iceLife The half heard mutterings of a Kiwi a long, long way from home.

They say you only get 15 minutes of fame, me, I got about 60 seconds.

Then its good enough for me!

I've HAD IT WITH NOKIA.

Nokia - your N series phones ALL SUCK GOAT.

I got sent this video ad today, for the Apple iPhone 3G and I was considering it anyway, but now... I'm in the virtual queue at the O2 store. Twice, even.

All it needs is a decent Flash player. That will come. And the camera sucks. But I can live with that. It turns out the Nokia N-Series phone camera kind of sucks, even with x mega pixels yada yada. Thats assuming it works when you want it to. And that it actually writes the file when you're done. Neither of which, in my experience, can be relied upon one little bit.

And don't even get me started on the multiple crash scenario nor the taking better than 1 minute to display SMS inbox content.

I find it interesting in a way, for years I was anti-Flash, and for years I have been anti-Apple (3 dud iPods, vendor lock-in, stinking iTunes....) but today I find myself working on the UI side almost completely in Flash, and looking forward to the day I can go Apple for my phone. I am bolstered knowing these days it is easier to side step iTunes than it used to be. NOT that I plan to side step your glorious product, Mr Jobs! No sir! Not me. ;-)

Anyway I figure, it all just goes to show its the current product offering that seals the deal.

Yesterday you sucked, but today - I'm going your way.

Adobe - Flex is the best UI tech going just now. Why didn't you do this years ago? Apple - i'm trusting you your iPhone is built better than your iPods ever were! I chewed 3 shuffles without even trying. I figure I will take better care of this baby though now I'm older and... stuff. OK I admit I have my fingers crossed just a little bit.

Oh yeah, and I find in tech it always pays to be firm, yet flexible with your opinion :-)
What way is the wind blowing today?

Those of you that know Adrian are probably not surprised he finds this funny.

"Verily," the Lord said unto me, "lifteth 250 pounds on the bench press. Thine number of repetitions shall be eight."
"Lord," I replied, "this burden is too great, as I have injured my right wrist whilst doing curls."
"My son," the Lord replied, "place your burden unto me. I shall be your strength, your rock, your light and your pectorals and sundry arm muscles."
Obeying, I reclined upon the bench of pressing. My pipes quivered, my manboobs strained. "The bar riseth," I shouted. "The Lord hath lifted me up."
Then, my wrist gaveth and my burden crashed down upon me.
"Pussy," sayeth the Lord. "Thou art a Mary and a Mary thou shall remain."
I wept.

It was the Monday night following a great weekend, and what better way to wind down than heading down to the Royal Albert Hall to catch a true great of modern rock music laying down some fine new tunes. Mark Knopfler.


You might remember him as the last popular musician before plastic surgery was invented, or perhaps that guy with the headband. My father raised me on Dire Straits, so I remember him as the soundtrack to my childhood.

Dire Straits was the first concert I ever went to all the way back in 1985, at Athletic Park in Wellington. I was 11. My Dad took me. It was the Brothers in Arms tour. It was the first time I ever felt a kick drum in my chest. I remember it like yesterday.

And I saw them again in 199... something. Again Athletic Park. This time we sat on the hill outside Athletic Park, with my friends from school, and watched the show over the fence for free.
That was the Calling Elvis tour. I didn't like the single so much, but it was still a good show.

Tonight, my third time, with Mr Knopfler, once in each of three decades.
And he's better than ever.

A more considered, more soulful Mark Knopfler now leads a band unafraid to experiment with traditional instruments and arrangements. Although Dire Straits never particularly concerned themselves with the rules of pop song composition, Mark solo has a complete disregard. Instead, they play the tunes they wanna play, and how they wanna play them. Surrounded by the best in the business, its a formula that few would dare attempt - and it works.

This was a fantastic show, 2 and a bit hours, 3 encores. The stand out solo tune remains "Sailing to Philadelphia" but plenty of numbers from the new album got an airing and went down well.

Here is a slideshow of the 8 photos I took at this gig.

Much to our delight there was room for a few Dire Straits numbers too. I have never seen a standing ovation at the RAH, this night we saw 3.

We were treated to 6 of the best, and it was just like old times:

Telegraph Road
Sultans of Swing
So Far Away
Romeo and Juliet
Brothers in Arms
Going Home

The boy can still play.

Our friend Abbe did something totally original for her birthday - she took a lucky group of friends, including us, on a guided walk through Highgate, in North London.



We saw sites of interest including where both Dickens and Coleridge used to live, several pubs of note and almost a cemetery. Finished off with a great meal at a local meze place. It was a very fun day. Thanks Abbe!

Here are 11 photos of the Highgate Walking tour and there's a wee video of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner outside Coleridge's old gaff, innit, guvnor.

On a sunny Sunday just gone, our friends Jared and Damian, and Jo and I all went along to see a days worth of cricket at the famous Lords, here in London.
We had a great day, especially as upon reading the ticket we learnt we could bring in a bottle of wine each. Seemed a shame not to, so we took full advantage and kicked back for a session in the sun.


England batted mostly, there were a few well taken wickets though so we enjoyed the spectacle. Lords is a nice ground, to be sure, posh in all the right places, the burgers were organic and £7 each, says it all really. Highly recommended at least once.

Here are 3 photos from the game, including the above.