Working nights has some advantages. There's not a lot more to report really for the blog, but that's really the reason for it's existence and it's fascination. It's a window into someone else's thoughs and daily life. Just so that you can find out you are not the only one mad.
Today has been nice and apart from the seething of waiting for my next card from the bank to be delivered it really was nice out. Though it does mean I also get to experience the full force of the school run if I go out between 3 and 4. How different from when I was at school. I got a school bus, because we lived 4 miles away. But also when I did live closer, I walked the mile and a half to school, along a disused railway line that I suspect would have parents nowadays screaming out in shock. A lot of kids used it. The road bridge over it near school was a well known hiding place for people avoiding the gestapo patrolling the borders. Mainly it was kids smoking there, sometimes more sinister though.

Banks. Pah. My bank uses a company that is supposed to be secure in delivery. On delivery, I was not asked for any identification. I did have to sign for it, but that does not mean enhanced security to me.

Idle thought of the day: how did the phrase "more x than you can shake a stick at" come about?. Why would you want to shake a stick at some things? And how many of the things do there have to be before you can no longer persue stick shakage? Apart from the cliched old lady waving a walking stick in frustration at a squirrel nicking her curlers, I can't think of a single instance where sticks are shook.

Another thing on my mind lately, and more so as time progresses, is the upcoming spectre of my dissertation. I have absolutely no idea what it will be about or how to do it. There's a book recommended to me, "The craft of research" by Wayne Booth, which I'll have to look into.

There were many times in my marriage that the subject of moving came about, not least in part as it was almost a requirement of our meeting. I would never have met her unless I'd agreed to live in Japan for a year. There are a lot of things to weigh up. For me it was that big a deal coming back to the UK or not. I would have been prepared to stay in Japan, not having a great deal to say goodbye to in the UK (2 family members and possibly a friend). Though it was overridden by her choice to leave Japan, which she adamantly wanted to. So from this perspective I can understand my brother and why he has decided to move. Though I could have been a bit smarter in realising her motives were to move to Canada regardless. That's past now, though. As to moving now to any other country? I've visited the USA very briefly and found it fairly unpleasant, though that may have been the company at the time. The trip there was solely for my wife's benefit, as was most of my time in Canada. I was effectively limited to cheauffuer and financier. The only other countries I have visited are Trinidad and Japan, with a short stay in Hong Kong, before it was handed back to its 'owners'. So far, I have enjoyed myself in times in all places - this roughly means that home is where you make it. The main reason to move would be to change climate, as people would largely be the same where ever. Stories abound of people in such a place being very friendly and such - but it's as much a reflection of yourself as it is of your memory. If you feel happier you will have happier memories. Though arguably, the happiness doesn't just happen, it has to be made from some where. Now we could also get into discussion about Heisenberg Happiness or how the thermodynamic happiness laws do not allow happiness to be made, just converted into another kind.

I think I need some sugar.

Timed 00:01 2004-04-31.

Odd dream alert.

I was in a park, with a large puddle. A dog with large ears (like a certain cartoon rabbit's) walked through the puddle and all I can see are it's ears sticking straight up. Then walking along a path with my mother and in the distance I see the tail section of an aircraft fall through the clouds covering the sky, trailing small amounts of smoke. Then a portion of main body falls. I stop and stare, aghast. Then off in the distance, another tail section. Off to the left a nose section. All the parts look like they have been roughly cut, a bit like a thickly sliced sausage. Then there are tens of pieces falling. They keep coming. I rush back to mum's house with her and then go into the garden. Then I woke up. The dream was only harrowing for the loss of life in the planes, though nothing apart from fuselage fell. No small pieces. No bits inside, implying they were empty.

Gah. It's 3:53 and I'm still awake. I've just read Paul's blog. He's on the left there. I'd class him as a good friend, though we're both mostly harmless. And totally useless at keeping in touch. I've missed him.

Working nights has really stuffed up my body clock. As DST is now in effect (sounds like a curfew!) it's really 2:53 but that still means in about 3 hours the sun will come up. Heck, my brother will be going to bed soon in Toronto - I can't stay up later than him and he's 5 hours behind. Now that would be a first!

Julie and I seem to be getting on better since I've been thinking about what I want in life. I've realised I do want happiness and love. It's possible I do really like her. Heaven knows we're quite similar - she does find me funny (and not only when I'm in the shower). I missed her while I was working - the timing meant I really didn't have anyone to contact at all when standing on the parking area of Wolverhampton bus garage. An area of concrete probably big enough to land several small aircraft on side by side. Possibly people who don't work nights have not much idea how cold it is at 4am. Clubbers might have some idea, though, but I'm not a clubber. I prefer a bat.

My 4th module seem to be goign well - though it's Networking which is an area I've looked at quite a bit so there's not a lot that's totally new. AI is something that does appeal, but I have a nagging doubt that it will surprise me in a totally different way than Databases did.

The clocks just went forward an hour. I've never actually seen it happen. Mind you, any sane person would be fast asleep. The worst thing is, though we do eventually get it back, there is no interest! Hmm! Mystery Science Theatre 3000 on BBC2. I'd forgotten how funny this is.

Another try of Pocket Blog. It's not easy typing so maybe I need a keyboard too. Is good though.

News: I'm off to Australia for most of August. Yay! Syndey then Melbourne. Now this is the perfect chance to justify (ha ha) a proper digital camera. I'm finally sick of film, though it does have it's uses. Mainly for slicing small soft fruit or animals.

Also, do you know the risks of di-hydrogen monoxide? It's nasty stuff. There's also an organisation performing research into this potentially deadly substance.

For getting mum ADSL - I'm currently considering the options. I need to have a word with mum about it, as well as get her more RAM, a microphone, camera and possibly more cushions. Then there's the problem of getting her connected - I can either give her the Dlink or repair the BT badged Efficient 5861 for about 30 quid. I'd prefer the latter as it's more robust, in my experience. I'm trying not to think about mum camming on the internet. Truly mind boggling. Ewwww. I think I have to go use a brillo pad.

I forgot to mention I was sent to Birmingham, again. Well, Wolverhampton, it's spotty small brother. The GPS and PDA were flawless (flaws being me! Even with it I still managed to make a couple of wrong turns, but thankfully Leaves coped well and recalulated when I was dumb) (no, that's not all the time). I left Monday afternoon and got back late Thursday. If you ever go to Wolverhampton (I urge you not to, there doesn't seem to be much worthwhile there, but by all means let me know of choice spots) take a car, preferrably something less than 2 metres high as all parking areas in the centre seem to be limited to 2m. Except one, but that you can only park for 2 hours at.

I'm looking forward and also having doubts about the end of this module - 31st March - it means I'll be half way through the degree (ignoring the dissertation). The doubts are the next set of fees will be due as soon as I book the next module. Ulp. More plastic abuse to come.

Odd dreams for me again. I woke up this morning after dreaming I'd been driving in a red sports car (something like a Mazda RX8 - small, curvy), through a junction, having some bumps involving wheels then racing away to be persued by bus drivers. They caught up remarkably quickly.

Details, thankfully, are sketchy.

One more week of this module then I have the prospect of coming up with a large wodge of cash for the next set of 4 modules.

After the 6th module, I can start on my dissertation. Now there's a scary thought. I have no idea what to do.

Well, that was stupid. Testing a floppy for work which copies one hard disk to another (useful for recertifying a PC in the field) it started to copy my second disk to my first. Now that wouldbt be a problem, but my home PC is not a CE PC.

The upshot is, I'm offline and have been since about 7pm Monday night. After some jiggery pokery using TestDisk, PartitionMagic and Bootmaster (to provide some basic info but actually I could have gotten away with just TestDisk & PM) it turns out i've lost my C drive. For normal people, this would be a major problem. However, not this time for me as I'd planned ahead a bit (not enough to actually have a backup, though!) and C only had the operating system. Pagefile, profile, programs and anything else were on other partitions. So other than the rigmarole of reinstalling everything it's all there. I think. Warthog (my PC) is currently installing W2k.

So far I've spent/wasted about 5 hours on this, though for one of those I went to Argos, so I don't think it really counts. I could have done it quicker if I'd not hesitated earlier trying to get everything back.

On work side, I'm working nights. Sucky sucky. Though apparently a cheque for my outstanding expenses is now available, even though it was stated on Friday that a transfer would happen on Monday. The 'transfer' being a cheque in the post, to the office. Typical. Like I get there nowadays. And don't mention the phone calls at 9:40.

The one good thing about working nights is you get some daytime, free. Afternoons, though after about 5 hours sleep and what feels like a large amount of a mountain in my right eye mitigate this a little.

I'm strangely not sleepy. Tired, yes, but not sleepy. Hungry too. Shame it's not possible to fix both at the same time, it would be great. Trouble is, how would you know when to stop eating if you are asleep?

I've just bought a Socket Bluetooth GPS to go with my h4150. I've not managed to work out the software yet (TomTom Navigator won't get a permanent fix when in navigation mode for some reason) which is stopping the voice prompts.

But other than that I can drive or walk about with the GPS in my pocket and never get lost again. Laugh! More on this soon.

Working nights, again. Not too bad though, apart from it's cold! How come they always know the coldest nights to ask me to work. Gah.

Well I've bought a GPS reciever to go with my iPAQ - it should arrive by Friday (hint hint, Expansys!). I'm looking forward to trying it out. On that score, I would have a Palm GPS and software going begging - anyone want it? No? Thought not :).

Well back to studies for me - a reward for me after I've done them is to play a bit of Beyond Good & Evil on Mark's Xbox. Very addictive game. Interesting subtexts - who contols your minds, who is making a war etc etc. Written by a French guy.

Well here we go with Livejournal. I think I prefer Blogger already, even though the client is still beta.

On another note, it's surprising the number of wireless networks around. I found something like a dozen unprotected nerworks from the train, though it was not possible to negotiate an address in the short time Leaves was in range, though it tried anyway. These networks often had no encryption as well as not hiding the name. Most were home networks, however. More warchalking when time permits.

I'm pleased to see most people don't have Bluetooth on their phones available stopping Bluejacking. Heck, this train is rough. Can hardly type!

Back from Birmingham, and very glad of it. I'm The Great Gonzo, according to this. I don't see the resemblance myself.