Moonwalk One

Moonwalk One, disappointing.

The notion of unseen footage of anything to do with going into space is for me a very compelling watch. However, in this case the highly advertised and waited for program on the Discovery channel just left me looking for the remote to switch over within the first 10 minutes.

The NASA “technical” camera coverage was superb, the small and large footage of the take off, module separations and in space shots were something else; but unfortunately ran to only ~20mins worth. The rest of the program, another 30 minutes or more was utter drivel – long shots of nothing to do with space, mind numbing music and a voice over that made you feel like you were in 2010 a space odyssey!

A short program on the 20 minutes of quality footage would have easily been better than the drawn out waste of airtime I watched.

Discovery, we have a problem!

Next day! no way.

It amazes me how with today’s mapping and location awareness technology companies like FedEx can get away with saying ’sorry guv we couldn’t find you!

We ordered some brass door handles on Thursday morning last week and paid an extra charge to get then the following day as we wanted them fitted by the carpenter we’d arranged for Friday.

Today after ringing up the company to find out where they are do we finally find out that FedEx could not find the house.

FedEx could have:

a) Used a mapping service to locate the house as they had our full address – or -
b) Contacted us or the company we bought the door handles from.

FedEx did none of these, and a next day delivery turned into 5 days! and that’s just poor service.

We’ll get our delivery charge back, I just hope that the company we bough the handles from do the same with FedEx.

Photo ID

Some years back when I moved house it coincided with the introduction of the new Photo ID based drivers license.

Changing my personal details meant that I had to pay for a new license and hand over my lovely well worn paper based one, which had given me such good service over the years and even more fun infront of bar/restarant staff in the US when asked for proof of ID. The new one arrived (and it’s paper counterpart too – why?) and I’ve been using it since then. It was only when travelling back from a skiing trip in Sweden that a good friend of mine noticed whilst passing the time at the airport gate that my driving license was due to expire again! it felt only like yeterday that I had changed over.

Upon further investigation it was the photo that was to expire! the license was still valid. So, £20, some form filling (that was sent to me reminding me in advance of it fully expiring) and 10 days later I now have a new license “again” with an updated photo. Updating the photo has to be done every 10 year, personally I still look fresh faced and in my mid twenties.

The reason for the post here is if you should have a photo ID drivers license and you’ve had it for a while you should check when your photo is going to expire. Just check the date on the front, you may be surprised.

High Five

Coming home on Friday from work, hot train, laden down with laptops from a customer workshop you’d think I’d be unhappy – but no I was happy; the 3 day weekend I’d been waiting for was here and a cold beer (OK two) waiting at home.

We’ll my weekend just got that little bit better as it seems you can top 3 days away from work.  Watching Jenson Button seal his fith F1 GP win of 2009 at Monaco was superb, a first rate win for a first rate British F1 driver (in my book anyway).

Amberley Museum is one of those places you pass every day and never go in, it’s quite “low key” from the road but when you get through the gates you quickly realise this is a very very large working museum and your going to get your money’s worth.  The Museum includes vintage buses, a steam roller, a working railway you can take a ride on; vintage garage and automobiles, brewery, pottery shop, Limeburners cafe and many other exhibits…

If your passing definitely go in and if it’s the classic bike show date next year then I’ll see you inside.

Saturday saw the Piazza Italia Rally Ferraris visit a neighboring village (Pulborough – Lower Street Car Park – 10.00 am till 10:45am Good Friday)

Organised by Sussex Ferrari Owners Club this year’s rally, with local support from the Pulborough Community Partnership started it’s tour of the local area starting in Pulborough and working their way up to Horsham.  The run was in aid of the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice, and was a great showing of over 30 Ferrari’s from vintage to brand new.

Pietro at the Italian Garage in West Chiltington added his own flash of red when 20+ Italian bikes roared in and visited his garage and facilities.  If your ever in the area his garage is worth visiting for a coffe and a walk around the 20-30 bikes he has in his shop.

Pulborough Italia Rally