6 months on - Update

So, I have been crap at keeping this thing updated. Main reason I guess is cos there hasnt been an awful lot going on!

Few highlights on the previous 1/2 year in my life.

• Drove the 170 miles back to Manchester for Christmas with only one problem - a split oil pipe - AA man came to my rescue and 5 mins later I was on my way
• Drove the 170 miles back from Manchester no problem
• Started to goto a new garage - T2D - and they can actually do good work on VW's not like the other guy.
• Has her lowered, narrowed and some EMPI 5's put on
• Had her taken up a bit again
• Finally (today) got some McGard wheel nut locks so some ba***rd doesnt steal my alloys
• Went to Volksworld show
• Went up to Donnington for the Morgan opening run
• Went to Little Sarahs Wedding - arrived late :(

See not alot!

At work, the CTO has left, and the Lead Developer has left. I got a nice pay rise with 0 extra responsibilities.
Urmm, that is it.

I will ponder and if I think of any other exciting things, I'll put them up.

Yippee, passed first time

I keep thinking about posting a new message up here, but rarely get around to it! The most recent news is that I passed my driving test :)

After 23 hours of lessons, I passed my test on Monday, with 6 minors. This, obviously, has good knock on effects. On Monday, I went down to the AutoStore, where my beetle has been in storage, and picked it up. After it started, it keep stalling without me even doing anything - basically, it cut out a couple of times when cold, but once it was running, it was fine - probably nothing to worry about. Anyway....
I picked her up and then had a drive around for about 1/2 hour, and she doesnt go badly at all. The fuel tank was dangerously empty, but I was worried about filling her up as she has always had leaded fuel. I decided it was either fill her up, or have her die in the middle of the road, so I pulled into the next garage, put in some unleaded, and bought some lead replacement stuff. Started her up, and no problems :)

When i got home, there was only a small(ish) parking space, and so I tried to reverse park with no left wing mirror - I got in, but not close enough. Obviously, as the bug is so noisy, a couple of people had appeared - one of them owning the car I was reversing towards. To save time and his car being trashed, he offered to park her, which he did. Friday came around and I had to day off, so I took me and Stacey out in the morning. First off we went to the University library - complete with stalling engine. We got there just about and only nearly killed one cyclist - must try harder. Once there, I had to do a 3 point turn, not bad at all if I do say so myself. With books in hand, we went off and nipped into halfords to pick up the huge list of stuff I needed to clean the car - according to James. So we leave Halfords, £50 ligher with a bucket full of car stuff, off we go back to Tenison Road, and see that there is a lovely parking space on the opposite side of the road, time for another reverse park, this time the other way around. And I did it!
Finally worked out where to turn to get in nice and tightly :)

With the car parked up, I set about cleaning the outside for the next hour. I dont know why, but I really enjoyed it, and I think she looks a bit better, but she's definately in need of a polish to bring the colour out properly.

After cleaning her up, me and stacey then set off for Adrian and Yvonne's wedding in Lancaster. Luckily we got a lift with Goat, so it mens that my first proper drive in the Bug wasnt going to be a 4 hour drive up the motorway! Friday evening, me, Stacey, Goat and Tina arrived in at about 8:45pm very tired to a function room in Lancaster for a few drinks with Adrian, Yvonne, friends and family. Was a good evening, but we were all shattered and then we had to wait ages for a cab - ho hum!

Saturday saw the big day arrive. We arrived at Ashton Memorial in plenty of time, and Adrian was there already sorting everything out - I think he liked to be busy! The service was lovely, and Yvonne looked amazing. Every moment of the ceremony showed that they were so in love with each other - I know they are gonna be evey happier and be together for a very long time!
The reception was at Salmesbury Hall in Preston, which is an amazing building and perfect for an Autumn wedding. Huge fireplaces, very cosy and inviting.
The food was really tasting, and the speeches touching, even if there wasnt a best man. After the food came the entertainment which consisted of a Belly Dancer, band, Casino and me and James DJing. It was a really nice day, but another long one!

Finally on Sunday we set off in the morning, and Goat and Tina were going to visit friends in Denton, so me and Stacey dropping in on my Dad for a couple of hours which was lovely. It seemed to be more of an occassion that we expected as James, Joanne and Joseph as well as Claire, Dan and Henry came over. Pretty much a full house! It was lovely just being at home normally instead of for a purpose of occassion like it has been the last few times. I think that the next time I will be home will be in 6 weeks for Xmas with the beetle.

And I thought there was lots going on before!

After some poking by John, I have decided to finally put finger to keyboard and add another entry. Hopefully the first of many of the next few weeks - lets see how long I can keep this up!

Things have changed alot, and I mean alot, over the last month or two.

I am now in Cambridge and finally settled in as much as I can be. the move was delayed due to a few things, not going to go into them on here though. We are in the flat, unpacked and have found all the important things locally like Tesco's, local pub 30 seconds away, pizza place, local pub 45 seconds away etc.

It was all a bit of a slow start with settling in, but now me and Stacey and in and it is "life as normal". This week I have started work on re organising the database, core code base and data at work. It is good to finally start to exercise my brain, and to get coding again. I have just sorted out how I want the OO side of things to work, so it should be realitly straight forward from here on in.

2007 is starting to kick off again, with a meeting this weekend at Gilwell. There is less than a year to go and nothing (from an apps point of view) has been specced or started yet. It is gonna be a hard year ahead. I hope to try and do stuff regularly so as to stop the bad habit of stopping and starting I have had previously.

Driving lessons are going ok, had 5 hours so far, and hopefully I will take my test mid to end of October. Theory test went well with 35/35 for the question section and 64/75 for the hazard perception.