And for our next trick...

E now has the Chicken Pox.

Well, might as well get it all over and done with on one go.

***

So, since we are not going anywhere, D is converting his Virtual Matter website (currently static HTML) into one that is driven by a database. To develop his PHP skills this is not based on an existing CMS.

Dad gets back to his musical roots...

The Easter holiday arrived, and with my birthday on the horizon M suggested a Ukulele as a potential birthday present. I must confess I was dubious to begin with - though I have also felt a yearning for some non-computer based interest in my life. So, I borrowed M's Uke to have a go.

All I can say is, I love it. In just a couple of days I had enough Chords to play Cohen's Hallelujah off by heart, along with the usual "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing" (typical beginners stuff) from music. I never thought that I would ever play tunes on a stringed instrument with any degree of skill since I traded the violin for an oboe at the end of the 80's. Any attempt at the guitar left me crestfallen as I simply couldn't get my hands round the neck for some chords without leaning on all the other strings... the Uke has changed my mind about strings. In just a week of playing I have been able to add "Dream a Little Dream of Me" by the Mamas and the Papas to my off by heart list, and can play loads of others from chord sheets. Wow.

The best thing is, M and I can play duets. It's such fun.

Just watch out at Christmas, you'll know if we are carolling you, because every carol will have a Hawaiian Ukulele lilt to it :-D

M will therefore be giving me a Uke for my birthday.

And if you are interested yourself, we recommend the Kala soprano Uke as a great beginners instrument. Has decent tuning keys (the geared kind) and made from decent wood:

http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Guitars/Acoustic/Ukulele/sc1414/p6730.aspx

There are other ones (e.g. Ashton) which we tried but it wasn't good. Hence recommending the above - plus, it gets good recommendations from others on the internet.

And if you do get a Uke, don't forget my Uke Tuner software:

http://myfamilynewspaper.blogspot.com/2008/07/uke-tuner.html

Move Along There, Nothing to See

We were slightly suprised, on our little trip to Nottingham, to run into a full size Space Marine asking for our credentials - "are we human". It was touch and go for a moment, but thankfully, since we are from the 21st century, and he was from the 41st Millenium, it turned out that we were more human than he was. Before the squad had a chance to "persuade" us to join the Chapter, we swiftly legged it into the museum...


...Which was in fact "Warhammer World" at the Games Workshop HQ in the UK. J's latest interest is collecting Eldar minatures for the Warhammer 40,000 strategy game.

Concerned that overzealous Eldar may try to take control of the house, Dad has decided that a squad of Salamander Space Marines are needed to repel any invasion, and defend the human race.

On the other hand, it could just be a great way to spend quality time together playing big, complicated, chess.

At lunch time we met up with Chris, who works here and scoffed food in Bugmans. Chris kindly lent his expertise in selecting an appropriate squad of marines and giving advice on the paints I would need. He then showed us the new miniatures gallery before having to shoot off back to work.

There are some very talented miniatures painters out there, that is all I can say.