Dave - Oddments and Just So...

13

Wednesday, 23. July 2008, 00:44:53

Heloo Friends!

I watched a movie recently called "The Number 23" and it got me thinking about a few odd coincidences

in my life. The most prevalent number I've come across is the Number 13. Now, true, it is the date I was born on, so of course it plays a major role in my life. But what this movie prompted was the thought that this number has actually followed me around for most of my life. Below are some odd examples:

1. I was born on the 13th Day of the month
2. My granddad and I shared the same date and month of birth, the 13th
3. When I was 13, I found out that my surname should have been a different name (Long story)
4. My old address was number 139, having the number 13 in there
5. When I moved in with my Girlfriend, she lived in number 31, 13 in reverse
6. I sold my house when I was 31, 13 in reverse

The list could go on, but that would bore you, so I won’t do it lol. Is this a coincidence or is it a phenomenon? I personally believe in fate and chance, but why is the number 13 so important in my life? They say it's unlucky for some and I could do with some better luck these days, but besides this, I find it really bizarre!

Has anyone else had anything really strange which is playing a role in your life?

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Dragon World

Thursday, 5. June 2008, 17:54:18

Beaumaris Castle, Anglesey

Wales, a country of Mountains and Vales. A country steeped in history and tales of mythical legends and mighty castles.

We recently went to Anglesey, which is an island connected to the Welsh mainland via the Menai Bridge and others. We decided to stay at our usual camp site because we knew what to expect and as usual, it was clean, tidy and everyone was friendly.

We set up and the wind was beginning to pick up, so we had to set up quickly. Once the out tent was set up and secured, it was plain sailing from their. We spent the first night just sitting around chatting and drinking.

We then went on walk abouts for the second day and my friend, Mike and I took his little dog, Pheobi, for a walk along the coast line. It was breathtaking and I got a sense of pride that the Welsh obviously took in their country. Little Pheobi, a six-month old Shih Tzu, was in her element. She was running around like crazy! After about a 20 minute walk, we reached a small cliff path, that was extremely thin and we braved it to reach a magical cove, that beckoned us to walk its stony beach. It was only small, but very quiet and tucked away.

At the rear of the cove I heard the faint patter of water and turned to see a small waterfall, which was fresh water and very cold. Pheobi decided to take a drink from it, so I followed suit. It wasn't that clear but what the hell, it's not often you get to drink truly natural water.

We returned to the camp and decided to head off to Beumaris, to see the festival that was being held there. Beumaris is famous for its castle, which is an awsome sight, but rather than go on about it, here's a excerpt from www.wikipedia.com:

Beaumaris Castle, located in Beaumaris, Anglesey, was built as part of King Edward I's campaign to conquer North Wales. It was designed by James of St. George and was begun in 1295, but never completed. Beaumaris has been designated as a World Heritage site, and is regarded by some to be the most architecturally perfect castle in Britain.

Beaumaris castle was positioned to face Garth Celyn on the opposite shore of the Menai Strait and was intended, along with Conwy Castle and Caernarfon castle at either end of the Menai Straits, to overshadow the Welsh Royal home and centre of resistance to the English forces.

The town itself, seems to be caught in a time-warp and has all the trappings of "Ye Olde Days" and captures the imagination well. The festival had foods and stalls from all over the world, with Baclava from Greece and Wild Boar from Poland. There was also a craft fair in a large Tent on the green. And nothing can compare to the Beaumaris Fish and Chips! What a taste! mmmmmmmm!

We returned to the Camp site very happy to have been their.

On our last day we enjoyed the sun and wind and decided that we shall just take it easy. We were contemplating staying for another day, but decided we'd had enough of the wind and decided to head home.

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Is the Pen mightier than the Sword?

Wednesday, 6. February 2008, 02:02:38

novel, writing, idiots guide, tom monteleone

I bet I'm not the only one here who wants to write a novel of their own, or something similar. It's something I've always wanted to do from a very early age. I can write about most subjects, and yes, I do have favorites, but I like being flexible and mixing ideas. There's one thing I find a real hurdle though, and I call it Subject Focus. I start to write and then stop. It's like my brain has its own show going on and then suddenly, as quick as the spark of inspiration came, it disappears. I mean, it's really frustrating and it can take days to come back to me. It's lucky I use a Word Processor and not paper to write! Imagine the piles of crumpled paper, strewn about the floor!

Anyway, as aforementioned, I'm not the only one to want to do this and certainly will not be the last. I've bought the Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing a Novel by Tom Monteleone, and I must admit, there is some great advice and a reality check from the author, who's had books published, by the way.

This book is full of good advice and even has interviews with published authors from all walks of the written word. It enlightens you as to what you think you know, and shines a light on what you actually do know. Subjects such as, marketing, publicity, choosing an agent, getting the right agent and radio and TV interviews are all areas, I knew nothing about. Though getting to these stages is a mountain to climb in the first place, but not impossible. I'm very much at a very early part of writing and I'm totally undecided about what category to place my written words in. I can spend weeks writing, only to delete it from my hard disk. This is sinful I know because that material can be used with other ideas, sort of a pick and mix thing.

One of the habits I have gotten into is carrying a small notebook and pen around in my coat pocket. Sparks of inspiration can come from the most ordinary of places and situations. I write it down now, no matter how irrelevant it seems at the time and it's a good kick up the backside to start writing again.

Are you a writer? Can you offer any good tips or advice? If so, are you published and what are your works about?

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Ubuntu and Linux

Thursday, 31. January 2008, 11:33:28

I've been using Ubuntu for a while now and I find it, on the whole, a very good operating system. There are a few annoyances though. Firstly, it's the none user friendly approach to its use. The average user will enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but for the likes of installing software etc, it's not that obvious and could put some newbies off. I'm not new to computers, but I'm not a programmer either and it seems to me that you need some sort of programming knowledge or understanding to be able to fly through it. If the Linux community wish to compete with the likes of Microsoft, I think they need to find some sort of universal installer, which would be a real boon for them and would make a huge chunk in the MS monopoly.

I support Linux and their mission one hundred percent, but I think they need to review their tactics a little. I'll list below a few things that they could change, but would have to keep in line with the open source licence, obviously:

Use a Universal Installer
Annoy the big Graphics Card manufacturers to get their butts in gear
Market more effectively with the big companies such as Dell, Time etc.
Don't preach to the converted, market more to windows users. What's the point in marketing to the Linux community, they're already listening?

If you are a Linux user, please don't get on my case about what I've written as this is an opinion and I'm already a fan of Ubuntu, but find it annoying when it comes to hardware, like Sound Cards, Graphics Cards and the lack of marketing to the big game writers, such as EA and Sierra. If think that if Linux can open negotiations with this market, then things would explode and have MS worrying?

To sum up, I've tried Ubuntu, Mandrake, Mandriver and Susi to name but a few and they all have the same problem. They expect you to know about programming, and If this hurdle could be jumped, then I think there would be a mass exodus to any Linux distro. Good luck Linux and I'm with you on this fight!

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Auschwitz & Birkenau Visit

Wednesday, 7. November 2007, 11:50:47

POW, Jews, Birkenau, Auswitch

Went to Krakow, Poland for a weekend as we wanted to visit something that I think everyone should visit at least once in their lives; Auschwitz and Birkenau. We decided to get a minibus from the city centre of Krakow and pay only 14.00zl return. There are tours but you would be paying around 120zl and be lead around the camps like sheep. We're more free spirits than that I'm afraid.

We reached the modern camp gates, which I think is more of a security measure than what was actually there. After going through the gates and walking about 500 yards and taking a left, we got our first sight of Auswitch; A large building, which looked just like any other administrative building. A large car park full of tour busses and a myriad of foreign accents covered the freezing air. We entered that building, as this is where the museum begins.

After purchasing a coloured map and a small guide book, of which both are excellent quality, we opened a small set of double doors and got our first vision of the infamous Auschwitz.

The atmosphere was quite intense and I looked around at people and there were no smiles or jokes and when we spoke, we found ourselves whispering. Maybe it was some sort of underlying respect, but it seemed appropriate. The whole place was largely kept as it was, but obviously, with it being a museum now, it was tidy, to a point. Until this day, I never even knew it was a Polish Army barracks that the Nazis' had commandeered for their experiments and murders. Row upon Row of brick buildings and the human suffering that they housed tore a hole in your heart. Jews, Soldiers (POW's) and some civilians from all over Europe where systematically slaughtered here and their spirits had been killed with them. I found myself close to tears in some exhibitions. The "Standing Cells" and "Gallows" lined the streets and descriptions telling the tale of what happened at these points.

I'll write more as the days go by so see you soon....... D

Hello, back again...

It's not without wonderment and deep scouring of my own imagination that I just couldn't reach in to my own mind and contemplate what actually went on here. It sort of made me think about how humane we are, as a race; and I'm not talking about the colour of my skin. It's hard not to feel pangs of sorrow as you tackle each block and absord the hundreds of pictures of innocent people staring back at the camera lense and not knowing if they are going to die today. What really choked me is when I saw a beautiful pink baby cardigan, which must have fitted a babe in arms, stained with blood. Then looking to my right and seeing more photographs of children, again staring at the unforgiving camera and their faces contorted with sheer terror. I can only imagine their little hearts pounding and hearing the distant screams of their parents and brothers and sisters.

I found myself questioning the human race. How can we be so cruel and horrific to our fellow man. How could the Nazi's sleep at night, knowing that they have just killed people who are equals to their own parents and children. It belies humanity in all its forms.

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