g7uk » Personal

My 18x internet speed increase

GS — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:52:17 +0000

About ten days from now I should have a much-improved internet connection. For a number of years I’ve been on 1Mb broadband with UKOnline and have paid just under £10 per month.

As I live in Manchester city centre, far faster broadband has been available to me for some time.
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The highs and lows of film-making and why relatively few good videos get made

GS — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:29:05 +0000

Watching the G20 protests on TV it seemed that every other person had a camera. Yet only two video clips of the Ian Tomlinson incident have come to light so far. One was shot by a member of the public, the other by a broadcast news team and despite professional cameras being outnumbered by ‘activist’ cameras to the tune of hundreds to one.

A fluke? I suggest not.
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Ill with stress

GS — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 03:40:43 +0000

We hear lots about stress in the workplace. When you’re effectively ‘trapped’ in a job and can’t escape the cause of the stress, it’s a terrible thing. But recently I’ve discovered that stress can creep up on you slowly and unexpectedly.

Sudden Mother’s Day email barrage

GS — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:19:22 +0000

Two days ago it was the fourth anniversary of the death of my mum.

Tonight, four emails within thirty minutes:

Tesco: ‘spoil your Mum this Mother’s Day’

Kodak: ‘remember Mother’s Day’

Asda: ‘treat your Mum this Mother’s day’

Ancestry.co.uk: ‘don’t keep mum about our great family history gifts’

One or two is fine but by the fourth one I began feeling a bit annoyed. Is there some central place sending these out? Mother’s Day isn’t until 2nd March, so it seems a bit of a coincidence these all arriving at the same time. Not a pleasant effect.

No refund after foot cut by faulty 4-month-old boot from United Footwear, Oldham Street, Manchester

GS — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:44:14 +0000

In May I paid £29.99 for a pair of ‘hiking boots’ from United Footwear in Oldham Street Manchester, which is in the ‘Northern Quarter’ area.

g7ukTalk: 27 April 2007

GS — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:55:38 +0000

UPDATE (October 2008): this podcast has ‘retired’ into the archives. I’ve left the production notes below.

Chris joins me to talk about:

* Queer Up North: Europe’s leading queer arts festival which starts here in Manchester in the next few days, with events throughout May.

* Peter Tatchell

* Our show Bargain Hunters: why we haven’t made any more since June.

* Big Brother

* The TV phone scandals that have engulfed Britain recently and the recent BBC Panorama programme on the subject.

* The Basement Social Centre

* The Conservative Party

* Scally wear: we find out, does Chris own a hoody or any trackies?

* Doctor Who and Torchwood

My Richard and Judy experience

GS — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:24:40 +0000

Channel Four is in the news again over yet another possible scam. This time involving the You Say We Pay quiz on the Richard and Judy programme.

Leaving Britain?

GS — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 00:38:09 +0000

I really hate the drunkenness, violence and general thuggery that is everywhere in Britain now.

Timeslip

GS — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 00:10:26 +0000

In 1970, Britain was suffering power cuts across the country, caused by industrial action. The days and times of the cuts varied each week. I remember having to do my homework by candlelight.

A true story for Halloween

GS — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 18:00:16 +0000

A couple of weeks ago I made a final visit to the house where I grew up. My dad had decided to sell and I had to pick up a few remaining bits and pieces.

Though I was actually born in hospital, I spent my years from zero to 20 living in that 1950′s semi-detached. In a small cul-de-sac alongside the former A1 — the main London to Edinburgh road — and just a couple of miles from Newcastle city centre.