Recently in Wittering Category

Blogging about one's weekend feels like a very self indulgent 'show-n-tell' but in the hope that it may at least create a humorous yarn, I'm going to do it anyway!

A few days ago I mentioned that I had found an ex-demo Kayak that was, according to the web page typo, Perfect for "cursing the Thames!" The boat on offer, A Robson Maui, was such a good piece of kit that I reckoned I'd be cursing if I missed the opportunity, but definitely cruising if I got it. On checking further it turned out that they had more than one so, in a Chris Tarrant-esque fashion, I phoned a friend. So Saturday morning's try out was now going to be two of us, looking at two boats. The only problem with this is my normal 'heath Robinson' Kayak carrier can only cope with one boat. If the trip was successful I would need to roof-mount two! This had me scurrying into the Workshop on Friday night and fettling maddly to create the wherewithall to transport both kayaks.

The resulting adaption to the roof rack, which I named the "KAYrAK" was put together in forty five minutes and in theory was perfect for the task.

So Saturday morning saw us at the Whitewater Canoe and Kayak shop (fab place) and then taking to the water for a test drive! The boats were superb and we had a fine time out on the wet stuff enjoying the morning light and crisp air.

We BOTH purchased a boat and were ready to test out the (patent!!!!) KAYrAK. At this point the proprietor took us aside, individually and pointed out that they did sell "proper" carriers for Kayaks. Having blown all the lucre on the boats though, the KAYrAK was the way up, the way forward ..... but hopefully not, when driving, the rapid way down!

Pleased to say that it all worked beautifully and both Robsons remained in-situ all fifty miles home.

Oh and in case you were thinking, "It was too cold to be paddling first thing Saturday morning?" You are probably right, but the proverbial truth is ......

"You can't have your Kayak and heat it"

I've been spammed kindly sent details of a one day conference:

"Advance Beyond Target Chasing &
Strategically Measure Impacts & Outcomes.
Working In Partnership To Embed Measurement Into Your Service And Effectively Evaluate The Impact Your Work Has On Children & Young People's Lives"

I've applied a rhetoric filter and used a jargon translator* but I'm still not sure how embedding measurement means you will no longer be chasing targets! I'm also unsure what 'impact measurment' looks like? I guess that means I should go eh, all I need now is to overcome the negative impact the £450 fee would make on my limited budget!

In terms of impact measurement though, has this particular blog post made:

1. no discernible surface damage
2. a small dent
3. a definite hole with cracks spreading away edgeways
4. smashed the thing to pieces

* yes I realise the irony of me crtiticising verbiage

I'm back! I've Just had a great week not being at Spring Harvest! What I mean by that is we (the family) were at Minehead Butlins at the same time as people were Spring Harvesting but we lacked the necessary bracelets to gain access to anything Spring Harvesty. Jolly good time though and great to catch up with lots of friends who were Spring Harvesters (or maybe, Spring Harvested!)

Spring Harvest are all geared-up for 2009 already (I had a look in case we don't go again)

Interesting ethical dilema: Would it have been OK to sneak into SH stuff given that all are welcome in the Kingdom? (We didn't, but given that the SH bouncers were very fastidious in their wrist band inspection I don't think we'd have got away with it anyway)

Amusing moment: Walking between two rows of chalets and seeing Steve Chalke on every single TV? (I didn't know, until then, there was SHTV)

(anyone who knows the tribe called Macdonald and seeks further info on our holiday can by clicking continue reading)

I'm tired of feeling tired! For the last couple of months I have been running well below parr and waking up tired in the morning, being tired all day and going to sleep as early as is possible after sorting out the rest of the herd. It's not over-work, it's not lack of sleep and it's not a lack of time off, it's just a thing; feeling like I'm running on not very good budget batteries from a market stall when I'm normally Duarcell* equipped. To further compound the situation, being tired all the time is so, ..... well .......... er, tiring!
I hauled myself off to the Docs yesterday though and was then sent onto see the photographer and the vampire at the local hospital. I am now waiting for these chest X-ray and blood test results.

Oh, yep: There was a point to this! If you are waiting for work and information from me it may be slightly delayed, sorry! 'Normal' service will be renewed as soon as I find some energy.

CAPTAIN'S LOG SUPPLEMENTAL: Hospital results back and nothing bad showed up (at least that they were looking for). I am therefore in the encouraging position of being ill but with nothing actually wrong with me, huzzah

Shalom

*Other brands are available, Youthblog does not earn any revenue from brand placement within the text and re-chargables would be a greener alternative.

Why do my local B&Q advocate the efficiency, eco-friendliness and cost saving of energy saving bulbs yet light up their entire display of 50 or so lamp shades with conventional inefficient, eco-hating, cost-increasing light bulbs?

And the moral of this story is?

(to be fair though they were saving a shed load of electricity by only having one checkout open despite the gargantuan number of DIYers battling queuefully to buy DIY-ey things)