Rabbit Thought of the Day

Early Sunday morning, once again I find myself in front of the computer screen tapping away producing blog’s that no one is probably interested in and in any case are full of crap. I have found it so difficult in the last six weeks to find the time to sit down and produce any thing decent on the issues of the day. Mainly they have been about work or some other inane issue nothing of interest that sparks controversy. Even on my days off at the week I have found it difficult to produce anything of value. I understand that it is not always possible to blog anything everyday, but I had been going so well, and then came the job change.

While that was good thing and I now really enjoy my work it’s interesting and worth while, it has put a bit of a damper on my blogging and I must say on my exercise, I was used to blog every day sometimes five or six times a day, now I’m lucky if I get one or two blog’s posted. My exercise routine as really gone out of the window, from 5 times a week now I only really get the chance on the weekends and of the course the diet as also gone to pot, while my weight has not increased it certainly hasn’t reduced any further. I fully believe that I haven’t yet got myself into a routine of work, exercise and social life that is something I will have to work, but not until after Christmas.

Well you know what it’s like as silly season, most plans go out of the window and you find yourself just living one day at a time, hardly any time to make plans and if you do they tend to fall to pieces. Also I due my hernia operation on Tuesday, and as operations go is only minor but it still going to put me out of sync for the next couple of weeks. Don’t get me wrong I am not complaining here, I am enjoying my life at the moment it’s just so busy and full, but in the next couple of weeks when I have the chance to relax and convalesce It will give me the chance to get my working life in to some of order and when it Christmas and New Year is over it will be a new beginning (don’t we say that every year). I suppose my new beginning is already under way it just needs some kind of order.

Loyalty not shown by a lot of people or companies now in the work place, all the armed forces show loyalty to each other and to the Queen, I my self served for over 24 years and I think I showed my loyalty. But apart from that it appears little is now either by employees or employers. However, that said I have discovered a least one employee today who must be one of the most loyal in country. I have been with this new company for a little over six weeks now, but that pales in to insignificant to one member of staff who retires today and has been with the 42 years and 10 months (a bloody long time). I suppose you could say he’s been a loyal employee. I doubt many in the country could better that record.

Well here we are once again, Friday the end of the working week, and it been another hectic week, in fact the last three have been non stop. From the moment I arrived in the office to the time it was to leave it has been all go. Not one minute spare to visit my favourite web site and post a blog. But I have now completed all the outstanding jobs and am ready for next week, I in on Monday morning then I will be off for the rest of the week. I have my hernia operation on Tuesday morning and the rest of the week to recuperate. It may be even longer the doctor has said two weeks but I don’t really want to be stuck in doors for a couple of weeks I would go stir crazy, but at least it would give me time to spend on here.

Hello fellow bloggers and welcome to Wednesday, well we are half way through the week already and every thing was going great until I listened to my voicemail and the details of our visit to Whitstable have changed. According to the message I received we have no transport available and it seems that they want me to use my car. So as in the great British tradition, I am not a happy bunny, but I won’t go ballistic just yet I wait until I know all the details.

Apart from the transport incident, I am quite looking forward to the visit to the factory; I might even try the famous Whitstable oysters assuming I get the chance. In any case we should be back reasonably early. I am going to be very busy for the next couple of days I have a few task to complete before I have my operation and take some sick time, so this week and Monday are going to be very important.

Another busy start to the day, normally when I get to work, I get the chance to post a blog and see what every one else is up too, but for the last couple of days it’s been straight into work. I have just been preparing for an important meeting with NATS (National Air Traffic Control) all the paper work is now ready and I have my notes to hand. So I have a few minutes before the meeting starts, it should go on all day but fortunately my element is only for about an hour.

The rest of the day will be spent checking through a load of calculations and then preparing for my factory to Whitstable tomorrow, a nice trip to the seaside for a change instead of the wilds of Scotland. Right I better get going, I’ll be back on later have a nice day!

Last weeks trip to Scotland on Wednesday went really well, despite the travelling which was a right pain in the arse. The drive up to Peterhead from Edinburgh was not too bad, even though it’s over 160 miles. The weather was kind with sunshine and reasonable temperatures. However, the following morning the change in the weather was incredible high winds, driving rain and freezing conditions did not make it a pleasant day for work. But saying that the work went well and we were finished ahead of time, which left us quite a bit time to kill before our flight from Aberdeen airport. So we stopped off for a look around the shops in Aberdeen.

Our flight from Aberdeen to Luton was about an hour late, so we didn’t get back to Luton until about 10:30, and then we were messed about with the hire car, I had to drop my mate at Stansted and then it was home to bed at about 01:30 in the morning.

An early morning start saw me leaving for Heathrow at 5:30, thanks fully the traffic was good and I arrived at the airport in plenty of time. I’m glad I left when I did, because it seems an accident cause about 15 miles of queues, which were still there when I drove home in the afternoon. Work went well and we finished at about midday, I did mange to climb the radar tower and at 50m it’s the tallest structure around, apart from air traffic control for many a mile. It was very windy at the top and with not a lot under my feet it was a little disconcerting. I did manage to take a few pictures but, I haven’t checked them out yet, first chance I get I will down a load a few on here, due the high wind and cold temperatures it wasn’t easy taking pictures (making excuses already).

That about sums up my week (boring I know) hectic but interesting and enjoyable, I now just have this week before my operation and two weeks off, at least I’ll get time to blog.

Good afternoon fellow bloggers, it seems my blogging has taken a urn or the worse, In the last two weeks I have found increasing difficult to find the time to blog as often as I used to do. Even over the weekend I didn’t really find the time to do any posts. It since I have changed jobs, I now am gainfully employed which of course is great, because it keeps me interested and occupied in work, but it has affected my blogging. Maybe it’s just a case of managing my time better; I certainly don’t have as much free time as I did. I suppose that the price I have to pay for having a great job.

This week has started much the same as last week, at a fast pace, but fortunately I don’t have to go to Scotland this week, although I do have to attend a factory in Whitstable (Kent), fortunately that’s only one day out of the office. I still have a number of meeting to attend and I am playing catch up after being out of the office much over the last couple of weeks.

God, what a week it’s the busiest I have been for a long time, even now on Sunday the day of rest I am still at it. Thankfully it back to normality this week, I think I have a factory visit on Wednesday but the rest of the week should see me back in the office and more importantly no more trips to the wilds of Scotland at least until the New Year. I have this week and one on Monday before my hernia operation then from what I understand its weeks on the sick. Well that’s what it says in the paper work the hospital sent me. I can’t really see what the problem is, but am sure to find out in week or so time.

Right I really must get on, I still have a fair bit to do yet, hopefully tomorrow I should be able to settle down and blog about my trip to Scotland.

Well here I am back once again, after what turned out be a busy and hectic week once again, my trip to Scotland went ok, but the flight back was delayed and didn’t get into Luton until 2300, by the time I collected the hire car and driven it was about 01:00 in the morning. Which is great if I had Friday off, unfortunately I had to be out of the door at 5:30 to be at Heathrow Airport for work first thing. The good news is that the work went great and we finished at lunch time, which was even better because I managed to beat the traffic and arrived at an early 2 in the afternoon.

Unfortunately I have to go shopping this morning with Caz so it seems like a busy day once again. Hence this quick blog, I will catch you all later have a great day!

I did pick up my Blackberry yesterday, I haven’t had much time to play with it as yet, but the buggers have disabled a number of features, as be fitting a great company with a bloody stupid IT policy, I mean why disable the camera (for one), I actually think its for security but I can’t really see the problem.  

International football again tonight, England takes on Germany, but as I’ll be in Scotland it will be the Scotland, Argentina game that will be the one to watch. For some reason Scotland love Argentina and in particular Diego Maradona, I believe it is something to do with the hand of God, lol. When he scored against England and knocked them out of the world cup. The great rivalry between Scotland and England goes back a very long way, it understand I suppose, and it makes for great entertainment.

I think I may have disturbed the cats, well one at least. Ones asleep on back of one of the chairs (his favourite position) the other is chasing something around the flat, I haven’t a clue what, but she seems to be enjoying it. She’s a cute little thing, but can be a pain in the arse.

I’m afraid it’s turning out to be one of those nights again; I have woken up and can’t get back to sleep. Its ages since that happened, perhaps it’s the excitement of going to Scotland again tomorrow, but some how I doubt that. On the bright side, I don’t have to drive to the airport, am getting the coach so I can grab a little sleep on the there, and I never have a problem sleeping on the plane so I’ll be ok.

All my bags are packed (and I’m leaving on jet plane, who remembers that song then) and I’ve got all the paper work together. It’s going to be a very busy couple of days and I’m quite looking forward to it, the only problem I foresee, is the drive back from Heathrow Airport on Friday afternoon, I’m sure that will busy.

It seems that my new Blackberry will be available today after all, I have just received a phone call for IT saying that they are no configuring it and it should be ready in about an hour, very welcome news, considering yesterday they said I wouldn’t get until next week.

But I am like most men and love gadgets so now I looking forward to receiving my new toy, which I understand has Sat Nav plus all the other fancy bits that these new devices have, it’ll be just like Christmas, only it’s November, I think the one I’ll getting is a Blackberry Bold but I will soon see.

It’s been another busy day, and once again I haven’t really had any time to blog, day dream or any other like minded pursuits. I have to admit the time goes fast and it far more interesting than the last job.

Hello fellow bloggers and welcome to grey and wet Tuesday morning. I am in the office once again, and for the last time this week. Tomorrow morning I heading to Scotland once again, where I will be until Thursday, and Friday I will be at Heathrow Airport (no rest for the wicked).

It looks like being another busy day, with plenty of things to do already on my list. Yesterday was a very busy day and it didn’t stop one I got home, Rosemary was still at work so I had to prepare and cook dinner and in between I had to help Caz with her passport application, which included providing the necessary funds (some things never change).

Anyway I best get on and do some now I’m here will catch you later!

It’ nearly time for the off, another busy day with barely a minute to myself. I eventually managed to book my flights to Scotland not exactly ideal but at least they are sorted. I have to fly from Stansted to Edinburgh on Wednesday morning and coming back I have to fly from Aberdeen to Luton. Thankfully I have booked a hire car at each destination so the travelling won’t be too bad. I need a hire on Friday to go to Heathrow and apparently I am not allowed to use my own car for this type of work, hence the hire car, seems a strange policy to me, I’m sure it would be cheaper to allow me to use my own car and then claim the petrol money back.

I am waiting for a blackberry, which IT now have in stock, but it won’t be ready this week, as they still have to configure it and also they are waiting for a new server to go online before they issue the new blackberry’s its not too much of a problem it just means that no one can contact me (heaven).

Monday morning everybody’s favourite time of the week (well ok maybe not), am already hard at work. Well in reality I am trying to arrange flights to Scotland this week, I need to be on site (an hours drive north of Aberdeen on Thursday morning), then I need to be on site at Heathrow on Friday morning. But they are no flights available to Aberdeen on Wednesday, so it looks I have to fly to Edinburgh and then drive up from there (about 3 hours). But I can fly back from Aberdeen on Thursday night to Luton; it all seems a bit complicated but I’m sure it will work out ok. In truth it as too, I most definitely have to be at Heathrow on Friday morning otherwise the solid waste material will hit the air conditioning.

I managed to get my car serviced, MOT’d and Taxed (due at the end of month) over the weekend, which has left a bit of a hole in my finances, but not as much as expected so it was a bit of a result. I suppose it as to be done. Otherwise the police interceptors would have great fun pulling me over (I have been watching on TV over the last couple of weeks).

My blogging has slowed down somewhat in the last couple of weeks, I just haven’t had the time, it’s the same with my exercise routine, I still have been out cycling but not as often as I would like, I think it’s just the case of getting myself back into a routine, on the plus side I am still better off now than I was a couple of months ago and the job is going great.

Well, I’m up a little late then usual must be tired after the very busy week I have had. Am just about to go out riding on my bike, I haven’t had the time this week, I did mange a few swimming session at the hotel but not my usual long session so I will have to make up for it this morning.

I haven’t but any weight on this week, despite my stay in hotel and all the food and drink that entails, but I haven’t lost any either so it has been fairly balanced out. Am away again this coming week but only for one night (Wednesday) I have a very busy day planned Thursday and late flight back in the evening, followed by a early start at Heathrow on Friday. Perhaps all the rushing around is as good as exercise at burning calories off.

Right am off out catch you all later!

Good afternoon fellow bloggers, hope your weekend is going well. This as been the first chance I have had to post a blog today, I have been out since 08:00 this morning on various jobs, my car has been in for a service and a MOT, that took all morning, while that was going on I busied myself by sitting on the seafront reading the paper, a couple of magazines (BBC Wildlife and Mountain Biking) and a few cups of coffee in a local cafe.

Once the car was ready it went for a clean and then we went shopping (nothing interesting just food), now I’m home and am trying to watch the rugby (Scotland v SA) while blogging (once again it proves that men can multi task).

Rosemary has been relegated to the bedroom to watch a DVD and Caz has gone to see her grandparents, so I’m in here on my own. Which is quite unusual on a weekend, normally one of the ladies is around.

The hotel in which we stayed was very nice, as hotels go, not a place I would choose to go on holiday but adequate for a few nights while on business, however, the menu was brilliant fresh fish being my favourite, and I did the haggis, neaps and tatties I had for a starter. I am already looking forward to picking from the menu on Wednesday night. I think I will be sampling the fish once again.

Only another hour and I’ll be able to head for a well deserved weekend of rest and relaxation, well apart from the shopping, cleaning, ironing and the other jobs that Rosemary will no doubt find for me to do. Tomorrow shouldn’t’ be too bad as the car is in for service and MOT so I can’t do a lot then. It definitely was a busy week, but enjoyable and very productive.

I seem to be settling in very nicely now and the work is going great despite the travelling I seem to be doing. Next week seems too much of the same, up to Scotland on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday I have to be at Heathrow. So they are keep very busy.

Hello fellow bloggers, welcome to Friday the end of what turned out to be a hectic and very busy week for me. My trip to Scotland went very well, however, we had to stay an extra night and I arrived home last night instead of Wednesday night. Rosemary wasn’t very happy that I had to stay the extra night but sometimes shit happens and the testing went on longer then expected. By the time it was complete we wouldn’t have been able to make our flights, but we knew this in plenty of time so we had the time to arrange new flights for yesterday.

More later, but for now I have a few things that need my attention, catch you all later.

No more blogs for a day or too, I haven’t brought my laptop with me, mainly because Caz uses it quite a lot at the moment, even if she didn’t, I don’t think I would have brought it, it would just have been one more thing to carry. I should be back blogging on Thursday morning until then have a great and I’ll catch you all later.

US city councillor Dwaine Caraway is on a mission to persuade people to pull up low-hanging, baggy trousers that give onlookers too much of a rear view. More than 100 adults, children, students, ministers, law enforcement officers and representatives from local organisations attended a summit organised by the Dallas crusader against buttock cleavage-revealing trousers. Local youth counsellor Calvin Glover even brought a contingent of saggy bottom teenagers along in a bid to make them pull their socks - and trousers - up.

Great idea, should do something about it in theis country too!

A 9-year-old boy was caught driving his parents' car alone after police received a report about an unmanned vehicle moving down the street. The boy took the car, which had been parked with the key in the ignition at his family's home in Gifu, central Japan, on Monday to visit his grandmother's house, a police spokesman said. "I learned from my father's driving and at game arcades," Kyodo News quoted the boy as telling police.

The police received a call from a passer-by who reported having seen a driver-less car running down the street, as the boy was apparently too short to be seen from outside the vehicle, the spokesman said. The police found the car in a convenience store parking lot, after the pint-sized motorist had lost his way. They warned the boy's parents to keep a closer eye on their car, the spokesman added.

I have just been checking out our route from Edinburgh to Peterhead tonight and it doesn’t make good reading, it’s 157 miles and should take us close to 4 hours thankfully I’m not driving so I should be able to get a few hours sleep in the back. But I don’t think that we’ll get to the hotel until about 10 tonight, straight to bed for me then.

I have to go up[ again next week and I don’t think there are flights to Aberdeen then, so it looks like I have a good drive again, only next week I’ll be on my own. So it will be one hell of a drive in dark on my own.

I have just had to do a web based training course, two in fact one on computer security and one of electro static discharge, both quite easy and only took an hour of my time. Even on computer security I learnt some interesting information, I have heard it before, but I couldn’t remember all of it so it was a good memory jogger. As for the static discharge it doesn’t really apply to me, but all employees are required to take it, it was interesting but it’s something I know about, but once again it’s a good memory jogger.

Well I’ve been in the office now for approximately 30 minutes, a very quiet drive in no problems, no accident or trouble, well not the route I come anyway, apparently lots of trouble on the M25, no change there then but it’s not my normal route.

I am almost ready for trip to Scotland; I have a few drawings to print off and a couple of documents to review before we set off. I’ll have to stick in my bag before I go, I don’t have any hold baggage, just a small suitcase that I can carry as hand luggage that should save us some at the airport.

Monday morning already, why does the weekend go so quick, I woke up this morning earlier than usual; I couldn’t get back to sleep so I got up showered and dressed. I also had a more substantial breakfast than usual. Well I don’t know when I will get a proper meal again. I have a feeling that we won’t get to the hotel until late which will mean that I miss my evening meal. Therefore it could be tomorrow morning before I eat proper again. As long as I stay away from the junk food I will be ok, in fact it might it could be good thing.

My Sunday wasn’t as busy as fist envisaged, mainly because I got the majority of cleaning the cleaning done before I went on my bike, which was a nice surprise for Rosemary when she got out of bed; it was a case of five minutes with the hover ad the place was as clean as a new pin. It then only took 30 minutes between us to do the ironing and then it was time to relax. Rosemary is now sat on the sofa watching ‘American Gangster’ on DVD and I will be joining as soon as finish tapping on this keyboard.

This last month has been a very interesting time, I’ve changed jobs, definitely for the better and I’m really enjoying the work. My diet continues to go well, despite one week when I had one little set back. My exercise is going even better, my fitness has improved dramatically since I started in July, which as improved my asthma as well, and over all I’m feeling great. I just have problem to solve, when I worked in my old I had a set routine, as yet I still have to settle down and get myself into a new routine, as yet I managed to get they, but it is coming together slowly.

Packed and ready to go well very nearly anyway, just the washing and shaving to go and I’m ready for the off. My flight is late afternoon; from Stansted to Edinburgh then a 3 hour drive to Aberdeen but I’m nor driving. Not the best of starts to the trip away but once there it shouldn’t be too bad. We are due back on Wednesday afternoon, I am quite looking forward to it, but I don’t think Rosemary is all that happy, it not often we spend too much time apart. I am used to going away from home to work, some times for months at a stretch but his is new to her.

Since I am going away to Scotland tomorrow and I will miss my normal weigh day, I decided that today should I weigh myself, after I showered and dressed, (I normally weigh myself when fully dressed, a throw back to when I see the nurse) I jumped on the scales, 14st 8lbs, a loss of 2 pounds over the week (well since Tuesday).

From the NHS calculator my BMI is 29.1, which is on the very high side but not technically obese. Considering that when I started I was 17st 13lbs and my BMI at time was 35.7 which was off the scale on the NHS graph.

If you go off the NHS website I need to have a BMI of about 24 and therefore my weight needs to be approximately 12st to 12 7lbs, which was my target from the beginning, to I still have some hard work to do, to be precise over 2 stone to go.

Am back indoors after my usual Sunday morning bike ride, and another good time as been posted by yours truly. Even though the wind was stronger than yesterday I have posted a faster time a sure sign that I am improving every time, I doubt that I will break any world records or be in contention for any gold medals, it is important to me that I do well and improve.

It has also been a good morning in others areas as well, before I ventured out I managed to whiz and clean the flat and all that is left to do is vacuum the carpets, I did have the time to do that as well before I went, but I didn’t think that the ladies of house would appreciate me hovering at that time of morning, so I have left that until later. See girls some of us men are quite thoughtful.

It’s still early November so why are we subjected to supermarkets advertising Christmas food already, and at one of our Essex shopping centres yesterday Santa’s grotto opened. While I love Christmas as much as the next person, I am sure the majority of people are with me on this one it’s still far too early to be putting decorations up and definitely too early for Santa. So come supermarkets get a grip on reality and save from Christmas overload before the holiday begins lets have another month (at least) before you subject us to Christmas.  

Scientists have developed a mathematical formula for the perfect shower, reports the Press Association.

A team led by neuropsychologist Dr David Lewis developed the formula for Cheltenham-based manufacturers Mira Showers.

According to Mindlab International, the balance of privacy, pressure, time and temperature in the shower all need to be carefully moderated to create the perfect shower experience.

A taxi driver in Portsmouth picked up a bumper payday after a man jumped in his cab and asked him to drive to Germany.

54-year-old cabbie Mick Hogan was waiting at a rank in Portsmouth when a customer got in and asked to be driven 740 miles to the Munich Beer Festival, reports the Daily Telegraph. He had missed his flight for a friend’s stag weekend.

Mr Hogan told the customer it would cost £1,700 for the impromptu trip and a further £250 for the channel crossing and one night in a Munich hotel.

With the fare agreed, Hogan went home to pick up a change of clothes before setting off to Germany via France, Belgium and Luxembourg. He eventually arrived in Munich 17 hours after he set off.

It’s Remembrance Day, I hope you have all bought a poppy!

I am up early one again and as usual I am the only one awake in flat, well beside the cat who wants feeding, I’ll sort her out in a minute when I have finished on here. Just looking out of the window it still seems quite windy, but at least it’s stopped raining. We had some very heavy rain last night, seems the weather forecasters right for change.

I think is has forecast rain again this morning, as long as it stays away while I do my bike ride I don’t mind. I think I have kind of a busy day ahead, the flat needs cleaning, I have ironing to do and I have to pack for my trip to Scotland tomorrow, we fly up tomorrow afternoon and fly back Wednesday evening. It should be a good trip

These are very popular at the moment as well (I can’t think why). In fact the bottom picture I used as the photograph on my Christmas cards I sent last year, maybe that’s the reason.  

I am a member of web site where I sell some of pictures and at the moment I seem to having a run of good luck, with weasel (above) being very popular, it seems to be down loaded at least once a week at the moment and I receive a small fee for it, the last one was £10, although I could never make enough money to earn a living at photography. It very satisfying to know that someone wants my photographs enough to pay for them.

It you are going out today, don’t forget your poppy, it’s very important that we support both our serving men and women and the ex members of the armed forces.  

Well I am home again and it looks like I have just made it back indoors before it starts to rain. It was quite windy this morning stronger than has been for while, it was very enjoyable. Lots of other keep fit enthusiasts out this morning some cycling like myself, some out jogging and others just out walking. But my hat goes to off to those who are in the sea, quite a few were wind surfing and one or two out kite surfing, but the prize goes to the two guys out swimming, albeit in wet suits, surely the most hardy souls in Southend.

Tomorrow at the same I’ll be out gain, I wonder if they be out then. I did a good time once again, despite the wind, well under an hour for the 12 miles. Am just having some water then I’ll jump in shower after that well not a lot to do really just relax and read the paper I think.

Good morning once again fellow bloggers, welcome to Saturday the weekend as already begun. It has now warmed sufficiently for me to venture out on my bike. I missed last nights session because I was busy doing other things and I then sta on the sofa and just fell asleep, so I will have to make it this morning.

The cats have been fed and are wanting out, so it looks like it’s time for me to go as catch you all later.

We don't have many days like this at the moment!

I am awake early once again, even when I don’t have too. I don’t mind getting up early for me it’s just a natural thing that I don’t need a lot of sleep. In fact it does have its advantages. I can get on the computer without any distractions, although it does have it disadvantages, like this morning it’s quite nippy (the heating is still switched off). Funny isn’t mind my dad still gets up early, he was a postman but has been retired nearly 15 years, but still gets up at the same time.

Twenty minutes before the off, it’s been a great day and I have achieved loads. Plus I have sorted myself for next week; all the arrangements for my trip to Scotland have been completed. Just a few things need to be done before I leave, I need to check out some floor loading calculations and then switch off my computer, dead simple.

Not long too now, before the weekend officially starts, well it does in this office. In approximately 90 minutes this place will empty and the weekend can start. It’s been a busy morning once again. I am happy now that I am doing something interesting and meaningful, unlike the last job, where I spent most of my time, twiddling my thumbs, or counting light fittings over and over again. It certainly wasn’t interesting and it definitely was meaningful.

The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over the issue of keeping people's DNA and fingerprints on the police national database. Peers backed a Tory amendment calling for specific guidelines to help people seeking to have their details removed from the database by 161 votes to 150. But ministers are unlikely to redraft the legislation, arguing that existing public safeguards will be sufficient.

The defeat is the latest inflicted by peers on the counter-terrorism bill. Last month, the House of Lords overwhelmingly rejected the government's call for the length of time terrorist suspects could be held without charge to be extended from 28 to 42 days.

The UK has the largest police DNA database in the world - with more than four million people on file. Under current laws, the database holds DNA records from suspects arrested in England and Wales, regardless of whether they are subsequently charged or convicted. And innocent people who volunteer to give a DNA sample during a police inquiry also have their details kept on record.

The Home Office argues the database helps to secure convictions for a range of violent crimes, often many years after they are committed. In Tuesday's debate, security minister Lord West said adequate safeguards already existed to protect the public, as chief police officers had the discretion to delete information from the database in "exceptional cases" after a request is made.

But critics point out that, under the government's proposed guidance, such cases will be extremely rare. The Conservatives described one example in which details might be destroyed - when the residents of a building in which an apparent murder is committed have samples taken but then it is concluded the death occurred by natural causes - as "laughable". Peers backed a call for the government to publish new guidelines for procedures enabling people to discover what information is held on them and their family and how they can seek to have it removed.

These would also require the police to explain to people why information should not be removed in individual cases. Baroness Hanham, the Conservative home affairs spokesman who drafted the amendment, said it should be made much easier for anyone to question why their details were listed on the database. "What we are looking for is statutory guidelines," she said. The Home Office said it would produce "appropriate national guidance" on how the police handle and retain DNA information. But a spokesman said ministers did not plan to change the provisions of the bill to reflect the amendment when it returns to the Commons.

Civil liberties groups welcomed the outcome of the vote, arguing that the retention of DNA was "out of control". "If the government wants a universal DNA database it should say so, not smuggle one in through the backdoor," Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, said. Ministers believe such guidelines could hinder their plans for a counter-terrorist database as releasing details of material obtained covertly, through surveillance, could be dangerous. Before 2001, the police could take DNA samples during investigations, but had to destroy the records if the person was acquitted or charges were not proceeded with.

But the law was changed in 2001 to remove this requirement, and changed again in 2004 so DNA samples could be taken from anyone arrested for a recordable offence and detained in a police station. The database also contains profiles from some people detained in Northern Ireland, and in Scotland - but in Scotland records of those innocent of any crime are deleted after a time. A study published earlier this year concluded that guilty people who have served their time should eventually have their DNA records erased because retaining the profile "continues to criminalise them".

Home secretary Jacqui Smith on Thursday will invite high-street businesses to tender to be biometrics enrolment centres for the National Identity Scheme, which the government will use to issue ID cards.

The Home Office wants to use the tender process to gauge whether businesses such as post offices and banks would be interested in participating in taking fingerprints from people for the scheme, ZDNet UK understands. It also hopes to formulate a document, called the Frontline Services Prospectus, outlining how biometric enrolment would be carried out by businesses.

ZDNet UK also understands that the Post Office has not been approached directly by the Home Office to submit a tender.

Anti-ID cards campaigner Phil Booth told ZDNet UK on Wednesday that the government was trying to sell high-street firms an idea that would not work. "The Home Office is selling businesses a pig in a poke," Booth said. "What company would want to invest millions in a service that will be scrapped at the first opportunity?"

Booth added that the Home Office proposal "absolutely undermines security". "If they're taking fingerprints on the high street, they simply cannot guarantee locking prints to details," he said. "The only way they could have done that is in an interrogation centre, with some official scrutinising documentation, then walking you over to the scanner to take your prints." Booth suggested that a high-street-based system would be open to fraud and systems error, and could lead to chaos.

The Home Office declined to comment on the scheme.

BA half year profits are down a massive 91% to £52 million. The cost of fuel and economic down turn has been blamed for the fall. Can I also add another factor? Just recently I had to fly to Aberdeen and I will be doing so again this week. While checking flights for this coming week, we were unable to get the exact flight we required. So we checked BA from Heathrow, who were also unable to offer us the flights we needed, however, both BA and Easyjet had later flights that would have to do and we could change schedule.

Now here comes the maths. Easyjet, £39.99 each both there and back giving a total of £159.96 plus taxes, for two people there and back and the flight was from Luton Airport, about 30 minutes drive from here.

BA costs, £322 plus taxes, one way for one person from Heathrow. Guess who we are flying with?

They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Good morning and welcome to Friday, the best day of the working week. It definitely is in this job, dress down and finish at lunch time, life just couldn’t be better. A quiet weekend ahead, with no particular plans, if fact I doing bugger all, apart from my usual exercise that is. Anyway the weather forecast is not looking too good, wet and windy I’m afraid. Still we should be used to weather like this.

Everybody is arriving in the office and they are all wearing the new company T shirts, everyone except me that is. Even though I do have a couple I didn’t wear one because I wanted to be an individual and not a sheep who has to follow everyone else.

It’s nearly time to go already; the day seems to have flown by. I am trying to get stuff finished off quickly so I can disappear out of the day, well Thursday is shopping night, and I wouldn’t want to miss the fun of that. Tomorrow being Friday is dress down, plus the best thing about it, it only half day, yippee

The banks have cut the interest by 1.5%, the base rate now stands at 3% the lowest for 50 years. Let’s hope that this rate is passed on to us, the customers.

We have now arranged our visit to the project on the outskirts of Fraserburgh, our hotel is in Peterhead. Last week we fly to Aberdeen from Luton and got a hire car at the airport. Unfortunately we are unable to get a flight to Aberdeen so we have had to book flights from Stansted to Edinburgh and will have to drive from there, not the best option but am afraid it the only one available to us.

We are flying up on Monday afternoon and fly back on Wednesday afternoon. It seems like I will have to go the week after as well, perhaps I should get a frequent flier card. I have never really had to travel on business before it’s anew experience for me, but one I might be able to get used to, but would prefer to fly to somewhere warmer, like the Mediterranean though.

SAS commanders pleaded with defence officials not to be sent to Afghanistan in poorly protected Snatch Land Rovers following the deaths of four of their soldiers in a roadside bomb attack, it has been disclosed . The Special Forces soldiers "tore their hair out" at being allocated the flimsy vehicles after Cpl Sarah Bryant and three of her male colleagues were killed when their's was blown apart by a mine, Tory MP and former army officer Adam Holloway told a parliamentary inquiry.

His evidence intensified the pressure on defence minister Quentin Davies, who has faced fierce criticism for claiming at the weekend that SAS commanders had not been complaining about their equipment. On Saturday, The Daily Telegraph disclosed that senior SAS commander Major Sebastian Morley had resigned over the MoD's "gross negligence" in failing to provide an alternative to Snatch Land Rovers, which have now been linked to the deaths of 34 British soldiers.

Major Morley blamed the vehicles for the deaths of Cpl Bryant and her colleagues and said the lack of equipment was "cavalier at best, criminal at worst". He also told how SAS commanders had complained to the Ministry of Defence about their use. In attempting to rubbish his claims, Mr Davies said "100 per cent" of the troops he had spoken to in Afghanistan were happy with their kit. He also seemed to suggest that Major Morley may have a "wrong choice" in selecting Snatch for the mission that ended in Cpl Bryant's death - despite it being the only vehicle available.

However, Mr Holloway's evidence directly contradicted his claims and led senior military figures and opposition politicians to call on Mr Davies to "consider his position" . The minister has already been forced into a humiliating apology for rubbishing Major Morley's resignation claims and offending Cpl Bryant's father. Liam Fox, the shadow defence secretary, said for Mr Davies to blame commanders in the field for Government failures was "grotesque, completely unacceptable and damaging to morale". The shadow defence minister Gerald Howarth added: "This is the second example in two days of commanders being denied equipment which they had requested. "Quentin Davies has been extraordinarily cavalier about the requests that commanders have made from the field. If he cannot fulfil the role of equipping them properly then he should consider his position."

Jacqui Smith is set to defy union opposition and announce that the first Britons will have to apply for compulsory identity cards from autumn next year. From Nov 25 this year, ID cards are compulsory for foreign nationals who come to Britain.

However, the Home Secretary will say in a speech to the Social Market Foundation today that compulsory ID cards for "airside" workers will be introduced at two of Britain's airports from next autumn. The plans will be phased in at Manchester and London City and then expanded to all airports after 18 months.

The cards will cost £30 each. Unions have fought the plans because they are concerned that their members will be used as "guinea pigs" for a national ID card scheme, which has been criticised by civil liberties groups.

An Australian court has ordered the retrial of two alleged drug traffickers because the judge in their original court case repeatedly fell asleep. "Periods of sleep became longer as the trial went on.

Members of the jury were visibly detracted and, at times, amused," the High Court said Thursday. Rafael Cesan and Ruben Mas Rivadavia were convicted in 2004 of importing ecstasy and jailed for over a decade each.

In their appeal, the judge in the original 17-day trial was described as sleeping at intervals of up to 20 minutes, with periodic snoring. "A substantial miscarriage of justice resulted," the court said, ordering a fresh trial. Medical evidence showed the judge had been suffering from severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

An Arizona jogger had an unwelcome companion on a recent run - a fox, hanging on to her arm by its teeth. The rabid animal had attacked her foot and then as she grabbed its neck, it bit her arm and would not let go.

She ran a mile to her car, where she managed to free herself, wrap the fox in a shirt and throw it in the boot. It later bit an animal control officer and both jogger and vet received anti-rabies injections, and the fox was confirmed as carrying the disease. The woman, from Chino Valley south of the Grand Canyon, had been running for a mile when she came across the fox in a clearing.

Although it did not initially appear aggressive, the animal attacked her feet as she backed away, before moving up towards her knee. When she grabbed the fox by the neck, it closed its jaws around her arm and would not let go, despite her attempts to choke it. Fearful that it was indeed rabid, she ran to her car and managed to free herself and trap the fox in the boot, before driving to a local medical centre.

A statement released by the local Yavapai County Sheriff's Office notes that "it is very difficult to prevent the attack of a wild rabid animal once in progress. "Although containing the animal for testing is beneficial, immediate treatment is always the priority."

Thursday morning and yet another busy day in the office, the only problem, I forgot my lunch. I made myself a nice little salad with smoked mackerel only to leave it in the kitchen, what a plonker I am. I do have a few cuppa soups in my desk draw, so it looks like that’s what I’ll be having for lunch.

It was another good drive in this morning and I even managed to avoid any confrontations with BMW X5 drivers, or any other drivers come to that. Last night was a bit of a nightmare though, I got caught up in traffic trying to get to a large firework display which slowed me down somewhat, thankfully that won’t happen tonight (I hope).

This what we do, although is only a temperary installation.

This is why I like Scotland so much, beautiful scenery and the weather wasn’t bad for a change. This looking out to the North Sea over Fraserburgh. It looks like I'll definitely be back there next week.

IN FLANDERS FIELDS the poppies blow
Between the crosses row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Don't forget to bu your poppy

I have just sent my first really snotty email in my new job, I have just received and email from IT (remember I can receive internal emails) that my fault has been completed and closed. When I opened it I wasn’t very happy, so I wrote a reply and copied everyone up too and including god, (well maybe that far up the chain of command).

I was very annoyed and said that I didn’t consider this matter closed not until I am able to receive emails from my contractors. Not only that this account should have set up weeks ago, they received notification on the 8 October and it still not sorted.

They still haven’t sorted out me email account and I have just spoken with the IT helpdesk (who weren’t, helpful that is). But I think I may managed to sort out the problem, and IT have now submitted a request so somewhere to create an email account for me. But this will take 48 hours.

So I am not a happy bunny, I can’t see what the problem is, it shouldn’t take 48 hours to set up an email account, I can do it on AOL or MSN in 5 minutes. This should have been sorted before I started with the company, all the necessary paper work was completed and submitted 2 weeks before I started.

The ironic thing is, I can receive internal emails from company employees (just not from outside the company) and this morning I received an email from HR asking me to complete a survey on how well I was inducted when starting, and what do I think of the process. Well are they in for shock when they get my survey back, marks out of 10 for performance will some where in the negative section. Thankfully the job and my colleagues are great.

Good morning fellow bloggers welcome to Wednesday and half way through the working week. It’s also another grey and miserable day, but it is autumn I suppose, mind you it like this for the majority of the year.

It was a fairly quiet drive in this morning, but I do have one gripe, and that concerns BMW X5 drivers, who I have come to the opinion have more money than sense and certainly have more money than driving skills. In the last couple of day I have come across two of these drivers who seem to believe that they own the road, if I could remember their registration numbers I would but them on here just to embarrass them, but as the police would say I can only remember a partial. One is quiet easy because if began X5 X (black) the other was EK57 * (silver) can’t be too many of them around. If you see them on the road, beware they are dangerous.

Democratic Senator Barack Obama says "change has come to America", after being elected the first black president of the United States.

Part of my trip to Scotland was to inspect the electrical equiopment installed in this building.

Nearly time to go home, only 45 minutes and I’ll be on my way. Rosemary as been to her mum’s this afternoon so I have volunteered to pick her up. But first I have to call in at the chemist and collect my prescription. My doctors moved in 21st century and you can get your repeat prescriptions on line and collect straight from the chemist and great idea which saves loads of time.

It’s looking more and more like that I will be going to Scotland next week, I don’t mind going if fact it’s not too bad of a trip, it just a pain waiting to see if I’ll be going. I have to witness a number of tests but it’s not 100% certain that the equipment will be ready to test. So it’s a just a case of waiting to find out.

We are having a health and safety audit this week, which is being carried out by our cousins from across the pond (I suppose they would rather be here than having to suffer the elections). As normal with type audit of this nature we have the just had obligatory fire alarm test, and we all to trample out in the cold and damp car park. Thankfully it didn’t last very long and we are all back in the warm now.

IT has not been in touch yet about now email problem, I don’t think they will rush around a lot trying to sort it out. But I have received my pin number for my company credit card, unfortunately I haven’t received my card yet, I hope it comes soon because I may have to book flights and hotel room for my visit to Scotland next week (that’s if we are going).

It’s lunchtime already and once again it’s been a busy morning. Despite my problems with IT, no matter who I work, I always seem to have problems with IT, in my last company it was because they cancelled my email two weeks early, this time it doesn’t seem to have been set up correctly. I don’t know what it is, but they don’t seem to be able to get their act together and they turn over is always high. People seem to come and go like there’s no tomorrow.

I may have to go to the north of Scotland again next week, but as yet nothing as been finalised, I really they sort it soon; I don’t want to find out I have to go up at the last minute.

The first winner of a new scratchcard game that pays one million dollars a year for life is already a millionaire. 33-year-old Keenan Altunis is a Turkish-born, London-based banker who was brought up in the United States. He works as an executive at European banking firm Unicredit and lives in an apartment in Clerkenwell, London, with his wife and young daughter.

Last month, Altunis travelled to New York to visit his mother. Before leaving for the airport, he gave his mother $100 to buy him three $30 tickets for the new scratchcard game. He told the Daily Mirror that it turned out to be the best investment he had ever made. The nature of the game means it doesn't matter Keenan didn’t buy the winning card himself.

Because Altunis lives in Britain, he will not have to pay federal taxes on his winnings, reports the Daily Telegraph. After paying New York state taxes, he will net approximately £570,000 every year for the remainder of his life. Under a US treaty with Britain, income from lottery winnings and several other sources is not subject to taxation for British residents.

Altunis admitted that, because of the success he has had in his banking career, his scratchcard jackpot will not materially change his life. However, describing himself as ‘blessed’ and ‘fortunate’, he acknowledged that his win was bittersweet as it came at a time when many of his colleagues and friends were losing their jobs.

Altunis and his family left New York yesterday for a Caribbean holiday which had already been booked before he scored his lottery win.

Once again I seem to be having problems with my email, I posted last week that my contractors were not answering my email,. I now fully understand why. It’s not that they haven’t been replying to them it’s that the emails they have sent have not been coming through and have been bounced back to the sender saying address unknown.

I can receive internal emails but any email from external sources does not come through, bloody strange if you ask me. Anyway I have a raised a fault report, now it’s just a case of sitting back and waiting for it to be rectified.

I had my monthly visit to the nurse last night for the official weigh in. Low and behold I was the same weight as last week, 14st 10lbs. So since I last saw the nurse I have lost 5lbs, not a lot this month. But I did find quite a difficult month, what with changing jobs it has thrown my routine out of balance and therefore my exercise routine. But hopefully once I get myself sorted I’ll be back on track.

I did mange to get on bike and it was a great session, a good time in difficult and wet conditions. I’ll be back out again on Wednesday and then I should be back into a normal routine.

Not morning fellow bloggers, and welcome to the second day of our five slog that will eventually take us to the weekend. It wasn’t a pleasant drive in this morning thick fog made driving conditions particularly difficult, fortunately the roads were fairly quiet and those drivers that I did encounter were driving well within limits for the foggy conditions.

It should be a busy day once again, I still have a fair amount to learn but the project work is really interesting and I must I am very much enjoying it, far better than the last job.

I have just had the hospital on the phone they are planning on doing my hernia operation on the 2nd December and I should expect two weeks off sick.

It’s that time of the month for me again, a quick visit to the nurse jump on the scales and see how much I have lost (or not) this week. I don’t think I have done very well this week and in the month since I last visited the nurse I don’t think I have very much as changed at all, but I’ll soon see.

It has been a struggle this month, although I did have one good week, but that can be off set when I put a couple of pounds on. But this week, because I was away for a few days I don’t think I have lost anything. Plus I missed 3 training sessions last week as well, I only managed to get twice in stead of my normal 5 times; I really must make more of an effort.

A motorist has vowed to quit smoking after his liquid gas powered car exploded when he lit up at the wheel.

Peter Tidbury escaped with minor burns after his Peugeot 607 went up in a fireball when he lit a cigarette.

The door panels were blown out, pieces of windscreen were hurled 50ft and nearby homes were evacuated for fear of further explosions.

A man was taken to hospital stuck to a public toilet after a prankster covered the seat with glue.

The stainless steel lavatory was removed from the cubicle in Brierley Hill, near Dudley, with the man still attached, after the best efforts of emergency services failed to free him, said West Midlands Ambulance Service.

An ambulance service spokesman explained: "The man was using the facilities when he became stuck on the seat. It appears as though someone had left glue on it."

US police took action against a dozen people running naked on the street while sporting freshly gutted pumpkins on their heads as part of an annual Halloween event.

Police issued tickets for indecent exposure on Friday night as dozens of other costumed revellers, including a man with a red cape and a sword, chanted to police officers to let go of the streakers and "find real criminals".

The event known in Boulder, Colorado, as the Naked Pumpkin Run has been held for 10 years. This year it drew a huge crowd, prompting concern from police. Boulder police Chief Mark Beckner says officers "wanted to do something before (the event) got out of hand".

A music graduate from Glastonbury could be the holder of the longest name in the world after he legally changed his name to Captain Fantastic Faster than Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Wolverine, Hulk and the Flash Combined.

Nineteen-year-old George Garratt changed his name by deed poll online for ten pounds. He told website thisissomerset.com that he had originally decided to change his name for a bit of a laugh and, once he had decided upon a superhero theme, has simply added the monikers suggested by his friends to form one huge name.

Garratt was pleasantly surprised to learn that his new name was the longest in the UK and possibly even the world. On the downside, his grandmother hasn’t spoken to him since he changed his name.

A student who dressed up as Rambo said he was arrested in the street and taken into custody after police saw his plastic knife.

The film character made famous by Sylvester Stallone was the inspiration for Anthony Radley as he donned his red bandana, face paint, black string vest and combat trousers for a friend's fancy dress party - but he ended the night in a police cell, he said, after being arrested for carrying the 6in-long toy knife that was part of the costume.

The 21-year-old from Greenwich, who recently graduated from Nottingham Trent University, will appear in court later this month to challenge the £80 fine received over the incident.

NAIROBI (Reuters) - Elite Kenyan police who went to help a luxury 4x4 that broke down outside their base were surprised when the occupants took off on foot -- until officers took a closer look and found the vehicle loaded with marijuana.

"When the occupants refused assistance and fled, officers became suspicious and searched the vehicle," finding about $20,000 (12,333 pounds) worth of the drug, Trans Mara police boss Joshua Omukata told The Standard newspaper. Members of the highly-regarded paramilitary General Service Unit from Keyian camp in the Rift Valley were unable to catch the would-be traffickers.

Marijuana growing is a lucrative option for many poor farmers across fertile east Africa. Trans Mara District is home to the Maasai Triangle, part of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The long arm of the law didn't have to reach too far to arrest one Australian teenager, who was caught breaking into a police station in the early hours of Monday.

Officers working in the back of the police station in a suburb of the southern city of Adelaide heard the front door glass being smashed and found the 16-year old in the front hall. "A teenage boy has discovered the quickest way of getting arrested is to break into a police station,"

South Australia state police said in a statement on its website. About A$2,000 ($1,340) of damage was caused and the boy was denied bail, the statement said. A police spokesman added the youth did not give a reason for his actions, and may have had "a bit too much to drink."

Good morning once again fellow bloggers, its coffee time and its been a busy morning, made more so by having a power cut, which left me having to do again a spreadsheet which I lost. I know you are supposed to save a document every so often and I was about too, I had set it up and was then distracted by a phone call and while I was on the phone the power went off. Fortunately it wasn’t a massive document so it didn’t take long to redo it.

Apart from that it been a busy and interesting morning, plenty to keep my mind occupied and the little grey cells.

Congratulations to Lewis Hamilton who became the youngest F1 World Champion yesterday in Brazil. His rival Brazilian Felipe Massa won the race in his own country, and Hamilton secured the fifth place he needed by the skin of his teeth by overtaking the German Timo Glock on the final straight.

Not a motersport fan myself, but I am sure he his rather pleased with himself this morning.

Here we are again, that dreaded time of the week, Monday morning. What have got to look forward too, five days of blood, sweat and toil? It’s a living I suppose but am sure there are far better things to do; unfortunately they don’t pay the bills. So the majority of us have to drag our bodies out of bed and go to work. A nice lottery win would be but as I don’t do it that’s going to happen, I only tend to buy a ticket now and again, I certainly don’t go out of my to buy one.

At least its dry this morning and it even might be a little warmer than of late that’s at least something good this morning. I will have to head out very shortly I suppose I better get some petrol otherwise I won’t be going far at all.

It’s been a bit of a funny day so far, although it Sunday, supposedly the day of rest it’s has been far from restful. Firstly I was out on bike, which is normal for me on Sunday, when I got I cleaned it and oiled all the usual bits, chain, wheels and gears. I did attempt to fix my gears but alas it was domed from the start. I think I might need professional help for them.

Since I got in from doping doing that, I don’t seem to have stopped, washing cleaning cooking not a very relaxing day at all. Still hopefully that’s behind now and I do have time to relax. It also the first chance I have had to get on the computer, only quick visit though we are about to watch a DVD, and Caz can have the computer to do her course work, it will be nice to get back to work for a rest.

I got back about lunch time yesterday from my trip to the North of Scotland; the area I actually went too was between Peterhead and Fraserburgh, like I mentioned yesterday in my quick post the trip was very worthwhile. I will be going back in a couple of weeks to witness the testing once all install is complete.

Scotland is a great place to visit and next time I make sure that I pack my camera, but shoot the prefect scenery in the area. I did take some pictures but that was with my camera, unfortunately I can’t down load them, because the lead is in my desk draw. But I promise that I will get round early next week.

The weather was quite mixed, it was cold and the wind was a killer, and we had periods of heavy showers but on the whole it was bright and sunny as you will see when I upload the pictures. It’s been a while since I was in Scotland and I must say I had missed it, I do love the area. I would definitely life there if I had the chance.

What a lovely day, it’s raining heavy; it’s cold and windy a beautiful autumn day. Well ok I maybe exaggerating just a little, well quite a lot actually. We have been out all morning doing a little shopping, for the women of the house. I was just the driver and the man with the card, see ladies us men do have our uses.  

The cats are curled up asleep trying to keep warm, Caz is in her room listening to music and Rosemary has fallen asleep on the sofa, I have just covered her over with a blanket so she keeps warm.

So I am just messing about on my own at the moment, I have a couple of things to do not taxing or interesting but a few odd jobs that I have been meaning to do for a little while now so I might as well get on and do them. Plus I need to sort the gears out on my bike, that may a take a little time as I am definitely not an expert in that direction.

Really I quite bored but like I said, I have stuff to do but I really be bothered.