bobrobnigel

They were talking about this on Radio 1

2008-01-17T20:36:45Z

Are u safe without it?

2007-11-11T22:10:26Z

Best not to ask how i stumble on these things, but this is surely the must have book of the year? read the reviews?
wtf?

Piracy is wrong!!!

2007-09-14T00:03:01Z

I fired a CANNON today!!!!! Eat that!!!!!

2007-09-09T20:47:13Z

Yes a full on cannon. Similar to the one on the right of the vid. I was allowed to shout "Have a care!" in my loudest, most commanding voice. Followed by applying match to powder making an explosion better than and fireworks display u'll ever see.
In case u haven't gathered, I have been to another Sealed Knot weekend. No battles, just a public display, but, most importantly, with gun powder :). I was also allowed 4 practice shots with other people's muskets, which is quite an experience. Had to do the display in Pike which was actually hard work and not really my thing. Apparently, the pike is more for the thrill seekers, who love being crushed in a mass of people. Firing the cannon is indeed an amazing experience, doing it for a battle would strike me as rather boring, because u just repeat, loading-firing routine, with no hand-to-hand fighting. Fantastic every once in a while tho :).

I have an interview with Whittard's Simon in Reading tomorrow. This has been on the cards since before last christymas, but has been complicated very much by the fact that Threshers are now very confident in my abilities and very short of good managers, they are harassing me to run one of their shops! While it is most gratifying to be in such demand, it has made leaving them very, very hard.
Although, initially Threshers was very hard, there are a loads of pros and a load of cons, where as taking a job for Whittard is very much a straight forward return to something I know. The next few weeks are going to have to be very carefully trodden I think.

Did I mention that I made a cannon go BOOM today? I did? Good. :)

Thought for the day

2007-07-25T22:26:06Z

Apparently American editions of Cluedo have Mr Green instead of Rev. Green. Potentially because the USA is such a religious extremist country that any indication that a priest could commit a murder is unthinkable?

Battle of Shugborough

2007-07-19T00:03:11Z

Had a glorious weekend in the midlands fighting battles and getting drunk with the . This is the second muster that I have attended and the biggest. We had around 1000 combatants plus there were medieval jousters, Romans, Vikings and Napoleonic reenactors there. The Sealed Knot is bigger than the others but I was particularly disappointed not to have been able to watch the Napoleonics because their uniforms are so shiny and the cannons are bigger.

This is the kind of thing that you see advertised at Powderham Castle and never go to. From the crowds perspective, you get to see a huge battle with commentary and history. From our perspective, you get to fire guns, then run around and hit people (I found a few photo's from Berkeley of me grinning away in the midst of combat :P). It is a lot of fun and the women really enjoy the costume making and wearing. Think of this as the civilized equivilent of football hooliganism. You travel a long way across the country, have a big fight then get plastered. :)

Friday: Arrived after a long drive, put up tent under our new gazebo to shield the rain. Got drunk.

Saturday: Woke up, had van breakfast bap, then 30 mins drill. 14:00 march onto the field (The first time I did this at Berkeley, I did find it quite intimidating because I wasn't entirely sure what was going to happen. It gives you a good sense of what it really must have been like to march at an enemy with the possibility that you were about to die.). The firing people (I really want my own gun so I can fire.) fire in ranks, the cannons are already blasting away, so there is loads of noise and smoke. Then you turn the musket the other way round, run in and hit people. :) It seems to me that even the ones than can fire prefer the hitting. Hour long battle, we had to let the enemy retreat with honour which was a shame. It's far better when you get to chase them down or get chased and die spectacularly.

Between about 15 of us we went through 9 bottles of port before dinner. Haven't worked out why port is the drink of the SK but it is. Ate camping dinner, then band and beer in the beer tent. No singing or chanting taunts at the Parliamentarians tho :(.

Sunday: Unfortunately Sunday was wet but we did get a better battle and we didn't have to get up early to do drill. This being a bigger battle, both sides also had some cavalry which was interesting. You do have to be careful where you die tho. Someone was telling me that, even though you know they will pull up, having 20 cavalry charge you is actually genuinely scary. This didn't happen but they did circle us at one stage and you do feel very helpless when all you can reach is the enemy soldiers knee. In real life, you would be looking to smack the horse in the mouth then the rider when he's on his back but obviously this is cruel. All of the horses bar 1 coped with the musket and cannon fire very well. Apparently they take ex-military display horses so they are well trained.

The battle itself was a glorious victory for the king. It seamed quite unscripted and we chased them off on the left flank until we wrapped back rounf and encircled them. The fighting was pretty good too. I have a few bruises from fighting an officer who had a pole arm, which are about 9 feet long so they can out reach you. At one stage someone tried to steal my musket but I clung on and wrestled until one of my block jabbed him and I won. The actual standard of the fighting varies quite alot and it is usally the older people that really give you a hard time. Although the hits are pulled, they make sure that you can feel it. Good fun.

Came home sunday evening post battle. More photos on my facebook.

Back in the 21st century, work have put me in for a personal licensee test in Reading on 28th July. This is a very odd move because I told them that I wasn't intending to stay working there very long and that course is pretty expensive. Still it looks good on me and maybe handy if I decide to run a pub in the next 12 years.

A great loss.

2007-06-28T18:00:53Z

And so this week will be remembered as the week we lost a great leader and rolemodel, who has provided Britain with joy for the best part of 10 years. Yes, Thierry Henry will not be playing in the premiership next year. :'(

Take a look at this news story . It's the idle detail at the end of paragraph 5 that concerns me more than the actual story.

A post

2007-06-07T22:54:09Z

This week I went to a Threshers wine school which was cool. I have a certificate to say i know the basics about wine. I even learned some of the finer points like how wine can taste of toast and vanilla.

Threshers itself has it's ups and downs. The security aspect is very interesting. I have had 3 blatant shoplifters already. I have to give another statement to the police this week. The customers vary quite a lot and the frequency that you see some of them quite tragic. I am actually coming round that ID cards may not be such a bad thing as the amount of people I ID who look under 21 but probably are 18, yet still don't have the sense to carry ID with them, even when I tell them to is astounding. The threat of an £80 personal fine and the fact that I get a kick out of politely telling people that they can't do things is very good reason to ID people frequently. I haven't actually had many times where I've ID'd really stupidly (25 yr olds etc). I did turn a kid away the other day while he insisted that he was 18 even though the ID he choose to give me said that he wasn't. It probably works else where.

Last week I went to Berkley castle in Glouscestershire (the castle where Edward II was killed with the poker) for a civil war battle reenactment. This is a pretty good description by Bill Bailey: I was very surprised by how much fun you can have and how may people actually show up to take part. I is far better to be on the field than to watch. They have real muskets and cannons with real powder so there is masses of noise and smoke. The fighting from our side was quite realistic, but not having a license for a real musket I was expected to die a lot :( They even go to the trouble of having a baggage train of water ladies and drummers. Even the trained medics wear costume. Good weekend.
Ashley

An election day post

2007-05-02T23:42:50Z

In honour of a rather minor election day, (on which I'm not actually planning to spoil my paper) I have finally manged to find the image from the front cover of The Independent from 10 may 2005.
The best site that I have found is makemyvotecount.org.uk the best bit being in the Golden Anorak quiz (under Fun if u can be bothered).

Question 4: How many countries have reserved seats in their legislature for hereditary tribal chieftains?

You can choose between 0 and 4. 2. The UK and Lesotho.

I just thought that was the best put question I have possibly ever read.

GET THIS!!!!

2007-04-24T18:15:42Z

Sorry Ashley but I didn't realise that ur birthday was eclipsed by Towel Day

Any volunteers?

2006-12-17T17:28:57Z

I need a favour from someone in Exeter please :) Smiles like a little Ashley.
I have stupidly manged to get a parcel sent to my old address in Fore street. Would someone be kind enough to go round, (it's probably just in Reform records cause they keep all our parcels) and claim it for me. let me know if u can :)

Alternate Office Space Trailer

"I don't believe in astrology; I'm a Sagittarius and we're skeptical." Arthur C. Clarke

2006-11-23T23:49:10Z

I am spooked by the timing that I found that quote.
I won't be doing the letter thing because in my case it is wildly inaccurate.
Gingerbread Men

"Everybody has a different definition of the good side." Will Wright

2006-11-20T23:12:31Z

No Relation

This Is My Life, Rated
Life:	5.4
Mind:	5.2
Body:	6.9
Spirit:	2.9
Friends/Family:	3.8
Love:	0
Finance:	6.5
Take the Rate My Life Quiz

Walter Trout

2006-10-15T20:25:29Z

I went to see Walter Trout. He's this well good American blues guitarist and I found a vid.

youtube

You know your gonna see something good when the support band can play an improvised version of Purple Haze :)

Do bins hold the binary states of being either empty or nearly full?

2006-10-05T00:30:12Z

I like this guys myspace videos"

Well Christy and me have a hard days work planned anyway, new area manager visiting and all. I have to drive to work with no radio because the security system has inexplicably locked me out? Not a good start.
Plans get interrupted mid morning by my mum phoning, telling me I have my first OU tutorial in Swindon at 7pm. Really pissed me off because I would have had to go straight from work. Fortunately my manager was kind and let me leave early. :)
Next I manage to lose a filling while eating chocolate covered raisins? Being as I have no money, this poses a problem to add to nagging tooth pain. Already beginning to wonder what I've done to offend god, and then, of course the question follows, which god have I offended?
Graham comes in to annoy us. I have met Graham once before, during Christy's holiday. Sweeping into the room, no hello or excuse me or anything, just the unusual greeting of "You replaced me." With what? Just who we needed to brighten our day, but Christy had the task of dealing with it on this occasion.
I get to go use my lunch trying to fix the radio and trying to read at least a bit of my course, (which i've been lazy with so far) so that I have something to talk about later. Almost miss meeting Neil and Alison but they come back past later after going somewhere for coffee. By the time I had allowed a bag to come off of the grinder, allowing the freshly ground coffee to cover the freshly swept floor, I was time to leave.
No further incidents until I drive to Swindon. I have to break hard from 60 to 30 to let some twat overtake coming the other way which really really freaks me out, given my car accident. With no radio to take my mind off things and not having time to stop and calm down, I have a crazy 5 minutes including driving straight through a red light across a crossroad! A miracle nothing bad happened and I wasn't even hooted at and I arrive at New College unharmed.
The actual tutorial/induction was actually quite fun. I reckon everyone was older than me, and they were quite a varied group. Lots of information, so I actually know what I'm supposed to be doing with this course. Then rounded off by a round of true Computer geek microsoft bashing. The tutor, Ms Deuchers (Dukers) demanded that everyone use Firefox and seemed adamant that Microsoft software should be avoided at all costs. It's good to know that your tutor understands the real world :)
I survived this unusually eventful day and actually, tho tired feel rather brighter than I did beforehand. The moral of the story.... If the car radio doesn't work in the morning, get out of the car, phone your caring and considerate manager and inform them that you are ill/disturbed and will be unable to attend work. Go back to bed :)

Has anybody noticed the acronym of 'The War Against Terror'?

2006-09-20T19:32:38Z

Arsenal beat Man Utd. Thats the football out of the way. :)

I went to the Berkshire show with Christy the other day. I was really surprised by the scale of it. I wish that I had more money then I could have bought loads of stuff. They had an Australian hat, solar panels, tractors, weird sheep with horns (1 sheep had 3 horns like a unicorn), ducks, piggies and lots of nice looking food that I wanted to eat, all under 1 ummm... sky. The weather was good which was amazing because everyone else said it was raining where they were. :)

bobrobnigel @ 2006-09-14T20:13:00

2006-09-14T20:01:20Z

I went to see swindon win 2-1 at home to MK Dons on Tuesday. Interesting experience. I have only been to 1 other football match b4. 2 odd things. Firstly, the prevailing theme is to sing rude songs about oxford despite the opposition being from Milton Keynes. :)

Secondly, being so used to watching on TV, i kept finding that I expected a replay to show up. Whats with that? Anyway had fun and Swindon won. :)

On leaving however, found that the car park I had left the car in was locked and I had to get my Dad to take me back in the morning. :(

Cat owners beware

I didn't realise there was a full version

2006-09-10T14:43:37Z

My Personality


Neuroticism	85
Extraversion	17
Openness To Experience	26
Agreeableness	35
Conscientiousness	48

Test Yourself Compare Yourself View Full Report

Bebo, MySpace Layouts and hi5 by Pulseware Survey Software

A truely beautiful goal

2006-09-10T13:04:47Z

Never let anyone say women can't play football

Maybe it's not as good as we thought

2006-09-08T18:41:07Z

Now, not only did my attempt at filling this in from the perspective of Adolf Hitler produce a higher conscientiousness score but it is actually higher than me!! I don't know if it better to be lower or what? If some1 else wants to have a go feel free.

This is accurate by star sign and age (20,April 1889) so people over 61 must be right bastards anyway.

Even though I answered the questions about thinking I was better than everyone else etc. as Strongly agreed, it says :
"Others describe you as down-to-earth, practical, and conservative." !!!!!

My Personality


Neuroticism	44
Extraversion	70
Openness To Experience	9
Agreeableness	1
Conscientiousness	74

Test Yourself Compare Yourself View Full Report

Bebo, Ugg Boots and Discount Ugg Boots by Pulseware Survey Software

You are sociable, outgoing, energetic, and lively. You prefer to be around people much of the time. Stressful and frustrating situations can be upsetting to you, but you are generally able to get over these feelings and cope with these situations. As a practical person you like to think in plain and simple terms. Others describe you as down-to-earth, practical, and conservative. People see you as tough, critical, and uncompromising and you have less concern with others' needs than with your own. You set clear goals and pursue them with determination. People regard you as reliable and hard-working.

This report compares you to other men who are 61 or older in Germany. It analyses you based on each of the five broad personality domains of the Five-Factor Model (Goldberg, L R. 1999), and the six sub domains at each level.

It is rather good

2006-09-07T18:23:54Z

My Personality


Neuroticism	73
Extraversion	21
Openness To Experience	54
Agreeableness	49
Conscientiousness	79

Test Yourself Compare Yourself View Full Report

Bebo, MySpace Layouts and hi5 by Pulseware Survey Software

A spider just ran accross my room...

2006-09-05T22:15:31Z

...and another one ran accross my pillow will i was watching green street (which is a horrible film) the other night.

Anyway the not smoking is actually going fine during my sober hours. Friday night we left the pub at 10 because me and gareth couldn't handle it anymore. I'm not sure what I'm gonna do because beer just doesn't taste right without a cigarette. :(

I made the first 1 but Ash and Christy have seen this 1

Toytanic (Adam and Joe show)

All spiders were apprehended and returned to the wild.

"Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo." - H. G. Wells (1866-1946)

2006-09-01T17:39:04Z

It feels comforting to have everything settling down a bit now. I have a job, I have things to do and football is back on which is all great. :) Today is the 1st day of the quit smoking bet. The 1st of me and 2 of my friends to fail has to buy a meal for us all. Guarantee it won't be me cause i won't be beaten in a giving things up competition.

Otherwise I can't think of much else to say so i will leave u with these messages:

Irresistable Breasts Video

~~End message~~

new spdo affiliate

2006-08-29T23:37:45Z

I was sent this link today during a conversation about clown porn:
SCPN

Could SCPN be a new SPDO affiliate?

Each venture is a new beginning, a raid on the inarticulate... T.S.Eliot, 'East Coker'

2006-08-21T00:27:09Z

I've left this a bit long and so there is much to tell.

Most importantly I have been rescued from the immanent poverty of my own unemployment by Christy at the expense of Graham. :) Good news all round really. Christy has replaced a duff assistant manager who made her working life a misery, with someone dedicated to improving her self-esteem, and I have a job which has cured my money problem and got my parents to leave me alone. I do wonder if I would feel better had i got a job off of my own volition but at the end of the day, I have to appreciate my own fortunes because something like this happens to me every time. I should have been given at least an interview for some of the jobs I applied for and its really their loss for not even giving me a chance, probably due to my honesty. Anyway, I can spend 3 days a week with Christy and I am having fun learning all about tea, even getting to sit in on Christy's Assam and Ceylon tea presentation.

Also, saturday's post brought with it my Open University books which are a bit daunting. I start work on this properly on the 12th. Did Lady Jo ever apply for anything? A really helpful thing with the Whittard job is that it is part-time and i have time to give this course justice.

Going back, I had a great time at Drop Zone in Reading. I haven't been to a rock night since the death of The Roadhouse and I needed to dance around like a madman. unfortunately it was more or less the anniversary of my hair cut and dancing isn't quite the same without it. :(

With everything coming together at the same time though, I have left myself feeling kind of uncertain about the future but change is the enemy of complacency and complacency is, at times, my middle name.