Wireless hiccup

So the guys had a freak out moment this a.m. when they couldn’t access the internet. They both headed off for their days and left me to handle the technology. To the good, the internet is still there (aren’t you glad?) and currently I’m plugged straight into the DSL modem through an ethernet cable. On the downside, we have no wireless, which will be a little awkward when the young’un gets home from school and wants to IM the universe.

Poor old techie-research-fellow will have to battle the aged airport gremlins when he gets home from his little excursion to visit a UMM grad in London at the British Museum. The story of our lives – cross the pond and meet alums!

We put up another podcast on our adventures and you can check it out on Phi’s blog.

Current temperature: here 18C/64F, there 70F/21C

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Bounce! Bounce!! Bounce!!!

Two wonderful things happened yeasterday.

– Internetness from home is now possible.

– Young’un started school.

So that researcher-fellow-guy-person saved his marriage by sorting out the BT gremlins. God, they suck. If the engineer who set up our line had done their job properly we would have been live a week ago. Grrrrr.

The school situation is looking good and there is some prospect for actual academic stimulation. It looks like the tike will get to play both his band instruments in an orchestra. He’ll definitely be getting personal tuition on the trumpet but it also looks like there’s a french horn at school for him to play. The foreign language side of the equation has gone from famine to feast as he gets to study both French and German. The snag is that they are already two years in and the school is taking a get stuck in and make the best of it approach. Well at least they actually think foreign languages are important unlike our home school which doesn’t even expect any exposure to a foreign language to graduate.

Current temperature: here 21C/70F, there 84F/29C

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Bourne Ultimatum

Brilliant. What a ride this movie is! Holy cow. It starts right from the word go and doesn’t let up. There are a couple of opportunities to catch your breath but basically you just have to grab hold and hang on for all you’re worth. There are some spectacular set pieces which I’m not going to describe as you really do need to see them unspoiled to experience the full impact. Matt Damon rang true as JB and the supporting cast was firing on all cylinders. I especially liked Joan Allen. A smart, strong female character who isn’t sold short by the script. Whatever next, women in movies as human beings?

The whole movie is nicely underpinned by a very moral compass and you just have to read the newspaper to see how corrupting ‘playing by the bad guy’s rules’ can be.

Current temperature: here 16C/61F, there 66F/19C

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Why is our street called what it is?

Since we’re living on George Williams Way I thought I’d look up who he was/is. As you might expect there are lots of George Williams who are referred to on the net. But with the canny application of the little grey cells I think this is our George Williams. (On the right, in this photo, is the entrance to our street.)

Current temperature: here 13C/55F, there 68F/20C

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A bright and sunny day

We’re mostly moved in and unpacked. There are a few things that are strewn around the place but we can lay our hands on most everything. Wednesday the car goes back so we will be quite reliant on Shanks’ Pony. We test drove this puppy today and I can see it will be a few weeks before I get completely back into shape. Fortuitously the town centre is a comfortable 15 minute walk from our front door. Shortly, there will also be neighbourhood exploring to find the best places to acquire certain necessary items.

Today the sky was blue which cheered me up no end.

We have acquired a Freeview box with hard drive so timeshifting tv will be back on the agenda. A big plus for family sanity and keeps Mum from going completely insane with no net connection.

Current temperature: here 16C/61F, there 72F/22C

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A home of one’s own

So we’ve put down the big bucks and signed a contract for nine months at a rather nice property right on the edge of the town centre. We did look at a couple of flats with a more central location in town but they were not quite as salubrious so we went for the ‘more exercise’ option. There appears to be every take out option our tummies could desire within a few minutes walk so we look forward to tasting their wares.

Tomorrow morning we do the walk through and then we move ‘our furniture’ in in the afternoon. I’m so looking forward to unpacking properly. Just being able to find everything would be a big win at this point. I brought a number of embroidery projects with me to work on and being able to get these set up would make me a happy camper.

Since we finally have an address we went straight to the library and joined which was incredibly easy and will save ye olde bank balance from over indulgence. Then we trooped down the cobbled pedestrians only street to see if we could sort out an internet connection. There was a certain level of confusion so we weren’t able to do anything right then but when we see ‘the boxes’ in the flat we can work out what sort of hook up we can get.

Late August weather in Colchester continues to resemble late October which is a downer but while we were at the library I picked up every ‘things to do in this part of the world’ leaflet I could lay my mitts on. We will go, see, do stuff regardless of the skies damnit!

I had a strange turn this morning when the whole world seemed to be whirling around rather violently. Made me sick as a dog for a while but after a few hours the universe stabalised and I lost that ashen she’s about to hurl hue. Lets hope the cosmos behaves itself tomorrow.

Current temperature: here 15C/59F, there 66F/19C

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Silliness abounds!

Just a little intro. to us and our adventures abroad. Yes, we really are this wacky. Perhaps, if you’re really (un)lucky we’ll post more. Tally ho!

Current temperature: hasn’t changed since I last posted, a few moments ago.

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Shock! Horror! Yes, I’m posting …

… but sadly I still don’t have a permanent connection so I’m borrowing Nic’s account at Essex to post. I’m relegated to using IE, which sucks rats through a straw! How anyone can stand to use this awful software I just don’t know. We may have found somewhere to live but before we know for sure the landlord has to okay us for a 9 month lease vs a 12 month one. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Once we have accommodation, a real connection WILL happen fairly quickly or a serious mum meltdown will be the order of the day.

Current temperature: here 19C/66F, there 57F/14C

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We’re here

A quickie to let you know we’ve arrived! We’re hanging with my mum and eating her out of house and home but, luckily, she hasn’t told us to get out yet. When I have a better connection will write more.

Current temperatures: here 66F/19 , there 75F/24C

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We’re off to Blighty for a year

So tonight we take down our airport and pack those last few things that need to go in the suitcases at the last minute. Tomorow we head for the cities and then Tuesday we fly. We’ll touch down Wednesday morning and arrive at my mum’s in time for lunch. Then we start looking for a place to live and a school for the young’un to attend.

We had a walk through of the house with our renters and they seem very nice and sensible people to leave the care of our home too.

Further posts on our adventures will come once we’re back in Blighty.

Current temperature: Where I am: 73F/23C, Where I’m going: 61F/16C

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