The view is free (kind of)

You may or may not have heard me going on about the crap on TV in the UK. I have never been a fan of British TV. Only Fools and Horses ... The Bill ... Coronation Street ... this is not must see TV. But that was then.

And this is now, and now is spelt F.R.E.E.V.I.E.W. Freeview is the moniker given to digital TV here. I have picked up a set-top box with a built in hard-disk recorder (don't worry: it was on the cheap).

What does this mean? 30 extra channels, dual tuners (watch one, tape one ... clever ...) and the easiest way to record in the business to take advantage of all this beauty - EPG (Electronic Program Guide).

So now our big problem is to fit all of this new viewing in. Tonight, a poor TV night, we have watched TV solidly after work and have taped enough TV for another evening's viewing.

Just in time for the long, dark, impending winter.

Just preempting something ...

A girl's got to be prepared, and a girl's got to defend herself. Let me just say this before Paul gets the chance to post his next blog entry.

Let this fact be known ...

I DID NOT TRY TO KILL PAUL IN THE SHOWER! REGARDLESS OF WHAT HE SAYS, WHAT LINE HE TRIES TO PULL, WHAT SOB STORY HE GIVES YOU ... I DID NOT TRY TO KILL HIM IN THE SHOWER!

A wise man once said ... "The path to hell is paved with good intention."

I am SO going to hell.

:)

The tale of two cities in the tale of the tape

Thought it would be a good time to reflect on the pros and cons of the two cities I (we) know the best.

What's hot

Melbourne

• Friends and family. The obvious one, but we miss this lot.
• Having a support system in place and knowing what to do with it. Doctors, dentists, resturants, optomoetrists, shoe repair men, hairdressers, bikini waxes (that's Mel, or course) ... We don't know who the hell to go to here. All of this is in place at home.
  
• We had car to take away on the weekends. Sure, a little cash will solve that (and it may yet), but we still miss it.
• Sporting events. AFL, GP, The Spring Carnival, I was going to say the Australian OPen, but we live 5 mins from Wimbledon ... but you get the idea. This stuff is great stuff.
  

London

• Commons - or parks to you and me. They are everywhere they are large and the locals use them
• Travel - The obvious one, but there is soomething to be said for getting to The Netherlands in 45 mins, France in an hour and The Mediterranean in two ours. Even better, going away for a weekend on an all inclusive costs about 150 quid
• The supermarkets here are the best. You can find stupendously large ones and they stock the lot. Most of the food is better and cheaper (take meat and caned fruit out of that equation). Suprised, aren't you?
• Clothes. They are cheap and they look pretty good. And for Men, there is a lot more of it around.
  

What's not

Melbourne

• Road rage. Are Australian drivers just idiotic? Why doo they get so angry, so often? Here, traffice is worse but the drivers are so much more understanding. Let a guy through and the odds of a thank you wave are better than I expected. People let you in and don't get angry if things go wrong. Melbournian drivers should grow up.
• Public transport. Where does the government get the cheek to propose a congestion charge when public transport in the 'burbs is so poor. In London, the transport system is not perfect, but there are always a couple of workable options.
  

London

• Reality TV. It is on all the time and the overwhealming majority is bad. I think Aust is starting to get over this fad, but the Poms are riding into the ground.
  
• The predominance of C grade celebrity. WIth Abbey Titmus (I am serios about the name) heading the list, the tabloids are full of no talent, little charm people who are just famous for being famous.
• The dodgy areas of town are really dodgy. And there is no way of tellimg where they will pop up: great areas can lay right beside dodgy ones.
• Free-to-air TV. Period. I never thought I would miss American TV so much. (Note: this is about to be partially corrected with the purchase of a digital setop box, which gives up 30 channels to choose from)
  

Well I'm a Walkin' (by myself ...)

... I hope you'll understand

'Cos I just want
To be your lovin' man

I know one person who will know what I am on about. It is a song and if anyone other than SP can tell me what it is, kudos.

But this is not what I am on about in this blog. No, the walking refers to my Saturday just recently. Woke up, later than I would have liked - about 9:30 am. Walked to Clapham, which has to be at least 4 kays. Quick workout, about 40 mins. In the shower and off to Waterloo via an overland train from Clapham Junction station. Walk from Waterloo to Holborn (which is near my office), kind of by accident. Then to Tottenhm Court Rd for some quick gadget shopping (OK .. window shopping. A new iPod and a ne Palm released in the same week - forgive me). Then down Oxford Street for what I am really supposed to be doing, which is a bit of work clothes shopping. A couple of ties and a shirt or two would be nice.

Problem is that by the time I get to Oxford Street is is 3:30pm and I have been walking, gyming or otherwise moving since 11am and I am knackered. By the time I got to the target location, Zara (via Topman, who have recently had a revamp), I am really not focused on the shopping.

I can say that I was a bit disappointed at Zara, TopMan had sme stuff worth revisiting and Gap are doing some good stuff this winter.

Oh, and I picked up those cheap headphones I said I would. OK, it was kind of a window shop ...

PodCast No.1

As promised, a Paul and Mel's UK podcast. Click here to check it out

Now, I don't profess to have anything intersting to say - and having just had a quick listen to it, I can speak for Mel as well - but I hope that it gives you an idea of our day to day life and is like having a bit of a chat.

I chose the theme song. I am fairly certain it won't remain our theme song, but I thought is was apt. You'll see what I mean.

Also, you should note that the original recording went for around 15 minutes. I ummed and ahhed a lot ... Mel said some more non-PC things ... so the final cut came down to around 5 minutes. On broadband it takes about 30 seconds to download. But if you are on a dial up connection, you may want to need to watch an episode of Alias while it downloads (well, it is 5Mb, so at dial up speeds it should take about 20 mins)

Anyway, have listen. Have a cringe. And wait for the next podcast - because we had a lot of fun putting this one together.

Mission Control

You know me... a man who has got to have a project ...

So this is mission control. I create blogs here. I try to write the odd piece of music here. I web-cam fom here. And I will create my podcasts here. I am just short two items - a set of reasonable quality headphones and my much anticipated semi-pro-quality-but-dirt-cheap USB mic.

But what I do have is two monitors running in extended desktop configuration (we should all work this way), a pair of powered monitor speakers I would never be able to afford in Oz (combination of a greatly discounted price here and the power of the pound) a mini-controller keyboard (very Ross from Friends) and a so-so web cam.

The only thing I am missing is my guitar. The guy at checkin would not let me take it on the plane (which I cursed because I saw two people on my second leg flight with guitars) and I already had 29 kgs checked in (I showed a lot of leg). So if anyone from our group knows anyone with a spare 5 kgs check in luggage allowance who is happy to bring it over, say in exchange for an airport pick-up, let me know.

In the mean time, enjoy the gadgetdome.

To share and (not) share a like

Nothing is sacred.

I have always liked that I can take for granted that can order a beer, or take a six pack home, and I will have exclusive rights to them. The reasoning is simple:Mel does not like beer.

Until now.

Witness Kronenburg Blanc. My local quality-food pub served this up to me first and it is my beer of preference at the moment. Wheat beer is my thing and has been for a while, and this number adds a fruit infused twist. And this is where Mel comes in.

So I am opening my favourite beer on a quiet Sat night at home when aforementioned bier-stress asks for a serve - just to taste, she assures me. Then she asks for another.

I think another bastion has fallen.