I am fortunate enough to own a laptop. I inherited it from a friend many moons ago, who was more or less chucking it out. The screen is HUGE. The keyboard is full size. The battery life is 0 (have to run it off the mains), and the processor is a 600MHz 486 (!!!).
I must confess that it’s spent a large portion of my ownership of it sitting in it’s bag.
However, I’ve finally managed to find a wireless Access Point that works properly, and lets me WiFi from anywhere in the house, so I dug it out again. (That combined with the fact that my lady wife has started wanting to use the house computer in the evenings!) So I’m here in the kitchen typing away on the laptop.
It’s also my first excursion into Ubuntu-land (always been a Fedora man before this). I have to say Ubuntu is a nice distro. Pop the CD in, and it all “just works”. Even my ancient PCMCIA WiFi adapter with WPA is happily chatting to the AP.
So this may be the start of a bit more blogging. Or it may not. Either way I need to go and do the bottle thing for the baby, as I can hear squawks from on high!
I’m very excited, because we just started running the “Growing Leaders” course at Church. We were going to start it at the end of last year, but the arrival of a baby in the Handley household rather put those plans on ice! As it is, I feel on the back foot a bit..
The first session (on Saturday) was great. We spent the day in Ripon, thinking about what leadership is, what Christian leadership is, and about styles of leadership.
“Leadership” is one of the those words which carries a whole lot of baggage, and one of the big tasks I faced was convincing would-be attendees that it didn’t mean a man standing up at the front! It’s a great course, and my vision is for all of us to reach a new clarity over what our calling is. Ultimately, I’m hoping we end up saying “no” a whole lot more!!
Well, I’ve just realised I haven’t done my 2010 review.
At the start of the year I thought 2010 was going to be almost entirely boring – like 2009. Well, I was certainly wrong about that. Way over and above anything else, as I wrote it the wheels were in motion for the arrival of number 2 son (not that we knew that at the time). But we also went to 2 major birthday parties (a 70th and a 90th), and my sister-in-law got married. Throw a tenth wedding anniversary in the mix, and all in all you’ve got a pretty eventful year.
On the other hand, none of us have moved house, school, or jobs in 3 years now, which makes a happy change. In fact, depending on how you count it, I have been in my current job for the longest I have ever done any job (I worked for around 7 years for the University of Leeds, but that was technically doing 3 different jobs).
And somehow we now have a seven year old (when did that happen?), and a 3-month old baby.
I took up climbing again (although a nasty sprain followed by the arrival of a baby limited it to the first half of the year), and – astonishingly – dropped from 81kg to 72kg over the course of the year. I think the reality of hauling myself up a rockface carrying 10 more bags of sugar than I used to was the final spur to me taking a diet seriously. Climbing is akin to a spiritual exercise for me, but I’ll write about that another time. Anyway, a big nod to the Harrogate climbing centre.
2010 has been the year of Twitter for me. In 2009 I discovered it, and 2010 saw me throw myself into it, hook, line, and sinker. It has definitely replaced Facebook as my social media outlet of choice (but I still love FB photos, and FB remains the best way for me to keep tabs on folk). My pet project this year was writing a weatherbot, which taught me a lot about REST and OAUTH – and my ‘bot is far more popular then me!!!
Anyway, if you’ll forgive me a piece of shameless self-indulgence, I’m going to round off with some of my own favourite tweets from 2010:
Happy New Year to all and sundry. May 2010 be full of (nice) surprises and blessings. [31 Dec 09]
It’s a snow day today. Not for me, unfortunately – as the 2 mile walk would take some serious snow to disrupt it. [5 Jan]
Has successfully transformed his drive from 6″ of snow on top of 1″ of ice into merely 1″ of ice. Not convinced this has
improved matters. [6 Jan]
In the dog house after the video ran out 10 minutes before the film did. [9 Jan]
Sometimes it’s hard to know how honest to be. When asked to do something ridiculous and patronising, does one just laugh and
get on with it? [2 Feb]
Had a great climb yesterday at the new hgt centre. First climb since May (!), and struggled on the 5+, but good to get back in
the harness. [22 Feb]
Little human visitor at 02.30. “Just so you know, the yellow towel has fallen down again” [23 Feb]
Should I be disturbed that my weather robot has as many followers as me? [23 Feb]
Been married for 120 months (give or take a few hours). Very exciting and romantic weekend lined up to celebrate. [26 Feb]
James’s top tip: To make a TCP connection to a SQL Server instance, TCP needs to be enabled on the SQL server instance. [3 Mar]
Great quote from me boy. Me: “We’re not fussy, are we?”. Him: “No – only about things we don’t like” [7 Mar]
The problem with cycling to the climbing wall is that on the way back I can no longer operate the brakes. #pumped [10 Mar]
Is 100 today!!! (in base 6, anyway). Or Pi/5 in degrees if you’re more geometrically minded. [17 Mar]
How old do you have to be before you’re allowed to admit that you actually quite like radio 4? [17 Mar]
Interesting shuffle on the MP3 just now: “Young Girl”, “Don’t stand so close to me”. “does your mother know”. Hidden message? [19 Mar]
Neighbours are mowing the lawn. Through the double glazing it sounds just like the Tardis! [9 Apr]
If you’d have asked me the reason a flight might be late, a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland would not be my first guess. [15 Apr]
The missus comes into study this morning, sees me on TweetDeck and rolls her eyes – “you’re on twitbook again”. [22 Apr]
Put on clean shirt. Threw orange juice down it. Wonder if this is the shape of today? [26 Apr]
Not everyday you go to the shops with a plastic dragon in your pocket, in order to colour match a tie. (It was Gronkle, before you ask). [26 Apr]
Made it through the Orange Juice this morning without incident. Now if I can only navigate the coffee, I’ll be set. [27 Apr]
Was about to go to Sainsburys. then I relalised I’d left my wallet at home. diet fail failed. ๐ [4 May]
There are two “James”s at my workplace. There is a plan afoot to refer to me as “The Doctor” instead. ๐ [7 May]
Fab quote from the confirmation service. Bishop in full regalia. Little girl comments “Who’s the wizard?” [11 May]
Created a folder called “Nature”. Dragged some photos into it. Was asked “Move to Nature?”. Nice thought. [17 May]
Work curry night on Thursday. Curiously we’re not going to the curry house whose owners have just been convicted of human trafficking. [18 May]
Yay – Eurovision AND ironing. Could Saturday evening be any better? [29 May]
Fab day lined up tomorrow – if all goes well a picnic and a barbie by the Wharf. (the river, not the Klingon – although that would be cool) [30 May]
I already have more followees then I can keep up with, so I’m not going to tag #DuncansDream. Oh, hang on… [6 Jun]
Right – I’m off to torture a lobster. H’mm – that sounds like a dodgy euphemism, doesn’t it? [16 Jun]
Just got a huge shock – saw a strange man lurking outside the kitchen. Then I realised it was my reflection in the window. [5 Jul]
Well, climbing session cut short. Turns out landing on your ankle is a Bad Idea even when there’s a 3ft crash mat. ๐ [15 Jul]
Starting to wonder if a trip to casualty might be on the cards. I appear to have a purple balloon inside my ankle. [16 Jul]
Friday evening. At casualty. It’s like being a youth group leader again. [16 Jul]
Mixed feelings about my last Sunday morning gig tomorrow. Main one is pain thanks to my purple ankle! ๐ [17 Jul]
Well that’s it. No longer a worship leader (for the 2nd time). Gig was more than a fizzle than a bang, but as we sang it’s not about me!! [18 Jul]
Reading Luke. Struck again that Jesus’ harshest words were for people like me (i.e. regular church goers, trying to follow God’s word) [20 Jul]
Sometimes being on Twitter is like living “I’m sorry, I haven’t a clue” [22 Jul]
I love packing for a British beach holiday. Buckets and spades, towels, wind break, flasks, jumpers, waterproofs, tarpaulin… [23 Jul]
Half a tooth fell out this morning. Hope I get a visit from the fai. [15 Aug]
Really shouldn’t be going out to the cinema on a school night, but the lure of Cruise and Cameron is just too strong… [18 Aug]
Fri 13th was a week late. aircon in server room failed, code update a screaming nightmare, and… the missus set fire to the kitchen! [20 Aug]
After many many months of the hot tap on the bathroom sink not working, I’m still surprised when I turn it and nothing happens. [29 Aug]
Well, now only 3 weeks ’till the expected pitter-patter of tiny feet. Or, more accurately, the disproportionately loud crying of tiny lungs. [2 Sep]
Turns out my baby’s dancing was due to the moonlight. #rockRetractions [16 Sep]
Fell over on walk to school. Too tired to coordinate legs. [4 Oct]
Lawn mowed. Grass cuttings successfully deposited on bathroom floor as I forgot to take my shoes off. [7 Oct]
To sleep, or not to sleep – that is the question? Whether ’tis nobler of mind to suffer the screams and wails of hungry baby… [24 Oct]
Just invented a new term – “Heisenbug: A software error that only shows when you’re not looking for it” [9 Nov]
Work colleague was surprised Mrs H & I hadn’t had an evening out for 7 weeks. Even before the baby we didn’t go out every 7 weeks! ๐ [16 Nov]
ARRGGGHH – Dandelion & Burdock explosion all over my desk and keyboard!! Rest of today’s software development going to be somewhat sticky. [1 Dec]
Happy Christmas one and all. Join in celebrating the birth of the Light of the world! [25 Dec]
One of the aspects of being a Christian that I find tricky is remembering it. I don’t mean in the big sense, but in the everyday hustle and bustle of working life. I sometimes find that I’ve gone the whole day without any particular reference to God. Other days I’m very “tuned in”, and keep firing up short little arrow prayers, and know just the right things to say, and can feel like I’m spending time with Him even in the midst of debugging code.
Why does it matter if you remember God or not? I guess there’s a couple of reaons… Firstly is because Christians believe we have a daily intimate relationship with God. If I was to generally ignore my wife, except for 5 minutes in the morning when I delivered a monolog on what I was thinking and feeling, our marriage would soon fall apart.
Secondly, prayer changes the pray-er. If my thoughts are on God and Jesus, my actions and choices will be influenced. It helps take me outside myself and my self-centredness. I become more Christ-like, if you like (which is, after all, the ultimate goal).
This principle was recognised in the Old Testament, in Deuteronomy 6 (my emphasis):
6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. 9You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Isn’t that a great image? Everytime you come in or go out of your house, there is the word of the Lord, reminding you of him.
I heard a sermon on this subject at HTB once, which considered what might be contemporary equivalents of writing it on the doorposts, which I’ll list here (plus one or two of my own).
Post-it Notes
It’s a great habit to write verses on a post-it note, and stick it somewhere you’ll come across it. Bathroom mirror, inside a cupboard, wallet. I used to stick them in my diary, so when I opened it I’d come across a promise of God, or something I felt he’d said to me. Even better, you could then collect them up into one place as a sort of corpus of communication.
Bracelets
I have a friendship bracelet that is made up of little white fishes on a blue background (it’s an icthus thing – go Google if you’ve no idea what I’m talking about). When I wear it, each time I feel it or spot it on my wrist, it reminds me of whose I am. The WWJD/PUSH/… bracelets are a similar idea.
Crosses / jewelery
I have a wooden cross on a leather necklace which I wear sometimes. This has the advantage of being hidden under clothes so doesn’t undermine professionalness or dress-codes. Necklaces are particularly good because you feel them against your chest, for example when you lean forward. You can also finger them through clothes.
Computer Passwords
Possibly my favourite. Choose a password which is based on a bible passage or verse. The best passwords (IMO) are mnemonic based, with a heathly dose of numbers, punctuation, and mixed case. A secular example, you might choose Strawberry fields for ever as your mnemonic, which would make the password SF4ever!. Obviously it needs to be a memorable verse, so I don’t want to publish really good examples – but a few random passages password-ized:
Rev 22 v 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. might become Rev2221-TgotLJ (quite a long one that one!)
From Psalm 23 The Lord’s my shepherd might be TL’smyS(Ps23)
Or some liturgy For you alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord goes to 4UaatH1,UaatL
This is an excellent approach because the resulting passwords are immune to dictionary attack, but easible memorable. Best of all, every day the very first thing you do at work (and each time you have to unlock your screen) you mentally recite a verse of scripture.
The same approach can be used with Hotmail, Facebook, etc (as long as you choose different passwords for each!!)
Some good substitutions are:
For – 4
One – 1
O (Oh) – 0 (zero)
You – U or u
S – $ or 5
Rituals / habits / Liturgy
Probably the principle way we remember God is through ritual, specifically thinking about the Last Supper. But you can build little God slots into your day. For instance, every time I get into the car, before I start the engine I will say a prayer. Or everytime I put on the kettle. If you’re at work, going to the loo is a good chance to refocus. Sounds a bit weird, but it’s something that happens everyday, and is usually away from clamour and watching eyes. Shut the door, close your eyes and go “Thank God”, and then go about your business.
Like it or not, we are all creatures of habits, and we all have our little liturgies for how we go about things (whether spiritual or not).
Fasting
Probably any of the spiritual discipline would do, but I personally find fasting the most immediate, when I do it. You get an on and off reminder all day, whenever there’s a little pang of hunger. Why am I hungry? Oh yes, that’s right.
So I hope some of this is helpful. It’s stuff I’ve found very helpful over the last 10 or 15 years, and continue to find helpful.
And – even the mighty Wombles needed reminding sometimes to remember who they are:
Today I took calculated risks with two fairly precious items – my watch, and my Canon EOS 300D. The second is the point of this post, but the first is worth a quick mention.
My watch ‘glass’ (don’t know what it actually is) was fairly scratched – not the extent of rendering it unusable, but enough to be a pain when reading the time. I discovered on t’internet that Brasso (!) can be used to remove small scratches on watch glass – and it works! Thanks to Steve Waddington for giving me the courage to give it a whirl via his article on cleaning watch faces.
The proviso is that I tried the same on my other half’s watch, and it didn’t make any difference to her scratches. YMMV.
Emboldened by my success with the watch, my attention turned to my camera. I know it’s an old model now, and probably รฦรขโฌลกรโรยฃ25 on eBay or something, but I absolutely love it. I am constantly surprised (even after 6 years) with the quality of pictures that come out of it.
If you want to see for yourself, point a browser at photoboxgallery.com/eutony. Not all of these are from the 300D, but the vast majority are.
Anyway, which photographing on a beach in Cornwall earlier this year, some sand was introduced to the interior of the camera, and settled on the mirror and focusing screen (eek!). I cleaned up the mirror ok, but in trying to clean up the focusing screen I made matters very much worse, rendering the viewfinder on the brink of useless. This is not a good thing on an SLR.
In the excitement of our pending new arrival (due any day!!), I decided I need a fully operational camera, so started some research on what one could do about a trashed focusing screen. I discovered a whole new world of people intentionally switching their focusing screen to a split prism one, which grealty assists manual focus. I liked the sound of that, so I’ve ordered myself a cheapy on eBay to give it a whirl.
It is actually very straightforward. You just need some tweezers and a steady hand. I took the screen out, gave it a good ‘ol bath and a polish, and – to be honest – it’s a good as new now. I thought it had been scratched by the same, but it turned out to all be dirst/dust/smudges. It is, however, very important to make a note of its orientation when it comes out!!
It did take me 5 attempts to replace it back in the camera. First time I hadn’t cleaned it properly. Out it came again. Next 3 I had it in upside down and in some cases only partially seated. Upside down it seems to work ok, except the auto-focus lights don’t light up. You also have to watch that you don’t catch the foam pad (which damps the mirror) in the clip. I’m not sure the auto-focus lights quite show properly, but there always were a little fuzzy.
The final attempt also had a bit of a heart stopper when the clip slipped up behind the mirror, and hence periously close to the sensor. Seem to have got away with it though!
My first post:Untitled
Rather a poor show – Also decided to keep a mini-diary. At that stage it was almost like Twitter, with very short “newsy” type items. Due to a strange quirk, it was post #99 in the pre-Wordpress database!
A post I enjoyed writing the most: Probably Music, music, music
My review of an evening with John Barrowman. Fab evening, and really enjoyed writing it up.
A post which had a great discussion: How to win the lottery
Technically not a discussion, and certainly not on the website itself – but we talked about it loads at work. After that, the one above caused quite a few comments irl.
A post on someone else’s blog that I wish I’d written: too hard.
Hononary mentions to Bea Stollitz for her WPF awesomeness, and Alex Shevchuk for his From MSI to WiX series.
My most helpful post: Buffalo WYR-G54 firmware
On the grounds that I’ve had two people (who I don’t know) who’ve used it!
Other candidates are VOIP – how to set up Asterisk, and GPS Streets – putting street maps on a Magellan Xplorist.
Nothing serious – I was having a session at the Harrogate Climbing Centre (which, incidentally, I can’t rate highly enough) on Thursday, when I fell off the bouldering wall awkwardly and landed on my ankle.
Hobbled home (well, cycled actually) – pretty painful but that’s how it goes.
Anyway by Friday it had swollen to twice it’s usual size, was a horrendous purple, and was very tender to the tough. The good Mrs H. said I needed to take it casualty for an X-ray to make sure nothing was broken.
At this point I have to say Casualty were excellent. I was in and out in well under an hour, including an X-ray and several pokes. I even got a special You have sprained your ankle sheet, which instructions about how to manage it, and some pysio type exercises to get it mobile again. Nice.
The point of this post (yes, there is one), is the first conversation I had – with the triage nurse…
What seems to be the problem.
I’ve hurt my ankle, and am worried it might be broken.
How did you do it?
Well I was at the climbing wall…
Ah. You were climbing a wall (*writes notes*)
No no – I was at the climbing wall – the one near Hornbeam
Yes – you were climbing a wall
At this point I gave up, and thought that my pride could probably cope with the difference between injury sustained being a plonker and injury sustained through pushing the very limit of the human body in the ultimate of sporting achievements. Maybe there isn’t a difference anyway? ๐
Well, had my new phone for nearly a month now (if you squint a bit).
I’m definitely getting old, because there great swathes of it I haven’t really touched yet. I usually explore every nook and cranny of a phone the day I get it, but somehow I’ve had other things to do.
This is also unusual in that it’s only a “partial” upgrade – but which I mean I fully intend to jump to a full smartphone when my contract is up, and finally retire my Palm. This in turn has reduced by excitement for setting it up just so…
So I’m not going to do a review (plenty of those on the web). In summary I like it. There are aspects of the INQ I miss, but I wouldn’t go back.
In detail then, what I like:
It’s fast. Almost no “hanging around” waiting for it to do stuff.
The built in GPS is fab, especially the integration with Google Maps.
Built in WiFi – great stuff.
Good 3G reception.
Built in FM radio has been on my wish list for ages.
MP3 player is lovely – just the way it should be (but no surprise there, as it’s a Walkman phone)
3.5mm jack for my nice Shure headphones
Battery life isn’t bad. Certainly it’s a few days between charges.
Things I don’t like…
It’s really awkward getting to apps. It takes about 6 clicks to launch Snaptu, and no way I can see of short-cutting.
The GPS only shows WGS84. I might have to write a UK National Grid app.
The built in Facebook client is a bit pants.
The camera seems very awkward. Haven’t assessed picture quality yet, but I needed to read the manual to work our what was going on with the camera bit.
The vibration is poor. I often don’t notice text messages arriving if it’s in my pocket on silent. This is almost a deal breaker, actually…
