Breaking The Blues Brothers Dress Code

168/365: Breaking The Blues Brothers Dress Code
Originally uploaded by rutthenut

As part of my last-week/last-night 'leaving do' up at Sky, finishing employment with Smart421 after all these years, I went along to the Jake and Elwood Show at Edinburgh Playhouse.

This was a Blues Brothers-based show, with a great band, great music, and some cool characters doing their stuff.

I had come partially prepared, with a pair of shades in case I went to this show, so bought a hat on the evening. Doesn't exactly fit the look though, as I wasn't in black suit, white shirt, think dark tie. But fun all the same.

Auto Italia at Brooklands

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Originally uploaded by michaelward_autoitalia

Had an enjoyable day at Brooklands, where the place was absolutely crammed with Italian cars and fans.


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Got to do a few runs up the 'Test Hill' too, along with some much more exotic and expensive machinery. This hill has sections going from a 1-in-8 gradient through 1-in-5 and up to 1-in-4 incline before the top - where brakes are needed to avoid a launch into the trees. The crowds lining the hill were a great sight too.


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Testa Rossa, anyone :-o

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Photos here originally uploaded to Flickr by Michael Ward (michaelward_autoitalia)

Not In My Back Yard

Accuse me of being a NIMBY if you like, but I sure as hell don't like the idea of having a company start drilling for oil or gas just up the road from my house!

Where I live is on the edge of the Surrey Hills, which are classified as an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' (AONB). Given that status, you would think that planning rules should take that into account when someone applies to set up an industrial site in this area. Sure they'd throw those arguments at me if I wanted to build something that wasn't in keeping with the area, so why should a company (a bloody Australian company, at that) be permitted to ignore those rules?

I'll post more about this, but thought I'd initially post a link to the local action group that are campaigning against this exploration.

Please see TADPOLE - Tongham Against Development Plans On Local Environment at http://www.tadpoleactiongroup.com/

Early Morning Snow Angel Diptych

Early Morning Snow Angel Diptych
Originally uploaded by rutthenut

Monday morning, plenty of snow outside - I had to create a quick snow angel in the front lawn before my 6am taxi arrived to take me to work. Gives Chris and Lauren something to smile about when they get up later, anyway.

Of course, car turned up, we headed on our way, then I got the text from BA to say my flight was cancelled :-)

Considering a TODO List

Read a feature in the Daily Mail the other day (no, not about terrorism, scummy government, crime or rapacious idiotic banks) by Mike Gayle, promoting his most recent book: The To Do List http://www.mikegayle.co.uk/to_do.html

As usual, he has a great way with comedic content, even if this is apparently 'for real'. Having read a number of his books (Mr Commitment has to be one of the funniest) I may well get this one too.

Knowing that my own time-and-task management is pretty poor away from the workplace, I think that maybe I should create my own TODO List and aim to complete that in some predefined timeframe. Think I'll procrastinate on that a little bit longer though, got plenty of 'displacement activities' to keep it at bay ;-)

Also spotted comments in a Flickr photo posting about getting things done, with a link to the following blog showing one person's target: http://hundred1inthousand1.tumblr.com/

So, what I should do is to (a) create my list, then (b) publish it, and (c) commit to it.

Unhappy Chappy

Unhappy Chappy Badge
Originally uploaded by rutthenut

Used one the 'fd Flickr' toys from BigHugeLabs to create this fake pass. Think it says it all really. Should I print it the right size and laminate it, then use it instead of official company pass cards?

Aaaaagghh

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Originally uploaded by rutthenut

Self portrait I took in hotel room after work recently.
Perhaps you can tell how I felt... was happier after this.

Maybe I should do the Haka?