2008 — 16 September: Tuesday
I must say, when Apple decides it's time to update OS X they don't mess about. Another 158MB of software has just been plastered on top of the Leopard in an attempt to changes its spots. Or at least renumber them to 10.5.5. We shall see. Meanwhile, having mentioned niece #1 yesterday, how about a picture from April Fool's day last year? Big Bro and his number #1 daughter were visiting, and we navigated them down to Lepe country park for some fresh air by the sea:
Christa, Michelle and Big Bro, April 2007
Compare and contrast, young Mich, with the picture of you here! Tee-hee. G'night.
Sleep debt repaid... dept.
Gracious, it's 09:49 and (according to the Weather Girls twittering away on the radio) "it's raining men". Where's that cuppa?
Given that the Governor of the Bank of England will have to write yet another letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer explaining why inflation (at 4.7%, or whatever fictional value they've placed on it this month) has exceeded the government target of 2%, the Black Swan chap makes a telling point:
The banking system, betting against Black Swans, has lost over 1 Trillion dollars (so far), more than was ever made in the history of banking... By the "narrative fallacy" the turkey economics department will always manage to state, before thanksgivings that "we are in a new era of safety", and back-it up with thorough and "rigorous" analysis.
I've just caught the last few minutes of a 1959 episode of the Navy Lark — I didn't realise Dennis Price played "Number 1". And now there's a 2005 episode of the Counterpoint musical quiz chaired by the late Ned Sherrin. Death is keeping busy... Oh well, time (12:34) to pre-heat the oven. Then I have a couple of errands this afternoon that will see me out in the car. I've also just clipped off three large bunches of grapes, with many more to come. What on earth do I do with them all, Christa?
Better not let Junior see this. It would tend to justify his liking for the species.
Government gateways... dept.
Being, on occasion, slightly paranoid1 I thought I'd re-check my state pension forecast and the state of my contributions to it. I don't want to arrive (as it were) at state pension age only to discover (with early retirement after a mere 38 years of paying National Insurance "stamps") I should have topped up my contributions in earlier years (that is, now). There's an online service for which you register, and then they send you a one-time activation PIN by snailmail (it arrived today) and away you go. They even have an interactive PDF-based application form. And it all works with the Firefox browser (for a pleasant change).
However, if (like me) you've been silly enough to have your marital partner die on you, it turns out you have a hurdle that cannot be, well, hurdled. State pension legislation is now so complex that only humans can do the forecast in this situation.
So, while the cheese was melting over the spuds, and before the pork joined them in the pre-heated oven, I gave them a call. My forecast will be on its way, though they warned me that because of my being a widower it would take longer than the usual 12 days or so. Lunch, meanwhile, will be at the peak of culinary perfection in about eight minutes. Jolly good; I'm now starving! (It's 13:38 and, as I've long discovered in retirement [let alone as a widower] everything takes longer.)
That's better. Now let's hit the errands trail. Before what now looks like a spot or four of rain...
Oh to be in England...
... now that we're officially the most crowded nation in Western Europe. I had a choice: I could have bought myself some new socks in Matalan or I could take my main co-pilot off for afternoon tea. I like easy choices. My word, isn't the news depressing? I've been reading some of the comments made in the wake of a piece by Larry Elliott on the Guardian web site. Some of them are grimly reminiscent of the late 1970s mutterings (or should that be "nutterings"?). Dismal science, pah!
I am trying to like Flight of the Conchords but I find a comedy that fails to make me laugh is a bit too much like hard work. Still, I shall give it one more episode.