Tower view

One here for Mr Brian Micklethwait of BrianMicklethwaitDotCom fame who is a big fan of the Strata Tower – or at least a big fan of taking photographs of it (see here, here, here and more recently here).
But despite his best efforts, not even Brian has got a pic from this angle (AFAIK, anyway):

Bigger here.

Borrowed (without permission, nogal) from these guys (who do plenty of stuff without permission too, it seems) and who have some spectacular examples of long exposure photography of London (and elsewhere) along with some amazing tales of derring do (and in some cases, some of derring don’t).

I must say, I’ve never really though of trespass as a hobby before and I can’t bring myself to agree with it. I can, however, appreciate some of the fantastic photographic results and the images of otherwise secret history that their naughtiness generates.

On a personal note, I was much touched by this pic, from this post, which reminded me of this place, which used to be here.

Expensive season

Incoming from my Dad as Sheffield United’s bizarre and frustrating season drew (literally) to what was a long foreseen, but still wholly unfortunate and disappointing close on Saturday:

Just been doing some stats on the home games; not good reading.

And he’s right.

While my Dad is a long-time season ticket holder at Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane and a die-hard, die-cast, dyed in the wool supporter of the Red and White Wizzzzaaards, he’s had a busy few months nipping around the globe: France, Switzerland, the Isle of Man, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, to name the ones I can remember. As the Ad Wizard once commented: “I want his air miles”.
Anyway, because of these travels, he only managed to attend 61% of United’s home games this season:

As you can see, in the games I went to The Blades were disproportionally poor.

And he’s right.

He managed to see just 43% of the games they won yet 72% of the games they lost. He only saw 52% of the dismal 27 goals they scored, but 64% of the 36 that the leaky defence… leaked. But it’s when it comes down to applying those stats to the price of the tickets that you one can see how he really lost out:

To add salt to the wound, this season cost me around £18.50 per United goal and £21.50 a point.
Not what I’d call value for money.

Enough evidence there to suggest that my Dad might want to take up watching a different sport, or at least consider supporting a different team. But that’s not how it works. While he and I (and many others) would be much happier if The Blades were riding high in the Premiership, it still doesn’t alter the passion and support we have for our team. As my Dad said:

Still, there’s always next season to look forward to…

And he’s right.

Pressing matters

Some of you will recall that a few weeks ago, I realised that with a wedding anniversary coming up, I needed a suitable gift for the lovely Mrs 6000. Having done some rudimentary calculations, I was able to deduce that we have been married 6 years and a small amount of research informed me that this is therefore our “iron” anniversary.

Iron is nowhere near as easy as (last year’s) wood to find something appropriate as a gift. Wood is used virtually everywhere: jewellery, ornaments, spoons, trees – most things around us have some wood in them somewhere and finding a beautiful gift was not difficult.
Interestingly, iron is also found everywhere, but not often in appropriate gift form: heavy machinery, shipping chains, big nails. It’s not what she would want as a present from her loving husband.

Then I realised that I was thinking laterally and not literally:  don’t get something made of iron, per se, but why not get her an actual iron! Practical, modern and very obviously iron-related! Brilliant!

Step forward this funky little number from Russell Hobbs (the Easy Fill 17877), featuring:

  • 2400W element
  • Unique water filling funnel
  • Anti calcium and drip functions
  • Ceramic soleplate – smoooooth, baby!
  • Purple easigrip™ handle – feels so good!
  • 6 steam settings
  • 12 month guarantee

I think that even the most inventive amongst you would be hard pushed to find a better present. I can like to think out of the box! Talking of which: I can’t wait to see her face when she gets this out of its box over dinner. Boom!

Looking ahead:

For the seventh anniversary, traditional materials are copper and wool and the modern materials are brass and desk sets.

Copper, hey? Maybe we can get that rewiring in the garage done…