Paul Clarke's Blog (Pauly's Soapbox)

This place looks familiar

The Inn Doors is up for sale. This is not news, I have heard the pub business was up for sale for a while. But this is the actual building, including the bar on the ground floor and the two flats above it. For £300k. I think that sounds very good, could be a good business opportunity. I don't quite have £300k spare right now though. And interest rates are going up and property prices are expected to fall. I think I will hang on and hang on until someone buys it and then regret not being bolder.

Sat Mar 25
Energy usage graph, electricity and gas - 🕖 is cost at getting up time... Graph line from 1.78 to 76.36p last week p last week Graph line from 1.75 to 63.26p p 🕖 £0.71 By 7:00 on Sat Mar 18 cost was £0.71 Sat £4.99 Total cost for Sat Mar 18 was £4.99 🕖 £0.86 By 7:00 on Sun Mar 19 cost was £0.86 Sun £4.54 Total cost for Sun Mar 19 was £4.54 🕖 £1.01 By 7:00 on Mon Mar 20 cost was £1.01 8:00 is peak energy use period 8:30 is peak energy use period 9:00 is super peak energy use period 9:30 is super peak energy use period 10:00 is peak energy use period 10:30 is peak energy use period 16:00 is peak energy use period 16:30 is peak energy use period 17:00 is super peak energy use period 17:30 is super peak energy use period 18:00 is peak energy use period 18:30 is peak energy use period Mon £4.41 Total cost for Mon Mar 20 was £4.41 🕖 £1.03 By 7:00 on Tue Mar 21 cost was £1.03 8:00 is peak energy use period 8:30 is peak energy use period 9:00 is super peak energy use period 9:30 is super peak energy use period 10:00 is peak energy use period 10:30 is peak energy use period 16:00 is peak energy use period 16:30 is peak energy use period 17:00 is super peak energy use period 17:30 is super peak energy use period 18:00 is peak energy use period 18:30 is peak energy use period Tue £4.72 Total cost for Tue Mar 21 was £4.72 🕖 £0.94 By 7:00 on Wed Mar 22 cost was £0.94 8:00 is peak energy use period 8:30 is peak energy use period 9:00 is super peak energy use period 9:30 is super peak energy use period 10:00 is peak energy use period 10:30 is peak energy use period 16:00 is peak energy use period 16:30 is peak energy use period 17:00 is super peak energy use period 17:30 is super peak energy use period 18:00 is peak energy use period 18:30 is peak energy use period Wed £5.65 Total cost for Wed Mar 22 was £5.65 🕖 £0.91 By 7:00 on Thu Mar 23 cost was £0.91 8:00 is peak energy use period 8:30 is peak energy use period 9:00 is super peak energy use period 9:30 is super peak energy use period 10:00 is peak energy use period 10:30 is peak energy use period 16:00 is peak energy use period 16:30 is peak energy use period 17:00 is super peak energy use period 17:30 is super peak energy use period 18:00 is peak energy use period 18:30 is peak energy use period Thu £5.17 Total cost for Thu Mar 23 was £5.17 🕖 £0.97 By 7:00 on Fri Mar 24 cost was £0.97 8:00 is peak energy use period 8:30 is peak energy use period 9:00 is super peak energy use period 9:30 is super peak energy use period 10:00 is peak energy use period 10:30 is peak energy use period 16:00 is peak energy use period 16:30 is peak energy use period 17:00 is super peak energy use period 17:30 is super peak energy use period 18:00 is peak energy use period 18:30 is peak energy use period Fri £4.63 Total cost for Fri Mar 24 was £4.63 Y axis of graph 0 - 50 - X axis of graph Mar 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

This week 10 years ago

15 years ago
20 years ago
25 years ago

I am not dead

There's never been such a break in programming before! I have just been busy. Busy with work, lots going on, but all good. And then I've spent a couple of evenings doing more coding rather than writing on here.

What has happened then since (checks...) Tuesday! I wrote something on Tuesday but then didn't hit publish, but it's out there somewhere.

T2's hockey festival was so-so, not his sort of thing. He's about as sporting as his dad, but at least he was out of the classroom for a bit. He's a bit bored of school right now, he's done primary school. T1 is going great guns at his school. We have his prize giving later this week. T2 will do the same when he gets there. Remember he won that inter-school maths tournement last week.

We had a good Luben last Sunday, not sure I mentioned that. The "salad" is getting more and more salady though, it has actual iceberg lettuce in it now. It used to be basically a big bowl of roast potatoes and peppers and kale, but now it's getting healthier. I might stop ordering it.

Luben feast

My Banksy stamps arrived from Ukraine. Going to frame them for the study when I get round to it.

Banksy stamps from Ukraine

Went to London on Thursday, all fine. Bit of a drizzly day. Not many people in. I had a very good spicy falafel wrap, with added aubergine this time. Nearly a tenner though! For a wrap!

Up early for Parkrun today, up even earlier because we had to go in with Clare. Both boys had to come, because T1 was volunteering. I was running and volunteering. This meant leaving T2 on his own for a bit! I left him outside the cafe with some money. Cafe doesn't open until the run starts. He was very confident though, bought himself a drink and a massive family bag of chocolates, found a table and just play his game. I ran, not too fast, it was very very windy, then checked on him, then did the scanning until the end. T1 was put on marshalling today so had to stand with another of the volunteers. He was meant to be cheering people on really, but mostly he stood quietly. I think he preferred the scanning. He was lucky he was at the half way point, down by the arch. This is a point you only pass once, half way round, so when the final person is half way round they can pack up. He went and joined T2 in the cafe until I was done.

Folkestone parkrun results for event #377. Your time was 00:24:21.

Congratulations on completing your 116th parkrun and your 104th at Folkestone parkrun today. You finished in 69th place and were the 57th Male out of a field of 318 parkrunners and you came 7th in your age category VM50-54. Take a look at this week's full set of results on our website. Your PB at Folkestone parkrun remains 00:20:50. Your best time this year remains 00:23:24.

Thank you very much for your support at Folkestone parkrun, event 377 on 2023-03-25. You've now volunteered at this event on 9 separate occasions.

After we went into Folkestone centre, bought some books and some soup for lunch, and picked up the car from Clare's work. She has not responded to me yet, I don't know if she knows it's gone. I might take it back in a bit and walk back rather than pick her up later.

In tonight, maybe watching Beyond Paradise. It's not as good as Death In Paradise though. Tomorrow we have football, but at least it's a home game this week and we can walk to it.

Twenty years ago this very day I was at The Darkness. It was a magazine launch party, I was a bit dismissive of it but it must have been great. The Darkness are touring again now, European dates are announced, hmm, maybe a city break is in order.

Other gigs I was at on this day in history include Gene in 1999, Toyah in 1994, and Curve in 1992.

This reminds me, I met a Suede fan in The Potting Shed last night. It is not where I expect to find music fans. It was one of a couple who had recently moved down from London, I hope to see them in there again.

Sat Mar 25

Run stats 25/3/23 - 4'51/K

🚶 14520 steps ❤️ 56 bpm 67.7㎏ 22.0% fat

your daily target Best ever daily steps: 38155 on Sat, Sep 14, 19 Sat was the best since Sat, Mar 11's 19053 10ᵏ - 20ᵏ - 30ᵏ - 56 bpm ❤︎ 43% stress 67.7㎏ 8290 my target 5622 Thu, Mar 16 6717 Fri, Mar 17 15951 Sat, Mar 18 6600 Sunday 6226 Monday 8572 Tuesday 2058 days of data 5070 Wednesday 10206 Thursday 9275 Friday 14520 (so far) Saturday

Health stats 24/3/23

🚶 9275 steps ❤️ 49 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Health stats 23/3/23

🚶 10206 steps ❤️ 54 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Health stats 22/3/23

🚶 5070 steps ❤️ 50 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

The pressure is on

Pressure cooker is on, doing some arrabiata sauce for us. I already cooked sausages in it, and I used it yesterday to do our curry sides. Using the Ninja cooker every day still. Oh yes, we have swapped around Monday and Tuesday dinner, crazy I know. Clare as meant to be late at work yesterday, but in the end it was cancelled.

Pressure off slightly at work maybe? Just hearing that one of the other teams that I have been having a "we're ready, are you sure you are ready?" contest with might not be ready after all... It's all going well though, exciting stuff.

T2 is at a hockey festival today, he had to take shin pads and a gum shield. I hope he does not come home too bruised. T1 has football too, I think that is losing it's shine a bit.

Ooh I have a stye in my eye. It looks grim, but it will pass. Possibly it is stress and overwork. Coincidentally just saw a picture of me three years ago today also with a bad eye, recovering from the cataracts operation.

Fifteen years ago yesterday we were at The Cure, but nevermind that THIRTY YEARS AGO TODAY I was at The Wedgewood Rooms to see The Little Angels. I listen to the singer sometimes now doing a show on Planet Rock radio station.

Tue Mar 21

Health stats 21/3/23

🚶 8572 steps ❤️ 53 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Health stats 20/3/23

🚶 6226 steps ❤️ 50 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Happy Mother's Day

Busy few days. Straight out of work and to The Clarendon on Friday. Met my friends for pints and chat, including discussions of holiday destinations and a forthcoming party.

Saturday morning up early for Parkrun, but volunteering only this week. T1 came along and volunteered too. This will go towards his Duke Of Edinburgh award. Then we got him some new school shoes, then home, then realised the school shoes were actually the wrong size (even though he'd tried them on). Clare took the boys to Grandpa's house and I went back into town again to change the shoes. She went to Dover to put some flowers down. When I got back from my second visit to the shop she was back and we went out for a walk. Together! This never happens. We walked to The Three Mariners and had a beer in their garden, then walked back via The Bell as we thought they would be showing the rugby. They were not but we had a drink and thought we'd watch it at home. Then someone else came in and said "why's the rugby not on?" and they changed the channel, it was just an oversight. So we watche all of the England Ireland game in there, had a very nice time. Then grandpa dropped the boys off at about the time we got home.

This morning, more exercise, then football. Then to Faversham for football. Cheriton United only lost four nil toay, good result. Now we're off to Luben for pizza, and these lucky boys have a can of Prime each which I found in Faversham.

Today in 1996 I was watching The Sultans Of Ping. Must have been at the Wedgewood Rooms as I only saw them there.

Sun Mar 19

Health stats 19/3/23

🚶 6600 steps ❤️ 55 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Health stats 18/3/23

🚶 15951 steps ❤️ 56 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

your daily target Best ever daily steps: 38155 on Sat, Sep 14, 19 Sat was the best since Thu, Feb 9's 20712 10ᵏ - 20ᵏ - 30ᵏ - 56 bpm ❤︎ 43% stress 70㎏ 7890 my target 13577 Thu, Mar 9 9747 Fri, Mar 10 19053 Sat, Mar 11 9005 Sunday 5754 Monday 2055 days of data 4621 Tuesday 7265 Wednesday 5622 Thursday 6717 Friday 15951 Saturday

Health stats 17/3/23

🚶 6717 steps ❤️ 56 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Where's Wally?

One of T1's friends found this picture online, from the Crystal Palace vs Man City game, it has got us in it, can you see us?

The Crystal Palace goal when Erling Haaland is lining up to take and score a penalty

Losing count of the times I used the ninja now. Today I did roasted rainbow carrots and some spicy bean burgers in it. The carrots pressure cooked first then air fried, the burgers only air fried.

Had a busy day at work, doing a disaster recovery exercise.

Stonks recovered slightly today. I made some good money today but it doesn't quite compensate for what I lost earlier in the week yet.

Thu Mar 16

Health stats 16/3/23

🚶 5622 steps ❤️ 49 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Voluntary powercut

Octopus energy saving hour today. I have just finished work and will make the tea a bit early as they are doing 18:30 - 19:30 today. We can be eating at that time. In the dark. I will put the ninja on to cook it too, as it is just "curry bits". Some of it goes in the microwave and the sides can go in the air-fryer.

Used the Ninja yesterday too to do myself Linda McCartney vegan souther fried grill type things, and some chips. It really is good at these.

Have avoided London tomorrow, because of train strikes, nice. I have not avoided the banking fiasco though. Will we lose another bank? More than one? I thought I was "buying the dip" after the Lloyds shares crashed earlier in the week, but they immediately crashed further and I lost all my new money. Well sort of lost. I bought some shares, I still have those shares, they're just worth less now. Next time dividends come round I I will still have a load more shares.

I see it is twenty years ago this very day the only time I was allowed to do a best man's speech. Happy anniversary to the happy couple and I hope to see you soon.

Wed Mar 15

Health stats 15/3/23

🚶 7265 steps ❤️ 49 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Health stats 14/3/23

🚶 4621 steps ❤️ 55 bpm 70.0㎏ 21.9% fat

Busy day, but waiting for energy stats

Hmm no energy stats in yet, I'm curious to see what I did yesterday. There was ironing, there was lots of Ninja cooking, and the oven was on too. I think it could be a big one.

Busy at work, all bits and pieces though. Then busy evening as Clare is on a late, so lunches to be made, dinner to be made, dinner to be eaten. I did all of the dinner today in the Ninja. Started with some sausages in the air fryer, then used the Ninja to also reheat the sauce with the sausages in, and then also used it to cook the part-baked rolls. Didn't need the oven on at all. I think it kind of worked.

Tonight we mostly watch Battlebots, I think I got the boys back into it again. T2 is very keen, wants us to go and see it live again. Even T1 was sort of convinced. I am letting them watch one episode of Modern Family as payback.

Good to know Gary Lineker is back, BBC were definitely giving in to government pressure asking him to step back. BBC were wrong, the government were wrong. Gary Lineker for Prime Minister!

Shares though, let's not talk about them. I was a little bit up overall last week, this week I'm quite a bit down. Some bank flapped its wings in the USA and all the UK banking stonks have crashed.

Today in 1989 I was at Hammersmith Odeon seeing Anthrax. This is the first proper gig, even though I went to Madonna at Wembley a few years before. Also today in 1996 Kez and I went to Tori Amos at Portsmouth Guildhall.

Mon Mar 13

Paul Clarke's weblog - I live in Hythe. Wed to Clare + father to two, I'm a full-stack web engineer, and I do mostly javascript / nodejs, some ruby, other languages etc. I like pubbing, running, eating, home-automation and other diy stuff, history, family tree stuff, TV, squirrels, pirates, lego, + time travel.