feeding him chilli (well sweet chili sauce), but he just licked his lips and looked for more!!! The nause monster just drank half of my beer and i know he is going to ask for a "comfort break" at about 0330 this morning....

Domestic bliss is only available on TV. Unless it is a soap opera I found out today. After possibly a year away from UK TV I find that half of Chester is suicidal (Hollyoaks) and the other half want to be. Eastenders i cant do - all they do is work on the veg stand and drink in the Vic - the whole of Walford....great town. Coronation street - same crap, just up north. Emmerdale - unfeasibly attractive women slapped into an inbred village in the dales (PATSY KENSIT!!!! not to mention the others). I havent seen any Aussie soaps though.

Watched A1 racing today - like Formula 1, but one make of car, overtaking, action and excitement. so maybe not that much like F1 then...

Now watching the Forces equivalent of MTV, with "the Hits - 100 Greatest Videos ever". Up to No.24 and it is Beat it by Jacko....what could be next. I'll let you know. Unless I am back in Iraq and depressed again. HA HA HA

Oh and you all must read "The World According to Clarkson". Two words - FUNNY and RESPECT

Remain in Body Armour and Helmets....

2006-01-08T05:50:00.000-08:00

.....until post attack teams have completed their search.

yup, we got rocketed the other day. It's always a nice feeling to be piloting a Jaguar E-Type around the Nurburgring (GT4 - PS2 - I wasn't asleep and dreaming) when CRUMP!!! the trailer shakes and suddenly you're scrabbling for you helmet and bodyarmour. They didnt follow up with more, but we sat around like lemons for a few hours waiting for the all clear. Safety first!

Apart from that, it has been pretty quiet. Still awaiting the election results (which may upset some people and thereby trigger some action) but all is running along smoothly.

I have in the past few days been reading Whickers War (funny) watching Terminator (old, but classic), Big Trouble (Get Shorty director, gangster-esque comedy. V Good), Cellular (Crap, but Kim Basinger scrubs up well) and King Kong (long. Very long). The local Iraqis certainly do have a good pipeline into the movie trade.

I am due R&R soon, which is of course very exciting and I shall be going skiing. I am looking for snowboards on ebay, nothing ridiculous, but could be my next failed hobby (following Parachuting, Scuba and Surfing).

Mort survived our parents, complete with Mort Jnr, although he did vomit on the Sofa and new carpet (Jnr, not Mort - I think he restrained himself). I now have to persuade my mother that its a good idea for my oversized hound to visit. He has paws like dinner plates and wont make a mess of the oatmeal carpet, honest....

I'm dreaming of a white christmas.....

2005-12-27T07:14:00.000-08:00

But in the words of a certain pop princess "dreaming's all I do, if only they'd come true".

Yes, snow in the desert is pretty unusual (although it did snow in Baghdad when I was here last), but so is rain. So unusual in fact, that it was all we had. For 3 days. Which is nice, because when it rains the whole place turns into a quagmire. The dust turns into sticky glue and every time you walk anywhere you get covered in it. Then the mosquitos that have been lying dormant in the ground hatch at the first sign of the sun....

The clouds of biting insects did only last for about 2 hours though (and it was like a re-enactment of Swarm), because then the temperature dropped to below zero and they all froze. HA HA HA.

Good things about christmas - Jim Davison's comedy tour, followed by Katherine Jenkins (welsh opera singer - SCHWING!!!). I dont think I've laughed so hard in ages. Then stopped. As soon as she stepped on stage. 400 soldiers transfixed....

We all got a present box from "british industry" which had some fun stuff, and one of the guys had arranged for friends and family to send us surprise gifts, delivered by Santa himself (although he looked familiar...).

I rang Mort (see MORTWORLD on blogspot) on Christmas Day, but I think he was busy with the little one, so no joy. He is visiting the family soon back home, so be prepared for some good blogs following that.

Perhaps the highlight of christmas was the 0.3% volume bottle of Low Becks. I think if I drink about 20 then I could get steaming. And probably burst. Cant wait for new year...

I hope you all had a good one and that you are all safe and well. Laters.

Merry Christmas. HO HO HO

2005-12-23T01:48:00.000-08:00

So, apparently the big cheese - yes Boy Blair - paid a "surprise" visit here yesterday. Wow! we were astonished. It meant we weren't allowed out of the office for about 2 hours...

I didnt get to see the man himself, not even close. he moved to another location to do the morale boosting.

On the upside it is raining and will do for the next few days, so we should prepare for a wet, sticky (from the mud), miserable christmas. Incidentally my second here in a row - BONUS!!

Oh well, Queen and country....

On the entertainment front we are about to amused by Jim Davidson and a welsh opera singer. On a smaller scale I still have not replaced Futurama and have instead watched King Arthur, and Transporter 2. Both of these films were high in action and low in reality, T2 had more guns and fighting than this place and KA had Keira Knightley, so all end well.....

Stormy Weather :-(

2005-12-16T20:45:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday was an event. We woke up to pretty strong winds. This was good, because it meant the morning fog of the day before was blown away (walking to work in 2ft visibility while all the "important" people use new 4x4s is scary - no footpaths).

However, lack of visbility didn't last long. Sandstorm hit and stayed all day. Walking out was a bit like a strong facial scrub, with a cup of salt to wash it down. Sandblasting.

The sandstorm died down by night fall, but the elements must have thought they hadn't been busy enough, so they gave us an electrical storm. Again, pretty hair raising walking about in the desert....

Did Mother Nature stop there? No, she did not. We then got thunder, followed by rain. Just in time for me to walk back to the office. Nice. The best thing about rain here is that it turns the crappy dusty ground into a sticky mess. I reached the office 3 inches taller!

Election day was yesterday, so lets see what happens now they are truly in charge (nobody can protest about puppet governments).

On the Futurama front, I have sadly finished off all four series. It hasn't failed to make me laugh at least once an episode and the Beastie Boys were featured too! AWESOME!

Choosing a new source of entertainment will be tough, but I have seen the Family Guy box set...

winter blues - well grey mostly

2005-12-13T20:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, winter is upon us. It has been smeaking up in its stealthy way. The heater in the hooch now has to be turned on to effect bed exit....brrrrr.

This morning was not so cold, but only because it was foggy instead. Then there was a power cut. Its nearly election time, so the local contractors are on curfew, so there is severe rationing on water (for ablutoins etc) and fuel. The nice "normal" toilets are all locked (water saving and no cleaners) so it is Portaloos only. Nice - ever seen a portaloo after 300 people have "been" through it? Soon it will rain and then it will resemble Glastonbury....

Good to see Mort back on form with another impossibly bizarre soap-opera-esque weekend. Kind of makes it hard to compete, but there are some funny stories about a construction contract for my area of responsibility that cost a fair bit to complete. Then they realised that it wasn't connected to the water mains or electricity. HA HA HA. Another fair size wedge to fix it, or dont bother and waste the original chunk of cash?

On the lighter side I watched 4 episodes of previously hidden (to me in my incompetence on the DVD player) Futurama episodes. Ace as ever. And then played some GT4, also good.

Arabian Nights...Sand flea bites.

2005-12-09T23:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I survived the Arabian dining experience. Sadly the sheep did not come out whole as originally advertised and so there was a distinct lack of eyes and brain. Comedy moment when most of the local guests demanded plates and cutlery after we had gone to all the trouble of making it a traditional "hands-on" experience....

Some observations of TV of my own, bearing in mind my limited viewing potential.

1) Why was an 8 month pregnant woman on an airliner in the first place? (Lost)
2) How did that Polar Bear get there? (Lost) No doubt TBC Series 2.
3) Stargate. Odd. Peripheral watching while my room-mate get stuck into it - again Odd (Stargate not the roomy. I think.)
4) Futurama. Rocks, but I think I have watched all 4 seasons. Make more!
5) that's all folks....

Just before I go there was a particularly weak response from Mort (see DJANGO STRIKES BACK - nice DVD cover incidentally) as to lack of material for a new blog entry. Somebody help him. Fill his days with exciting material for entry. Please!

The continued tedium of reform

2005-12-06T22:17:00.000-08:00

So, it's Wednesday again (apparently - you do tend to lose track a bit). We have started to refer to things as day 1 of 7 (we don't get weekends, so why build our hopes up).

Glimers of hope in my working week? Well, Sunday was "minimal manning day" in the office. In theory it means we could have the first day off in 6 weeks (longer for some), to recharges the batteries. 0730 to 2230 minimum office time for that long grinds you down. However, relaity strikes. A particularly busy couple of days for my area of responsibility meant that I was called into the office. After a few choice expletives I dragged myself in for the morning. Harrumph. I extracted by lunch time and spent the afternoon with a few episodes of lost and a playstation 2...oh what a party we had!

Potentially entertainment of more a exciting nature is the forthcoming "Arabian Nights" dinner we are hosting. All of the head Honchos from the local security services (Army, Police, other random organisations) will come to feast on local style sheep (complete with head and eye balls - yummy). The bonds between our respective commands will be strengthened, blah, blah, blah. Personally a few hours surrounded by steaming ovine carcass and suspicious local power mongers could be slightly strenuous. Ah, all for Queen and country.

Well, something of infinite importance is dragging me away, so off I must be.

Groundhog day

2005-11-30T22:48:00.000-08:00

Well, for those avid bloggers amongst you, I should warn you that I am the brethren of Mort (see Django Strikes Back). I can confirm that he does look similar to his posted blog photo, although with less action words floating around him.

Life here is not too bad, in limited exposure. The daily routine is beginning to grind - get up early, shower, dress, eat breakfast, arrive in office, work (fighting sleep head), lunch, work (fighting post lunch lethargy), dinner (fight ice cream machine's evil lure), work, return to tiny room shared with another, watch 1 episode of futurama, sleep for 5 minutes (clock says more, I say not), wake up, shower.....

So, as I only have to do this for another 5 months things are looking rosy. Still at least I am making a difference (that is the party line).

Well, I'd better go, because the work hasn't stopped while I write this away from my desk.