Life is what happens….

…when you’re making other plans.

That’s the way things work according, I believe, to John Lennon.  I have to say that that’s how it felt a week or so back when I realised I hadn’t blogged for about 5 months. Looking back over the period between Christmas 2010 and now, I’m not surprised that I haven’t blogged – it’s been a Hell of a few months for me and mine, and we’re still hacking our way through them.

I’ve noticed a similar fall off in tweets and Facebook usage.  I guess that this is where I say something that will mark me out as a dilettante amongst online comentators, a wall-flower amongst social networkers, a poseur amongst the digerati:

My offline life was too intense to allow me to be arsed to blog.

There, I said it.  I just didn’t feel like blogging.  And is that such a bad thing?  When I was a kid, I must have promised myself year after year at Christmas that I would keep a diary.  The longest I managed it was probably until the 6th or 7th of January – after that entries slowed down to the rate of one every few days, then every few weeks, then stopped dead.  In later life I have managed to keep a ‘professional diary’, mainly for the purposes of billing and getting me to meetings, but very little, if any, personal stuff goes in there.  I manage better with blogging, but it falls apart when my offline life gets ‘interesting’.

I guess I’m just not capable of  blogging when there’s stuff happening in my day to day life.  I’m the same with creative writing – I’ve never been a great believer in the nonsense that gets written about artists starving in garrets and being incredibly productive.  What might happen is that hard times may create inspiration for creative thought, but it’s a rare talent (and one that I certainly don’t have) that can write or blog when hungry, cold, skint and anxious.

I’m sure that some of the events of the last 6 months will show up here sooner or later – but for now I’ll just do my best to write something occasionally.

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-03-13

  • Seeking #php #net #javascript freelance work. Dm for rates, experience. #
  • Seeking #php #net freelance work – also strong javascript, html5, sql server, mysql #fb #
  • Fuck me – tsunami warning for US west coast. Prayers for my friends out there that it doesn't hit. #
  • With so many cops, and security, why don't I feel comfortable? #sheffield #fb #
  • Serious numbers of private security at city centre banks and shops, inc Barclays. #sheffield #fb #
  • Not just police in Sheffield – shops running door security as well. #fb #
  • I am breaking the law by saying 'Fred Goodwin is a banker'. Kafka eat your heart out. #fb #
  • Approaching Harrogate – beautiful day! #fb #
  • If I get to make future visits here – bring thermos! #fb #
  • On my way to Saltaire – beautiful day! #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-03-06

  • #stallman – have said for years that his zealotry excludes a lot of folks from OS involvement. #
  • Should I worry that the bus driver is talking to himself… #fb #
  • Re. #localism fail @juliandobson – what if Camden decision politically motivated? in reply to juliandobson #
  • Good site visit with bill paid by Tuesday! A definite, if small, win! #fb #
  • Looking forward to iPad 2 so I can pick up some second hand iPad 1 s…. #
  • RT @bebackedup: Get files from PC to iPad without iTunes, using your BeBackedUp Account. http://blog.bebackedup.co.uk/?p=22 #
  • Given JP Morgan's interest in buying a chunk of Twitter, anyone think we should be starting to build an alternative? #
  • Northern Rock are to re-introduce 90% Mortgages. The fucking audacity and arrogance of these wankers to consider this at this time. #
  • The Tories ARE in power, @Sinjy – LDs are just validating them. Unimpressed, I'm afraid. in reply to Sinjy #
  • Nah..had at least 2 others comment. @Sinjy LibDems have sold this country down the river to get this AV vote; not worth it. in reply to Sinjy #
  • Am I the only person who thinks the whole #AV issue is an irrelevant diversion from the mess we're in at this time? #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-02-27

  • 'Homer' #Clegg forgets he's running country. In Simpsons story Homer commands submarine and his excuse is 'It was my first day on the job.." #
  • #Sheffield big THANK YOU to Hair By Xmas, Broomhill for giving my Goddaughter a FREE new 'do' after she had hair removed for hospital tests. #
  • Gobsmacked that atheists make capital out of CC Earthquake. Folks need to get understanding of Christianity beyond that of 10 year old. #fb #
  • Ummmm….Gadaffi doesn't seem to be in total control of his country OR his train of thought right now… #fb #
  • RT @Chance4321: Tunisia,Egypt,Bahrain,Libya,Kuwait,Jordan all kicking off. UN Peace envoy for the middle east is Tony blair – surprised ? #
  • RT @iyad_elbaghdadi: Reuters just confirmed earlier tweets about #Libya army special brigade joining the people and liberating #Benghazi #
  • RT @StarSparkle_UK: RT @CMarPA: 15yr old blind senior kitty abandoned!!! To be Destroyed today 2/20 http://on.fb.me/gC5Lfj #New #York #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-02-20

  • So…weapons sold to Bahrain in 2009…New Labour, what a surprise. Just thought I'd mention it before it all gets blamed on Coalition. #
  • Still think 'The Guardian' is relevant to most of us? I bring you this – restaurants who advise which salt to use. http://is.gd/moRW8P #fb #
  • Heresy time…what will people actually DO with 40Mb Broadband? Given food poverty, is this to keep us quiet and off the streets? #
  • Alternatively – are Govt U-turns indicative that Tory Grandees have suggested to Govt. that revolution is a bad idea? #
  • To @Ed_Miliband re. U-turns on forests & housing benefit show gov't incompetent. Or maybe they're listening? More than NewLab did. in reply to Ed_Miliband #
  • RT @UKPovertyPost: Food poverty on the rise among working people as austerity Britain hits home: http://bit.ly/eXdifF < watch #c4news#
  • RT @AbiNielsen: RT @mysociety: We are seeking help seeking female coders: http://bit.ly/gTlV1w All help really appreciated #
  • via @iaindale: Absolutely staggered that we're still giving aid to India, a country which has its own space programme. £300m this year. #
  • Kym's a good egg!! RT @Kym1982: Looking for job opportunites in #Sheffield connected with marketing, media, networking….can anyone help? #
  • RT @leashless: RT @monstris: Protests schedule: Bahrain #feb14 Libya #feb17 Algeria #feb19 Morocco #feb20 Cameroon #feb23 Kuwait #Mar8 #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-02-13

  • re. interns for Bankers going to Tories – same in ALL industries – including creative – it's who you know. Get real, people. It happens. #
  • RT @bebackedup: Why a bad backup's worse than no backup at all…we explain at the BeBackedUp Blog – http://blog.bebackedup.co.uk/?p=11 #
  • Urgent Sheffield contract requirement – HTML5 / Javascript / Canvas Object and knowledge of graphic file formats. DM me for details. #
  • Urgently required – JavaScript / HTML5 for Canvas based graphics proj. Knowledge of graphics file formats a +. DM for details. #
  • #sheffield Urgently required – JavaScript / HTML5 for Canvas based graphics proj. Knowledge of graphics file formats a +. DM for details. #
  • RT @bilbobaggins2k: RT @Classifeeds: ?Sharm El Sheikh 'n' vac and put the freshness back, guaranteed to clean up after Mu-ba-rak? #
  • Does anyone know when #Fringe starts again on #Sky1 Having withdrawal symptoms here!! #
  • …false idea of safety is a bad one. #
  • RT @Fraser3008: Seeking businesses looking for funding either loan or equity I have £1.5 million fund available. fraserhenry@btinternet.com #
  • Never trust a cat-teaser….RT @DavidAllenGreen: From @helenlewis, how Julian Assange actually enjoys tormenting cats: http://bit.ly/dUpKia #
  • Windows / Nokia collaboration – got to be good! #
  • #Mubarak #Egypt – will depend upon how the military from Captain's down decide their loyalties – all up for grabs. #
  • #egypt – heading for a Prague Spring moment…will the people carry the day or will the military save #Mubarak #039;s arse? #
  • #Mubarak – longest political suicide note since the 1983 Labour Party Manifesto…expecting tanks in the studio any time now! #
  • Prolonged use of hair dye clearly fucks up the brain…#mubarak There will be bloodshed if he doesn't go now. #
  • And on that – I need to go, eat, and work. #
  • Will last lines of Mubarak's speech be 'So long, and thanks for all the dosh, I'm out of here!' #
  • Writing Help pages for products is a tedious but necessary evil…. #
  • Commons voted against giving prisoners vote. Excellent news. If people breach the social contract, why should they have the vote? #
  • RT @StarSparkle_UK: RT @CatFoodBreath: A heart that loves a cat is always young. #
  • Hi @saulcozens IPSV? Isn't that what we used to call 'English'? 🙂 in reply to saulcozens #
  • Sheffield mini cab drivers are like vicars – they help you get closer to God…but by trying to kill you. #
  • Re. Andres Stunell being human shield for Eric Pickles – @jamesgraham , @StarSparkle_UK – he must be a BIG man… 🙂 in reply to StarSparkle_UK #
  • RT @twuncut: can I blag a RT? Tunbridge Wells Uncut need a graphic artist to design a "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells" graphic. #
  • RT @lostrelics: Sole looter who made it into Egyptian museum was arrested next to a statue of Sekhmet – Goddess of protection. #
  • Having fun getting our new startup – @bebackedup – out there. We have paying customers! Exciting times! #
  • Tuesday has landed….or rather it landed on me in the form of both our cats who visited simultaneously at 5-30…. #
  • More poor sf from BBC. @Wendy_Wells #outcasts is so poor compared to the old series Earth 2 that had similar scenario. in reply to Wendy_Wells #
  • Well, off I go into startup land again with http://www.bebackedup.co.uk – or follow us @bebackedup #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-01-09

  • Off to Church! #
  • RT @esmerael: Missing Cat in Hillsborough/Walkley area of Sheffield. Loved and missed. Please take a look and RT. http://twitpic.com/3o4eyq #
  • D'OH!!! RT @bilbobaggins2k: RT @Dave_Plummer: Bloody hell, there really are KitKats in the #Netrootsuk lunch bags. Might seem trivial but .. #
  • RT @davidallengreen: Instead the State, and your Labour government, sought to undermine/censor/intercept/store social media use. #Netrootsuk #
  • RT @davidallengreen: Dear socialists at #Netrootsuk all the social media you are celebrating was provided by private enterprise – not state #
  • Who will write a modern 'Nebraska' for a new recession? #
  • Groupon problems? via @dkberman: How to lose money, fast. A Groupon merchant's experience from hell. http://on.wsj.com/fvpKtM #
  • Headbangers on left going on about Clegg's Russian aristocrat ancestors killing millions of subjects…like Stalin and Mao, then? Idiots. #
  • #uksnow S6 2/10 – very fine, almost sleet / drizzle. Fingers crossed! #
  • #uksnow s6 2/10 – now fine snow / sleet? Still settled. #
  • RT @StarSparkle_UK: RT @MercuryTaxis: Roads around Crookes, Crosspool, Walkley, Fulwood, Lodge Moor, Ranmoor and Ecclesall very poor #
  • #uksnow S6 5/10 – slight improvement. #
  • RT @SCCPressOffice: Check out @TravelSYorks for all bus service disruption #
  • The remains of last night's treacle pudding and custard make a fine winter breakfast… #fb #
  • #uksnow S6 7/10 #
  • RT cllr_mikeharris: ironic that I've been asked to provide passport or driving licence to attend Clegg's speech on evils of ID cards #
  • I had dreams last night in which I dreamt I woke up and wrote down details of my dreams…then realised I was still dreaming. SIX TIMES! #
  • Oh Twitter spammers, how you pathetic search algorithms fail you. I took the piss out of 'Big Pharma' and am now followed by a Pharma co. #
  • Hi @PeterPannier Possibly older 'traditional' voters, maybe Muslim vote and other 'faith' vote could fail. @StarSparkle_UK @guidofawkes in reply to PeterPannier #
  • RT @Marthalanefox: RT @ameliagentleman: Vanity Fair on the Guardian, Assange and Wikileaks http://bit.ly/ftSmMy #
  • So…tamiflu stocks will be used – they needed to whip up panic in last month, now use and replace drugs. Big pharmacy must be happy! #
  • FFS – Sky News are already discussing the minutiae of the Royal Wedding. Will to live slipping…slipping…. #fb #
  • I'm embarrassed to say that when I hear fellow software developers talking theory, I'm feel as dumb as a slab of concrete…. #fb #
  • RT @leashless: RT @askpang: Thoughtful piece about "the girl effect" in development thinking: http://icio.us/F94Pjo #
  • Sigh…always OUR fault…..RT @guardiantech: How the Facebook generation keeps people poor | Jonathan Glennie http://bit.ly/dZyfk1 #
  • RT @lostrelics: When we start taking words out of history in the name of PC we only give light to them, we make them more offensive. #
  • Tell me about 4N Hillsborough – I'm a Trustee / Director of Hillsborough Forum… #
  • OK – time to hit 2011 around the head and dooooo IT! #
  • I have become a feline chef – poached prawns, rice and turkey for older recuperating cat. Might eat it myself… #fb #

Powered by Twitter Tools

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2011-01-02

  • Off to church! #fb #
  • Happy New Year to all! #
  • scurvy was reported in uk in 2009 – NuLab legacy, I'm afraid. @thesocialistway in reply to thesocialistway #
  • Number 1 Twitter Don't for me – Don't tell me how to use Twitter. I'll be polite and play nice. Shoudl be enough. @TweetSmarter in reply to TweetSmarter #
  • So, tell me Crystal, what first attracted you to world-famous, octogenenarian multi-millionaire Hugh Heffner? #
  • Re. Assange getting $1.3 for autobiography – I trust we'll be able to inspect his bank statements and see what he spends it on? No? #
  • Gove / Bookstart – feels like the BBC threats to cut Radio 6 and final 'people power' reprieve. What's happening elsewhere? #
  • Booktrust – at the risk of getting stoned, is this scheme REALLY that important? Willing to be convinced. #booktrust #
  • RT @iosefward: RT @edyong209: 2011 mission: breed extremophile bacteria that survives only on Dettol. Just to piss off Dettol. #

Powered by Twitter Tools