Went to see the De Vinci Code at the Trafford centre with Rach last night.

This was my first time at the TC, and I must say it blew my mind. Now I’ve been to my fair share of Megaplexes (Newcastle’s Metro Centre, Leeds’ White Rose) but this one was like a palace, full of columns, marble and glass domes. Shops were the same old same, but I was aware that I was in a High Temple to Capitalism. The resturant/food court is especially bonkers. The food court is like the deck of an ocean liner, with a fake sky (with stars that come out when it gets dark!!!), and the restruants upstairs are in themed areas (Greek, Egyptian, New Orleans, Chinese). We had a lovely meal at Est Est Est and caught up with each other. Which is good since Rach is about to embark on a week or two of nights while I’m off to Germany.

The off to the Odeon, in the Roman Themed section, to see the Film.

Northern stereotypes aside it was getting a tad beyond a joke all the constant rain. Now finally I can use the term “Sunny Manchester” without any sense of irony!

Why all this monkey nonsense this afternoon? Because I’m finally nailing a webapp that I’m writing in Asp.net (Microsofts web programming framework). Its the end of a steep 3 month learning curve, and frankly its boring the pants off me. Saying that once I’ve done this I’ll be pretty much fluent and can really move on at work.

So while we’re at it heres a link to Web Monkey  an excellent web designers/programmers site.

and 4guysfromrolla.com, an asp.net tutorial site which is frankly keeping me sane.

The infamous monkey boy has broken his silence,in response to this post by Keefybabe

Dad came over on Saturday, after a breezing through all the traffic hotspots on the way from Washington up in County Durham. Had a great time and despite it pissing it down all weekend he took a fancy to our garden as well. George also turned up and we spent Saturday night supping fine ales in the halfway house. Had fun cooking a curry on Saturday and an mushroom and onion omelette for Sunday breakfast, and using the dining room. Defiinatly into the idea that I’ll be able to do a full cooked English breakfast like a bed and breakfast does next time we have guests 😀 Finished off the visit by going for Sunday lunch at the Halfway house.

BBC’s still bringing in bunnies. Yesterday the count was three, one dead and two live (one of which was in the middle of the night!!!). Rachel passed this link that seems to be the way forward;

http://www.quantumpicture.com./index.htm

Shame its not commercially available

Skippy the Goth Kangeroo

Killing Joke last Friday in Manchester with Nice Andy was a fantastic gig. Saw lead singer Jaz Coleman in pub before hand and had a weak at the knees gushing fan moment. Getting back to Oldham via buses slightly surreal.

Work slightly tense last week, as two of colleagues were suspended for naughtiness that went beyond crossing the line of acceptable behaviour. Lets hope they don’t cross back over the line and come back to work. On a positive note, remaining team stronger for it and I may change my mind about moving on.

Mother and brother George came over Friday for the weekend. Shock horror we had a fun weekend !!! Went to the new Oldham Art Gallery, which was fun and went out for Brian’s 60th on the Sunday for a pub lunch at the Half Way House, our local. Mother and bro greatly impressed by new house and garden.

Back to work -Transmission ends.

Hit nice relaxation levels over the bank holiday weekend.

Finally sorted out the ‘missing leeds’ nonsense in my head and moved on. Now embracing the new house with the attendant gardening and housework that goes with it and loving it. Got back into feeling that life is one big surreal holiday, which is much more fun than the ‘oh my god I’ve done something wrong and they will make me pay!!!” panic I seem to have inflicted on myself over the last week.

Saturday was when I sorted out my head on this one. Apart from watching the Wild Bunch (a stunning film that I must get on DVD) I pretty much pluged myself into the pc for the day and archived the sum total of nothing. It was then the penny dropped. I wasn’t missing Leeds, I had brought my Leeds lifestyle with me (the computer room was beginning to look uncannily like the old attic). So I fucked off down the hill to Royton Town centre and had a nice sunny walk there and back to post some Ebay stuff. When Rach came back had a quick chat about it and she came to pretty much the same conclusion. That we should get off our fat lazy arses and do stuff. FFS we have a lovely park at the end of the road, Tandle Hill Park, which in the three months of being in the new house I have been to a sum total of one time. Also I live in Oldham and if I carry on this way in six months time I’ll still be able to count on one hand the amount of times I’ve been into town.

So Sunday as Rachel went to church (the one where we got married) I cracked on with my uber twenty pc HeroQuest scenario Gbaji Rising which I’ve promised I’ll run and make available for three other gms at Continuum. Then when she got back we walked up to the Tandle Hill Taven up on the Lane. This pub which can be best described as a farmers pub or as pub that time forgot does a cracking pint of bitter. Brian enjoyed a few more than he usually does and wobbled home back up the road. After a quick nap got down to the serious business of pottering around for the rest of the day.

Monday. So glad not to be back at work. Did more witting and played some Red Orchestra (FPS Multiplayer based on WW2 Russian front, very realistic very gritty lots of fun). Then off to the garden centre up the road to pick up a garden bench, so we can sit out in the back garden which is a lovely hue of green at the moment. Had a nice surprise in the evening as the thefozcollectiv turned up all bubbly and bouncy after a day at Chester Zoo. After the bouncing on the settee and the scaring of cats had ended it was a slow descent into bed.

All in all a super weekend.