Mutterings for the Minority

Motor in need of repair

Oh dear, I finally got to find out today about the MOT advisories on my car. Not good as it involves the suspension and catalytic convertor and even worse is quoted as in excess of £1K to resolve!! Now with my motor being over 8 years old the cost of repair is almost half it’s value (according to ‘What Car‘). So I’m now in a dilemma whether to get it sorted and run it into the ground over time or do a part-ex and get out now. Somewhat bizarrely though, despite all of it’s apparent faults the car passed it’s MOT (2nd time around). Hmmmm.

On a far more positive note my Swans season ticket arrived today, so at least that cheered me up no end after having been to the garage. I’m really looking forward to the start of the season, which is next Saturday when the Robins of Cheltenham come to town.

Even better is that the DDWT family are off to Center Parcs in Longleat tomorrow for 3 days - so that’ll be a cracking laugh. I can’t wait to see how DDWT Junior enjoys the water dome and all the forest wildlife that is always out and about in any Center Parcs venue.

Happiness is …

Getting your USB cable to work with your mobile phone. Yes it’s true after all my muttering and whinging yesterday I finally got the desired result today after trawling around cyberspace for several hours. So in an attempt to save someone else the frustration I endured, I’ll now try and explain how I managed to resolve the issue.

Firstly it’s mentioning that my cable is a SE DCU-11 USB data cable and for the benefit of Googlers (DCU-11 KQ-U8A ID: VID_6547&PID_0232). Upon trying to install the cable I was prompted for a driver file called ‘usb2vcom.sys’ which I didn’t have and not even the drivers from the Sony Ericsson site would work (Grrrrr). So after googling the cable details, I eventually came across a site/company called ‘Port Wireless‘ who happened to have a driver file called ‘Drive01.zip‘. Well believe it or not this driver actually worked first time. So my advice to you is try it the first time around not 20th time like I did (I lost count of how many USB drivers I tried to be honest!).

Another tip - in terms of managing your phones content - is NOT to use the crap software provided by Sony Ericsson, but to use something called ‘floAt’s Mobile Agent‘ instead - it rocks and worked first time *smile*

If only I could say I was happy about the outcome of my car MOT today. It failed and to add insult to (potential?) injury on a split windscreen wiper blade and one tyre tread. There were also several other ‘advisories’ (AKA licence for garage to print money) which would require some urgent attention - but not to pass the MOT of course. The more I think about it, the more commuting to work via my trusty mountain bike appeals to me.

USB cable woes

I’ve had the day from hell today with my newly acquired DCU-11 USB cable. I bought the cable in order to make full use of my Sony Ericsson K300i mobile which I bought a few weeks back, but unfortunately I seem to have developed a unhealthy habit of not getting these darn cables to work. Previous experiences involved a Nokia 1101 and Nokia 6310e.

Having delved further into the continous driver problems I encounter when try to install the darn ‘Plug and Let’s Not Play’ cable, I came across numerous other people who are having the same problem (with the same cable from the same company I bought mine from!). Still being the persistent kind of guy that I am I’m going to be relentless in my quest to find a solution! So watch this blog for further frustrations and tribulations on the matter.

One good thing that came out of today though is that my lawn laying is coming on great with another 3 hours spent ’shifting grass’ (no not the type you smoke) this evening - so our garden is getting better (and bigger) by the evening!

Snow patrol

No the weather hasn’t suddenly gone all artic here in Swansea, I’m referring to the band called Snow Patrol, whose album ‘Eyes Open’ I’ve been listening to non-stop over the last few days. I must confess to not having really taken much notice of them before, but the our local radio station ‘The Wave‘ have been playing their ‘You’re All I Have‘ track a lot lately and it’s just one of those tracks which keeps going round in your head! Their new single ‘Chasing Cars‘ is of the same ilk and will no doubt have the same effect.

I’m no music expert, so I couldn’t really comment on the type or brand of music they play - except to say that its catchy in a “ballady” (is that a word?) kind of way. Anyway, I think that’s enough of a plug don’t you!

Mrs. DDWT took DDWT Junior to Fendrod Lake today to feed the ducks and to relieve the monotany of being in the house watching Bob the Builder or Dora the Explorer again and again, as DDWT Junior is more than happy to do most days! Whilst there Mrs. DDWT was able to take a snap or two of the large number of swans that inhabit the lake.

It’s near to car insurance renewal time for me at the moment and it’s at times like these I really love the internet and in particular sites like Screentrade - which is basically a insurance comparison tool, which searches out the most competitive car insurance quotes for you. The beauty is that you only have to enter your details once and it searches through loads of insurance companies. It saves sooooo much time and money!

It’s gweight Mammy

In complete contrast to my usual exercising activities, today’s exertions consisted of shovelling earth and laying part of a lawn - all in aid of the DDWT garden regeneration project (AKA making our garden child friendly). I thought that starting this job after 6pm would be an easier option given the sweltering temperatures that we are currently experiencing, how wrong I was. I still managed to perspire like a sheep stuck in the sahara.

DDWT Junior was obviously impressed by my efforts as he constantly insisted on telling me it was “gweight” - which was his new word for today. In fact I have to say he also commented that Mrs DDWT’s Chicken concoction was also “gweight” and I must confess that I have to agree with him (well I’ve got to say that haven’t I).

Seriously though it was rather nice and consisted of roasted chicken breast (diced) served with potatoe escalopes, asparagus, leeks, cabbage and mushrooms. As you can imagine with that amount of greens there was a bodily impact in terms of flatulence, but I won’t expand on that subject any further!

I splashed out on a book called “Not for the faint-hearted: My life fighting crime” today which is basically the autobiography of John Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner (2000-2005). It has received some very good reviews and I’m intrigued into the way he managed to turn around the Met Police from a demotivated poor performing force into one which has never been in such a good state.

4lbs down

I’m back blogging today after an ISP enforced absence yesterday, which is typical really as I actually had something specific to ramble on about - rather than my usual mutterings about nowt in particular.

Anyway, yesterday’s update was going to be about my trip to the Liberty Stadium to see the Swans one and only home pre-season friendly this year against the Wolves of Wolverhampton. Considering it was only supposed to be a friendly, the game was quite entertaining and rather niggly to say the least.

The game ended 1 apeice, but the Swans were far from overshadowed by their Championship opponents. It’s hard to say what sort of season the Swans are likely to have on yesterday’s showing, but they certainly looked hungry and sharp - Messrs Pratley and Knight in particular. I think it was also the first time EVER that I actually didn’t sing/shout/swear at a Swans game - which was purely down to my throat/chest infection and nothing else I can assure you!

Whilst I enjoyed the footy, Mrs. DDWT took full advantage of the NEXT summer sale with DDWT Junior fast asleep in his Maclaren (pushchair that is not Formula One car).

It is with great pleasure as well that I annouce the details of today’s weighing session - 16st 12lbs … WOOHOO … a whole 4lbs down on last week. I had to weigh twice to make sure I wasn’t seeing things! I can only attribute the loss to what I’ve eaten (or haven’t as the case may be) as I certainly haven’t been training much this past week.

Free digital prints

As someone who loves a bargain I felt I just had to share this freebie I came across for 20 free digital prints from Snapfish (until 31st July). Snapfish enables digital camera owners to share, print and store their favorite photo memories at low prices. All you have to do to get your free prints is to register on the Snapfish website (for free) and enter the coupon code FREEPOST and not only will you receive 20 free prints, but you’ll also get free delivery as well!

The lurgi that the DDWT family has at the moment meant that I was off work today having come down with it myself. My voice is so husky I’m sure I could make a living out of doing erotic story telling for a £1 a minute telephone company or failing that I could do a stand in for Sean Connery (Yesh mish munny penni, yore a shite four shore eyes).

Now I don’t usually have a rant on my blog (unlike in day to day conversation!) but I’m going to have one now and it all came about after reading the Tesco magazine (as well as other magazines I hasten to add). What is all this fuss about parents trying to cope (with the kids getting bored) during the 6 week summer school holidays? There’s more for kids to do nowadays then there ever was before and yet the current generation always whinge that “there’s nothing for kids to do these days”. What a load of baloney! With the amount of clubs, classes, events, pools, leisure centres, parks, fields, etc, etc that are available how on earth can kids get bored. Kids need stimulating and that’s where the parents have to use a bit of imagination. What is society coming to?

The dancing palate

Its been a weird old day today on the whole as although I felt as rough as a badgers bottom (not that I’ve ever felt one you understand) I decided to go out for a lunchtime bike ride with my duathlete work colleague.

We went for a 11 mile ride (roughly) down to Fortes Ice Cream cafe in Bracelet Bay and back - maintaining a pace of between 17-20mph in the process. Now this speed was just about my limit given my current biking setup (i.e mountain bike with off-road tyres) but the duathlete (complete with racing bike and slicks) found the pace a wee bit on the easy side!! It’s quite funny really as she commented on how I didn’t need a bell on my bike as the ‘whirring’ noise from my trend on the tarmac was enough to warn anyone in our vicinity of our presence.

As the afternoon wore on, the cold I’ve picked up from Mrs. DDWT and DDWT Junior really started to kick-in and I felt even worse than the badgers bottom I mentioned earlier. I think I’m in for a stinker to be honest and antibiotics might be required unfortunately. My appetite seems to have grown however and it’s nothing to do with the old saying of ‘feeding a cold’. So when I got home to be greeted by Mrs. DDWT’s home made shepards pie for my tea, well you can just imagine…. my palate started to dance.

I came across two beauties today whilst using Google (no not that sort) - I’m referring to Google Earth (satellite images from heaven) and Matt Cutt’s blog (one of the first 100 employees of Google and a Search Engine specialist). Both are well worth a visit, hence the plug here.

Character assasination

Went on day two of my Change Management course today, the highlight of which (yet again) was one of the role playing workshops we did. Picture the make believe scenario whereby your stranded in a desert with 6 other people after your plane crashes, you have 13 objects and you have to individually decide the order of priority BUT each of you has a hidden agenda and ‘resistance’ role (Cognitive, Psychological, Status or Ideological) to play.

Still with me? Well anyway, I basically had a psychological role to play which meant I had to convince the other group members that one of the objects (a loaded gun) was of prime importance and that I should maintain control of it, as unbeknown to them one of the others were trying to assasinate me! As you can no doubt imagine it was great fun *smile*

Mrs. DDWT and DDWT Junior returned home tonight but unfortunately for them they had stinking chesty colds. Don’t ask, I mean how could you get a cold in weather like this! Anyway, they’re off to the docs tomorrow to get it sorted.

Waffles

No not potatoe waffles - I’m talking about Tregroes waffles. I just had to share this moment with you as if you’ve ever tasted one (toffee or chocolate variety) - and I highly recommend that you do - you’ll know why the mere thought of them makes my mouth moist with anticipation. It might also explain why I have problems shedding some of the excess waistline baggage I have as well!

Anyway, onto today’s main topic - the Change Management course I attended (well half attended actually). For the other half of the day, I was fortunate/unfortunate (delete as appropriate) enough to be involved in a meeting with Oracle about their CRM (Customer Relationship Management) product. I’ll leave the latter to the sales people, so I’ll tell you about the change management stuff - albeit not that rivetting either sorry.

I suppose I can look back at the course today and laugh at the fact we had a tutor with a lisp (not that this is funny) but his insistance on saying the word “anchor” all the time was. If you can imagine Jonathan Ross saying “anchor” all the time - you’ll get my drift *smile*

That’s really is about as memorable as it got apart from a few bits of self-analysis where we looked at ‘Change Drivers’ in individual careers and the Thomas-Kilman conflict mode instrument (which isn’t as painful as it sounds!). For the change drivers analysis my driving forces were (in order) - Expertise, Security and Creativity. For the conflict mode instrument peice I came out as a ‘Collaborator’. It’s all quite interesting stuff, but in all honesty if you are true to yourself when giving the answers - there shouldn’t be any surprises with the outputs.

I’m home alone for the next few days as Mrs DDWT and DDWT Junior have gone off to Aberaeron to visit some relatives - thus leaving me to man the fort and get some long overdue jobs done. It’s eerily quiet though without DDWT Junior’s presence in particular and I’d be lying if I said I was enjoying it.