[10:36] krp_: I’ll paste the query that its trying to run..
[10:36] — krp_ [n=kent@somehost.se] has quit (Excess Flood)

Just read a story about people converting their systems from Windows to Linux. Then I thought it’d make the longest joke, with a huge setup, but a hilarious [to me anyway] punch line, if all the developers collectively said “Sod it. I’m bored. I wonder what is outside.”, thus leaving everyone in the lurch. In review, kind of a dark joke really.

I don’t really drink tea. I can usually go for a week without it. Testament to that fact is the bag of 160 tea bags I purchased when I moved into this flat a year ago has only just been finished. I found this strangely interesting for 8.13am on a Tuesday morning.

KiteATB has had a complete overhaul and is back up and rocking again. A great resource for people who kite-landboard. That includes me. Har [They hold the move videos I have linked to] Also I have found my garage keys [only been lost for ages!]

Pretty much sums up the weekend So whilst I am a little happy about achieving that goal, I’ll give you a video of a guy getting lofted:

This weekend the LHF and many others descended to ExtremeKiteShop for the kite festival. Even though the heavens opened on Friday, the weather during the whole weekend was excellent. Well, the wind wasn’t. But on Saturday I was out sharing Dave’s 15m Phantom which was fun. Before I was out riding, I was practising pivots on my board. This means standing there, shifting my balance and swinging the board round 180 degrees all trying not to fall off. I fell off quite a few times. But after doing this for a while, I got to go out on the phantom and started swinging the board whilst travelling. Going from heel side to toe side. Still managed to fall over many times [and have aches and pains now to prove it] but finally cracked it and can now do it to order. Just need to practice it some more to make it a little more fancy During the evening was a mighty piss up and BBQ with everyone having a really good time. It was good to sit back, chill and chat rubbish with lots of different people and quizzing the more ‘pro’ riders about moves and the like. Sunday morning was a sore head start, but Spiky and Badger started their cafe with everyone providing some contributions and them providing a stonkingly good breakfast. It was also pissing it down so amusing to see everyone, slightly worse for wear [after only 4 hours or so sleep] huddled under the gazebos eating bacon and sausage sarnies. The sun soon came out to play, gave us a hot day, but not much wind. People tried, but the only real noteworthy performances was Harry on the 22m Guerilla2 and Badger [Steve] on his stacked 13m and 16m Venoms. LHF where the last to leave again [seems to be the trademark, "first on, last off"]. [I also managed to get one of the really nice EKS t-shirts ]

During the evening I went and saw Ant, where we grabbed some food, and ended up watching Oceans Eleven at my gaff. Hurrah. I am going to go quickly bathe my aching muscles.

I have been a fan of Weird Al for ages ever since the Dyers [old family friends] introduced him to me when I must have been 8 or 9 ish. Anyway, he has a new video which is a rip of a well known hip-hop song which a well known Welsh man, Tony “Sheep Boy” Guntharp* posted on his site. So I stole his html for the video and put it here. I particularly like the jedi kid reference for about 5 seconds or so in the middle of the video.

I am both gutted and glad that the Weird Al back catalogue isn’t on iTunes Store, otherwise I’d be a little broke right about now.

* I still love you Tony

They are looking rather mental today, should make for an interesting evening. As Dave refers to it hanging on weather. Yesterday was sweet for about an hour or so when it was also hanging on weather. Got a few good jumps, then managed to miss-direct the kite during a jump and crack my leg. It is ok, but a bit bruised under the skin [not visible but can feel it]. Got some boarding in which was fun, but due to tree layout and the wind dropping, it didn’t last for long.

Afterwards I ambled over to Dave G’s house for an evening of Prey on his new Xbox360. Good game and one I have been anticipating ever since its initial announcement more than 8 years ago. It is a little crazy with the gravity and portals technology they have going on there, meaning that you have to investigate every part of a room and puzzles are also spatial. Also had a beer or two which was good.

Oh, also went to Yo Sushi! with Bailey for lunch yesterday. Was very tasty and left me feeling full but not obese! Looking forward to ambling there again, although, to be fair, there did look like there was a mighty fine noodle bar there as well. Oh, and there is the Extreme Kite Shop kite festival this weekend which should be sweet with a lot of people coming to play, including Richard [who I think I have managed to influence into getting a Rage]. I am currently working on both the optimisation of some of our web applications and webframework as we are having some issues with slow downs or no apparent reason.

Oh, and why does the phrase What I want, I can’t have, that my mother drummed into my head so much as a kid, have to be so utterly correct?

EOP

So, there is a bit of a word play in the previous post title. To do with brakes. Mainly because mine failed, whilst in Wales, on Saturday morning. Fun.

We [Adam, Sariah, Emma, Dave, Daz and myself] all met at the beacon on Friday and drove over to our now regular spot. Got the tents up in the dark and it was all good. On Saturday we drove to the beach, lugged the stuff down there and had a fly. There was a little bit of wind, not enough to get traction, but Dave, Daz and myself did some formation flying of the blades. Hard work but apparently, when we nailed it, it looked really good. Might have to practice that a little more at some point. Emma wanted to get her book from the campsite so I drove her there. It was about this time I noticed my car screaming and the grinding of metal on metal. Right brake had gone. Managed to get the car to a garage and get it in for repair. They told me that the earliest they could get the car back to me was Monday due to the requirement of brake blocks being ordered in. Left the car and Rob [who had come down that morning] picked Emma and myself up from the garage where we went and met the others at the beach. Due to a distinct lack of wind, a number of us went surfing/body boarding in the sea. Was a good laugh and fun was had by all. In the evening we had a BBQ on the beach and had a really good evening. Emma got out the poi and showed us how it was done. Daz and Rob had a go and looked pretty good.

On Sunday we headed down to the beach where the wind was almost there. Dave tried to get his 15m Phantom up, and I was determined to get the 9m Guerilla2 out to play. Then a storm came in to play with us all, this brought wind. I got the 9 up and had to run about the beach [this is a high wind kite]. Brought it down and put it away. The storm passed but wind was still with us, so everyone was out playing. At the end of the day, everyone bar myself or Emma went home to Birmingham. In the evening we went to a pub and had a number of drinks and played some pool.

Monday was windy. Really windy. Having been told the car would be done by midday, we wandered to the garage to collect it. It transpires that the parts wont be arriving until about 3 o’clock. Bugger. We wander back to the campsite, choose some flying gear wisely and trek to the beach, all the while trying to find a short cut. When we finally arrived I got the 9 out and the wind was blowing some nice strength. Just cross shore. The tide was half in. Had it been on shore, I could have had a massive run of the beach all to myself. Anyway, gave the 9 a good fly. Have to say that it is a fast kite, got lots of ‘oompf’ and I am very pleased that I invested into it. After a while of feeling cold, we headed from the beach back to the campsite. However, Emma decided to go a different route. A shorter route. And as with all short cuts, this was about 5 times longer than the way we came Got back to the campsite, rang the garage and they said that the parts had indeed arrived, but couldn’t tell me what time it’d be done, and could I phone back at 5pm. Bugger. Not looking hopeful. Chill out at the campsite for a couple of hours as the winds increase and my tent and Emma’s tent blows all over the place. Phone back at 5pm, car is ready. Pick it up, then get back to the campsite, it starts pissing it down. Quick and very wet pack up. Not fun at all. End up taking about 3.5 hours or so to get back [about an hour longer than normal] due to the massive storm conditions having had the worst driving experience possible [high winds, heavens opening, dusk-night time driving]. Was very happy to get back after what can only be described as a very long day.

Was it worth it? Damn right and the photos prove it.