Andrew J Dunlop

Cycling the NCN23

Andrew — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 20:27:34 +0000

Decided to go for a proper cycle today. Did a lot of the National Cycle Network route 23 from Basingstoke to Alton then from Alton to Winchester. I recommend having access to OpenCycleMap when following the NCN for those times the sign posts are a bit hidden or some scaly has nicked one. About 72 km in total. Got very muddy.

WordPress updating

Andrew — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 22:09:07 +0000

Since when did WordPress become so easy to update? Clicked a button and it did it all for me.

Train travel

Andrew — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:14:53 +0000

You know when you’ve traveled lots by train when…

Boxee + EyeTV + Front Row

Andrew — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 12:51:03 +0000

If you are running Apple OS X and you use, or want to use your computer as a media centre this is a very good set up. Front Row for all your local media and DVD playing and integrated with this EyeTV for live TV (in conjunction with a USB tuner) and Boxee for internet content (inc. a iPlayer interface) all controlled by your Apple 6-button mouse.

What you need:

Boxee

Boxee Front Row plugin (forum posting)

EyeTV

pyeTV (EyeTV Front Row plugin)

Manchester says yes to congestion and under investment

Andrew — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:44:08 +0000

I wonder if there is any way to get people out of their cars. The argument people use against using public transport is that it needs improvements of some sort (e.g. punctuality, frequency, options). When the people of Manchester are told that £3bn would be pumped into doing just that BEFORE congestion charging would begin to pay for it they voted no!

Most arguments against using public transport (or dare I suggest it walking and cycling) are just excuses. Yes, there are problems with it and yes there are circumstances where it isn’t available or it really is inconvenient. However, there are many people who do have a bus just down the road or are just nipping round the corner and instead of catching the bus or walking 15mins immediately jump in their car. Also people easily forget the huge problems excessive car use causes, to mention a few; congestion, pollution, unreliability, huge level of road deaths, noise, stress, etc.

There are a lot of motorists who just will not use a viable public transport options unless they are forced to and a system of charging for silly journeys where there was a perfectly viable public transport option is the only response to that. This will either result in them using public transport or provide more funds to further improve it.

My longest train journey (so far…)

Andrew — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:29:57 +0000

Following on from this mad train journey…

Start 21:45 30/08/2008

Berlin Hauptbahnhof (21:45) to Paris Gare du Nord (09:14) – City Night Line Nacht Zug

Paris Gare du Nord (12:13) to London St. Pancras (13:28) – Eurostar

London Paddington to Reading – First Great Western

Reading to Birmingham New Street – CrossCrountry

Birmingham New Street to Crewe – Virgin Trains

Crewe (22:20) to Holyhead (00:31) – Virgin Trains

Holyhead (02:40) to Dublin Ferry Port (05:55) – Irish Sea Ferries

Dublin Ferry Port to Dublin Bus Station – Bus Éireann – Not included in ticket

Dublin Connolly Street (07:35) to Belfast Central (09:45) – Enterprise

Belfast Central (10:50) to Ballymoney (12:00) – NI Railways

Arrival: 12:00 01/09/2008

Duration: 38hrs 15mins

Using: 9 Trains (inc. London Underground), 1 Ferry & Bus

…and all in time for my Mum and Dad’s wedding anniversary party.

Engaged!

Andrew — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:06:55 +0000

As of two weeks ago, I am engaged to Rebecca Smith.

On Saturday 17th May I asked her to marry me on a beach near West Bay in Dorset.

Loyalist gorilla

Andrew — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:42:14 +0000

[My bro Matthew pointed me towards this one]

Moving

Andrew — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:17:19 +0000

My blog is now at ajdunlop.me.uk (blog.ajdunlop.me.uk should still redirect). This does away with my very out of date webpage and anything worth keeping will be added as pages in wordpress. Hopefully this moving about hasn’t broken anything, if it … Continue reading →

Redesign complete

Andrew — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:54:29 +0000

I have redesigned my blog and integrated my (excuse for a) site into it.
New version of WordPress (2.5) is wonderful, now only if it could come up with some posts for me this site would have a point.