tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198629942024-03-05T10:59:56.314+00:00Spacmonstrous: A Struggle With Internets.The inane wanderings of an itinerant mind. Games, photos, travels and many things, dissected in no particular order or coherence.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-34938937914048866302011-03-04T15:42:00.001+00:002011-03-04T15:42:08.070+00:00Photo from a trip to the beach<div style="float: right; width: 240px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/5494659639/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5494659639_db9903cb41_m.jpg" alt="Kitesurfing by Spacmonster" /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/5494659639/">Kitesurfing</a> a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/spacmonster/">Spacmonster</a> on Flickr.</span></div>Kitesurfing looks like fun, this guy was flying up and down in the shallows jumping waves and generally having a good time.<br /><br />I was dry and relatively warm (was v windy) on the shore though.<br clear="all" />spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-86841608073309721972010-11-30T13:46:00.001+00:002010-11-30T13:46:04.876+00:00Snow in Guernsey<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/5211597872/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4149/5211597872_66a20ba139_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/5211597872/">Snow in Guernsey</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/spacmonster/">Spacmonster</a></span></div>I actually picked some tomatoes at the weekend. Which is odd given that the garden looked like this.<br /><br />Still, a bit of ice is supposed to be good for purple sprouting broccoli, which is what we've got in at the moment...<br clear="all" />spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-28575789063332178142010-07-02T11:50:00.001+01:002010-07-02T11:50:43.963+01:00Poh-tay-toes<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4746856530/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4746856530_e78aa88dce_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4746856530/">Poh-tay-toes</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/spacmonster/">Spacmonster</a></span></div>We've been eating salad, spinach and cabbage for a while. But the first potatoes were ready this week. And they are delicious.<br /><br />Next - courgettes!<br clear="all" />spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-3956688776723204702010-06-30T17:00:00.003+01:002010-06-30T17:02:23.149+01:00Cutesy Serenity Genius<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_6QVHQRHwEUHPFHaS4RGadZgjrP5BVmG6OwgwktLopYGpJAZKv4S74N5p1F_L6645nlIqrRBxyB3yZtlx5TqyHspYcs5vOM5o_vRBjsUWWYguLjnDp23DuolOV8Vd-vum4JK/s1600/AlbumFront.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP_6QVHQRHwEUHPFHaS4RGadZgjrP5BVmG6OwgwktLopYGpJAZKv4S74N5p1F_L6645nlIqrRBxyB3yZtlx5TqyHspYcs5vOM5o_vRBjsUWWYguLjnDp23DuolOV8Vd-vum4JK/s400/AlbumFront.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488597294535461026" border="0" /></a><br />Love this. Absolutely top brilliant awesome.<br /><br />Belongs to <a href="http://jspiotto.blogspot.com/2010/06/crazy-4-cult-4.html">Joe Spiotto</a>.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-25384995128772619382010-05-14T11:37:00.003+01:002010-05-14T11:47:51.140+01:00Growing stuff and thingsSo the <a href="http://spacmonster.blogspot.com/2010/02/making-some-raised-beds-at-le.html">raised beds</a> are in, various planters are made and filled with soil and other nice things, and we are now growing a whole bunch of stuff and things in our garden.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4595168647/" title="Raised beds by Spacmonster, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/4595168647_ae1c651755.jpg" alt="Raised beds" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />A rough list:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4595169419/in/set-72157623323201281/">Potatoes</a></li><li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4595786582/in/set-72157623323201281/">Tomatoes</a></li><li>Green beans</li><li>Augbergines</li><li>Courgettes</li><li>Rosemary</li><li>Thyme</li><li>Basil</li><li>Coriander</li><li>Lettuce</li><li>Spinach</li><li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4595171079/in/set-72157623323201281/">Strawberries</a></li><li>Chillies</li><li>Rocket</li><li>Chives<br /></li></ul>We're making it up as we go along a little bit, but it is still nice to have stuff in there.<br /><br />Ran out of room in the raised beds so had to make some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4595785968/in/set-72157623323201281/">planters out of things</a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Oh - and we re-painted a wall so everything looks nice...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4595787620/" title="The Garden by Spacmonster, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3306/4595787620_86f9fb031b.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Next, adding a new barbecue!<br /></div></div><br /></div></div>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-56816879512532516322010-02-22T12:32:00.002+00:002010-02-22T12:33:49.352+00:00Raised beds, stage two<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4378751066/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4378751066_f9924224a9_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4378751066/">Fill em up</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/spacmonster/">Spacmonster</a></span></div>Here they are then, ready to be filled up. We successfully sunk them below the level of the gravel and started the process of filling them with a mix of compost and tompsoil.<br /><br />The method?<br /><br />Mark out the holes and dig them (a foot deep for our fence posts).<br /><br />Attempt to put frame into holes. Realise holes are in wrong place. Make them even bigger.<br /><br />Fit frame into holes. Realise that frame still doesn't quite fit. Scrape the holes around the posts bigger until they almost fit.<br /><br />Give up and whack the whole thing with the heavy end of a pick axe until it is level!<br /><br />Fill with soil.<br /><br />Rub back!spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-14338432425156668132010-02-19T16:32:00.002+00:002010-02-19T16:35:05.164+00:00More Star Wars goodnessI may be turning 30 this year (shhhhh.)<br /><br />But lego still features pretty heavily in my wishlists.<br /><br />And now this:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkWy16gfmJTNJIwyX2_jroaWEQys37apeNv9W_wvr4TXqotYl0q88dTuR4m0erY4A15xGTGU9355y7r2Cx0MwbCw6dj9hX2MFSb_Sm220gCCrw_nK48JiihwxJsHLq0jdd7Pl/s1600-h/6a00d834515f7269e201287798df4a970c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkWy16gfmJTNJIwyX2_jroaWEQys37apeNv9W_wvr4TXqotYl0q88dTuR4m0erY4A15xGTGU9355y7r2Cx0MwbCw6dj9hX2MFSb_Sm220gCCrw_nK48JiihwxJsHLq0jdd7Pl/s400/6a00d834515f7269e201287798df4a970c.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439993891632486002" border="0" /></a>Must. Have.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-48961771900221128932010-02-19T16:21:00.003+00:002010-02-19T16:26:49.167+00:00Star Wars FiguresGot, got, got... need.<br /><br />Ah happy days. Remember when 77 varieties of action figure was a <span style="font-style: italic;">lot</span>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Click for bigger.</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBYaY-l643eqW3GgsFzXxOBMSVl2spjquYRZOhNil9PqlinDHFawHj1bjTgMr_zQg1-gSuEBKNyMP78Fy8Qu3qcabjXO-mMu2gHmupRJ4YS_zwhwg7B1d-XXCHkM1ivbfmKPw/s1600-h/starwarsopti.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 468px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGBYaY-l643eqW3GgsFzXxOBMSVl2spjquYRZOhNil9PqlinDHFawHj1bjTgMr_zQg1-gSuEBKNyMP78Fy8Qu3qcabjXO-mMu2gHmupRJ4YS_zwhwg7B1d-XXCHkM1ivbfmKPw/s400/starwarsopti.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439990734372706594" border="0" /></a><br />Nowadays I expect a pokemon collection (or bakugan or whatever) doesn't really get going until you have 77 toys.<br /><br />Anyway, Princess Leia dressed as a bounty hunter, I still regret burying you in the sand at Albecq. One day I'll find you again...<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Piccie nabbed from the <a href="http://secretfunspot.blogspot.com/2010/01/25-action-figure-card-backs-from-1980s.html">Super Fun Blog.</a></span>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-69600756061798630632010-02-16T17:41:00.003+00:002010-02-17T11:37:00.639+00:00Making some raised beds at Le Braconnier Cottage<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4362293611/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/4362293611_1f378767d3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0.9em;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4362293611/">Almost there</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/spacmonster/">Spacmonster</a></span></div>Major project time, we're making some raised beds in the garden to grow some veg..<br /><br />The basic idea is to use the bit at the end of the garden, which gets a fair bit of light in the afternoon. Also means that we can put off digging up the patio for a while!<br /><br />Our design was fool proof - gravel boards and fence posts screwed together into two boxes (joined together in the middle).<br /><br />All we have to do now is dig the post holes and find some compost and top soil and we are away!<br /><br />Big question is what to grow first - after our efforts last year in <a href="http://bandproduce.blogspot.com/">the greenhouse</a> we have a surplus of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/4176610890/">borlotti beans</a>, so I think we are going to concentrate on green beans, herbs and salad for the time being.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/sets/72157623323201281/">More pictures of this epic construction project...</a>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-86045832165270465282010-01-26T16:03:00.002+00:002010-01-26T16:08:15.701+00:00Prints for the LoungeHouse decoration is very nearly done. So much so that rather than thinking about tearing down wallpaper and filling holes or making things out of wood and other things, we're now thinking about putting up pictures.<br /><br />So I made some art for the lounge, we have a green theme going on, so some trees were in order.<br /><br />This one is from closer to home - the Bluebell Woods:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XrC6Ip9WBHeRqXpxTZwYJ1yMxqYIyLieXqZG5XwsK92XfaUWRUX3YmASn19vVBYdORmPrryPlV1mBJ9JGs2tTT5XywF3mfhQish7rlMznupf8rR866uqtnvgCYaDcpd5cnf_/s1600-h/IMG_1366.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 413px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XrC6Ip9WBHeRqXpxTZwYJ1yMxqYIyLieXqZG5XwsK92XfaUWRUX3YmASn19vVBYdORmPrryPlV1mBJ9JGs2tTT5XywF3mfhQish7rlMznupf8rR866uqtnvgCYaDcpd5cnf_/s400/IMG_1366.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431074690972569378" border="0" /></a><br />And this one is from a bit further afield - the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRM4I9MrHvoaQ4fWzfY1GHbtJKgZGOdcPxTATrD-TrC22ivBU9wpnpIvrCg9VbcX85e298m73esQCAw8k2FD7Xlb7uF1jwV45eSIoiWyOf_GDJfJC6lg9rPnOY_chtII8vkh5F/s1600-h/IMG_9776.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 550px; height: 411px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRM4I9MrHvoaQ4fWzfY1GHbtJKgZGOdcPxTATrD-TrC22ivBU9wpnpIvrCg9VbcX85e298m73esQCAw8k2FD7Xlb7uF1jwV45eSIoiWyOf_GDJfJC6lg9rPnOY_chtII8vkh5F/s400/IMG_9776.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431079516053968146" border="0" /></a>Up Red Creek in the Dolly Sods Wilderness, to be precise.<br /><br />Did these in photoshop based on some of my photos, just ran them through the 'by numbers' filter a few times until they looked cool.<br /><br />You can see the rest of our decoration efforts on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/sets/72157623056415090/">Flickr...</a>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-84332999852877149142010-01-26T15:29:00.005+00:002010-01-26T15:37:08.088+00:00Cocktails!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pikaluk/2255456283/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GqhSDXgbnIzHdUSDuZQsGYHn-KyppwHSeCE6DjGJSAFABq2wwib5TSbNNt1Io5hhSEC4dA8Stzm43e7nVdPJSlZNZIqcTEb9Kdb0yqbLgDR_BOy2VV8z0-8QY1xPHdqj_HJA/s400/2255456283_144e511015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431071693938350114" border="0" /></a><br />The scene - new year's eve. The place - my kitchen. The ingredients, half a bottle of ameretto liqueur and some cherry coke.<br /><br />A cocktail, thinks I, harnessing the power of almonds and cherries....<br /><br />To recreate my moment of clarity - here is how to do it...<br /><br />Fill a tall glass with ice. Add a couple of maraschino cherries (and some syrup from the jar), next, chuck in a good double measure of ameretto.<br /><br />Top up with Cherry Coke.<br /><br />I call it a Bakewell Tart.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Piccie - <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pikaluk/2255456283/">Tarts by pikaluk.</a></span>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-74454530471287802552009-10-21T13:29:00.005+01:002009-10-21T13:35:31.471+01:00EndingsNot mine, obviously - but these:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://dresdencodak.com/comics/2009-05-11-42_essential_3rd_act_twists.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 650px; height: 1000px;" src="http://dresdencodak.com/comics/2009-05-11-42_essential_3rd_act_twists.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Are great. I particularly like 'EAGLES'. For obvious reasons.<br /><br /><a href="http://dresdencodak.com/2009/05/11/42-essential-3rd-act-twists/">Dresden Codak</a>.<br /><br />Via <a href="http://www.boingboing.net/2009/10/20/essential-plot-twist.html">Boing Boing</a>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-23317522264034201202009-07-15T12:31:00.001+01:002009-07-15T12:33:50.967+01:00Star Wars Awesome<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.starwars.com/vault/collecting/20090713/samples_bg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 564px; height: 382px;" src="http://www.starwars.com/vault/collecting/20090713/samples_bg.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Artists, comic book creators, toy designers, and celebrity fans are getting out their markers, paint brushes and glue guns to transform blank Mighty Muggs into one-of-a-kind Star Wars art to be auctioned by The Make-A-Wish Foundation.</span></blockquote><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://www.starwars.com/vault/collecting/20090713.html">Seriously, seriously cool...</a>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-63499455196004613822009-07-01T16:50:00.002+01:002009-07-01T16:51:19.453+01:00I was in a race<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/3667714983/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2569/3667714983_b7aff81ff3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/3667714983/">Keeping my weight down</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/spacmonster/">Spacmonster</a></span></div>I was in a sailing race, from Jersey to Guernsey. We came 4th. As you can see from the pic, much of this was due to my amazing weight distribution skills. I lay there for hours!<br /><br />For more details on my sailing adventures you need to head over to the <a href="http://bluejadegsy.blogspot.com">blog of the good ship Blue J'Ade</a>.<br /><br />That is all.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-9979459119118606422009-04-01T09:07:00.003+01:002009-04-01T09:29:35.879+01:0010,000 g'sSo - I passed 10,000 gamerscore points on my beloved xbox. That's a pretty decent return I think. Of course, looking at my achievements, I've got around 2,000 of those from <a href="http://live.xbox.com/en-GB/profile/Achievements/ViewAchievementDetails.aspx?tid=%09%5D%3acn*i7">Oblivion</a> and <a href="http://live.xbox.com/en-GB/profile/Achievements/ViewAchievementDetails.aspx?tid=%09%5D%3acn*i7">Fallout 3</a> combined...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe src="http://gamercard.xbox.com/spacmonster.card" scrolling="no" width="204" frameborder="0" height="140"></iframe><br /></div><br />Don't tend to get many achievements in sporting games, as I tend to play one team, for a whole season - case in point <a href="http://live.xbox.com/en-GB/profile/Achievements/ViewAchievementDetails.aspx?tid=%09%5D%3adh%29k%3f%7Eu">Madden 09</a>, my <a href="http://www.steelers.com/">Steelers</a> team need one more win to make the playoffs, but it means I haven't mined all the achievements for 'running 200 yds in one game with <a href="http://www.baltimoreravens.com/People/Players/Active/Willis_McGahee.aspx">McGahee</a>', as I never play as the <a href="http://www.baltimoreravens.com/">Ravens</a>. Same for <a href="http://live.xbox.com/en-GB/profile/Achievements/ViewAchievementDetails.aspx?tid=%09%5D%3adh%29k%3fye4X6z-17">FIFA 08</a>, I've no interest in playing the same game over and over again in order to complete 15 tackles without conceding a corner. I'd rather guide the <a href="http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/">Saints</a>* to European Glory.<br /><br />Mostly, I get achievements for finishing games, my favourites, <a href="http://www.elderscrolls.com/games/oblivion_overview.htm">Oblivion</a>, <a href="http://fallout.bethsoft.com/index.html">Fallout 3</a> (just downloaded the Pitt - going to see what happened to Heinz Field), <a href="http://masseffect.bioware.com/teaser/index.html">Mass Effect</a>, <a href="http://www.callofduty.com/">Call of Duty 4</a> and <a href="http://www.vivapinata.com/">Viva Pinata</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxJWcy82jXREwpp_s9679uGFe7K20ehG1bcMJEYB6rco4XsahEEf2Wjmj6FW06HpADY_nuomQPnixVbOEhlZFfA2YdwpRyE6y5ezPR9Xv87hVcozKjHQUF2gR2OMIDfogQ11u/s1600-h/Avatar.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijxJWcy82jXREwpp_s9679uGFe7K20ehG1bcMJEYB6rco4XsahEEf2Wjmj6FW06HpADY_nuomQPnixVbOEhlZFfA2YdwpRyE6y5ezPR9Xv87hVcozKjHQUF2gR2OMIDfogQ11u/s400/Avatar.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319635320242720962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Here is me and my xbox...</span><br /></div><br />* Don't laugh!spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-51208429993516348492009-03-31T10:06:00.003+01:002009-03-31T10:11:07.188+01:00One Third of a TriathlonAnd only a novice one at that...<br /><br />8 miles (and only one serious climb). Feeling pretty chipper. Old commute to work in London was 7 and a bit miles, so this shouldn't be too taxing. The hill (Rouge Rue) is a steep one though, and it is right at the end, so will probably be ready to collapse after that one...<br /><br />Here is the course:<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=49.462211,-2.540846&daddr=Le+Bouet+to:Unknown+road+to:Les+Banques+to:Unknown+road&geocode=%3BFdvH8gIdeEzZ_w%3BFfor8wIdN8vZ_w%3BFUvI8gIdrEzZ_w%3BFWy88gIdejbZ_w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=15&via=3&sll=49.464833,-2.539129&sspn=0.014894,0.033689&ie=UTF8&ll=49.464833,-2.539129&spn=0.014894,0.033689&output=embed"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=49.462211,-2.540846&daddr=Le+Bouet+to:Unknown+road+to:Les+Banques+to:Unknown+road&geocode=%3BFdvH8gIdeEzZ_w%3BFfor8wIdN8vZ_w%3BFUvI8gIdrEzZ_w%3BFWy88gIdejbZ_w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=0&sz=15&via=3&sll=49.464833,-2.539129&sspn=0.014894,0.033689&ie=UTF8&ll=49.464833,-2.539129&spn=0.014894,0.033689" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />Glad I'm not swimmin and running as well. Sort of.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-81309567100872578292008-12-30T10:47:00.009+00:002008-12-30T14:44:52.231+00:00Fallout 3 (or, as expected, OCD in disk form)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i2PKxGBlKgQTzza7CPxJBnhU8CAdIYceyxdKQ6VhYgv1L7XVhyphenhyphenRrhzFqLK8fTEl-aOP9vmSwiilra_gJywWLjhop2T1IAKDRvh-NQ2Hx74Hf-ngtY9-TcubyAaMGpsA-3ioH/s1600-h/fallout-3-ss-26.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_i2PKxGBlKgQTzza7CPxJBnhU8CAdIYceyxdKQ6VhYgv1L7XVhyphenhyphenRrhzFqLK8fTEl-aOP9vmSwiilra_gJywWLjhop2T1IAKDRvh-NQ2Hx74Hf-ngtY9-TcubyAaMGpsA-3ioH/s400/fallout-3-ss-26.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285593342961489138" border="0" /></a>I'm addicted again. Along with the 150plus hours I spent playing <a href="http://www.elderscrolls.com/games/oblivion_overview.htm">Oblivion</a>, a fair few of which was spent arranging my magical swords and armour in my castle, I've got the collecting bug again. <a href="http://fallout.bethsoft.com/index.html">Fallout 3</a> is simply brilliant (also broken in many ways, but we'll ignore most of that) and has me traipsing around another online world collecting things.<br /><br />(spoilers ahead - maybe)<br /><br />I've played through once, saved the world and all that, so now starts the serious business of finding things, unique items, sets of armour and so on. Luckily (or perhaps not) the game is full of easter eggs, like the Rube Goldberg machine, the crashed alien spaceship and the dog to keep me going.<br /><br />Having played through as goody two shoes (no really, someone in the game called me that), it seems to be much easier to just kill everyone and steal all the cool stuff, so that is what I am doing currently.<br /><br />Still, I wince occasionally when I make it back to my flat in Tenpenny tower and look at all the loot I've accumulated (I've arranged it on the shelves...).<br /><br />Ah well.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-10946083640926135262008-10-17T14:59:00.003+01:002008-10-17T15:10:45.644+01:00Books Etc...I have a weakness. Tis well known by anyone that has seen my collection (and the two sets of removal men who have recently had to shift the whole lot across the channel.)<br /><br />I like books.<br /><br />Specifically, buying and owning books and keeping them on shelves in series order. <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/qid=1224252449/ref=a9_sc_1?ie=UTF8&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=wheel%20of%20time">Wheel of Time, 1-11</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/202-4630587-5685464?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=farseer+trilogy&x=0&y=0">Farseer</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/202-4630587-5685464?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=liveship+traders&x=0&y=0">LiveShip</a> / <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/202-4630587-5685464?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=tawny+man&x=0&y=0">Tawny Man</a> Trilogies and so on.<br /><br />Imagine my reaction then, when cycling down a lane this afternoon to stumble across this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/2949548050/" title="Found a bookshop... by Spacmonster, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2949548050_530342697c.jpg" alt="Found a bookshop..." height="375" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />Picked up <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Children-Hurin-J-R-R-Tolkien/dp/0007252269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224252615&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Children of Hurin</span></a> for a very reasonable 50p (and also something by David Gemmell, as I only had a pound note* on me).<br /><br />So I shall likely be in trouble, after all, my books are all currently in boxes as I have nowhere to put them, and I'm just adding to the problem. Oh well.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">* Another good thing about Guernsey - pound notes, none of that heavy coinage round here thank you!</span>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-57555625904214438562008-09-29T16:46:00.003+01:002008-09-29T16:54:43.509+01:00Unemployed!Momentous day today. I'm not at work. I am in fact at home. And currently, I have no definite plans to return to work*.<br /><br />There's an entirely rational explanation for this of course, Mrs Spacmonster and I are moving to Guernsey (my ancestral home and all that) and me being me, I don't have a job to go to. So, whilst the missus is busy working away already, earning a crust to support me in my joblessness, I'm still in London, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=moving&w=43038052%40N00">packing up the flat</a>.<br /><br />Course, getting all of our gear into movable order, is pretty much the hardest day's work I've had in a while, in fact probably since the last time we moved house, and I haven't even had to move the giant piece of slate yet.<br /><br />Still - I had time to do this, and I've nearly finished <span style="font-style: italic;">The Force Unleashed</span> so it's not all bad...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/2896019144/" title="Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper? by Spacmonster, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2896019144_a919aa3169.jpg" alt="Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?" center="" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;">* I am <span style="font-style: italic;">looking</span> for a job. Honest.</span><br /></div></div>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-53356107917832701512008-09-18T10:31:00.003+01:002008-09-18T10:40:37.545+01:00What type of Gamer am I?Apparently, according to <a href="http://www.mygamemug.com/">www.mygamemug.com</a> I am a <em>Helping Hand.</em> It says a lot (generally nice) things about me based on the answers I gave to about 30 questions.<br /><br />Not sure I agree with all of it though. Seems to suggest I don't like FPS's. And that if I did end up playing one on line, I'd probably be all helpful and supportive. Course, anyone that's seen me play Call of Duty will know that I tend to charge screaming at the opposition as soon as the game starts - usually getting myself very killed in the process.<br /><br />But - then again, perhaps Brigadier General Spacmonster's tendency to get himself killed very often because he's not watching where he's going very carefully means that I don't take the game at its competitive value, for me, it's fun, and if TrickyWooToo kills me 3 or 4 times in a row because I keep running at his hiding place (becuase I know he's there see...) before I figure out how to get him, it doesn't bother me.<br /><br />So anyway perhaps it's not %100 reliable.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mygamemug.com/images/match/archetypes/DSFV.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.mygamemug.com/images/match/archetypes/DSFV.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>The Helping Hand</strong><br /><br /><strong>Deliberate Sociable Fun Veteran (DSFV)<br /></strong>Generous, helpful, kind...a few of many positive attributes people see in you, the Helping Hand. Nothing satisfies you more than helping your teammates or friends out in all the games that you play. You may even look to assist people in some cases if there is no one around asking for help. In fact, the enjoyment that you receive from helping people rivals that of solving a puzzle, winning a battle, or achieving a hard objective in a game.<br /><br />Heavily social intensive games tend to be what you enjoy the most although you can probably find something to take pleasure in with most games. For instance, if you happen to find yourself in a competitive first person shooter, you'd probably take the support class. We recommend you stick to games (and crowds!) where people will appreciate you more; these include more casual gamers seeking fun and excitement from games rather than the serious competitive ones.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-39382653855088825522008-09-11T13:46:00.004+01:002008-09-11T14:05:18.568+01:00Home Alone<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46FMJu2CcduWuwgAeh3WprY77m6honl_BV-xgQPPB7Ubyqa2c2ZCVZYULhhr7EIioQDXc2b2h1t-cXMlunmqtKCQx10ZOV4c3OlrU60X7EpnhpiiIJkrTnT4U3AliNiw_KJup/s1600-h/HomeAlone.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244744316042512770" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46FMJu2CcduWuwgAeh3WprY77m6honl_BV-xgQPPB7Ubyqa2c2ZCVZYULhhr7EIioQDXc2b2h1t-cXMlunmqtKCQx10ZOV4c3OlrU60X7EpnhpiiIJkrTnT4U3AliNiw_KJup/s400/HomeAlone.JPG" border="0" /></a> Sniff. I am all alone. Just don't know what to do with myself. Play some games? Make myself some sort of rudimentary snack?<br /><br />I could re-enact <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilaUVGjMkJo">Risky Business</a>?<br /><br />Anyway - any ideas welcome, got a couple of weeks to fill, before the big move.spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-89453309517145206382008-09-05T11:23:00.003+01:002008-09-05T11:34:19.944+01:00Peanut ButterAnyone who knows me, will know I have a penchant* for butter of the peanut variety. Especially, it has to be said the freshly squeezed variety. I first experienced the amazingness of freshly made peanut butter on a visit to the states, where my sister took me to Wholefoods in Pittsburgh.<br /><br />There they had a machine, where you put peanuts (or cashews, or macadamia nuts or any nuts) in to the top, flicked a switch and watched as yummy peanut butter came out the bottom into a waiting container (or straight into my mouth...)<br /><br />I was stunningly happy when Wholefoods announce they were opening in Kensington (near where I currently live), and that they brought their peanut butter machines with them. (Seriously, go their and try it, its the ultimate in nutty buttery goodness.)<br /><br />So - about to move away from London, and away from the source of peanut heaven, you can imagine that I've been feeling glum.<br /><br />Until today.<br /><br />Step forward the <a href="http://www.lighterside.com/product/67271.do?WT.srch=1&code=QLP&AID=10388556&PID=1830967#">Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Machine...</a><br /><br /><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://www.lighterside.com/images/en_US/local/products/altview/p72359b.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>Wants it so badly. Look at the peanut butter, glarghrlghrglgglgrrrrrrrhrhrhllglhgr.....</p><p><span style="font-size:78%;">* Some may say unhealthy obsession.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>Found on </em><a href="http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/09/05/the-perfect-peanut-b.html"><em>Boing Boing Gadgets</em></a></span></p>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-48469790649400067292008-08-19T09:44:00.002+01:002008-08-19T09:47:54.087+01:00Face Your MangaBeen having a play - what do you reckon:<br /><br /><a title="raymond by Spacmonster, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/2777757716/"><img height="178" alt="raymond" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/2777757716_d3ec8b733e_o.jpg" width="178" /></a> <a title="spacmonster by Spacmonster, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/spacmonster/2776899511/"><img height="178" alt="spacmonster" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2776899511_0606f604ea_o.jpg" width="178" /></a><br /><br />Pretty shiny eh?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.faceyourmanga.com/">Face Your Manga</a>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-91850073653608898082008-08-14T17:26:00.003+01:002008-08-14T17:31:40.095+01:00My xbox is not happy...Speaking of green - I guess this is what I get for going away for a while and ignoring it!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y2l-oPpPqfmCogPjWMjsNufChTRq-WQqXv-xcww6c0jgIeyt4nNLNFp-LndBOIYRfhsKDgyAHE9m1p223ttN7iH1kzaxlVyRo2wAxzQEWl4kesOMLLADSVMPT69Ru17FSPe3/s1600-h/xbox+blog.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234411401506136754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Y2l-oPpPqfmCogPjWMjsNufChTRq-WQqXv-xcww6c0jgIeyt4nNLNFp-LndBOIYRfhsKDgyAHE9m1p223ttN7iH1kzaxlVyRo2wAxzQEWl4kesOMLLADSVMPT69Ru17FSPe3/s400/xbox+blog.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />As long as it leaves the axe alone, I suppose I'll be happy. Should probably get round to playing <a href="http://braid-game.com/">Braid</a> though.<br /><div> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19862994.post-65287560126958738772008-08-14T11:39:00.000+01:002008-08-14T11:40:46.962+01:00Green!Got bored of orange. Green is also a much better colour for Guernsey. More on that in due course!spacmonsterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03993566579120921806noreply@blogger.com0