Pauly's Soapbox
Home
A frantic morning tracking down something that I broke before I went away... had some discussion of this issue while I was off and the concensus was yes, we could undo this error by taking out my work, BUT, the work I did was SO DAMN GOOD that it was worth leaving this thing broken. Today I've sorted it so both are working, and cleared all warnings on our website too. Yeah good stuff!
We had a nice valentines meal in The Harvester last night. No I am not such a cheapskate that this is the only place I will take Clare. We orignally planned to go out for lunch, taking Harry, but with him being so ill recently we didn't want to mess with his nap. So, we went out for a 5pm dinner instead. The Harvester was Clare's call as we knew it would be open at that time, we could get in without booking, and it would be great for Harry to eat and fine for both of us.
Not sure what it is with staff at the Harvester but the greeter at the door was awkward and unpleasant, just like the one at Port Solent often is. She seemed to be trying to put us off, first telling Clare that there would be a ten fifteen minute wait for a table. No OK, she's not really trying to put us off at this point I suppose. We went for a look round Bybrook Barn for half an hour then went back to the Harvester. Now suddenly it's a forty minute wait for a table. Clare remonstrated, wasn't it really only about ten minutes? "Don't know who told you that!" "Er, you did, about half an hour ago", "Oh half an hour that's a long time around here well it's a forty minute wait". We were called for our table in about five minutes. What is wrong with you people?
Harvester is well cheap isn't it, and the food is piled high. We all enjoyed it, despite the grouch on the door.
pauly :: Comment / reply
Took today off mostly to do that, only failed on a missing brake light bulb (the extra one in the boot lid) so that fixed we are good to go!
Went to Beano's vegetarian cafe in Tontine Street while I waited. Very nice, would like to go back there. The Creative Quarter is not quite there yet though is it? All looked particularly gloomy on a cold damp day like today...
Harry much improved today, just about to try and rouse him from his nap...
pauly :: Comment / reply
Harry a bit better today, still woke up in the night seeming a bit confused, and still off his food, but improved. Temperature lower, which is the main thing.
We had heavy snow again this morning, didn't last long but gave us a good surface coating. The original snow is not cleared yet, our snowman in the back garden is still standing, though his features have gone.
Not moving far today. Went to Toolstation to buy a new soldering iron but that's it.
pauly :: Comment / reply
NHS Direct told us to take Harry to the walk-in centre just in case it was anything more serious, wo we were there today for three hours or so. When we finally saw a nurse she was really good, but still says it's some kind of virus just keep giving him calpol and neurofen.
I say we were there for three hours, but I took twenty minutes out of that time to nip to Maplin and buy some components for my Arduino experiments, leaving Clare waiting with Harry.
pauly :: Comment / reply
He's been up and down today, he woke us up several times in the night but seemed to be just a bit sad each time. We left him with Granny and went to IKEA and Bluewater. Granny phoned while we were there to say he had a raised temperature again, so we started heading home. Then a second phone call to say no, the calpol had kicked in and he was OK again. Tonight he seems worse again, though it's been the same routine of raised temperature, worry, apply neurofen or calpol, temperature down, ok again. This time I've called NHS Direct though as this is the third day. Having been assessed by the call centre someone is going to call me back in several hours, so they clearly don't think it's serious.
While we were at IKEA we chose a bed for Harry, will got back and get it or get it delivered though. We headed from there to Bluewater just to double check beds in John Lewis, they didn't have many though. We had a smashing lunch in Gourmet Burger, there are lots of new food options in Bluewater now.
Tonight mostly just sitting my the phone, listening to Harry snuffling on the baby monitor.
Two and a half is not too old to still have a baby monitor is it?
pauly :: Comment / reply
Missing hack day tomorrow if I don't go in to work (as planned, shopping day) but I'm having one at home today on my own. Got my arduino, plugged it in and am working through examples... I've made the onboard led blink on and off at my command, and plugged my own led in and controlled that. Now I've installed Processing so I can easily turn things like a movement of the mouse in to signals out through the usb socket, in to the arduino. Yes, ok, actually it is only more LEDs blinking on and off but this is just the start. full diy home automation!
And all while Harry was napping...
pauly :: Comment / reply
Not me, but Harry, he has a temperature and he's very clingy so I'm staying home with him today. He insists he's not ill, he's feeling much better now, but he's super cuddly. Cousin Elliott had the same thing over the last couple of weeks, hope this doesn't last quite as long.
Thought we'd done dreadfully in the quiz last night, but so did everyone else, so we came in second.
My Arduino arrived, but not the extra bits I ordered with it, no breadboard, got to send an email...
pauly :: Comment / reply
Got my Logitech Harmony One, it's nice, but as expected I have not quite set it up right. It's complicated. I think it's only the amp it's having trouble with, it's not turning it on or off automatically, though it gets there eventually if you click the "help" button and it tries again. This could be a long setup process. Also I've not programmed the lights in yet, still plenty to do...
pauly :: Comment / reply
@JustinHawkins Justin Hawkins
Yep, Samsung are giving away one of my catsuits. I've NEVER willingly parted with a singing garment before, so enter NOW!
Hmm, I've got one of Justin's on stage outfits from the early days at home... it was not *exactly* stolen. OK, it is just a t-shirt, this one actually:
Thanks Ralph for salvaging it for me.
You can win the outfit and other goodies from this advert somewhere or other, probably by clicking on that youtube video.
pauly :: Comment / reply
Paul Clarke's blog - I live and work near Folkestone. Married to Clare and father to Harry, I am a web dev, and I like javascript, PHP, Folkestone Gerald, pubs, restaurants, history, genealogy, TV, music, popbitch, squirrels, pirates ☠, time travel, stained glass...
