A weekend with your parents

Now I know some bloggers (particularly in America) make a point of writing a soul-searingly honest account of relations with their parents and family, which gets them into all sorts of trouble and causes all sorts of aggro. Fortunately, I have neither cause nor inclination to blog on this basis, particularly since (a) my Dad reads this and (b) if he ever starts his own blog I'm finished, so all I can report is that it (c) was very nice to see my parents this weekend and (d) thanks very much for dinner on Saturday night. If those over 60 and reading this could just refrain from wandering off in the garden centre in future however, that would be appreciated.

It has also been *£$%%$£%$*** cold this weekend, which was a pain as it was the first night in November we have been able to get some fireworks away (Nov 5 was a weekday, rained the first weekend after that, yada yada yada). All I can say is next year I shall simply light a huge bonfire in the garden to keep myself warm at the same time as I propel used rocket husks into next doors garden, lack of firewood and kindling notwithstanding. Neighbours cars...fence at the bottom of the garden...all replaceable in the name of keeping my mits toasty warm.

what else..oh yes..Little Big Planet. Anyone got this yet? Looks like quite good fun, and will probably acquire over Xmas. Whilst we're on the subject, Tot1 has now discovered that the PS3 exists and, what's more, she has also discovered you don't need to be a genius to work the acceleromoter contained in a sixaxis controller (as far as I know, only one person reading this will know what the hell I am on about here). Consequently, she can navigate around TOY HOME rather better than you'd expect. Hopefully, that means someone in this house will one day be able to give Mr Peel a run for his money..

I'm back

When I started this blogging business, I had expected to put a blog or two up every week or so, but as you can see, it didn't quite turn out like that. This is due to a number of reasons, some publishable, some not, but fundamentally, it arises from the fact that I can't believe much of what I write is of interest to many people.

I was touched however this week to discover an old friend (yes you) had been reading the blog and got in touch to check I was still breathing and to moan about his crappy i-phone contact syncing abilities (see I told you it was you). So I have redoubled my efforts to blog a bit more often and keep the world up to date on the dynamic and exciting adventures of a thirtysomething lawyer with a penchant for trashy television and things with plugs on.

So what's been going on then? Well, the extension is still going well, and may be finished ahead of schedule. I am also busy at work on a project which (touch wood) will hopefully see me through the credit crunch and beyond. The tots continue to grow and learn (in an 'Outnumbered' sort of fashion, if you happen to watch that), and I am about to embark on a seven series 'West Wing' spectacular when I can prise Simon Cowell off the Panasonic.

About the most interesting thing I have done lately is to run the PC through the 37" telly. The effects are quite startling for someine who grew up peering at 14" colour SVGA monitors playing Civ and using something called 'Compuserve' to access the internet (Pentium-75s with 64MB of RAM anyone?). I can now watch i-player(broadband's killer application apart from real-time home-office functionality), the kids can play on the cbeebies website and downloads from the i-tunes movie rental website become a realistic possibility (watched 'The Transporter' last night. What tosh!). So check the port on the back of your screen and get one of those funky tiny lounge base units hooked up.

Oh, and if you get the chance, go and see Bill Bailey at the Gielgud. He is now so far ahead of the rest of the field for stand-up at the moment it is just astonishing. Saw him at the Albert Hall the other night for his guide to the orchestra. Awesome. The DVD of that show is coming soon if you're abroad by the way. Highly recommended. Unless you have no interest in the Belgian Jazz version of the Doctor Who theme, the Universal Studio sig tune speeded up as never before and the Panorama theme tune played backwards. In which case you have no soul...!