Yo - HoHo!

Well, Christmas managed to fly by pretty darn fast once again!

I've sprent far too much time over the last few days putting together toys for my eldest son. Normally I'd be quite pleased to be playing with his toys, but when you spend hours and hours piecing together hundreds of tiny pieces whilst your chilld is getting so keen to play with the new to that he starts to do so whilst your in mid-build, well, that ain't fun!

As I write this it's around 11.40pm on Christmas Eve.

I was gonna write a big long meaningful Christmas speech, but, as I need my sleep I'll keep it simple.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!

Father Christmas not allowed to say HO HO HO...???

See this news article

Ok - It's getting a bit festive!

Got my first Christmas meal tomorrow - pretty good sign that the Christmas isn't far away.

I deicded to compile a quick top 10 of my favourite Christmas songs, listed below.
These are in no particular order because it's hard to choose!

Christmas (Baby Plese Come Home) - Darlene Love
I want an Alien for Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
Little Saint Nick - Beach Boys
Santa's Beard - Beach Boys
Merry Christmas Everybody - Slade
I was born on Christmas Day - St Etienne
When a child is born - Johnny Mathis
I wish it could be Christmas Every Day - Roy Wood withg Wizard
(all I want for Christmas is) my 2 front teeth - Spike Jones
Christmasey - Brian Wilson
I'm Goin' Home - David Essex
Merry Christmas (I don't wanna fight tonoight) - The Ramones
Do you hear what I hear? - Andy Williams (preferred to Perry Como)
White Christmas - Bing Crosby

Whadya think?

If you're stuggling to Christmas Gifts then why not check out the Total Client Marketing Christmasey Store!

Champion skater

A speedy recovery from yesterday's pukiness(?) was completed today as Luke took to the ice rink for the first time.

After a couple of falls and the eventually escaping from of his mum (who held on to the rail for dear life with one hand and clutched his hand with the other) he zipped around the ice with ease. Whoever invented skates with 2 blades is a genius. It's a shame they don't come in adult sizes otherwise I'd be tempted to have a go myself.

Of course, he and his little friends figured out that ice shavings make good snowballs too!

From nowhere...

Just before dinner Luke mentioned he had a headache "all over."

Seconds after sitting down at the table he was spewing chunks like there was no tomorrow. Talk about "complements to the chef!" I could understand it if it was my cooking but we were at my Mum's and her cooking's great!

The little really wanted to eat his dinner straight afterwards because he knew that there was a chance ice-skating would be cancelled tomorrow if he was poorly but I think he knew it wasn't wise to try.

I'm a dummy!

Yup! It's official!

Ben has been using my fingers as replica dummies all week, and earlier today the little blighter not only had the small finger on my right hand in his mouth, he was also clutching the little pinkie on my left hand too. So, unless I wanted to disturb him (results in crying...) I needed to stay still for absolutely ages! Well, about 5 minutes before his personal vending machine (his Mummy) came in to the room to rescue me.

Blog Readability

Found a cool "blog readability" scoring thing on Windmill Watching and I'm quite chuffed with the results for my blogs.

This Original MaJaTo blog scored...

Cash Advance Loans

The TCM and MaJaTo (MaJaTo Scribes) blogs scored...

Get a Cash Advance

New story added on MaJaTo scribes

I say new, but it's so old I'm not sure when I wrote it! I think it was around 1993, but it may have been earlier.

I think it was probably my earliest attempts at writing (outside of the education system, that is) so don't be too harsh when judging the quality.

New Arrival

After 2 days of deprived sleep I figured it's time to introduce Ben to the world.

This picutre was taken when he was about half an hour old.


Who would've thought such a small thing can make such a loud noise....

His arrival has made his big brother very very very very chuffed. Hardly a minute goes without him saying "aw, I love my baby."

I'm a Reindeer!

My son informed me with much pride! He seems pretty chuffed with his role in the Nursery Xmas play and went on to explain his role. "I run around being a reindeer, then I sit down."

He never normally tells us much about his nursery or playgroup activities so he clearly loves this one! Personally I can't wait it see it! If he sits down on cue it would suggest he can obey instructions!!!!

Baby due date.....

...and nothing happening...yet.

My gut feeling is that won't happen until next week - that fits in nicely with work!!!

A bit of Hugh Laurie

For folks who are having a break from "Windmill Watching", here's some clips of "BlackAdder" and also "A Bit of Fry & Laurie."

First two clips from BlackAdder





Watching BlackAdder you may also notice Rowan Atkinson (BlackAdder) who played "Mr Bean" (pretty sure that programme was popular in the States and has turned up in a few movies) -search YouTube for more clips and you may spot a few other Brits that have crossed over the pond in the past.

One of them is his Comedy partner from the eighties/nineties, Stephen Fry. Here's a few clips from "A bit of Fry and Laurie."



If you like Language....

I feel the need....the need to blog

Just gotta type something to get it off my chest.

Anyone who knows me will know I'm passionate about my football team, West Brom. Heck -reading this blog you might've picked that up too.

In football you get swings and roundabouts in terms of decisions going in/against favour. But every so often an injustice is done that is so completely outside the bounds of what is acceptable and this is what I want to moan about. So, I apologise for the rant in advance, but, hey, somethings have gotta be said.

I wanted to say....well lots of unpleasant but pretty truthful things about the ineptitude of match referree Nigel Miller but figured he might report me to the FA (because just like Tom Cruise's character in A Few Good Men he can't handle the truth!)

However, I've decided to tone it down and opted for the following instead:-
Nigel Miller is a moron. Moron. Moron. Moron. Moron. Moron. The FA should rollock him now. Thankyou.

Pooped

I am so pooped - I think I'm gonna go to bed! Last week was a a bit of a marathon at work (but I'm loving it!), then at the weekend I spent a lot of time decorating, so when I went to work today I wasn't exactly on form - and by the end of the working day I was cream-crackered.

So, I know I've been a rubbish blogger lately but I gotta get me some sleep - might blog a bit more another day!

Muppets!

Wahay! Some funny music related Muppet clips -hilarious!

"The Smashing Pumpkins"


Carl - the Bagpipe eater!


Beaker sings Yellow (Coldplay)


Kokomo


Okay, here's the original for that last one...

Rest in peace, Carl Wilson.

Countdown....

Whoah.... less than 2 weeks until the baby due date. I really hope it'd not early because I've got loads to do at work and at home!

Warwick Davis

Just added a few blog and website links on the righthand column - people and stuff I like basically.

Whilst doing so I remembered to include Warwick Davis (starred in loads of Movies - Star Wars ROTJ & Phantom Menace, Willow, Harry Potter[Flitwick] and Leprechaun to name a few) because he's a top bloke.

This also reminded me that Warwick has an appeal which is raising money for the Peterborough Special Care Baby Unit. Here's a link to the appeal - a very worthy cause. Willow Appeal

Amsterdam....again

I went to Amsterdam again yesterday. Had a nice long day......
4.28am - Alarm number one goes off.
4.28am and 3 seconds - switch alarms 2 and 3 off before they go off and then jump (er, well roll) out of bed.
4.30 - 5am Dress, Breakfast, Wash & clean teeth etc.
5am -taxi turns up 10 mins early.
5.15am get to airport. Cold.
5.50am -airport announce slight delay due to plane being defrosted- glance out window and witness this happening.
6.20am Take off -add an hour to watch
8.20ish (can't remember!) land in Schipol.
9-3pm -work (yawn)
5pm -announcement that flight delayed due to technical fault.
5.20pm - take off. Deduct 1 hour on watch.
5.30pmish - land.
6pm - midnight -have dinner, get lots of affectionate hugs from my son, vegetate and chill out in front TV (football, more football and Fmaily Guy) with some beers.

Oh. Deer.

A few days ago there was a young deer (a fole?) in my parents back-garden. My son spotted it and sad "is it one of Father Christmas' deers? Did he leave it here?"

By the way, just thought I'd mention there are currently 6 short stories on MaJaTo Scribes - I'm a bit busy over the next couple of weeks but hope to add a few more again soon.

Pride (but robbed)

Just want to say congratulations to the England Rugby team for their tremendous effort in the World Cup - they're still World Champions even though the scoreline suggested otherwise.
Once again it's the referee who got scared by the big occasion and the result was affected. Add the incorrectly disallowed try/conversion and a couple of the missed penalties and the trophy was our again.
Having watched the ref miss a blatant forward pass that led to Australia deny us back in 1991, it's disappointing to be on the wrong end of dodgy crucial decisions again.
But, the England players were massive and have brought pride to the nation at a time when the Footy team are wobbling.

Smashing!

Absolutely brilliant! Hats off to the England Rugby Union team for following up last weeks win over Australia with a thrilling victory over France.

Fingers crossed that the boys can become the first team to win back-to-back World Cups in next weeks' final.

Here's the winning moment from 4 years ago.

New Story added on MaJaTo Scribes

Added another Story to MaJaTo scribes today. the link to that blog can be found in the right-hand column of this blog.

Written in December 2003, the short story, Angie, was written as a writing assignment.

I've put it under the coffee break fiction section, but to be honest I'm tempted to create another section entitled "humour/offbeat".

Let me know what you think by posting comments on the story.

Cheers.

Whilst checking my old TCM blog to see if I could find any "classic" gems to re-post for posterity I found this one from 28th April 2007.

I understand that someone at my son's nursery has taught him to sing Summer Holiday by Cliff Richard.

I shall be having words with the nursery owner...!

Well, a few days later I realised the cause was actually Bob the Builder, singing a song called "Cowboy Holiday" from Bob the Builder - the Movie: Built to Be Wild

A bit late for setting the record straight, but felt I should do it anyway!

The Ladies Bras

The UK has gone nuts!!!

If you've not heard about Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills playing this ditty and getting it to number27 in the charts by download sale, well, here's a selection of Youtube videos for your "amusement."

We're ladies, don't you know!


Lorraine Kelly on the Telly!


My personal favourite...


There are loads more, but these are about the cleanest I could find!

Oh, and found this by accident too!!

I'm back!

Being away can be exciting but I'm always thinking about home. The best thing about a work trip is coming back and getting the biggest of hugs from my son.

Yawn/Tulips

Got an early flight to Amsterdam tomorrow morning.

Sounds exciting but unfortunately I'll only be there for two days and it will be work work work work work work. well you get the picture.

Not sure I'll even have time to stop and get some souvenirs!

Bit of skill

Link below is to a clip of a couple of West Bromwich Albion Football Club academy kids recently on the telly.

Bit of showboating -and entertaining stuff!

Baggies Academy

For info 5-1 to the Baggies today. BOING BOING!!!

Erm.....Burma

...hard to explain my lack of blogging at the moment!

I'm putting a lot of time and effort into work at the moment so when I get around to sitting at the computer at night I can't really find inspiration to do anything!

And it's not just my blogs that are suffering. I've got content that I need to be working on for a few websites and there are loads of things I need to do around the house.

Not much is likely to happen this week as I'm going to Amsterdam with work for a couple of days so that'll be pretty tiring.

Anyways, today I've added a couple of videos (below) which I felt carried a pretty timely message.





It's hard to look at Jim Carey and not laugh, but that's just it - you can't laugh- the situation in Burma and many other Countries is nuts - yet I bet Bush and friends wouldn't life a finger to help out.

Mind you, a Monty Python skit springs to mind. ...here's the clip!
(sorry- not allowed to embed it)
Monty Python Burma clip

Bless!

For the last couple of days my son has come through to our bedroom (as usual) and said ever so nicely "morning mummy and daddy. Did you have a nice sleep? I did! I scared all the monster away for you."
He then returned to his usual routine of clambering over one of us and positions himself in the middle and says (To each in turn, but normally starts with me) "oh I love you Daddy, you are a best friend!"

Steam Trek: The Motion Picture!

At first I figured the title might be something naughty, but I did find it under "comedy" (honest!) so figured I was on safe ground.

Anyway, here's a Star Trek parody shot in black & white. Love the soundtrack!

Personal reflection

Whilst walking around city at lunchtime I reflected on my current lot in life.

And, all things considered, it's pretty good right now:-
- I've got a great family around me, both in my own home and in homes not far away too (Mum & Dad live about 2 miles away, and my Bro and his family are 2 minutes walk!)
- My 3.5yr old little son makes me laugh and smile every day
- There's another bundle of joy to look forward to in about 8 weeks time
- I have a really great roomy house in a classy area 30 minutes walk from the City
- And I've got a great job too.

I guess what might've brought this reflection on was passing someone in the street who I used to work with (if the term "work" could be applied to what he did in the office, that is if he could be bothered to turn up....) who had a stinker of an attitude problem.

And that's the difference. Having the right attitude, giving 110% effort , going out of my way to help others rather than being selfish and a continued belief in myself means I can always be proud of what I've achieved in life.

story added

Another story to MaJaTo Scribes.

Oh I do love to be beside the seaside...

We went to Great Yarmouth yesterday because little 'un wanted to go to the seaside.

Yarmouth woudn't normally be my choice destination for this activity despite its long mainly sandy beaches, but I'd grown tired of going to the seaside every couple of weeks and standing in the feezing murky sea while he threw stones in to the sea to splash me. So Yarmouth, with it's plethora of amusement arcades and other attractions seemed a good choice.

Chips for lunch is alway a good start (with lashings off ketchup and an unhealthy does of salt and vinegar, of course!) and then we wandered along the beach for a while, built a sand-pile (little 'un didn't want to build sandcastles...)

Then it was off to the arcades to spend a few coins. Finally we ended up in the Pleasure Beach. It's a bit run down but he enjoyed getting soaked whilst watching the log flume. In fact he enjoyed that more than the Haunted House (really tame but scared him enough) and the Fun House (he really was not sure about the moving floorboards and walkways - especially as it was pitch black, so I had to carry him around this "attraction" which didn't help my own struggle to balance!)

The only problem with going to the seaside is the sea air makes me wnnat to sleep.
Of course, on the flip said it almost certainly guarantees a sleeping kid too, which is always appreciated for a hour on a Sunday!

Watch what you say!

The latest in incident that comes under the "watch way you say in front of kids" category....

I left work early today and My Mum had kindly offered to pick me up in exchange for returning my son to me earlier than normal (She looks after him during the week when he's not at nursery or playgroup.)

On the way in she encountered a really bad driver and snapped "get out the way you silly woman!" Now, my Mum is not really the sort for losing her temper, and the little blighter reminded her of her outburst straight away by repeating it, then laughing his head off. Then repeating it and laughing even louder, continually doing so and getting quicker and quicker so that by the time I got picked up he was a gibbering wreck!

Unfortunately I laughed when it was explained to me and this set him off again.

Later in the evening he decided to return to one of my own verbal accidents. "Oh I can't get in this bloomin' car seat, this bloomin' hat won't fit me. I'm gonna throw away this bloomin' car...." Telling him that it was a naughty word didn't really have any affect. Threatening to take away his bloomin' toys if he didn't stop saying it did!!!

Dennis Rommedahl a Baggie?

Another classic blog post (this was posted shortly after the Poing Poing [below] post both in early June 2007)

Dennis Rommedahl a Baggie?
Anyone watching highlights of the football internationals last night may have probably picked up on the fact Dennis Rommedahl celebrated scoring by revealing a t-shirt with the words BOING BOING inked on.
Here is the piccy, do not ask me to translate the article - I have tried using transation tools already!

What a way to announce he is signing for the Brazil of the Midlands!!!
Okay, I have checked the rumour boards and there has been no mention of his impending baggieness, so it might have something to do with popular Danish tune called "BOING" by Nik and Jay. It is pretty catchy!!! Check it out here!

Poing Poing!!

I'f you've ever read my Total Client Marketing blog you may've noticed that I'm going to be switching off an old blog that sits on the Total Client Marketing site.

Well, having had a sentimental read through it I realised that one or two posts would be worth keeping and putting on here (i.e. they fit into the general context of OriginalMaJaTo.)

So, here's the first of them. Any other ones will carry the "classic old blog" label.

POING POING!!
Shouldn't that be BOING BOING!!? Well, yes and no!
If you're not a Baggies fan then you are probably not aware that the famous Boing Boing chant actually started life as a homage to a dodgy Dutch hardcore dance record called Poing by Rotterdam Termination Source.
here to read a bit more about the history of the BOING BOING!!

Turn it up!

I feel bad about posting this, but it's really funny!

My Grandma came round to my house earlier today for a cup of tea. Now, she's abit death at the best of times, even with her hearing in. I asked her a question, and had to repeat it about 5 times getting louder as I did so. Eventually I got her response which was along the lines of "I can't hear very well you know, especially with that (points to TV) on."

Fair point, except the telly was on mute!!!

Oddly enough, she then answered my question without me having to ask it again.

Over the years my family have delivered some classic accidental one-liners and I wish I had compiled a list of them. One or two would probably only be funny to those present (a case of you had to be there to appreciate it) but most would probably tickle anyones funny bone. That said, my sense of humour strays into crudeness so some might be frowned upon too!!!

Here's one of my all-time favourites.
We're having Christmas dinner at my parents house, and my Dad turns to my wife and asks "do you want stuffing?" Even my Mum cracked up, and every year we try to coax him into accidentally saying it again to someone.

The last bank holiday of the year....gone!

Oh no! No more days off until Christmas!!!! What will I do? Okay, I've only been back at work for a week but I like to have days off to look forward to!

Still, at least it's a four day week - bring it on!

Winners of the "I Look Like My Dog" Contest

Hahahahahahahahahaha etc. Flipping laughed me socks off!!!

http://www.flyaboveall.com/dogs.htm

Sad day

Get the violins out. Its a sad day in our household because the whoopee cushion has died.

Actually that's a big fat lie, but I look forward to the day when I can make such an announcement!

Thomas and his Friends Day & Bressingham Steam Museum

As promised, here's a bit more info on Sunday's trip to see Thomas & Friends. Before I start, I'll apologise for the photo quality - they were taken on my mobile phone.

We went to Bressingham Steam Museum near Diss, Norfolk. Every so often this, and other Steam Museums and Train Stations, will put on a special Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends day, which basically means putting faces on their steam vehicles, playing the theme music, getting someone in to paint faces, making sure the shop is fully stocked with Thomas toys and adding a few quid to the entry fee (cynic, moi?!)

Anyway, the little 'un always enjoys it even after umpteen times, but on this occasion the weather really tried to put a dampener on things. We were quite lucky that it held off until lunchtime and we went to get a bite to eat. As we sat down to eat the heavens opened. It was a deluge. We sat in a covered area outside -this area had a clever roof feature where the rain ran down into a circular pool in the middle of the seating area. With lighter rain this is quite a god feature, but this stuff was monsoon-like! So, the rain was splashing out and anyone sat within a meter of it was gonna get a bit wet. But worse was to come, because the pool was rapidly filling up with water -we didn't hang around long enough to see it flood.

So, after lunch we spent a few minutes checking out the inside displays, which included watching scale model trains going round and round and round and round -if you're 3 years old this is fascinating! The inside displays included some vehicles and sets from Dads Army and Only Fools and Horse. Here's a couple of piccys from the latter.




After we'd spent an hour or so inside we braved the elements and went in search of trains again. At Bressingham there are 4 different short train rides to go on, which is better than most places. There are also carousels and dodgems. All steam powered.

After about 4 hours we're all flagging, and although the rain was finally ceasing and we still had one train ride to do we decided to call it a day. This is where the fun really begins because we went to the shop -it's a real pain trying to remember what Thomas trains my son has!!! Luckily his memory is better than mine so, as a reward for good behaviour, he picked out a couple of trains and was still clutching them as he fell asleep in the car less than 5 minutes later.

I remembered to take a piccy of Thomas and one of his friends. Can you guess which one is which?!

Thomas the Tank Engine

Went to see Thomas & friends today -and the heavens opened -glad I had my pack-a-mac with me!

I'll give a bit more detail tomorrow - got lots to do tonight as I've got a big day tomorrow. I start my new job. Eeeeeeek!

Gurgle gurgle gurgle

That's the noise my tummy is making to accompany the somersaults it is doing.I'm not the boss of it right now: Dinner is charge. And that's not a good thing, because I had dinner 5 hours ago and it's decided to come back and bug me. Think I'd better skip to the loo.

Taking the boy to see Thomas the Tank Engine tomorrow - hope my tummy feels better by then. I might even try and be fancy and post some piccys on here.

Knock Knock

For the past 6 months my son has been trying to tell this joke and can't quite get it right.

A:- Knock Knock
B:- Who's there?
A:- Yah
B:- Yah who
A:- Yahoo - I didn't know you were a cowboy!!!

Okay, to help visualise how this joke gets told here's another one he has tried telling.

A:- Knock Knock who's there?
B:- Er.... Who's there?
A:- Boo Hoo. Aw, no need to cry!

See what I mean.

Added a couple of stories to MaJaTo Scribes

I've added a couple of stories to the MaJaTo Scribes blog. Okay they're not new, in fact they're a few years old now - I hadn't realised how long ago it was when I put my pen down. Must get back into writing again sometime - maybe after the new baby has arrived.

Whoopee (cushion)

My bad.

Whilst searching for something on a shelf I found a whoopee cushion that had been confiscated from my son about 5 months ago.

He was stood right behind me and couldn't help giving it a squeeze.

PAAAAAARP!

Guffaws of childish laughter ensue (from him, not me!)

Anyway, I hand it to him thinking that after 5 minutes the novelty would wear off.Afterall, he is 5 months older.

45 minutes later and I'm still being dragged from my study into the lounge, instructed to sit down and act surprised at the trouser-rippling sound.

Blooming heck- he's here dragging me off again. Gotta go!

Classic! Man Utd 3 Baggies 5

Found this Football clip from late 70's. Albion thrashing United at Old Trafford.
It cheered me up after West Brom lost the opening fixture of the season.

Must....Type.....Something!

Bah! I'm getting bloggers block at the moment and all I can think to write about is my lack of inspiration. Oh well - I'll probably scoot around YouTube for something to post.

In the meantime, if you want to see something funny you might wanna have a look at this page.... Why men shouldn't babysit

Blooming heck!

BLOOMING HECK! Surprise was my first reaction after hearing my son utter this phrase, closely followed by amusement, then by curiosity - where the hecky thump did he here that?

He's not said it for 4 or 5 days so hopefully it was just a passing catchphrasse. It's been replaced by "what's all that about?" Again, I don't know where it came from either.

More than meets the eye...

Transformers: more than meets the eye. Autobots do dah dum de dum do de do to defeat the the evil powrs of the decepticons. Or some thing like that.
Okay, guess who's just been to see this movie then? Yeah baby - Me! And I almost had a heart attack in the car park afterwards when a car revved near me because it looked like that one from the TV ad (you knw, the car that rollerblades or something, I think it's a Citroen of a Peugeot...)
Anyway, it was not as good as I had hoped, but then I kinda got my hopes up for this one, thinking that it would be just like the comics and original cartoons but with cool computer generated graphics. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the film and look forward to the directors cut when he (ghopefully) decides to cut at least 30 mins of fluff and filler from the film.
So.....Here's a little sneak peak of the film! On;y kidding - Enjoy!

Feels weird...

...Posting on a different page. I am so used to going straight to the Total Client Marketing blog and dumping all my tought in one place, so my new blogging structure will take some getting used to.

Change of plans!

Yep - I've posted this on all my blogs at the same time so that you know the position:-
I've decided going forward that the "TCM Mark's blog" should just be for stuff related to the Total Client Marketing website and my other websites, plus any related internet stuff.
"MaJaTo (MaJaTo scribes)" is still intended to be for my writing, though I've decided to make that by invite only. So, if you want to get access please get in touch.
"Original MaJaTo" is now going to be turned into my personal blog post - the place where I rant and rave, and go all gooey about my kids.
Finally, I'm going to be starting another blog too - titled "Neutral Me" - This is intended to be about my investigations into being Carbon Neutral, particularly about offsetting the effects of next years holiday to Florida, plus I'll be posting about
alternative fuels etc and general tips on going green.
So,that's it in general -4 blogs, and a bunch of websites to boot. Not sure how I'll fit in a job, looking after wife, 2 kids, house, rabbit, fish etc!

New Blog - well not quite.

Hi - I've just set up this new blog, which I intend to use for adhoc story writing. It will be pretty much straight off the top of my head and onto the page - that's generally how I write.
What sort of story will it be? Well I don't really pigeon-hole myself to genres so it's fair to say it will be a mixture - whatever takes my fancy.
It will probably be a few weeks before I get started, however, I do have an active blog at tcm-blog-mark at the moment so please have a look at it.

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