(06:58:42) Right.. shower & dress and the prospect of a quick rooibos before I march @superalora to school. Not quick enough progress this morning.

(07:52:18) I changed the battery in the shower radio this morning - probably for the first time in two years. My iPod Touch lasts a week. 'mazin.

(07:57:40) Monday mystery: every day this man goes to town with a white stick & loop hanging out of his bag. What's his job? http://twitpic.com/2lrqff

(08:03:31) Stick Man guesses: @GriffinKate = Magician; @Vobes - professional eye poker; @AnnSquires = "The Child Snatcher" (!) Me = pigeon wrestler.

(08:45:12) Further StickMan suggestions: @Bazmati2020 = he's a punisher; @Fridgemagnet2 = he's out catching shrews. All in, it's a sinister occupation.

(08:54:19) Right. Need to: make a doctor's appointment, empty my NatWest account, steam the sofa, go to the supermarket. Pianos do NOT feature today.

(09:01:58) I hope Dad & SM made it to the hotel OK last night.. I think arranging a 50 mile taxi journey in Spain at 3am is challenging. And expensive!

(09:14:11) Ahh.. just got a text from my Dad - they got to the hotel at 4am.. what a start to their holiday, but at least they're there! :)

(09:28:14) I have to say those 'PIN Sentry' things are remarkable. Completely unfathomable, and rubbish as a calculator. But still remarkable.

(11:21:54) Dear Mr @MarcusBrig, will you be strutting your stuff in Spamalot in Milton Keynes in December? My wife's just reminded me we're going :D

(12:07:24) There seems to be scant bric-a-brac in charity shops these days. Still, I've found a splendid samplable 7" single for this evening...

(13:40:48) All a bit sleepy now.. time for what I believe young people like @HelenDuffett would call a "disco nap" before school run. Put a donk on it.

(14:21:58) I nearly forgot: congratulations to the fine @PockeTwit & @PockeTwitDev team for a splendid job of updating the app to oAuth! Thank you!

(14:24:03) A brief rain shower before the afternoon school run, which stopped fortuitously as I left the house. Off up the hill for Lenni Retrieval.

(14:36:49) Skies are now open. Damply down the hill. Quite breezy, too = the wonders of horizontal rain. That's science!

(14:40:14) Damp girl on the school run hill. Was it mean to ask her to stop for a photo..? http://twitpic.com/2lucwf

(16:10:49) I've done the ironing & failed to requisition the hoover. I'll take the compost bin out instead. The children are eating Sherbert Fountains.

(16:36:33) While lining the compost bin, I spotted this quality typesetting on a Sunday freesheet's puzzle page http://yfrog.com/5my1xj

(16:44:01) Some comedy internet signage has been shared today.. http://twitpic.com/2l6ckk ; http://is.gd/eXIPA & http://is.gd/eXIQE #inappropriatesigns

(17:23:55) I've been mildly irritated twice today: once by someone starting a sentence "Listen, .." which I think is rude. And someone saying "superb".

(17:51:53) Awaiting the arrival of my brother for sample-based musical mayhem* and biscuits. (*mayhem not guaranteed)

(19:12:12) Having some splendid Lord Melody action.. scratchy old 45.. "Everybody got a nice Daddy, I got a big ugly Daddy named Lord Melody.." Fab!

(19:25:25) Now we're listening to a completely anonymous white label 12" - must be from 1988.. it's got every sample in the world in it. Heh.

(22:17:54) Right.. I'm everso late for bed, so it's a quick goodnight, and some hurried stairclimbing. Careful now. Night!

(09:47:20) Awaiting the arrival of Dad & SM.. I've reached the 'making a cup of tea' stage. They're bound to be here before it's cool enough to drink.

(10:54:50) Right. Tree shredding before lunch.

(12:03:52) Shredding cut short by bad @LdnLutonAirport and @easyJet experience.. having to drive Dad & SM to Stansted.. sorting connections now.

(13:55:00) Interesting journey to Stansted - free bonus Red Arrows display. Dad & SM dropped off.. Heading home.

(14:54:05) Home and having a nice cuppa tea, before playing two-player Family Trainer with lenni.

(15:39:40) Oop.. looks like my plans for next weekend have disappeared. No problem.. there's plenty left over from this one!

(15:41:49) My goodness Lenni is stroppy this afternoon. She shouted at a poetry book for not having a storyline. Early night tonight for her, I think.

(17:30:21) Uhoh.. now Dad's flight from Stansted is delayed. They'll not get to the hotel until after 3am... and a very expensive taxi ride.. :/

(17:36:31) I can hear what sounds a bit like an ambient ice cream van.

(20:02:44) Suffering from poor drum choice.

(21:53:55) Bed. Night!

(21:05:28) ~dancey dancey dancey dancey~ WOOOOAAH! Your sex is on fire! YEEEOOHH! Your sex is on fire! <repeat 19 times> Yes. I know.

(21:49:26) I'm still having my cultural horizons broadened.

(22:57:57) Well, that's the last (in theory) of four wedding receptions I've attended this year. All different in their unique way. Nobody got injured.

(06:56:55) Time to disembark the Special Bus.. and y'know what? I'm going to ride a Boris bike to work! (@ Baker Street Station) http://4sq.com/5xlzPJ

(07:37:43) I survived the cycle into work - still a little undecided about the whole 'traffic lights' thing.. I'm sure I'll get used to waiting. Yeah.

(08:24:37) I so so want to buy @poots a Kindle for Christmas. Please persuade her that it's a good idea (I'm sure I'll not get in trouble for that :D)

(08:25:50) I am also toying with the idea of selling @nxmee my iPod Touch at a discount price & buying one of them high-falluting new ones. Good idea?

(08:27:54) Ooh.. Microsoft don't do "Windows Media Encoder" any more.. it's "Expressions Encoder Free" now... for XP SP3 and above. Well. There y'go.

(08:30:01) Oh brilliant.. now I need to install .NET framework 4. Can't people write programmes in machine code any more? FOR SHAME!

(08:30:11) By which I mean programs.

(08:35:15) Has anyone tried to use a Pritt Stick as an inexpensive replacement for lip balm? I think it might just work.

(09:29:02) Looking for last year's appraisal...

(09:33:38) My #FollowFriday folk today.. people of many talents: @rhodri, @painted_duchess, @thenewbrunette, @akgpodcast, @Brambling & @sparkyannc #ff

(12:02:54) Appraisal: done. Pizza: eaten. Now: a brief jaunt on one of Boris's fine steeds (that just sounds wrong) while the weather's nice. HELMET!

(15:55:28) Of far less importance than any other thing going on in the world (including Leicester) I just found a small bit of boiled sweet on my desk.

(15:59:06) RT @stuartthomas: Latest on Hare Krishna Temple fire now on BBC Radio Leicester 104.9FM & BBC1 at 1830. Official says all safe - gas bot ...

(16:27:42) http://twitvid.com/NJFBO - @lottieloves1 Hello foot!

(16:54:02) Homium!

(17:38:37) A valuable lesson to learn about using Boris bikes at rush hour. If you leave late, expect to have to go much further to collect & dock.

(18:18:52) There were an astonishing number of people out and about this evening - pubs filled to bursting. The last fine day of the summer..?

(18:36:05) The picture doesn't do it justice but the sunset is spectacular tonight... fluffy clouds & plane trails! http://yfrog.com/ngwfimj

(18:51:32) Yeah.. last stop before home and the weekend starts in earnest. Seems no time since last Friday! (@ London Luton Airport (LTN))

(19:08:49) Ooh.. seems Vox.com is closing - I'd not realised it was a SixApart product. What'll I use to upload video from my N95 now? Ovi, I guess..

(20:27:23) I've just put the England match on, and thought "ooh.. the pitch looks nice and clear" - then I realised: no vuvuzelas! #mildsynesthesia

(21:07:54) Since @canuckuk mentioned such things, it's reminded me: I don't believe emperor penguins are nearly big enough. Should be up to my nipples.

(21:13:52) I'm going to sign off now and go to bed. Then I shall awaken bright and early & remain focussed all day. That's the theory. Good night, you!

(07:31:27) RT @psweetman: Rather than buy Blair's book, why not donate £25 direct to Royal British Legion instead http://bit.ly/bRc1Wz /cc @DrEvanH ...

(07:43:32) Wow. I've just seen a post on Facebook that one of my former classmates has just become a grandmother. Another milestone/millstone :D

(07:57:52) Cats into wheelie bins, puppies into lakes.. how are they going to top that? I think someone should throw a cow into a cooling tower.

(11:37:30) I've just discovered my mobile's been sitting at the "Enter PIN" screen; desk phone's diverted to it. That explains why it's been so quiet.

(12:28:57) Natwest online banking = rubbish. I can't request a new PIN for a card I don't want, so I can transfer money out of the account & close it!

(13:35:04) I'm still reeling at this piece of delusional quackery. http://is.gd/eRsM0 .. He invented this(!) http://is.gd/eRsKs (h/t @robertpopper)

(15:40:54) Is it really so hard to set permissions on a share? Bane of my life at the moment, I tells ya. I'll get Digital Brian to sort it.

(16:55:22) Lordy lordy pumpkin lordy... better go home.

(17:29:18) Unruly kids & de-facto teenagesque Luton Mum's voice (think Lily Allen after a stroke) at the back of the coach. Praise be to in-ear phones.

(18:17:39) RT @jackofkent: I hereby defame Andy Coulson #IherebydefameAndyCoulson #MetGate please do RT :-)

(18:21:16) Last leg of the homeward journey.. lovely evening! (@ London Luton Airport (LTN) w/ 3 others) http://4sq.com/45BArN

(20:10:22) I just updated my Friends Reunited profile after receiving an unexpected email from someone on there. That site is so sadly irrelevant, now.

(20:20:51) Honestly, I don't care what William Hague did in a hotel bedroom, unless it was stick a guinea pig in a trouser press & film it for YouTube.

(20:49:29) Right.. having researched 1950s casualwear (http://is.gd/eS28g - FYI, Mr @vobes) I'm off to bed to dream of charity shops. Carrier bag, sir?

(07:53:47) Things I aim to get today: [a] a spare bin; [b] a Boris Bike Key (which is to me, like the Oyster card, a symbol of marriage to London. Erg)

(09:19:41) Hmm.. looks like Twitter has finally moved to OAUTH authentication only, which is why PockeTwit has stopped working. Oops.

(09:54:58) Hello hello @jakes @roelvandenbrand @marclandis @theMark_S @lifanxi @markandey and @kjhughes ! Help.. PockeTwit has stopped.. is it OAUTH?

(10:02:52) Thank you for the announcements, @PockeTwit and @PockeTwitDev - looking forward to the update.. I feel like I've lost a limb ;)

(10:04:08) Right.. back to the email catchup - lots to rake through today. Then.. an appraisal, perhaps?

(11:14:11) I am happy to confirm, and assure listeners to #BBCRadio4, that NONE of the newsreaders use Autotune. #Radio4

(11:54:36) Right.. time for pasty, noodles and salad, and then I'll get my act together. YEAH.

(12:37:15) I forgot to tweet this yesterday - if you've got Google Chrome and a fast PC, it's wondrous: http://is.gd/ePeTP (SFW) - Arcade Fire tuneage!

(13:06:36) Meet teaming!

(13:08:24) I hope @billt and @CharlesArthur don't ever appear on the same podcast. I might not be able to tell them apart :D

(14:38:04) Right. Team meeting done, coffee drunk. Time to rake through the ashes of the email for unburned embers. I have no idea what I'm on about.

(17:34:48) OH little girl on coach: "What's that?" Man: "A mosque." Girl: "Same as the insect?" Man: "That's a mosquito." Girl: "No! Like a butterfly!"

(18:13:42) A little advice please? I opened a bottle of wine on Sunday & half of it is still in the fridge. When should it be drunk before it spoils?

(18:15:51) Ooh! I must remember that there's a flyby of #ISS at around 20.25 BST tonight; in the southern sky, but quite high, I think.. looking clear!

(19:27:05) Now! :)

(20:27:46) Right.. better head off for a shower, then back into the garden to take some test shots for 10pm... fully clothed, of course (probably).

(21:30:55) Audioboo: Amazing Disappearing International Space Station Boo http://boo.fm/b175198

(21:32:56) International Space Station flyby over Luton - it must have gone into shadow halfway past! #iss http://yfrog.com/n1a3ej

(22:06:36) Sleeptime for me, which is late regardless of my current orbit (which is at a maximum of 0.000001mm from my bed) - definitely goodnight!

(19:06:54) Wow. Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) has written a #DoctorWho episode. What a legend!

(19:10:13) Not feeling particularly talkative - tomorrow's going to be a tough day. Not least because I have an appraisal. And a borked server. Yeek.

(19:39:03) There's but one way I can think of ending a day like today: to iron some work shirts & listen to @topofthepods. Then shower & bed as normal.

(19:40:43) I think I can safely say it's been a rollercoaster of a day.

(20:39:49) Proof if it be need be that I need to brush up on my photography - the #ISS as it passed overhead. http://yfrog.com/4wndbj

(21:01:38) Tooling around with long exposures on the camera - shame it was out of shot, but I am ~sure~ I saw another faint flypast of space hardware!

(21:13:58) Quick... to bed! Night night.

(10:00:36) I had no idea Uno cards came with 'swaps' - I've got a spare yellow 1 and green 6 if anyone is missing them..?

(10:01:48) Amazing how music consumption has changed - our 11-yo listens to music by searching for it on YouTube then alt-tabbing away when it plays.

(15:59:40) Lenni's intently watching the video to "Our House"... I was only a couple of years older than her when it was released - an evocative song!

(16:54:37) It's been a delightfully relaxed Blank Holdall Monday.. haven't shredded as much as I could/should.. there's always time.

(20:06:45) My long weekend has somewhat ground to a halt since I've checked my work emails; it's not looking good. I fear lots of phone calls tomorrow.

(20:51:19) Right. Emails sent... anxiety levels not quite as high as before. Time to rehydrate and prepare for bed. Signing off now.. night!

(15:15:54) We've had a lovely (and extremely breezy) Sunday afternoon walk. Time for a coffee, while the children dissect Mickey Mouse cartoons.

(15:38:04) In the studio for half an hour. Should be: working on a beat. Am: flying a 737-400 from Luton Airport. Because I can.

(18:55:45) Seems I spend longer removing dust & hair from the vacuum cleaner's mechanics than actually hoovering. Now, though: a small glass of wines.

(18:58:55) Definition of annoymence: thinking there's a bottle of wine in the fridge, only to discover there isn't. Bah. 30 minutes till wines..

(20:01:16) Large glass of reasonably cool wine (a Chilean Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc blend). In my tummy. Yum.

(20:18:00) I am SO in the mood for the sort of bass that reveals areas of brickwork that needs pointing. But the kids are asleep.

(20:18:33) But some more cheese would do.

(22:36:05) Time for bed (overdue!) Evening officially marked down as "relaxing" - tomorrow will be more productive. Or at least it should be. Night!

(10:35:35) A glorious morning sky over Luton; nice & chilly for August. Finally replanting our geocache in Bells Close park. http://yfrog.com/5otq6j

(11:30:26) Waiting for Chris to cook us lunch. 11-year old style. Everybody want bogies?

(13:49:08) Ambling to the library, we saw what seems to be a small upside-down test-tube on a lamp post. A pollution thing? http://yfrog.com/n1uoklj

(17:23:50) Right. I'm going into the loft. Want anything?

(18:01:55) I'm all sleepy now. Amazing the effect a rummage can have. #notaeuphemism

(20:01:11) I think it might well be my turn to feel a little ropey. Opting for the 'plenty of water and early night' strategy. We'll have none of this.

(06:03:02) Wimped out of the walk of damp this morning... now splashing Londonwards on the Special Bus. (@ London Luton Airport (LTN) w/ 2 others)

(06:22:04) Wow.. two woefully bad @podquiz scores in a row (both sub-10) ... hoping to do better next week!

(07:00:18) If you are heading towards the bottom of the M1 or the North Circular westbound at Brent Cross.. it's borked! http://yfrog.com/mxriwcj

(07:42:01) Audioboo: Marylebone Rd to Paddington St Gardens in August boo [damp!] #uksm http://boo.fm/b172430

(08:11:27) RT @youthluton: Don't let the weather put you off! Luton's Play Rangers are having a Beach Day at Wardown Park frin 4.30pm http://ow.ly/ ...

(08:38:09) Right. Enough of this frivolity (much as I enjoy it).. I'm going for a wee and then totally getting my act together. #notaeuphemism

(11:33:36) Waiting for Manchester to call...

(12:13:02) It's been pointed out to me that I'm the only member of my team in on this floor today. I've got half the office to myself.. what to do..?

(15:26:09) I can see myself carrying around a tablet device with 3+G and a bluetooth headset for it to make phonecalls. And a REALLY BIG POCKET. Yeah.

(15:39:36) I think I might make some more coffee. It's Friday afternoon.. an ideal opportunity to Do Stuff (even better when caffeinated).

(16:22:18) Bleh bleh and bleh. I've spent practically all afternoon doing something that should've taken ten minutes. Darn you, software compatibility!

(16:27:15) Also, my work PC is slowly accumulating those frozen windows that don't actually do anything. And my email won't open. Nearly giving up. Mm.

(16:40:40) On a scale of 1 to 17, how poor taste is it to put a "Do not resuscitate" sticker on my monitor? I just came up with the idea & don't know.

(16:53:10) Time to do something else for a bit. Those bits are very, very valuable, so it's worth the effort.

(18:10:09) Best of all the animals. Although if I had a giraffe, I'd feed it Sainsburys Taste The Difference leaves. http://yfrog.com/mwkv3gj

(18:28:19) I just saw the most rubbish escape attempt by a sloth ever. It was never going to end wel. Or quickly.

(22:01:31) My heavens, looking things up on my phone can be horrible; some sites' *homepages* are over 1MB in size! Mine: 96kB; my blog: 250kB ~smugs~

(22:54:09) Nearly home after a lovely evening at London Zoo with the fab @SparkyAnnC- a remarkable experience, including the loudest silent disco EVER!

(22:56:46) Yay.. in the house before midnight - no chance of me turning into a pumpkin (much). Night night to you and those you tolerate.

(07:28:48) Good heavens.. I only just heard about this from @ruskin147 - UK Sound Map... time to get Audiobooing! http://bit.ly/bjMvI3 (SFW)

(07:37:06) If I'm going to go.. I'm going to go now. *hoping it's not too rainy and steamy out there*

(08:51:34) Playing with computers in the studio where they make "Outlook" ... woo exciting (etc) (@ Bush House) http://4sq.com/c4IWNu

(09:56:28) I just saw @PeteCooper's doppelganger (although, to be fair, scaled up by 5% in all directions except beard). It took me rather by surprise.

(09:58:26) They say husbands and wives start to look a bit like each other. I'm very happy if this is true, although I feel sorry for @poots...

(13:39:41) More caffeine, fewer problems.

(14:37:05) I want to start a website called "Laminate THIS dot com" where all manner of things get laminated. There's a gap in the market.

(14:43:52) I'm in the mood to get some FRED THE RAVER choons on. (with apologies for the gross capitalisation.. it's a YouTube thing)

(15:32:28) "Cole was taken to a secure mental health facility in Geneva but later disappeared from his cell. Police are baffled but not that bothered."

(15:33:13) Man arrested at Large Hadron Collider claims he's from the future http://bit.ly/9xb06z - top! (via @DanRebellato, @willfilmmaker & @doctoe)

(16:44:47) RT @artistsmakers: Great British seaside fun - spot the Banksy. There's one in Hastings: http://tinyurl.com/39g9nwa

(16:56:05) Good heavens, it's hometime already. Time to put my desk in the drawer, and the drawer under my desk. It's an Escher thing. RUUUUNN!

(17:28:16) This particular coach stop has a very convenient shelter. But no Special Bus. Yin and Yang. And steady precipitation.

(17:47:37) On the Special Bus, working on that form again. One more box to fill in. If I can write coherent English.

(18:32:29) It's like dusk. Makes me feel sleepy. I'll have walked ~9 miles today by the time I'm home. I like my boots (they're comfortably lovely).

(18:44:47) Do planes have horns?

(18:59:15) Twitter clearly isn't as informative as Wikipedia, but a darn sight more amusing :oD

(19:01:14) I simply don't like standing at the side of the road and waiting. (This is not in reference to the whole 'aeroplane horn' thing)

(19:03:42) I shall go on Flight Simulator X tonight with the express intention of finding a jumbo jet's hooter.

(20:13:01) I got a "rep cookie" from @nxmee (11 years old) today. He made it himself. He is SO much cooler than me. http://yfrog.com/neivsoj

(21:28:32) Audioboo: Mario Bros Game & Watch retro boo http://boo.fm/b172284

(11:27:41) Helpful..? Not at all.

(11:28:16) I'm going to have to watch Sky News now.

(11:46:36) What I learned about grammar today: "A number of..." = plural, therefore "...have"; "The number of.." = singular, therefore "...has".

(12:04:12) Woo.. Caledonian Road whiteboard marker art FTW http://bit.ly/9BuZUA (via @alicebell)

(12:14:47) I deeply dislike Sky News. Also, I'd like to work in an office with fewer men. The kitchen hygiene here is APPALLING.

(12:29:28) Day two of the Noodle Analysis. Golden Wonder are tasty and thick, but the flavouring's a bit strong. Yesterday was Tesco's own - kinda, OK.

(14:19:58) I need a wheelie-bin cam for my house.

(14:29:26) I might take a photo for @MuseumsLuton's "Luton Art '10" competition; I can't draw or paint. Open to Herts, Beds & Bucks: http://is.gd/eCZCJ

(15:32:58) Isn't it lovely.. David and Margaret (or whatever) Cameron have called their daughter Florence Xanthe Moschin.

(16:57:34) I s'pose I'd better slope off. Busy day tomorrow - a shame I can't go to my colleague's leaving drinks.. I shall drink to his honour later.

(17:54:49) Up the rainy motorway with me. And some other people on the Special Bus. (@ Brent Cross Coach Stop (Northbound)) http://4sq.com/dtZYn5

(18:20:54) I hope my skin is waterproof.

(19:47:30) Right.. after dealing with calls from work (yes.. at this time of night) time to work on a job application (yes.. at this time of night).

(19:49:10) I don't know anyone who's anti-crastinating.

(21:35:55) Time for bed said Florence. Night, you fab human. Fo' sho'.

(06:52:25) Kids TV fact thing: the woman who played Agatha the pre-cog in Minority Report also did the original voice of Ruby out of off of Max & Ruby.

(08:25:16) My mixero screen's all blank. How rubbish.

(08:38:09) I'm on a quest for gruntlement. Bring it on.

(09:53:45) What @Smartie999 said.

(11:36:14) I still don't know if I can be bothered to post to Google Buzz.. does anyone you know use it?

(15:37:47) All done with meetings for the day. Time to see what other havoc I can cause in the last hour-and-twenty of the day. I'll make tea. Some?

(15:50:34) I just got a phone call from someone because his inbox is full, and he couldn't email me back. I heart technology.

(16:55:31) Woo.. is it really nearly home time? That means I must go home. Thus, I shall do that for a bit.

(17:25:06) Blimey... bit warm & malodorous on the special bus this evening - I'm like a cat in a wheelie bin here.

(18:00:48) No rainbow tonight. I shall compose a strong letter of complaint.

(18:31:14) Is "Woo hoo" by the 5-6-7-8s the most annoying song ever? Or is it just me. Or that dreadful Lloyds Bank theme..?

(20:06:28) It can't be nearly bedtime already..? I've only just had my tea.

(20:32:40) I'd better pop off. *squeezes nose* Goodnight!

(10:59:23) Home and catching up with the last week's work emails.. I'm still inexplicably sleepy - need to get the blood cells whizzing round.

(14:16:14) RT @artistsmakers: Opportunity for artists to use #emptyshops in Norwich http://tinyurl.com/33maqgm (please retweet - thank you)

(14:42:11) Sitting out of the rain, ta.

(14:50:40) The results of @nxmee's first experience as a chef at The Inspired Gourmet Cookery School. Smells great! http://yfrog.com/c9r22bj

(16:43:11) I've posted something in my blog: Chris's cookery course (and other holiday activities...) http://tinyurl.com/2cl5tp8

(18:47:21) Time to catapult the children to the upper floors as is traditional. We don't have room for a trebuchet.

(19:03:12) RT @PontoonDock: RT @buddaboy Simple and useful - http://www.whenisthenextbankholiday.com

(19:04:22) Hey, Mr @Vobes - fancy joining me at the Hegley gig that @RussBravo's presenting on the 11th Sept? If so, is the 9pm show too late for you?

(19:18:34) I'm going to have half an hour on the Mario Kart Wii you see if I don't. #craprebel

(19:56:28) Resisting cheese before bedtime.