This evening we have been fed by by dad and step mum, been given a whole Victoria sponge that was surplus to a cafes...

This evening we have been fed by by dad and step mum, been given a whole Victoria sponge that was surplus to a cafes requirements and acquired a Roomba 530... for nothing. The Roomba may have a fault, but seems ok so far and a bit of a Google suggests that a battery reset and charge/discharge cycle may solve the issue.

All in all, a fair evening I think :-)

Anyone else been confused by "Sparks" disappearing from the column on the left?

Anyone else been confused by "Sparks" disappearing from the column on the left?

If like me you thought it was your browser or an extension messing up, it isn't...
You can now add Sparks by searching at the top, but then saving that search. Just as I started to think they might become useful I lost them. So I guess saved searches are the new Sparks...

Any thoughts? It is kind of on my mind at the moment :-)

Any thoughts? It is kind of on my mind at the moment :-)

Originally shared by Kitty Warrior

New adventures in poking the vipers nest - why UK IT GCSE needs revising http://postdesk.com/blog/ict-gcse-edexcel-overhaul-national-curriculum-teaching
http://postdesk.com/blog/ict-gcse-edexcel-overhaul-national-curriculum-teaching

Now this looks interesting...

Now this looks interesting...

Originally shared by Russell Baker

Android watch anyone?
http://live.imwatch.it/

Ok, Facebook and Twitter integration.

Ok, Facebook and Twitter integration. Quite like SGPlus as a Chrome extension but that only let's me post to them from G+ from my laptop. One of you fine people was using hashtags to post to Facebook and Twitter. That would work from the mobile site and apps yes? So, what was it again?

This cold has gone from 0-60 in about 4 hours, streaming nose, itchy eyes, the lot.

This cold has gone from 0-60 in about 4 hours, streaming nose, itchy eyes, the lot. Lovely, still, deployed Horlicks and an early night so here is hoping for a better morning...

I might have found you a place near-ish Nether Edge.

I might have found you a place near-ish Nether Edge. A mates brother is advertising on Gumtree and mentioned it on Facebook a couple of times. Couldn't remember who it was first time but caught it this time.
Asked him if a 6 month lease would be ok, but he hasn't got back to me yet. In the meantime, here is the Gumtree ad.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/lovely-double-room-in-a-great-house-share-near-hunters-bar/90604665
http://www.gumtree.com/p/flats-houses/lovely-double-room-in-a-great-house-share-near-hunters-bar/90604665

Just been playing with the Google+ photo editing stuff, quite good actually!

Just been playing with the Google+ photo editing stuff, quite good actually! (spoken as a non photographer/photo editor) ;-)

Last night I think I tried to replace sleep with food.

Last night I think I tried to replace sleep with food. Although not entirely successful, it was not unpleasant... #sleepy

Cracking weekend up in York, yay!

Cracking weekend up in York, yay!
Followed by niggling sore throat, bugger.
But it already seems to be getting better, without getting chesty, yay!
Car passed MOT without any extra work, yay!
So no motorbike replacement for Chris, bugger.
Emily only went to sleep in her bed when she was cuddling me, yay!
But only because she is a bit poorly, bugger.
Cavity wall insulation is all sorted out now, yay!
But it left holes inside to sort out, and mess to clean up, bugger.
Got tool to replace bushings in rear shock on my EX9, yay!
But not the bushings yet, bugger.

Swings and roundabouts :-)

"downstairs" in the campervan it is 12c and not much more upstairs but just a normal duvet for us to sleep under...

"downstairs" in the campervan it is 12c and not much more upstairs but just a normal duvet for us to sleep under upstairs and a sleep bag + duvet downstairs for our little girl. We are all perfectly snug. Why do we burn so much gas at home? We should just live under duvets :-)

Long day parents evening day, still, some good news for me and them so not too onerous.

Don't usually watch Later with Jools Holland but just back in from a little bike derelict and it was on.

Don't usually watch Later with Jools Holland but just back in from a little bike derelict and it was on. Eclectic isn't it? Mastodon sounded pretty good though...
EDIT-iPod touch seems to think that "fettle" should be "derelict". I disagree...

After working until nearly 2am last night I am rather keen on the idea of an early night.

After working until nearly 2am last night I am rather keen on the idea of an early night. So, here is hoping that our baby girl falls asleep soon and that iPlayer has downloaded some good stuff.

You know you are a mountain biker when....

You know you are a mountain biker when....



...you take your washing out of the machine and the first thing out is an inner tube, oops!

Yet another reason why tubeless is better than tubed :-) anyone got an unused Stans kit I could put on my SS bike to prevent further mishap. That said, it was the spare that was in my pocket I think, so converting may not solve the problem. Glad I had taken my multi tool out though!

I am now going to bake a cake, a birthday cake after some successful bike bit shopping I am sure this will go just...

I am now going to bake a cake, a birthday cake after some successful bike bit shopping I am sure this will go just as well... I mean, what could go wrong, my hands don't smell of GT85 that much :-)

Snigger... :-)

Snigger... :-)
http://t.co/KRs084Db

Right, time to fettle some bike...

It would appear that we are expecting a baby in a few months time.

It would appear that we are expecting a baby in a few months time. That will make 2 is the formula for the correct number of babies the same as that for bikes, n+1? :-)

Matlock might be a lovely place to live but when the local substation blows up (literally apparently) it gets, and...

Matlock might be a lovely place to live but when the local substation blows up (literally apparently) it gets, and stays, pretty dark. Good job it was night ride night. Now just got to hope we get some juice before the freezers defrost and the fridge spoils... Not looking good though, went off at 1.00 pm and nothing yet. Hey ho.

Oooo, our ongoing car saga is potentially coming to an end.

Oooo, our ongoing car saga is potentially coming to an end. The endgame has begun anyway, here is hoping that it is done and dusted by tomorrow night, bills resolved and car sold.
Wish us luck!

How are you finding Google+ so far?

How are you finding Google+ so far? Have to admit, I am loving it as an alternative to Facebook and there is a thriving MTB community combining people I generally communicated with through forums (fora?) and Twitter but in a way that makes much more sense.
Looking forward to enough people coming over from Facebook so I can ditch it, the bloated pile of poo.

And how are you keeping? :-)

Well look at that, I still have a myspace account!

Well look at that, I still have a myspace account! Thought I had deleted that... wonder if the bebo one is still there, pretty sure it isn't (already used Google+ more than those two combined).

Right, that is a baby bathed, carried downstairs, who then fell asleep as I converted a .pdf into a .jpg image for...

Right, that is a baby bathed, carried downstairs, who then fell asleep as I converted a .pdf into a .jpg image for someone. Who then had her nappy, vest and pyjamas put on, and put into bed, without waking up. Either I am awesome, or she is very tired. I know which I am going for ;-)

For Rob, and anyone else who missed it from wherever I saw it :-)

For Rob, and anyone else who missed it from wherever I saw it :-)
Imperial March on two floppy drives...
Floppy music DUO - Imperial march
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHJOz_y9rZE

Had our "new" car for nearly 3 weeks now.

Had our "new" car for nearly 3 weeks now. It has got a thermometer in it and so far we have seen a high of 29 C and a low of 8 C. Don't think there is anything wrong with it either... And we haven't been away...

Just watching my not quite 18 month old daughter swiping through pictures of herself on my phone.

Just watching my not quite 18 month old daughter swiping through pictures of herself on my phone. Don't know if I should be more impressed with her intuition, or the intuitive nature of the phone...

Well it maybe shouldn't come as a surprise with his recent history but RIP Steve Jobs.

Well it maybe shouldn't come as a surprise with his recent history but RIP Steve Jobs. He maybe just touted Apples products but he was bloody good at it! I never stayed up to watch anyone else give a developer conference speech or announce "just one more thing"
Thanks for the rev.b Bondi Blue iMac and everything since.

Robert Llewellyn I have an educational hangout proposition for you (nothing too alarming though, don't worry :-) )...

Robert Llewellyn I have an educational hangout proposition for you (nothing too alarming though, don't worry :-) ) I am a teacher, of a Year 3 class and we are currently have transport as our topic. One of the things we did this week was try and decide which was the "best" form of transport. Some good ideas were produced, donkey because it doesn't use petrol and it can carry a lot. Hot air ballon because it is peaceful. F1 car because it is fast (you get the picture).

The problem is that they struggle to see the con's as well as the pro's of their chosen mode of transport and it would be nice to have a passionate and eloquent supporter of a mode of transport they hadn't chosen speak to them.

None of them chose an electric car...

Can you see where I might be going with this :-)

Did I mention that they are 7-8 years old?

If you are interested, or if you are not please let me know so I can either panic and plan something properly or heave a sigh of relief and not worry about how it might go :-) I do understand that you actually do have a real job and this could be a big ask.

Thanks for reading all this anyway

Chris Auton, Y3 teacher at Grassmoor Primary School, Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

p.s. I am pretty sure this is only going to you, there is only your name in the sharing box but you can mail me at mr.auton@gmail.com if you prefer.

Baby girl in bed, ready for school work.

Baby girl in bed, ready for school work... Oh, hang on, I'm shattered, late-ish night of mediocre work, or sleep, genuinely early to bed...

Todays ratatouille is brought to you by an oversized courgette and a lack of mushroom.

Todays ratatouille is brought to you by an oversized courgette and a lack of mushroom. It's close friend Herby Pork is looking rather good whilst Charlotte, the potatoes, simmers away nicely...

Lots of decent rides going on, anyone else not got out 'cos there is simply too much other stuff to be done?