Muddle Media and Why I aint Social!

Posted on May 21, 2013 by HippyDave

You all know my relationship with Facebook, its non-existent rather like my sex life at the moment! Everywhere I look its Facebook this, Twitter that and Ooow look at the lovely Instagram pictures of utter bullshit. The wife is pretty bad with this stuff, constantly going on about something or other to do with social media, I just don’t get it. I mean I am not tech savvy as you can see by my blog it’s the basic one you could get, I often think about getting web design North London to make it look like I give a rat’s arse. But then again I decide against it, sometimes looking at new themes and thinking yeah I could do that. Generally I can’t and the times I have changed it, it looks like shit after!

If I’m honest I wish people would contact me through my blog, I have had some good banter in the past but to be fair now most people prob don’t bother with it. I’ve had bugger all comments recently except spam. I think my problem is I write too much and now everyone likes just looking at pretty pictures and commenting on tedious statuses or conversations. I do think sometimes I might put my own pics on this site, when I do take something worthy, but then again I wouldn’t want anyone criticizing it, I take things like that to heart.

Anyway this rant came about, because of Google+ recent change of format, it now resembles those Pinterest, Photo sharing, image heavy social networking sites out there. Bugs the crap out of me and according to my better half Facebook is heading that way too. You think these companies would want to go for a different approach than their competitors. But then again if you can’t beat them, you join them with the annoying picture only in my face ‘cool’ style that seems to be employed everywhere on the net!

Football Final

Posted on May 20, 2013 by admin

This will be my last football related post now for a while, unless something spectacular happens during the summer like Leeds buying players!!! Anyway I watched the last games on Sunday of the 2012/13 Premier League. This year it was quite bitter sweet with a number of high profile players retiring, the players I knew back when Leeds were up there with the rest of the other great clubs. And of course Sir Alex managing his last ever game, even as a Leeds fan it’s sad to see him go as he was such a force in football.

I reckon with all these retirements football will be pretty boring from now on. You think now Scholes and Carragher are gone, the old style which they both favoured, you know the good stuff like we saw in the 70’s before we became fancy and foreign will be no more. Unfortunately though that doesn’t cut it anymore especially not when playing in Europe, tackling seems to be a big no, no! Plus I think we will be winding down the players we see having their career at just one club, which is a shame, I love lifer players it makes for a great club ethos.

All I can do now is look forward to next season, there will be some challenges ahead, hopefully if we can have a few new players and build a strong squad we could get into the playoff, not been hopeful of automatic promotion! I don’t really consider QPR serious challengers anyway have no idea what they will do about their overpaid team in the Championship! Reading well we have been there before and unless Wigan can keep hold of Martinez then they might not be too hard. Anyway with Cardiff and Hull going up there may be some room for improvement for us to kind of take their places, and we just have to see the play off final to who else goes up.

Recession Problems

Posted on May 16, 2013 by HippyDave

I’m still not convinced we are out of recession here in the UK, its all manipulated figures and smoke and mirrors. Yesterday I read that the Eurozone is still in recession as its GDP falls by 0.2%. But it’s not just the small EU countries fuelling this, Frances economy shrunk and Germany’s is practically stagnating.

It does seem that in many countries austerity isn’t working, even here in the UK despite the press spinning figures to say differently. Cutting services here in the UK has caused people hardship rather than helping because the costs the government have cut haven’t really saved them any money.

Many people still think that collecting taxes owed is a better idea and to halt tax breaks for the rich and big business. Recently tax breaks were given to movie studios producing films here in the UK, somewhere which hasn’t been popular over a number of years. These breaks will work and once companies are established here they can be removed. Tax breaks for big corporations already established can be removed, there is no need to let large companies such as Starbucks and Amazon not pay full tax liabilities, close the loopholes, these companies aren’t going anywhere. Offer, establish, remove, simple as.

Small companies need better tax breaks as well; they can’t compete with the bigger businesses that have favourable payment options with the HMRC. They get more pressure of banks and government red tape costs them money not to mention big business suppliers not paying their invoices on time, leading to the use of invoice factoring to recoup monies owed albeit at a loss.

We have to make all business viable rather than just looking after the select few who take politicians out for dinner; otherwise we can’t make any money to get out of this mess.

Cinema Treats

Posted on May 13, 2013 by HippyDave

I want to go to the cinema to see the new Star Trek movie. But the wife won’t go; she wants to go and see the Great Gatsby and expects me to go see that instead with her. I will happily go see a film I don’t want to if she accompanies me to see something she doesn’t. I think that is a fair compromise, but she is having none of it. I suggested seeing if a cinema is showing them both at the same time and just being separate whilst watching our respective films. I even offered to take her out for food after. But again she was having none of it. She expects me to sit with her and watch a film I have no interest in, but won’t do the same for me. And she won’t sit on her own, so bloody annoying.

Anyway I have put my foot down and will not go to the cinema, either to see Star Trek or the Gatsby shit. Instead I am happy (just) to wait for the Blu-ray. That annoyed her immensely and she didn’t talk to me the whole weekend. It was bliss!

Anyway here are both trailers let me know what you think.

Star Trek Into darkness

The Great Gatsby (gay)

I must admit the trailer looks visually cool, just a shame I am not bothered about that, certainly not enough to sit at the cinema and watch it, maybe I will buy her the Blu-ray instead, not that she’ll appreciate that!

Her sulking meant she kept out of my way and I could watch Alonso with his second Spanish Grand Prix triumph in Barcelona. What a good Sunday, I also avoided any Manure shit!

A Week that was in Football

Posted on May 10, 2013 by HippyDave

Well on Wednesday morning I was watching the news, with a slight hangover and there were rumours on there about the possibility of Sir Alex Ferguson retiring from Manure. Thought at that point I was still in bed and dreaming but then the wife started nagging at me so realised I was awake. Cue a couple of hours later and then there was an official announcement. Old Red Nose is retiring.

As a Leeds fan I am indifferent, probably glad he is gone and now hoping his successor is shit. That been said it took a whole day for said successor to be announced. Poor Everton are losing their long standing (8 years but that’s forever in the grand scheme of the Premier League) manager David Moyes as he will be going to Old Trafford. Luckily for Manure he is out of contract in June so I am sure not too many terms had to be negotiated between the clubs.

He has a six year contract so the club must have some confidence in him, but it must be said old Red Nose won’t be going far as he is becoming a director so I am sure his influence will still be felt. Perhaps that might make it easier for Moyes to move into the role left by Fergie or it might be more of a hindrance. I am a bit annoyed that Leeds won’t be facing United again under Ferguson; our clubs have had some great games we will just have to wait now to get up and face Moyes (hopefully) at the head of Manure!

I think Moyes will stick around there a while, he has a good record and kept Everton consistent despite not having many funds, he is good at working the youth team through (unlike Leeds who just sell youth players). And hopefully for Everton won’t take to many players with him this summer as they have a number of good players in the squad. I just hope they get a great manager who can take them the extra steps forward that they have been unable to in the past.

Anyway I don’t have many plans for this weekend saw that the weather looked poor, probably watch football on TV, Premier League now our season is over, and not sure about the play offs! The wife is out on Saturday night, so I may have an Xbox evening, order some takeaway and play some games I haven’t for a while!

Storming the Sunshine

Posted on May 7, 2013 by HippyDave

This weekend has been pretty great really, been out and about with the wife, enjoyed the garden and had a BBQ and Leeds won.

Saturday we went for a walk around Malham Tarn it’s not the shortest of walks, so it’s good that I have been on the bike recently as my fitness levels weren’t too bad and I didn’t get too tired out. The roads weren’t too busy, but I’m sure if we had made the same trip Sunday or Monday it would be a different matter. There are some great views from Malham Tarn something I studded in high school a good number of years ago. It really is a great walk although maybe not for newbies.

Sunday saw the wife and I chill out at home, the weather was a bit grey but it wasn’t cold so we had a BBQ, as a chill came in, in the early evening we retreated to the garden room for some more wine and beer. Monday followed suit with the Beer as we attended a beer festival. It was only a one day event and because the weather was brilliant it was very busy. But still enjoyed a few pints, just lucky I’m not working today.

We scuppered Watford’s chance of automatic promotion after we beat them 1-2 away from home. We were looking like we were heading for a draw, however in the ninetieth minute McCormick scored to send us ahead. So now Watford head to the playoffs along with Brighton, Crystal Palace and Leicester. Meanwhile Leeds is now left sitting in 13th place this season, unlucky for some, but hopefully not us as we look ahead to next season. News will now turn to summer transfer news as Leeds United have already announced that they will not be offering deals to 10 players. Hopefully after Warnock left us high and dry with a number of games left this season after failing to get us promoted, maybe next season will look better under McDermott, who knows?

Now just to see the end of the Premier League, who’s left to go down and who will get those much coveted Champions League spots. QPR and Reading are defiantly coming back down to the Championship and it also looks like Wigan may be joining them although that is not settled yet. Newcastle, Norwich and Sunderland are all precariously placed and its possible one of these teams could go down, if Wigan. And we all know Wigan like leaving it till the last game of the season to secure their place in the Premier League.

Buying from eBay

Posted on May 5, 2013 by admin

I must admit I am still a little hesitant when buying from eBay, even after all these years and many, many transactions. I mean some sellers I do feel comfortable buying from, you know those with thousands of sales, but smaller individual sellers or new sellers, leave me feeling a little nervous.

I was looking or some second had photography kits, including some lights, a light sensor and a couple light boxes for a project I am playing with. I found pretty much what I was looking for at a great price, but it was from an individual seller, obviously just selling unwanted items of their won. So their selling history was pretty limited.

Postage wasn’t too expensive although there wasn’t much information about what type of eBay courier they were planning on using. As some of the equipment is quite fragile I want to ensure that the kit will get to me in good condition. And some couriers in my experience well; they don’t understand the meaning of the word fragile!

Anyway my PayPal payment went through yesterday and hopefully my stuff will be dispatched. Just have to wait and see, fingers crossed it’s in good condition and that I bought the right thing! Now football won’t be taking up my weekends I have decided to get more use out of my digital camera and have a good practice. There is so much I have to learn yet and I don’t want to just focus on landscapes, hence the light box. Anyway I will let you know how I get on.

The time is nigh – GTA V

Posted on May 2, 2013 by HippyDave

So we only have to wait until September 17th now to get our hands on the latest GTA instalment! The end of September will see me go into semi hibernation as I get to grips with the new game. It looks epic, massive and full of fun. I feel like a giggly school boy when new games come out, and especially excited at the new GTA V game.

I watched a couple of trailers back in 2011 and 2012. But since then nothing else has been mentioned until now! You can see s number of new trailers including the characters. There are three leading characters to play; you can swap between each during play so really can get the most from the game. The main thing I have taken from the videos is that it looks epic. So much area to cover which was lacking from the last game and that it’s not as real to life so you can do some crazy kick arse stuff.

The characters are; Michael, bad guy gone straight, but bored with his family high life and misses the excitement of his bad days. Franklin is a black kid stuck in gang violence wants more than just being a drug pusher. And finally crackpot Trevor, a red neck hillbilly with what seems like anger issues. Should be fun!

Getting in My Garden

Posted on April 28, 2013 by HippyDave

Hopefully what my veg will turn out like

This weekend has been pretty successful, I have managed to get a lot of work done in the garden, and its great haven’t had good weather for a while, well not enough to get all the jobs done. I even managed to top up my tan! Anyway hopefully this weather keeps going and I can get out a bit more. I have really logged far too many Xbox hours in the last few months!

The garden room is particularly handy for getting my veg off the ground; it’s a nice sun trap so it’s warm in there during the day and light so my seedlings are getting off to a strong start. Inside I have Summer Radish, Summer Lettuce, Peas and tomatoes. Outside in my beds I have also planted onions and new potatoes, ready for a summer crop. I am also working on my other beds and pots, for the radishes and lettuces etc. As well as sorting out my veg, I cut our grass, as it was growing like crazy and power washed our patio steps as they were covered in moss and quite slippery.

After a hard days graft, I was looking forward to getting in and watching the final score, waiting to see how Leeds fared. Badly really, we lost at home 2-1 to Brighton. They took an early lead and after that we were just trying to catch up. We got a break when Diouf scored a penalty however when he celebrated at the away fans, he was sent off, which is bloody annoying. Add to that Austin was given a red card for a bad tackle. It did help that Brighton went down to ten men, but with us down to nine in the last minutes we couldn’t grasp anything back. And now Diouf and Austin will be out for the next couple of games. And really we don’t have anyone else. What a nightmare.

Our last game is next Saturday away at Watford; hopefully we can bring out a win for the end of the season, although I am not hopeful. I am just looking forward to next season now and maybe a stronger squad. One can only hope! I caught the highlights of Manures game at the Emirates against Arsenal, I was really hoping the London side would beat them, they were pretty lucky in the first half, scoring an early goal and being given an easy time by the ref. But they squandered that and in the last minutes of the second half by giving a penalty away to Manure. RVP took it and scored and that was it. Anyway Manure have the title, urgh, glad it’s not plastic Citeh, or Chelski, but would have preferred Arsenal or Tottenham. Not sure if Manure will still be able to dominate next season as I reckon Citeh and Chelski will be investing heavily and fully changing their teams to get the edge.

Image courtesy of smith_cl9

Much needed fun in the sun

Posted on April 24, 2013 by HippyDave

After getting back from ten days in the Caribbean, reality has well and truly set back in again. The usual things, annoying news stories, gas and leccy bill waiting for us and only today our water bill. Add to that the wife’s car needs a service, the spring in my step I had from my holiday has well and truly gone.

The weather is ‘apparently’ getting better but I am yet to see that, I just think the weather men /women plain out lie just to try an appease the masses. Anyway it’s not freezing cold anymore so the heating hasn’t been on, so saving some energy there, I also think it’s time to get rid of the wife’s car, once it’s had its service, it really is a waste to have two cars when we could manage with one. I think whilst I was away I had some sort of epiphany or that I just want to save as much money as possible to go on holiday!

Anyway Barbados was fantastic, gorgeous sunshine every day, no rain and barely any wind. Although our hotel wasn’t the Sandy Lane hotel, for me it was pretty luxurious and we didn’t want for anything. We could get up leisurely on a morning head down for a satisfying buffet breakfast before wandering the short distance to the beach and the beautiful turquoise warm ocean. It was magical and I know I’m sounding totally gay but I loved it.

I’m made for relaxing and taking it easy and defiantly pre-programmed for sunshine and hot temperatures. The staff at the hotel completed our stay, they couldn’t do enough for you, nothing was any trouble and they were so friendly, such a nice experience. We will defiantly go back to the Caribbean again, maybe Mexico or Dominican Republic, but not for a couple of years as it can be pretty pricy.

Benidorm not Barbados

Anyway for a short beak this summer, my dad is heading to Benidorm (his budget for holidays isn’t as big as mine) for a week so as he doesn’t live here, I thought it would be nice to join him for a few days. I have got a flight and booked into the same hotel as him the Cabana Hotel. I will be there four days over the weekend and will be able to relax with him there. To be fair it’s probably better than him spending money to come to the UK, it will feel like a proper holiday and it will be more affordable. Benidorm is pretty cheap, although it’s not really my kind of holiday place, not comparing it to Barbados, but one thing for sure I will be able to enjoy my beer and it’s always fun getting my dad drunk!

Image courtesy of neatonjr