all about basil

I am not really sure how I arrived at these pictures. very pleased that I did, I am not really a big fan of giving cars a name, though I did once have a fiat uno nicknamed buster by a certain designer but that's a different story. back to this land rover it is called basil fair enough check keith.miata for a detailed story. I have a land rover myself, not a defender (a freelander) and it hasn't yet got a name. still I love these pictures, great colour.

land rover

I know its not that cool to like 4 x 4 cars at the moment, but I own one (a land rover) and I like it. I have obviously given up on trying to be cool. still that aside I was ambling through facebook this morning (yes a bit sad I admit) where I found a facebook group dedicated to the land rover. looking through there pictures I found a poster which I liked for a land rover owners club in columbia and just had to add it here.

on yes thebookyard delivered a new battery (at last) for my macbook this morning, a long story and not their fault at all, so thanks guys.

pedantic me? >> land rover clock

as you will know if you read this blog I have recently changed cars. the new (second hand) one I got had a clock radio/cd display unit that never worked properly. when I was buying the car I didn't think would bother me as all the units works just the display that didn't. but as each day passed it started to be a real problem and I could stop thinking about it. so I got in touch with land rover and was quoted a stupid amount of money for the replacement part.
carol suggested e-bay I have used it a bit over the years but have always had contempt for it. even though carol got me some fantastic climbing shoes that are still fantastic two years later. well sure enough a display unit came up and I bid for it, and won it (I have always thought that is such a clever way of saying you have to pay). then a week or so went past and problems with pay-pal and stuff and I started to doubt e-bay again.
then this morning it arrived and I fitted it and it works even does more than I thought (news, traffic info and some other stuff) and all in all it cost me a quarter of the price.
so today I am happy with the world. though a little unsure whether it is a good or bad thing if a working in car display unit can make me happy?

oh yes, I have found a great place for my dog rusty to spend some time while we are in france. up on bodmin moor in a highly recommended kennels.

a little self indulgent >> more france stuff

yes I know you are probably a bored of france but it is one of those days, it has been sunny and warm. so late this afternoon we got the camping stuff out to make sure it was all ok and pitched the two tents we are taking in the front garden.
I know we are not going to france for over a week but carol is getting excited, she still only has a few shifts left.
I am on summer break but still have to write the september's surfing article for Go2 magazine, before we go as it has to go to press early-mid august. the august issue is out and a good one .
I am also playing around with another project a complete re-design of an academic web site, the deadline is september so still early, and I am still thinking about it.

any way these three pictures will hopefully sum up a part of our next surf trip to south west france (basque country).

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I haven't disapeared >> Dr Who

I haven't disappeared, as all of you will know sometimes things just get too busy. this time it was a positive, had to drive all over last night (picking up a new car, well new to me) didn't get home til very late and was ben's 9th birthday (on friday).

I am amazed at his obsession with the bbc TV program dr who. and he is not alone at all in his peer group. As a child I did watch it and as an adult I have watched a couple of episodes with him and actually fallen asleep much to his disgust.
the products available are scarey and as he is so captivated by the programme friends and relatives have joined in the buying dr who stuff. he now has a dr who lunchbox, as well as dr who cards, a cyberman that is movement activated, as well as a dalek computer game, never mind four different versions of the tardis.

I have to say the merchandising of the programme is incredible, some-one is making a lot of money, just from the amount of stuff ben has!