I have some business in St. Louis in a few weeks, so I'll be home briefly. I fly in on the 10th and leave again on the 13th. Have your people call my people and we'll do lunch.
Also, I've put up a batch of photos taken by the little girl (LG set) on Flickr. I think she got the best slug picture! It's almost a story just to flip through them. The trip to the grocery store with mommy tells quite nicely.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Camping
We went and bought some camping equipment this weekend. The weather is crap, but I'm excited.
Everyone got a new sleeping bag. Only the boy and I had a sleeping bag before. And even then, I'd bought them for summer camping in St. Louis. They would be too cold at night here. So now we all have light-weight three-season sleeping bags. GBP 110.80.
For our first camping trip, we will go car camping. We have an air mattress that the boy and I use for camping. Amanda and I can use that. Bought two backpacking air mattresses for B & G. 39.90.
The backpack I liked was on sale. A lot. I think it's last years model, and they were dumping it for clearance. So I bought my new backpacking backpack. 60L capacity (3600 cu. in.) internal frame backpack. While we were at it, we bought a 50L for Amanda. I had her try on the "Mens" model, because she does have a longer torso (plus if she hated backpacking, I'd have a 50L pack also!), but the "Womens" model fit her hips much better. The waist belt does have a different shape to it and that made a big difference. So we have our packs! 94.90.
I also looked at tents. My thought was that if we really did go backpacking, we would need a backpacking tent. A four person backpacking tent is a bit of an oxymoron, since "real" backpackers try and keep the load down, and don't carry more than a two person tent. I had weighed the camping tent that I had, which is really a three man tent, but could fit two adults and two kids just. It came in at 5kg (about 10 lbs), which was not much heavier than the larger 3 man backpacking tents that I've looked at, but my tent's bag is this monster canvas job. When I got home, I unpacked the tent from the canvas bag and looked at how it might pack tighter. I was able to re-roll the tent and fly into a nice tight sausage. For this I bought a new stuff sack. The tent poles fit nicely on the side of the backpack and the stakes can pretty much go anywhere. 3.95
We also picked up some other miscellaneous stuff. Little flashlights for the kids. A backpacking stove and mess kits. inflatable pillows. Stuff like that. 35.55
I very clearly remember camping with my family growing up. I know I have memories of it from when I lived in Colorado, so that makes me not much older than the girl at the time. I've had a great time camping with the boy, and the girl really wants to go too. So, (I know you saw this coming) camping with the family, Priceless!
Everyone got a new sleeping bag. Only the boy and I had a sleeping bag before. And even then, I'd bought them for summer camping in St. Louis. They would be too cold at night here. So now we all have light-weight three-season sleeping bags. GBP 110.80.
For our first camping trip, we will go car camping. We have an air mattress that the boy and I use for camping. Amanda and I can use that. Bought two backpacking air mattresses for B & G. 39.90.
The backpack I liked was on sale. A lot. I think it's last years model, and they were dumping it for clearance. So I bought my new backpacking backpack. 60L capacity (3600 cu. in.) internal frame backpack. While we were at it, we bought a 50L for Amanda. I had her try on the "Mens" model, because she does have a longer torso (plus if she hated backpacking, I'd have a 50L pack also!), but the "Womens" model fit her hips much better. The waist belt does have a different shape to it and that made a big difference. So we have our packs! 94.90.
I also looked at tents. My thought was that if we really did go backpacking, we would need a backpacking tent. A four person backpacking tent is a bit of an oxymoron, since "real" backpackers try and keep the load down, and don't carry more than a two person tent. I had weighed the camping tent that I had, which is really a three man tent, but could fit two adults and two kids just. It came in at 5kg (about 10 lbs), which was not much heavier than the larger 3 man backpacking tents that I've looked at, but my tent's bag is this monster canvas job. When I got home, I unpacked the tent from the canvas bag and looked at how it might pack tighter. I was able to re-roll the tent and fly into a nice tight sausage. For this I bought a new stuff sack. The tent poles fit nicely on the side of the backpack and the stakes can pretty much go anywhere. 3.95
We also picked up some other miscellaneous stuff. Little flashlights for the kids. A backpacking stove and mess kits. inflatable pillows. Stuff like that. 35.55
I very clearly remember camping with my family growing up. I know I have memories of it from when I lived in Colorado, so that makes me not much older than the girl at the time. I've had a great time camping with the boy, and the girl really wants to go too. So, (I know you saw this coming) camping with the family, Priceless!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Lots of Photos
I've activated our Flickr account. The link is listed on the right. We are uploading photos today, so you will probably see most of them up by tonight. Prints can be purchased, and all the photos are uploaded in full resolution.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Ale
One of the better things in England is of course the Ale. The local store has a shelf full of different kinds. Maybe I'll take a camera next time and add a picture to this post. So far I have tried:
Fursty Ferret
Old Speckled Hen
Black Sheep Ale
Wadworth 6X
Marston's Old Empire
John Willies
Courage Directors (if you can find a link, feel free to leave it in the comments).
And some that I can't remember (is that a bad sign?). Actually, I only recently started deciding to log the ales that I tried. I'll try and write some brilliant words about the ales that I drink as I try them. Right now, I can say that Black Sheep Ale has been the best, hands down. I've had two bottles just to be sure, and I was right. Really, if you can find some Black Sheep Ale, try it. RateBeer agrees with me.
Of course, I've also had several cans of Guinness (what I'm drinking as I write this), but that's not an ale.
In the fridge I have Hobgoblin, Duchy Originals Organic, and Black Sheep Riggwelter (they got the first one right!). I'll let you know how they go.
Ale comes in 500ml (about 17 fl.oz.) bottles over here. Around $3-4 a bottle. I usually drink about half with dinner, and the other half after the kids go to bed since I hate to pour it out, and I don't trust it to keep overnight. So, come across the pond and I'll happily share a bottle with you.
On a separate topic, I think we might go camping in the Lake District next week. We'll take lots of photos and put the better ones up on Flickr.
Fursty Ferret
Old Speckled Hen
Black Sheep Ale
Wadworth 6X
Marston's Old Empire
John Willies
Courage Directors (if you can find a link, feel free to leave it in the comments).
And some that I can't remember (is that a bad sign?). Actually, I only recently started deciding to log the ales that I tried. I'll try and write some brilliant words about the ales that I drink as I try them. Right now, I can say that Black Sheep Ale has been the best, hands down. I've had two bottles just to be sure, and I was right. Really, if you can find some Black Sheep Ale, try it. RateBeer agrees with me.
Of course, I've also had several cans of Guinness (what I'm drinking as I write this), but that's not an ale.
In the fridge I have Hobgoblin, Duchy Originals Organic, and Black Sheep Riggwelter (they got the first one right!). I'll let you know how they go.
Ale comes in 500ml (about 17 fl.oz.) bottles over here. Around $3-4 a bottle. I usually drink about half with dinner, and the other half after the kids go to bed since I hate to pour it out, and I don't trust it to keep overnight. So, come across the pond and I'll happily share a bottle with you.
On a separate topic, I think we might go camping in the Lake District next week. We'll take lots of photos and put the better ones up on Flickr.
Friday, May 18, 2007
I'm Back!
After weeks of only internet access at work, where I would rather go home at the end of the day then blog, we finally have internet access at home again! hooray BT! So much has happened. Where to start.
About two weeks ago, the minivan got crushed. It really wasn't my fault. really. It was parked in a car park near a construction site. A lorry carrying a bunch of steel girders was using the car park to turn around and didn't clear the van. Crushed the rear left hand pillar and shattered the rear windscreen. Drug the van about 2 meters. Then he drove into the construction site as though nothing had happened. Fortunately, the gardener at work saw the whole thing and wrote the drivers plates down. When I pointed out what had happened, he didn't deny it and gave over his insurance information. He claims he didn't know he'd hit the van. How could you not notice that you just crushed and drug a minivan 2 meters? Whatever.
Of course this was all a rental, so I could care less. National replaced the van and I was off and scaring the crap out of the UK drivers again. I suck at driving by the way.
Two weekends ago was a holiday weekend. We spent most of it moving into our new digs, but we did go to
Bolsover castle on Monday. It was great! They were having a sort of renaissance fair for the weekend and we watched knights jousting and roman soldiers re-enacting a battle. The castle is about 17th century, so not very old. It was built on top of the ruins of a Norman castle as a sort of vacation cottage for a noble man who was trying to climb in rank. He would throw lavish and sordid parties for greater nobility in an attempt to gain more title. It didn't work. The castle has been very beautifully restored in parts and you can imagine what it must have looked like when it was new.
Last
weekend, it rained a 
lot. Finally. It has been raining fairly steadily all week in fact. I guess the April showers are running a month late. None the less, on Sunday we went for a short walk in the moors. It was very windy. The Boy was the first to spot the slugs. Then, we couldn't help but notice them. About every 30' or so, we'd see another slug. Cute, aren't they?
Amanda has said she's willing to try one of my greatest fantasies. She said she would be up for backpacking! (What did you think I was going to write, my mom reads this blog.) The whole family backpacking! I've been perusing the catalog for Decathlon (which is like REI quality in a Sports Authority warehouse) looking at tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags. Tonight I went for a walk in Eccelsall Wood with the kids to see how they would do. They each wore backpacks, but only very lightly loaded. They did about 2 miles before getting cold. The Girl was getting worn out, but The Boy was still strong. I think with practice The Girl could do 3 miles, each lunch, and then do 2 miles. We'll work up to it.
Tuesday I went gym climbing with a mate from work. I was on lead even! My first time leading since we left St. Louis. I sucked. I was managing 5+ on lead O.K., but not great. On top rope I did a 6a fairly clean, and a 6b on a slab with a few falls at the crux (but I did finally figure it out). I'm anxious to get back out to the peaks some weekend.
Tomorrow I'm off for a bit of cycling near Hope.
I also got my new power supply for my Xbox, so I'll be installing that. I fried the 110V one messing around with 220. Really, it was stupid (Amanda warned me). I blew three fuses, one in the transformer, one in the outlet adapter, and one in the Xbox as well as blowing up a capacitor on the Xbox power supply. As any electrical engineer will tell you, when you let the magic smoke out, the circuit stops working. It looks like the damage was contained to stuff before the PS transformer, so no MB damage likely.
The replacement power supply is dual voltage. Bummer. I was hoping that it would be a 220V supply only. Then I'd have an excuse to just get a 360 when I get home. But the new supply will work in the states too.
I plan on getting a Flickr or Shutterfly or something account this weekend so that I can start uploading lots of pictures. When I get that set up, I'll post a link.
Cheers to all. It's good to be back on line from home!
About two weeks ago, the minivan got crushed. It really wasn't my fault. really. It was parked in a car park near a construction site. A lorry carrying a bunch of steel girders was using the car park to turn around and didn't clear the van. Crushed the rear left hand pillar and shattered the rear windscreen. Drug the van about 2 meters. Then he drove into the construction site as though nothing had happened. Fortunately, the gardener at work saw the whole thing and wrote the drivers plates down. When I pointed out what had happened, he didn't deny it and gave over his insurance information. He claims he didn't know he'd hit the van. How could you not notice that you just crushed and drug a minivan 2 meters? Whatever.
Of course this was all a rental, so I could care less. National replaced the van and I was off and scaring the crap out of the UK drivers again. I suck at driving by the way.
Two weekends ago was a holiday weekend. We spent most of it moving into our new digs, but we did go to
Bolsover castle on Monday. It was great! They were having a sort of renaissance fair for the weekend and we watched knights jousting and roman soldiers re-enacting a battle. The castle is about 17th century, so not very old. It was built on top of the ruins of a Norman castle as a sort of vacation cottage for a noble man who was trying to climb in rank. He would throw lavish and sordid parties for greater nobility in an attempt to gain more title. It didn't work. The castle has been very beautifully restored in parts and you can imagine what it must have looked like when it was new.Last
weekend, it rained a 
lot. Finally. It has been raining fairly steadily all week in fact. I guess the April showers are running a month late. None the less, on Sunday we went for a short walk in the moors. It was very windy. The Boy was the first to spot the slugs. Then, we couldn't help but notice them. About every 30' or so, we'd see another slug. Cute, aren't they?Amanda has said she's willing to try one of my greatest fantasies. She said she would be up for backpacking! (What did you think I was going to write, my mom reads this blog.) The whole family backpacking! I've been perusing the catalog for Decathlon (which is like REI quality in a Sports Authority warehouse) looking at tents, backpacks, and sleeping bags. Tonight I went for a walk in Eccelsall Wood with the kids to see how they would do. They each wore backpacks, but only very lightly loaded. They did about 2 miles before getting cold. The Girl was getting worn out, but The Boy was still strong. I think with practice The Girl could do 3 miles, each lunch, and then do 2 miles. We'll work up to it.
Tuesday I went gym climbing with a mate from work. I was on lead even! My first time leading since we left St. Louis. I sucked. I was managing 5+ on lead O.K., but not great. On top rope I did a 6a fairly clean, and a 6b on a slab with a few falls at the crux (but I did finally figure it out). I'm anxious to get back out to the peaks some weekend.
Tomorrow I'm off for a bit of cycling near Hope.
I also got my new power supply for my Xbox, so I'll be installing that. I fried the 110V one messing around with 220. Really, it was stupid (Amanda warned me). I blew three fuses, one in the transformer, one in the outlet adapter, and one in the Xbox as well as blowing up a capacitor on the Xbox power supply. As any electrical engineer will tell you, when you let the magic smoke out, the circuit stops working. It looks like the damage was contained to stuff before the PS transformer, so no MB damage likely.The replacement power supply is dual voltage. Bummer. I was hoping that it would be a 220V supply only. Then I'd have an excuse to just get a 360 when I get home. But the new supply will work in the states too.
I plan on getting a Flickr or Shutterfly or something account this weekend so that I can start uploading lots of pictures. When I get that set up, I'll post a link.
Cheers to all. It's good to be back on line from home!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
